The 〖Evolution Path〗 changes depending on one’s experience and possessed 〖Skills〗.
I had vaguely sensed this since I 〖Evolved〗 into a Weapon Slime.
So, when I saw this species added to my 〖Evolution Path〗 a little while after coming to this country, I wasn’t particularly surprised.
However, I was surprised by the description.
It said that its entire body possessed the same properties as the highest-grade Mana Crystal.
The amount of 〖Mana〗 I gained after 〖Evolving〗 was, as the boast claimed, ‘unfettered even within the category of 〖Calamity Beasts〗,’ and was on a completely different level.
It even surpassed my 〖Toughness〗, which had been the undisputed number one until now.
“(Well, that’s not really this species’ main purpose, though.)”
“Shurororororo!”
The Earth蛟, which had once distanced itself, was approaching again.
Its appearance was like a cross between a snake and an oriental dragon.
Its thick, long body, like a tunnel, was protected by rugged scales like rock.
The tips of its eight legs had sharp claws.
The scales around its neck were reddish-black, and around where they began to change color, the neck branched into two, connecting to two heads.
The heads were generally snake-like, but the menacing fangs and the twisted horns growing from the sides of the head were dragon-like.
There were also long, thin whiskers growing above its mouth.
“(No injuries other than the initial attack, huh? So, even while sealed, it recovers from injuries and 〖Mana〗.)”
After confirming the information, I finished preparing for the attack.
I floated into the air, forcefully pushing out my overflowing 〖Mana〗.
“(〖S(Sparkle) U(Aproot)〗, 〖L(Lock-on) AIM〗)”
I scattered semi-transparent magic bullets from my entire body like fireworks.
Some flew in a straight line, while others drew parabolas as they approached the Earth蛟.
“Shashaa!”
“(Well, it’s going to respond, isn’t it?)”
In response to the countless 〖Mana〗 beams, the Earth蛟 used a 〖Skill〗 to launch several rock masses as interception.
Most of the beams collided with the rock masses and exploded at the midpoint between us, and the few beams that avoided them were dodged by the Earth蛟’s movements, which were free to change speed and direction, and fell to the ground.
Each magic bullet, filled with maximum 〖Mana〗, possessed the power to shake the earth.
But such tremors wouldn’t stop the Earth蛟.
“(Then I’ll have to change my approach, 〖U(Update)〗)”
I activated a new 〖Skill〗.
Due to its effect, my body was altered—remodeled.
Since it was only lemon-colored, it would be hard to tell from the outside, but if you looked closely, you would notice that the scenery visible through it was wriggling.
However, these changes were momentary, and I immediately launched the next attack.
“(Here’s another one, 〖SU(Sparkle Aploot)〗)”
The 〖Mana〗 beams looked the same as before.
The Earth蛟 also used rock masses to intercept them, but the result was, of course, different from before.
“Gishaa!?”
This time, the magic bullets did not explode when they hit the rock masses, but pierced through them, hitting the Earth蛟 behind them.
In addition, some of the magic bullets circled around to avoid colliding with the rock masses, directly piercing the main body.
The Earth蛟, which had become the prey of the magic bullets, writhed and rolled across the ground—no, across the crystal.
The ground had already transformed into a surface of Mana Crystals.
“(The damage is shallow even with 〖Storm Strike〗 included… Was omitting the explosion excessive?)”
What I did with 〖U(Update)〗 was to improve the 〖Mana〗 ejection mechanism.
This body is a mass of Mana Crystals and also a collection of Artifacts. I used this constitution for levitation as well.
The same was true for the 〖Mana〗 bombardment.
And those magic bullets were designed to explode to increase damage, but that had the opposite effect last time.
So, I removed that and focused all resources on penetration power this time.
The killing power itself had decreased, but it still inflicted sufficient damage.
The Earth蛟 rolled and came to a stop right under me, exposing its defenseless form—,
“(—No, that’s not it, this is)”
“Gishua!”
As one of its heads cried out, an immense pressure assailed me in mid-air.
My altitude dropped with a thud, and the Earth蛟, looking up at me, approached.
“(So, this is the so-called 〖Gravity Stone Serpent’s Evil Eye〗.)”
While recalling the existence of a 〖Skill〗 that dramatically increased the gravity on targets within its field of vision, I prepared to deal with it.
The Earth蛟 was manipulating the crystals on the ground with its 〖Skill〗, forming three huge spears like spires and thrusting them upwards.
It was an attack of a class that would be fatal if hit directly, even for a 〖Feral Beast〗.
“(It’s a bad move for me, though. Fill up, 〖WWW (Waning and Waxing Wisdom)〗)”
The giant spears disappeared suddenly just before reaching me. They had been stored in another dimension.
Unlike 〖Weapon Storage〗, 〖WWW (Waning and Waxing Wisdom)〗 could be activated without touching.
“(〖Super Leap〗, 〖Blast Dash〗, 〖Replicant Form〗)”
In the instant when a blank space was created in the Earth蛟’s consciousness due to the sudden disappearance, I leaped out at full speed.
The drastically increased gravity was, if anything, a tailwind when jumping downwards.
Until the distance became zero, I didn’t even need to blink.
“(〖Staff of the Gods〗, 〖Compact Swing〗)”
What I imitated was the defense-ignoring Forest Hammer.
Due to the reversal of fall damage by the 〖Staff of the Gods〗, the impact, which was now twice as powerful, struck one of the Earth蛟’s heads.
The tremendous blow slammed one of the heads into the ground, and the impact caused radial cracks in the crystal.
The horn was broken, the skull was crushed, and a liquid mixture of blood and brain matter was splattered. It was a state that most would consider instantly fatal.
“(Imitation Cancel, 〖Capture〗)”
I quickly moved to the follow-up attack.
I entangled the crushed neck to prevent escape, and then embedded my body into the neck.
The body of the distant, radiant, haloed wheel possessed the same properties as a Mana Crystal.
Therefore, it naturally had the property of absorbing surrounding 〖Mana〗.
Even if a head was crushed, it was still the same body. 〖Mana〗 could be plundered even from this neck.
“(〖Replicant Form〗, 〖Whip〗!)”
But that might become unnecessary.
While applying the restraint, I imitated a Dragon Saw and ran the blade towards the other head.
This weapon, which moved like a whip, was faster with 〖Whip〗 than with 〖Slash〗.
I was about to behead the Earth蛟, which was bewildered by the series of events—but I couldn’t.
It moved faster than that.
It used all the muscles in its body to bend its neck backward, and in a shrimp-like posture, it successfully dodged the slash.
“(Then, one more time)”
The idea of simply slashing again was immediately overturned.
With a squirm, the Earth蛟 escaped from my restraint.
It wasn’t a feat that utilized physical characteristics such as the flexibility of its joints or the smoothness of its scales.
It was a supernatural phenomenon caused by a 〖Skill〗, and as proof, it had submerged beneath the crystals on the ground, as if it were underwater.
“(〖Challenge〗, 〖Bewitching Sparkle〗. Ah, crap, I got greedy.)”
I knew beforehand that it possessed the 〖Skill: Oxymoron〗, which allowed it to slip through the earth.
It was unknown whether it could be used on living things, but I had assumed that it might be possible.
Despite that, it was a clear mistake to have divided my attention to the restraint.
I should have gone all out to crush the other head without regard for appearances.
“(If I had done that, it wouldn’t have regenerated and it would have been checkmate, but oh well.)”
The Earth蛟, lured out of the ground by my taunting 〖Skill〗, had the head that I had just crushed, glaring at me with irritation.