The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 201

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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 201. Two Rabbits (1)
Lycanthropy.
A mental illness where one believes oneself to be a wolf.
The werewolf transformed by that delusional conviction—Lycanthrope.
In other words, Lycanthrope was once human.
Merely a human whose genetic structure had been warped by obsessive delusion.
Biologically classified as a human subspecies, which meant they could interbreed with humans and produce viable offspring.
Thus, The Empire conducted numerous experiments targeting Lycanthrope.
The result.
They succeeded in extracting the Were factor—a mutagenic agent that overlaid bestial traits onto human genetics.
And they proceeded with experiments crossbreeding that Were factor with the genetic profiles of specific beasts.
While injecting the Were factor into humans.
They forcibly bred human women with experimental subjects injected with the Were factor, among other atrocities.
Without hesitation, they conducted inhumane experiments to test the viability of creating diverse hybrid specimens.
Most perished or were discarded during the fetal stage due to genetic collapse.
But The Empire did not cease the experiments.
Through countless failures, they accumulated data.
The result.
==[Wearbeast Experimental Report]==
-Were mutation factor injection and breeding successful
-Live birth success rate: 38%
-Growth acceleration and adaptation testing of born specimens completed
“Hmm.”
Elowin calmly reviewed the contents of the report in her hands.
Wearbeast.
These creatures possessed inherently superior strength and speed.
And they were biological weapons with exceptional sensory perception and regenerative capacity.
Moreover, depending on which beast’s traits they inherited, they were called by different designations.
Wearwolf, the direct descendants of Lycanthrope.
Weartiger, impregnated with tiger traits.
Wearbear, impregnated with bear traits.
Wearfox, impregnated with fox traits, and so forth.
It was roughly along these lines.
But these designations were not merely for distinction.
Each Wearbeast inherited the physiological characteristics, instincts, sensory systems, and attack patterns of the beasts they descended from.
As a result, their roles on the battlefield became distinctly differentiated, yet—
“The data is insufficient.”
Thus, what was currently needed was singular.
“Acquisition of practical combat data through small-scale engagements is desirable.”
Elowin recited the final passage of the report in a low voice.
“Perfect timing.”
I smiled briefly before immediately drafting an order.
==[Imperial Central Intelligence Agency 047-A]==
●[Commander] : Vice Director of the Imperial Central Intelligence Agency, Elwyn Barjein
●[Classification] : Top Secret / Real-time Reporting Subject
●[Operation Details] : Collection of Experimental Subject Tactical Data and Intelligence on Whitewolf Territory
“Hunting two rabbits with one stone.”
Elwyn pressed her seal at the end of the order.
* * *
The 【Territory Buff】 unlocked by clearing the Territory Quest.
But it wasn’t limited to convenience features like the “Management Mode.”
The 【Territory Buff】 elevated the standards across every sector of the territory wholesale—truly a blessing akin to divine grace.
Moreover, the varieties were extensive.
Soldiers’ basic combat power +75%.
Environmental adaptation +90%.
While there were buffs that increased combat power.
==【Beneath One Banner】==
[Activation Condition] – Tactical Manual Established
[Activation Effect 1] – Command Transmission Speed During Combat +100%
[Activation Effect 2] – Formation Coordination Rate Between Units +65%
==【When Steel and Flesh Interlock】==
[Activation Condition] – Equipment Supply Rate 95% or Higher
[Activation Effect 1] – Equipment Efficiency +35%
[Activation Effect 2] – Equipment Malfunction Probability -40%
There were also buffs that dramatically enhanced not merely combat strength, but the entire command structure of the army and equipment efficiency—
==【Together We Fight Until Death Comes】==
[Activation Condition] – Military Anthem Established, Unit-Exclusive Flag and Symbols Distributed
[Activation Effect 1] – Morale Increase During Combat +150%
[Activation Effect 2] – Adjacent Unit Combat Endurance +100%
==【Who Stands Behind Us】==
[Activation Condition] – Family Support Fund and Welfare System Fully Equipped
[Activation Effect 1] – Soldier Psychological Stability +100%
[Activation Effect 2] – Combat Power in Defensive Siege Warfare +500%
.
.
.
Buffs that bolstered soldier morale, elevated psychological stability, and more.
A diverse array of buffs that drew forth power beyond mere combat strength itself.
And this was merely the 【Military】 category.
The 【Territory Buff】 contained within a single category.
“…How is such a function even possible?”
Ian’s ability was fundamentally incomprehensible in its mechanism.
In any case.
“I can’t activate the buff immediately.”
I had to fulfill the ‘conditions’ necessary for buff activation.
From what I could tell, I needed to establish a ‘foundation’ upon which the buff could be activated.
It was no simple task.
For instance, the field manual—the activation condition for 【All Field Manuals Are Written in Blood】.
A field manual was a type of combat guidebook.
Battle precedents, terrain-specific responses, emergency treatment, and so forth.
A practical manual applicable directly in real situations.
Even during my time with the Allied Forces, field manuals existed.
Looking at one of them—.
====
【War Elephant】
: The most formidable primary unit among the Beast Legion.
This monstrosity was born through cross-fusion genetic engineering, combining elephant DNA to create a biological weapon.
The elongated trunk extending from its massive body tears through even mithril steel with ease, and there are documented cases of it severing castle walls horizontally.
The best method to counter this unit is to deploy a magic battalion and unleash overwhelming firepower.
====
This was how I analyzed each individual unit and situation.
Therefore, it couldn’t be established overnight.
I needed at minimum years of ‘combat data’.
And data alone wouldn’t solve everything.
When actually fighting in the field?
Far more often than not, such manuals should be discarded.
In that sense, there was a ‘true manual’ separate from these.
The practical field manual that Allied Forces soldiers had ‘built up with blood’.
And the contents of that practical field manual—.
“I remember it all clearly.”
It was all preserved intact in my mind—.
“While I’m at it, I should organize the tactical manuals as well.”
I had more than enough to activate all the 【Territory Buff】 items in the【Military】category.
* * *
The snowy plain blanketed in pristine white.
“Officer Leverton, sir, the detection device is picking up something.”
“Hm? Really?”
Leverton paused mid-step.
Once a knight and training instructor of Count Whitewolf’s Castle, Leverton.
After the unit was reorganized, he received a commission as—?
How did I end up becoming an officer like that?
Now with the new recruits arriving, a field-grade rank?
That’s how I got promoted to such an officer position.
Because of that, regional patrols were no longer my responsibility.
However, the senior non-commissioned officers took over the training of this batch of recruits entirely.
Therefore, a need arose to fill that vacancy, which was why Leverton was currently checking the detection device.
Thus, the point marked on the detection device was twenty meters ahead.
“…There’s nothing there?”
Yet there was nothing visible to the naked eye.
All I could see was pristine white snow.
There were no structures to hide in on the Snowy Plain to begin with.
I heightened my senses with aura, but—
“There’s nothing.”
It was the same result.
“Surely the detection device couldn’t have malfunctioned…right?”
Leverton looked around and searched for a stone.
But even a common stone was nowhere to be found.
The Snowy Plain stretched endlessly, filled with nothing but snow.
Leverton hesitated for a moment, then packed together a snowball.
And when he hurled it at the marked location—
—Thud!
The snowball sank right in.
Still, there was no particular reaction—
ROOOAAARRR—!!
“Whoa, you scared me!”
Suddenly, snow erupted explosively into the air.
In the swirling blizzard that scattered in an instant,
a massive form shot up like lightning, revealing itself.
“Wow… if I hadn’t known better, I would’ve died right there.”
Without the detection device, that truly would have been the case.
“…But what is that thing?”
It was a creature I’d never seen before in Whitewolf Territory.
A beast of enormous size.
Eyes gleaming yellow. Black stripes.
Sharp claws.
“A tiger…?”
But tigers don’t inhabit Whitewolf Territory.
The native predators here are only snow wolves and white bears.
“Wow, is that a tiger?”
“I’ve never seen one before.”
Consequently, the soldiers of Whitewolf Territory had never seen a tiger either.
But Leverton had once been a mercenary.
He had wandered across the Continent and seen tigers before—.
“…That’s not a tiger, is it?”
Its appearance and size were similar.
But tigers walk on four legs.
Yet this creature was standing on two.
Of course, tigers could occasionally rear up on their hind legs….
Grrrrrowl!
But this thing was walking on two legs entirely.
“…Wait, isn’t that the thing?”
“What are you referring to, sir?”
“That one… ah, what was it called? I saw it in the field manual.”
The recently distributed field manual.
Written directly by Adrian, it contained standardized procedures and guidelines for battlefield tactics, unit operations, and conduct protocols.
And attached as an appendix was a reference guide titled ‘Combat Cases of Anomalous Entities’….
“Does anyone have a field manual on them?”
“I have one, sir.”
One of the soldiers pulled out a field manual from his uniform.
The two-legged tiger had not rushed forward, perhaps because its concealment had been discovered.
Leverton took the field manual and examined its contents.
“I think I saw it around here… Ah, there it is.”
◆Weretiger
: A hybrid entity based on tiger genetics. A close-range breakthrough type with extremely enhanced mobility and offensive power. Possesses superior concealment and stalking abilities, capable of both frontal assaults and ambushes—a true hybrid entity.
●Combat Type : Solo Engagement / Concealment / Assault
●Physical Characteristics : Enhanced olfaction, elastic muscle structure, superior night vision
●Intelligence Grade : Upper-Middle
“That’s it. A Weretiger.”
Leverton lifted his gaze to study the creature.
Its two eyes glowed yellow, and its muscular frame bore distinct stripes.
It matched the description in the field manual exactly.
“Do… do creatures like that actually exist?”
“…I’d like to know that myself.”
Despite his years wandering the Continent as a mercenary and the countless experiences he had accumulated, Leverton had never heard of such a thing.
“How did Adrian even know about this and manage to document it?”
“He’s not called the Anomaly for nothing.”
Leverton marveled at this as he checked the response guidelines.
There, scrawled like graffiti, were instructions written in conversational form.
==[Weretiger Field Response Guidelines]==
└Hey, you see that rustling in the brush over there?
└…That’s a Tiger. A Weretiger.
└This bastard is ridiculously strong!!
└Its agility is no joke. Three shield-bearers couldn’t even raise their shields before being torn apart.
└Roll to the side before it charges.
└Its attack pattern is linear.
└Damn it. It’s linear, but why is its turnaround speed so fast?
└Its hind legs are absurdly powerful. It can even jump in place.
└Its weakness is stamina drain. After a few charges, it’ll be panting heavily.
└That’s our only chance.
└By the way, it charges like a rutting beast the moment it sees The Saint. Be careful.
“We’ll need to use the Wheel Formation.”
The Wheel Formation—a tactic where formations continuously rotate like turning wagon wheels, gradually sapping the enemy’s strength.
It was a difficult formation to control without practice.
But it was a tactical manual distributed alongside the field manual.
Within its pages were detailed principles of the Wheel Formation and other formations, along with practical applications.
“Everyone moves by the manual! Take your positions!”
At Leverton’s command, the soldiers arranged themselves in perfect unison.
* * *
While the patrol soldiers were engaged with the Weretiger.
Another anomaly was detected from the watchtower above Whitewolf Territory.
“Ground vibrations detected in Watchtower Section 3!”
“Ground vibrations?”
“Did an avalanche occur on Snowy Mountain?”
“Isn’t The Saint training right now?”
“No, this is—!”
Immediately after, a wave of snow from the Snowy Plain crashed down.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—!!
A massive silhouette burst through the snow.
It was the form of a colossal, dark-colored monster—.
“…A bear?”
“That’s not a bear.”
One of the soldiers in the watchtower hastily opened the field manual.
◆Werebear
: A heavy-type hybrid entity based on bear genetics. Specializes in frontal breakthrough and fortress destruction through overwhelming strength and durability.
●Combat Type : Fortification Breaker / Formation Disruptor
●Physical Traits : High-density muscle layer, enhanced attacks, self-regeneration
●Intelligence Grade : Low-tier
“It’s a Werebear!”
“A Werebear? So something like that actually exists?”
“What are the response protocols?”
“Wait—!”
==[Werebeast Field Response Guidelines]==
└That thing tears through steel like paper…?
└This bastard is insanely strong!!
└Do not engage head-on. Getting killed is your own problem.
└But it’s slow. If we’re careful, we might be able to dodge?
└Dodge? Fat chance. Last battle, the guy in front of me tried to dodge and got flattened instead!
└Close combat is suicide. Shoot arrows from behind or throw spears—that’s the answer.
└Hiding in trenches is pointless. One punch and they collapse completely.
└By the way, the moment it sees The Saint, it charges like a dog in heat. Be careful.
Rrraaaaaaagh—!!
“Hey, it’s charging straight at the watchtower!”
“Archers, ready! All loaded crossbowmen, fire at once!!”
Thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack!
* * *
Imperial Central Intelligence Agency.
Deputy Director Elowin listened quietly to her Aide’s report.
It concerned Operation [047-A].
The operation to deploy Werebeasts into Whitewolf Territory to accumulate combat data.
But the results were—.
“…All specimens have been destroyed.”
Elowin’s brow furrowed sharply.

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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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