Chapter 373
by fanqienovelChapter 373: This Lifetime, I’m Definitely at Odds with the BBC
“My… brothers!”
“We cannot… die in vain!”
“Roar—!”
At the edge of the Chaos Swamp Realm, a colossal creature roared.
Its body towered high, resembling a mountain peak!
Four incredibly thick legs supported its mountain-like body, like pillars reaching to the sky.
In contrast, its triangular skull appeared too small—broad nostrils, thick lips, and tiny eyes.
Surrounding the eye sockets were hard “bone fragments,” which spread from the head and extended over its back and sides, forming a layer of sturdy armor.
But this also made them look like giant toads walking upright!
They were the “Vast Dragon Gods: Armored Species.”
These aggressive creatures typically lived in the “Primal Wilderness.” Even though they had small heads and no necks, and wore armor, they seemed unable to run fast, appearing like herbivores.
Yet they didn’t eat real “grass”; instead, they feasted on highly valuable “space”!
The so-called space didn’t mean living on air or devouring the “void”; rather, it meant swallowing the “space” that was folded and wrapped.
For example, Bubble Worlds.
And also Fantasy Trees of Subspace!
They relied on absorbing the abundant and vibrant energy from space to satisfy their endless appetite.
Sometimes, they depleted resources sustainably, munching away half of the “space energy” that supported the “Bubble World” or “Fantasy Tree.”
But other times, they mercilessly consumed all the “space energy,” letting that little world meet its doom!
They were as brutal as the chaos gods.
Yet the brutality of the Vast Dragon Gods was equal; it fell upon the “Subspace” and “Bubble World.”
So, the Chaos Demon God patrolled the borders, constantly driving them away to prevent threats to the Fantasy Tree of Subspace.
They were considered one of chaos’s “troublesome foes.”
Luckily, the Vast Dragon Gods disliked the Ether Sea’s environment, only invading occasionally.
But recently, things changed…
The Primal Wilderness gradually became more “chaos swamp-like.” Due to the expansion of the “Endless Ether,” more and more etheric liquid from the Endless Ether blew in from Void Energy, transported to the Primal Wilderness, and finally fell down.
Originally loathing the Ether Sea, the Vast Dragon Gods adapted to the rising etheric liquid, so they appeared more often in the Chaos Swamp Realm.
Now, the roaring brute was the new Leader of this “Vast Dragon God: Armored Species.”
His brothers died during the last invasion, killed by the core councilor of chaos, Lady Xidi.
These not-so-smart “Vast Dragon Gods” acted on impulse, and now, the new Leader prepared to act on that impulse once more.
“We…”
“Noble, brave dragon clan!”
“Absolutely cannot tolerate… this humiliation!”
Although this leader might not even know what humiliation meant, he insisted on saying it.
“Everyone!”
“Advance!”
“Roar—!”
He roared loudly and walked deeper into the Chaos Swamp Realm.
But at that moment…
“Splash—!”
Ripples appeared on the water surface, gently nudging the leader of the Vast Dragon Gods.
“Hmm?”
This leader of the Vast Dragon Gods was slightly smarter than his brothers.
At least, he sensed things more keenly.
He traced the ripples and peered toward their source.
—-
The self-proclaimed “noble” Vast Dragon Gods appeared entirely different through the Calcite Eyes of an observer.
“Identifying a popular paleo creature video.”
“Ding—!”
“Another paleo star featured on the BBC.”
“Seems I’m fated to clash with the BBC this lifetime?”
Trilobite recognized the species of the hulking “upright toad” before him instantly.
Too distinctive.
“No paleontologist needed here—anyone who’s watched BBC’s ‘Walking with Monsters’ would know.”
“That documentary calls it the Siberian Cup Dragon.”
Siberian Cup Dragons appeared in the Permian episode of “Walking with Monsters.” There, they moved in herds, their colossal frames shaking the earth as a fearsome force few dared challenge.
Yet one isolated Siberian Cup Dragon was hunted by a “Lystrasaurus—actually a Theriodont,” suffering fatal armor-piercing wounds before bleeding out.
Later, a massive herd drank dry the water ponds sustaining Lystrasaurus and Mist Dragons. This doomed the Mist Dragon to a Lystrasaurus kill, and the Lystrasaurus itself later perished from thirst.
“A tragic tale, brutally gripping.”
“But note: their scientific name isn’t Siberian Cup Dragon. They’re Saw-toothed Lizards called Armored Dragons.”
“‘Saw-toothed Lizard’ shares zero ties with theropod dinosaurs like Megalodon. Armored Dragons also lack any relation to ankylosaurs.”
“Saw-toothed Lizards belong to neither true dragons nor scaled dragons. They’re part of an odd group: Secondary Reptiles.”
Saw-toothed Lizard species thrived in the Permian, dominating herbivore Ecological Niches. They evolved diverse lifestyles, claiming vast territories.
Beyond grassland grazers filling cattle/sheep roles, some even turned aquatic, occupying hippo-like niches.
The largest—Armored Dragons—reached Asian rhinoceros sizes.
“Crucially, they’re neither scaled dragons nor true dragons. Their key distinction? No temporal fenestrae.”
“Incidentally, ‘Walking with Monsters’ claims turtles and tortoises are Saw-toothed Lizard kin.”
“That’s flat wrong.”
“Not BBC misinformation—just outdated science of that era.”
“Saw-toothed Lizards lack temporal fenestrae, as do related Secondary Reptiles. Among living species, only turtles and tortoises share this trait.”
“Back then, this anatomy seemed conclusive. Saw-toothed Lizards even looked vaguely turtle-like, so they got lumped together as anapsids.”
“But recent fossils shattered that theory.”
“Fossil records show turtles/tortoises originally had temporal fenestrae that sealed shut during evolution.”
“Thus, anapsids or Secondary Reptiles went extinct without descendants.”
“And don’t trust Baidu Encyclopedia.”
“Years later, it still classifies turtles/tortoises as anapsids…”
“Enough lecturing. Time for my favorite taste test.”
Trilobite softened his steps, edging toward the creatures’ flank.
Yet just then…
“Splash—!”
His foot slipped, churning violent waves in the Ether Sea.
“Roar—!”
The leading Saw-toothed Lizard grunted and swung its head around.
Calcite Eyes locked with beady ones.