I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 279

"No way... this is...!"

[Insufficient proficiency in "Heavenly Demon’s Dominion."]

Right. There was no way I could succeed in a single attempt.

This was a technique left behind by the Heavenly Demon, one that only my master had ever used.

So, remember.

The blurred image I saw back then.

The moment before I collapsed, the sight of my master etched into my eyes.

The techniques my master had taught me.

Heavenly Demon’s Dominion was a martial art of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Even though I was my master’s disciple, I was never officially part of the cult.

Which meant my master couldn’t teach me the technique outright.

But he showed it to me countless times.

Where to place my feet when throwing a punch.

How to position my tail when using sword energy or aura.

Where to shift my waist when biting down on an enemy.

Every movement I had learned from my master flowed together as one.

A single step, a simple motion of raising my foot and stomping down, contained everything he had ever taught me.

Thud.

An instant.

The force was much weaker than High Dragon Kick.

Qiongqi's previously amused expression stiffened.

Because my attack had failed?

No.

Because it had landed.

BOOOOOOOM!

Heavenly Demon—one who stands above the skies.

Which meant his steps could shake the heavens themselves.

A mere stomp, yet the sky crumbled, and the earth trembled.

It felt as though the green earth was speaking to me.

As if lamenting, why did it take you so long?

As if whispering, I’ve missed you.

Kugugugugu.

"How do you know this technique...?"

A crushing mass of power bore down on Qiongqi.

"Such a shame your proficiency is lacking. If you had just a little more time... this could have been truly enjoyable!"

He was right.

My proficiency was far from sufficient.

I couldn’t fully replicate my master’s strength.

But that was fine.

I never intended to take him down with this technique.

Qiongqi's body began to shift.

The moment he saw Heavenly Demon’s Dominion, he must have realized that fighting me in human form was no longer viable.

And of course, he would think that.

According to Cho-Do, Qiongqi was an ancient being who roamed the battlefield back when the previous Gomodo and the Heavenly Demon were still active.

Even if my technique was weak, it was unmistakably his martial art.

He had every reason to be cautious.

CRACK.

SPLURCH!

Qiongqi's body swelled as two massive crimson wings unfurled.

High-ranking spirit beasts could switch between their human and true forms.

They had the advantages of both, so they shifted depending on the situation.

But it wasn’t without limitations.

In a fight, it made sense to be small and fast when dodging, but large and powerful when attacking.

However, no one freely transformed mid-battle.

Because shifting forms created an opening.

That’s why those who could change forms usually disrupted their enemies’ stance with shockwaves or obscured their vision with mist before transforming.

But what was the situation now?

Qiongqi, the one who had promoted me from a mere lizard to a young dragon.

After taking High Dragon Kick, Serpent’s Counterstrike, and even Gae Gak Death Beam, he must have decided I was worth enduring.

Much like Docheol, he enjoyed battle.

That’s why he had asked me to attack first.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

And in that moment, I chose Heavenly Demon’s Dominion.

A technique he could never have expected.

And yet, one buried somewhere in his memories.

Even if the attack wasn’t as powerful as I wanted, it didn’t matter.

The true purpose of using Heavenly Demon’s Dominion was to force him into transforming in a hurry.

Qiongqi’s crimson eyes locked onto my right arm.

[Status: Miniaturization is lifted.]

CRACK.

[Due to "Miniaturization Lv10," status: Gigantification is applied.]

My claws, infused with the power of the storm, accelerated like mad.

Five fingers speared toward my enemy’s head.

From Nine Yin White Bone Claw to Gae Gak White Bone Claw.

From Gae Gak White Bone Claw to Gae Gak Divine Claw.

SPLUUURCH!

I struck a defenseless opponent.

"AAAAAAGH!"

Qiongqi let out a pained scream.

...It wasn’t good enough.

"Puhuh, kuhaha! Even if you were at a disadvantage, you revealed your true form, and you’re still giving up?"

"I simply took the fastest path. If I bring this battered lizard with me, they won’t pursue any further."

"Tch, I knew it. You act like you don’t care, but you still think about blood ties."

At least, there was one reassuring piece of news.

Just as I expected, Bihee didn’t want to kill the followers.

I wasn’t sure if it was because she was a benevolent spirit beast or because she wanted to keep them alive to offer them to the True Dragon.

"But if that strong one was there, how did you manage to escape alone?"

"I used my power. I created a formation that will only break if I die."

"Must’ve been one hell of an opponent if you had to use your shell!"

A shell?

Bihee’s body had something resembling armor now.

It was probably just a metaphor.

A power unique to Bihee, something I had never seen before.

Perhaps something closer to a defensive barrier.

"And you... you seem to have struggled more than expected."

Bihee pointed at Qiongqi’s missing wing.

"A mark of honor. The attack struck in an opening, but it was the best hit I’ve taken in ages. Far better than dealing with a coward like you, who always runs away."

They were chatting with each other as if I weren’t even here.

And why wouldn’t they?

Right now, I was little more than a corpse.

My bones were shattered, my vision was blurred.

The only silver lining was that my body was still intact.

It was almost funny.

I was backed into a corner, yet I still refused to release the compressed power in my tail.

"This is just about over. All that’s left is to take the lizard."

"Hmph. I’ll be the one to finish this. And I’ll make sure to punish you properly for interrupting my fun."

"...Since he has permitted an attack on the Heavenly Demon Cult, I will leave that to you."

"Oho, now that does sound tempting."

Someone had once told me...

"You won’t be able to save everyone this time."

"You will have to cut something off."

And they were right.

Right now, I couldn’t defeat them.

I had tried to save everyone, but in the end, I wouldn’t be able to save anyone.

I didn’t want to lose.

I wanted to win, no matter what.

...

My vision faded as a blue light flickered out.

I couldn’t see anything anymore.

"...I lost."

"Oh? Now you admit it?"

Qiongqi sneered as he stepped closer.

"But even so, that doesn’t mean you can just—"

Now was the time to sever something.

Not my tail.

Not the people I had to leave behind.

I had to sever myself.

I had lost.

So go ahead.

Do whatever you want.

My lips moved, forming words.

But they weren’t mine.

They came from the being that had won.

"Very well. The contract is sealed."

Bihee's massive body trembled as if she had been struck by lightning.

A primal fear crawled over her skin.

Memories she had long buried clawed their way back to the surface.

No matter how much time passed, she could never forget.

Qiongqi was no different.

The small dragon standing before him felt... familiar.

That metallic scent of blood.

That suffocating killing intent.

Yes.

This was the scent of death.

Qiongqi and Bihee immediately took a step back and held their breath.

The blue glow had disappeared.

And in its place, red light surged.

How could such power come from a single being?

Pure, undiluted malice.

The very embodiment of death.

"Y-you are...."

Qiongqi fell silent.

Bihee barely managed to squeeze out a trembling voice.

Their instincts told them exactly who stood before them.

But they refused to believe it.

Every spirit beast feared this ancient existence.

"Since time immemorial, I have been death."

A dragon of the earth, radiating crimson light.

"I am the destroyer of this world."

The tail-bearing death of old had returned.