I can’t turn back now that I’ve come this far.
That would lower my dignity as the leader of the crew.
In this swamp, there are not only magical beasts but also ordinary animals and insects.
However, it won’t be easy for me to disguise myself as one of them.
It’s because of my scales that shine beautifully like crystal.
I had no choice but to roll around in the mud.
The mud will cover the shine of my scales.
I wish I could use the Black Scales skill freely someday.
That would make things much easier.
After covering myself with sticky mud, it was time to roll in half-rotten leaves.
As the leaves stuck to my body, I became almost invisible if I stayed still.
My natural ghillie suit was complete.
I crawled carefully.
Of course, I couldn’t rely on this alone.
「Using Stealth lv7.」
I erased my presence.
Not even making a sound of brushing against grass.
Hiding in the shadows without revealing my eyes.
「Stealth skill proficiency increases.」
I entered deeper into the swamp.
Perhaps because I moved stealthily, insects crawled over my body.
They weren’t magical beasts from the insect army.
Those creatures were gathered deeper in the swamp, not loitering around here.
The area I was crawling through was where the primates gathered.
Kuung!
The sound of the Insect King fighting with the monkey leader was loud.
I became humble.
I had reigned like a king among the magical beasts in the indoor zoo.
I wasn’t even that scared when surrounded by monkeys in the forest.
I feel pressure, just like when I first met the Cockatrice.
I first observed the king of insects that crawled up from the swamp.
It’s called Grand Riokku, the Insect King.
As expected of the king of insects, it’s enormous.
Its body length seems to be over 15m. If I had to compare its size, it’s about as big as a decent villa.
How much would it weigh? At least tens of tons, I guess.
I knew about the species ‘Riokku’.
It’s a creature similar to a locust living in tropical climate regions.
Like insects living in hot climates, they’re naturally quite large.
They have hard brown carapaces and sturdy legs that aren’t weak.
They’re famous for their extraordinary leg strength, jaw power, and extremely ferocious nature.
I heard they’ve won countless times in maniac competitions where insects fight each other.
But of course, you can’t compare the Earth’s insects, which are only as big as a human palm, to this magical beast.
It was soaking wet, probably from supporting its weight by submerging in the swamp normally.
The water spray it scattered while flapping created a rainbow in the sky.
The monster bit a silver chimpanzee with its sharp teeth.
Kaang!
But what it bit was just an afterimage.
The monkey had already climbed onto Riokku’s back.
And as if falling, it struck down on Riokku’s front leg joint with a water blade.
Kwajak!
The silver chimpanzee was also extraordinary.
How can it move like that, as if it were some martial arts master?
In the end, one of Riokku’s front legs was torn off.
It seems I might have worse compatibility with that chimpanzee than with Riokku.
It’s so quick that it might be hard to sink my Venomous Fang into it.
On the other hand, a large creature like Riokku might be more manageable.
If I can somehow get past the hard carapace, I could burrow inside its body.
Couldn’t I crawl in and eat the insect’s heart, like I did with the Chimera before?
The structure of insect and mammal organs would be quite different, but well, there should be something like a heart.
But that was just my delusion.
At that moment, tentacle-like things sprouted from the cross-section of Riokku’s severed body.
Shururururuk-
Those tentacles stretched out and grabbed the severed leg.
Each tentacle seemed like a living creature…
I realized.
‘Ugh.’
What I thought were tentacles were all parasites.
The parasites, seemingly in a symbiotic relationship with Riokku, reattached the severed leg.
It would be impossible to enter the body of such a creature and eat its heart.
Each parasite is about the same size as me.
“Stop!”
I quickly relaxed my body, staying still.
The monkeys walked past me, step by step.
──────────────
[Giant Mandrill lv59]
[Traits]
[Cruelty], [Loyalty]
──────────────
These are large monkeys carrying weapons similar to spears.
Their faces are colorful, as if wearing masks.
They look quite strong, probably the royal guard of the silver monkey.
The monkeys weren’t fighting the insects.
They were quietly watching their leader’s battle.
It was the same for the insects. They were just watching, like spectators of a duel between Lü Bu and Zhang Fei.
Although they growled and watched each other warily, it wasn’t the all-out war I had expected.
I noticed the reason.
‘That’s the fruit, right?’
The elites of the monkeys and insects were facing each other over a tree root.
At the end of that tree root, a crimson fruit about the size of an egg was hanging.
It’s quite far and the fruit is too small to discern its effects.
At this moment, the monkeys are occupying the area around the root.
They’re surrounding the root, blocking the insects’ approach.
However, they’re not attempting to pick the fruit.
“Because the insects wouldn’t stay still if they did.”
So it seems they’re waiting for the outcome of the leaders’ duel.
But from what I can see, neither seems to be giving their all.
“Is that so?”
‘Yes.’
It takes one to know one.
Both the monkey and the insect don’t seem to be fighting with all their might.
It looks more like they’re observing each other’s abilities, like a reconnaissance battle.
Then, let’s try borrowing…!
The Billy’s Horn skill I’ve been holding onto for a long time is whining.
I’ve even stolen a skill that calls lightning from a hero before.
Of course, Heaven’s Thunder Spirit is still at level 0, so I can only use it along with Leaping Horn.
I focused my eyes.
First, the most tempting is that white monkey.
──────────────
[Silverback Chimpanzee Akims lv129]
[Title] Silver King…
──────────────
Ugh, it’s starting to appear sporadically.
But I feel my mental power being consumed in real-time.
It seems as difficult as when I examined Gunter.
Level 129 is terrifying. It’s the first three-digit level I’ve confirmed.
As for skills…
──────────────
[Skills]
…[Monkey Beheading lv10]…[Silver Fur lv20]…[Hand Blade Strike lv10]
──────────────
I ended up with a nosebleed.
It’s not easy to see through.
Monkey Beheading and Silver Fur are skills I don’t really want to borrow.
I don’t want to become a snake with fur.
Even if I borrow Hand Blade Strike, I’m not sure if I can use it without hands.
“Being able to know others’ skills and traits is impossible to begin with. Don’t push yourself, your mind will collapse.”
Pelerian warned seriously.
According to him, seeing others’ information was originally only possible for truly extraordinary beings. Like dragons, or something like apostles of gods.
Even if I have 20 mental power, I should stop for now.