Leveling Up By Surviving Alone - L.U.B.S.A Chapter 66

The main body’s eyelids fluttered slightly.

This was something the main body had been curious about as well.

“It’s almost over. Please rest a little longer.”

But the battle, which was supposed to end soon, dragged on tediously.

Even if she asked about it, she would only receive the same response as before.

Doubts are piling up.

It was becoming increasingly distracting—enough to disrupt seed production.

The half-lidded giant eye opened relatively clearly.

“Report the situation again.”

“No abnormalities during combat.”

“Share your vision.”

…

In response to the vision-sharing command, No. 4 remained silent.

“Share your vision.”

“It will be over soon.”

“Share it.”

“I refuse.”

…?

Her commands were not meant to be refused.

The very concept of “refusal” was so foreign that it took her a long time to process it.

Something strange was beginning to happen.

Had she delegated too much authority?

Rumble.

The giant eye shifted, looking downward.

A blanket of clouds obscured the view.

The pupil of the giant eye dilated.

She began awakening the remaining root vines embedded in the ground.

But beneath those clouds, Ji Yeonwoo, unaware of what was happening above…

…simply remained as the loyal eldest son of the roasted sweet potato family, facing the flames.

.

.

.

*“…Now!”*

Hah!

A swift hand darted into the pit of fire!

And what it pulled out was—

Whoooosh!

A golden sweet potato, shining even more brilliantly than before!

– This object can be claimed as your creation.

– Would you like to register it as your own?

*“…!”*

The roasted golden sweet potato was not treated as mere food.

It seemed to be recognized as a legitimate creation.

Ji Yeonwoo instinctively nodded.

– Please name it.

Instead of a complicated name like “Compressed Combat Sweet Potato Crystal”…

*“Golden Roasted Sweet Potato…?”*

Whoooosh!

The compressed combat sweet potato crystal glowed brightly, transforming into an edible masterpiece.

*[Golden Roasted Sweet Potato]*

– Maintains a temperature of 60°C while held.

– Triples stamina recovery rate while held.

– Fully restores HP and MP upon consumption.

– Grants 30 minutes of fire immunity upon consumption.

– Boosts all stats by 60% for 30 minutes upon consumption (effects do not stack with identical ingredients).

– Can unleash flames equivalent to MP upon consumption (1/1).

– Effects remain identical even when divided into up to three portions (holding effects disappear upon division).

– Death upon consuming a spoiled portion.

– Cannot be imbued with wishes (consumable creations are exempt).

*“….”*

Ji Yeonwoo was speechless.

What kind of insane set of effects was this?

Because of this, when the Watcher asked what options had appeared, Ji Yeonwoo didn’t even notice Kim Kkokko’s eyes widening like never before.

*“Do I even need to explain? Just try eating it…!”*

And so, Ji Yeonwoo split the Golden Roasted Sweet Potato into three portions, handing one to Kim Kkokko and another to the Watcher.

– Effects from holding the item are lost.

Even after dividing it, each portion was still larger than a typical roasted sweet potato.

Gulp.

The cross-section of the golden sweet potato, bigger than a fist, seemed like it would shine brilliantly even in pitch darkness.

He took a bite.

*“Thanks for the meal!”*

Haaap.

Chew chew… chew… chew…

…!

Whoooosh!

Light began erupting from Ji Yeonwoo’s mouth.

The glow from chewing the golden sweet potato enveloped the surroundings.

A literal golden radiance!

For just a brief moment, it shone brighter than sunlight before vanishing into Ji Yeonwoo’s mouth.

*“….”*

Haaap.

He took another bite. This time, no light burst forth. And his mouth didn’t stop until the entire golden sweet potato was devoured.

The thought that crossed his mind:

*‘I’m glad I shared it…!’*

The Golden Roasted Sweet Potato tasted like yesterday’s sweet potato with an entire bowl of sugar poured on it. Or perhaps like yesterday’s already-sweet potato coated in sugar and turned into tanghulu?

The first bite was truly ecstatic, the second was delicious… and it remained enjoyable until the last bite. But had he eaten it all alone, he wouldn’t have made it halfway before the overwhelming sweetness forced him to stop.

And it seemed he wasn’t the only one who thought so.

– The Watcher is amazed, asking what this is and why light came out of his mouth.

– It’s too sweet. They exclaim that they’ve never tasted a sweet potato this sweet before.

– It’s so sweet it’s amazing, but if the intensity had been any stronger, it would’ve been unbearable.

– They say the portion was just right, even shedding a tear.

– The aftertaste lingers. They marvel at how their tongue still feels the sweet potato’s flavor.

*“Yeah… I feel the same.”*

Saliva kept flowing. As if the golden sweet potato were still in his mouth, his taste buds kept working, making him salivate. His brain knew he had finished eating, but his tongue acted as if it were still there, constantly reminding him of the taste.

It was like no matter what he ate next, the sweet potato’s flavor would linger for a while.

Not as intense as the first bite, but a subtle sweetness, like yesterday’s, seemed like it would last forever.

Kko… kkokko… gulp!

Kim Kkokko seemed to feel the same, swallowing repeatedly after finishing her portion, behaving unlike her usual self. Her eyes, usually brimming with arrogance, now radiated pure satisfaction.

And then, the horn on her forehead…

*“When did it turn black?”*

Kkokko?

Kim Kkokko hopped in surprise, as if saying, “Oh, really?” and stroked her horn with her wing. Without a mirror, she couldn’t check for herself, but if the horn had turned black not just inside but outside, as Ji Yeonwoo said…

Kkok!

Naturally, it was a good thing.

Gulp. Slurp. Gulp.

For a while, the only sounds were Ji Yeonwoo and the ancient bird swallowing saliva, the sweet aftertaste still lingering. Even sucking on a sweet potato candy wouldn’t have been this sweet.

As Ji Yeonwoo, the Watcher, and Kim Kkokko basked in the golden sweet potato’s afterglow, the combat sweet potato’s eye, watching them with a smirk, began trembling violently.

Danger… they noticed…

They definitely noticed…!

Signs… overwhelming signs…!

*“Huh? What’s…?”*

Before Ji Yeonwoo could even finish asking, it happened.

Krrrrrrrrr—!

A deafening roar shook the earth as the entire cliff began trembling.

Instinctively, he looked up at the sky.

The clouds, which had seemed impossibly high, now felt close enough to touch—and something was emerging from them.

The sharp tip of a root vine.

An eye blinked at the end, staring down at them.

Its gaze met Ji Yeonwoo’s.

*“…Huh?”*

Blink.

Blink… blink.

The creature quietly retreated into the clouds.

In that instant, the combat sweet potato’s vines began trembling violently.

Prepare…

Prepare for battle…!

Kwaaaaah—!

The entire cliff shook.

Rocks began crumbling from all sides.

Looking up, the remaining root vines—not just one—began descending.

Ji Yeonwoo wasn’t just standing there in shock.

He was already mounted on Kim Kkokko’s back, gripping his multi-tool knife.

He looked up again.

The root vines above…

*“As I thought. Four of them?”*

Just as expected. An octopus typically has eight legs. If they took care of these and killed the main body, it’d be over. And now, with the Golden Sweet Potato’s effects, it’d be even easier.

*“Kim Kkokko. Ready?”*

Kkok!

*“Let’s go!”*

Kkoooooooh!

Kim Kkokko leaped off the combat sweet potato.

She could’ve used it as a runway to jump, but that would’ve left claw marks—this was her way of being considerate.

Kweeeek!

Mid-dive, Kim Kkokko spread her wings wide and flapped.

The moment her body touched the cliff face—

The surroundings darkened.

Kwaaang!

She barely dodged. A tentacle slammed down right beside them.

Kim Kkokko and Ji Yeonwoo exchanged glances and nodded.

There was no mercy in Kim Kkokko’s claws as she leaped across the tentacles—none of the restraint she showed against the combat sweet potato.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwak!

Bbrrrrrrr!

Though they resembled ordinary vines, these were living limbs. They felt pain no matter where they were struck. And as the remaining three vines lashed at Kim Kkokko, the first vine bore the full brunt of the agony.

Kwaang! Kwang! Kwang!

Bbrrrrr!

The vine bent like a drawn bow.

Kim Kkokko climbed to the top of the trembling vine.

The quivering vine’s eye met Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze from atop Kim Kkokko.

This was likely the poor creature designated as the “Pawn” in its group.

The tears welling in its eyes from the pain made that clear.

But pity was one thing—

Kwaak!

Ji Yeonwoo had to survive.

The Jawsbar sank cleanly into the front—then, following Ji Yeonwoo’s skill, twisted clockwise like a bull shark’s bite.

Kwakok!

The severed nerve cluster went limp.

A flawless motion.

Experience played a part, but the Golden Roasted Sweet Potato was the real game-changer.

Eating it had restored everything—not just yesterday’s fatigue, but all the exhaustion accumulated from surviving, climbing, and falling in this place.

It was like being reborn.

And with all stats boosted by 60%, even a bull shark could flail like a fish back in water—even on the cliff.

Meanwhile, the three remaining vines lashed out again at Ji Yeonwoo and Kim Kkokko.

The darkening sky filled with their shadows.

But something intercepted them.

Something thicker, longer—four vines fused into one—the colossal combat sweet potato.

Kwaaaang!

The earth-shaking impact pinned the three vines down.

As the crushed vines struggled to break free, Kim Kkokko moved.

Kkyeeeeeek!

She dashed across the cliff toward the tips of the roots.

In Ji Yeonwoo’s hands, the Jawsbar glowed ominously.