"Woof!"
With a single leap, the Barghest sprang down from the wooden house, landing gracefully. Its tail wagged as it trotted over to Sakeer, rubbing against his shoulder affectionately.
Seated securely on the creature's broad back, Sakeer adjusted his posture.
During his earlier conversation with Crusch Lulu, he had gained a deeper understanding of the "Lizardman Cauldron"—a magic item of considerable value.
It would be immensely beneficial to his alchemy studies.
At the same time, he had also learned about the Twin Witches—two mysterious figures dwelling deep within the swamps.
Initially, he assumed the Twin Witches had waged war against the Lizardmen, seizing their treasure as spoils of battle.
But reality proved different.
The truth was far more subtle.
According to Crusch Lulu, the Twin Witches had stolen the artifact in secret, using an unknown method to carry out the theft.
Sakeer found this slightly surprising, but after a moment of thought, a conclusion formed in his mind.
"If they were truly powerful, they wouldn't need to resort to theft."
Their cautious approach suggested that their strength was limited.
"Their highest level should be around 20—hardly a real threat."
With that assessment, Sakeer casually reached out, gripping the bone chain attached to the Barghest and pulling it back slightly.
Deep within the Great Wetland, the Upper Lake was known for its dangerous monsters.
But if the Twin Witches were only around Level 20, then the so-called "dangers" of the Upper Lake were insignificant to him.
"Looks like this will be an easy trip."
With a burst of speed, the Barghest bolted forward, swiftly leaving behind the Dragon Tusk Tribe.
As for Crusch Lulu—
She remained safely stored away in the Item Box.
After all, she wasn't just any Lizardman—she carried the awakened bloodline of the Dragon Clan.
And if nothing else—
Her blood alone was immensely valuable.
Sakeer had the power of resurrection magic.
If necessary, he could use it on her later—as long as her body remained intact, revival would be simple.
As the Barghest galloped past the outskirts of the Dragon Tusk Tribe, Sakeer's cold gaze swept across the battlefield.
The once countless Lizardman corpses that had littered the ground—
Had already been reduced by more than half.
His eyes flickered with a trace of surprise.
"So, the Lizardmen dared to sneak back in, did they?"
However, he didn't care about them anymore.
With four treasures, new magic, and professions already secured, the remaining Lizardmen were worthless—
At best, they were just extra experience points.
Nothing more.
The Barghest raced across the vast, humid terrain, following the river's flow northward.
Gradually, the lush wetlands gave way to low shrubs and scattered trees.
As they neared the Azerlisia Mountains, the air grew noticeably cooler—
Yet, the oppressive heat and humidity remained dominant.
In the distance, swampy marshlands came into view.
Bzzzzzt—
From the dense vegetation, a swarm of thumb-sized black mosquitoes and flies emerged, their collective buzzing growing louder as they neared.
Woosh!
Without hesitation, Sakeer crushed a third-tier spell scroll—
"Angel Summoning."
A burst of radiant white light flared, and in an instant—
An Archangel Flame descended.
A majestic, burning sword—wreathed in divine flame—materialized in the Archangel's grasp.
With a single swing—
Whoosh!
The sheer force of the flaming arc sent the insects scattering in all directions, unable to withstand the holy fire.
As the journey deeper into the wetlands continued, the landscape became more treacherous—
Strange, twisted trees.
Unfamiliar, otherworldly plants.
The Barghest slowed, ears pricked, listening intently to the sounds of the marsh.
Then—
Ripples.
Spreading across the surface of the swamp.
Something was lurking beneath the water.
Splash! Splash!
Without warning, several wetland sharks burst from the murky depths—
Their mud-coated bodies reeking of rot and fish.
Their jaws gaped wide, rows of jagged teeth glistening—
And they lunged—aiming straight for Sakeer.
The Archangel Flame spread its fiery wings, soaring above Sakeer.
With a single sweeping motion, the Flame Sword whirled through the air—
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Each shark was effortlessly cleaved in two, their severed bodies collapsing back into the swamp.
『XP Gained: 131』
『Experience Gained: 137』
As the Archangel Flame made quick work of the wetland sharks, another threat stirred nearby.
At first glance, they appeared to be nothing more than clusters of aquatic plants—scattered harmlessly across the ground.
Then—
They moved.
Thick, palm-wide leaves began to extend unnaturally—
Like a massive, gaping maw, they surged toward Sakeer and the Barghest, attempting to engulf them whole.
"Tch. More strange creatures."
Sakeer remained unfazed, raising his hand and pointing at the encroaching plants.
"Magic Arrows."
Woosh! Woosh! Woosh!
Three glowing projectiles shot forward—
Piercing through the thick leaves, striking the core of the plants.
The moment they hit—
The monstrous vegetation trembled violently.
Their once vibrant green huefaded to yellow, their leaves withering away at a speed visible to the naked eye.
『XP Gained: 172』
With each step forward, the creatures lurking within the swamp grew stranger and more numerous.
Yet—
Sakeer pressed on, unwavering.
He had a mission to complete.
And no monster, no swamp, no Twin Witches—would stand in his way.
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
…
"Roar!"
A shrill, piercing screech echoed through the air as monstrous creatures, resembling oversized mantises, emerged from the underbrush.
Their earthy brown exoskeletons, covered in tiny dark yellow spikes, gleamed under the dim light.
Dark red lines streaked across their segmented bodies, pulsing like veins.
Their grotesque, gaping insectoid mouths twisted into an almost unnatural snarl, revealing jagged mandibles that dripped with viscous saliva.
"These things look more dangerous than the monsters from earlier."
Sakeer swept his gaze across the creatures.
Seven of them had already encircled him.
Standing at about a meter tall, each mantis exuded the predatory aura of a seasoned killer. Their thick, earthy brown shells clashed against the surrounding swamp's damp foliage, making them blend seamlessly into their environment.
"Magic Arrow."
Without hesitation, Sakeer preemptively attacked, aiming at the nearest mantis and unleashing a burst of magic energy.
Woosh!
Three arcane arrows shot forth, piercing through its chest, sending splatters of blue-yellow ichor flying through the air.
"Screee—!"
The wounded creature let out a horrific shriek, its legs buckling as it collapsed lifelessly onto the muddy ground.
"Stronger than the average Lizardman, but nothing special."
Sakeer muttered calmly, barely acknowledging the kill.
Seeing their fallen companion, the remaining mantis creatures erupted in a furious screech, their grotesque mandibles snapping violently.
Squelch!
Their hideous maws widened, and without warning—
A torrent of acidic mucus spewed forth, streaking through the air toward Sakeer.
Woosh!
At the last second, the Archangel Flame positioned itself in front of him, its radiant silver armor gleaming as it absorbed the brunt of the attack.
At the same time, the Barghest swiftly maneuvered, carrying Sakeer in a series of rapid dodges to evade the corrosive liquid that came from behind.
Sizzle—!
The acid hissed upon contact with the Archangel Flame's armor, producing thick white smoke as the metal began to erode.
"Kill them."
Sakeer's voice was calm, indifferent.
Woosh!
The Archangel Flame's wings flared, and in a single blinding dash, it closed the distance to one of the mantis creatures.
Slash!
The Flame Sword cut through chitin and flesh with ease, splitting the creature cleanly in half.
As the remaining mantises lunged, the Barghest skillfully weaved through their attacks, allowing Sakeer to maintain his vantage point.
Meanwhile, the Archangel Flame continued its merciless assault—
Each precise strike reducing another enemy to a mutilated corpse.
Within moments—
All seven mantis monsters lay dead.
『Experience Slot: 27,875 / 120,000』
Sakeer took a quick glance at his experience bar.
Only half a day into the Great Wetland, and he had already accumulated around 2,000 XP.
And this was without actively seeking battles—simply eliminating whatever stood in his way.
"The monsters in the lake region of the Great Wetland are definitely stronger than those in the Lower Lakes."
"If the Frogman Tribe survives here, then they should be stronger than the Lizardmen as well."
His grip tightened around the bone chain of the Barghest, and without another word, it pressed forward.
Sakeer's primary goal remained unchanged—
Retrieve the stolen Lizardman treasure from the Twin Witches.
However, their exact location remained unknown.
He planned to gather information from the Frogmen, who were said to inhabit this region.
Flying would be faster.
But unfamiliar terrain and unverified intelligence about the deeper wetlands made caution a priority.
Drawing unnecessary attention was not an option.
As he ventured deeper, the landscape began to shift.
The once dense, low shrubs thinned, giving way to an expansive swamp filled with patches of wild grass and the occasional blistering pool of bubbling mud.
Sakeer, still atop the Barghest, lifted his gaze—
And his eyes narrowed.
A peculiar sight lay ahead.
Scattered across the mire, dozens of Frogmen lay half-submerged in the muddy water.
Their dark blue skin, similar to the hue of goblins, blended with the swamp.
Compared to Lizardmen, they were noticeably shorter and stockier.
Yet—
Despite Sakeer's approach, they showed no reaction.
Not even a glance.
Are they ignoring me…?
The Frogmen remained motionless, their pale white bellies barely visible beneath the murky water, their shallow breaths the only indication they were alive.
For a brief moment, Sakeer even considered the possibility that—
They were dead.
But there was no scent of decay in the air.
Only the damp, earthy musk of the wetlands.
His expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he was slightly intrigued.
"I was just thinking about how to find the Frogmen—yet here they are."
Before setting foot in the depths of the wetlands, he had asked Crusch Lulu about them.
Unfortunately, she had limited knowledge—
Frogmen rarely ventured beyond these lands.
Unlike Lizardmen, who could traverse both water and land, Frogmen needed constant moisture to survive.
Thus, the Lower Lakes—with their shallower, warmer waters—were unsuitable for their kind.
According to the Lizardmen, the Frogmen were an evil race.
Yet—
Sakeer wasn't so sure.
His gaze flickered, observing the seemingly lazy Frogmen once more.
"There are no buildings… is their tribe not located nearby?"
A thought formed in his mind.
Something about their behavior—or lack thereof—felt off.
Were they truly indifferent?
Or were they simply waiting for something?
Sakeer scanned the swampy terrain but found no tribal structures akin to those of the Lizardmen.
His fingers tightened around the bone chain, and with a subtle pull, the Barghest responded.
Whoosh!
The massive hound spread its limbs and swiftly advanced toward the nearest Frogman.
Up ahead, the Frogman lay half-submerged in the murky mire, appearing utterly lethargic.
Then—
Snap!
Without warning, the creature's bulbous head twisted sharply, revealing a pair of fist-sized, hemispherical dark brown eyes that fixated on Sakeer.
There was no trace of shock, fear, or surprise in its unblinking gaze.
Instead—
An unsettling, emotionless indifference.
"Never-seen prey."
The Frogman's voice was hoarse, its gaze unwavering as it assessed Sakeer.
Sakeer remained composed, speaking lightly.
"Excuse me, may I ask for directions?"
His calm tone concealed the fact that he had already sensed something off about these creatures.
This wasn't normal indifference—it was something else.
Even Lizardmen, despite their hostility toward outsiders, displayed characteristics of sapient beings—curiosity, caution, hunger.
But the Frogman before him?
It was different.
It lacked the complexity of intelligence and instead exuded a savage, animalistic nature—as if it were something that should possess wisdom but didn't.
Bang!
In an instant, the Frogman sprang to its feet.
Its thick, muscular thighs tensed, pressing into the mud—
Then it lunged.
Like a predator closing in on its kill.
But—
"All-Racial Charm."
A faint magical glow flickered in Sakeer's eyes, releasing an invisible wave of spiritual energy.
The Frogman's movement froze mid-air.
Its lifeless eyes trembled—then dulled.
"Take me to the Twin Witches' territory."
Sakeer's voice was calm, absolute.
The once feral Frogman lowered its arms, stepped out of the muddy puddle, and began walking sluggishly ahead—as if entranced.
Watching the rapid shift from savage hostility to obedient servitude, Sakeer let out a low chuckle.
It doesn't matter what race they are.
As long as they aren't immune to charm—before me, they're all the same.
Crok—! Crok—!
Suddenly, the surrounding Frogmen, previously motionless in the mire, began to stir.
One by one, they rose.
Their fist-sized dark brown eyes locked onto Sakeer with undisguised hostility.
A heavy, oppressive silence settled over the swamp.
"Being stared at by these oversized eyes is… unsettling."
Sakeer's brows lifted slightly, but his expression remained calm.
The appearance gap between different sub-races was truly vast.
Lizardmen. Frogmen.
If a normal person from my past life saw them, they'd get goosebumps.
Even in this world, the average human would likely be terrified—
If not for his experience slaughtering countless goblins, even he might have needed time to adjust.
But now?
He had long since adapted.
"Slaughter them all."
Sakeer's voice was indifferent as he waved his arm.
Above, the Archangel Flame spread its glowing wings, then dived into the swamp—
Whoosh!
A single Frogman let out a shrill screech just before—
Slash!
The holy flame bladecleaved through its chest, its death cry piercing the swampy air.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
The swamp began to tremble.
From the depths of the mire, dense bubbles surfaced—
Something was coming.
Sakeer, still holding the bone chain, glanced at the water—
And his eyes narrowed.
Huge, writhing purple worms—like monstrous earthworms—emerged from the ground.
『New Skill Detected: Beast Anger』
『Requirement: Basic Profession – Beast Tamer』
『Current Conditions Not Met』
A system notification flashed before his eyes.
『Genius Profession Detected – Requirement Override Successful』
『Skill can now be learned – Consume 1 Skill Point?』
Sakeer glanced at his attribute panel but ignored the prompt.
Instead—
His gaze sharpened.
"A Beast Tamer, huh? No wonder they can enslave monsters."
He quickly signaled the Barghest to fall back, while his fingers pinched a scroll.
"Summon—Archangel Flame."
Boom!
A second Archangel Flame materialized.
The first had already slaughtered the Frogmen.
Now—
Both divine warriors turned their burning blades on the encroaching purple worms.
Experience Flood
『XP Gained: 21』
『XP Gained: 127』
『XP Gained: 265』
…
『XP Gained: 156』
『Experience Slot: 29,199 / 120,000』
Despite their numbers, the purple worms were weak—
The strongest among them barely reached Level 10.
Now, however—
Sakeer's focus was elsewhere.
Boom. Boom.
The ground trembled.
A five-meter-tall, multi-headed water serpent surged into view, its thick, elephantine limbs crashing through the swamp.
Not alone—
Behind it, two more multi-headed serpents followed.
Each serpent bore eight heads, and on their central heads stood a Frogman warrior, gripping spears and weapons.
Sakeer's eyes flickered with realization.
"So, these Frogmen lying in the mire—"
"They were scouts posted at the swamp's outermost perimeter?"
At last, he understood.
These seemingly lazy, indifferent Frogmen weren't idle—
They were watchers.
"What a strange race."