"I wonder what kind of city I'll visit next... or should I say, conquer," Wei said with a smirk. "I'm at Legion Slayer level now. The next city where Garbaru and I set foot—will be mine. Hehehe… It sounds funny and exciting, but I'll succeed! I'll cut down the Guardian and return to the human world with all the gold I can carry. Even if the goddess tries to stop me!"
Garbaru let out a loud quack as he soared through the sky with Wei on his back.
"I wonder… was my father also a servant of the goddess? Why did he go to the human world? Mom never told me."
High above the clouds, Wei spoke aloud, calling to the system.
"Wisdom, what's the next city to the north?"
A glowing screen flickered to life, and the text appeared:
[Wisdom: The next city to the north is Mercado City.]
After hours of flying, Wei and Garbaru finally reached Mercado City. Wei left Garbaru hidden among the trees outside the city gates, then made his way in alone.
"Sheesh… what kind of city is this?" Wei muttered, eyes narrowing. While the sun is scorching, the streets bustled with life—but not the kind he was used to. The majority of the population appeared to be strange hybrids, mix-breeds of monsters and humans.
He walked past market stalls where creatures of every shape and size haggled, sold, and bartered. Wei couldn't help but feel a flicker of discomfort.
Some had the heads of animals with human-like bodies. Others had claws instead of hands, tails that swayed behind them, or scales that shimmered in the sun. One in particular caught his eye—a towering alligator-headed butcher with a muscular, human-like frame, chopping thick slabs of meat and selling them to a group of passing elves.
Wei stared for a moment, then frowned. "Is this city even worth conquering? Anyway, I'll never know until I try. It's raiding time!"
"Hello, everyone! I am King Wei, and I've come to occupy and rule this land!"
But due to the noise of the bustling market, no one really noticed or heard him.
Wei glanced around and spotted a megaphone hanging on a clothing stall. Without hesitation, he marched over and grabbed it.
He raised it to his mouth and declared, "Hello, everyone! I am King Wei, and I've come to occupy and rule this land! Will you kneel before your majesty—or would you rather wage war against me today?!"
That got their attention.
Merchants and passersby stopped in their tracks, staring at him in stunned silence. Then a raccoon merchant finally broke it.
"Boy, have you lost your mind?"
A tiger merchant chimed in, squinting up. "Wait… do you see the screen above his head?"
Everyone's eyes lifted.
[LEGION SLAYER]
WEI
[LEVEL 75]
The crowd rippled with murmurs.
"This guy's crazy…"
"Somebody call the city guards—fast!"
The tension in the air thickened. Creatures began backing away, whispering nervously to each other.
"I've never seen a rogue that strong…"
"Yeah… we better get out of here. This man could destroy the whole the market if he snaps."
"Yeah, call the city guards while I look for food," Wei said with a grin as he casually walked toward a food stall. "I just hope the food here isn't as gross as the creatures selling it."
He stopped in his tracks, surprised at what he saw sizzling on the grill.
"Hey, what kind of barbecues are these?"
"Demon buffalo," the fox running the stall replied, flipping a skewer with practiced ease.
Wei bit into the demon buffalo skewer, pleasantly surprised by the smoky, rich flavor. "Not bad," he muttered, nodding in approval. He took a long gulp from his drink, savoring the moment.
But before he could finish it, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the marketplace.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The city guards had arrived—tall, armored beastfolk with glowing eyes and jagged spears. They pushed through the crowd, who quickly stepped aside in tense silence.
"That's him!" someone shouted from the crowd. "The rogue claiming to be king!"
Wei sighed, raising his drink one last time before tossing the empty cup aside. "Guess lunchtime's over."
He turned around slowly, facing the guards with a cocky smirk. "Took you long enough. So… are we doing this the easy way, or the fun way?"
"Who are you to claim you're a king?"
The question came from a towering beast with the air of a chieftain—broad-shouldered, fur-lined armor, and sharp tusks curling from his lower jaw.
Wei grinned casually, completely unfazed. "Yeah, I'm a king. King Wei. Wassup, guys? Have you all decided yet? Surrender or... warm up your spears?"
He flashed a cocky smile at the assembled city guards.
One of the guards leaned close to the chieftain, whispering urgently, "Sir, he may sound like a fool, but his level is dangerously high. He's no ordinary rogue."
The chieftain's eyes narrowed. "You're right... This is beyond us."
He stepped forward and addressed Wei directly. "King Wei, as you call yourself… stay where you are. We'll summon someone who can match your strength."
Wei gave a lazy wave. "Sure, thanks for the heads-up. Gives me more time to shop around. Maybe I'll get a crown to match my title."
He strolled off with a foolish smile—yet behind it, his eyes were sharp, already sensing the tension rising in the air.
Meanwhile, in the Goddess's temple, the Goddess sat upon her throne.
"Why not let me handle the young rogue, my Goddess?" asked Aisha, the royal guard, standing before her.
"I've already assembled a team strong enough to deal with the rogue named Wei. Besides…" the Goddess smiled coldly, "I wouldn't be pleased to see him die so quickly."
"Oh, are those the three creatures you were experimenting on? Are they complete now? Have you already tested them in battle?" Aisha asked, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
"Actually, there are four of them," the goddess replied, her voice laced with wicked delight. "And I assigned each of them a legion to assist in battle."
Aisha narrowed her eyes. "Four against one? It sounds like you're worried about the young rogue's special skills—Torrent Slash and Tsunami Slash."
The goddess let out a low, sinister laugh. "Hahaha, yes. But this isn't just four against one. I've also sent messengers to find that samurai. They will offer him a choice: join Wei and help him in battle... or side with me."
She leaned forward on her throne, her eyes glowing.
"But if he refuses and chooses his own path—my four warriors will crush them both."
"Maybe I should try speaking with both Wei and the samurai," Aisha said, a hint of worry in her voice. "It feels like a waste of talent to destroy them both."
The goddess raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I thought the reason you wanted to face Wei was to battle him. And now you want to talk? How strange—you're showing sympathy for these creatures."
She waved her hand dismissively. "There's no need for concern. My messengers will offer Wei a chance to stop playing the tough guy in this world."
"I understand, Goddess," Aisha said respectfully, "but this young rogue only wants to return to the human world. Why not just let him go?"
The goddess's expression darkened. "He's a half-elf. There's no way to remove the powers he's awakened. He cannot return to the human world with all that power inside him. It would tip the balance. He doesn't belong there anymore."
Back in Mercado City, Wei strolled leisurely through the marketplace, casually browsing the oddities and trinkets on display. The lively chatter of vendors and shoppers echoed around him—until, all at once, the noise died.
A sudden hush swept over the crowd.
People stepped aside, their eyes wide with unease, forming a path through the busy street.
From the shadows emerged three cloaked figures—tall, silent, and exuding a pressure that weighed heavy on the air. The energy they carried was unnatural, cold, and commanding. Even the beasts in the crowd stiffened instinctively.
Wei paused, raising an eyebrow as he turned to face them.
"Well," he muttered, smirking slightly, "this day just got interesting."
One of the messengers stepped forward and pulled back his hood. His eyes glowed with golden light, and his voice echoed unnaturally, as if layered with many others.
"Wei, half-elf of two worlds, bearer of Torrent Veil and Legion Slayer, the Goddess summons you."
"Sorry, guys. I've changed my mind. I want to become the strongest king—strong enough to take down your goddess and finally go home."
The second messenger, voice colder, added, "She offers you a choice. Lay down your weapons and submit to her will… or continue down this path of rebellion and be marked for annihilation."
The third didn't speak—he only handed Wei a scroll sealed with divine markings.
Wei held it loosely between two fingers, glancing at it with mild amusement. "Submit, huh? What does she think I am—one of her pets? Sorry, but I don't do leashes."
He stepped forward, face close to the lead messenger's. "Take this message back to your goddess: if she wants to talk, she can walk."
Wei let the scroll drop to the ground.
The crowd gasped. Even the messengers seemed momentarily stunned.
But then the lead messenger's eyes narrowed. "Very well. Then you have chosen war."
In a blink, all three vanished into vapor—leaving behind the faint scent of burning incense and a subtle tremor in the ground beneath Wei's feet.