The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 88: The King of the Underworld (2) (Part 2)

And from that, I inferred that the max Sanity value was 110.

‘Seems tied to the Mana stat.’

It looked like you get 10 Sanity per point in Mana.

And with 107 Sanity, that seemed to act as my Madness level—which also determined the power of Berserk [?].

◆ Activating Transcendent Skill: Berserk [?]

◆ [Sanity] – 107
◆ Berserk [?] is calculated at Grade [B-]
◆ The only applicable skill for transcension is Promote Metabolism [C+]

So that was how Berserk’s grade was determined.

At 107, it qualified as B-.

Which meant only skills below B- could be enhanced—like Promote Metabolism [C+].

So I selected it immediately—

◆ Skill, Promote Metabolism [C+] has been upgraded to [B-].

◆ [Additional Efficiency] – Agility and Stamina increase by an extra [+5%].
◆ [Additional Effect] – Temporarily stimulates the heart muscle to enhance blood circulation speed.

The skill’s grade jumped up one tier, gaining new efficiency and additional effects.

It was a good skill.
After all, it allowed me to transcend the biological limit that no longer permitted evolution.

That’s what made it a Transcendent Skill.

Even if temporary, I could replenish the Madness Gauge by devouring a monster’s heart with Predation [S+], so it was fair to call it a “good” skill.

But—

That was a misconception.

Berserk [?] was not a good skill.
It was an absurd skill.
Because the true effect of Berserk [?] was something else entirely.

A Combination Skill.

In other words, since Promote Metabolism [B-] had been upgraded, every “Combination Skill” that relied on it was affected as well—

◆ Combination Skill, ‘Metabolic Overdrive [U]’ has transcended its limit!!

Among them, Metabolic Overdrive [U] was most affected—it had transcended.

◆ Accelerated Heartbeat [E]
: When activated, the player drastically increases heart rate, doubling the effect of Metabolic Overdrive [U].
However, this places extreme stress on the cardiovascular system, potentially damaging the heart. It also carries the risk of entering a state of overexcitement or rage due to intense hormone secretion.

<This skill is a Transcendent Combination Skill that pushes Metabolic Overdrive [U] beyond its limit.>

The rank was Epic, signified by [E].
The same tier as Dragon Rage Explosion[E].

In other words, its utility was equivalent to the power of that dragon skill—and in practice, it really was.

Explosive speed and enhanced strength.
Hyper-Reflex Mode, allowing anticipation of enemy movements.
Wide-Area Awareness, which greatly heightened perception and reaction speed.

Even temporarily, I could access abilities that transcended biological limitations.

On top of that, Berserk [?] also applied to:
Dragon’s Claw [A],
Regeneration [B+],
Toughened Skin [B],
and Nutrient Synthesis [B].

Beyond Accelerated Heartbeat [E], there was still an endless list of powers that could be transcended.
Who knew what else could awaken?

Truly, he was the Commander of the Abyssal Legion.

In my previous life, I couldn’t even dream of using Predation [S+] on him.
It was no wonder Ian had been worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

‘It seems the Sanity stat builds up through Madness.’

In other words, using Predation [S+] would accumulate it.
However, there was one regret—

‘It clashes with Player’s Will.’

Player’s Will [EX] completely resets any madness that exceeds my mental fortitude.
Which meant that I couldn’t accumulate Sanity, the very thing that determined Berserk’s [?] strength.

‘So maybe I need to invest in Mana after all…’

If I increased my Sanity cap, I could use Berserk [?] right before the reset and bypass the issue.

Still, Mana was a completely useless stat for me at the moment.
I’d need to think about how to leverage it later.

Anyway.

Now I could finally say it without hesitation—

‘I’ve surpassed it.’

I’ve surpassed the Predator from my past life.
Just as I clenched my fist in triumph—

“Ghhkk…!”

A groan suddenly broke the silence.
Lyla, who had been slammed into the ground, began to stir.

…Surprising.

The blow had been empowered by Accelerated Heartbeat [E].
Even I had partially lost my sense of reason at the time.

Every strike had landed as a critical hit, and judging by the unmoving Visters of the Crimson Banquet, I had shown no mercy in my blows.

And yet, as the Crimson Banquet’s Matron—

“Gh… ghhhhkk…!”

She had decent endurance.

That didn’t mean she could resist.
In the end, Lyla failed to stand upright and began to crawl.

“S-Save me…!”

Instinctively, she dragged herself toward Isolde and began to plead.

She knew begging me wouldn’t change anything. I wouldn’t show mercy.
So she clung to Isolde instead.

Isolde simply looked down at her.

Isolde rarely displayed emotion.
Yet something about her aura exuded the grace of a saint.

In truth, Isolde was a foolish woman who believed she had to embrace everyone, even at her own expense.

So at a glance, one might think she couldn’t kill Lyla.

But that was only because they didn’t know Isolde.

The ones Isolde embraced were only the innocent.
To those who committed evil, she offered no mercy.

She showed no restraint even against the Imperial Army—she refused to take prisoners.

Under her command, the Allied Forces once adopted the slogan:

“Forgiveness is God’s work. Kill them all.”

“May God forgive you.”

And so the Allied Forces called her:

Thwack!

The [Saint of Judgement].

Lyla’s head was crushed.

Isolde’s judgement was ruthless.
But I knew—

The fact that she let her die without pain… was the greatest mercy she could offer.

Lyla had exploited women in the red-light district.
That was not a sin to be judged lightly.

Anyway.

Now, no one in Baoless even considered challenging me.
And so, the entire Baoless bowed and submitted—

◆ Hidden Quest, [Perfect Weather for a Bit of Chaos], has been cleared!!

A system message announced the quest’s completion—

◆ URYAAAAAAAHH?!!

An overly dramatic translucent message flooded my vision—briefly—

◆ Wait a moment!!

The system message… was protesting?

◆ I can’t accept this!
◆ The quest’s goal was the collapse of Baoless, wasn’t it!?
◆ Who said anything about ruling Baoless!?

‘…What?’

◆ You carried it out differently from the original quest parameters!
◆ I can’t accept that!
◆ No way, no how!!

‘What the hell is this now…?’

◆ You’re wondering why I’m being so picky all of a sudden?
◆ It’s not nitpicking!!

◆ It’s all just a build-up… for an extra reward!!

“…?”

◆ You carried out the quest differently!
◆ You achieved something far more impressive!
◆ How could I just give you the normal reward?!

◆ That would never do!!
◆ UNACCEPTABLE!!
◆ So here comes your special! bonus! prize~!

…How could its dramatics keep evolving like this?

◆ Were you surprised?
◆ Did your heart drop just now?!
◆ Were you worried you wouldn’t get a reward?!

◆ Then mission—accomplished!

◆ Wait, are you angry now?
◆ Then as an apology, I’ll give you an extra reward:
Title: [King of the Underworld]!

◆ How’s that?! Is your heart pounding from this bonus?!
◆ Think you’ll faint from the main reward?!
◆ Then take a deep breath—

◆ And accept your main prize: [Ian’s Journal]!

‘…Did the system learn a Transcendent Skill too?’

Something like… Berserk Hype[?], maybe.

Translatin_Otaku

•