Rose’s fist clenched, her eyes blazing, before she landed a brutal punch to my stomach, followed by a vicious uppercut. My scales absorbed most of the blow, but damn, she still sent me crashing onto my butt, the stone floor jarring my spine. I winced, rubbing my jaw.
“When I told you to get a slave this isn’t what I had in mind,” she snapped, looming over me, her blonde hair spilling like a furious halo.
I pulled Rusalka closer, her small frame trembling slightly against my side. “But isn’t she cute?” I said, patting her head. Her cheeks flushed a soft green, her big eyes darting down shyly.
“Rose-san, would it be possible to procure some equipment for her. I intend eventually for her to be a vanguard.”
“Can’t say it’s not possible. But how are you going to pay me? I don’t work for free.”
“I heard rumors there is a large basilisk that is making a ruckus near the outskirts of town. If I were to slay that, would it work for you?”
“It would most definitely work. No, it would be more than enough. I’ll even let you have a part of the meat for cooking. But… are you sure you are able to slay one?”
“Can you think of a better opportunity to test my skills?”
It’s true that a basilisk is more dangerous than a chimera, but at the same time it’s also more valuable on the black market. My new lizardfolk body—level 666, Tier 10 magic—felt like it could handle it, scales tingling with a strange confidence.
As I got up to leave, a gentle tug on my tail stopped me cold. Rusalka’s fingers clung to me, her eyes wide with fear. “Master… don’t go. I don’t want to be alone,” she whispered, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.
“There, there. Don’t worry. I don’t intend to abandon you. And I also don’t intend to put you in danger. Rusalka, I went through many hardships. I want a partner that I can trust. I don’t like being alone either. But in order for you to be useful to me, we have to fix you up a bit.”
She looked up with puppy eyes, her small hands still shaking. Gosh, she’s unbelievably cute up close. My heart did a little flip, despite the lingering ache in my chest.
“What’s wrong? Is it really that strange for a master that takes care of his slave?”
“Mou… alright. I can feel… warmth in your words. I’ll believe in master.”
“Rose-san, please.”
“Yeah. You have my word, I won’t harm her. I’ll get something for her. And I might as well give her a bath while I am at it. Now go on. Go fetch me some money already.”
The trek beyond the city took over half a day on foot, my boots kicking up dust along the winding path. No money for a horse, so my legs did the work. Past the forest, I reached a sloping field, green grass rippling like a sea under the afternoon sun. The wind carried the scent of moist soil and fresh blades, mingling with the rustle of leaves from the trees behind me. My lizardfolk senses caught every detail—the faint hum of insects, the sharp tang of earth. I’d never stopped to admire nature before, but damn, it was beautiful.
“Before anything else, let’s try some magic,” I muttered, flexing my clawed fingers. No Staff of the Storm Ruler today—that’d be overkill. Let’s start small.
“[Wind Cutter]!”
I waved my hand, calling the spell’s name. A green light flared from my palm, my scales tingling as a crescent moon wave sliced through the air toward the forest. The power surged through me, stronger than I expected, like a current under my skin. Trees groaned, then toppled, their trunks severed clean. Leaves rustled, and birds scattered into the sky, their cries echoing as the dull thud of falling timber filled the air.
“What the hell!?” I stared, jaw dropping. “I saw Miriam use that skill many times but it was never that powerful. Is this because of my increased level?”
A foul stench hit my nostrils, sharp and rancid, cutting through the grassy aroma. My scales prickled, a strange instinct kicking in. Something was coming. I spun around, heart racing, and saw it—a massive creature slinking from behind a rock formation, its scales glinting in the sunlight.
The basilisk was a monster straight out of a nightmare. Over six meters long from head to tail, its lizard-like body moved on six powerful legs, covered in spotted greyish-green scales. A green cockscomb crowned its head, its back shimmered with color-changing scales, and its tail bristled with spiny protrusions. Its eyes, bigger than its head, gave it a chameleon-like stare, locking onto me with predatory focus. It opened its wide maw, fangs gleaming, and let out a bone-chilling cry.
“kurororororooooooooo!”
Gulp.
My throat tightened, a flicker of fear gripping me. A basilisk was leagues above the chimera I’d faced in the Farche Dungeon. I should’ve been paralyzed, but something surged within me—a warmth from the Dragon Heart, whispering I had nothing to fear. My pulse steadied, scales humming with power.
The basilisk charged, its six legs thundering across the grass. Then it stopped, shaking its head up and down. I knew that pattern—years with Crimson Raid had drilled monster behaviors into me. It was prepping a breath attack. Flames erupted from its maw, a roaring inferno big enough to swallow a man whole, the heat singeing the air.
“Not happening. [Iron Rock Wall]!”
I thrust my hand forward, magic surging through me. A rock wall materialized in seconds, solid and unyielding, blocking the flames. The heat licked at my scales, but the barrier held firm, not a single crack. I blinked, stunned. Iron Rock Wall was a Tier 1 spell, supposed to crumble against a basilisk’s breath. Mine didn’t even flinch.
“My turn. Let’s see how tuff you really are. Let’s see how you fair against a tier 2 spell. [Arctic Blade]!”
A magic circle glowed beneath the basilisk’s feet, my scales tingling as mana poured out. Above its head, a massive sword of crystal ice formed—five meters long, far bigger than any Arctic Blade had a right to be. It plunged down, piercing the beast’s bulky body with a sickening crunch. The ice shattered, ringing like broken metal, as the basilisk’s cry cut off. Its massive form collapsed, shaking the ground with a heavy thud.
I stood frozen, my breath ragged, watching the dust settle. “Seriously, Arctic Blade is normally something that generates a blade the size of a regular sword. But for my version to be that big and kill a basilisk in one hit… I feel my blood boiling. Perhaps it’s the effect of the Dragon Heart telling me to be more confident.”
I shook my head, focusing. The basilisk’s corpse was a goldmine for Rose’s black market. I touched it, my rune humming as the void swallowed the beast whole. A day’s trek back awaited, but Rusalka and Rose were counting on me. I wondered how Rusalka was doing—cleaned up, maybe even smiling. I grinned, the thought warming me. “Let’s not keep a lady waiting.”