The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring - M.L.U.B.D Chapter 15 (Part 1):

My fist collided head-on with the beak of the Talon Flame.

*Boom!*

Though it was a clash between creatures of flesh, a sound akin to an explosion shook the mountainside.

[Spiked Armor’s durability has been completely depleted.]
[Spiked Armor’s durability…]

From my hand to my shoulder.

The Spiked Armor I’d deployed to brace for the impact with the Talon Flame shattered entirely.

“Tch.”

I furrowed my brow.

My shoulder throbbed.

The arm that struck the Talon Flame recoiled, then drooped limply downward.

It felt like my shoulder was dangling, likely dislocated from its socket.

Anyway.

“That was close.”

I glanced at the ground.

There, the Talon Flame lay collapsed, its body twitching intermittently.

“Kirruk…”

The impact seemed severe.

What made the Talon Flame terrifying was its astonishing speed, attack power, and ability to soar through the skies.

In exchange, its durability was hopelessly weak.

Precise timing and strength.

Meet those two conditions, and anyone could hunt it.

The Talon Flame, perhaps overwhelmed by the damage from the collision with my fist, soon dropped its head.

[You have acquired a large amount of EXP.]
[Your level has increased.]
[You have hunted the boss monster – Talon Flame.]
[You have achieved a remarkable feat. Player Yu Jin-Ho’s name will be recorded in the Tower.]

“H-He really hunted the Talon Flame.”
“What the hell did I just witness?”

The voices of the Hwarang Guild’s rookies were tinged with shock.

What, getting all surprised over something like this?

I stroked the Talon Flame’s corpse with my left hand.

The soft texture transmitted through my palm.

The Talon Flame’s feathers were highly prized as materials for crafting armor.

‘Now, it’s my breakfast.’

Without a shred of hesitation, I activated [Devour].

[You have devoured Talon Flame’s essence.]
[Essence Devoured: 100%]
[Essence Grade: Common]
[You have completely absorbed one species’ essence.]
[Agility +5]
[Skill – Eagle’s Eye has been added.]

[Eagle’s Eye]
– Rank: ★★
– Type: Active
– Effect: Discerns the strength or weakness of a target within your field of vision.
– Strong opponent: [Red]
– Equal opponent: [Blue]
– Weak opponent: [Yellow]

“Oh.”

A short exclamation slipped past my lips.

I’d expected an essence related to speed, but this skill was far better than anticipated.

An essence that discerns a target’s capabilities.

Discernment-type skills were classified as high-tier even in the Tower.

While the effect of [Eagle’s Eye] wasn’t quite robust enough to be called true ‘discernment,’ absorbing related essences while climbing the Tower could synergize and enhance it further.

As I devoured the essence, my dislocated bone snapped back into place.

My arm still tingled, but it didn’t hinder movement.

‘To think I’d hunt this birdbrain so quickly.’

The Talon Flame’s territory spanned the entirety of Emirite Mountain.

Had I not engaged in combat with Park Jong-won and the Hwarang recruits, drawing the Talon Flame’s attention would’ve been difficult.

The explosive sounds of magic.

The sound of my [Roar].

The cold clatter of metal.

The various noises from the battle echoed resoundingly across the mountainside.

It was the perfect situation to attract a predator’s attention.

The Hwarang recruits’ futile antics ended up aiding me.

Since it’s fate, I wouldn’t mind a bit more cooperation.

“Even if you’re leaving, you should at least say goodbye.”

I turned around.

Behind me, the Hwarang recruits, who had been quietly slipping away from the battlefield, flinched.

*Drdrdr!*

[Sharp Claws] glinted with an eerie light.

The Hwarang recruits paled.

Even Park Jong-won, who had fought fiercely until the end, stared at my claws with a frozen expression.

I grinned.

“I’ll let you live.”

You can come as you please, but leaving requires a toll.

* * *

After some peaceful negotiations, I managed to extract five mid-grade potions from the Hwarang recruits.

“Safe travels, and let’s meet again.”

I waved at the Hwarang recruits as they descended the mountainside.

They didn’t even glance back, clearly eager to get as far from me as possible.

I didn’t expect to score potions like this.

With a satisfied expression, I gazed at the sloshing red liquid.

Potions varied in recovery speed and potency depending on their grade.

Mid-grade ones could reattach severed limbs, given enough time.

Five potions were more than enough insurance for dangerous situations.

‘Even if I don’t use them, I can sell them.’

Converting mid-grade potions to cash would yield about 50 million won.

That might not have meant much to the old me, but to me in 2025, it was a fortune.

I’d better save them and SELL them for their full value in the outside world!

During the potion handover, one of the Hwarang recruits shouted in desperation.

“Aren’t you afraid of the Hwarang Guild’s retaliation?”

“Nope. Go report it. Tell them another player extorted your potions.”

*Grind.*

The recruit who spoke flushed red, grinding their teeth.

The fool’s the one who got played.

I scoffed.

As if the Hwarang Guild would be thrilled to hear about this.

Recruits were merely players with ‘potential.’

Getting subdued and extorted by a player who didn’t even have the backing of a major guild in the tutorial stage?

Reporting that could get them expelled from Hwarang immediately.

Or they’d be stripped of their gear and forced to toil endlessly on guild grunt work to repay their investment.

It was obvious who’d lose more if this news reached the Hwarang Guild.

Oh, right. I leveled up, so I should allocate my stats.

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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