233 – Nymphs and Dinosaur Sorcerer #3
I felt a chill run down my spine.
The Kkungkkungi and Angangi, who had been perched on my shoulder eating raspberries, immediately assumed combat stances.
“—Kkungkkk…!”
“—Zzzi…!”
They were warning me of danger.
Kalilnoi also suddenly soared into the sky.
“—Pirrirr…!”
Kalilnoi made an intimidating sound.
Soon, the Nymphs were in a commotion.
“A terrifying thing is approaching…!”
“Of course…! It’s truly an emergency…!”
An unexpected crisis situation.
If I were to pinpoint the cause of this situation, it was most likely Seo Ye-rim who had conjured a pillar of flame into the sky.
Of course, Seo Ye-rim remained composed.
“Tell whatever comes to come. I’m in a bad mood right now.”
And that was the problem.
Honestly, I believed that whatever came, Seo Ye-rim could take it down by herself.
However, the forest and we would not withstand, ending up charred black!
That would mean complete devastation.
Bang-!
At that moment, something sprang out from the underbrush.
“—Puuong…! Puuong…!”
Such a remarkable sound!
It was the dinosaur I had handed a dagger to!
Even the side wound was identical!
“You’ve entered the rift too!”
I was glad to see this raptor.
But the raptor’s eyes were vividly red, and drool dripped from its mouth with its fangs bared.
I could sense hostility.
This was clearly a gaze directed at prey.
“That dinosaur is back. Should we burn it?”
Flare-.
Seo Ye-rim ignited flames in both hands.
I hurriedly stopped her.
“No, that dinosaur wasn’t that ferocious! Something’s wrong. It’s like… it seems to be controlled or something?”
Since I was an animal sorcerer controlling Kkungkkungi, Angangi, and Kkungkkuni, I was quick to grasp the raptor’s state.
Just as I controlled Kkungkkungi and Angangi, it seemed that the raptor was being controlled by someone.
At that moment.
Thud, thud-thud-thud-.
A sound like the earth shaking reverberated, and a monstrous creature with sharp fangs and dark red skin burst through the trees.
Its two legs resembled building pillars, and its skin looked as sturdy as a tank, with teeth jutting out mercilessly—the very embodiment of fear.
It looked like at least an S Rank demon.
“—Kuaaaaaaaah-!!!”
If a Tyrannosaurus were a bit more malevolent and ferocious, it would feel like this!
Is this creature a “Demon Saur”?
It seemed at least an S rank demon, and I swallowed nervously.
Soon, Inoi trembled.
“Hyek…! That is known as the ‘Demon Saur,’ the king of the jungle…! It’s said to be a ferocious monster that can destroy forests and mountains in just one day…!”
Demon Saur.
What a threatening name it was.
It was the ultimate predator that devoured whatever came in its path.
“This Inoi says it’s not tasty…! Sure to taste like cold cucumber soup…! Don’t eat it…!”
Inoi seemed to feel an instinctual terror as a living being.
However, Illinois chuckled ominously.
“Core Ye-rim is the natural born destructive weapon that can even burn ferocious Hydras…! A dinosaur like that is no problem…! Just tell it to get roasted…!”
Illinois appeared relaxed.
However, Seo Ye-rim frowned.
“Hey? I clearly made it charred black earlier. Why is it intact?”
Thud, thud-thud-!
The ground shook again.
Swish—.
A massive body appeared, cutting through the underbrush.
It was a monster with skin like dark red leather and armor-like skin like a tank.
“—Coooaahhhh-!!!”
“Hyek…! There’s another one…!”
Thud, thud-thud.
The ground shook once more.
The first to realize the situation was Seo Ye-rim.
“What? So there’s not just one Demon Saur, but several? Well, it’s really not strange for multiple S rank demons to emerge from a T rank rift.”
Crack-crack-.
Seo Ye-rim loosened her shoulders.
“This is perfect. I was just wanting to test out a new technique. Haildo! You must guard the Nymphs well! I can’t be responsible if you get caught up!”
Flare-!
As Seo Ye-rim unleashed her magic, my lips felt dry. My skin felt parched. The moisture in the air had evaporated completely.
“Magical Expansion.”
Seo Ye-rim clapped her hands in the air and cast an understandable self-suggestion spell.
It was visible as all the heat concentrated in the palms of her hands.
It took the shape of a blade.
“Sun Sword – Revatain.”
It was a weapon that could be called a long sword. It wasn’t made of metal but was a blade composed of pure heat and hot magic.
Simple yet robust in appearance.
The first to notice its danger were the three Demon Saurs.
Having reached the apex of the ecosystem through hunger and brutality, the Demon Saurs staggered back, then fled with their backs turned.
Of course, Seo Ye-rim was a seasoned S Rank veteran and wouldn’t allow the monsters to escape.
“Wall of Fire.”
Swish-.
With a light swing of her sword, flames soared from the ground to the sky.
It was literally a colossal wall of fire.
The Demon Saurs, while fleeing, were halted by the wall, suffering from the flames clinging to them as they fell heavily to the ground.
To fell three S rank demons without breaking a sweat—that scene left me in admiration while Illinois chuckled ominously.
“Indeed, it’s the ferocity of an apocalypse…! Even the terrifying demon dinosaurs are no different than lizards in front of Core Ye-rim’s unbelievable nature…!”
End of the situation!
Wouldn’t it be possible to view it that way?
No, events in the world do not flow that easily.
# # #
“In my opinion, the real mastermind is someone controlling these dinosaurs. These dinosaurs don’t seem to be the core of this rift. They are merely being controlled.”
Swish—.
I approached the dinosaurs gasping heavily from the scorch and touched their nape.
I felt dense magic.
As I thought about the familiar feeling, something suddenly whooshed out from the underbrush.
It was the spearhead.
If I hadn’t turned my head to the side, it would have pierced my face.
“Ugh! What’s that!”
Swish, swish—!
Before I could regain my senses, the spearhead was relentlessly targeting my face.
Of course, I couldn’t just take it, and soon Angangi came flying at the unfamiliar spear wielder.
“Angangi! Zzi Cut!”
“—Zzzi…!”
Bang-!
Angangi’s Zzi Cut struck towards the unknown individual!
Slap-!
The stranger collapsed right there.
Only then could I examine the ambusher’s appearance.
It was a person wearing white fur on their head, with a wooden mask covering their face.
The bone ornaments on their wrists and ankles were striking, but before I knew it, the ambusher stood back up. I could only be greatly surprised.
“Standing up after being hit by Angangi’s Zzi Cut? I’ve never seen that before! Does that mean you’re a woman!?”
I didn’t know why, but Angangi’s technique “Zzi Cut” seemed to inflict more damage on males. I didn’t understand the reason.
It appeared that Angangi didn’t know either.
It must be some secret of the mysterious Emperor Ant Angangi.
Crack-.
Soon, the wooden mask covering the attacker’s face popped off to the sides. Seeing that, I was taken aback, as the face was indeed familiar.
Predator-like yellow eyes.
Scars resembling whiskers marked both cheeks.
The short, pointed ears revealed by the brown hair.
“…Nymph?”
An adult Nymph like Kalilnoi.
The ambusher’s identity was none other than a Godai Nymph!
“Ahh-! There’s a Nymph sister…! I thought I felt a strong Nymph presence in this forest, but there really was a Nymph sister…!”
“But it seems there’s no sign of intelligence…. I’m thinking that Illinois might be right in saying that this adult Nymph sister is the name-less individual that forgot her name…!”
The nameless Nymph.
I knew well about that existence from Kalilnoi.
And I also knew quite well that adult Nymphs were incredibly powerful beings.
“You were the dinosaur sorcerer! The core of this rift is you yourself! Isn’t it? The focal point of this rift is this enormous Nymph!”
Bang-!
At that moment, the dinosaur sorcerer Nymph turned and charged toward Seo Ye-rim.
“Witch! Graaaaah─!”
It was more of a sharp scream or roar than a word or phrase. Seo Ye-rim used all her strength to evade the oncoming attack.
Watching the rich third-generation wealthy person tumble backward was quite an amusing sight.
“Che! A Nymph, huh? I’m at a disadvantage. How can I pinch you!”
As soon as Seo Ye-rim recognized that her opponent was a Nymph, her intent to fight seemed to suddenly wane. Seo Ye-rim’s flames had such lethal force that a slight mistake could result in something terrible happening.
Soon, Inoi raised both hands high and approached the dinosaur sorcerer Nymph.
“We’re all friends…! Please stop fighting and listen! This Inoi is the Nymph Inoi of the ditch water…!”
“Witch!!!”
The dinosaur sorcerer Nymph growled, hurling a spear at Inoi. Just then, Kalilnoi flew from above and swiftly grabbed Inoi’s shoulder.
Had Kalilnoi not reacted, Inoi would have been gravely injured!
“Witch!!!”
The large Nymph growled at Inoi, who had flown into the air.
Seeing that, Illinois shouted.
“That’s a completely crazy Nymph…! A Nymph like that needs to be beat into her senses…! I’m permitting the use of violence against Nymphs…!”
Permitting the use of violence─.
Even if I said it, I couldn’t do anything.
I had no weapon.
There was only one way.
“Angangi!”
I called Angangi.
To transform into the golden honey ant rider Haildo.
However, Angangi had been shaking from the moment it used “Zzi Cut” and was frozen in place. When Inoi had come down, she placed Angangi in her palm and shouted loudly.
“Angangi has been bewitched…! This is a paralysis spell that works exceptionally well against bugs and insects…! It’s a spell of extremely high proficiency…!”
Is that so?
Now I understood why both Kkungkkungi and Angangi were shaking but unable to move.
—Hyoong….
—Zzi….
Then, the only one left for me was Kalilnoi.
Of course, Kalilnoi alone could be sufficient.
After all, Kalilnoi was originally a large Nymph too.
“Pirrirr…!”
Kalilnoi soared into the sky and dove toward the frenzied dinosaur sorcerer. But the dinosaur sorcerer evaded skillfully and stabbed at Kalilnoi with the spear.
Bang-! Bang bang-!
Although Kalilnoi defended with its wings and feathers, the scratches were increasing.
The problem was how accustomed the dinosaur sorcerer was to fighting and that the jungle forest was unfavorable for Kalilnoi.
I thought I had to somehow help Kalilnoi. But without a weapon, if I rashly jumped in, I would only be a hindrance.
So I took a deep breath, calmed my mind, and focused the boiling magic onto Kalilnoi.
“Go! Kalilnoi! Hyper Evolution!”
Originally, hyper-evolving Kalilnoi frequently ended in failure.
But in a situation like this where magic was rich all around and my skills had improved?
—Hoo, hoo!?
Kalilnoi seemed flustered by the sudden influx of magic.
Boom-!
Brilliant light began to envelop Kalilnoi, and even the mad dinosaur sorcerer took a step back while covering its face with “Kuhh!”
At that moment, Inoi shouted as if excited.
“That is the light of evolution…! Kalilnoi is clearly trying to evolve…! Since it’s the evolution of the tiger owl, it will surely become an incredible phoenix…!”
I also anticipated the evolution of the tiger owl.
What would it become upon evolving?
A hyper mech owl…!?
Bang-!
Finally, with a great explosion of light, Kalilnoi’s evolution revealed itself.
It was—neither an owl nor a phoenix but in the form of a woman.
It appeared as if clad in armor made of feathers.
Aside from that, the face was exactly as I remembered Kalilnoi.
“Why did the owl revolutionize into a human-like woman…? Illinois has been deceived…! I’m going to file a complaint…! Please call for a lawyer…!”
I too felt a shock similar to when a cat digital monster evolved into an angel-type Angel Woman. However, Kalilnoi, who had returned to the form of a Nymph, clenched her fists and shouted triumphantly.
“Pirrirr—! No, no. I’ve finally returned to the body of a Nymph!!! I feel more power than ever before!!!”
