Suho arrived at a large lake.

At the center of the lake was a small rock island, barely big enough for one person to stand on, and there sat the master of the forest.

Seated in a meditative posture like a monk, his body was overgrown with moss and small sprouts, blending so seamlessly with his surroundings that he appeared to be part of the lake itself if one didn’t focus on him.

Then, the figure slowly opened his eyes.

Golden light glowed in his eyes, devoid of pupils.

His gaze was similar to that of the Ents, and as he opened his eyes, large, majestic horns began to sprout on either side of his forehead, reminiscent of those found on ancient stags, yet even grander and more imposing.

Finally, when the horns stopped growing, information about him appeared above his head.

- Maleyon, Master of the Twisted Forest, Lv.100

Maleyon.

That was his name.

Not only was he the first druid Suho had encountered in this life, but he was also the first monster with a three-digit level.

Suho observed his level with calm composure.

‘Finally, a one-star monster.’

Monster classifications varied, but generally, anything under level 99 was considered unrated. Monsters at level 100 and above were categorized by “stars” in 100-level increments. Maleyon was Suho’s first encounter with a one-star monster in this life.

Maleyon slowly rose to his feet, vines entwined around him breaking off, moss falling from his body.

Without paying attention to any of it, Maleyon spoke.

- An uninvited guest has arrived.

“We didn’t invite you either.”

- …What?

“Who set up a portal on someone else’s land and then calls others uninvited?”

- …?

Maleyon frowned, unable to comprehend Suho’s words.

Naturally so. The beings summoned to Earth by the system were just game monsters or pawns created by the system.

While not all gates were like this, Suho knew this one was.

With that, Suho raised his spear, Guiyeongchang, and activated a skill.

[Holy Power activated.]

As holy energy enveloped Guiyeongchang in a white glow, Maleyon scowled.

- Are you a servant of the gods?

“Servant? Hardly.”

Suho replied and threw the spear.

[Spear Throw activated.]

The spear hurtled toward Maleyon’s chest at high speed.

However—

*Clack!*

To Suho’s surprise, Maleyon caught the spear with his hand, as if it were nothing.

“Oh?”

He caught it?

One-star monsters were indeed on another level.

Maleyon, with a stern expression, held onto the spear and glared at Suho.

Seeing this, Suho immediately summoned a blood orb using Blood Weapon.

He aimed it precisely at the end of the spear’s handle and hurled it. 

*Thunk!*

The blood orb struck the spear’s handle, pushing Guiyeongchang forward and driving it into Maleyon’s chest.

*Drip—*

Blood began to trickle down from the embedded spearhead.

Maleyon looked down silently at the wound, then released a terrifying aura, distorting the air around him.

[Maleyon is enraged.]

[The forest trembles in fear at Maleyon’s fury.]

[A chilling aura engulfs you.]

The intensity made Suho’s skin tingle.

However—

[Dragon Blood activated.]

[Dragon Armor negates the effects of the aura.]

In the end, Maleyon was still just a druid.

Suho thought, ‘So what if he’s a one-star monster? He’s still just a deer facing a dragon.’

Maleyon, noticing that Suho seemed unaffected by his aura, let out a smirk.

- Interesting technique.

“Technique? It’s just the reward of hard-earned effort.”

Suho canceled Guiyeongchang and the Blood Weapon orb, then summoned Guiyeongchang once more, imbuing it with holy power.

- Another trick?

“This one’s a bit different.”

Suho threw the spear again, but this time, he aimed it at Maleyon’s shadow instead of his body.

Maleyon didn’t dodge, realizing the spear wasn’t aimed at him.

Guiyeongchang landed directly in his shadow.

Maleyon glanced at the spear by his feet and asked,

- What are you doing…?

In that instant—

[Shadow Bind activated.]

[Shadow Bleed activated.]

Two skills triggered simultaneously upon the spear’s impact.

Maleyon looked amused.

- So that’s it.

But that was all.

Maleyon smirked, then flicked Guiyeongchang away with the back of his hand.

*Sploosh!*

The spear plunged into the lake, and Suho murmured in disappointment as he recalled it.

“Guess it doesn’t work…”

The level system wasn’t there just for show, after all.

That left him with one option: a direct confrontation.

Suho summoned his blood sword and took hold of it, prompting Maleyon to tilt his head and ask,

- Is that all the tricks you have?

“Pretty much.”

- Pathetic.

With those words, Maleyon raised his hands.

Suddenly, the lake surface began to bubble and churn.

[Maleyon summons Sogwaebalgu.]

The system notification chimed.

From the bubbling surface emerged massive tree roots, spreading like the legs of a spider.

Maleyon watched as the roots rose, saying,

- I’m curious to see how long you can last against my forest.

“Guess we’ll find out.”

*Whoosh!*

The moment Suho finished speaking, multiple Sogwaebalgu tendrils lunged at him.

Calmly, Suho sprinted along the edge of the lake.

*Boom!*

The first tendril struck where Suho had been, leaving a deep hole.

He changed direction, gripping his blood sword, and swung at one of the tendrils embedded in the ground.

[Decapitation activated.]

The sword descended in a single crimson arc, striking the Sogwaebalgu.

However—

*Crack!*

The blade stopped halfway through the root.

More tendrils aimed for Suho, and he quickly pulled back, dodging just in time.

*Crash!*

The spot he’d been in was smashed.

Catching his balance, Suho swung his sword again, only for the blade to stop midway once more.

Undeterred, he continued to slice at the tendrils, each strike leaving scars on the Sogwaebalgu.

As the battle progressed, Suho noticed Maleyon starting to lose patience.

- You’re like a pesky rat, evading everything.

Maleyon summoned more tendrils to ensnare Suho, but he evaded each attack and left marks on the roots.

Some tendrils couldn’t withstand the strikes and broke off.

Despite having the option, Suho didn’t use holy power, which would have allowed him to sever the tendrils instantly.

Maleyon was puzzled by Suho’s restraint.

- ‘What’s his game?’

As the fight dragged on, Maleyon’s temper cooled, and he started to observe Suho’s movements more closely.

- ‘His swordsmanship is pitiful, but his movements aren’t easy to handle.’

Maleyon was determined not to leave the lake. The Twisted Forest provided him with a natural fortress, and beneath the lake lay countless roots, ready to shield him.

Then, suddenly—

*Slice!*

One of the tendrils was cleanly severed.

What?

Had he seen wrong?

Maleyon widened his eyes, but quickly calmed himself.

After all, his tendrils had been cut before due to accumulated damage.

Or so he thought.

*Slice!*

Another tendril fell.

This time, Maleyon’s eyes grew noticeably wider.

- ‘Did I just…?’

No, he hadn’t imagined it.

Another tendril fell, and for the first time, a small smile appeared on Suho’s focused face.

‘Looks like I’m getting the hang of it.’

How many creatures had he sliced through in this forest already?

This sensation was familiar.

He had mastered this technique countless times before.

Returning to the past, Suho’s body and the system weren’t yet familiar with what he intended to do.

It required time to adapt and prove himself, so that his technique could be seen as a “realization” by the system.

The peak was in sight.

Suho severed three tendrils in quick succession, and as he swung at a fourth—

*Slice!*

Another successful cut.

In that instant—

[Your understanding of swordsmanship is unmatched.]

[The system acknowledges your exceptional skill in swordsmanship and grants full mastery of ‘Decapitation.’]

[As a result, ‘Decapitation’ has been elevated to the pinnacle and is now qualified to become a new skill.]

[Congratulations! The ‘Decapitation’ skill has been upgraded to S-rank.]

[Your Decapitation can now cut through steel.]

[The Art of the Sword activated.]

[The spirit of the Nameless Sword resonates with your mastery.]

[■■ nods in approval and blesses your progress.]

[A trace of ■■ imbues your Guardian Sword.]

[Congratulations! You have become the successor of ‘Hogong-ryu’ Sword Art.]

[Guardian Sword’s information has been updated.]

[Decapitation’s information has been updated.]

[You have mastered ‘Hogong-ryu Style One: Slash - Steel Cutter (S+).’]

**Hogong-ryu.**

Suho’s eyes sparkled with a newfound intensity.