On the shore of a clear lake, a gentle breeze stirred the water's surface, sending ripples cascading outward. Nearby, a campfire flickered, its flames swaying in the cool night air.
Under the cover of darkness, three tall Lizardmen silently slipped into the lake's depths from the opposite shore. Moving with the current, their bodies glided soundlessly through the water, their dark green scales blending seamlessly into the night-darkened surface.
Meanwhile—
Beyond the three swimmers, additional hunting parties emerged from the shadows. Groups ranging from three to five members each, totaling sixteen Lizardmen, crept forward in a coordinated assault.
From multiple directions, they advanced—silent, methodical, and deadly—toward the campfire at the water's edge.
Suddenly—
"Goo!"
A bird's shrill cry pierced the night.
It belonged to a fish-loving bird, one of the most despised creatures among the Lizardmen, yet also one of the most abundant in the lake region.
Its call blended seamlessly into the natural nocturnal chorus, making it indistinguishable from the others.
Only 150 meters from the campfire, several Lizardmen crouched low, their limber bodies pressed into the tall grass. Through gaps in the dense brush, they peered at the human figure seated near the fire.
A Lizardman carrying a bow leaned toward his leader and whispered in a hushed tone—
"Boss, everyone's in position."
The hunting leader, his eyes glinting with anticipation, responded in a low but firm voice.
"Tell them to hold. No one moves until I give the signal."
His voice was both serious and exhilarated—this was their first human hunt.
No other tribal hunter had ever done this before.
Even if this human was a Magic Caster, he had no doubts about their ability to capture him.
After all—
The strongest Magic Caster he had ever encountered was their tribe's elder priest. While that old Lizardman possessed magic, he could still be defeated in hand-to-hand combat. If this human relied solely on magic, then as long as they closed the distance, victory would be theirs.
Rumors claimed that other tribes had stronger priests, but to the seasoned hunters of the Small Fang Tribe, those claims were exaggerations—boasts with no proof.
Not that it mattered.
For this hunt, they had deployed all sixteen members of the hunting squad.
The bow-wielding Lizardman nodded, then brought a clawed hand to his throat, mimicking a bird call as he whispered,
"Boss, when do we strike?"
This was not an ordinary beast hunt.
A living human was an incredibly rare catch. If they could capture him alive, their tribe would become famous.
No—
Even the other four tribes would take notice.
The hunting leader's gaze flickered toward the campfire. He could barely make out the human's silhouette, as well as the wolf-like creature lying beside him.
"He's a Magic Caster. He may have some kind of detection magic. And that beast beside him could be dangerous."
His voice was steady, despite the excitement brewing beneath the surface.
"We wait until just before dawn. That's when both the human and his beast will be the most vulnerable."
Although he was eager to launch the attack, he wasn't reckless.
This human had dared to enter the Great Wetland alone. That meant he was either incredibly strong—or utterly foolish.
Either way, caution was necessary.
By the Campfire
Unaware of the predators lurking in the darkness, Sakeer sat comfortably by the bonfire, tending to a five-pound fish skewered over the flames. The fish, resembling grass carp, slowly turned golden brown, its rich aroma drifting through the night air.
Beside him, his Barghest sniffed at the grilled fish, then turned its head away.
It already knew—
The fish wasn't meant for it.
Sakeer chuckled softly, breaking off a small piece to test the flavor.
"No wonder Lizardmen love eating fish," he mused. "The fish in this lake really is something special."
With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved a small pouch from his inventory. Inside were three simple spices—salt, sugar, and chili powder—purchased before leaving the royal capital.
He sprinkled salt and chili powder over the sizzling fish, releasing an even stronger fragrance into the night.
Spices were valuable commodities. While salt was affordable, sugar and chili powder were considered luxuries, costing several silver coins each. Other spices existed, but few shops carried them.
Sakeer was aware that certain magical arts specialized in spice-making, but he wasn't about to waste his precious skill points on such trivial pursuits.
As he waited for the fish to finish cooking, his gaze flicked toward his status panel.
[Experience Slot: 132,725 / 70,000]
In less than two days, he had amassed over 5,000 experience points.
Although the monsters in this Lower Lake region weren't particularly strong, their sheer numbers made up for it.
Unfortunately—
After slaughtering a few waves of creatures, the rest had begun to hide, sensing the danger he posed.
Sakeer smirked.
"The Lizardmen must be up to something."
His voice was low, thoughtful.
"The only question is… which tribe?"
He knew the entire Lower Lake region was technically Lizardmen territory, but their numbers were relatively small. Tracking them down in this vast wetland was no easy task.
Still—
He remembered an event from the future.
The Bone King had once led an army of 5,000 undead soldiers into battle against the Lizardmen.
Would history repeat itself?
Or would his presence in this timeline change everything?
The combined forces of the five Lizardmen tribes amounted to no more than 1,300 warriors—and that number included female Lizardmen who could fight. Even when factoring in the old, weak, sick, and disabled to round up the total, their population barely exceeded 2,000 individuals.
By Sakeer's estimation, each tribe had at most 400 members, making them a scattered and elusive force within the vast wetlands.
Tracking them down within the vast region—which covered a massive expanse—was no easy feat.
Yet, despite their limited numbers, Sakeer remained intrigued by these Lizardmen. Their unique treasures, mysterious magic, and tribal technologies fascinated him.
The fragrance of grilled fish, enhanced by spices, wafted into the night, carried by the gentle wind.
Hidden in the shadows, the Lizardmen warriors swallowed instinctively, their mouths watering.
Though they had mastered the art of fire-making, their kind still preferred to eat raw meat.
Now—
The unexpected aroma of seasoned, roasted fish stirred something primal within them.
But—
Discipline prevailed.
No matter how strong the temptation, none dared to move. They had their orders—wait in silence until the perfect moment to strike.
As the night deepened, the bonfire's glow gradually dimmed—until, at last, it flickered out completely.
Still—
The Lizardmen did not act.
Every member of the hunting squad remained motionless, eyes locked on their leader, waiting for the command to attack.
Time crawled by.
The eastern horizon began to pale—the first hints of dawn breaking.
The hunting leader, crouched in the tall grass, tensed. His sharp gaze snapped to the archer beside him.
"Goooo."
The archer pinched his throat, letting out a bird call.
Instantly—
The attack began!
The first to move were the three Lizardmen who had been hiding in the lake.
They burst from the water, their glowing yellow eyes locking onto Sakeer and his Barghest.
Sou! Sou! Sou!
With deadly precision, the three Lizardmen hurled their harpoon-like weapons, the air whistling as they sliced through the early morning stillness.
At that moment—
The Barghest, ears twitching, snapped its head up.
In an instant, it sprang to its feet, positioning itself between Sakeer and the incoming harpoons.
"ROAR!"
With a deep, guttural growl, the beast bared its fangs, and the chains wrapped around its body lashed outward, striking the harpoons midair—knocking all three aside.
A metallic clang echoed in the damp air as the weapons clattered to the ground.
The three Lizardmen emerging from the lake were unfazed.
"We hold the beast down!" one of them snarled, before all three charged forward.
From their perspective, the Barghest was the real threat—not the human. Their goal had always been to neutralize the beast first.
Almost simultaneously—
A sudden wave of whistling air filled the sky.
From three directions, arrows rained down, all aimed directly at Sakeer.
"..."
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Sakeer remained utterly unmoved.
He yawned, glancing lazily at the dozen Lizardmen emerging from the shadows.
Then—
He casually lifted his hand, revealing a scroll in his palm.
With a simple clench, the parchment crumpled—and magic surged into existence.
Light burst forth!
An Archangel Flame materialized out of thin air, its mighty wings spreading wide as it descended before Sakeer.
The incoming arrows struck the angel's gleaming armor, producing a sharp clanging sound.
Not a single projectile pierced through.
The thirteen Lizardmen, witnessing the failure of their first attack, tensed.
Their bows and arrows had been useless.
Someone among them roared—
"Use the hook locks!"
Sou! Sou!
Multiple grappling hooks soared through the air, their ropes coiling around the Archangel Flame's body.
In mere moments, the summoned being was entangled, the ropes tightening rapidly.
"The Magic Caster is dangerous!" the hunting leader barked.
"But we have the upper hand! Big Ben! Applejack! Take your team and restrain the summon—I'll deal with the magic caster!"
Without hesitation, he gripped his axe in both hands and charged forward.
His strategy was clear—
The lake team would keep the Barghest occupied.
The archers and grapplers would restrain the summoned creature.
And he, personally, would eliminate the human magic caster.
If everything went according to plan, the fragile human would be left defenseless, allowing him to end the fight quickly.
Even if unexpected obstacles arose, their superior numbers would guarantee victory.
Yes—this battle had been decided from the very start.
Or so he thought.
As the hunting leader rushed forward, victory glimmered in his eyes.
But then—
His expression froze.
His gaze snapped to the Archangel Flame.
The ropes—pulled taut by their strongest warriors—should have dragged the summon away from its master.
Yet—
It didn't budge.
"What…? How…?"
Confusion spread among the Lizardmen as they realized—the Archangel Flame wasn't being restrained at all.
Suddenly—
Its wings beat once.
In a blinding blur, it soared skyward.
The Lizardmen gripping the ropes barely had time to react before they were yanked off the ground, their bodies flailing in the air.
"Aaaahhhh!"
Their screams echoed as they were ripped from the battlefield.
Then—
Gravity reclaimed them.
One by one, they crashed back down, their bodies slamming against the earth with a series of sickening thuds.
Silence.
For a brief moment, the battlefield fell eerily quiet.
The Lizardmen warriors, so confident in their flawless ambush, now stared in shock.
This human's summon—this creature that looked weaker than their female warriors—had single-handedly dismantled their carefully laid trap.
And that was when they realized—
This hunt…
Was no longer in their favor!
(End of Chapter)