I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 132

Baekwoon looked up at the sky in shock.

"The sky...!"

Just a moment ago, it had been broad daylight. But now? The sky was shrouded in an ominous, dark red mist. One of the peaks of the Ten Thousand Mountains was veiled by a black curtain in the distance.

"What on earth is going on...?" exclaimed Jangbong, equally stunned.

They had barely made it out of the Ten Thousand Mountains alive, only to witness this bizarre phenomenon, the likes of which they had never seen before.

A natural disaster? Or perhaps a bad omen?

"It's Tae-Sae," muttered Namgung-Yeon.

Tae-Sae—Baekwoon had heard the name a few times but couldn’t quite recall the details.

"Tae-Sae?" Baekwoon asked.

"Let’s keep moving while we talk."

Following Namgung-Yeon’s words, they quickened their pace. Even without an explanation, their instincts told them they needed to get as far from here as possible, and quickly.

"You’ve heard of the Thirty-Six Celestial Generals and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends?"

The Thirty-Six Celestial Generals and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends—thirty-six stars bearing celestial names and seventy-two stars bearing earthly names. Together, they are known as the 108 ominous stars.

"Of course. Celestial Killstar and Earthly Malstar. Among all the stars, the most famous one would be the Celestial Killstar," Baekwoon responded.

"Right, Baekwoon. And opposing that Celestial Killstar is the Purple Mi Star."

Baekwoon, having trained under Jongnam, was familiar with this story. It was strange for martial artists to discuss such matters. But with Jongnam being the birthplace of Taoism, Baekwoon quickly understood Namgung-Yeon wasn’t just testing his knowledge.

"The Celestial Killstar and Purple Mi Star... They could be said to determine the fate of Murim."

Those born under the influence of the Celestial Killstar would turn Murim into a sea of blood. And whenever the Celestial Killstar appeared, a person destined under the opposing Purple Mi Star would rise against it.

Murim had always shifted according to the incomprehensible movements of celestial bodies.

"Are you saying that phenomenon is related to celestial bodies? Something similar to the Celestial and Purple Mi Stars?"

"If only it were that simple. Tae-Sae is a star that opposes the Three Stars."

The Three Stars—one of the enormous stars representing the wood element in the yin-yang five elements. Essentially, Jupiter.

"A star that opposes the Three Stars? Such a star couldn’t possibly exist!"

"It doesn’t. Such a star isn’t supposed to exist."

"Then what is Tae-Sae?"

"It doesn’t exist, yet it exists."

Namgung-Yeon spoke in a cryptic tone.

"The star is buried in the earth. Does that make sense to you?"

"...Buried in the earth?"

"A false star, Tae-Sae. A star that isn’t in the sky but is buried beneath the ground."

"Tae-Sae Star Sovereign?"

Jangbong interjected.

"Hmm, more knowledgeable than I expected. The Five Great Sects and Nine Factions work hard to keep this information hidden."

Namgung-Yeon turned with a smile.

"...I heard it in passing, from a wandering rogue of the unorthodox sect."

"There are some who call it the Tae-Sae Star Sovereign. But that’s a misconception."

Rumble...

Dark clouds gathered in all directions.

"An evil spirit, that’s what it is. Calling it a god is a mistake. Maybe it was once, but now it can no longer be considered a god... Even if a disaster deity is still technically a deity."

"An evil spirit...."

"It would be wise to get out of here quickly. Stay, and you won’t fare well."

Namgung-Yeon, who knew so much about information supposedly concealed by the Murim Alliance, remained calm. Baekwoon was tempted to question Namgung-Yeon’s true identity, but this was hardly the time for jokes.

Instead, he pressed his lips together and increased his pace. He had to escape that ominous energy as quickly as possible.

---

I’m facing an entity I cannot defeat.

My instincts told me so. But escaping wasn’t an option, either. It was an existence that wouldn’t allow such things.

I had nearly exhausted all my resources. In my current state, I wasn’t much of a combatant. All I could do was support the Snake Queen in whatever small way I could.

"Grrr...."

I puffed myself up and let out a fierce roar.

Woong.

The energy of the Biikjo core within me resonated once more.

Just once.

I had regained the strength for a single attack.

"Oho... You still refuse to surrender?"

The Bird King’s twisted smile grew wider.

"Haha! How amusing!"

Slowly, the Bird King approached.

"Companion, when I give the signal... you must flee."

"Picture yourself soaring through the skies on massive wings."

Gigantic wings grew from Ketchalgoatal’s shoulders.

"A dragon. You could become a true dragon."

He gazed at me with his grotesque face.

Pssht....

When I didn’t respond, he seemed to lose interest in the idea of a dragon. The wings disappeared.

"Or... What about becoming human?"

He molded his tentacles into the shape of a human form.

"Every spirit creature longs to become human. It’s an instinctual desire. Take my hand, and I will give you a human body."

Ketchalgoatal extended a pale, monstrous hand.

If I took that hand, I could return to being human.

Human limbs.

A human voice.

A human face.

Though I hadn’t shown it, I had missed those things deeply.

But there was only one answer I could give.

Thwack.

I spat the blood in my mouth right into his face. Blue flames from my dragon blood splashed onto him, but he merely chuckled.

"Oh... Stubborn, aren’t we? I don’t dislike that about you."

Smack.

Ketchalgoatal slapped me across the face.

The impact nearly snapped my neck. I almost blacked out.

"But that’s not what I want to see right now."

Smack!

"One defiant being is enough. Between the Queen and you, I don’t need two. It’s rather irritating."

As he raised his hand to strike again—

Boom!

An intense beam blasted towards him. The Bird King’s tentacles blocked the attack.

"The Queen has returned."

...Didn’t I tell her to flee? She never listens.

"Then I’ll take on the Queen while you think it over."

Clap.

The Bird King clapped his hands.

"That is, if you can escape at all."

He grinned maliciously.

At that moment, darkness swallowed my vision.

---

What just happened?

My head hurt.

"Wake up!"

Someone was shaking me roughly.

...Right. This was no time to be lying around.

I opened my eyes urgently.

Why was I lying here? I was... doing something.

...What was it?

"The sun is already high in the sky. Hurry and get up."

"Mmm. I did move around quite a lot yesterday...."

"S-Sis!"

I turned to see two women looking at me.

They were unfamiliar, but something about them felt familiar.

...What was going on? Why couldn’t I remember?

"Oh, you’re awake."

One of them confirmed I was up, then perched herself on the bed, subtly edging closer to me, watching my expression as if expecting me to remember something.

What on earth was happening?

I glanced over at the other. She was staring at my lower half, drooling.

This scene... I’d seen it somewhere before.

Yes.

These two must be....

"Tus, Pus?"