Chapter 591

Chapter 591: This Might Be the Smallest Head-to-Body Ratio in History

"Rooooar—!"

"Grooooowl—!"

The "Vast Dragon God · Small Skull Species" roared, unleashing intimidation.

This greatly surprised Trilobite, who never imagined such a tiny head could produce such deafening noise.

"Though not necessarily," he thought.

"The throat might not be the sole sound-producing organ."

"Nasal resonance and other organs can also create tremendous volume!"

"Their nostrils are enormous—perhaps that’s key to their piercing cries?"

Many species vocalize through nasal resonance. Counting nose-blowing sounds, humans qualify too.

Yet true "nasal resonance" communicators are crested hadrosaurs. Their sound mechanism resembles wind instruments.

Air entering nasal cavities travels through intricate crest passages, resonating into ear-splitting calls!

"Unexpected…"

"These ‘Nasal Cup Dragons’ possess such skill."

"But…"

Memories of his shattered dream resurfaced as Trilobite saw the bracken ferns trampled by the Nasal Cup Dragons. His blood pressure spiked.

"You!"

"Seeking death?!"

"Stupid archosaur vermin! Die! Die!"

Despite the "Dragon" in their name—placing them among Dragon-type creatures like the Caseidae family—Nasal Cup Dragons were indeed archosaurs.

Primitive, lizard-shaped basal archosaurs.

Mentioning "Dragon-type" or "lizard-shaped" archosaurs, paleontology enthusiasts might recall Deinosuchus and Edaphosaurus.

Though one hunted while the other grazed, both bore iconic sails and starred in "Walking with Monsters." The documentary featured an entire segment about a mother Deinosuchus.

Meanwhile, the plant-eating Edaphosaurus appeared as Deinosuchus prey.

Trilobite felt showcasing two sail-backed species caused "attribute redundancy," overshadowing another Dragon-type group—the massive Caseidae.

Only they could reveal the early Permian period’s archosaur grandeur.

Nasal Cup Dragons were the largest Caseidae members!

They resembled grotesquely modified iguanas.

Standard lizard gait. Long tail. Small head.

But Nasal Cup Dragons exaggerated these traits: their heads were ludicrously disproportionate, hinting at minimal intelligence.

Worse, their abdominal cavities bulged abnormally.

No long neck bridged their small heads and torsos like in Sauropod Dinosaurs.

This made him look very awkward, with a head that seemed particularly small—so small it was almost nonexistent!

The name "Nasal Cup Dragon" includes the character for "nose," likely relating to their appearance since these creatures had enormous nostrils!

Their feet were also massive, possibly evolved to navigate loose terrain like sand safely.

These features confirmed this creature was truly an herbivorous animal.

Within its enormous abdominal cavity lay coiled intestines; food swallowed whole fermented and digested in these lengthy, fermentation-chamber-like guts, continuously fueling the Nasal Cup Dragon.

As for that small head…

The principle remained—brains were valuable but consumed too much sugar.

Though massive size often served as the best defense for herbivorous animals, lacking combat weapons seemed unreasonable.

The Nasal Cup Dragon’s defense weapon convergently evolved with Sauropod Dinosaurs—both sharing small heads and large abdomens—an extremely long, whip-like tail!

Across the early Permian period landscape, few creatures threatened an adult Nasal Cup Dragon…

In fact, practically none.

The Nasal Cup Dragon could reach an astonishing six-meter length, weighing up to four tons!

This terrifying giant beast naturally roamed the Permian lands as an unstoppable "steamroller tank"!

Its lengthy whip-tail dealt with reckless, overconfident young Dimetrodons seeking challenge!

"Roar—!"

"Roar—!"

Facing a predator radiating ferocity, the "Nasal Cup Dragons" bellowed loudly. Instinctively, they turned, positioning their tails toward Trilobite.

"Buzz—!"

"Whoosh—!"

Whip-like tails lashed through the air, intimidating the predator.

The sound of slicing wind carried genuine menace.

But Trilobite felt no fear!

"However…"

"I’m no brash young Dimetrodon!"

"I am the saber-toothed Xuanhan Dragon!"

"Ever heard of the ferocious Velociraptor?"

"See this torso! These muscles! I far surpass that disgrace defeated by a ‘Velociraptor’!"

"As for you…"

"Heh heh…"

Trilobite bared his teeth, circling the Nasal Cup Dragons.

He craved meat, not whip-strikes, needing the perfect angle to provoke them.

Yet right then…

"Gurgle…"

Trilobite’s belly suddenly made a sound like intestinal wall friction.

Usually, such a sound meant that person was hungry.

But for Trilobite…

It was more than just hunger!

【Status: Extremely Hungry】

"Damn it!"

"What the hell is ‘extremely hungry’?"

"I…"

"Roar—Roar—Roar—!"

Before Trilobite could complain about the system’s settings, his thoughts became disjointed, and he let out a series of fierce roars.

Intense hunger, mixed with phantom stomach pains, tortured him, pushing him into a near-rage state!

"Growl—!"

Driven by hunger, Trilobite ditched fancy tricks.

If eating whips was needed, so be it!

He’d face these meat mountains head-on!

"Ha…"

His forelimbs shot up suddenly!

Strong hind legs braced his body firmly!

"Boom—Boom—Boom—!"

His legs hammered the earth alternately as his powerful frame charged the nearest Nasal Cup Dragon—the largest of the herd!

"Roar—!"

Finding warnings useless, the Nasal Cup Dragon had no choice but to fight back!

"Buzz—!"

Its tail whip lashed viciously toward the attacker’s head!

The beast’s massive size gave it both intimidation and raw power; one solid hit…

A strike to the jaw might doom Trilobite to share the crooked-jawed Allosaurus’s fate.

He’d spend his days as a laughingstock.

"I won’t be a comedian."

"So…"

"Hey—!"

Though Trilobite’s vision lacked sharpness, that only meant poor resolution. For a large theropod hunting big prey, crystal-clear sight hardly mattered.

With such a large tail sweeping so close, he could easily tell what it was.

Moreover, Trilobite’s "inlaid mosaic" compound eyes were very powerful at perceiving dynamic movement!

To him, the Nasal Cup Dragon’s tail moved as if in slow motion!

"Buzz—!"

He lowered his hindquarters and head, easily dodging the sweeping tail.

But it wasn’t over yet!

"Whoosh—!"

"Whoosh—!"

The whip-like tails swept one after another!

Although the Nasal Cup Dragon’s small head made them incredibly foolish, with no idea of "formation to face enemies," gathering when facing a predator was instinct for most small animals.

Many insects did this, and the Nasal Cup Dragon was at least a vertebrate.

They created a blur of motion in front of Trilobite, with a buzzing sound of slicing through the air!

But…

"Hey…"

"Whoosh…"

The saber-toothed Xuanhan Dragon dodged each attack easily, his steps graceful and agile, even faster than before!

"Yes!"

"This is the feeling!"

Trilobite twisted his body and stepped agilely; his warmed-up body felt warmer and more energetic; every muscle twist seemed stronger!

Soon, he dashed behind the Nasal Cup Dragon.

Although their tails were long and swung powerfully, a whip only packs force at the tip; once he got close, it was all over.

"Boom—!"

Trilobite stayed silent and suddenly jumped!

"Pshhh—!"

His sharp hind claws and foreclaws dug deep into the prey’s flesh!

Claws were mainly used by predators to hold prey in place.

Against small prey, claws digging in stopped escape; against large prey, claws hooking in prevented being thrown off by strong big animals.

Except for oddballs like the Great Thief Lizard; for a true instant kill, the mouth was key!

"Roar!"

"Roar—!!!!!"

The Nasal Cup Dragon roared in pain, wildly twisting its body to shake off the fearsome predator on its back.

But…

"Just you!?"

"No way!"

The Nasal Cup Dragon’s body structure was too weak; it moved slowly, couldn’t jump, and struggled to undulate, only twisting in an "S" shape.

With its bulky body, the motion range was limited.

Now, Trilobite’s large mouth loomed over the Nasal Cup Dragon’s head!

"Hmm…"

"Really…"

"What a small head!"

"Swish—!"

The saber teeth gleamed with a cold glint!

Then…

"Ah—Woo—!"

Against a small-headed, short-necked creature like the Nasal Cup Dragon, Trilobite didn’t need his saber teeth.

He clamped his mouth around the Nasal Cup Dragon’s head, bit down hard, then…

Twisted sharply!

"Crack—!"

"Bang—!"

The Nasal Cup Dragon fell instantly, its head tilted at a strange angle.

"Roar—Roar—Roar—!"

Trilobite stood in the heavy rain, roaring, unleashing the era’s mighty cry!