The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring - M.L.U.B.D Chapter 16 (Part 1):

Early evening.

The twilight began to faintly stain the ground.

I advanced quickly, leaping across a stretch of rocky terrain.

“Kyeeek!”

Spiked Boars lingering at the foot of the mountain occasionally charged at me.

“Don’t get in my way, buddy.”

*Drdrdr!*

With my elongated claws, I slashed at the boar’s weak spot.

Blood spurted upward.

My current stats are comparable to a Level 70 player.

Without much item enhancement, my actual combat power is probably around Level 50.

Still, that’s overwhelming for the tutorial stage.

[Devour has been activated.]

I didn’t forget to *Devour* the fallen Spiked Boar.

I’ve collected all its essence, but thanks to [Dragon’s Heart], my Mana stat ticks up slightly.

It’s less than 0.1 points, so the increase is negligible.

But as they say, even dust piles up to form a mountain, right?

After a few battles, the mountaintop loomed before my eyes.

I walked up a gentle slope and reached the summit.

“The sky’s really pretty.”

A blackened sky, like ink dissolved in water.

The full moon began to assert its presence, pushing back the darkness.

A full moon.

Unlike its usual soft glow, an intense blue light started to rise, driving away the shadows.

That radiant light soon tinged even my retinas blue.

Blue Moon.

The powerful Mana-charged moon began to ascend.

[Blue Moon witnessed.]

[Tonight, Mana recovery speed increases by 50%.]

Facing the moonlight head-on, a buff activated.

An incredible buff that more than offsets the penalties of Emirite Mountain!

Well, it’s meaningless to me, though.

‘The important thing is confirming that *this* is the Blue Moon.’

I grinned and looked down.

There are two paths to the summit of Emirite Mountain.

South—a gentle path.

North—a cliff.

Technically two, but the northern cliff’s steep terrain makes it nearly impossible to climb without mountaineering gear.

*Tutuk.* A pebble I kicked rolled off the cliff.

It vanished from sight shortly after falling.

If I fell from this cliff, I’d end up like that, wouldn’t I?

But now, I have to descend this very cliff.

Explorer Laurent’s discovery.

Following the [Forgotten Temple], he uncovered a hidden element on Rainbow Island.

A fact that would be revealed five years from now.

Sorry, but I’m claiming this one first.

[Ultrasound activated.]

[Reading terrain structure within a 100-meter radius.]

I stepped onto the cliff, activating *Ultrasound*.

A near-90-degree incline.

One wrong step, and I’d plummet a thousand meters.

Well, I collected essences for situations like this.

[Sharp Claws activated.]

I reinforced my elongated claws with Mana and stabbed them in.

The claws sank about ten centimeters.

That’s enough to catch myself if I slip.

‘I’ve got my trump card.’

*Heh heh heh.*

I smirked with satisfaction and began descending the cliff.

* * *

An endless cliff.

I actively used my reinforced claws to climb down.

A single moment of carelessness, and I’d fall to my death.

That Laurent guy—how did he even *think* of scaling this cliff?

Even with my stats boosted by devouring various essences, Emirite Mountain’s cliff kept me on edge.

Yet Explorer Laurent descended it without overwhelming stats or skills.

I heard that before receiving the Tower’s invitation, he was into rock climbing and wilderness exploration.

He even brought related gear to the tutorial.

‘That kind of weirdo would find a hidden place like this.’

How far had I descended?

[Ultrasound] detected a hollowed-out section.

I carefully moved my arms and legs, heading toward the indentation.

A crevice leaking blue light.

Sweating profusely, I finally reached my destination.

“Phew, I thought I was gonna die.”

I exhaled sharply, as if screaming.

Stepping onto flat ground, the tension gripping my body melted away.

I hadn’t been this nervous in my previous life, not often.

Not an experience I’d want to repeat.

[Your current location is Moonlit Cave.]

[You are the first to discover Moonlit Cave in the tutorial stage. Mana increases by 5.]

Some of the light lingering on Moonlit Cave’s surface seeped into my body.

*Hah*, this is why I can’t pass up hidden elements.

“Nice find.”

I stepped into the cave without hesitation.

Moonlit Cave’s structure was simple.

A straight passage.

Walk far enough, and you reach a 50-meter-wide chamber.

No monsters, traps, treasures, or hidden quests, you ask?

‘Nope, none.’

Moonlit Cave.

A place that’s exactly what its name implies.

I pulled a *Moonstone* from my pocket and circled the chamber.

*Tok. Tok.* *Moonstones* were placed one by one on the chamber floor.

After laying out 32 *Moonstones* purchased from the trading company in a circle, I finally sat down with ease.

‘Setup’s done. Time to rest.’

Everything’s ready.

Now, I just wait for the full moon to reach its peak.

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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