I Became the Only Reptile in the Community

Chapter 32

—–CROW—– 

“Mrow?! Meow! Grrr!”

-Ch-Cheong is changing?!

“[Ugh. This is getting troublesome.],” El thought.

He was definitely flustered.  He was supposed to fight, but his opponent was undergoing a power-up event? It wasn’t like a protagonist’s awakening or anything. Why was she suddenly getting stronger like this?

‘Should I just attack now?’

Cheong was currently vulnerable, in the process of adapting to the immense life force flowing into her. Honestly, attacking now was the smartest way to win this fight.  However…

‘Sigh… This isn’t a life-or-death battle. I’ll just wait.’

If it were a fight for their lives, he would attack immediately to kill her, but this was just sparring.  Sparring with a close friend, no less.  They would continue to be together in the future, so he shouldn’t jeopardize their relationship with this kind of action.

“[Silphy.]”

-Wh-What?

Silphy responded with surprise. She seemed quite shocked as well. She had asked for help, but she probably hadn’t expected the tree to actually give it, especially this much life force.

*Rumble*

Cheong’s form changed as the tree transferred its life force.  The sheer amount of life force being transferred was evident in Cheong’s transformation and the flowers and grass sprouting from the ground beneath her.

“[I can’t even fathom how many lives had to be sacrificed to gather this much life force.],” El mused.

If it weren’t for this unusual tree, he would have immediately stopped the transfer and scolded it. But he, and even Silphy, simply watched.

“[To think I’d see something like this.]”

-Indeed.

If the source of the life force had been a person or an animal instead of a tree, they would have intervened immediately. Transferring life force meant sacrificing one’s own life and future.

“[Isn’t that a bit too much?]”

-Hmm. It doesn’t seem to be straining the tree. Just how much life force does it have?!

“[Hmph. It grew by absorbing my energy, so this much is only natural.]”

Normally, consuming life force would shorten one’s lifespan, but there were exceptions.  Spirits, for example.  And similar to spirits, but considered lower entities, were fairies, dryads, and other races closely connected to nature. No matter how much life force they consumed, it would be replenished after a few days of rest. It was more like consuming stamina than life force.

And what about a tree, which was nature itself? Of course, frequent and large transfers could cause problems with its lifespan, but…

“[If it becomes problematic…]”

-Then we’ll stop it, of course. But you don’t have to worry about that. It’s replenishing as fast as it’s being used.

Silphy said she had never seen a tree like this before, and El couldn’t help but smile.

Well, of course.  He had to take a commemorative photo.

*Click*

“[Look at my child.]”

Poster: DragonSnack

You know the tree that grew from my Imugi energy?  It’s giving Cheong its life force, and the amount is insane.

(Photo of Cheong enveloped in light and the tree emitting a faint glow)

Even though Cheong’s form is changing and flowers are blooming around her, the tree is completely fine.

Silphy says it’s replenishing as fast as it’s being used, so there’s no problem.

With this overflowing life force, maybe it’ll become a World Tree someday?

-Don’t get ahead of yourself.

-Even if it’s our gallery’s star, do you think a World Tree is that easy?

-A World Tree can create life.  It’s a bit much to compare them.

-If an elf sees this post, they’ll curse you out lol.

It looked like a parent bragging about their child, but he didn’t bother correcting or deleting the post. He was proud!

And the reactions to his post were unexpected.  Honestly, he hadn’t seriously considered the World Tree possibility, but seeing the comments bluntly crushing his hopes was a little irritating.

“Grrrr.”

It wasn’t the time to be browsing the gallery. He had been wondering if he should engage in a one-versus-many fight in the gallery, but it seemed he didn’t have time for that. Cheong, now a proper tiger cub instead of a kitten, was staring at him with sparkling eyes.

Her glossy fur and shining eyes were the same, but she had now grown into a small white tiger, no longer a mere house cat.

“[Silphy. I think I’ll have to go all out this time.]”

-Y-You might have to.

She looked like a tiger cub, but the power she emanated was on a different level.  It was too much to adhere to the settings Silphy had previously established.

*Crackle*

He channeled lightning energy, gauging Cheong’s changed power.

‘Just how much life force did the tree give her?’

He clicked his tongue inwardly. It was as if she had awakened as a mythical creature.

-It’s not permanent, though. It seems like a temporary enhancement.

Silphy, who had been closely observing Cheong’s transformation, spoke, and he nodded, thinking it was a matter of course.  Would it be permanent?  Even now, it was almost cheating. If this change were permanent, it would definitely create bigger problems.

‘If word of this gets out, I’ll definitely have to fight.’

If that happened, he would have to grow stronger, and those around him would have to grow as well, to protect their surroundings. This sparring was, in a way, for Cheong’s growth. And to properly draw out Cheong’s power enhanced by the tree, he had to be serious.

*Rumble*

-El? Y-You!

“G-Grrr?!”

Oh, right. This was the first time he was showing his full power in front of Silphy and Cheong since the fight with that man.  He felt a strange thrill as he spoke to the two, their eyes wide with surprise.

“[I said I’d go all out.]”

The manipulation of energy was incomparable to before. Dark clouds gathered in the sky at his call, and Silphy stared up in a daze.

-N-No way.

“[What do you mean?]”

-You! Even if you’re using the power of the Yeouiju, this is…！

She was bound to be surprised. He was about to control the weather.  Well, using the Yeouiju wasn’t within the realm of an Imugi to begin with, was it?  And he hadn’t been idle all this time.

*Gulp*

Silphy, seemingly having noticed the lightning coursing through the darkened clouds, spoke with a cold sweat.

-You’re not going to drop that here, are you?

“[Of course I am.]”

-Hey! We’ll all die!

Die? Who was going to die?

“[Cheong’s evolved body will withstand it. And Silphy, you can protect the tree, right?]”

-That’s difficult!

She didn’t say it was impossible.

“Grrr!”

“[Good. I’ll show you my full power.]”

-Ugh! Fine! I’ll protect this child then!

He had been worried about the collateral damage from their fight, but Silphy’s words reassured him.  Then he could fight without worrying about the surroundings.

“[Cheong. Are you ready?]”

He was ready. Ready to unleash lightning the moment the battle began.

*Nod*

Cheong glanced at the lightning streaking across the sky. Then at him, controlling it.  Finally, she glanced at Silphy and the tree she was protecting with a wind barrier.  Her eyes gleamed fiercely as she adjusted her stance, ready to pounce.

“Grrr!”

“[Good. That’s the spirit.]”

As Cheong nodded, signaling the start of the battle…

“[Fall.]”

He sent a bolt of lightning crashing down towards her.

***

“This is interesting.”

Some distance away from where El and Cheong were fighting, someone with black wings spread out spoke with an intrigued smile.  Shrouded in an unidentifiable darkness, the figure, whose gender was unclear, looked up at the sky, now cleared of dark clouds after the lightning strike, and smiled.

“An Imugi wielding the power of a dragon.”

A sight they had never seen before in their entire life.  That’s why it was fascinating. Having experienced this unknown wonder, the figure, whose appearance was anything but ordinary, just like El, spread their hands.

“The Wind Spirit King. That workaholic has a remnant of that Imugi, right?”

They didn’t know what that object was, but if it was related to this fascinating Imugi, it must be something extraordinary.

“I want to study it!”

They would have loved to study the Imugi itself, but they were too curious about its future growth and story. So, instead, they would have to satisfy themselves by studying its byproducts.

*Whoosh*

“Wow, a pillar of fire!”

Their eyes sparkled at the sight of the fire pillar rising towards the sky.  After looking around, they snapped their fingers.

“Can’t have others getting interested!”

Gwangho had already been here before they arrived, but that was fine. Gwangho wouldn’t kill them outright. He would wait for them to grow stronger before fighting them again.

The reason they cast the barrier was simply out of curiosity.  Or perhaps to block the gazes of those who might try to eliminate a potential future threat.

*Boom!*

Having cast a barrier around the area unnoticed, they turned away from El and Cheong’s battle.

“Such a shame.”

They wanted to see the fight to the end.  But to satisfy their immediate desire to research, they had to visit the Wind Spirit King.  They might miss this battle, but they could see El’s enhanced power in the future. However, the Wind Spirit King might dispose of El’s remnant immediately, so it had to be their priority.

“Now, grow quickly, will you?”

The mysterious figure, with a mischievous smile, spread darkness and headed towards where the wind gathered, taking one last look at El before leaving.

—–CROW—–