The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 146

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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 146. Primordial Evolution (1)
The Ogre collapsed to its knees.
Adrian surged forward without hesitation.
His speed was nearly impossible to track with the naked eye, yet the Ogre reacted.
It raised its arm instinctively to resist.
But it was futile.
Adrian seized the Ogre’s arm.
A monster twenty meters tall.
A human barely two meters.
The difference in weight class was overwhelming.
The Ogre could have crushed Adrian in a single hand.
Yet the scene unfolding was the opposite.
Crack! Snap! Crunch!!
The Ogre’s remaining right arm was torn away by Adrian.
Shrieeeeeeeeeek—!!
The Ogre’s anguished cry erupted from its throat.
Blood cascaded like a waterfall, and the Ogre’s colossal frame trembled imperceptibly.
Its shoulders hunched inward.
That massive body now appeared heavy, burdensome.
The oppressive presence of the Surface’s apex predator had vanished.
The overwhelming aura that dominated all things.
The arrogance of a cruel predator.
All of it had dissipated.
Even the Ogre understood instinctively.
That it was no longer the Surface’s supreme predator.
The gaping wound across its chest—one that would not regenerate.
I reached out and seized the Ogre’s heart in my grip.
And that was—
Before a true Predator—
Squelch—!
The moment when the impregnable monster was utterly conquered.
* * *
As I devoured the third Ogre’s heart [S+]—
◆You have devoured the genetic factors of the entity ‘Ogre’!
◆You have acquired the skill ‘Enhanced Sensorimotor Control [A-]’!
I had obtained yet another genetic ability from the Ogre.
The Ogre’s third ability, following Ultra-Dense Muscle Fibers [A+] and Reinforced Skeletal Structure [A].
Tingle—!
A strange sensation coursed through my entire body.
My nerves awakened, my cells restructured, and the neural network connecting my body transformed into an entirely different configuration.
If my previous nervous system had been a simple, singular pathway, it had now transformed into a ‘multi-layered neural network structure’.
My fundamental operating mechanism had evolved to process neural signals with greater precision and speed.
Even with my eyes closed, I could sense the movement of air around me.
Before my foot touched the ground, I perceived the earth’s subtle tremors first.
Extra Sensory Perception.
I had become capable of moving, reacting, and fighting in an entirely different manner than before.
But it wasn’t over yet.
Ogre’s composite skill, Impregnable Fortress [S-].
Two more skills remained.
Yet.
I couldn’t sense Ogre’s movements.
I examined Ogre’s condition carefully.
The wound on his chest remained gaping from Dragon Impact [E].
The additional explosive area damage had caused the wound to burn and char.
And Ogre, lacking regenerative ability.
Could not recover from the wound.
Because of this, until just moments ago, his heart had remained completely exposed.
But now it was different.
No matter how long I waited, there was no sign of Ogre’s heart being restored.
And for good reason—Organ Replication System [A] was a biological evolution ability that created spare hearts ‘in advance’ to replace destroyed ones.
Once the spare hearts were exhausted?
Ogre could no longer restore his heart.
◆You have defeated Ogre!
◆You have gained 613,400 combat experience!
Messages materialized before my eyes.
It was considerable experience, but my level did not increase.
◆Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!?!?!?
Instead, a message brimming with hysteria flooded my vision.
◆W-What kind of message just appeared?!!?!
◆You have defeated Ogre!
◆…Is that right?!?!
My mechanism hasn’t malfunctioned, has it?!?!
◆But why isn’t an Error message appearing?!
…I had noticed it had been quiet lately.
And somehow, I too was gradually losing my mind.
For some reason, it even felt oddly endearing—.
◆Is that really the same Ogre?!
◆That Ogre?!?
◆The Surface’s mightiest predator! The absolute symbol of power!
◆The monster no one could defeat! The graveyard of heroes!
◆The Kingdom’s forces? Swallowed in a single gulp!
◆A legendary adventurer? What kind of snack is that?!
◆Running away is the only strategy!
◆His mere appearance causes catastrophe!! Absolute catastrophe!!
◆A madman who hunts dragons!
◆Not a living creature—a natural disaster!
◆Truly, a force of national power!
◆That Ogre?!?!?
◆You?!?!?!?
◆Really?!?!?!?!?!
…I take back what I just said.
It’s not very endearing.
How does he manage to escalate his dramatics with each passing day?
Just like the Evolution Quest itself, even the text has evolved.
The evolution of dramatics.
At this rate, I thought he’d achieved complete evolution—.
That’s when it happened.
“Human woman!!”
A cry close to a scream echoed from the Dwarves.
◆Don’t lie to meeeeeee-!!
Even in that moment, the text continued to appear.
I desperately scattered the text away.
Yet it kept obscuring my vision, but I ignored it.
And then.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!!
…I could see the rampaging Arcanoheart.
Light shimmered and violent energy surged wildly.
Seraphia was desperately trying to control the rampaging energy.
“Ugghhhhh─!!”
Seraphia’s face was drenched in blood.
Her eyes, nose, and mouth.
Blood streamed from every opening in her face, making her unrecognizable.
“The mana flow has collapsed!! I can’t stabilize the mana!!”
“The fusion reactor took catastrophic damage!”
“At this rate—!”
Screeeeeech─!!
“Damn it! The core is about to rupture!”
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom—!!
Mana storms swirled violently.
And Seraphia was….
“Ugh, g-gaaahhh—!!”
…I’ve reached my limit.
I can’t afford to be distracted by the fanfare of evolution.
The situation isn’t over yet.
The rampaging energy was warping everything around me, and the fusion reactor’s structure was approaching its breaking point.
But now that I’ve evolved by acquiring Ogre’s power.
I threw myself toward Seraphia.
“Seraphia!! Redirect the rampaging energy toward me!”
“N-no, don’t—!!”
“I’ll take it!!”
Seraphia trembled with conflict, her hands shaking.
“Now!!”
But at my insistence, Seraphia gritted her teeth.
Soon after, some of the energy Seraphia had been controlling came surging toward me.
Kwaaaaaaaaah—!!
“Grrgh—!”
My skin tore open under the tremendous mana, and my nerves burned.
An overwhelming weight pressed down on my entire body, making it impossible to breathe properly.
If my body hadn’t been reinforced by Ogre’s Predation [S+], I would have exploded instantly from such colossal energy.
She’s been controlling this the entire time?
…This is insane.
Ogre or whatever.
Without Seraphia, we’d all be dead.
“Grraaaaaaah—!!”
“B-big brother—!!”
…I can’t hold on.
Willpower means nothing.
This isn’t something willpower can endure. Not this!
“Sever the fusion circuit!!”
At that moment, Broombar shouted.
“Cut the fusion circuit to stop the mana supply!! It will enter a temporary dormant state!!”
“B-but, clan leader!”
“If we force a shutdown like that, the Arcanoheart will—!!”
“The explosion is already inevitable!!”
“But someone still needs to remain and control the Arcanoheart—!!”
“I’ll do it!!”
“Clan leader…!!”
“There’s no time to hesitate!!”
But then.
“N-no, wait—!!”
“Human woman!!”
“I won’t—! Not until the very end—!!”
“I’ve already reached my limit!!”
“The Dwarves’ precious homeland—!”
“A land that demands sacrifice is not Feractrum!!”
“Yet you yourself—!”
“This is my burden to bear!! Human woman, not yours!”
“But still—! Still—!”
“Human woman!! You don’t need to sacrifice yourself—!!”
Broombar’s voice erupted in an anguished howl.
Even as he cried out, the rampaging energy showed no signs of stopping, and the fusion reactor hurtled ever closer toward complete collapse.
Time was running out, but I gritted my teeth and screamed.
“Is there no other way—!!”
“Don’t be stubborn too!!”
“Another way!!”
“Why are you doing this!! Why must you all sacrifice yourselves—!!”
“A different method—!!!”
I screamed with desperation, and Broombar clenched his teeth in response.
“The fusion circuit can’t withstand the pressure of the rampaging mana! If we could only absorb some of that pressure and reduce the burden on the circuit—!”
It was an impossible task.
Even with partial absorption, we were in this state.
“I’ll do it!! So disconnect the fusion circuit! The explosion can’t be stopped anyway!”
No matter what.
Someone’s sacrifice was inevitable.
It was just as Broombar forced his exhausted body to move—
◆Evolution Quest, [There Cannot Be Two Suns Beneath Heaven] has been cleared!
◆Quest Experience gained: 4,366,500!
◆Level increased!
◆Level increased!
Suddenly, text materialized before my eyes.
The fanfare of evolution had finally ended.
Levels gained: +2.
Even with the Ogre experience added, this was all I received.
But it hardly mattered.
A +2 stat increase was useless in this situation—
◆Primordial bloodline awakens.
Suddenly, new text blazed across my vision.
Primordial bloodline awakening.
This was none other than the reward from the evolution Quest—
◆Partial functions of the ‘Primordial Genome’ inscribed within the player are now activated.
◆Primordial Genome
: The primordial genetic code that harbors the foundational traits of all life. By activating the functions of the Primordial Genome, the player can evolve the fundamental characteristics of life itself.
Following that, a torrent of related additional descriptions flooded my vision.
①Anti-Mana Evolution
: An evolutionary form that radically excludes mana based on pure life energy. The player no longer [interacts] with [mana] under any circumstances, and mana that comes into contact with the player triggers [anti-mana resonance].
At this time, the player’s Predation [S+] activates as [Mana Predation], [completely nullifying] all [mana-based energy].
②Pure Physical Evolution
: An evolutionary form that maximizes life energy to transcend the limits of the flesh. The player becomes immune to [aging, cellular damage, disease, poison], and reaches the realm of [theoretical immortality].
At this time, the player’s Predation [S+] activates as [Biomass Predation], allowing the player to sense and absorb the target’s [life energy], [reinterpret] biological traits, and apply them through fusion.
③Adaptive Evolution
: An evolutionary form that freely transforms the body according to the environment, securing extreme survival capability. The player can generate [gills] to perform [underwater respiration] and additionally create or remove necessary [bodily organs and systems] as needed.
At this time, the player’s Predation [S+] activates as [Adaptive Predation], establishing an [independent energy conversion system] and enabling the production of [self-generated energy] from the natural environment without external resources.
What is this…?
My mind went blank for a moment.
My vision was completely filled with descriptions and text.
But none of the content was registering in my head.
I didn’t even have time to process it.
◆Select one specialized ability.
Kwaaaaaaaaaagh—!!
A raging torrent of mana surging out of control.
…There’s no time.
No time to check the descriptions or anything—!
◆Primordial Evolution is beginning.
And at that moment—.
“No—!!”
“Brother—!!”
A storm of exploding mana consumed me in an instant.

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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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