After that, no other monsters attacked us, and the climb proceeded surprisingly smoothly.
The mountain air grew thinner the higher we went, and the wind that swept through the trees made the dense forest whisper around us. Even though it was still midday, the thick canopy filtered out much of the sunlight, casting long shadows across the narrow path. The damp earth sank softly beneath our boots, releasing the rich scent of soil and crushed leaves. In the distance, indistinct cries of birds—or perhaps beasts—echoed through the valley, making the entire mountain feel alive.
About an hour later, the silence was broken by a metallic clank, clank echoing through the trees.
The sound was oddly rhythmic, yet weak and unsteady, almost as if someone were tapping without any strength behind it.
We exchanged glances and headed toward the source.
Pushing through a wall of thick underbrush, we entered a small clearing. There, a small beastman-like monster was striking nearby trees and rocks with a short spear.
Each time the spear made contact, a thin, brittle clang rang out—but there was barely any force behind it. His movements were sluggish, almost clumsy, as though he was merely brushing the surface rather than attacking.
“What are you doing?”
Before I realized it, Zeke had already appeared beside the small creature and suddenly spoke to him.
“Wahhhh!”
The beastman jumped with a high-pitched yelp and fell backward onto the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
“Haha! Sorry for scaring you! We’re not here to attack you. I was just curious about what you were doing.”
Zeke reached out with a grin, helping the creature back onto his feet.
Still trembling slightly, the beastman puffed out his chest and introduced himself proudly:
“I—I am Rigan of the Licant tribe! I’m training to become the strongest monster in the world!”
“Pfft.”
The Dark Queen burst into laughter.
And honestly, who could blame her?
Rigan was barely a meter tall. While most Licants had wolf-like features, Rigan’s appearance resembled a small puppy—round, innocent eyes and an adorable little face that looked anything but fearsome.
Considering that he claimed to be aiming for “the strongest,” laughter felt almost unavoidable.
I couldn’t help it either, and neither could Zeke—we all started laughing.
“You laughed at me!? Unforgivable! Stand still! I’ll punish every last one of you!”
Rigan raised his tiny spear and charged toward us—
—or tried to.
Just then, a loud cracking sound echoed from behind him. Thick branches snapped violently, shaking the trees.
We all turned toward the noise.
Lumbering out from deeper within the forest came a massive, bipedal monster.
It stood over four meters tall, its entire body wrapped in thick, sculpted muscles like a living suit of armor. Its arms were thicker than a woman’s waist, and its skin glistened with a black, chitinous sheen, reminiscent of an insect’s exoskeleton. Atop its head was a beetle-like horn, sharp and imposing.
“G-Gran Beetle…! One of the three dominant monsters fighting for control of this mountain…! W—we need to run right now!!”
Rigan dropped to the ground again, fur bristling as he trembled uncontrollably.
Even at a glance, it was clear—the Gran Beetle was a top-tier predator of Nishino Mountain.
“Hmph. For someone claiming to be the world’s strongest monster, you sure are quick to turn your back on danger. You can’t become the strongest like that, you know.”
The Dark Queen laughed scornfully, though amusement sparkled behind her eyes.
The mountain, the monsters, and this strange little encounter—
everything was only growing more chaotic.
To be continued…
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