Happy and joyous holidays to you! Chapter 122 – The Monster and the Little Forest’s Phantom Beast
Chapter 41: The Monster and the Little Forest’s Phantom Beast
121 – The Monster and the Little Forest’s Phantom Beast #1
─Now, it’s just you left, Gamma.
I stared at the one remaining monster, steadying my stance.
Out of the four monsters, only Beta and Gamma had reached adulthood. Gamma, having been the longest surviving among the monsters, might possess special combat skills or dangerous finishing moves.
─SSSShhhhhrrrrreeekkk!
The sleek Gamma, resembling a Savannah cat, crouched on all fours like me and stood its fur on end.
Its body seemed to bulk up in an incredible muscle expansion, especially its hind legs, which became two or three times thicker.
─SSSSshhhrrrrreeeekkk!
Gamma opened its mouth wide. Among its teeth, its canines, curved like those of ancient saber-toothed tigers, stood out conspicuously.
Letting out a roar like the wind blowing over a cliff, Gamma kicked off the black ground with its swollen hind legs and leapt towards me.
“Fast…!”
It matched the momentary speed of the silver wolf Borjigin I’d seen in the Eastern Forest.
Despite Gamma being smaller than the others, it was still about 1.5 times my size.
With its weight likely being double mine, the creature’s charge was impressive, like a tiger lunging at a rabbit.
But I’m no rabbit. I, too, am among the fiercest of beasts, a top predator who survived by toughening up in the wild and embracing survival of the fittest over the past couple of months.
I swung my forepaw at the charging creature. It would crash into my blow at a speed it can’t control, bouncing off.
─d*e already!
─SSHHHREEEEK!
But Gamma twisted its body, dodging my swing. Although I didn’t expect it to change direction at such full speed, neither had Gamma anticipated my counter-attack, as its body swayed heavily.
Perhaps due to the rapid acceleration causing it to lose control, Gamma tumbled high into the air.
─Checkmate, kiddo.
I swung my tail at the defenseless creature mid-air. No matter how agile Gamma might be, it couldn’t dodge while airborne.
My tail slammed down towards Gamma’s body.
─Ssshhiiiiik!
At the moment of Gamma’s life-or-d*ath crisis, it launched a missile-like kick with its hind legs mid-air toward me.
“Mid-air leaps?!”
I stared dumbfounded at Gamma, defying the laws of physics like it had an invisible trampoline in the air. Even though physics-bending talents and spells weren’t new to me, who’d have expected a creature to “walk” through the air?
Caught off guard by its unexpected trick, I tumbled across the ground with Gamma.
─KYAAHHH!
It attacked, gnashing its teeth viciously before leaping back as I regained my stance.
Gamma spat on the ground and licked its red tongue around its lips.
“Fast, sure, but shallow attacks. Your claws are too dull to penetrate my thick hide.”
I brushed off the bl**d and dust on my body with my forepaw. Gamma circled me, keeping its sharp gaze on me.
“It’s not rushing in.”
Gamma’s strategy probably involved quick ambushes with speed and agility. Maintaining distance instead of drawing out close combat likely aimed to conduct guerrilla warfare against me.
“Come on, give me more!”
I took a few steps towards it. It matched my advance step-for-step, maintaining a safe distance.
“Nice, you’re coming at me like a scaredy-cat.”
I thought of ways to close the gap with Gamma, carefully observing it. Stealth and sneaky maneuvers would be ideal, but Gamma seemed to sense my presence even when concealed, keeping a greater distance.
“What to do? Approach or make it come to me?”
Observing the feline-like Gamma reminded me of handling cats— they run when you beckon them and come closer when ignored.
Thus, instead of me approaching Gamma, making it come to me might be better.
“Let’s give it a shot.”
I lay down, exposing my belly to Gamma. This strategy had worked before—what’s commonly called the Inoki Allee position, a deceptive move that looks defenseless but traps enemies into a grappling position.
“C’mon, kid.”
─SSHHHRREEEKKK!
Gamma narrowed its gaze, raising its fur in a sharp hiss. It closely observed my actions, trying to discern my intentions.
Perhaps it couldn’t understand why I’d willingly expose my weaknesses and became even more cautious.
“You’re scared of me? Just come on.”
I flailed my arms wide, trying to look as foolish and clumsy as possible. It seemed to work as Gamma leapt quickly towards me with a kick.
“Ultimately, Gamma must approach to attack. If it approaches, I can strike back.”
─KRRAAAAAHHH!
With a deafening roar, Gamma pounced onto my body, lashing with its claws. I took a couple of hits while maneuvering my long tail.
My tail coiled around Gamma’s waist tightly, like a python. Then I clenched my powerful hind legs around its body like a vise.
“Now, I’m not letting go. It’s over, kid.”
I maintained my mount position and swung my forepaws toward Gamma’s head.
But Gamma dodged all my attacks with incredible reflexes and dynamic body movements, like an elite boxer.
“You’re impressive!”
My admiration flowed with every dodge. But endless misses were unacceptable, so I reared up and bit down hard on Gamma’s neck with my fangs.
─GGGRRRAAAHHH! KRAAAHHH!
Gamma writhed in pain but was still trapped by my tail, legs, and forepaws.
─GRAAHHH…
As Gamma’s struggles weakened, its breath became more ragged. I knew this bizarre duel was nearing its end.
【Evolution completed.】
When I opened my eyes, sunlight streamed through the narrow windows of the chapel. Dawn had passed, and morning had arrived.
Birds chirped as I stood, swaying at the heightened viewpoint. Looking down, I noticed my hind legs seemed to have grown compared to before.
“Fourth evolution. What’s changed about my body?”
I wobbled over to a small mirror tucked in a corner of the church. The changes from my last evolution were immediately apparent.
“Wow, now that’s what I call evolving.”
Satisfied, I nodded at the elongated horns atop my head.
Though my face retained a roundish shape, my sleek limbs and sharper eyes suggested I’d grown from a cute little mascot into a proper fierce beast.
“Excellent.”
Most satisfying were my extended hind legs.
Tensing them, the muscles bulged impressively—enough to match Gamma’s agility.
“A proper run could reveal how far my evolution’s taken me.”
Outside the chapel, Batus, Shuleiman, Vitali, and Leaf waited by the guard station.
“What? Where did you go? You disappeared completely.”
Vitali grabbed my cheeks, stroking them with both hands. Confused, she tilted her head.
“Did you look like this before? You seem to have grown a bit.”
She mumbled, unsure, then grabbed my side and tried lifting me with a grunt.
“Ughh, you’re heavy now. I can’t lift you anymore. What exactly happened? What’s going on?”
Vitali turned to Batus, who’d brought me from the Ancient Nest.
“Beasts in the Ancient Nest grow this way rapidly. Anyway, it’s good. We can have this one pull a cart now.”
─What?!
Batus moved to harness the carriage to my shoulders and abdomen, reminding me about the village people chasing horses away.
*
Pulling a carriage was much easier this time compared to the last load where I carried the Brotherhood team.
The carriage held only a few people and some luggage, lighter than the previous cart, and my evolved hind legs showed unexpected strength.
From the driver’s seat, Batus spoke to me in barely a whisper.
“All this is part of your training. These exercises will toughen your muscles and build even more strength. It’ll be tough, but hang on til the next big town. Just follow the main road.”
─Ah, you’re calling this training, eh.
I gave a small scoff as I pulled.
Name: Alpha White Dog
Species: Monster lv.20
Strength: 75 → 80
Agility: 60 → 92
Stamina: 67 → 71
This evolution had been a dramatic improvement in my stats, with agility surpassing the 90 mark—an unimaginable leap. Unlike previous evolutions, this one had noticeably altered my stats.
“I could soar. If it weren’t for the carriage, I’d really be flying.”
The open road stretched out ahead, and the wind on my face felt exhilarating. How much better it would be without the carriage strapped to my back.
“The team of horses we replaced pulls slower. Excellent, excellent. At this pace, we’ll reach the Royal Capital in a day or two.”
─Point me to the way. I don’t know the route to this Royal Capital.
“Just follow this main road straight, and you’ll see a small forest. Cutting through it is the fastest way to the Royal Capital.”
As we continued, sure enough, tall trees piercing the sky appeared beneath the hill.
I prepared to dash through the woodland path at top speed. However, spotting the piles of goods and carriages at the forest entrance, I slowed down.
In front of the forest pathway, some grimacing men stomped their feet impatiently.
“What’s all this here about?”
Batus stepped down from the carriage and approached the men. I unbuckled the harness on my shoulders, giving my legs and shoulders a quick stretch.
Even after running what felt like ten kilometers, I didn’t feel tired at all, which was strange in a good way.
“Is this the strength of adulthood?”
I calmed the surging energy within me while listening to Batus and the men converse. A middle-aged man with a turban, sporting a scruffy beard, scratched the back of his head as he addressed Batus.
“It’s pointless to proceed further into the forest. A terrifying monster lurks within, attacking merchants!”
The mention of a terrifying monster perked my ears. In that moment, faint letters appeared and faded before my eyes.
【Salom: Nest of the Twisted Claw and Wings】
‘What kind of human world has a Salom at every turn?’
I wondered if this forest harbored a creature similar to the long-tailed one I’d met at Salom Village.
Batus, who listened carefully to the turban-wearing man, showed him the platinum emblem hanging from his neck.
“Tell me more about this monster. I’ll take care of it if it’s not too serious.”
“Ah.”
The turbaned man’s face lit up like a storm breaking.
“The platinum badge…! And the greatsword on your back! You must be the legendary strongest human, Batus!”
“The strongest human? That’s a joke.”
Batus dismissively waved his hand as if embarrassed. The turbaned man extended a hand to Batus.
“I am your passionate admirer. I saw you at the Colosseum, slaying a Gold Grade dragon single-handed with your greatsword!”
Batus grasped the extended hand in a slow shake, nodding casually.
“Rosse Spinow was no full adult. It was nothing much.”
“Nothing much?! Oh, I’m the head of the Pirunice Trade Guild. My name’s Lot!”
“Pirunice Trade Guild? I’ve heard of it. I even ate at ‘Pirunice’s Mermaid’ in the Royal Capital. Their seafood dishes were excellent.”
“Haha, freshness is everything in seafood. That’s why I was urgently transporting some, but now I’m worried about delays because… well, they’ve wrecked all the bridges and we’ve been taking detours…”
“Sorry to hear that. So, who exactly are these monsters in the forest?”
“Oh, yes, I got caught up in my story. The creatures settled in the forest are no ordinary beasts—they’re called phantoms.”
‘Phantoms?’
I frowned at the bizarre description.
─PPIIIIIIRRRRRR!
A roar that seemed to shake the entire forest resonated, making the trees shiver dramatically. Batus chuckled.
“This is definitely a Gryphon. Rare enough to be called a phantom beast.”
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