The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 40

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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 40. The Way of Predator (2)
In combat, the essence lies in offense and defense.
In that regard, I could completely resolve my offensive power through Dragon’s Claw[A].
But my defensive capability was somewhat lacking.
Relying solely on Reinforced Skin[D] was woefully insufficient.
Even now, after evolving to [C] grade, it remained inadequate.
Those I would face going forward were The Emperor and the Imperial Army.
With the possibility of combat against the Beast Lord looming, Reinforced Skin[C] failed to provide sufficient defensive power.
Of course, given my Regeneration[B-] ability, defense was not so urgent a concern.
But possessing Regeneration[B-] did not mean I could afford to neglect my defensive capabilities.
Regeneration[B-] was not a panacea.
If my head were severed or my heart destroyed, I could not regenerate.
Above all, it carried an unavoidable limitation: it absolutely required nutrients.
That was an insurmountable constraint.
No living creature in this world had ever discovered a way to survive without consuming sustenance.
Therefore, even if I devoured the genetic factors of every living being on The Continent through Predation[S+], even if I reached the “ultimate lifeform” that Ian spoke of.
I could never escape the issue of sustenance.
Once my nutrients were depleted, I could no longer regenerate.
Thus, I could not rely solely on Regeneration[B-].
I had to avoid injury when possible, and direct my ability evolution toward evasion rather than recovery.
Regeneration was certainly an advantage, but I could not become blind to its limitations.
In that sense, I researched and contemplated the Reinforced Skin[C] I had obtained from Dermexus.
And ultimately, I was able to create the combination skill Dragon’s Skin[U].
Its principle and mechanism were as follows.
Human skin is composed of approximately [70% water], [25% protein], [2% fat], and [3% minerals].
And the “keratin” reinforced by Dragon’s Claw[A] is a type of protein.
Of course, the protein composing skin and its components were fundamentally different.
But through evolving to Reinforced Skin[C] this time, I could replace the proteins within my skin with keratin.
In that replacement process, the abilities of Nutrient Synthesis[B-] and Regeneration[B-] were utilized.
Thereby, I could convert the proteins composing my skin cell membranes into “keratin”.
And currently, my keratin was reinforced by Dragon’s Claw[A], with hardness increased by [+1,601,200%] and tensile strength increased by [+1,992,500%].
◆Dragon’s Skin[U]
: Upon using this skill, the proteins composing the player’s skin cell membranes are converted to [keratin].
The player consumes [10,000Kcal] to make skin strength and hardness comparable to Dragon’s Claw[A].
During this time, [all damage] inflicted upon the player is reduced by [-90%] for [5 seconds].
【This skill is a combination skill merging Nutrient Synthesis[B-], Regeneration[B-], Dragon’s Claw[A], and Reinforced Skin[C].】
As the description made clear, it was not “Dragon’s Scales”.
It was a degraded “Dragon’s Skin” adapted to suit my human form.
This made sense because the protein composing human skin was only 25%.
In other words, I could only replace that 25%.
That was precisely why the skill remained incomplete.
Yet even this possessed boundless potential for development once my ability to combine skills evolved further.
Most importantly, even in its current state, the skill’s power was far from lacking.
After all, the target I had weakened was none other than a dragon.
The mightiest lifeform on The Continent, supreme over all creation.
Even Gelu Drake, merely a dragon-type, was revered as the master of Snowy Mountain in this place.
Weakened though it was, such creatures were not the sort that the mere monsters of Snowy Mountain could contend with.
It was at that very moment.
◆The duration of the combination skill ‘Metabolic Overdrive [U]’ has ended!
A message appeared, informing me that five hundred seconds had already elapsed.
With that, my endocrine system, which had been in overdrive, returned to normal. The sudden reversal of sensation crashed over me, and in an instant, my movements became noticeably sluggish.
The monsters seized upon that opening, surging forward to attack.
“No!!!”
Beyond the Castle Wall, Seraphia’s anguished scream pierced the air.
There was no time to evade.
Then…
◆I activate the combination skill ‘Dragon’s Skin [U]’!
◆Consuming 10,000 Kcal, all damage dealt over the next [5 seconds] is reduced by [-90%]!
The moment I activated the combination skill, the cells composing my skin underwent rapid transformation.
Keratin was synthesized through my Nutrient Synthesis [B-] ability, and that keratin was instantly restructured into skin cell membranes through my Regeneration [B-] ability.
It was then reinforced by Dragon’s Claws [A], and the ensuing impact and recoil were withstood by my Hardened Skin [C].
Clang! Clang-clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Each time the monsters’ claws and fangs struck my body, the sound of metal colliding rang out.
Throughout this, my flesh did not tear, nor did my bones fracture.
Rather, it was the monsters’ claws and fangs that shattered and broke.
* * *
“This… this can’t be real…”
Seraphia could not believe what unfolded before her eyes.
Just moments ago, when the monsters had swarmed Adrian, Seraphia’s face had gone deathly pale.
Clang! Clang-clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Yet soon came the dull, thunderous sound.
Seraphia’s crimson eyes widened to their limits, bulging with shock.
Countless monsters’ claws and fangs were raining down upon Adrian. And yet Adrian remained unscathed.
Though the monsters’ fangs and claws could shatter stone and gouge steel, they could not inflict even a single wound upon Adrian’s body.
Instead, the monsters’ claws and fangs were the ones breaking apart.
Even as she witnessed it with her own eyes, she could not bring herself to believe it.
“That… that… that…!”
“What… what is this!!!”
The soldiers were no different. All of them stood with gaping mouths, their faces twisted in astonishment at this incomprehensible phenomenon.
Kai, too, simply remained silent.
His wavering blue eyes were bewildered by this strange phenomenon.
The monsters were no different.
Kwaark?!
Kreeek?!
The monsters trembled violently, their panic evident in their convulsing forms.
The absence of reason does not equate to the absence of intellect.
The monsters were well aware that the phenomenon Adrian was displaying defied all common sense.
In that gap of panic, an opening emerged.
Fwabak!
Adrian seized that moment, slipping through the breach in an instant.
And thus he was utterly dominating them.
The countless legions of monsters.
The monster army that the full military might of Whitewolf Territory could not withstand—Adrian alone was completely overwhelming them.
And the more he fought.
The more he traversed the battlefield.
The stronger Adrian seemed to become.
* * *
I rampaged wildly through the monster ranks.
I tore out monster hearts and devoured them endlessly with Predation [S+].
How much time had passed like this?
◆Regeneration [B+]
◆Toughened Skin [B]
◆Nutrient Synthesis [B]
◆Promote Metabolism [C+]
The message indicating I could evolve my abilities further by devouring additional genetic factors no longer appeared.
This meant I had achieved the complete form of my abilities.
When I refocused my gaze, the monsters had begun retreating.
‘A retreat order was issued.’
It certainly seemed that way.
The entity commanding the monster legion had apparently judged that continuing was no longer viable.
‘My caloric reserves are running low as well….’
Though I had replenished my calories intermittently, I could not restore them completely.
In the midst of such intense combat, there was little opportunity to replenish my energy.
This too was a limitation of Regeneration [B+].
Therefore, continuing to fight was beyond my current capacity.
Had he been observing my condition all along?
In an instant, Kai leaped down from the Castle Wall.
Kai, who had faithfully adhered to my warning not to intervene.
Yet perceiving that I no longer possessed the stamina to continue the battle, he moved without hesitation.
Thus Kai became a golden wolf, ferociously pursuing the retreating monster legion.
If I let those monsters pass, they would become a threat to Whitewolf Territory in the future.
I had to reduce their numbers decisively while I had the chance.
“Adrian!”
“Are you alright!”
Following Kai, soldiers began pouring out from the castle wall in a rush.
“Brother!!!”
Seraphia, in particular, descended the castle wall stairs in a hurry, her face etched with worry.
Rumble, rumble, rumble…!
The tightly sealed castle gate opened, releasing a tremendous vibration.
I turned my gaze back to Kai, who was pursuing the monsters.
‘He fights well.’
A golden wolf weaving through a flock of sheep.
Wherever Kai’s blade passed, monsters invariably fell.
Kai moved freely between the monsters, striking vital points with precision—slashing and piercing with deadly accuracy.
Somehow, Kai had become far stronger than before.
That genius-level talent was pulling his growth forward with each passing day.
It was no wonder he was called the commander of the Frost Legion.
As I watched his form quietly…
‘Should I give it a try.’
After all, I had already achieved the complete form of my ability evolution.
The meat from Predator[S+] would have accumulated like mountains.
I opened the “Information” tab and checked my remaining surplus calories.
At the same time, I confirmed the ability that had reached its complete form through Nutrient Synthesis[B+].
And it was exactly as I had anticipated.
◆Nutrient Synthesis[B]
: When the skill is used, you can consume calories (Cal) to synthesize desired nutrients. Depending on the amount of calories consumed, you can freely synthesize [all organic compound mixtures].
+Decomposition from compounds to single elements is possible.
+No energy loss occurs during nutrient synthesis and decomposition.
‘I can synthesize all compounds.’
Nutrient Synthesis[B], evolved to rank [B], could synthesize any existing organic compound as long as I had calories.
Furthermore, I could decompose them into single elements like oxygen and hydrogen, and do so without any caloric energy loss.
“Haaah…!”
I drew in a deep breath.
What I was about to attempt required considerable tension, even for me.
I took several deep breaths, shaking off the nervousness.
Ian’s words flashed through my mind.
-Adrian, you can’t fight like a human.
I couldn’t fight like a human.
-Fighting like a human is actually poison. That doesn’t mean you should abandon your humanity. It simply means don’t fight like a human.
I couldn’t fight the way humans do.
Adrian, you must master your own unique combat style. No one can teach you. No one should teach you.
Not even Ian, the Hero.
So in my past life, I agonized over that method.
And finally.
I found the answer.
◆Using the skill ‘Nutrient Synthesis [B]’, I produced [hydrogen], [oxygen], [acetylene], [vanillylacetylene], [ethylene oxide], [hydrazine], [nitrous oxide]….
These are elements and compounds that trigger ‘exothermic and explosive’ reactions.
I stuffed all the oil I’d stored in my inventory into my mouth.
I burned through the accumulated calories instantly and synthesized them again.
Then I used the combination skill—Metabolic Runaway [U]—which merges Metabolism Acceleration [C+] and Regeneration [B+], to detonate the elemental reaction.
Calories burned rapidly, and the synthesized explosive compounds within my body multiplied uncontrollably, spreading throughout me.
They diffused and radiated across my entire body, carrying tremendous heat and energy.
Normally, my entire form should have been incinerated and obliterated.
But I compressed it back down to the absolute limit using Dragon’s Skin [U]—a combination of Reinforced Skin [B] and Dragon’s Claw [A]—sealing it within my body.
Badadadadadada-!!
My body began to roil and surge as though exploding.
Even with 90% damage reduction, this is what I endure.
Overwhelming pain flooded through me, but I suppressed it by severing my sensory nerves.
My ability, Predation [S+].
It is not merely the absorption of a creature’s abilities.
It is the absorption of the genetic foundation—the mutant genes—that granted those abilities in the first place.
And biological evolution never occurs in a single moment.
It requires at minimum tens of thousands of years.
Every living creature on the Continent has undergone such eons of evolution.
Humanity is no exception.
We have survived to this day through tens of thousands, millions of years of successive evolution.
And in merely ten months within our mother’s womb, we traverse millions of years of biological evolution before entering the world.
This is because the genetic information accumulated by our ancestors over vast epochs is imprinted within us.
All living creatures are the same.
My ability, Predation [S+], absorbs the biological evolutionary process spanning tens of millions of years—far exceeding the millions of years accumulated by each creature.
Therefore, the ‘Dragon’s Claw [A]’ I obtained by devouring Gelu Drake is the result of absorbing dragon genetic information.
In other words, I possess dragon genetic data within my body.
By utilizing this, I can access the dragon’s genetic abilities.
And what I now seek to manifest is….
The dragon’s authority—Breath.
Kiiiiiiing-!!
Every cell in my body ignites simultaneously.
Massive flames erupted across my entire form.
Whoooooosh-!!
Using myself as kindling, the infernal flames of eons surge forth.
A power of overwhelming magnitude that defies containment.
It condenses and condenses and condenses again within both my arms.
This is a skill born from extracting and modifying the dragon’s genetic factors from a dragon’s claw, combining metabolic acceleration [C+], regeneration [B+], reinforced skin [B], nutrient synthesis [B], and even metabolic runaway [U] and dragon’s hide [U].
Abilities that could never naturally merge in the natural world, fused together to birth Predator’s unique ability.
This is precisely.
The ultimate form of biological evolution where the swordplay, spearmanship, and martial arts of heroes become unnecessary.
The way of Predator.
The measurement grade is….
◆Activating the combination skill ‘Dragon Rage Explosion [E]’!
The [E] denoting Epic.
That savage power.
Further control is… impossible.
‘Now!’
I thrust both hands forward toward the fleeing horde of monsters.

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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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