The Strongest in the Game by Dominating Monster - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Monster Domination: Game’s Strongest Episode 22

The three races that support New World: humans, elves, and dwarves.

They boasted deep animosity as long as their ancient history, but very occasionally they would gather in one place.

Like today, when something world-shaking had occurred.

“Is it true that an oracle came down from the World Tree?”

“Yes. Even an ignorant dwarf like you should know that the World Tree’s prophecies are accurate, right?”

“What?! Ignorant? You cowardly pointy-ear!”

“Tsk. Not even a speck of refinement. This is why one shouldn’t dine with inferior races.”

“Human! Shut that mouth of yours. Have you forgotten who taught technology to your race when you were nothing but orc fodder?”

Making a mockery of the name unity, the representatives of each race displayed blatant hostility toward each other.

They had no choice.

These people had lost family and friends to each other’s hands.

It wouldn’t be strange if bloodshed broke out right now.

“Say one more word and I’ll tear your mouth apart with my axe. Human!”

“Oh ho. I was just thinking I needed some mithril. Your axe was made of mithril, wasn’t it?”

“Both of you shut up. Otherwise I’ll put wind holes in both your foreheads.”

As the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile and the level of their remarks became more serious, the high elf Leanne, who had hosted today’s gathering, shouted.

“Everyone stop! Have you forgotten our ancestors’ promise that there would be no fighting at this Covenant Cliff?”

Covenant Cliff.

It was sacred ground where the ancestors of the three races had promised to sing of peace rather than conflict, at least in this place.

At her sharp rebuke, everyone reluctantly subdued their aggression.

Leanne briefly surveyed the assembly to calm the atmosphere, then continued speaking.

“Staying long will only cause trouble, so let me get straight to the point. Just yesterday, an oracle rang out from the World Tree for the first time in three hundred years.”

An oracle after three hundred years.

Back then, the World Tree had foretold the great eruption of the Great Volcano, and hell descended upon reality.

One-tenth of the continent’s population died, and one-third lost their homes and land.

The first oracle since that time.

Surely this oracle would be extraordinary too, but except for Leanne, the others didn’t think much of it.

Three hundred years.

For her as a high elf, it was but a moment, but for the others, it was the distant past.

Even the elves and dwarves had few who remembered that nightmare due to frequent wars.

“Wasn’t the content of that oracle really vague nonsense? What was it? Some orphan king appeared on some island, something like that?”

At the dwarf’s indifferent words, Leanne pressed her throbbing temples and corrected him.

“A remote island and a black castle. The king of abandoned children has arrived there.”

“Ahem… Well, not much different.”

The dwarf let out an embarrassed cough, then asked bluntly.

“But what does that mean, and is that reason enough to call us here? I mean, aren’t oracles usually like that?”

At his prickly tone, the elves bristled and stood up, but Leanne extended her hand to stop them.

Now was not the time to cause internal division.

They who couldn’t understand the prophecy didn’t know the severity of this situation, but for her who remembered the past nightmare, this was more critical than any other problem.

“Everyone, do you know of an existence called the Monster Lord?”

In the distant past, the king of creatures that existed even before the great volcanic eruption.

It was once a name that shook the world, but now there was no one left who remembered it.

“…? Monster Lord?”

“What kind of bone-like name is that?”

At everyone’s bewildered reactions, Leanne sighed with a darkened expression.

“This oracle means that the Monster Lord, ruler of all monsters, has been revived. You may not know, but he is an extremely dangerous being. If we’re not careful, he could lead us all to destruction.”

Leanne continued with a lengthy explanation.

She brought up all sorts of stories about how dangerous the Monster Lord was, how they needed to quickly form a subjugation force and set out to search, but…

“Ahem. We dwarves don’t have the manpower or time to waste on such things.”

“Same here. We have no intention of moving because of an oracle that’s no different from superstition.”

The dwarves and humans stood up from their seats with cold reactions.

“Haah…”

It was the reaction she had expected, but seeing it before her eyes made the reality feel hopeless.

Leanne let out a bitter sigh as she watched them walk away.

“Lady Leanne. At least we’ll send a small force to search for now.”

The elf representative carefully spoke up from beside her, and Leanne nodded slightly.

However, her anxiety didn’t easily fade.

Would that alone be enough?

Could they solve it with just themselves?

As a high elf, she was one who had long assisted the World Tree, the first tree.

Still vividly embedded in her mind was this:

The first prophecy given by the World Tree.

That oracle, which still felt chilling, was also related to the Monster Lord.

* * *

“You really bought it?! Amazing!”

Two days after eating sundae soup and parting ways.

Jin-woo, whom he met in front of the capsule room, opened his eyes wide.

It was a thoroughly characteristic reaction to the single statement that he had bought a used capsule.

“You said it was essential if you’re serious about New World, right?”

“I did say that. But that’s usually a wicked price. I thought you’d think about it more, but you went ahead and bought it boldly?”

“Yeah. Thanks to that, I’m broke now. I don’t even have next semester’s tuition.”

“Worrying is also a luxury. You’re going to get a full scholarship anyway.”

Jin-woo, who knew his friend’s personality and talent, laughed.

Baek Jin had declared he would catch both rabbits: real life and game life.

If it were anyone else’s declaration, he would have scoffed, but Baek Jin was different.

When Baek Jin said he’d do something, he really did it.

“Then to commemorate getting a capsule, I’ll treat you today too.”

“It’s fine. You paid last time too.”

“You said you’re broke. Just take the treat, and help me later when you become a ranker. Let me ride the ranker bus once too.”

Jin-woo lightly patted his shoulder and took the lead.

Grateful yet embarrassed by his considerate friend, he jokingly called out to his retreating figure.

“How much are you planning to fleece me for later?”

“I’ll fleece you from head to toe. Ah, right. What do you want to do once we get in? Should we meet up?”

He shook his head at the question that came with a hearty smile.

“No. I still have some things left to organize.”

“Okay. Then I’ll be playing around on my own, so whisper me if you need help.”

After their brief conversation, they each headed to their capsules.

Having done it once, the controls had become somewhat familiar.

He lay down in the capsule with a pounding heart.

What job skills would there be?

What was the book that Lukman had dropped?

How should he develop his castle?

The thoughts that had kept him awake yesterday filled his mind again.

Though he was full of concerns, with even deeper excitement, Yu Baekjin smiled and logged into the game.

* * *

A strange sensation of being sucked somewhere along with bright light.

Kairen opened his eyes with a feeling of familiarity from having experienced it once before.

The empty throne waiting for a new master and the majestic Black Giant Castle.

The scenery he had missed welcomed him.

At the same time, notifications poured into his ears announcing that the owner of this place had changed.

[Congratulations! You have changed jobs to Monster Lord!]

[You have changed to a higher-tier job. The skills Taming and Communication will be removed.]

[Your qualities are changing. The hidden stat ‘Affinity’ is being changed to the higher stat ‘Authority’!]

[You will walk a new path. You have acquired the hidden stat ‘Ruler’s Archery’.]

[You have acquired Monster Lord exclusive skills: Ruler’s Gaze and Mana Arrow!]

Sweet sounds that seemed to reward all his hardships.

Kairen opened his status window with a pleased smile.

[Authority: The power to subjugate all monsters. The higher the value, the higher the taming probability and the chance of taming monsters with good talents and aptitudes.

Additionally, the number of monsters you can accompany increases.

Current number of monsters you can accompany: 1.]

[Ruler’s Archery: Archery unique to Monster Lords. The higher the stat, the more archery damage and critical hit probability when taming monsters increases.]

“Critical hits when taming?”

Though some descriptions were vague, he realized the importance of these two stats from the others alone.

Kairen invested his remaining stat points between the two without hesitation.

And soon after, he checked the three new skills he had acquired.

[Ruler’s Gaze (Passive)] Insight that sees through the essence of tamed monsters. When taming monsters, you can identify hidden talents and aptitudes.

[Mana Arrow (Active)] An arrow that pierces enemies while containing monster mana. Upon hit, greatly reduces the target’s defense.

“Hmm. Are these good?”

To him as a newbie, these were puzzling skills.

He didn’t know yet.

How precious ‘defense reduction’, or ‘defense shred’ skills were treated in party play.

“Well, they’re hidden job skills so they must be good.”

Kairen approached the throne while closing the system window.

He had finished checking his own changes.

Now all that remained was the predecessor’s legacy.

Kairen reached for the book sitting alone on the royal throne.

The final legacy left behind when Lukman disappeared.

What exactly had he left behind?

[You have acquired Chronicle of Lesser Beings (Legendary)!]

[Chronicle of Lesser Beings (Legendary)] A book containing information on all monsters in the world. Those who obtain this book shall have no fear of lesser beings. Restriction: Monster Lord exclusive, non-transferable.

The moment he reached out, the book opened by itself with a rustling sound.

The names of hundreds of monsters appeared like a table of contents, and the number [1/125] was clearly glowing above the pages.

“Does this mean I’ve only tamed one monster so far?”

It was obvious who that one monster referred to.

When Kairen quietly spoke the name, the book opened once more and revealed the corresponding page.

[Garuda (Legendary)] A legendary divine bird. Adults rival dragons in power. Tip: A monster that extremely dislikes water. Attack using large rivers, seas, or actively utilizing water-type magic. Weakness is the tail.

“…!”

In that moment, Kairen realized how to use this book and spoke another monster’s name.

Goblin, Orc, Minotaur, Siren, and so on.

Every time he muttered a monster he knew, the book opened pages and told him everything about that monster.

“It’s like a Pokédex, isn’t it?”

Kairen chuckled lightly, but his hands gripped the book tightly.

This was a treasure second only to Garuda among everything he had obtained so far.

A book that tells you monsters’ weaknesses and strategies?

He could guarantee that users worldwide would covet this item.

“Hah. Should I organize things a bit?”

Too much information had come in, making his head complicated.

Kairen let out a long breath and sat on the royal throne.

“…!”

At that moment, his vision suddenly soared to the highest spire of the Black Giant Castle.

Not only the entire castle, but also the vast grassland surrounding it and the Black Sea beyond the cliff.

An omniscient vision unfolded where the entire territory could be seen at a glance. A new interface was appearing at the bottom of his vision.

This was the vision of the ruler of the Black Giant Castle, the Monster Lord.

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