Lizarius lay on the cracked ground, dust swirling around him like a shroud.
*Killing a Rank 5 beast isn’t as easy as I thought.*
As the dust slowly settled, Lizarius rose to his feet.
His body was riddled with injuries, blood staining his white scales.
*The poison…*
Before he could finish the thought, a massive shadow loomed over him.
Lizarius looked up.
The crocodile stood before him, towering like a colossal monument.
Its blue eyes glowed with predatory intensity as it stared down at him.
*Looks like the poison hasn’t kicked in yet.*
*I have to stall for time.*
The crocodile suddenly lunged.
Its massive jaws opened wide as it charged toward Lizarius.
Lizarius reacted instantly.
He opened his jaws and unleashed a deafening roar.
**ROOOOOAR!**
Powerful sound waves surged from his mouth and crashed directly into the crocodile’s open maw, traveling deep into its body.
The crocodile roared in agony.
Blood erupted from its mouth as its massive body trembled violently.
The internal damage caused by the sound-wave attack was clearly taking its toll.
*Now I need to distance myself.*
Lizarius attempted to take flight.
But before he could ascend—
**WHOOSH!**
The crocodile’s massive tail lashed out again.
Lizarius saw it coming, but his damaged body couldn’t move quickly enough to completely evade the attack.
He immediately spread his wings and used them as a shield.
**BANG!**
The tail struck him with tremendous force.
Lizarius was sent flying through the air and crashed through a cluster of trees.
**CRASH!**
Branches snapped.
Trunks splintered.
His body finally came to a stop amidst the wreckage.
Lizarius lay among the shattered trees, his body battered and broken.
He coughed up blood and slowly forced himself back onto his feet.
One of his wings was visibly damaged, torn and mangled from the impact.
The massive beast was still standing, panting heavily.
Blood smeared its jaws, while injuries from Lizarius’s lightning attack covered its body.
*This beast is stronger than I thought.*
Lizarius glanced at his damaged wing.
*My wing is damaged.
I won’t be able to fly.*
His eyes narrowed.
*I could probably escape from this distance…*
He looked back at the crocodile.
Despite its injuries, it was still standing.
*But it looks like it’s on its last breath.*
Lizarius remained still for a moment.
Then— lightning began crackling across his body.
*I just have to land one strong hit to kill it.*
He lowered his body, preparing himself for one final, decisive attack.
Lizarius stood with his glowing yellow eyes fixed on the crocodile.
Lightning crackled across his body as he prepared to deliver the killing blow.
The crocodile was still standing, its mouth smeared with blood and its chest heaving with labored breaths.
Then— its legs suddenly gave out.
**THUD!**
The massive crocodile collapsed onto the ground.
Lizarius froze.
The lightning surrounding his body slowly began to dissipate.
*What…?*
He stared at the fallen beast.
Then he realized.
*The poison finally took effect.*
Lizarius cautiously approached the crocodile.
*I guess the poison finally kicked in.*
He reached the crocodile’s massive body.
Its chest was still rising and falling, though each breath was weaker than the last.
Its blue eyes remained wide open.
Lizarius stopped beside its head and gazed directly into its eyes.
*You surely are strong.*
*You gave me a hard time.*
His yellow eyes narrowed.
*But it’s survival of the fittest.*
Lizarius moved toward the crocodile’s neck.
*Winner takes all.*
He paused.
*It was a tough fight.*
His jaws slowly opened.
*But now it’s time to die.*
Lizarius positioned himself beside the crocodile’s neck. Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
His yellow eyes glowed with menace.
Acidic saliva dripped from his fangs.
Then— he bit down with tremendous force.
**CRUNCH!**
The crocodile released a low, gurgling roar.
Then— it stopped breathing.
Its blue eyes slowly closed.
Acidic saliva spread across the wound, eating through the crocodile’s tough scales as steam rose from the flesh.
Lizarius tore away a chunk of meat.
Blood sprayed across his face.
He shook his head, clearing the blood from his eyes, then immediately continued devouring the crocodile.
As he ate, the injuries covering his body slowly began to heal.
His damaged scales gradually recovered, and the pain in his body began to fade.
Then—
Lizarius heard a noise.
He stopped eating.
His yellow eyes turned toward the dense forest.
Something was moving among the trees.
He remained still, listening.
Then he saw them.
Multiple glowing eyes stared at him from deep within the darkness.
One pair.
Then another.
Then several more.
They watched silently from between the trees.
Lizarius’s mouth was still smeared with blood.
*Looks like the sound of our battle drew the attention of some unwanted guests.*
His yellow eyes glowed with predatory anticipation.
He slowly turned his body toward the watching creatures.
*I guess I have to properly welcome them.*