Something was seriously wrong, about nine-tenths off.
The Slime grew alert.
Chen Yu shook his gel, already knowing these Corruption-following creatures were rotten to the core.
They did nothing all day except covet his territory.
If adventurers hadn't driven away the Corrupted Lizardfolk, he had no doubt these crocodile traitors would have collaborated with them from inside, launching a swamp coup.
It seemed they needed to be taught a lesson.
He stealthily followed this squad of Swamp Crocodiles, watching the bully crocodiles swat aside any Slimes blocking their path, snack on Giant Vein Leeches like they were spicy strips, and even dig up Swamp Worms from the mud to pick their teeth.
They walked with heads held high, chests puffed out, incredibly arrogant.
Acting like true swamp tyrants who looked down on all other Magical Creatures.
The little guy would panic and flee in all directions at even slightly large movements, even an accidentally falling Slime from a tree, burying its head in the swamp while trembling.
The bully crocodiles following behind couldn't stand watching this and smacked it away.
The little crocodile landed on the ground whimpering for a while before flipping over, not daring to fight back, and could only lower its head to continue toward the castle.
Chen Yu followed the crocodile squad all the way to the oak forest outside the castle, where he saw the crocodiles staring intently into the depths of the mist.
Even though they couldn't clearly see the castle within the mist, they seemed to know something was there.
A few of the large bully crocodiles exchanged glances, then used their toilet lid-like mouths to nudge the little crocodile hiding in the darkness out into the sunlight.
The little creature immediately became frantic upon seeing the sunlight.
Its limbs moved uncontrollably in different directions, claws scrabbling at the ground as it staggered back into the darkness, as if something terrifying existed for it within the mist ahead.
"Hiss!"
The crocodile leader slightly opened its massive jaws, revealing interlocking white teeth, emitting a low, continuous gurgling threat from deep in its throat.
Another one simply used its bulky body to block the little crocodile's attempted retreat path, its cold eyes showing no emotion, only pure indifference.
The little crocodile cowered, its slender tail trembling slightly, forced to accept its fate and move forward, exposing itself to the patches of light.
"What are they trying to do?" Chen Yu watched the little crocodile curiously.
Then he saw the little crocodile raise its head toward the mist depths and emit "crack crack" threatening sounds, as if challenging whatever was in the castle.
But its appearance seemed more like cute posturing than an actual threat.
Was it trying to make the enemy die laughing for an effortless victory?
"Or is it trying to lure me out for an ambush?"
But I'm right behind you guys.
The bully crocodiles hiding in the shadows grew impatient after seeing no response from within the mist.
They proudly crawled out, shoved the little crocodile aside, and emitted "heh heh" threatening sounds from their throats, spreading foul winds around, as if challenging the territory's owner.
Chen Yu, watching from behind, found this amusing.
Before he could seek them out, these crocodiles had come looking for him instead.
From their attitude, they seemed to have been eyeing the Swamp Overlord position for a while.
As Chen Yu considered whether to suddenly appear and scare them, his loyal Poison-stinger Wasp Guard team fluttered their wings, emitting warning buzzes as they emerged from the mist.
"Whoosh—!"
Poison stingers rained down, making "ding ding dang dang" sounds as they hit the crocodiles' thick armor, not even causing the slightest damage.
The Poison-stinger Wasps were countered by the Swamp Crocodiles' armor, failing to penetrate their defense.
This only fueled the crocodiles' arrogance further, with some even swinging their tails to attack the flying wasps.
Only the little crocodile continued fleeing everywhere, hiding behind an oak tree, burying its head with its rear end sticking up.
What they didn't know was that the castle's big boss was currently watching this battle from behind them.
"Not bad, able to trade blows with my guard team."
The Poison-stinger Wasp Guard had another nickname—"Bully Squad," "Bronze-tier Magical Creature Tester"...
With flight capability and swarm numbers, they could easily handle ground-based Magical Creatures without armor protection. Bronze-tier Jackals from the Death Swamp were practically just filler, able to be chased around by the wasps.
These crocodiles' strength was actually qualified.
"Then congratulations, you've officially entered the boss stage."
Chen Yu swaggered out, making "squish squish" sounds.
This sound on the battlefield immediately made both sides stop fighting.
The crocodile leader turned around, glanced at the approaching Slime, emitted a contemptuous and cold snort, and raised its claw to smash it into Slime paste.
"Whoosh!"
A Water Arrow suddenly shot before its eyes and exploded violently!
Flesh and blood splattered everywhere as half the crocodile leader's head instantly vanished, its massive body crashing to the ground. The splashing water droplets became lethal weapons, piercing through the armor of nearby crocodiles, making them howl in pain.
Terror appeared in their eyes, completely different from their initial arrogance. Not caring about their severely injured leader, they scrambled with their limbs, pushing and trampling each other, swinging their tails as they fled desperately, disappearing into the swamp depths in the blink of an eye.
A territory war ended just that easily.
"Being invincible is just this lonely."
Chen Yu bounced over to collect the corpse, found the muscle suspected to be a Magic Organ growing near the crocodile leader's kidney, and swallowed it in one gulp.
"Gurgle gurgle..."
Tasted like chicken upon entry, rich in fat but not greasy, the meat inside being more tender yet chewy.
Clearly came from free-range crocodiles that exercised regularly.
Practically born for barbecue.
Delicious!
"Chew chew chew..."
[Proficiency +30]
[Toxin Resistance Lv.3 → Toxin Resistance Lv.4]
Chen Yu's round eyes lit up.
Wow, just eating one piece of meat actually leveled up his Toxin Resistance.
These Swamp Crocodiles really were treasures from head to tail.
Ordering the Poison-stinger Wasps to clean up the battlefield, he scanned the area and noticed one crocodile had escaped the net.
That little crocodile hadn't followed the big crocodiles away, still burying its head under the tree, trembling violently, clearly terrified by the scene of the crocodile leader's head exploding earlier.
It secretly peeked from behind the tree and saw the demon-like Slime not only hadn't left but was approaching it. Fear showed in its small eyes as it wanted to retreat, but its limbs moved uncontrollably.
"Speaking of which, is this thing really a crocodile?"
Chen Yu doubted this creature's species and prepared to get closer for a look.
The little crocodile, terrified, first emitted "crack crack" hissing sounds, seemingly "threatening" Chen Yu not to approach.
Then completely out of options, it immediately flipped over and played dead, tightly closing its eyes and mouth, body stiff and unmoving.
Admittedly, it acted quite convincingly, but Chen Yu wasn't buying it, pressing its head down with his gel.
"Crocodile... tasty..."
The little creature immediately opened its eyes in terror, shaking its head repeatedly.
"Crack crack... not tasty..."
"Tasty."
"...not tasty..."
Tears welled up in the little crocodile's eyes, half from anxiety, half from fear.
"If you don't want to be eaten, then work for me."
"Follow me and enjoy the good life—only I get to bully you from now on."
Chen Yu had been worrying about lacking a mount, and this guy seemed perfect.
"Wor... work?"
"Means submit to me."
"King..."
The little crocodile hurriedly lowered its head, showing none of a crocodile's usual dominance and backbone.
It was even too scared to realize it was about to enter a life with food and lodging provided.
"What's your name?"
"Crack crack?"
"Then from now on you'll be called... Little Ka."
"Lit... tle Ka?"