I Became a Mountain Tiger in a Fantasy World

< Chapter 25: Leader, Preparing for the Raid >

I perked up my ears and crouched down.

Currently, I was perched on a tree, toasting some bread. I was able to quickly notice the unusual occurrence thanks to the ‘Sensitivity’ I gained from the rabbit.

Thump, thump thump!

From afar, a vibration as if a drum was being beaten towards the ground resonated, and the waves of it began to draw closer.

“Squawk?!”

A boar belatedly noticed something was wrong. It was startled and began to wander around in a panic, trying to find a way to survive.

I watched the boar with curious eyes.

What’s wrong with it? Is it seized by fear?

][Sharp Tusk Boar Lv.12]]
-Condition: [Trauma]

It seemed this boar had experienced a similar situation before. The anomaly occurred right then.

With a thud, the vibration that shook the ground for a moment stopped, and the surroundings became silent. Shortly after, the ground started to shake as if an earthquake had begun.

“Squawk, squaaawk!”

I took a breath as I watched the boar desperately running away on the trembling ground.

Drdrdrk! Bang!

With a loud noise, the ground burst open, and I saw a snout emerging. It leaped out like a whale and swallowed the boar whole before disappearing back below the surface. I was horrified by the glimpse of the monster’s appearance.

It looked like a combination of a worm and a centipede. Its large body covered in carapace was lined with multiple pairs of razor-sharp claws.

Crunch, crunch crunch! Crunch!

Once the creature that swallowed the boar went back into the pit, a chilling chewing sound echoed from the dark abyss. Watching the occasional spurts of blood shooting up from the black pit, I could guess what it was doing.

I froze stiff as I listened to the noise gradually fading away.

‘What the hell…’

What did I just see?

‘Is it gone? It’s gone now, right?’

Good heavens! A giant bug the size of a whale.

][Teravore, Master of the Underground Mine Lv.??]]

I shuddered as I recalled its name. I knew the name Teravore, not for any other reason.

[The ‘Master of the Underground Mine’ declares its territory.]

The terrifying scream that echoed when it devoured the boar. I was able to know because I got hit by the fear it released to mark its territory. That monster was the boss of this land.

‘No way. Is this real?’

There was one suspicious point.

To confirm it, I needed to defeat this guy.

“Growl!”

“Ferre!”

I signaled to Eryllion and, watching the timing, released the Miniaturization.

“Grrowl!”

“Gwoak?!”

Foolish creature! You should have been suspicious when you saw the claw marks at that height!

Indeed, Miniaturization is extremely effective when dealing with creatures that can’t think deeply. My small form was an excellent bait, luring them into lowering their guard.

They always approached my small form without much caution, unaware of the beast lurking within.

「‘The Exiled Prince’ uses Dig!」

As my body suddenly grew, the bewildered bear flailed helplessly, falling right into Eryllion’s trap.

“Krrung!”

I seized that moment to launch an immediate attack.

“Gwoaargh!”

Sensing danger, the Steelhide Bear swiped its claws at me.

However, my form, caught by its claws, was enveloped in a black shadow and dissipated like smoke.

“Gwor?”

The Steelhide Bear, with one paw buried in the ground, tilted its head with a stupid expression.

Then, sensing a chilling murderous intent from behind, it widened its eyes in surprise.

That’s right. This was my new skill, ‘Shadow Leap,’ obtained when I evolved into the Night Tiger.

This skill allowed me, at level 19, to toy with the level 24 Steelhide Bear.

“Krrung!!”

I roared, plunging my Metallized claws into its heart.

「‘Steel Claws’ react to the wildness!」

My claws, infused with raging wildness, tore through the level 3 Steelhide Bear’s skin like paper, ripping out its heart.

Splash! Blood spurted as the ruler of the ‘Little Forest’ met its end.

「Level up!」

「Karma acquired by hunting the leader!」

.

.

.

「Domain declaration successful!」

「‘Night Tiger, Lu-deus’ has ascended as the leader of the Little Forest!」

As I leveled up from 19 to 20, changes occurred in my body.

I could feel my muscles twitching and growing, and my overall physique expanding.

Although I had no tools to measure my exact size, I could sense that I had grown into a true ‘adult’ upon surpassing level 20.

I felt that I was now one of the largest among the tiger species.

And certainly one of the strongest.

The wildness surging through my entire body told me that!

“Krrraaaargh!!”

I couldn’t hold back and let out a roar.

The thunderous roar of a tiger echoed through the thicket, announcing that the ruler of this place had changed.

I felt the wildness and power filling my entire body.

‘This is level 20.’

My heart swelled with pride.

As I gained spiritual strength, I thought there would be no difference between me and those who had reached level 20.

In fact, I believed I had an advantage in controlling my wild nature delicately.

But that was a hasty judgment.

‘There is a wall between levels.’

For example, level 10.

Then, level 20.

I realized that there was a wall according to the growth limit, and once that gap was overcome, the monster could grow once again.

I had now become a truly mature tiger.

“Grr!”

“Fer!”

「‘The Exiled Prince’ marvels at your transformation!」

Now, the conclusion was clear.

Ordinary monsters that surpassed level 20 could, if lucky, defeat opponents up to level 29.

That’s probably why a level 15 spider could hunt the Steelhide Bear.

Their limit is just there.

But,

‘I am different.’

I defeated the 24-level Ironhide Bear without surpassing the level 20 wall.

That was probably thanks to Eryllion’s help and utilizing the skills gained from evolving into a night tiger.

I thought that if I evolved a bit more, the day might come when I could make all monsters kneel before me.

I would stand at the pinnacle of monsters on this continent.

‘Good.’

With a joyful heart, I checked the ‘reward’ I had just obtained.

「‘Leader of the Little Forest’.」

– When active in the Little Forest, physical abilities increase.

– Current obedience of surrounding monsters: 30%

I got the gist of it.

I checked the status window.

【Unknown Night Tiger, Lu-deus Lv.20】

-‘Leader of the Little Forest’.

-Characteristics: [Potential], [Spirituality]…, [Leader]

A title-like thing appeared under my name, and the characteristic ‘Leader’ was added.

That’s probably why Teravore declared territories.

‘Obedience of surrounding monsters.’

If I increased this obedience, it would lead to additional effects.

‘The basic effect is that physical abilities are enhanced within one’s territory.’

Feeling the wildness filling me, I made a plan.

‘If I could lure Teravore into this forest?’

Would it be worth a try then?

It would be difficult alone.

But,

I turned my gaze to the shattered eggshell.

The mark of the demon god engraved on the eggshell.

The second pursuit would definitely be harder to fend off than the first.

But if I used them well…

I might be able to hunt Teravore easily.

While avoiding pursuit, I would become the leader of the deep forest.

“Grr!”

I began to calmly lay out my plans.