The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 42: Traces (1) (Part 2)

◆ Dragon Rage Explosion [E]

: Upon activation, the player consumes all accumulated [Calories] to synthesize explosive energy and matter over a [30-second] casting period.
After casting ends, the synthesized energy and matter are unleashed.
Deals [Calories consumed x10] damage in a frontal cone, with radial splash damage over a distance of [Calories consumed x1cm].
The player receives [0.01%] of the total unleashed damage as recoil.

<This skill is a combination of:
Dragon’s Claw [A], Nutrient Synthesis [B], Regeneration [B+], Toughened Skin [B], Dragon’s Skin [U], and Metabolic Overdrive [U].>

The number of calories I had stored was the max threshold: 100,000.

Meaning I had just unleashed an energy burst equivalent to 1,000,000 damage over a range of 1 km—essentially a Breath attack.

In Solo Leveling [EX] terms, 1 point of stamina equals 100 HP.
A grown man’s health is considered 100 HP.

So 1,000,000 damage meant I could obliterate 10,000 adult men in a single blast.

This wasn’t just some fancy title—Dragon’s Authority was the real deal.

And this wasn’t even a real dragon—just me mimicking its power.
The real Dragon Breath? That would be beyond imagination.

Naturally, the recoil I received was monstrous.
Luckily, I reduced that damage with Dragon’s Skin [U], so the blowback I suffered was minimal.

Even so, Dragon Rage Explosion [E] still left me nearly dead.

And Kai? Not only did he take it head-on and survive, he’s walking around like nothing happened?

But then I saw the bright red blood at the corner of Kai’s lips.
Undead don’t cough up blood—he was still human.

‘Freakish bastard.’

Not even sure I can call him human anymore.

Either way, Kai—as a human—was in terrible condition.
Which meant… now was the time.

My condition had fully recovered after regenerating.
Kai, on the other hand, was wrecked. Practically on death’s doorstep.

I could kill him right now without issue…

‘But not yet.’

Now wasn’t the right time.

‘Hunting the Monarch of Beasts alone would be too much.’

A Monarch’s power is on another level.

Sure, Dragon Rage Explosion [E] could deal serious damage to the Monarch of Beasts—but it would cripple me too.

Using that skill had squeezed out every last calorie I had, and I had to dump all my food from the inventory just to cast it.

Once I used it, I’d be incapacitated.

‘I can’t use it recklessly.’

It has to be my final move—my killing blow.
Preferably, I’ll win without using it at all.

And to do that, I need Kai’s help.
Just like when we hunted the Ice-Drake.

If we take down the Monarch of Beasts, and I Predate [S+] the Monarch’s heart, I’ll surpass even my former life’s power.

I can kill Kai after that.
So for now… it’s better to let him live.

A hunting dog for the Monarch of Beasts.

I had just finished organizing my thoughts when—

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

Kai snarled.

His blue eyes were glaring at me, gleaming with rage.

He tried to kill me.
No—he definitely tried to kill me.

Adrian had clearly intended to wipe me out along with the monster horde.

A storm of betrayal welled up from Kai’s chest.
He raged at himself for ever acknowledging Adrian, even for a moment.

It felt just like that time.

The time he had to turn his back on Adrian.
When their bond, once as strong as brothers, had fractured irreparably.

That nauseating betrayal from back then—Kai felt it again now.

“Say something—anything!”

Kai clenched his teeth, trembling with fury.

Adrian met his gaze, calm, and then slowly spoke.

“I didn’t think it would be that powerful.”

“That’s your excuse?!”

“I couldn’t let the retreating monsters get away. You knew why.”

Kai’s mouth snapped shut.

He did know.

The monsters spared today would multiply rapidly.
It was inevitable that a horde like today’s would strike again.

“That’s why you chased after them alone, wasn’t it?”

He had indeed gone after them on his own.

“But even you couldn’t finish them all.”

That was true.

Kai couldn’t take them all out by himself.

His limit was killing as many as possible.

“So I stepped in.”

Plain and simple.

“I just didn’t expect it to be that strong.”

Adrian’s tone and expression weren’t those of a man lying.
He genuinely hadn’t expected it to be so overwhelming.

And honestly… that wasn’t human power.
It was no exaggeration—it was dragon-like.

And without Adrian, they wouldn’t have wiped out the horde.
Thanks to him, the County took zero damage.

Kai’s fierce glare finally softened.

Adrian spoke again.

“Take Serapia and return to the Lord’s Manor. You need rest.”

“Oh? Now you’re worried about me?”

“The fight’s not over yet.”

He didn’t elaborate, but Kai understood.

The monster horde had a commander—an unknown entity still out there.

Until that being was eliminated, the County would never be safe.

“I’m going to track their trail now. I’ll return once I find it.
Until then, focus on healing up.”

With that, Adrian turned and left.

Kai stared at his retreating back.

‘What… is he?’

Adrian had changed.

He was no longer someone you could call “human.”

That dragon-like power, those regenerated arms that should have been gone…
He had turned the impossible into reality.

Until now, Kai had brushed it off with words like “miraculous.”
But that no longer sufficed.

He didn’t know how to face Adrian anymore.
He couldn’t predict how their relationship would evolve.

Eventually, Kai shook off the thoughts.

Regardless of everything, his resolve was unchanged.

Serapia.

All that mattered was protecting her.

So whatever happens between him and Adrian depends solely on how Adrian treats Serapia.

If Adrian helps her, he’ll cooperate.
If Adrian threatens her, he’ll kill him.

Simple as that.

And just like Adrian said, the fight wasn’t over.

That unknown commander of the horde still remained.

For the battles to come, he had to recover.

Lowering his gaze, Kai saw Serapia nestled in his arms, fast asleep.

Soft, rhythmic breathing.

Like a tiny baby bird.

Holding her close, Kai quietly returned to the Lord’s Manor.

Translatin_Otaku

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