Starting Tower

"So, where are we headed now, my king?"

Once the decision to migrate was made, Kran asked me directly. Their new nest from here on out. I raised a finger and pointed down the path I'd come from.

"There's my dungeon not far from here. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠We can set up base there."

"What?! Does that mean Your Majesty was a dungeon boss??"

Kran's face lit up with shock the moment he heard me. You didn't know? It only hit me then. Oh, right—I never mentioned it. From their perspective, I'd just been some intruder who burst in out of nowhere. The only difference from the Wanderers was that I'd bothered responding when the Lizardmen tried talking first. It was only natural they'd have questions. So what the hell had gone through their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heads when they accepted my migration proposal in the first place?

"Just a gut feeling."

"……."

I shut my mouth at Kran's response. He'd staked his entire tribe's fate on something as flimsy as a gut feeling? That was... a bit much. Did my face turn icy without me realizing? Kran panicked.

"N-no, that's not what I meant! Please, just hear me out!"

Seeing I still looked disappointed, he hurriedly added more.

"I have good instincts. A sixth sense, you could call it. Whenever something bad's about to happen, a warning always pops up right in front of my eyes."

A warning pops up in front of his eyes. I caught on immediately. Oh, that kind of thing? I checked Kran's info right away.

Kran's current emotions: anxiety and expectation. Fair enough, with a big move ahead. But the real kicker was that bright star next to his name. What the— this guy's a Star-chaser too? No wonder he didn't seem ordinary. Turns out Kran was another rare freak blessed by the Nameless Beast, just like me. Every Star-chaser I'd met so far had one thing in common: they all wielded special abilities. Skills, they called 'em. Kran's words suddenly made sense. His "good gut" was probably some skill kicking in on autopilot. The fact that he himself didn't even know it was a skill meant he had no way to check skill info.

Come to think of it, I'd forgotten to check my own skill window.

The thought popped up naturally while we were on the topic. I'd just evolved—maybe some new skills came with it. I pulled up my skill window.

New skills! Two of them, even. I checked their descriptions right away.

Not bad on the surface, but nothing flashy. Wall-climbing? Lizardmen already look like lizards, so it fit. Still, it seemed kinda meh at first glance. I almost felt let down, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but there was one more. Holding onto hope, I checked the next.

This one was different. The name alone was badass. "Great bloodline to rule all things." Already got my blood pumping. Reading the full description, I nodded in satisfaction. A buff skill—and not just any buff, but an AoE one, the best kind. No clue on exact range or power, but better than nothing. This evolution was a total win. Two new skills, and best of all, my new look was killer. Sure, it felt like I was drifting further from human shape, but I shoved that aside. When had I ever been human-like anyway? As long as I hit my goals, it didn't matter. I'd become human someday. Whatever I turned into along the way? Who cares.

...Sorry, that's a lie. I do care if it's too gross-looking. I'd prefer something cool, obviously.

I watched the Lizardmen hauling salvageable stuff from their half-burned huts, then stood up. Dozens of long, slitted eyes stared back at me, brimming with tiny sparks of ambition and hope. Time to deliver.

"Alright, let's get moving."

Migration time.

Leading the homeless Lizardmen out of the swamp, I headed straight for the familiar plains.

"Won't we stand out too much...?"

Elder Lizardman Ketilen's worried voice drifted over.

"Relax. I know this area inside out."

I declared it confidently. I'd made a name for myself here for a while. Hunting every Wanderer I spotted had even earned me the moniker "human hunter." Good times. Back then, survival was my only worry. Now? Dungeons and whatnot—responsibilities piling up. All because that damn watchman dumped this tower on me. He was probably living it up in hell right now. Cursing him under my breath, I trudged across the plains.

"...Humans ahead."

A low voice from the side made me look up. Two Wanderers, cluelessly hunting rabbits.

"Just give the word, and I'll take them out."

I met Kran's eyes, burning with hatred for the Wanderers, and thought. Huh, I'd never actually seen Kran fight. Right before our clash, Ketilen had intervened and called it off. And when the Wanderers rushed in later, the fight was already over. Perfect chance to gauge his strength. These humans were low-level anyway—plains newbies. Kran could handle them solo, no sweat.

"Go for it. Show me what you've got."

With permission granted, Kran drew his blade with a resolute expression. A short, blunt machete.

"I'll bring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you their heads."

The mood was way too heavy. Like a soldier steeling himself to decapitate an enemy general before battle. Was that really necessary...? The Wanderers weren't that strong, and we outnumbered them big time. Plenty to nitpick, but I clamped my mouth shut. Nothing worse than a boss yapping when it's go-time. A king never looks soft.

"Hah—!"

No preamble, straight to the swing—solid move. Once you've decided to kill, do it clean. No need to overthink. Kran's ambush choice? Spot on. Plus ten points already. I watched the fight unfold.

"L-Lizardman?!"

"Why's a swamp monster out here?!"

From their side, it must've sucked. Hunting noobs in the starter zone, then bam—next-zone mob drops in. Something they'd only meet after grinding levels. Total panic. Tough luck. They'd respawn anyway. I watched their end with wide eyes.

Slish!

"Grah!!"

The guy holding his own couldn't dodge Kran's smooth arc—his chest split open. Predictably one-sided. Kran returned tall and proud, blue mist scattering behind him.

"How was that, my king?"

I pondered. Cleaner than expected. You could tell he trained hard. Not up to my level, but solid slash. Gotta give credit where due.

"Not bad."

"Thank you!"

A casual compliment, and he bowed happily. I patted his shoulder lightly and headed for the familiar hill. Almost there. The dungeon waited just beyond. But spotting a tall tower in the distance, I froze. No way—they built it that fast? I'd been gone less than a day.

"...It's finishing way too quick."

The dungeon loomed, way more complete than I'd imagined.