Chapter 41: Predator
If I think about it normally, it would be difficult for me to defeat the Orc Digestor, Gemyu.
Even with the yellow aura clinging to me, I draw my sword and charge.
The Mid Crusher is easily deflected, and I am sent flying in the opposite direction.
Of course.
Even Zion, who is stronger than me, lost in a power struggle.
Moreover, even Hakuro, who surpasses me in swordsmanship, could not deal damage with a critical hit.
Once again, I use high-speed movement to taunt and test the critical hit.
From various angles, as if searching for a weakness.
I know it’s futile, but I don’t stop repeating it.
Even if I am blocked and sent flying, I stubbornly experiment with all attacks, and I am certain.
I am weak, I think.
If I think about it, my five main subordinates. To add, Shuna and Kurobe.
All of them have inherited a part of my skills and surpass me in their abilities.
Ranga’s "Black Lightning"
Benimaru’s "Flame Manipulation"
Shuna’s "Interpreter"
Hakuro’s "Thought Acceleration"
Zion’s "Strength" and physical enhancement
Soue’s "Magic Sense" and special abilities
Kurobe’s "Researcher"
Each of their abilities surpasses mine.
If I talk about strengths, I am the only one who can handle everything.
If I fight each of them one-on-one, I think I can win if I give it my all. But if I fight several at once, I would lose.
However, this guy surpasses my five main subordinates.
The five who lack stamina would run out of mana and lose soon.
If I fight normally, I cannot win against him.
That’s right.
If I fight normally...
Why do the orcs have abilities stronger than mine?
If Hakuro is strong, it’s because he has trained and improved his skills.
There’s nothing strange about that. But what about the others?
No... I think in reverse. Are they really stronger than me?
The answer is...
From the beginning.
Most of my abilities were acquired from monsters.
I didn’t have them from birth, and I needed to start by understanding them properly.
Being able to drive a car doesn’t mean you have a license. Moreover, there’s no way to beat a professional driver.
But, you see.
When I was reincarnated into this world, I already had some abilities.
These were abilities I had from birth.
Abilities that I am familiar with and can control at will.
If I can use these abilities (skills) properly, I can use them effectively.
And I give a single command.
I grant control over my body. Manipulate it as you will, "Great Sage"!
怊Understood. Switching to automatic battle mode.怋
And that is the answer to the previous question.
??????????????????????????
The Orc Digestor was taken aback.
Just a moment ago, it was about to cook and eat the five powerful monsters it had defeated, but one of the monsters stood in its way.
It’s a boring opponent. That’s what it felt.
The mana is clearly high. It rivals or surpasses the five prey.
However, the monster that continues to launch futile attacks has weak attacks.
It’s just repeating the same powerful attacks as the five from before.
The variety of attacks is commendable, but it doesn’t pose a threat. That’s what it felt.
As prey, it’s of high quality, so that’s good, but...
Until then, the opponent had continued to launch stubborn attacks, but suddenly stopped.
And it took off its mask.
What appeared was a face that matched that of a young child, a cute girl with silver hair.
What is it thinking? Just as it thought,
Pfft!
Its left arm was cut off at the elbow and flew into the air. The severed arm was burned by black flames.
At the same time, the sword the child-like opponent held was melted and burned by the black flames.
Enemy? Yes, it’s an enemy.
Until now, it was just prey. But now, it’s different. It’s a presence that is overwhelmingly different from before.
The fact that the enemy’s weapon melted and disappeared has no meaning. It’s proof of the enemy’s high ability!
The Orc Digestor, which had just evolved and was facing an enemy for the first time, was tense all over its body.
And it felt a sense of unease.
Strange... The regeneration of the arm isn’t starting!
In a panic, it checked the cut area, and the black flames that should have disappeared were still burning there, blocking regeneration.
The aura is connected to the enemy. In other words, as long as this opponent is not killed, the flames will not subside.
The Orc Digestor’s eyes burned with anger.
It tore off its arm from the shoulder and regenerated it from the root. Then, it delivered a full-power Mid Crusher.
A small opponent like this can’t withstand this attack!
But. The child, who should not have a weapon, extended its empty hands and caught the sword that appeared between them.
A sword that was no different from the one that should have been burned by its own technique.
It charged with a speed that surpassed the previous one.
The Mid Crusher and the sword met, and both were swallowed by black flames and melted.
I have to kill and eat this guy with my full power! The Orc Digestor’s aura swelled, and it sent out a shockwave.
It surrounded its fist with aura and struck. The opponent also wrapped its fist in a glove and deflected the attack.
It shot magic bullets at me. I dodged and returned a Death March Dance.
The magic bullets split into seven in mid-air and attacked the target in sequence. Each one was enhanced by the Unique Skill "Hungerer" and had a corrosive effect.
This attack won’t kill, but it will deal damage.
Sure enough, the opponent, though injured, stood up as if nothing had happened.
Its body was now covered in a different armor. It seems the armor’s ability allowed it to withstand the attack.
Just as I am, the opponent may also be in the process of evolving.
I’m hungry. I want to eat this girl!!!
The Orc Digestor thought. The five from before, whatever happens to them, it doesn’t matter. It wants to eat this girl right now!
It grabbed the opponent, who was close by, tightly.
Though the strength was weak, it was in a superior position. It tried to push, but its legs were kicked and broken.
Its knees were shattered by a low kick, and it crouched on the ground. But it didn’t let go.
It released yellow aura from its palms and began to corrode the opponent.
This is the ability of the Unique Skill "Hungerer," which directly corrodes the opponent.
And it stops the opponent’s life activities, converting them into nutrients for itself.
I want to eat! My thoughts are colored by this desire, and I pour all my abilities into corrosion!
Gradually, the opponent’s resistance became futile, and its body began to melt and collapse...
??????????????????????????
The situation unfolded as I had predicted.
With the full support of the Unique Skill "Great Sage," I used my abilities to fight.
The optimal battle method, which I had never used before. I could easily handle "Black Flame Manipulation."
Moreover, "Body Armor" had evolved into "Full Body Armor," a reinforced form combining the armor’s performance.
Abilities I couldn’t use before could be easily handled with the support of "Great Sage."
However, the difference in inherent strength cannot be overcome. Eventually, my movements began to be countered, and the Orc Digestor might gain the upper hand.
Even if I can use my abilities well, my skill level doesn’t improve.
The Orc Digestor had just evolved and couldn’t properly handle its abilities. That’s why I could fight favorably for now.
That’s why I needed to continue in this form.
I momentarily overwhelmed the opponent and guided the battle using the ability that is the opponent’s forte.
Everything went according to plan.
The Orc Digestor wants to corrode and eat me.
But, you see, I also want to eat you!
I am a slime. The skills I use are "Dissolve, Absorb, and Self-Regeneration" only.
My self-regeneration is inferior to the Orc Digestor’s ability. But my slime body has high resistance to corrosion.
From the beginning, I intended to eat you. Like this!
I made the opponent think I was letting go by collapsing my body and then stuck to it.
Gradually, from the palm of the opponent’s hand to the arm...
By the time the opponent noticed, it was too late.
I swallowed the opponent using the slime’s inherent battle method.
It tried to shake me off in a panic, but it was useless against me, who had already covered its entire body.
It was useless, right? Unfortunately, even the regeneration ability you were so proud of is useless in this situation.
The situation reached a deadlock.
The opponent resisted my dissolving attack with its regeneration ability. At the same time, it tried to corrode me, but its attack was at a level I could block with my self-regeneration.
We eat each other. It’s like the Ouroboros, but a different phenomenon.
The one who eats the other wins.
Simple, right?
To win, I brought the situation to this point, which is the condition for victory.
Not relying on abilities I can’t use, but on abilities I can act on instinct.
The abilities I have.
The "Dissolve, Absorb" abilities of the slime are highly compatible with the "Predator" ability.
By dissolving and absorbing, the "Predator" ability is activated.
It’s a predator, after all.
The Orc Digestor, the Unique Skill "Hungerer" you have is certainly a powerful skill.
But, you see. Yours is a scavenger (1).
Eating anything is impressive, but my ability, which is specialized in toppling and eating, is superior in this case.
If we keep eating each other, I will be the first to acquire the ability.
By my ability, the Unique Skill "Predator"!
I can interpret abilities from living opponents, while the Orc Digestor can only acquire abilities after the opponent is dead.
The moment the battle was decided.
………
……
…
How much time has passed?
We are eating each other.
Confident of victory, I focus on eating,
I won’t lose.
I have eaten my kin.
I won’t lose.
I must become the Demon King.
Because I ate Gemyu.
I won’t lose.
My kin are starving.
I can’t lose.
I must eat until I’m full!
The thoughts flowing in.
Hmph. Fool?
No matter what you think, I have already won.
But I can’t lose...
I have eaten my kin.
I... have many sins...
So, I can’t lose.
It’s useless.
Let me tell you.
This world is, after all, a world of the strong eating the weak. You have lost.
So, you must die.
But I can’t lose...
If I die, my kin will bear the sins.
I have many sins, and to avoid hunger, I am prepared to do anything!
I will become the Demon King.
To ensure no one goes hungry, I will take on the hunger of the entire world!
That’s right!
I am the Orc Digestor, the one who eats everything in this world.
But you must die.
But rest assured.
I will eat all your sins.
What...?
Eat my sins?
Yes.
Not only yours, but the sins of all your kin.
My... kin’s sins... will I eat them too...
You are greedy.
That’s right.
I am greedy.
Are you relieved?
If you are relieved, then be eaten and sleep peacefully.
Ah...
I couldn’t lose.
But...
I am sleepy. This place... is warm.
Greedy one.
Your path will not be peaceful.
But the one who takes on my sins...
Thank you.
My hunger is now satisfied!
Orc Digestor. Name: Gemyu.
Right now, his consciousness is fading inside me.
怊Confirmed. Orc Digestor has been eliminated.
The Unique Skill "Hungerer" has been absorbed and integrated into the Unique Skill "Predator."怋
My victory.
A hungry one cannot win against one who is not hungry.
And I open my eyes.
With the sins of the Orcs and their kin on my body.
ā€œMy victory. Rest in peace, Orc Digestor Gemyu!ā€
In the place dominated by silence, I declared my victory.
At that moment, cheers from the Goblin & Lizardman camp and laments from the Orc camp echoed.
Thus, the siege of the Orcs ended at this moment.
From the thoughts that flowed in while we were eating each other, it was revealed that Gemyu was the cause.
And that Gemyu had contacted several "Demon Kings" to seek support.
This information was obtained from the knowledge of the Orc Lord, whose self had not yet settled, and was not accurate.
But it was enough to be cautious.
Moreover, the Orcs cannot be left as they are.
The problem is not yet resolved.
The next day.
An important meeting, which would be recorded in history as the establishment of the Jura Alliance, was held.
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