The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 106

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 106. The Journey to the Capital (2)
A world of nature rendered silent, as if entombed in hushed dread.
Ancient trees, their gnarled forms smothered beneath massive moss, stood with exposed roots jutting out in jagged profusion.
Moisture clung to every branch in glistening droplets, while serpentine vines twisted around the limbs, casting deep shadows despite the bright daylight overhead.
At the edge of my vision lay a circular pond, its surface rippling gently.
A thin veil of mist hung suspended above it.
From the distance came the sound of water splashing and the delicate flutter of insect wings.
An unease crept over me—the dread of not knowing what lurked in this place—when suddenly—
‘…There.’
A presence caught my senses, sharp as ESP itself.
Yet my eyes perceived nothing.
But between the branches, I caught sight of something moving slowly—a hue ever so slightly misaligned with its surroundings, shadows subtly distorted.
Focusing my perception further—
I could sense it: something emanating a peculiar wrongness.
The moment I activated Predator’s Instinct [S], words materialized before my eyes, confirming my suspicion.
==【Entity Information】==
Entity: Shameleon
Classification: Monster-class, Reptilia, Camouflage Order, Chameleonidae
Gender: Female
Age: 4 years
Trait: Assimilation [B]
The entity is called Shameleon.
A rare monster born from a mutated chameleon.
Shameleon has evolved the chameleon’s camouflage ability to an extreme degree.
Unlike ordinary chameleons, which merely adjust light refraction angles, Shameleon manipulates chromatophores to alter its body color at will.
Moreover, it can shift not only its color and texture to match the environment, but even its body temperature—
◆Assimilation [B]
: Upon activation, the player consumes [50Kcal] per second to generate [chromatophores]. The player’s form becomes [identical] to the surrounding environment’s color, background, and temperature.
While the skill remains active, the player cannot be detected by [visible light or infrared radiation].
【This skill can be toggled [On/Off].】
Perfect assimilation with the environment.
An ability to conceal oneself completely.
Named Shameleon for the way it hides as if swallowed by shadow itself.
Indeed, even the faintest outline was barely discernible.
That outline grew progressively fainter until it vanished entirely from my perception.
Shameleon had achieved complete assimilation with its surroundings.
In other words, Shameleon had finished preparing to hunt me.
I walked forward as if oblivious, moving directly toward where Shameleon lay hidden.
Even as I drew nearly face-to-face, I saw nothing.
Truly, a remarkable gift for concealment.
I was already curious about what synergy the [Blessing of Darkness] effect—reducing all noise by [-99%]—would create.
Without hesitation, I swung the Dragon’s Claw[A]—
Screech, screeeeech—!
The landscape tore open as a piercing cry erupted.
The Chameleon’s body, which had merged with its surroundings, rapidly darkened.
A color shift that appeared when fear took hold.
Thus, it quickly revealed its true form.
Two eyes capable of rotating 360 degrees.
A mouth lined with densely packed tiny teeth.
A long, flickering tongue darting inside an open mouth contorted in agony.
Its skin was crimson from bleeding, and its long, supple tail appeared capable of coiling around enemies or clinging to trees like a third limb.
Four powerful legs bore sharp claws, yet….
Screech, screeech…!
Its two independently moving eyes were simply lost in confusion.
Clearly, it had never dreamed it would be detected first.
Screech, screech…!
The Chameleon began fleeing with desperate speed.
This made sense—creatures with concealment abilities rarely possessed exceptional combat prowess.
After all, if combat strength were superior, there would be no need to evolve such abilities as concealment.
Ogres do not hide.
They simply tear apart all their prey.
But the Chameleon, lacking such strength, had evolved its concealment ability instead.
With weak combat power, its hunting methods specialized entirely in ambush tactics.
Yet if it was detected first like this?
The battle was essentially already over.
Of course, with weak combat power came equally swift escape speed.
But it was not swift enough to surpass my dramatically elevated agility.
I moved swiftly and swung the Dragon’s Claw[A], effortlessly tearing out the fleeing Chameleon’s heart.
◆You have defeated the Chameleon!
◆You have acquired 250 combat experience!
Translucent text materialized before my eyes.
The experience was considerable.
Yet it was nowhere near the experience required for the next level-up.
I dismissed the floating text and brought the Chameleon’s heart to my lips.
Crunch.
A strange flavor spread across my tongue alongside a tough, chewy texture.
How should I describe this taste?
Chomp, chomp.
Perhaps as ‘the flavor of swampland sediment caked with mold, suffocating the inside of one’s mouth’?
Still, it was more palatable than Avarus’s flesh or Crawlgar’s essence….
“Gack—!”
…This one has zero commercial value either.
As expected, I could truly appreciate that Snowy Mountain monsters were the finest.
Still, I devoured its heart completely without spilling a drop through Predation [S+].
◆5 Sanity points have accumulated.
The Sanity stat that determines the power of Berserk [?].
It varied by individual, but on average, each use of Predation [S+] accumulated 3~5 Sanity points.
◆You have devoured the specimen: Shameleon!
◆You have acquired the skill Assimilation [C-].
Immediately after, the message confirming the completion of predation appeared.
A degraded ability due to the incompleteness of Predation [S+].
However, by securing additional genetic material, I could elevate its rank.
“Let’s see….”
I moved carefully, examining my surroundings with keen attention.
The viscous landscape of the Swampland.
Scattered throughout were small animal bones, insect shells, monster flesh, and occasionally what appeared to be human bones.
“So this was the Shameleon’s habitat.”
It seemed to have been preying on travelers and adventurers passing through this area.
“…Hmm?”
But something felt off.
The Shameleon’s footprints and claw marks scattered about the area.
Especially the residual mucus from the Shameleon’s tongue embedded between the bones—it was as if—.
“There’s more than one?”
These were not traces a single individual could produce.
Shameleons were fundamentally solitary creatures.
However, when breeding season arrived, it was not uncommon for two individuals to live together while raising their offspring.
And the specimen I had hunted earlier was female.
“Is there a male specimen nearby?”
The likelihood of a male individual being in the vicinity was extremely high.
The moment this thought occurred to me.
I sharply elevated my alertness.
A male specimen could be lurking somewhere, having completed its Assimilation [B], waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Just as I was heightening my senses further.
A sudden commotion erupted.
This clamor—a mixture of shouts and metallic clashing—.
“The Campsite?”
It was an urgent sound coming from none other than the Campsite.
* * *
I arrived at the Campsite in haste.
The first thing I witnessed was soldiers engulfed in chaos.
“Th-th-th-th-th-that…!”
“G-good heavens….”
The attendants too had all covered their mouths with both hands, their eyes wide as saucers.
Even the horses pulling the carriage were no exception.
Neigh! Neigh!
Clearly startled, their nostrils flared with agitation.
Soldiers and attendants alike—even the horses.
All of them stared at one point, unable to contain their shock.
I turned my head to follow their gaze—
And there I beheld Crawlgar, encased in a biting, crystalline frost, completely encrusted in ice.
Crawlgar was frozen mid-strike, tongue extended in a hunting posture.
That rare sight of Crawlgar just before the hunt.
In Crawlgar’s gleaming eyes burned the certainty of imminent prey.
In other words, Crawlgar had become ice itself—frozen without ever knowing when or how death had claimed them.
No different from a sculpture meticulously carved from ice.
And before that ice sculpture—
“Ha ha….”
Seraphia was scratching her cheek.
An awkward expression.
Her face brimmed with embarrassment, as though caught red-handed.
Then, upon noticing me—
“Eek…!”
Her small frame flinched and trembled—
“Th-this one suddenly lunged out and startled me so…!”
As if making excuses to me, she flailed her hands about frantically.
* * *
Crawlgar’s sudden assault.
Fortunately, it ended as nothing more than an incident.
“Move at once. Hurry and gather your things—prepare to depart.”
Following Adrian’s orders, the soldiers and attendants moved with haste.
As the sounds of extinguishing the brazier and loading cargo into the carriage echoed busily—
“Um…, brother.”
Seraphia called out to Adrian, mustering her courage.
Adrian’s footsteps halted abruptly.
Yet she lacked the courage to meet his gaze as he turned around.
Seraphia’s eyes darted left and right once before she spoke.
“It’s just that… the carriage I was riding in has become like that….”
Seraphia pointed with her index finger toward the carriage.
The carriage, frozen solid together with Crawlgar.
It was far beyond any repair by thawing.
In crude terms, the carriage had lost its mind.
I gazed silently at the frozen carriage.
Then, without a word, I climbed into my own carriage.
Seraphia remained rooted in place, her gaze dropping to the ground.
“Get in.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Seraphia startled, glancing about nervously in all directions.
Could there be another carriage prepared somewhere?
But all she could see were the carriages arranged for the handmaidens and soldiers.
Since the journey to the Kingdom Capital was such a considerable distance, I had prepared separate carriages for the handmaidens and soldiers.
Surely he didn’t mean for her to ride with them…?
“Um, where…?”
Seraphia asked anxiously, and I gestured with my eyes toward the seat in front of me instead of answering.
“In your carriage…?”
“If you’d rather walk, I won’t stop you—”
“No! I’ll ride!!”
Seraphia quickly climbed aboard before I could change my mind.
* * *
Inside the swaying carriage.
Seraphia stole a glance at my face.
I gazed out the window, lost in deep thought.
My profile carried a weight so profound it was breathtaking.
Seraphia smoothed her skirts.
In her mind, she searched for an opening to speak.
Yet her thoughts remained as blank as fresh parchment.
An indescribable tension hung in the carriage—until that moment.
“What’s the matter?”
My voice came, casual and unhurried.
When she turned, my eyes—which had been fixed on the window—were now directed at her.
“…Yes?”
Seraphia was flustered.
‘He spoke to me first…!’
Her heart quickened with excitement.
“How did you manage it?”
“Manage what, my lord?”
“Your ability—you shouldn’t be able to use it carelessly, should you?”
“Ah! That!”
Seraphia composed her elated heart before speaking.
“It’s thanks to you, my lord.”
“Thanks to me?”
“Yes!”
Seraphia answered with vigor, extending her hand forward.
Ice crystals then began to form delicately at her fingertips.
Seraphia twisted her wrist slightly, spreading the crystals through the air before me.
“Ever since my brother healed me, I’ve been able to control my abilities. Though I still need much more practice….”
As Seraphia gently closed her hand, the scattered ice crystals dispersed, blooming into tiny ice flowers in all directions.
“What do you think?”
Seraphia gazed at Adrian with hope brimming in her eyes.
But then.
…For some reason, Adrian’s face and expression had turned terrifyingly grim?
His features contorted, twisted beyond mere displeasure.
The look one might cast upon a loathsome, hateful creature.
As if confronting a malevolent demon itself.
Even if one gathered every negative emotion in existence to sculpt a face, it could not compare to this.
Seraphia hastily dispelled the ice crystals she had conjured.
Yet the chill that had already spread refused to dissipate easily.
Her control over her abilities remained clumsy and difficult.
Adrian’s expression twisted even more menacingly.
Seraphia’s shoulders shrank inward.
Crack!
…Somehow, I’ve incurred terrible hatred.
* * *
Seraphia, wielding the power of extreme cold with perfect freedom.
Ice flowers of lingering chill coating the interior of the carriage.
‘…Iliana, what exactly did you create?’
An awakening instead of a cure—what was she thinking?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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