I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 281

Black Death Palm and Phantom Execution Art.

Two of the most forbidden martial arts, said to be impossible to coexist in a single era, were now unleashed at the same time.

Demonic arts were already known for corroding the user’s mind.

And yet, here was someone wielding not one, but two...

Simultaneously.

Even Bihee and Qiongqi, who had lived for centuries, had never witnessed such a sight.

A martial art that truly embodied the concept of death.

But that statement itself was flawed.

Because the Black Death Palm and Phantom Execution Art passed down by modern warriors were nothing more than pale imitations of this being.

What Gomodo had just displayed was not merely demonic martial arts.

It was the original.

"You said you had overcome death?"

In an instant, both Bihee and Qiongqi lost an arm.

They screamed silently, their voices swallowed by their own pain.

"How amusing. You’re not the first to say that. Others have uttered the same nonsense."

They had thought they stood a chance.

But now, primal terror washed over them.

"Death eventually comes for all."

Bihee and Qiongqi tried desperately to move.

But they couldn’t.

"Even spirit beasts do not live forever. They may exist longer than mere animals or humans, but that is all."

Because Gomodo had not given them permission.

"That is why all living beings must accept death."

All they could do was wait for him to finish speaking.

"Of course, some struggle to escape it. That is admirable. The fear of death pushes the living to bloom as brightly as they can."

His voice was low, venomous.

"They bloom, they bear fruit, and they live. But eventually, death comes for them. No matter how they have resisted in life, in the final moment, all must accept it."

Suddenly, his crimson eyes flared.

"This is the natural order. But some dare to defy it."

A wave of pure malice and killing intent stronger than anything before engulfed them.

"The so-called gods above the heavens. The divine beasts that rule the land. Those who twist fate itself, consuming the time of others to prolong their own existence."

His voice burned with hatred.

"They stole the time of others to prolong their wretched lives. They should have accepted death long ago, yet they continued to steal the futures of others."

Even Bihee, who had lived longer than any other Yongsaengguja, had never truly understood the war between Gomodo and the True Dragon.

"That is why I killed them."

But in this moment, she understood why he had acted.

Bihee remembered how the True Dragon had sought to wipe out humanity.

Back then, she had not known why.

But now, she did.

Just as Gomodo said, the True Dragon and the divine beasts had stolen the time of others to prolong their eternal lives.

And now she understood why they feared him.

For those who sought eternal time, the tail-bearing death had come for them.

A being that could only be called death itself.

The tail-bearing death of old.

A black-scaled dragon of the earth, bringing an end to those who wished to live forever.

"Then why have you returned?"

There was a contradiction.

Death came for all.

Gomodo had personally delivered it to those who defied it.

And yet, he had survived?

How could he hate those who escaped death, while having done the same?

"I have already experienced death."

"And yet you have returned? Then what makes you any different from those you despise?!"

At Bihee’s words, Gomodo’s eyes glimmered with amusement.

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"Forty-seven times."

"...Forty-seven?"

"That is the number of times this body has nearly died in less than two years."

"What are you—"

"A feeble creature, born as nothing more than a weak wall lizard, crossed the threshold of death over and over to reach this point. Unlike your father, who was born strong, this lizard was closer to death than anyone."

From the moment of birth, chased by an Oviraptor.

Fleeing from a monstrous spider.

Surviving an onslaught of swarming ants.

The black-scaled lizard had faced death countless times.

"Had this lizard died, I would have never awakened. Tell me, Bihee—do you think your father would have made the same choice as I did?"

Bihee said nothing.

"I do not despise the struggle against death. All living things will always choose life over death."

His voice grew sharper.

"What I despise are those who twist the natural order to escape death—like the True Dragon."

Placing **one’s life in the hands of a weak, insignificant creature.

Losing all power and entrusting one’s fate to something lesser.

The True Dragon would never have done such a thing.

"That is hypocrisy. But even so, you have taken an innocent body for yourself."

"Bihee, you know as well as I do—there is no meaning in speaking of good and evil here."

There was no reasoning with Gomodo.

His conviction was absolute.

To him, the True Dragon and the divine beasts were an evil that disrupted the cycle of death.

But Bihee wasn’t speaking to change his mind.

She was buying time.

"You are not death. And I will prove it by surpassing you!"

BOOOOOM!

A shockwave erupted from Bihee’s body.

She shoved the entire stock of dragon pills into her mouth.

"Qiongqi! Take the dragon pill as well!"

Even with the pills, defeating Gomodo was impossible.

But if one of them could escape...

That was all that mattered.

But as she turned to look at Qiongqi—

Her eyes widened in shock.

Qiongqi was shaking his head.

"What are you doing?! Get a hold of yourself!"

Qiongqi let out a soft chuckle.

"Hah... I’m fine."

"Get up! You are Qiongqi! You cannot be defeated just because you lost an arm!"

Bihee had trusted Qiongqi.

Not as an ally, but as an enemy she had fought for centuries.

He was the kind of beast who would never stop fighting.

The most ferocious, most relentless of the Four Fiends.

That was the Qiongqi she knew.

But now...

That Qiongqi was gone.

"Hah... so there is always someone stronger."

Qiongqi let out a mad, hollow laugh.

"But at least... I get to see what death really looks like... before I die."

A beast that sought the fear of death, fighting endlessly just to feel its presence.

SIZZLE.

The strongest of the Four Fiends, the one called the fiercest, was reduced to ashes in an instant.

"Th-this... what is...."

An unbelievable sight.

Gomodo had done nothing.

And yet, Qiongqi was dead, turned to dust.

No—Gomodo had done something.

The moment his hand touched Qiongqi, he had already been dead.

"Young dragon."

As those crimson eyes turned toward her, Bihee finally understood.

"I shall take four lives today."

She, too, was already dead.

BOOOOOM!

Two spirit beasts, known as masters of Hyeon-gyeong, Qiongqi and Bihee, breathed their last.

And with Bihee’s death, her barrier collapsed.

"G-Go Dae-hyeop!"

All of the followers gathered.

They stared at the lizard, now sharper, more menacing, beads of sweat forming on their skin.

The sheer killing intent suffocated them.

"Ugh...."

Some followers gagged, while those with tails instinctively tucked them between their legs.

The fear of death itself had washed over them.

Gomodo’s red eyes swept over the followers who had come looking for him.

And just as he reached out his hand—

His body froze.

He couldn’t move.

"Ah, yes. The contract... I was meant to protect them, wasn’t I?"

The followers could not understand his words.

No, these words weren’t meant for them.

Just like with the Shimma, he was speaking to Ko Hui, who was watching from within.

Ko Hui had offered his body to Gomodo to protect the ones he loved.

Because it was the only way to save everyone.

"No...."

Baekrang fell to her knees in despair.

Because she understood what had happened.

The divine beast of Gaegak Sect was no more.

"But tell me, my heir."

Gomodo’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

"Now that I hold the reins, what can you possibly do?"

RUMBLE.

The killing intent surged again.

Baekrang’s wolves whimpered, stepping backward.

Those with weaker wills began foaming at the mouth, collapsing from the sheer malice and hostility.

"Watch from there."

Step.

Gomodo moved forward.

The tail-bearing death of old.

Though he stood among humans, he was far from anything one could call good.

"Despair, weep. Curse yourself for being powerless. Wallow in regret for your weakness, for surrendering your body to me."

Though he had once worn a ridiculous guise, his essence was closer to that of a demon.

"What are you all waiting for? I see you've realized the truth."

His cold gaze fell upon the trembling followers.

Even Cho-Do and Docheol could not move easily.

The now diminished Sobung seemed too young to even comprehend the situation.

Even Qiongqi and Bihee had failed to stop Gomodo.

So who could possibly stand against him?

"Death has arrived. Bloom as beautifully as you can before it takes you."

Gomodo sighed in disappointment and took another step forward.

And then—

Someone stepped forward to meet him.

"Go Dae-hyeop... are you there?"

It was Tang Soyeong.