VROOOOM!
The mana bike roared forward.
Its destination: the source of the Yalu River.
Thanks to the combination of maximum output and [Linear Gate], the river soon ca into view.
“There it is.”
No people in sight near the Yalu.
No monsters either.
Because of “them”—the ones who now occupied the entire river.
As Su-ho approached the river's edge—
FWSSSHH!
Sothing flew straight toward him.
He quickly turned his bike, dodging it, and brought the vehicle to a halt.
“It’s begun.”
It wasn’t a stray rock.
It was a spear—razor-sharp and clearly aid to kill.
Su-ho dismounted and stowed the mana bike in subspace.
The mana bike was /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ a precious resource.
In rugged terrain like this, especially when traveling long distances alone, nothing beat the mana bike.
The mont he stored it, another volley of spears rained down on the sa spot.
FWSSSHH!
CRACK! CRACK!
Naturally, none touched Su-ho.
The footwork of a master was different.
With minimal movent, he dodged them all with ease.
A few more rounds ca, but the spears never once struck their mark.
That was the trigger.
— Chiiiiik!!
Unable to contain their rage, “they” finally showed themselves.
The ones who had been silently hurling spears from afar were none other than...
Lizardn.
— Yalu River Lizardman, Lv. 207
Not just any Lizardn—Yalu River Lizardn.
That was their na.
Or more accurately, their nas.
“Chaja?”
“Chajak?”
“Chajaja?”
More appeared one after another.
Not just a few. A swarm.
They multiplied like ants, and these were the very beings responsible for the calamity between China and North Korea.
“So they were only around level 200 in this era.”
Even so, considering the Cataclysm hadn’t even reached its midpoint yet, their levels were absurdly high.
But their true strength didn’t just co from levels alone.
“Chaja?”
“Chajak?”
“Chajaja?”
More and more of them appeared.
Their real threat ca from numbers—insane, overwhelming numbers.
Watching them gather like a seething mass, Su-ho shook his head.
It reminded him of the past.
“Back then, the Lizardn were over level 300—and there were far more of them.”
But back then, Korea and China had worked together to drive them out.
This ti, he had co alone.
If China or any other country got involved again, it would only lead to complications later.
“Let’s start by leveling up a bit.”
Look around.
This wasn’t even a Gate.
And yet, monsters over level 200 road in droves.
You’d have to be a fool to pass that up.
Su-ho rolled across the ground, wrapping himself in buffs.
From the [Blood Armory], he donned a full-body [Blood Full Suit] that covered him from head to toe.
Then, sword in hand, he charged into the fray.
“Co at , you bastards!!”
[ Lion’s Roar activates. ]
The sword dance began.
*
[ Your level has increased. ]
[ All stats increased by 1. ]
[ You have gained 1 bonus stat. ]
“Okay. That’s another one up.”
Who knew how much ti had passed?
Su-ho had gained another level and checked his status window.
[ An Su-ho ]
Lv: 228
Class: Rage Crusader
Traits▲:
Strength (B): 51
Mana (B): 63
Perception (G): 63
Leadership (N): 47
Bonus Stats: 1
Level 228.
A truly overwhelming leveling speed.
What was even better? There were still plenty of Lizardn left.
“This is a gold mine. No doubt about it.”
In his past life, they were disgusting as non-lootable trash.
Now that he could steamroll them, they looked like walking bags of gold.
“Two more levels, then it’s on to the next step.”
Su-ho charged again.
And again, he slaughtered them.
Until—
[ Your level has increased. ]
[ All stats increased by 1. ]
[ You have gained 1 bonus stat. ]
He reached Level 230.
After allocating the bonus stat to Strength, Su-ho glanced around.
— Yalu River Lizardman, Lv. 209
— Yalu River Lizardman, Lv. 210
— Yalu River Lizardman, Lv. 208
— Yalu River Lizardman, Lv. 209
...
Still swarming.
But one thing was clear:
None of them exceeded level 210.
There’s an unspoken rule between monsters and Players—
If there’s a 20-level gap, most skills land reliably.
Sure, stats and other factors influence this, but as a rule of thumb, 20 levels is the safe margin.
“Not that I aid for 230 just for that.”
He genuinely wanted to level up.
Opportunities like this didn’t co often.
“Chajajaja!!”
Unrelenting, the Lizardn charged again.
At so point, they stopped throwing spears and started attacking directly.
That was just their nature—as bipedal warrior-types.
At that mont, Su-ho unleashed a wide-area charm.
[ Enthrallnt activates. ]
The skill rippled out like a wave.
All the Lizardn caught in it—every single one—ended up with heart symbols in their eyes, completely enthralled.
Su-ho recalled the skill’s info.
[ Enthrallnt ]
Rank: S
Applies an enthrallnt effect to all targets, instilling powerful intimacy and loyalty.
Can be dispelled or resisted by strong willpower or ntal immunity.
Can be maintained indefinitely as long as mana is supplied.
Upon expiration, the caster may choose to erase or preserve the enthrallnt mories.
Unlike charm, enthrallnt applies to all targets.
And it didn’t just generate affection—it instilled loyalty and deep emotional bonds.
That was the key to the Yalu operation.
Su-ho imdiately activated [Disguise].
His new appearance? A Lizardman.
Thus, he beca the centurion of roughly one hundred enthralled Lizardn.
“Let’s go.”
“Chajak!”
Under Su-ho’s command, the group of a hundred moved as one down the Yalu River.
“Nice.”
Controlling a hundred monsters over level 200 and maintaining the effect was no easy feat.
Not just mana cost—high charisma was required too.
But for Su-ho, it was nothing.
His mana far exceeded the range of a typical 200s Player, and his ntal fortitude and charisma were sufficient to wipe out hundreds of Lizardn alone.
Even if the number grew, it wouldn’t matter.
But he had no intention of adding more.
“Chajak?”
“Chaja?”
As Su-ho’s troop began moving, nearby Lizardn turned their heads.
But that was it.
The Yalu River was vast. And long.
Tens of thousands of Lizardn lived here.
To them, a hundred moving together was no big deal.
That’s exactly what Su-ho had counted on.
He was planning to march straight to the Yalu River Gate.
Because to eliminate the Yalu River Lizardn, he needed to destroy the portal spawning them.
This type of portal was called a Summoning Gate.
Unlike other gates, they didn’t allow entry—they simply kept spawning monsters.
They appeared only in specific regions.
And here, that region was the Yalu River.
Incredibly, in this era, humanity had yet to properly identify summoning-type gates.
“Still early Cataclysm.”
Even 200-level Players were rare.
Many nations had already fallen to various gates, but because they looked so similar, data classification was a ss.
Su-ho, however, knew everything.
Because he ca from the final stage of the Cataclysm.
“And I know exactly where that summoning portal is.”
He continued downriver toward Sinuiju.
Eventually, Su-ho stepped up onto the water using [Cheongryubo].
Then he grabbed a subordinate’s trident—and hurled it.
[ Spear Throw activates. ]
Fueled by the skill, the trident soared across the distance—
CRACK!
—hitting precisely where Su-ho aid.
“...”
The one struck stood up silently from a stone couch.
With a massive hand, he yanked the trident from his shoulder and turned around.
“Chrrrk?”
The target Su-ho hit was none other than a massive Lizardman.
He checked the na tag.
— Yalu River Minor Commander Lizardman, Lv. 225
Good grief.
Even the na was long.
Yalu River Minor Commander Lizardman.
Su-ho decided to call him Subcommander.
He had hit the Subcommander on purpose.
This wasn’t just hunting.
A subordinate Lizardman throwing a spear at a commander was a challenge.
Su-ho picked up another trident and aid it again.
“Chch.”
A clear provocation.
Of course, he didn’t understand Lizardman speech.
But who cares?
Back in the day, people got by in foreign countries using nothing but gestures.
Lizardn weren’t much different.
And sure enough—
“Chachachachacha!!”
The Subcommander cackled loudly in response.
So did the rest of the Lizardn.
After all, this was his territory.
Everyone here was under his command.
Everyone—except Su-ho and his forces.
After laughing loudly, the Subcommander leapt from his stone couch.
SPLASH!!
As he hit the water, a massive wave surged outward.
Su-ho remained poised atop the river, standing on [Cheongryubo].
Then the Subcommander began shouting sothing.
“Chrrrk! Chchch, Chchja! Chrrrk, Chchch!”
What was he saying?
No clue.
But it probably ant sothing like: “You dare challenge ?”
Instead of replying, Su-ho simply raised another trident—
—then gestured.
“Chuaaaaa!!”
The provocation landed.
The Subcommander, unable to ignore the second challenge, grabbed a much larger, deadlier trident and charged.
Su-ho stood still.
And the mont the Subcommander closed the gap—
SWISH!
Su-ho swung the trident—gripping it like a sword.
SPLAT!!
Colored blood—typical of Lizardn—sprayed from the Subcommander’s body.
[ You have defeated the Yalu River Minor Commander Lizardman. ]
With that system alert, the Subcommander dropped dead.
Su-ho grabbed the massive trident he had been holding.
It was large. Heavy.
But symbolically powerful.
He raised it and shouted to his Lizardn:
“Chura!”
“CHURAAAA!!”
Their morale soared.
Su-ho rotated the trident’s head to point at the Subcommander’s forr subordinates.
“Chura!”
They began glancing around at one another nervously.
Su-ho didn’t let up.
“CHURA!!”
With mana-enhanced volu, his shout rang out.
Overwheld, the Subcommander’s Lizardn bowed their heads and submitted to Su-ho.
Now victorious, Su-ho raised his arm and pointed forward.
“Chura!”
And moved on.
Now, no longer a hundred—
But hundreds of Lizardn followed behind him.
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