The Giant Hawk was constantly on the Black Snake's mind as she slithered forward.
It was freakishly huge, and Sun Yuying was unable to comprehend how such a large creature could fly around the dense Forest unhindered until she saw the supernatural sight of nature seeming to make way for the predatory bird.
What is that? Magic?
If she had suspicions about the world being fantastical before, the sight of the Hawk confirmed it.
The Giant Tiger she had seen was big, but not on the level she could not comprehend. The Hawk, on the other hand, was beyond anything her memories from Earth had seen.
It was a prehistoric-sized avian in the flesh; she would be a fool to continue denying her new reality.
The Black Snake became more determined than ever to progress.
Maybe one day I could fly?
She almost scoffed at the thought of a Snake flying.
What do I think I am, a Dragon?
For some reason, the Snake part of her felt attached to the thought of that. Her very bloodline felt a deep-seated desire and craving that intensified the hunger for spiritual energy.
Where are those Juvenile Monitor Lizards?
The Black Snake's tongue flickered, and as if it was fated, she detected the familiar scent of one nearby.
Is it me, or have my senses grown stronger and more sensitive?
She was not complaining, as the Black Snake detected a Juvenile Monitor Lizard camouflaged behind some dense shrubs nearby.
Sun Yuying's memories went back to the Lizard that ambushed her, and a cunning gleam filled her eyes as she slowly made her way up a thick tree.
The Black Snake found it effortless and natural to climb the tree; instinctually, she pulled herself up and made her way across the large branches that hung directly over the awaiting Juvenile Monitor Lizard.
Let us see how you like it!
With savage glee, the Black Snake abruptly dropped from the branches upon the Lizard, using her forceful momentum to sink her fangs instantly into its tough flesh.
The Juvenile Monitor Lizard shrieked in pain as it felt its body convulsing from the powerful dosage of venom.
Sun Yuying's venom potency only grew stronger as she gained more and more spiritual energy, and the Juvenile Monitor Lizard's resistance to poison proved inadequate as it failed to fight off the venom, thrashing in agony as it eventually stilled.
Sun Yuging once again opened her mouth wide and consumed the Lizard, feeling deeply satisfied by a notification from the system.
You have consumed Juvenile Forest Monitor Lizard, gaining +5 Spiritual Energy.
The Juvenile Monitor Lizard was far less challenging to consume with her enhanced size, and Sun Yuying found she digested it even quickly than before, allowing her to move already and search for her next target.
One more to go.
Current progress: 4/5 in assimilating the trait Tough Skin from Monitor Lizard.
She was pleased with her progress and soon found another of those Juvenile Monitor Lizards, yet this one was near a patch of numerous Azure Spirit Flowers and was currently besieged by ten Large Forest Hornets.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Interesting, those Hornets are far deadlier in numbers, as I thought; however, even individually, they are extremely threatening due to their size.
The Monitor Lizard, despite being over four times the size of the Hornet and far heavier in mass, was having a hard time.
It was larger than the Juvenile Monitor Lizards she had seen previously, though that did not seem to help it, as the venomous stingers of numerous Large Forest Hornets peppered it.
The Lizard's thick skin gave it a measure of protection, though, and Sun Yuying watched as the Monitor Lizard clamped down on one of the Hornets, who proved too slow, squashing it swiftly.
The best course of action is to wait and let them deplete themselves, whilst I swoop in for the spoils.
Cunning like a Snake, Sun Yuying watched the clash play out, and surprisingly, the Lizard was the first to collapse.
It took over half of their numbers, yet the Hornets emerged victorious over the Monitor Lizard.
Yet, before they could even revel in their triumph, Sun Yuying sprang out of her hiding place and crushed one in her mouth as she hurriedly swallowed it.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
She was now far larger compared to the first time she met one of these Hornets, and now easily swallowed one.
The remaining two Hornets buzzed angrily as they approached her aggressively.
These insects were undeterred by her superior size, and even with two from the initial ten remaining, they maintained their hostility.
Sun Yuying found herself quickly stung by the painful stings of the two Hornets, as she engaged in a more brutal fight than anticipated.
She realised the Monitor Lizard's tough skin must have assisted it greatly, as the venom of the insects proved challenging to endure.
However, the Black Snake eventually caught one of the two in her maw, as she swallowed another one whole.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
With one remaining, and feeling reinvigorated from the short burst of Spiritual Energy, she soon caught the remaining Hornet, feeling relieved she emerged victorious.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
I will be more cautious challenging those Hornets in the future, especially in groups, as they are far more troublesome than they are worth. Yet, this time I gained a windfall.
Not only was the corpse of the remaining Monitor Lizard she needed for the trait there, but Hornet remains and Azure Spirit Flowers were present, too.
The Black Snake decided to go for the smaller targets first. She began chomping on the Hornet's remains and Azure Spirit Flowers.
The Monitor Lizard seemed to have damaged the remains of the Hornets, so out of the seven, she only got the notification of five of them.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Large Forest Hornet, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
Additionally, there were five Azure Spirit Flowers, giving her another five units of Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Azure Spirit Flower, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Azure Spirit Flower, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Azure Spirit Flower, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Azure Spirit Flower, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
You have consumed Azure Spirit Flower, gaining +1 Spiritual Energy.
That left the Monitor Lizard, and as she devoured it whole, she was surprised by the notification.
You have consumed Adolescent Forest Monitor Lizard, gaining +7 Spiritual Energy.
Not Juvenile? Though that makes sense, this one must have been over five feet at the very least.
Yet, her thoughts were interrupted when she received the notification she was waiting for.
Current progress: 5/5 in assimilating the trait Tough Skin from Monitor Lizard.
Would you like to receive the trait Tough Skin? Yes/No.
Sun Yuying was about to accept, though she quickly realised she was out in the open and knew that was not the best idea to leave herself vulnerable, activating an unknown feature from the system.
Her mind flashed back to the Giant Hawk that swooped down and dragged away a Monitor Lizard that was even bigger than this one. Therefore, she searched before finding a secured, well-hidden place, which she crept into a large burrow in the earth nearby, there were signs indicating it was likely the home of the recently deceased Adolescent Forest Monitor Lizard.
Although it clearly no longer needs it.
Now confident in accepting the trait, she clicked 'Yes' and found a wave of intense heat spread through her body as she underwent an incredible metamorphosis.
Feeling herself losing consciousness, she felt relieved that she had the thought to find shelter beforehand.
