Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System
Chapter 149: Interlude: Folklore System

[…Somewhere in the First Order…]

Within a dense, emerald jungle of giant trees enveloped in vines or hanging leaves, the man hummed to himself while walking.

Despite the colossal insects that clung to the vine-wrapped trees, from elongated centipedes of tough shells to beetles, he didn't flinch at their presence.

["Status"]

[Name: Muyang] [Class: Martial Artist] [Level: 52]

"Boy, I sure am lost…" The man remarked, scratching his head as he looked up while walking.

A scar ran across his nose, with a ponytail descending his back. Despite the humid conditions in the faraway jungled, he wore his black tangzhuang, only with the sleeves rolled up.

"Phew, it's hot, too…Seriously, where even am I?" Muyang questioned out loud while aimlessly walking.

A yawn left the bored man's lips as he navigated the jungle, using the polearm he wielded to part the intrusive vines.

After replaceing himself still in the thick of the otherworldly jungle, the lost man came to a stop as he sighed.

"Come, Lotus," Moyung commanded, holding his hand out.

[Folklore System Initiated.]

[Summoning: Lesser Sprite, Lotus.]

From a burst of verdant light came a floating humanoid that was no larger than the size of the man's palm.

The tiny creature that resembled a man with butterfly wings yawned, laying on the air while hovering in front of the summoner's face, "What is it, Moyung? I was sleeping peacefully, y'know."

"Oh, give me a break—all you do is sleep! Anyway, I'm sorta…well, not exactly sure where I'm going here—" Moyung begrudgingly explained, beginning to murmur.

"Lost? You're completely lost, aren'tcha?" The small sprite accused playfully.

Moyung conceded, "Yeah, yeah."

"Well, let me at it for a moment…" The winged person said, scrunching his nose in concentration.

While the sprite focused on the layout of the dense jungle, Moyung watched with a bit of impatience. He poked at the sprite's cheek, bringing Lotus to huff and wave his arms in frustration.

"Hey! I need to focus here…!" Lotus yelled before grumbling. "Mm…I can't get a read on this place."

"Seriously? I wonder if it's because this is technically a whole different world from Earth," Moyung questioned.

The sprite scoffed, "Either way, I ain't helping ya here! Now—lemme sleep!"

Just like that, the perturbed creature poofed back out of existence and into slumber.

Moyung scratched his head with a sigh, "Guess I'm outta luck, then."

Back to aimless wandering, the man resumed his humming while traversing the jungle. A yawn left his mouth as he walked, coming to a stop as something suddenly emerged through the foliage.

From the cluster of trees and vines, a massive feline of jet-black fur the size of a truck intercepted the outsider's path. It closely resembled a panther, though vastly larger with a grand mane like that of a lion.

["Tyrant Wildcat"] [Level: 49]

"Woah there! I'm just passin' through–no need to get all growly at me," Moyung casually waved his hand at the great beast.

Despite trying to speak reason to the massive panther, it didn't seem to work as its fangs, as large as tusks, dripped with saliva. Each droplet from its teeth splashed against the leaves.

"Guess you're not letting me pass, then? Ah, well—can't be helped," Moyung sighed, flipping his polearm around.

The beast seemed to recognize the aggression from the human as its fur stood up and its muscles swelled.

It was an unnatural growth, as though the already massive beast grew to twice its size before parting its maw. A roar left its throat, causing the vines to dance amidst the powerful vibrations.

"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya loud and clear!" Moyung shouted with a smile.

The beast set off right for him, lunging with both paws rapidly swiping at him. A playful laugh came from the martial artist as he backpedaled, nimbly ducking between each strike.

Ducking beneath one such swipe brought a tree to be caught in the crossfire. The beast's claws severed the oak in half, causing it to plummet, though the colossal jaguar didn't stop for a moment.

"So aggressive! Y'know, I'm not that nasty—!" Moyung said amidst his movements before striking his polearm upward.

It was a perfectly timed strike as the black-and-gold staff struck the predator right on its chin. While it didn't render the beast unconscious, it certainly was unpleasant as the feline stumbled back and shook its head.

"Not very pleasant, is it? Well, maybe that'll teach you to—" Moyung reprimanded the beast.

Amidst his words, the massive cat retaliated as it sprinted across the firm soil of the wildland, leaping up as it spun around to slam its claws down on the man.

Moyung quickly raised his weapon to intercept, catching its flesh-ripping tools back with a bit of a struggle, "—Guess not! Ah, well—I tried!"

With some effort, he pushed the beast's paw back as it jumped back before a counterattack could be launched. Moyung simply held his ground with a smile, raising his hand.

[Folklore System Initiated.]

[Summoning: Hellbound Chimera ]

From a burst of flames that sprouted from the soil, a towering beast emerged from nothing. Walking on two legs like a man with the head of a lion, horns of a bull, and the tail of a serpent, the amalgamation roared.

It equaled the monstrous jaguar in size, though it imposed a much larger will with its scarlet eyes as flames hissed from its maw.

"Alrighty, this one is all yours, Chimera," Moyung said, giving a playful pat on the back to the many-formed creature.

That command given was all that was needed to set the man-beast forth as it sprinted at the jaguar. With the aggression of the chimera, the feline looked more reserved, hesitating even to attack or to run.

The black-furred big cat finally decided, roaring as it lunged at the amalgamation with its fangs and claws sharpened.

Before its jaws could latch onto the golden-furred monstrosity, the jaguar was caught in the hands of Chimera.

It held the wildcat in place as though it were simply an unruly housecat, even as it hissed and flailed.

"Don't play with your food, Chimera," Moyung reminded the beast.

From the martial artist's reminder, the amalgamation opened his mouth as flames rose from its throat. Against the helpless wildcat, the fire poured out from the mythical creature's mouth, properly turning the jaguar to nothing more than a charred husk.

["Tyrant Wildcat defeated."] ["Anarch Coin x1200 obtained."]

[Experience Points: +15000] [85000/200000]

"Good job, Chimera," Moyung praised the beast as though it were a small pet.

The towering creature lowered its head so that the man could give it a pet, to which the amalgamation released a purr that sounded more like steel grinding. With that, the beast was dismissed back to where it came, leaving only trace embers in its place.

'This place sure is odd. Everything is so much larger than back home, and a whole lot more hostile–it's kind of a pain,' Moyung thought, folding his arms over his chest.

Amidst the lackadaisical thinking of the lost martial artist, a rumble through the jungle stirred his focus. It was like a keychain being dangled in front of a cat, catching his bored mind as the trees swayed before some sort of force.

'Sounded like a meteor just landed…What could that have been?' He questioned, hurriedly moving towards where the impact had crashed.

Like a sprinting leopard, he leapt past the wall of bushes and vines with excitement.

"Woah!—" Moyung caught himself, sliding to a stop immediately with a smile.

Right beyond the tall grass was a crater in the jungle, still left steaming from the impact. A bloody paste painted the crushed soil, with a person standing in the center of the newly-made terrain.

"Pyuh—! Barely leveled in time," the voice of the golden-haired figure in the crater huffed.

["Sleuth Status"]

[Seung] [Class: Brawler] [Level: 51]

Moyung decided to wave to the stranger who crash landed in the jungle, "Yo! You good, dude?"

"Hah?" The golden-haired man turned with a raised eyebrow, breathing out. "The hell are you?"

"A survivor, like you. A fellow earthling, stranded in this strange world, like you. Pretty obvious, ain't it?" Moyung playfully answered while patting his staff against his own shoulder. Find adventures on m_v l|-NovelFire.net

It didn't seem anything he said was taken all too kindly by the strange man who stood in the small crater. The look on Seung's face was like that of a dog ready to bark.

"I still need experience—it's not enough! I need to level up more…! Or that bastard will catch up!" Seung shouted.

"Err, okay? I think you should calm down—" Moyung suggested to the stranger.

Amidst his recommendation, the martial artist found himself leaning back as a fist soared right past his face.

"Oh?" Moyung let out as his hair was brushed by the sudden punch.

As he slipped back and straightened himself out, he found the brawler standing in front of him as the missed blow pushed around the vines.

"So, you're one of those kinds of people? Cowards that hunt others, because they're too scared of monsters," Moyung called out.