TLWD 42

Chapter : 42. Traces (1)

Fortunately—

Thanks to the soldiers who came running after, I was able to replenish my nutrients.

◆ Skill “Regeneration [B+]” can be used to regenerate damaged body parts.

◆ Regeneration [B+]

: Consumes accumulated nutrients in the body to recover damaged parts. The type and amount of nutrients consumed depends on the area and degree of damage.

• Temporarily suppresses pain by degrading sensory nerves.

• Temporarily remodels the player’s somatic cell structure and durability.

Now upgraded to B+ rank, Regeneration was more than simple healing.

Regeneration [B+] could even alter the structure of somatic cells.

Through that, I was able to change my skin protein to keratin and combine it into a new skill: Dragon’s Skin [U].

First, I regenerated both of my arms.

“W-Whoa!!”

“What the heck?!”

The soldiers jumped back in shock.

Was it really that surprising? But then I realized—

‘They’ve never seen this before.’

I had never used Regeneration [B+] in front of them.

Though I had healed torn muscles with it, this was the first time I had regenerated completely obliterated limbs.

To see both arms regrow before their eyes—it’d be strange not to be shocked.

Their expressions had changed.

When I defeated Gelu Drake, they looked at me with awe and respect.

Now, only fear and terror filled their eyes.

Huddled together, they glanced at me nervously, clearly hoping for some explanation.

Naturally—

I ignored them.

“Don’t just stand there—move the monster corpses.”

It made sense. The pile of monsters I had hunted was enormous.

All of them were prey enhanced by my Predation [S+] skill.

Overflowing with market value—premium-grade ingredients.

I had actually been in need of goods for the next trade run. It worked out perfectly.

But for now, I needed to track the Lord of Beasts.

I couldn’t let the meat rot.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and move them.”

“Y-Yes, sir!!”

“Right away!!”

Only after repeating myself did the soldiers jump into action, stumbling over each other to carry the monster bodies away.

I watched them for a moment, then slowly turned my head.

Yet still, the translucent message hadn’t appeared.

‘The quest hasn’t cleared…’

At this point, it was clear: the emergency quest wasn’t over.

Even though I had annihilated every monster, including those fleeing under Dragon Rage [E], the quest remained incomplete.

“Hm…”

I checked the quest info again.

==[We Are the Legion!]==

[Objective] – Protect the Earl’s Domain from the monster legion.

[Reward] – Increased favorability with the domain’s citizens.

[Failure] – Fall of the Whitewolf County.

“Protect the domain from the monster legion.”

The quest still active meant the legion wasn’t gone.

This was just the first wave.

In other words—

‘The Lord of Beasts is still somewhere in the north.’

That much was obvious.

I had no time to waste.

I had to hunt down the Lord of Beasts.

Just as I turned to leave—

A hesitant group of soldiers blocked my path.

They weren’t moving the corpses. Instead, they kept eyeing me.

“Did you not hear me tell you to move the monster bodies?”

The extreme cold had delayed decay—but that wasn’t the case now.

The heat from Dragon Rage [E] had warmed the entire county.

Leave the bodies much longer and they’ll spoil.

I didn’t care, personally.

Calories were calories.

But these were top-tier goods, valuable commodities for the Predator Merchant Guild, meant to make it the greatest in the continent.

“Uh…”

The soldiers hesitated.

Then glanced in one direction.

Following their gaze, I saw Seraphia lying crumpled on the ground.

To them, Seraphia was both the lord of the county and their commanding officer.

They couldn’t just leave her like that.

“She’s not dead. Leave her be and move the corpses.”

“B-But Seraphia—”

“She needs medical attention—”

By the time you treat Seraphia, the meat will be spoiled.

She only fainted from the shock—there was no physical harm.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled briefly and walked toward her, picking up the limp Seraphia like a discarded doll.

“Is that enough?”

All eyes widened.

Even soldiers rushing out from the castle stopped dead in their tracks.

They all stared, stunned, as I held Seraphia in my arms.

“L-Lord Adrian…”

“Is carrying Lady Seraphia…”

“He picked her up?!”

Somehow, they looked even more shocked than when they saw Dragon Rage [E].

“Move already.”

“Y-Yes, sir!!”

Finally, the soldiers snapped to it and rushed off.

Despite the commotion, Seraphia didn’t wake.

It looked more like death than sleep.

But the faint, peaceful breathing from her told me otherwise.

Seraphia, cradled in my arms—

She was terribly thin.

Perhaps it had been hidden under her heavy fur coat, but her body felt emaciated to the touch.

The northern continent had little to eat.

She must’ve grown up with chronic malnutrition.

As I looked down at her quietly…

Memories from my past life returned.

People screaming for mercy. Comrades in agony. Special forces torn to pieces by the cold. Ian returning with one arm missing.

The endless suffering of the Allied Forces.

My teeth clenched hard.

Bloodshot eyes.

I wanted to snap Seraphia’s neck. Rip her heart out with Dragon Claws [A].

Boiling rage consumed me.

I hadn’t even used Predation [S+] on a monster, and yet I heard a voice whispering, “Kill that bitch.”

Cries. Despair. Resentment.

All of it twisted around my mind.

Had it not been for Ian—

◆ The player’s Will [EX] resists the encroaching madness!

I would’ve surely killed her right then.

Gradually, my sanity returned.

“Phew…”

As I let out a breath, Kai approached, his body barely upright.

I walked over and passed Seraphia into his arms.

“Take her.”

Kai, caught off guard, took her.

He nearly stumbled.

Though Seraphia weighed almost nothing, Kai looked about to collapse.

He must’ve been in terrible shape.

Yet he didn’t fall—thanks to sheer willpower.

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘He took that head-on and lived?’

Honestly, I started wondering if Kai was a lich.

Dragon Rage [E] wasn’t something you survived.

◆ Dragon Rage Explosion [E]

: Upon activation, the player consumes all accumulated calories to synthesize explosive energy and material over 30 seconds.

After 30 seconds, the stored energy is released.

Delivers [calories consumed x10] in damage and a radial blast reaching [calories x 1cm].

The player receives 0.01% of the inflicted damage as backlash.

<This skill is a combo of: Dragon Claws [A], Nutrient Synthesis [B], Regeneration [B+], Hardened Skin [B], Dragon’s Skin [U], and Metabolic Overdrive [U].>

I had used the full 100,000 calorie limit.

That meant 1,000,000 damage over a 1km radius—equivalent to a breath attack.

In Solo Level-Up [EX], I had 100 HP per stat point in vitality.

One adult male has 100 HP.

So, 1,000,000 damage could kill 10,000 adult men instantly.

Truly a dragon’s power.

And this wasn’t even an actual dragon’s breath—just an imitation.

The real thing would be beyond imagination.

Even so, the recoil was massive.

I used Dragon’s Skin [U] to reduce the damage, minimizing what I took in return.

Still, it left me in a critical state.

Yet Kai not only survived it—he was walking around.

The red blood at his lips proved he was still human.

‘A monster of a man.’

Can he even be called human?

Either way, Kai was on the verge of collapse.

Meanwhile, I was fully recovered.

I could easily kill him right now—

‘But not yet.’

There was one problem.

‘Hunting the Lord of Beasts alone is too much.’

The Lord operates on “another level.”

Dragon Rage [E] could hurt him—but it would leave me crippled.

I had to pour all my calories and rations into using it.

Afterward, I’d be near death.

‘I can’t use it carelessly.’

It must be my last resort.

Ideally, I shouldn’t need it at all.

For that, I needed Kai.

Like when we took down Gelu Drake.

Once we defeated the Lord and I consumed his heart with Predation [S+], I’d surpass even my past life’s power.

Then, I could kill Kai anytime.

For now, he was my hound—for the beast’s hunt.

Just as I finished that thought—

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

Kai growled at me.

His blue eyes blazed with fury.

* * *

He tried to kill me.

Adrian clearly meant to kill me—along with the monster legion.

Kai felt a betrayal boiling up inside.

He was furious at himself for ever trusting Adrian.

It felt like back then—

The moment their brotherly bond had fractured.

He felt that same maddening betrayal all over again.

“Say something…!”

Kai clenched his jaw and let his rage spill.

Adrian stared calmly into his eyes and finally opened his mouth.

“I didn’t know it would be that strong.”

“Is that your excuse—?!”

“I couldn’t let the monsters escape. You knew why, didn’t you?”

At that, Kai fell silent.

He did know.

If any monsters lived, they’d multiply—and attack again.

“I thought you were chasing them solo.”

Kai had chased them alone.

“But you couldn’t handle them all.”

True.

He couldn’t kill them all alone.

At best, he could reduce their numbers.

“So I helped.”

Just that.

“I just didn’t expect it to be that strong.”

Adrian’s face wasn’t lying—he truly hadn’t expected the power.

To be honest, it wasn’t human.

It was like facing an actual dragon.

But it was also true—without Adrian, they wouldn’t have wiped out the monsters.

Because of him, the county had survived untouched.

Kai’s fierce glare softened.

Adrian’s voice followed.

“Take Seraphia back to the castle. Get some rest too.”

“Worried now, are you?”

“This fight isn’t over.”

No further explanation was needed.

Kai understood.

The legion wasn’t gone.

Something or someone was leading them.

Unless that being was destroyed, the county would remain in danger.

“I’ll find their trail now. I’ll be back. Recover before then.”

With that, Adrian turned and walked away.

Kai watched him silently.

‘Just what…’

What was he?

Adrian had changed.

No longer human.

Breathing like a dragon. Regenerating limbs.

Power that made the impossible real.

It used to feel like exaggeration—but now, it couldn’t even explain him.

Kai had no idea how to deal with Adrian anymore.

What kind of relationship they’d have.

But eventually, he shook those thoughts away.

No matter what—

His conviction remained the same.

Seraphia.

He would protect her. Only her.

So their relationship would depend on how Adrian treated her.

If Adrian helped Seraphia—he would cooperate.

If Adrian threatened her—he would kill him.

In that sense, just as Adrian said—this battle wasn’t over.

Their unknown enemy still remained.

Now was the time to recover.

He looked down.

Seraphia slept peacefully in his arms.

Her breath soft, like a baby bird’s.

Kai returned to the castle, holding her close.