“Evolution complete,” the system announced.
**Rank 4, Low Stage Beast — Mutated White Scale Lizard.**
Still flying above the crocodile, Lizarius looked down at the massive beast.
*I’m a Rank 4 beast now.
You better prepare to die.*
Lightning surged through his horns and spread across his body.
His glowing yellow eyes remained fixed on the crocodile below.
The massive reptile trembled beneath his gaze.
*Is that… fear?* Lizarius mused.
*Too late.*
He gathered the lightning energy between his horns.
Then—
**BOOM!**
A powerful bolt of lightning tore through the air and struck the crocodile with a deafening crack.
The beast let out a pained roar.
Its massive body convulsed violently as steam rose from its belly.
Then— it passed out.
Lizarius descended and landed near the crocodile.
He cautiously approached its flank, watching for any movement.
*It’s still breathing…*
He stared at the crocodile for a moment.
A flicker of hunger appeared in his yellow eyes as his jaws parted slightly, acidic saliva dripping from his mouth.
*The defense of this beast is incredible.*
Lizarius opened his jaws and moved in to bite down.
**Sizzle.**
Acidic saliva dripped onto the crocodile’s scales, scorching the surface.
But suddenly— the crocodile’s eyes snapped open.
Its massive tail swung with surprising speed, tearing through the air toward Lizarius.
Lizarius reacted instantly.
His body sprang backward, narrowly avoiding the massive tail.
**BOOM!**
The tail slammed into the ground.
The crocodile’s body trembled as it struggled to rise.
Lizarius’s yellow eyes glowed fiercely.
*It can still stand after that?*
He was impressed—and slightly alarmed.
The crocodile opened its enormous jaws.
**ROOOOOAR!**
A deafening roar erupted from its throat.
Then— before Lizarius could react— the massive beast collapsed.
Its body went completely still.
Lizarius remained where he was for a moment, watching it carefully.
*It’s dead.*
He slowly approached.
*What was it trying to do by letting out such a loud roar?
I thought it was preparing for a final attack.*
Then a chilling realization struck him.
*I have to eat it quickly and leave.
That roar is going to attract the nearby beasts.*
Lizarius opened his jaws and bit down on the crocodile’s corpse.
**Crack.**
Even after death, the crocodile’s defense remained incredibly tough.
*Even after dying, its defense is still this strong?*
Lizarius bit down harder.
Acidic saliva flowed from his jaws, scorching through the crocodile’s scales.
Slowly, he tore into the flesh beneath.
He began devouring the corpse with savage hunger.
*Luckily, I have the Acid Frog Gene.
With it, I can easily eat through its defenses.*
Then—
**Rustle.**
Lizarius suddenly stopped eating.
His yellow eyes turned toward the source of the noise.
Something was approaching.
He watched carefully.
Then— a second blue-scaled crocodile emerged from behind the waterfall.
Lizarius’s eyes narrowed.
*Another one?*
His gaze shifted toward the corpse beneath him.
*So that’s why it roared before dying.*
The second crocodile stepped out from behind the waterfall.
Its blue eyes glowed with fury as it took in the scene before it— the corpse of its companion…
and Lizarius standing beside it, blood dripping from his jaws.
The crocodile immediately plunged into the pool at the base of the waterfall.
**Splash!**
It swam rapidly through the water toward Lizarius.
Lizarius remained motionless.
The crocodile emerged from the pool, towering over him.
Lizarius looked up at the massive beast.
*It’s way bigger than the other one.*
“System, what’s its rank?”
Before the system could respond— the crocodile swung its massive tail.
**BOOM!**
The blow tore through the air toward Lizarius.
Lizarius reacted instinctively.
He thrust both wings forward to block the attack.
**BANG!**
The enormous force slammed into him.
His body was sent hurtling through the forest.
**CRASH!**
He smashed through one tree.
Then another.
Then another.
Branches and shattered wood exploded around him as his body continued tearing through the forest.
Meanwhile, the crocodile turned toward the corpse of the first crocodile.
It moved closer.
After realizing that its companion was dead, its eyes narrowed.
Then—
**ROOOOOAR!**
A terrifying roar shook the surrounding forest.
“Rank 5, Mid Stage Beast — Blue Scale Crocodile,” the system announced. This story is hosted at g.com.
Lizarius slowly rose from the wreckage of the shattered trees.
His body ached from the impact.
*A Mid Stage Rank 5…*
His yellow eyes remained fixed on the crocodile.
*That’s why I couldn’t even take a single hit from it.*
He glanced at his wings.
*I didn’t think my wings would hold up.*
Despite the impact, they had survived.
*They’re stronger than I thought.*
Lizarius lowered his body into an attacking stance.
Lightning crackled around his horns and spread across his body.
His yellow eyes glowed fiercely.
“System, how many points do I have left?”
“You have **200 Evolution Points** remaining,” the system replied.
“System,” Lizarius commanded, “evolve the Golden Scale Gene.”
A strange sensation immediately spread through his tail.
He felt the Golden Scale Gene changing.
But Lizarius continued watching the crocodile.
*I was a little worried I might not get any Genes from it.*
His jaws parted slightly.
*Lucky you came now.*
*You have to die.*
The crocodile’s eyes burned with rage.
It suddenly charged toward Lizarius.
Lightning gathered around its body.
Then—
**BOOM!**
A lightning strike erupted from the crocodile and tore through the air.
The attack struck Lizarius head-on.
**CRACK!**
Lightning exploded across his body.
The crocodile roared as steam rose from its scales.
But it didn’t stop.
It continued charging.
In an instant, it reached Lizarius.
Its massive jaws opened wide as it attempted to bite down on him.
Then—
“Evolution complete,” the system announced.
At that exact moment—
Lizarius swung his tail.
The golden scales at its tip crackled with lightning.
**SHING!**
The golden scales shot forward.
They flew directly into the crocodile’s open mouth.
**CRACK!**
The crocodile shrieked in agony.
Lizarius immediately moved, attempting to take flight.
But—
**BOOM!**
The crocodile’s massive tail swung again.
It struck Lizarius before he could escape.
The force of the impact sent his body crashing violently into the ground.
**CRASH!**