The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring - M.L.U.B.D Chapter 28 (Part 2):

Lee Ji-Young, a high-ranker from the far future.

Having fought alongside her in the era of destruction, I knew exactly what her abilities were.

‘With Lee Ji-Young’s ability, hunting fish would be so much easier.’

The Iron-Scaled Fish I trusted had betrayed me.

The Tyrant Catfish is even harder to hunt than the Iron-Scaled Fish.

I don’t know how much trouble it’ll take, but if Lee Ji-Young lends her strength, hunting the Tyrant Catfish will be much smoother.

Come to think of it.

Lee Ji-Young was also famous for discovering the true potential of her unique ability late, just like me.

Her unique ability had a high learning curve.

But.

If wielded properly, it could be used for both offense and defense.

If I teach her how to fully utilize her unique ability…

‘She’ll become a high-ranker much faster.’

Isn’t this what they call a win-win situation?

*Heh heh heh.*

A grin spread across my face at the brilliant idea that popped into my head.

– ‘Don’t laugh so slyly. You’ll scare away your luck.’

“Just watch, Goddess.”

– ‘What in the world are you thinking?’

“I’ve got a plan, I’m telling you.”

Ignoring Nyx’s grumbling, I walked toward Lee Ji-Young.

“Hey, are you Player Yu Jin-Ho by any chance?”

“Honored that you recognize me.”

“How could I not? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Lee Ji-Young’s eyes scanned me up and down.

“You’re a bit different from the rumors, though.”

“What rumors?”

“They say you’re a pervert who walks around in tattered clothes.”

*Grind.*

I gritted my teeth.

Park Jong-Won, that bastard. Next time we meet, a potion won’t be enough to settle this.

“But what brings the hottest player of this round here?”

“How about we work on a job together?”

Lee Ji-Young’s expression stiffened slightly.

A clear glint of wariness flashed across her face.

Was my proposal too out of the blue?

“You have a barrier-type unique ability, right?”

“How do you know about my ability…?”

“I happened to see you hunting.”

I replied nonchalantly.

It’s not a lie.

I did team up with Lee Ji-Young for hunts before regression.

“Then you’d know. My ability isn’t much help for hunting.”

Lee Ji-Young responded in a deflated tone.

An ability specialized in barriers.

But it’s not like she can step up as a frontliner and tank.

To tank, you need skills that draw the monsters’ attention.

Just having high defense isn’t enough to hold aggro from heading to the backline.

That’s why Lee Ji-Young’s early growth was slow.

No attack skills.

Some people might say, “Can’t she just buy attack-related skill books with money?” but…

‘Her unique ability’s penalty prevents her from learning emission-type skills.’

That’s why Lee Ji-Young lingered in the tower’s lower floors for years.

“Just give teaming up a try. You’ve got nothing to lose, right?”

I thrust out my right hand.

It’s the gesture players use to form a team.

Lee Ji-Young stared at my hand with a puzzled look before finally saying,

“Don’t blame me if you regret it.”

She shook my hand, as if reluctantly.

[You have formed a team with Player Lee Ji-Young.]

[Do you agree?]

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

Our voices crossed.

* * *

With Lee Ji-Young in tow, I headed toward a nearby tree.

A tree about ten meters tall.

This should be perfect for an experiment.

“Mind setting up a barrier?”

“Alright.”

Lee Ji-Young obediently used her barrier.

*Ziiing!*

A prism formed in the air.

The hexagonal prism scattered vibrant light, like it was coated in a rainbow.

When I touched the barrier—

*Clang!* Vibrations enveloping the prism emitted a strong repulsive force, pushing me back.

“Oh, sorry. My barrier repels everything, friend or foe.”

“It’s fine.”

What’s there to apologize for?

It’s exactly like my pre-regression memories, so I’m just glad.

An ability to freely fix a barrier around the user or within a certain range.

‘Her unique ability was called Vibration Barrier, wasn’t it?’

Vibration Barrier.

The barrier Lee Ji-Young deploys spreads minute vibrations at regular intervals, boosting its durability.

If that were all her ability did, she wouldn’t have earned the moniker ‘Wall of Lament.’

It sounds like it’s purely defensive, but…

‘The real way to use Vibration Barrier isn’t for defense.’

The barrier works by generating minute vibrations to repel attacks.

Lee Ji-Young took it a step further, deploying barriers in front of and behind enemies to crush them.

When something is caught between barriers, the vibrations amplify exponentially.

The immense frictional energy generated!

Anything trapped between the barriers can’t withstand the infinitely amplifying vibrations and disintegrates at the atomic level.

“That barrier, you can fix it in midair and deploy it at specific coordinates, right?”

A glint of suspicion flickered in Lee Ji-Young’s eyes.

Her look asked, *How do you know that?*

– ‘I’m quite curious myself. That woman seems to be seeing you for the first time.’

Goddess, just stay quiet.

I won’t be explaining… well, there’s no need to.

As I stared at Lee Ji-Young silently, she sighed deeply and spoke.

“It costs twice the mana, though.”

“Then try deploying barriers in front and behind that tree, like you’re wrapping it.”

“If you say so.”

With a reluctant expression, Lee Ji-Young deployed the barriers.

*Ziiing! Ziiing!*

Vibration Barriers unfurled in front of and behind the tree.

In that moment, the tree caught between them began to tremble finely.

“W-What kind of recoil is this?!”

“Lee Ji-Young-ssi, don’t dispel it. Hold on.”

The amplified vibrations shook the tree’s surface, and within seconds, it shattered into hundreds of pieces.

*Thud!* The tree, having lost its base, collapsed to the left.

“Hah, hah.”

Lee Ji-Young, breathing heavily, sank to the ground.

Maintaining the barriers’ shape must have been exhausting.

Controlling the chain reaction isn’t easy.

Without Lee Ji-Young’s innate ‘talent,’ the repulsive force between the barriers would have overwhelmed her, leading to failure.

– ‘Did you know this would happen?’

I nodded in lieu of a reply.

– ‘Truly remarkable. Amplifying vibrations to shatter an object into pieces!’

Nyx couldn’t stop marveling.

This is how to maximize the efficiency of LeeJi-Young’s unique ability, Vibration Barrier.

“What did I just see?!”

“Your barrier isn’t just for defense.”

“Wow, wow…”

Lee Ji-Young’s face was dazed.

She didn’t even notice I’d dropped the formalities.

Well.

I just showed her a new way to use her barrier—does informal speech even matter?

Still panting, Lee Ji-Young struggled to her feet.

“Need a break?”

“N-No way. How could I rest in front of my master?!”

Huh? Since when did I become your master?

That’s odd.

In my memories, Lee Ji-Young was cold and cynical.

Now she feels like an energetic newbie fresh out of college.

‘At this rate, she’ll be plenty useful.’

Hunting the Tyrant Catfish.

With Lee Ji-Young’s barrier ability, gathering essence will be much easier than with the Iron-Scaled Fish.

*Heh heh.*

Suppressing the laughter rising in my throat, I let the corners of my mouth curl up slightly.

– ‘You’re laughing sinisterly again.’

Nyx’s exasperated voice lingered in my ears.

Dangun

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