NOVEL WEB Chapter 35 - Shamanism, and Alligators
< Chapter 35: Shamanism, and Alligators >
After successfully ending the first war, I finished consuming the meat of the Queen Cobras.
「Level has increased!」
.
.
.
「Level has increased!」
「Level has increased!」
As a reward for personally dealing with a creature of an enormous level difference, a significant amount of experience was gained.
【Baekdusan Tiger, Leader Lu-deus Lv.35】
Five level-ups. My level skyrocketed to 35 in one go. This time, without Eryllion’s help, I was able to monopolize a lot of experience points. I nodded in satisfaction.
‘It would be nice if I could gain some skills too.’
In the case of Teravore, no skills were visible until I killed it, so I couldn’t gain any skills from it. But wouldn’t it be different with the Queen Cobras?
As if answering my expectations, a new message popped up.
「By predating the ‘Queen Viper,’ the level of ‘Venom Resistance’ is rapidly increasing!」
「The level of ‘Venom Resistance’ has surpassed 5! Your body is beginning to utilize the toxin!」
Venom resistance has increased? It must have been due to the venom skill the Queen Cobras had. My venom resistance, which was only at level 2, had suddenly surged to level 6.
‘What! Surpassing level 5! What does that mean!’
It was the first time a skill had surpassed level 5. Could skills also evolve? And utilizing the toxin? What does that mean?
An interesting idea suddenly came to mind. Although it was dangerous, sometimes there are things you can only gain by directly confronting them. I called Eryllion, planning a little experiment.
“Grrr.”
“Fer!”
At my call, Eryllion nodded and brought the old King Cobra.
Currently, I was in a miniaturized state, sitting on the queen’s throne. The throne was a place where the snake had coiled its body, so I couldn’t sit there without miniaturizing. Sitting on the elongated throne, I extended one arm.
“Sha, Shaaa?”
“Grrr.”
「The ‘Exiled Prince’ tells it to bite without hesitation.」
The old King Cobra hesitated before lightly biting my arm and injecting its venom. The other King Cobras, who pretended to be disinterested, subtly watched the scene, curious about the result. To be honest, I was curious too. How effective would level 5 venom resistance be? I was about to find out firsthand.
「You have been poisoned by ‘VenomLv.1’!」
The old King Cobra was a capable creature that knew how to serve its boss well.
The venom flowed through my veins at its weakest potency, seemingly controlled by the old King Cobra. As the other King Cobras focused their attention on me, I could clearly understand what ‘utilizing the toxin’ meant.
「‘Venom Resistance’ has neutralized the venom!」
「Your body is responding to the venomous energy!」
「Your physical abilities are enhanced for a certain period due to the venomous energy infused into your body!」
I felt the muscles in my right arm, where the old King Cobra had bitten, harden. Not only that, but my body surged with energy and vitality. My goodness! So this was what utilizing the toxin meant?
Do you understand the cheat nature of this skill now? From now on, I could use weak venom as a potion or a doping method! This might not make me immune to all poisons, but I could certainly be called impervious to hundreds of poisons! From now on, call me Poison Tiger!
“Shaaa!!”
“Shririt! Shirit!”
Seeing that my complexion improved even after being poisoned, the King Cobras were startled and lowered themselves completely in front of me.
「The ‘King Cobra Tribe’ pledges allegiance to you.」
Realizing that their most powerful weapon, venom, was ineffective against me, they abandoned any thought of a futile rebellion. Good choice. Choosing to get bitten by the old cobra was an excellent decision.
“Grrr!”
“Shaaaa!”
The old King Cobra, a master flatterer, was adept at navigating situations. Using weak venom to assist, he started serving me without changing his expression, positioning himself as my right-hand man.
“Shaaa!”
“Shirit, Shiririt!”
Following the old King Cobra’s words, the other cobras bowed their heads and quickly dispersed.
Is this the famous snake protection squad I’ve heard about? Since I needed someone obedient to follow my commands, I silently supported his actions.
Honestly, how could I manage all the cobras by myself? In this regard, the old cobra was an excellent business partner.
“Grrr!”
Anyway! Old man, did you figure out the shamanism?
“Fer!”
“Shaaaa!”
The old King Cobra, as if he had been waiting, eagerly opened the shamanism book I had given him. He then proceeded with an elaborate explanation, his eyes gleaming.
It seemed he had a keen interest in shamanism. His passionate lecture, with venom spurting from his mouth…
“Shaaa! Shiritsirit… Shaaa!”
“…Gorongorong.”
Oh, come on. Is it not over yet? I fell asleep listening halfway, but Eryllion was nodding his head with shining eyes. Fascinating guy. How could he understand the snake’s language?
* * *
“Fer!”
“Grr?”
「’The Exiled Prince’ explains about shamanism and tattoos!」
Eryllion translated the lecture of the snake for me.
Hearing his explanation, I stared blankly at the old King Cobra.
No, what is he talking about!
“Grr?!”
“Shhhhaa.”
It seemed to be true.
In summary, the old King Cobra’s words meant this:
[To use shamanism, you must accept the meaning of shamanism.]
In other words, it meant understanding the language of the continent.
Understanding the origins and history of shamanism and accepting its meaning was necessary.
Thus, the old King Cobra was saying this:
‘Do you understand? Foolish tiger! Shamanism is not something you can use just because you want to learn it!’
So I responded.
[Shamanism, easy.]
“Sha, shhhhaa?!”
Hello. I’m a strong and clever tiger with unexpected charm.
That day, I was able to grasp the basics of shamanism.
「Acquired [Basic Shamanism Lv.1]!」
***
「Obtained clues about shamanism!」
“Grr.”
“Sha, shaaa!”
Before I knew it, I was listening to the snake teacher’s lecture like a model student.
Although I had acquired the skill of basic shamanism, I did not gain the characteristic of [Shamanism] like the shaman snake teacher.
The shamanism the snake teacher knew was mostly related to tattoos or ‘snake evolution’.
“Grr.”
“Fer!”
「’The Exiled Prince’ says more knowledge is needed to learn shamanism.」
Still, there was some achievement.
「’Shaman Snake’ has inscribed a basic tattoo on you.」
The snake teacher’s crude tattooing skill had improved to a basic level.
“Grrr!”
“Shhhhaa!”
I bowed to the old snake teacher and checked his status window.
【Old Giant King Cobra Lv.45】
-Characteristics: [Shamanism], [Flattery], [Survival Instinct], [Deadly Poison]
-Skills: [Tattoo Lv.4], [Deadly Poison Lv.2], [Constrict Lv.2]
-Status: [Scholarly]
Having acquired knowledge about shamanism, his level had increased by 3.
A subtle gleam of intelligence seemed to emanate from his eyes, different from before.
Probably, the King Cobras would now welcome a new old king.
Though his identity would be an old snake shaman who listened well to my words.
“Grr!”
“Fer!”
“Shhhhaaaa!!”
「The ‘King Cobra Tribe’ shows respect to you!」
With this, I concluded my first war.
By absorbing the territory of the Giant King Cobra, I secured the surrounding area’s submission and gained hints about shamanism along with some tattoos.
“Fer!”
「‘The Exiled Prince’ asks if you are now returning to the mine.」
“Grunt.”
I shook my head.
Since I was already out, I thought it would be a good idea to level up and meet the ‘crocodile’ and ‘rhinoceros’ who were said to dominate this area.
“Grunt!”
“Fer!”
Since there was nothing to carry, Eryllion and I set off immediately.
【Baekdusan Tiger, Chief Lu-deus Lv.36】
– The true leader of the ‘Small Forest.’
– The master of the ‘Underground Mine’ (current submission level 40%).
– Characteristics: [Potential], …, [Firm]
– Skills: [Miniaturization], …, [Poison Resistance Lv.6], [Basic Shamanism Lv.1]
– Status: [Basic Strength Tattoo], [Basic Agility Tattoo], [Basic Endurance Tattoo]
I’ve gained a lot since coming here.
I became much stronger once again.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the swamp of the deep forest, a fierce survival battle was underway between two creatures.
“Grooarrr…!”
“Graaarrr!”
One was a giant crocodile, a Sawblade Spiked Alligator, measuring 9 meters in total length and weighing 2 tons.
On the other side was a Deathhorn Surgibeast, resembling a dinosaur, with a body length of 5 meters and a weight exceeding 3 tons.
The rhino-like tough hide and rounded body were natural armor against crocodiles. And what about that horn? The horn alone was nearly 1 meter long, and its surface was as sharp as a blade—a literal death horn.
Even a crocodile would be cut in two if it got caught on that horn.
This was the reason the Deathhorn Surgibeast could dominate the area around the Verdant Grove.
If the massive Deathhorn Surgibeast charged, even fortress walls would be in jeopardy. The Sawblade Spiked Alligator avoided them for a reason.
“Gruuurrr…”
However, if there was a creature bold enough to challenge the Surgibeast, there had to be a reason.
The Deathhorn Surgibeast realized that the alligator confronting it was not an ordinary one.
Its massive jaws were big enough to bite its grand stature, and above all, it was rolling its eyes as if assessing its opponent.
It was clear that it, too, had compensated for its species’ poor vision through evolution.
“Graooarrr!!”
“Kroookruuurrr!”
The two giant beasts clashed in the swamp.
And surprisingly, the victor was the alligator, which was said to be at a disadvantage against the Surgibeast.
With swift movements, it broke the Surgibeast’s horn, bit its body, and performed a death roll.
*Crunch!*
Blood and flesh splattered everywhere as the Surgibeast was dismembered.
“Kruuu…!”
“Gr-raaaar!”
The Surgibeasts that were watching their leader’s death retreated with sorrowful expressions. Having lost in the competition for survival, they now had to find their own ways to live.
And the alligator, which had won the life-and-death battle,
“Krrrr!”
began to grow and evolve.
This was the reason for the clash between the two strong beings.
They naturally realized they couldn’t defeat the predator that had killed the Queen Cobras.
So, they fought a battle for survival.
“Kruu…!”
The alligator, its body further enlarged, slowly hid itself in the swamp.
From its dark green eyes, the same color as the swamp, a thick murderous intent began to seep out.