Chapter 590
by fanqienovelChapter 590: Actually, Is This the Prototype of the Ferocious Velociraptor?
“Whew… whew…”
Trilobite slept soundly.
In truth, the "System" hadn’t lied to him; the so-called "brief slumber" was indeed brief. It didn’t make him sleep for months.
He hadn’t even slept for days—just about 7 hours total…
A normal adult’s daily sleep.
This led to…
Trilobite lying in.
After his transmigration, his need for sleep had drastically shrunk for unknown reasons. Beyond essential upgrade-related hibernation, sleep became unnecessary.
But "essential" and "needed" differ.
Spicy food isn’t essential for survival, yet many crave it—life feels off without it!
Similarly, Trilobite’s body no longer required much sleep, but his ingrained human habit turned it into relaxation and pleasure.
After all, lying down carefree, clearing his mind, and imagining himself as stone or wood was truly blissful.
Of course, "defenseless" and "peaceful" sleep is a luxury for wildlife.
Only those atop the food chain dare be so careless—yet even they rarely get proper rest.
Adult lions or tigers may lack natural predators, but they must guard against rivals.
Only the absolute strongest—in their prime, unrivaled locally—earn undisturbed sleep.
Trilobite…
Though he’d grown into a 6.5-meter "giant dragon" during hibernation, this world—teeming with ancient beasts from mixed eras—offered no restful refuge.
Several clients outsized him…
Wild archosaur giant beasts like Gangsaurus, Dreadnoughtus, and Cranogryphus he’d encountered weren’t much smaller.
While awake, he could handle them…
But they could ambush him asleep.
Fortunately, he could dig burrows and wield "information-blocking slime" inherited from lungfish—hiding without leaking any trace.
Unless someone dug directly overhead, he’d stay hidden.
In theory…
He should sleep soundly!?
Yet reality proved…
Naive!
Trilobite wanted to laze in bed; his slime blocked outgoing signals, but outside noises pierced in!
"Rustle—rustle—rustle—!"
"Boom—Boom—Boom—!"
"Roar—Roar—Roar—!"
"Crack—!"
Above, there were loud sounds of friction, roars, and noises like "branches breaking."
If Trilobite had been in the "necessary slumber" for his body’s upgrading evolution, he wouldn’t have been disturbed; but the problem was that he had already finished his upgrades!
Now was the time for him to enjoy his little hobby—taking a nap.
But right then, a huge noise came from above…
It was like being deep asleep at midnight when suddenly someone upstairs used a power drill like a crazy person!
That awful sound, like an evil noise flooding his mind, hit Trilobite’s soul, yanking him out of his sweet dream!
"Dammit!"
Trilobite cursed.
He had just dreamed of traveling back and publishing over ten papers in "Nature," not only becoming a "Researcher" but also getting lots of funding…
Now, he was hiring assistants, and he saw that all the applicants were "young ladies" with "blonde hair," "red hair," "white hair," "dark skin," and "blonde long legs" who had traveled with him.
And then…
He woke up!
The biggest sadness in life is reaching the top only to hear a hateful voice from beyond—"Wake up! The boss wants you to get to work!"
"Who is it! Go to hell!"
"Roar—!"
Trilobite roared with fierce anger and burst out of the hole he had dug!
—-
"Ah—!"
"Oh great Giant God!"
"It’s shaking too much!"
…
Though the attack of the "Impure Spirits" had been pushed back by the Chosen Ones warriors nourished by the "sacred liquid," and the "Impure Spirits" were quickly killed after the Chosen Ones warriors came, the actions of the Vast Dragon Gods brought an even bigger crisis!
The "World Tree" shook violently.
The huge Divine Body of the Vast Dragon God rubbed, scraped, and even crashed against the "World Tree" more fiercely.
"Roar—!"
"Ugh—!"
They felt a bit of pain but roared happily, echoing across the "World Tree."
A "Vast Dragon God · Small Skull Species" found this "World Tree" useful, so his friends rushed to copy him; soon, all the branches of the World Tree were taken by the "Vast Dragon God · Small Skull Species."
These dumb creatures had no thought for "long-term" at all; to them, these "World Trees" were just one-time tools for scratching an itch.
As for what happened next…
Their tiny heads, completely disproportionate to their bodies, couldn’t grasp the complex concept of "the future" involving time.
Soon…
*Crack—!*
The World Tree showed ominous cracks!
Mortals sprang into action!
"Damn it! All Chosen Ones warriors, rally!"
"Prepare to board those deities!"
"Whether it’s the Vast Dragon God or something else!"
"We can’t let them destroy the World Tree!"
While cutting down Impure Spirits falling from the Vast Dragon God’s body like weeds, the Chosen Ones warriors charged toward the tips of the World Tree Branches.
Some Small Skull Species were scraping their divine bodies against those tips.
From there, jetpacks could launch them onto the deities. Then they’d find a breach, invade the gods’ innards, and halt their assault on the Holy Tree!
But just then…
*Craaack—!*
*Boom—!*
A low, heavy snapping echoed!
*Buzz—!*
The World Tree Branches snapped off under the Small Skull Species’ scraping!
*Boom—!*
The colossal "world" plummeted!
*Boom—!*
It slammed into the ground. Etheric liquid mixed with Primal Mud, forming an ashen curtain that blotted the sky above the World Tree Branches—then crashed down anew!
*Thud—!*
*Crash—!*
Massive droplets, like boulders, smashed armored Chosen Ones warriors into the earth.
Yet the nightmare deepened!
*Boom—!*
The World Tree Branches struck the Primordial Earth.
Though unintentional—the Vast Dragon God had merely scraped the branches off forcefully—the violent shockwave hurled warriors skyward!
Then…
*Buzz—!*
A massive, low-frequency booming sound erupted, pressing into the eardrums of all Chosen Ones warriors.
They looked up and saw a scene of despair—that low-frequency, heavy booming came from the Vast Dragon God’s mountain-like giant foot scraping the void!
"Boom—Buzz—!"
The enormous foot had already lifted, hanging like a black cloud in the sky.
Worse still, it accelerated downward!
It was about to crush the "World Tree Branches"!
If this colossal foot stomped the "branches," it would surely cause this small space to collapse further!
The Chosen Ones warriors might be caught in violent tremors, even cruelly buried deep within the Primal Mud!
This was the terror of a Giant Deity!
Its slightest action could bring unpredictable consequences—even threats—to tiny mortals!
The lives of hundreds hung on a deity’s careless breath!
"Buzz—!"
The giant foot drew near!
All warriors despaired!
But at that moment…
"Boom—!"
The sound of a divine body scraping the void echoed once more.
The colossal foot actually shifted aside!
Then…
"Crash—Boom—!"
The Primordial Earth trembled violently!
As the ground shook…
"Bang—!"
The "chaotic muddy water"—a mix of Primal Mud and etheric liquid—suddenly exploded like a volcanic eruption, hurling massive chunks of Primal Mud and chaotic debris into the void!
Following it rose a sacred, gigantic head!
It surged like a wild mountain erupting from below, rudely dominating all visible space.
Eyes inlaid with "Giant God gems" grew clear under the etheric storm’s downpour, coldly reflecting the Fire Domain’s faint light piercing the etheric dark clouds!
"Giant God!"
"The Giant God has awakened!"
"Great is the Giant God!"
The Chosen Ones warriors knelt in joy, offering reverence and loyalty to the Giant God.
But…
"Rumble, rumble, rumble…"
Soon, a deep, mysterious, sacred roar, like rolling thunder, swept through the entire primordial space, making the Giant God World Tree tremble.
Though the Chosen Warriors had power that resonated with the Giant God, they were still only demigods, mortal beings.
Under such a roar, their insides felt like they were being hammered over and over by a heavy mallet!
"Ugh…"
"Cough, cough…"
But each blow, though painful, forged and tempered their bodies, making their organs, muscles, and bones stronger and more unbreakable!
However, for the Impure Spirits, the Giant God’s thunder had a very different effect!
"Bang—!"
"Pshhh—!"
The Giant God’s deep roar shattered their filthy bodies, turning them into piles of pus that flowed disgustingly over the ground!
—-
"Damn it!"
"How dare you disturb my sleep!"
"Roar, rumble, rumble…"
Trilobite gritted his teeth in anger.
Waking up grumpy, especially when a good dream was interrupted, made him furious!
"Even if you had strong bodies, I was not afraid!"
"Because I was now a Chinese Dragon!"
"Specifically, a Xuanhan Dragon!"
"Uh, to be precise, it was a Qili Gorge Xuanhan Dragon!"
The Xuanhan Dragon was excavated from the famous dinosaur homeland in China, the Xiashaxi Miao Formation in Zigong, Sichuan.
This Xiashaxi Miao Formation, along with the Shangshaxi Miao Formation, made up the Shaxi Miao Formation, dating back to the late Jurassic period.
That area was rich in dinosaur fossil resources.
Early stegosaurids included Huayangosaurus, Chongqingosaurus, and Tuojiangosaurus. At the same time, among sauropod dinosaurs, there were Shulong, Emeilosaurus, and four species of Mamenchisaurus: Jianshe, Hechuan, Yangshi, and Jingyan.
Theropod dinosaurs included creatures like the Peaceful Chinese Velociraptor from the theropod family, and the Upper-stream Yongchuan Dragon and Zigong Yongchuan Dragon.
It could truly be called a dinosaur paradise.
The Xuanhan Dragon, discovered in the Shulong-Emeilosaurus bone layer of the Xiashaxi Miao Formation, was considered one of the earlier theropod dinosaurs.
That place also gave birth to many famous dinosaurs.
For example, Yongchuan Dragon, Chinese Velociraptor, Mamenchisaurus, Tuojiangosaurus, and other big stars.
Similarly, the Shulong from the Xiashaxi Miao Formation became a TV star in a documentary because of its special tail hammer shape.
The Huayangosaurus, belonging to the stegosaurids, even appeared in the game "Jurassic World: Evolution," and its classic image spread widely in the paleontology community.
In contrast, the Xuanhan Dragon was often grouped among the lesser-known dinosaurs.
But Trilobite knew this dinosaur was very famous in the paleontology community, and it sparked a lot of debate!
It belonged to the Baryonyx group and was first placed under Baryonycidae. Later findings suggested it might be part of a more basic family in the Baryonyx group, the Pianosaurus family.
Of course, these classifications weren’t the main point.
The key issue was Mr. Dong Zhiming, who led the Shaxi Miao Formation digs, believing the Qili Gorge Xuanhan Dragon used quadrupedal movement!
He proposed this view around 1984.
Back then, the spinosaurus was still seen as a Megapnosaurus with a dorsal fin; so at that time, the Qili Gorge Xuanhan Dragon seemed like the only theropod dinosaur that walked on four legs.
This idea caused a big stir!
Mr. Dong Zhiming was a top expert in the field, nicknamed the "Dragon King of China."
He was one of the leaders in excavating and studying the fossil-rich sites in Zigong and Lufeng.
He described and named up to 36 new dinosaur species, making the title "Dragon King of China" well-deserved.
In his view, the Xuanhan Dragon had unusually long and strong forelimbs, which was rare for theropod dinosaurs; plus, it kept the fourth metacarpal, a structure good for quadrupedal movement.
But other paleontologists didn’t agree with this.
They argued the Xuanhan Dragon’s forelimbs couldn’t let its palms touch the ground, so it still walked on two legs. Instead, its strong forelimbs and scary claws were tools for hunting prey!
With all the differing opinions, there was still no clear answer.
Now, we can only hope for more complete fossil finds.
"As for me…"
Trilobite shook his body.
His forelimbs bulged with strong muscles, like those of the toughest bodybuilders.
The huge claws shone coldly; though not as exaggerated as the Great Thief Lizard’s, they were sharp enough to stab prey, cut their flesh, and hold them tight to stop struggles.
His big head had a wide mouth, with thick muscles in his face and neck, giving Trilobite strong bite force; he couldn’t match some Tyrannosaurus rex group members, but he was solid in the Baryonyx group!
Of course, the most striking part was the "saber teeth" adapted from Duncker’s fish!
"Boom——!"
He planted his forelimbs on the ground and moved his head.
His calcite compound eyes, though lifeless, looked cold and cruel!
"Ah…"
"It seems the Xuanhan Dragon’s movement was quite interesting."
"Its forelimb and claw structure could support quadrupedal movement, but it felt awkward and slow."
That’s natural.
The vertebrae of lizard-like animals mean Walking on Two Legs is always faster than quadrupedal movement.
"But if relying on hind legs, the head’s center of gravity leaned too far forward, making the body crouch low and run in a weird way."
"Speed was still possible."
"It just took more effort."
"I figured the Xuanhan Dragon probably moved on all fours when walking slowly or resting, but when needing swift action for ambush hunting, he’d stand upright on his hind legs and charge rapidly!"
"After seizing prey, he’d use those terrifying foreclaws to completely tear it apart!"
"Ah, at least that’s how my ‘reconstructed’ Xuanhan Dragon behaves."
"Thud… thud… thud…"
He advanced slowly on four legs, baring his formidable saber teeth at the "small-headed creatures" before him.
"Huuu—!"
His chest heaved with rapid breaths, expanding and contracting.
"The true warm-blooded system felt remarkably distinct—my body warmed up almost instantly."
"My limbs felt stronger than before, more agile too!"
"A restless eagerness surged through my entire being!"
"Ah!"
"This sensation… it’s absolutely incredible!"
"Skreee—!"
Overwhelmed by excitement, Trilobite rose onto his hind legs, taking two testing steps to experience the Xuanhan Dragon’s swift posture!
In this stance…
He did resemble the "ferocious Velociraptor" from "Jurassic World" somewhat.
Though compared to that scrawny, ugly beast, the "saber-toothed Xuanhan Dragon" possessed a far more robust and balanced build—clearly a powerful fighter!
"Well then…"
"You lot…"
After assessing himself, Trilobite shifted his gaze to the cluster of "small-headed, big-footed" creatures.
His pondering over the "Qili Gorge Xuanhan Dragon" had given these beings time to prepare.
"Rooaaar—!"
"Hiss…"
Though dim-witted, stupidity didn’t equate to weakness.
Creatures driven by instinct often posed greater threats than cunning schemers!
"But…"
"It won’t help!"
"Because you’re simply too primitive!"
"GROWL—!"
Without hesitation, Trilobite reared up on his powerful hind legs!
"Thud… thud… thud…"
He closed in on the creatures before him!
"You vermin…"