The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring - M.L.U.B.D Chapter 18 (Part 2):

There’s a saying about tugging the whiskers of a sleeping tiger.

Wait, was it a lion?

Either way, I’m learning firsthand that the words of the ancient sages are never wrong.

“Arghhh!”

The Blood Mountain Lord’s paw grazed my hair.

It merely brushed me, but my skull rattled slightly.

An overwhelming stat difference!

Early in the fight, I’d managed to wound one of its forelegs, but I was the one being pushed back.

—HUMAN! HUMAN!

“Stop calling me already.”

—DON’T RUN! FACE ME!

The killing intent clouding the Blood Mountain Lord’s eyes grew thicker.

Hey, when you glare at me with those blazing eyes, it just makes me want to run even more.

*Boom—!* Grooves carved into the ground multiplied one by one.

The Blood Mountain Lord’s handiwork.

Its claws carried such immense force that even rocks couldn’t withstand them, splitting apart.

If I let my guard down for even a moment, it wouldn’t be the rocks or ground getting gouged—it’d be my body.

[Energy Bolt]

A blue orb formed in my palm and shot forward.

*Thud.* The Energy Bolt failed to pierce the Blood Mountain Lord’s thick fur, only singeing its surface slightly.

‘I need to keep my distance until it shows an opening.’

The Blood Mountain Lord wasn’t as straightforward as the Wolf King Seorin or Deep Slime.

Its every move was like a martial artist’s, blending feints and lethal strikes.

Its physical abilities far surpassed mine, so carelessly aiming for an opening would likely get me countered.

In that sense, the Mana Deer’s Energy Bolt was perfect for maintaining distance while keeping it in check.

“ROAR! ROAR!”

The Blood Mountain Lord unleashed a surge of furious rage.

Despite limping slightly from its injured right foreleg, it charged with unrelenting ferocity.

Its speed was so blinding that if I hadn’t kept a close eye on its leg muscles, I wouldn’t have had time to dodge.

Spiked Armor continued to leave faint scratches on the Blood Mountain Lord’s skin as it rushed in.

It wasn’t intentional—its sheer speed caused it to run into the spikes.

[Sharp Claws is activated.]

Right after it swung its foreleg wide.

I grazed past, carving a long gash into the Blood Mountain Lord’s flank.

“Kraang!”

The Blood Mountain Lord whipped its body around.

At the same time, its tail arced through the air, slamming into my abdomen.

[Spiked Armor’s durability has decreased by 63%.]

The armor caved in.

Even with the armor, it couldn’t fully absorb the force of the tail, and I was flung back 20 meters.

“Guh!”

A sharp cry slipped past my lips.

It hurt like hell.

Even with Spiked Armor, the tail strike left me gasping for air.

An attack that shaved over half the armor’s durability.

It was the first time I’d taken such a blow in the tutorial stage.

“Hah… hah…”

I panted heavily, trying to steady my breathing.

[Both feet are planted on the ground. The Blessing of the Earth Mother is activated.]

[Wounds and depleted stamina are rapidly recovering.]

The Blessing of the Earth Mother quickly stabilized my ragged breaths.

As expected of a divine blessing!

“Kraaagh!”

Just as the Blood Mountain Lord charged again, my breathing returned to normal.

My abdomen still ached, but it didn’t hinder my movements.

I threw myself to the side, dodging its charge by a hair’s breadth.

[Energy Bolt is activated.]

After charging mana for two seconds, I fired the orb.

*Shwaaak!*

The Energy Bolt struck the gash I’d just made.

Smoke rose from the torn wound.

This time, it had an effect.

“Kauuu!”

The Blood Mountain Lord let out a pained scream.

Its hide had impressive defense and magic resistance, but that was only true for its exterior.

The effort to carve that long gash had paid off.

‘This fight is a battle of endurance.’

I swallowed hard.

The battle with the Blood Mountain Lord dragged on for dozens of minutes.

As the fight continued, the wounds on its body multiplied one by one.

—DIE! HUMAN!

The Blood Mountain Lord wasn’t just taking hits.

[Spiked Armor’s durability has been fully depleted.]

The armor’s durability was drastically reduced.

Even though its claw only grazed me, the impacted area was covered in countless cracks.

This thing never lets you relax for a second.

Through the shattered armor, its claws tore into my flesh.

*Splatter—* Gashes appeared on my shoulder, forearm, and torso.

Sharp wounds, like those from a blade.

I endured the pain and continued trading blows with the Blood Mountain Lord.

“Grrr…”

About an hour after the fight began, the Blood Mountain Lord panted, visibly exhausted.

Its fur was soaked with blood.

Red liquid oozed steadily from the wounds caused by Sharp Claws and Energy Bolt.

In contrast, I was relatively fine.

Aside from being drenched in sweat, that is.

Most of the wounds the Blood Mountain Lord inflicted had healed thanks to The Blessing of the Earth Mother.

I’d avoided critical hits by protecting myself with Spiked Armor as much as possible.

‘It’s not like before my regression.’

After over an hour of combat, my focus was drained.

Before my regression, I could fight for days on end without issue.

This part, it seems, can’t be overcome by mental strength alone.

—Hu…man…

“Why bother talking while struggling? Just rest already.”

The Blood Mountain Lord staggered.

It seemed to have lost even the strength to charge.

I overcharged an Energy Bolt with mana.

The blue orb swelled to its maximum size.

Aiming it at the Blood Mountain Lord’s crown, I unleashed it.

Dangun

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