The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring - M.L.U.B.D Chapter 23 (Part 1):

The swamp bubbled and churned.

[Sixth Sense] reacted to the eerie phenomenon, blaring incessant warning signals.

Yeah, yeah. I know it’s dangerous even without you screaming at me.

I rubbed my chin with my right hand, gazing at the swamp.

‘I never heard of anything like this happening in the tutorial.’

I calmly sifted through my pre-regression knowledge.

But I’d never heard of anyone encountering a monster called the ‘Swamp King’ in the tutorial.

I shifted my perspective.

Hunting five bosses in the first week isn’t exactly normal, is it?

Based on the system’s voice, the conditions for the Swamp King’s appearance were twofold:

– Hunt five or more bosses in the first week.
– Remain in the swamp for over an hour.

Even if the first condition was met, if a player either visited the swamp too late or spent the first week in another area, they’d miss it entirely.

To think there were still hidden elements in the Tower.

“Perfect.”

I broke into a wide grin.

Swamp Demon King. *That’s a name that screams *powerful*, isn’t it?

I was already excited to see what kind of essence it would yield.

– ‘What’s so perfect about this?’

“Oh, right, my dear goddess can’t see the quest window.”

I shared the system screen with Nyx.

– ‘The Swamp King? At your level, you cannot defeat a being that has reached the apex of demonic power!’

“It’s called a king, but it’s probably no big deal.”

I replied nonchalantly.

The Tower of Babel has a suppression mechanism for each floor.

It prevents balance-breaking monsters from appearing.

This newly triggered quest, ‘Swamp King,’ is likely just a monster with a grandiose name.

– ‘I have only you to rely on, so don’t be reckless.’

“Are you worried about me?”

– ‘I’m saying this because it would be troublesome if my contractor died in vain.’

Well, I *am* Nyx’s only hope, so it’s no wonder she’s concerned.

Don’t worry. If it gets truly dangerous, I’ll just bolt.

The simmering swamp surged upward, rising about five meters.

Eyes, nose, and mouth emerged from the viscous muck.

A green glint shimmered in the hollow pupils.

The mud that formed the swamp coalesced into a head, two arms, and a chest.

[Swamp Demon King]

Red text floated above its crown.

It seemed this was its complete form.

—Mroooooar!!

The Swamp King let out a guttural roar from its gaping maw.

[You have encountered a being of the Ten Thousand Demon War.]

[This being surpasses your current level.]

[You have been afflicted with Fear. You cannot properly perceive the enemy due to terror.]

[Cold Blood activated. It partially suppresses the Fear.]

“Huh.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Just facing the [Swamp Demon King] inflicted two status ailments.

– ‘Contractor… stay… conscious…!’

Nyx’s voice came in fragments.

The Swamp King’s fear-inducing skill outranked Cold Blood, preventing me from fully suppressing the terror.

My hands and feet trembled like aspen leaves.

I wanted to turn my back on this repulsive creature and flee, but thanks to [Cold Blood], I could still make rational judgments.

‘Damn mental attacks.’

Even the mental resilience built up through Cold Blood couldn’t resist it.

It was proof that this crudely molded mud monster was far stronger than expected.

I touched my necklace.

[Token of Valor has been activated.]

[Fear status has been dispelled.]

The red gem embedded in the necklace radiated a brilliant light.

The fear binding my mind dissipated.

‘As expected, a mental debuff nullification skill.’

Whew, now I can breathe.

I owe Ares one for this.

– ‘Have you regained your senses?’

“Yeah, thanks to the artifact.”

– ‘That’s a relief.’

Nyx’s voice was tinged with reassurance.

“Goddess, were you worried?”

– ‘What nonsense. If you couldn’t overcome this much, you wouldn’t deserve to be my contractor.’

“Yeah, yeah.”

With clearer eyes, I gazed at the Swamp King once more.

「Player, I salute your courage.」

[The Swamp Demon King’s domain has been declared.]

[You are facing the Swamp Demon King.]

[A 100-meter radius is designated as the battlefield.]

[Attempting to leave the battlefield will forcibly teleport you to the center.]

[The domain will not vanish until one of you falls or admits defeat.]

Oh-ho, it’s got some decency.

It’ll let me live if I declare defeat.

Is it because this is a hidden quest?

Or maybe the difficulty is so murderous, but at least I won’t die.

“I have no intention of leaving without bringing you down.”

「Admirable resolve.」

The Swamp King glided across the ground.

It wasn’t missing its lower half—it moved like a slime, an amorphous monster.

A creature my pre-regression knowledge couldn’t account for.

When I checked with [Eagle’s Eye], a red aura surged, denser than that of the *Blood Mountain Lord*.

– ‘That monster is far too weak to be called a Demon King, as you said.’

“Right?”

– ‘But it’s still much stronger than you.’

Even a rotten fish is still a fish.

Despite its suppressed power, Nyx instantly discerned the gap between my combat strength and the Swamp King’s.

“I told you, I don’t fight losing battles.”

I smirked confidently.

[Energy Bolt has been activated.]

Just as I began overcharging to keep my distance, like I did with the *Swamp Lizard*—

—Foolish.

The Swamp King swung its right arm.

*Churararak!* Its viscous arm stretched into a whip-like form.

The distance closed in an instant.

Thirty meters meant nothing.

I hurriedly released the Energy Bolt.

The bolt pierced through the Swamp King’s elongated arm.

The whip slowed slightly.

I backpedaled, dodging the Swamp King’s attack.

*Thump-* [Sixth Sense] reacted.

The Swamp King’s assault didn’t end with one strike.

A second blow followed.

Its left arm, stretched long, swept the ground, aiming for my side.

– ‘Danger!’

“I know.”

So thirty meters wasn’t its maximum range.

The whip came at an angle slightly off the ground.

Judging by its length, its effective range was likely up to fifty meters.

Dodging was impossible.

Before the whip could connect, I swiftly completed another Energy Bolt.

*Kwaaang-* A short explosion scorched the impact site.

Like the right arm, the whip slowed slightly.

[Spiked Armor has been activated.]

I generated armor on my right arm and side.

I braced for the whip.

“Urgh.”

Even with Spiked Armor, I couldn’t fully absorb the whip’s force.

I planted my feet, refusing to fall.

[Spiked Armor’s durability has been reduced by 37%.]

The damage wasn’t as severe as I’d feared.

The armor absorbed most of the impact, and my Strength stat, nearing 90, withstood the Swamp King’s attack.

– ‘Contractor!’

“It’s fine. It’s all according to plan.”

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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