TLWD 47

Chapter : 47 The Beast Legion Commander (1)

To be honest…

‘I didn’t expect the bait to be taken so quickly.’

I didn’t think the lycanthrope would fall for the bait in less than a day.

Naturally, that’s because the lycanthrope would need time to notice Serapia.

They can’t take the bait without first being aware of it.

I estimated at least three days.
And even that was a tight estimate.

Yet, less than a full day after I left camp, the bait was taken.

This didn’t just exceed my expectations.
It felt like someone had seen right through my bait strategy.

And that—was exactly why I could detect the trap the lycanthrope had laid.

While descending from the snowy mountain after leaving the camp, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

The lycanthrope was currently extremely wary of me.

In other words, it was highly likely that he was watching me closely—observing where I was and what I was doing.

Which meant… he might have been watching as I took Serapia up the snowy mountain.

And if he learned of Serapia’s existence by watching me?

Then his desire for her would have surged explosively.

But since I was right next to her, he wouldn’t have dared to act.

So… if I were to leave the camp?

What would his next move be?

The moment I reached that conclusion, I immediately turned back toward the camp.

And sure enough—
My prediction hit the mark.

‘I don’t know why he attacked Kai instead of Serapia, though.’

Maybe… Kai just looked prettier to him?

The lycanthrope was a monster who lost all rationality at the sight of a beautiful woman.

Beauty is subjective, after all. Kai must’ve been more his type.

That’s why, even in my previous life, he was so obsessed with the Saintess.

“Then and now—your filthy desires are unchanged!”

Even after returning to the past, the lycanthrope remained a beast forged from the madness of desire.

Pinned to the ground, the lycanthrope twisted violently.

My current strength stat: 33.45.

That meant I had the strength of 33 adult men, enough to pin down the thrashing lycanthrope.

But I couldn’t completely overpower him.

Thinking that a mere 33-man strength was enough to suppress a lycanthrope—that was pure arrogance.

I gripped the back of the lycanthrope’s neck and yanked hard.

But it was thick and tough—not something I could grasp with one hand.

Its skin was like leather—dense and rigid—and its compacted muscles were like steel armor.

Yet, before the Dragon’s Claw [A], it was like paper.

Even a lycanthrope couldn’t overcome the dragon’s genetic might.

I sharpened my claws—KWA-DOOK!

His skin and flesh were torn as I dug into his neck.

Startled, the lycanthrope’s struggles intensified.

He thrashed wildly, trying to throw me off, claws flailing in all directions.

KWAJJIK—!

A terrifying, flesh-tearing sound rang out.

Unfortunately… it wasn’t his neck being torn.

It was my hands that were completely ripped off from gripping his neck and shoulder.

Freed in an instant, the lycanthrope let out a KRRRRAAAAH!

He lunged at me like a ravenous beast.

His claws sliced through the air, and the killing intent radiating from him was no longer lust—but murder.

He wasn’t called the Legion Commander of Beasts for nothing.

He was already too close.
And I no longer had hands to block or counter with.

So—

◆ Combination Skill: [Metabolic Overdrive (U)] activated!
◆ Calories consumed: 50,000 kcal
◆ For the next 500 seconds, all player stats increase by +50%!

Suddenly, my agility spiked, and my senses became hyper-alert.

Before my brain could issue commands, my body was already reacting.

The lycanthrope’s strike ripped through the air in front of me—

I dodged quickly, eyes locked onto his every move.

He lunged again, but—this time, I was faster.

◆ Skill: [Nutrient Synthesis (B)] activated!
◆ Skill: [Regeneration (B+)] activated!

My severed hands rapidly regenerated.
Then I swung the Dragon’s Claw [A] wide.

His claws and my claws—

The lethal weapons collided in mid-air with a crack.

PUSSSSH—! KWAANG!

The sound of flesh tearing and an explosion echoed at once.

Kai’s eyes widened.

That first tearing sound was Adrian’s strike ripping through the lycanthrope’s claws.
The second bang was the lycanthrope stumbling from the impact.

In other words—Adrian wasn’t being overpowered.

But neither was he overwhelmingly dominant.

Adrian and the lycanthrope—

They tore at each other, wounded each other, unleashing rage and madness in a brutal clash.

Each time they collided, the snowy mountain shook.

Like a battle between two feral beasts.

‘What the hell…’

Kai’s shock was natural.

Having just faced the lycanthrope himself, he understood how absurd this fight was.

It was a breathtaking duel that made you forget to breathe.

But there was no time to stand idle.

He turned, searching for Serapia.

She lay collapsed on the ground.

Surrounded by a horde of monsters.

Kai readied his sword and cut through them, throwing himself toward her.

Fortunately—

Serapia was okay.

She had no visible wounds or injuries.

But she was unconscious.
Likely fainted from being overwhelmed by the lycanthrope’s desire.

Kai hoisted Serapia onto his back.

Then, tearing apart the thermal stockings he wore while disguised, and removing parts of his female undergarments, he fashioned makeshift bindings to secure Serapia tightly to him.

Just as he finished—

The monster legion had surrounded him again.

Countless monsters blanketed the snowy landscape.

Kai checked again that Serapia was secured, then gripped his sword tightly.

The legion was an unexpected variable.

But it only meant the plan had started earlier than expected—not that it had failed.

Amazingly, Adrian had accounted for this.

He had anticipated that the lycanthrope might bring an army and had already formulated a counterplan.

So the strategy was still intact.

Which meant—it was time for Kai to carry it out as a knight.

And now, he felt like he could.

He calmed his breath.

Stepping forward, he sharpened his aura into his blade.

His sword, honed like a wolf’s fangs, unleashed a flurry of rapid, multidirectional strikes.

Relentless attacks sowed chaos among the legion, leaving no room for counterattacks.

Wolf Swordsmanship, Form One—
Dance of Fangs.

Kai’s blue fangs tore through the monster legion.

Kai, ripping through the legion—

‘That…’

My eyes widened unconsciously.

The skill Kai was using now—

‘Wolf Swordsmanship?’

Wolf Swordsmanship.

Just like its name, a style that wielded the sword like a wolf.

Inspired by the wolf’s hunting style, this was a sword technique Kai invented.

Later, it would become the very skill that earned him fame as the Commander of the Frozen Legion.

Even Ian recognized its power.

What more needs to be said?

‘He’s already perfected it?’

This wasn’t a technique Kai should’ve been able to use at his current stage.

He must’ve reached a master-level breakthrough during our last training…

‘Insane bastard.’

His growth rate was absurd.

Now, like a golden wolf, Kai was tearing through the monsters.

Even with Serapia on his back, limiting his movement, he was unstoppable.

He had been a detestable enemy, but now that he was an ally—he was incredibly reassuring.

Originally, the plan was to use Serapia as bait, then team up with Kai to take down the lycanthrope.

But that plan changed.

‘I didn’t expect him to bring the entire legion.’

Even a beast consumed by lust valued his own life enough to bring insurance.

As a result, a joint attack with Kai became impossible.

Instead, we were caught in the joint attack of the lycanthrope and his legion.

Thankfully, Kai was holding the line on his own.

SLASH! SPLURT!

…More accurately, he was sweeping through them.

Kai didn’t need to be worried about.

I was the problem.

In the dark of the snowy mountain, the lycanthrope’s eyes glinted.

But he didn’t rush in.
Nor did I.

‘Strong.’

He truly was worthy of the title Legion Commander of Beasts.

The Dragon’s Claw [A] had torn through his claws earlier.

Its ability to ignore -35% defense let it rip through his tough hide.

So my attack power was superior.

But my stats couldn’t keep up.

Agility, strength, stamina.

The things that sustain a fight—I fell short compared to the lycanthrope.

Even with Metabolic Overdrive [U], I couldn’t match him.

‘If I burn more calories…’

I could amplify my stats even more.

Metabolic Overdrive scaled with calorie usage.

‘But I can’t.’

I couldn’t use all my calories on that skill.

I had a limit of 100,000 kcal stored.

The remaining 50,000 had to be saved for Regeneration [B+].

‘If I run out, I can’t heal anymore.’

That would lead directly to death.

Once HP hit zero, regeneration becomes meaningless.

Sure, I had backup calories in my inventory.

But the idea that I’d have time to eat mid-fight was laughable.

This was a Legion Commander. No such luxury.

Even if I had time—if I lost both hands again like before, I wouldn’t be able to consume nutrients.

In battle, one mistake—one poor decision—can cost your life.

GRRRRR—

A low growl from the lycanthrope.

His snout curled upward like a crocodile’s.

His fangs, sharp enough to crush steel, gleamed.

He also had formidable regenerative abilities.

The shoulder wound I tore earlier had healed.

So had the gash on his neck.

Not as good as an Ice Troll, but enough to prolong combat.

His claws were dangerous too.

Not as much as the Dragon’s Claw [A], but enough to tear my flesh.

Even with my Reinforced Skin [B] giving +30% resistance to physical damage.

I’d need something like Dragon’s Hide [U] to really block him.

But that lasted only 5 seconds and cost 10,000 kcal to activate.

It wasn’t something I could spam.

Between me and the lycanthrope—

We could kill each other with a single fatal blow.

And we both knew it.

That’s why we stared each other down, tension thick in the cold darkness.

◆ Time remaining for [Metabolic Overdrive (U)]: <157 seconds>

But that time was ticking down.

About 2 minutes and 30 seconds left.

Honestly, beating him within that window? Nearly impossible.

Refueling calories?
The lycanthrope wouldn’t give me the chance.

As I thought—

‘I can’t do this alone.’

Plan A had failed.

The moment he brought the legion, that plan was done.

But it was only the first plan.

When I created this strategy, I had already considered the possibility that he might bring reinforcements.

In my past life, unexpected variables always cropped up during missions.

I’ve revised countless plans on the fly to deal with them.

So now—

Time for Plan B.

“Kai!!”

At my shout, Kai immediately dove toward me.

No further instructions needed.

He understood what I meant.

And I threw myself toward him as well.

In an instant, our backs and shoulders met—

And with a half-spin pivot around that contact point, we switched places.

I, who had been facing the lycanthrope, now faced the legion.

Kai, who had been facing the legion, now faced the lycanthrope.

In a moment, our opponents had been swapped.

The lycanthrope and the legion both hesitated in confusion.

Kai used that hesitation to charge the lycanthrope.

And at his current strength, Kai could hold him off.

Which meant—I could now focus on the legion.

Or more precisely…

“Now… who should I eat first?”

I could refuel.