Chapter 608

Chapter 608: Now, We Are the Predators!

Trilobite specialized in lizard-like and arthropod species from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras.

Early archosaurs, especially the larger ones, often shared ecological spaces with lizard-like species from the Permian and Triassic periods. In many cases, they were directly predators and prey. So Trilobite knew these creatures well.

With just a glance, he could usually tell the suborder, infraorder, superfamily, or family.

For a few very familiar ones, he could even pinpoint the genus and species.

But with smaller archosaurs, especially those close to modern mammals, Trilobite wasn’t as skilled.

It was a bit hard to recognize their classification at a glance.

Still, with a closer look, he could figure it out.

"Hmm…"

"Triassic shrew…"

"That must be you!"

"Shrew Dragon!"

The Shrew Dragon lived in the Early Triassic Period, with fossils discovered in South Africa’s Karoo Basin, from the Early Triassic Period’s Water Lizard fossil group.

They were first described and named by Sir Charles Owen.

This Sir Charles Owen also created the word "dinosaur." He published the Shrew Dragon discovery in the first issue of Nature magazine.

Though the Shrew Dragon was as small as a shrew, it mattered a lot to the whole Paleo Creature World.

The famous biologist Thomas Henry Huxley, called "Darwin Bull Terrier" for defending evolution, once put the Shrew Dragon in the dinosaur group.

But now everyone knows that was wrong.

The Shrew Dragon belonged to a more foundational form in the suborder Carnivora. Its link to later mammalia was distant, just a cousin relationship.

But their shape was very near the foundational form of mammalia—a bunch of shrews.

These creatures looked a lot like modern mammals. Their limbs were mostly upright under their bodies, though still a little curved.

Their abdominal ribs also had a slight outward spread. Modern paleontologists still couldn’t tell what this part did.

However, Trilobite guessed it might help with digging.

The way of life for these "bunch of shrews" was like early mammals—burrowing!

Many holes dug by these small animals got filled with water and muddy sand, forming special burrow-cast fossils. Inside, people sometimes found scattered bones of the owners.

Even though these "bunch of shrews" looked much like true shrews, they were more primitive.

For example, one basic mammal trait—nursing—was something the Shrew Dragon couldn’t do.

They also couldn’t give birth to live young.

But paleontologists often dug up fossils of adult Shrew Dragons cuddling their babies.

Some fossils even kept the Shrew Dragons’ last moments. For instance, their heads touched at the side. It’s unclear if they were feeding or sharing feelings.

Paleontologists thought the early suborder Carnivora, shown by the Shrew Dragon, probably raised their young carefully in caves. This "motherly" behavior might have started in the Early Triassic or earlier!

The survival tricks of digging and caring for young likely helped the suborder Carnivora and its mammalia descendants live through many Mass Extinctions.

"It seemed about the same now."

"Still on about group buying…"

"But parental awareness and relationships weren’t too rare, and not high-end either."

Parental awareness and relationships were actually widespread in the animal kingdom.

Not to mention that most birds were quite responsible parents, and several types of crocodiles showed complex parenting behaviors.

Even the seemingly "primitive" and "lowly" lobe-finned fish had many dedicated parents.

Some fish, when facing danger, hid in their parents’ mouths for cover.

Ancient people saw this and thought the little fish swam into their parents’ mouths to feed them, offering their own bodies; they even gave titles like "Filial Fish."

That was stretching it.

Clearly, the ancient people scared the little fish, and after they left, the little ones swam out from their parents’ mouths.

"Great!"

"Then let’s get started!"

"But…"

Trilobite looked at the group buying "spending" way and suddenly felt it wasn’t worth it for these customers.

"Um…"

"Since it’s a foundational form, swarming toward one direction to evolve seemed a waste."

"Why not go one by one!"

"Foundational means diverse development!"

"The price…"

"Can be discounted too, like group buying!"

In truth, Trilobite’s "trick" to fool them was useless.

After all, that bunch of Rodent Gods didn’t understand.

They only sensed a thunderous buzz of monosyllabic words in their souls, as a huge flood of information poured into their essence.

"Whoosh—!"

Their tiny souls, like blown-up balloons, suddenly swelled!

Though the chaotic rush of information was too much for them to handle or make sense of, they somehow grasped the overall feeling and will behind it.

"Giant God…"

"Saw right through us!?"

"What scary insight!"

"The Giant God’s gaze… was totally different from the Chaos Demon God’s and the Outer Predator’s!"

"There was no mocking, no putting down."

"More of it is pleasure!"

"And there’s another kind…"

"It’s like the emotions of a blacksmith seeing good materials!?"

"Hiss…"

"That’s terrifying!"

Although the Giant Gods’ "observation" was much gentler than that of the Chaos Demon God, filled with "appreciation" and "pleasure," being observed as "excellent materials" still made the Rodent Gods feel uneasy.

That joyful yet cold and almost ruthless gaze still sent shivers down their spines.

But regardless…

"At least, the Giant Gods recognize our value!"

"They do not see us digging through the Primal Mud as cowardly or inferior."

"On the contrary, they are quite interested in it and even appreciate it!"

"That’s so much better than the chaos over there!"

"Moreover, they are even willing to enhance the Divine Bodies of each of our deities!?"

"That’s… that’s amazing!"

"Uh…"

Under the astonished gazes of their companions, the representative of the Rodent Gods suddenly thudded to the ground with a loud crash, and their Divine Body convulsed repeatedly.

This kind of fit was not new.

The effects of certain magic could cause the same outcome.

What truly opened the eyes of the Rodent Gods was that along with the rhythmic convulsions of the Divine Body, the small body began to swell up, expand, with the limbs, size, tail, and head all wriggling, undergoing subtle or huge changes!

Perhaps due to the relatively petite size of the Divine Body, the time for modifications was not long.

Finally…

"Ying—!"

The newly born deity shook its brand-new Divine Body and let out a sharp roar!

"This is…!"

It looked at its brand-new Divine Body, and its eyes immediately sparkled with excitement!

"This isn’t one of my dreamt-of Divine Bodies…!?"

"This is amazing!"

It abandoned its companions, quickly using all its limbs to climb up the Fantasy Tree of Subspace.

There lay a very small Outer Predator.

Although the Outer Predators have roughly the same basic shape, all resembling "giant dragons," their sizes vary; some are quite large, almost matching the Divine Bodies of some core councilors.

For example, that one who played with the Rodent Gods, the "Divine Leader."

Such powerful Outer Predators proudly bore spines and horns, showing their noble status.

However, many weaker Outer Predators shared a common trait: their Divine Bodies were small.

Some were less than one-third the size of the Divine Leader.

Now, the newly upgraded Rodent God boasted a Divine Body twice the size of these "tiny" Outer Predators.

"Hungry…"

"Hungry!"

The Giant God granted him a Divine Body but also demanded a price—the nobility and pride of a deity.

He would devour flesh and blood with the same evil and brutality as the Giant God; he would offer the blood and flesh of those who pledged to Barbatos as sacrifices and debts to the Giant God, using his stomach furnace and digestive tract!

"It doesn’t matter…"

"This is hardly a price for us!"

The Rodent God gently stretched out his crimson tongue, licking his moist nose.

His small fangs showed a terrifying gleam.

"We were originally small deities hiding and digging beneath the mud far away."

"Elegance, pride, and nobility were never ours!"

"Instead, we choose strength, agility, and slaughter!"

"Besides, slaughter can have elegance!"

"Just like now!"

"Boom——!"

His soft Divine Body leaned back and slowly squeezed into a fluffy "fur ball."

Then…

"Boom——!"

A huge force burst out, turning the Rodent God’s body into a graceful curve as he lunged at the stunned Outer Predator!

"Now, I am the predator!"

"Bang——!"

Their bodies crashed!

"Ah——!"

The Outer Predator screamed in pain. As it tried to move its limbs to flee, it found its Divine Body pinned by an unknown god, pain shooting from its neck.

Sharp teeth bit down there.

"Crack——!"

With a snap, the Outer Predator’s head tilted sideways.

It perished.

Then, the brutal feeding started!

"Blood sacrifice for the Giant God!"

"Skull offering!"

Feeling the warmth of the stomach furnace, the former Rodent God felt reborn!

"It’s time to take my revenge!"

"Hey——!"

"Boom——!"

With blood on his lips, the deity dashed to the end of the Fantasy Tree branch…

"Boom——!"

He stretched his limbs wide, opening his large wing membranes!

A strange Outer Predator soared among the Fantasy Trees of Subspace.