The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring - M.L.U.B.D Chapter 29 (Part 2):

[You have devoured the Tyrant Catfish’s essence.]

[Essence Devoured: 100%]

[You have completely absorbed one species’ essence.]

[Skill – Gills has been added.]

[Gills]

– Rank: ★
– Type: Passive
– Allows breathing underwater. Reduces water resistance by 20% when moving.

– ‘Oho! Finally, a much-needed ability!’ Nyx cheered.

The ability to breathe underwater.

It even came with a bonus effect of reducing resistance.

This should help when facing Ness in underwater combat.

I tested it, opening my mouth underwater.

Fresh air filled my lungs.

Even with water flooding in, there was no issue.

“Pretty effective.”

My voice carried clearly underwater.

Now I can respond to Nyx’s chatter even in the lake.

– ‘Contractor, are we now off to slay that monster called Ness?’

“Not yet. I need more preparation to hunt that thing.”

– ‘Didn’t you say there were no more essences to devour in this lake?’

“My weapon isn’t just [Devour].”

I tapped my head twice with my right hand.

*Thud! Thud!*

Sure, [Devour] is powerful, but my mind holds all the knowledge of the future.

Knowledge is power!

Even if my abilities fall short, leveraging information can defeat any enemy.

– ‘Contractor, will that woman join the hunt for Ness?’

“No. Ness’s domain is deep in the lake, so I can’t bring her along.”

The lake is the most dangerous area in Rainbow Island.

Lee Ji-Young doesn’t have an ability to move freely underwater like I do.

Her main battlefield is beyond her barrier’s maximum range, so relying on her help is impossible.

I explained this to Lee Ji-Young.

“So this is where we part ways,” she said.

“Not a bad one-day master, was I?”

“One day? Jin-Ho-nim, you’re my master forever.”

Lee Ji-Young bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.

– ‘Quite a fine young lady,’ Nyx remarked.

Oh, really?

Weren’t you just skeptical of her? Changed your mind quick.

“How many levels did you gain?”

“Thanks to your guidance, I’m now at level 17.”

For reference, her level was only 7 before teaming up with me.

In less than half a day, Lee Ji-Young gained 10 levels.

The Tyrant Catfish must be a tough one.

She gained this much experience without directly dealing damage.

I didn’t get any byproducts from the monster’s corpse, but Lee Ji-Young looked like she’d gained something far more valuable.

“This is the end of our team-up.”

[Player Yu Jin-Ho has left the team.]

[Insufficient members. The team has been automatically disbanded.]

I accelerated Lee Ji-Young’s ability awakening by years.

The rest is up to her.

“Next time we meet, I’ll have perfect control over my barrier.”

She left with a confident air.

It reminded me of the ‘The Wall of Lament’ from my memories.

– ‘That girl will become strong.’

“I think so too.”

– ‘Thanks to the time you invested in guiding her.’

“Guiding, huh? It was mutual benefit.”

Helping Lee Ji-Young wasn’t just out of nostalgia from my pre-regression life.

I needed her help to hunt the Tyrant Catfish efficiently.

After the hunt.

I leaned against a tree near the lake.

A second rest after the Red Rock.

Even with [Blessing of the Earth Mother], I couldn’t ignore the accumulating fatigue.

*Yawn-*

A yawn escaped my wide-open mouth.

– ‘Even you feel fatigue,’ Nyx noted.

“Of course. I’m a flesh-and-blood human.”

– ‘I thought something other than blood flowed through your veins.’

“Seriously?”

– ‘Heh, just kidding.’

Nyx let out a laugh.

Lame.

– ‘Now, is it time to hunt the lake’s ruler?’

“After a quick check.”

I activated my status window.

[Player – Yu Jin-Ho]

Age: 23

Ability: Devour

Level: 13 → 27

Race: Human

*Stats*

Strength: 63.2 → 114.5 (+15)

Agility: 65.8 → 107.8 (+12)

Stamina: 70.3 → 90.4

Endurance: 77.9 → 95.6 (+30)

Mana: 99.1 → 120.1 (+20)

Internal Energy: 22.2

Divine Power: 1

[Ability – Devour]

Devours the essence within living beings or objects.

*Skills*

5★ [★★★★★]

Dragon’s Heart

3★ [★★★]

Mighty Strike / Sixth Sense / Cold Blood

2★ [★★]

Eagle’s Eye / Spiked Armor / Roar / Acidic Blood / Mud Trap / Three Talents Qi Technique / Blood Claw Technique

1★ [★]

Sharp Claws / Dissolution / Agile Hind Legs / Gills / Fire / Blaze / Energy Bolt / Regeneration / Bloodsucking

*Patron Constellations*

Blessing of the Earth Mother – Rank 1

Seven Deadly Sins – Blessing of Greed – Rank 1

–

Total stats in the 500s.

That’s without item bonuses.

Comparable to an early Level 100 Player!

The skills absorbed through [Devour] now exceed 20.

At this level, I’m confident I could take on both the Swamp King and the Blood Mountain Lord at once.

The result of devouring the essences of Rainbow Island’s monsters!

– ‘Contractor, I have a question.’

“What is it?”

– ‘That giant serpent, Ness. There is no guarantee that you are the only one targeting that monster, is there?’

“Only a suicidal fool would go after it.”

*Pfft*, a chuckle escaped my lips.

The lake’s ruler, the Giant Serpent Ness.

Among Players, it’s known as the ‘graduation project.’

The strongest monster in the tutorial stage.

It never leaves the lake, so hunting it means dealing with terrain penalties.

“It’s literally the tutorial’s final boss.”

– ‘I see.’

“Just in case, let’s check.”

I activated the stage status board.

Checking the scores of top-ranked Players gives a sense of this batch’s level.

Back in the day, I hit quite a few bets on tutorial outcomes.

While scanning the tutorial status, my eyes stopped at one spot.

“Goddess, hold off on Ness.”

– ‘What’s wrong?’

“There’s something I need to hunt before that.”

I sprang to my feet.

Dangun

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