Chapter 5
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Encounter with the Dragon
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Hungry Slayer Chapter 5
Black-footed shrew, long-maned leopard, spotted wolf, Mollitor, Barkratos, Delmetor, Svanlowk….
These were the beasts and monsters Dane had hunted and eaten while crossing the mountains for over three months. Their sizes varied from ones no bigger than a fist to massive brutes.
Even the ones he was seeing for the first time brought their names naturally to mind.
Bipedal
Walker-type monsters ended with “lowk.” Epup’s full name was Epuplowk. Quadrupeds ended with “tor,” and multi-legged ones with “nos.”
[You will know beasts and monsters.]
Just as the god had said.
In this way, Kaipatu’s oracle contained all the answers about the new ability.
[Your blade will react directly to your desire and will. Your blade will decisively sever life paths and carve flesh even more precisely.]
The knife performed better than his existing abilities allowed. It was especially effortless when tracing paths through flesh and bone. He knew Kaipatu’s power had seeped in.
‘Things that would’ve been impossible before.’
Of course, not every monster parted like tofu. The gap between beasts and monsters was enormous, and larger monsters required more effort.
‘In a life-or-death moment, even this might not be enough. There are house-sized ones, after all.’
His desire to grow stronger only grew with time. The answer wasn’t far off.
* * *
His ability to examine the insides of beasts and monsters grew even clearer. Not just paths of bone, flesh, and blood, but every organ projected vividly.
‘That one has particularly rich neck meat….’
Dane caught a Ballurator resembling a wild boar and grilled the neck meat glowing with a deep light.
When he encountered new ones, specific parts would capture his attention with an intense red glow.
A light only Dane could see.
At first, he thought it was an ability to find their weaknesses, but no. It pointed to exceptionally delicious parts. Fitting for the God of Butchery.
But it wasn’t just about tasty meat.
[You will gain through eating….]
Honest words.
‘Eating the glowing parts makes me stronger.’
He’d thought it was his imagination at first, but repetition confirmed the effect.
After eating one, the glowing parts no longer appeared on the same species. It felt like filling out an encyclopedia one entry at a time.
‘Rewards for completing encyclopedia entries with power…’
Dane had pushed himself to the limit in training, tempering his body.
He knew how hard it was to surpass physical limits. Any growth, however slight, was a blessing.
‘Size, danger level, rarity—they all factor in.’
Small ones brought no noticeable change. Even larger ones posed no real threat felt the same.
Hunt diligently, eat, and grow. Fundamentally the same, but now with concrete rewards instead of vague hopes—a huge shift. That sense of achievement spurred Dane on.
‘If only I could quantify the impact…’
Hoping experience would become data, he exited the Tike Mountains after three months.
* * *
The changed scenery excited Dane.
Where mountain shadows didn’t reach, warm energy abounded. Flowers blooming impatiently heralded spring everywhere.
Spring was a first for Dane. The perfect season to venture into the world.
Descending the mountains led to rolling hills, high and low, stretching endlessly.
He climbed and descended, relying on the sun’s direction. Then, suddenly, his heart began pounding excessively.
Usually it was meatmeatmeat… but now it was Meat!Meat!Meat!Meat!Meat!
‘What’s this…?’
He followed the throbbing in his chest over the hill. Far off, he spotted it standing tall. Red glint filled Dane’s eyes.
‘Dleksadhak!!!!’
The name rose clearly. Its unique name asserted its presence.
There it stood under the sun, like an extra hill atop the hill.
Just seeing it sent shivers. Not merely from its colossal size. An intense aura pierced its red scales, radiating everywhere.
The aura rippled like flames, akin to its jagged, protruding wings. Even the air looked scorched.
‘A dragon….’
It couldn’t be lumped with mere monsters. That would be an insult. It was a dragon straight from legend.
Its size defied imagination. Dane would be the size of its toe.
‘A world like this without dragons would be the real oddity.’
Surprise and bewilderment gave way to awe and感動.
It wasn’t just the beautiful, colossal creature freezing his body. Even through a hunter’s eyes.
It made him ashamed of his intoxication with Kaipatu’s power. Compared to it, how insignificant was he?
All monsters encountered so far were mere pups. He couldn’t dream of challenging it. Sensing death before the fight even began—this was a first.
He held his already silent breath. Detection meant the end.
‘How strong is it…?’
The otherworldly monster’s overwhelming presence inspired intensely on its own. As usual, Dane quantified its power relative to his own.
Even a rough estimate put it at ten times.
‘At that gap, regeneration or not makes no difference.’
Of course, his newfound regeneration astonished more with use. Just swinging the cleaver mended bones and filled flesh—harder to die than live.
But pain was unavoidable. Enduring it on faith in regeneration wasn’t as easy as thought.
‘Brain commands, body refuses.’
The memory of being mangled by Epup was etched too deeply.
‘Still, it served as a trump card when needed…’
In desperate moments, charging with injuries planned made attacks more direct and destructive.
He’d advanced a step toward his father’s teaching: ‘Kill before you die.’
‘But that doesn’t apply to that dragon.’
Limbs torn instantly, bones pulverized.
Death. Instant. Brutal. Only dismaying words came to mind.
He set his ability at 100, the dragon’s at 1,000.
Without accounting for variables in a hunt or his regeneration—unknown special abilities. Who knew if it breathed fire?
‘Impossible now.’
At least a clearer, easier path to power had opened.
Using Epup as baseline 1, eat 900 more like it.
Of course, countless lesser ones, so the number would grow. Only new species counted.
‘Is this really the easy path?’
He had to settle for having a benchmark.
-Whoosh!!!!!
Motionless in thought, it suddenly spread vast wings, casting a huge shadow over the hills. Then it took flight. Gale winds reached even Dane.
It altered the wind’s direction and vanished. The sun stayed hidden behind its massive body for ages.
As the volcano-like aura faded, a greater ambition ignited in Dane’s chest.
‘Dleksadhak… What a beast!’
Only then did his body tremble violently. The innate hunter’s instinct blazed.
‘Gotta eat it to know how good it tastes. Might be the ultimate meat to fulfill my wish…’
Kaipatu’s vague command now had a goal.
The brief encounter provided potent motivation.
* * *
Dane quickened his journey. He steadily hunted and ate to build strength.
‘Can’t just wander aimlessly.’
His modern sensibilities demanded more efficient, practical methods.
‘Info and money for efficient hunting. Allies for something like a dragon, surely. Head to a city first.’
Tike Mountains at the continent’s north end—cities lay south somewhere.
Excitement and anticipation powered his steps.
On the morning of the 200th day since leaving the mountains, Dane found an artificial road.
‘Is this the Root Path…?’
In the wide road’s center, ancient tree roots pierced the ground, running like a median line.
The city was near. Dane followed it straight, and after days, met people.
At a fork branching slightly from the Root Path, peddlers gathered. Clothes, food, simple weapons—diverse wares on stalls.
‘First humans besides parents.’
Half a year without conversing with anyone who spoke his language.
Dane approached a clothes seller boldly. More nervous than facing prey.
“Uh-uh?”
The man who met his gaze trembled harder. Gulping loudly, he just blinked wide eyes.
Dane had lived over ten years without caring for looks or attire. Regeneration made it worse. Clothes tore, soaked in blood—soon easier naked.
Half a year like that.
Nude save for tattered backpack and cleaver at waist. Silver hair bloodstained. Reason for peddlers’ horror.
“Wh-what?”
Glad they spoke understandably. Dane grinned; the owner flinched back.
“Looking to buy some clothes.”
Historic first words to a non-parent.
A modest declaration for entering civilization—amusing. The owner shuddered greatly.
No money, so Dane showed monster parts from his pack.
Owner’s eyes widened again. Fixated on the Delmetor horn Dane displayed.
“This treasure… Too pricey for me.”
Nice to hear, so he grinned again. Owner shook.
Dane’s eerie, menacing aura prevented haggling. For a few Epup teeth, he handed over shirt and pants.
‘Monster parts fetch good value.’
Asked city location, resumed travel. Owner said Foldtown’s northern gate, root city, was close.
People thickened on the road. Passersby naturally avoided Dane.
Clothes didn’t dispel the intimidating air.
Dane understood, smiled silently. Distance grew.
Soon, a thick wall-encircled gate. Around it, dense tangles of root offshoots.
‘City woven from roots—hence root city.’
First civilization upon entering the world.
He was nearly eighteen.