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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Sword-Tooth Clan Boy
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Dungeon Replay is home to all sorts of races.
And among them, certain races stand out with their exceptional base stats.
If you had to name the strongest among melee warriors...
It would be the Sword-Tooth Clan.
Black hair and black eyes.
Bodies as tough as forged steel from birth.
Sky-high specs.
No elemental weaknesses, either—they can handle any situation.
Finally.
They have one unique trait.
They can leap two Ascension stages at once.
The experience needed for Ascension is a bit higher than for other races.
Even so, they grow much faster than any other character.
Of course, once you hit the upper tiers, waiting for that double growth becomes a limitation.
But even factoring that in, their physical prowess is unmatched.
The mark of their strength? The number of tails.
Each Sword-Tooth Clan tail represents two Ascensions.
That's why their strongest warriors boast multiple tails.
The Sword-Tooth Clan boy before his eyes had three.
Six Ascensions total.
Not bad, even for a mid-tier Pioneer.
It was strange to see Sword-Tooth Clan treated like auction slaves.
Leyzon knew why, though.
🧛 Syria [Wow, she's still got such a nasty hobby!]
Syria knew the inside story too.
Just as she said, it was a viciously twisted situation.
Bloodless Sovereign.
A powerhouse so formidable that even the Empire turned a blind eye to some of her antics.
A lord.
The Bloodless Sovereign was one such figure—and the auction house's owner.
Her hobby? Capturing rare races.
This naturally sparked outrage across countless species.
But true to her status as a world-dominating lord, the Bloodless Sovereign wiped out every race that dared oppose her.
Erased them from existence in this world.
In the end, the uproar died down. Most races fell silent.
They simply grieved the captured and gave up.
The silver lining? She took them purely for amusement.
No harm done—she'd just toss them into the auction house and leave.
So if you had the coin, you could buy them back.
But most rare races lacked that kind of wealth.
Regrettably, they had no choice but to let go.
Looks like even after a century, she's still going strong.
Well, the Bloodless Sovereign was long-lived herself.
A hundred years was nothing to her.
But that was exactly why Leyzon had stumbled onto a golden opportunity.
A chance to recruit a dungeon companion.
Sword-Tooth Clan are hardcore individualists by nature.
Once their young reach a certain age, they send them out into the world.
They might sire more pups, sure.
But grown children? They don't coddle them.
No other Sword-Tooth Clan would buy a grown boy like this.
If I don't snag him, he's headed somewhere rotten anyway.
Life by Leyzon's side wouldn't be a picnic, either.
But it beat ending up with someone twisted.
"100 gold! 100 gold going once! Any higher bids?"
The auctioneer pressed the crowd, eager to drive the price up.
But the bidders just exchanged awkward glances.
No one raised their paddle.
"Sword-Tooth Clan kid? Isn't he tied to the Shadow Warlord somehow?"
"Heard that boy's been up on the block multiple times. Nobody's biting."
"Yeah, no sense poking that hornet's nest."
Leyzon's ears caught their murmurs.
He blinked.
Shadow Warlord?
First he'd heard of this lord.
A century had passed.
New lords rising? Hardly surprising.
But one popping up here? That threw him.
🧛 Syria [Leyzon, the Shadow Warlord's a Sword-Tooth Clan lord.]
A Sword-Tooth Clan lord? News to him.
Hold on. Then...
The Bloodless Sovereign—this madwoman.
Had she kidnapped a child from a race ruled by a lord?
She'd always steered clear of fellow lords' kin before.
...Has she finally lost it?
Bigger problem now, though.
He'd just bought a slave from a lord's race.
...My bad for not scouting the lords first.
Still, who could've foreseen a lord's people hitting the slave block?
Not like anyone predicted the Bloodless Sovereign snapping.
"How to back out..."
"Sold! The Sword-Tooth Clan boy goes to VIP 13!"
Leyzon barely had his hand up.
The boy was his.
Not a single clap echoed through the auction house.
Everyone just pitied the winner.
Leyzon soaked in their stares and quietly balled his fist.
"...Syria. Think you could take the Shadow Warlord?"
🧛 Syria [Hah, Leyzon—it's me. Me! Syria Nosferatu?]
Syria proved her point by staining the shadows crimson.
Leyzon swallowed hard.
Right. We've got backup.
Chances like this—to claim a Sword-Tooth Clan boy as a slave—didn't come often.
Worth the gamble for what's ahead.
No big deal.
A scrap with a lord? Bring it.
One lesson from today, at least.
Time to dig for intel, hard.
A hundred years meant massive changes.
Knowledge gaps could hobble you, just like now.
Shadow Warlord slip-up? Can't undo it.
Loss comes with gain.
Just build on the win.
Burned once before a worse info blunder. Lesson learned.
Nothing beats risk-free wisdom.
Leyzon stayed optimistic.
Now? Ponder how to best use the slave going forward.
Train him to companion level, forge real trust.
Slave magic wasn't foolproof.
Keep powering up, he'd break free eventually.
We'll sync up over time.
Plenty of auction left.
Leyzon shelved thoughts of his new Sword-Tooth prize.
Next lot. Time to spend.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Leyzon scored some solid gear at the auction.
The staff especially caught his eye.
Black market auction house delivers.
Stuff impossible to find topside, everywhere.
That mid-auction necromancer tome? Total trap.
He recalled the necromancer spellbook.
Tailor-made for any necro type.
But he clocked it instantly.
Empire bait.
Grab that, soldiers drag you off.
World's a meat grinder.
🧛 Syria [Filthy Empire scum! Let's smash 'em all!]
Empire would've crumbled by Syria's hand before its own fall.
Easy there.
Clashing head-on with the Empire? Hard pass.
Syria might survive. Leyzon? Toast.
He calmed her down.
Then trailed the clerk to claim his haul.
Led to a private lounge deep in the auction house.
Opulently furnished at a glance.
Multiple winners were big spenders.
Auction house courtesy: a VIP room.
Leyzon sank into the plush sofa and waited.
Footsteps soon rustled beyond the curtain.
Rustle—
The curtain parted. In walked a woman.
Petite, even for her gender.
Lush red hair swept back in a ponytail.
Those features made her seem surprisingly young.
Modest attire.
Her lips curved behind an ornate butterfly mask.
"Sorry for the wait, sir."
Leyzon marveled inwardly.
Damn.
Most had no clue.
But Leyzon, 65th round veteran, knew.
Golden butterfly mask.
Only one prowled black markets wearing that.
Bloodless Sovereign.
Black market queen. Untouchable, even by the Empire.
And here she was.
In this changed world, a century on.
Her hobbies? Same as ever.
Personality's as rotten as advertised.
No doubt.
Heard about the Sword-Tooth buy, came snooping.
🧛 Syria [Leyzon, this woman...]
Syria reacted too.
Power spots power.
Bloodless Sovereign might've sensed Syria's aura faintly.
"Sir?"
She called, puzzled by his stare.
"Ah, just zoned out a sec."
Leyzon owned it, played it cool.
She peered at him from behind the mask a beat.
Face burning.
Quit staring. Please.
Thud.
She set his auction wins on the table.
Every item he'd claimed.
"Bonus for the big spend. This pendant."
"One-shot artifact. Nullifies a magic attack."
"Much appreciated."
Leyzon stashed it safe.
One-offs saved lives sometimes.
Service here's top-tier.
"And last..."
She clapped twice.
Curtain drew back. Out stepped a boy.
Sword-Tooth Clan boy.
Black hair, tiger ears stealing the show.
Bloodless Sovereign clicked off his wrist cuffs.
"Hand to the collar, please."
The boy obeyed, touching the bone necklace.
He stared at it blankly.
Soon, Leyzon's mana drained into the bone.
Engraving triggered.
Sword-Tooth boy now slave-bound to Leyzon.
"All set."
Payment cleared earlier.
Leyzon grabbed his loot.
Shadow Warlord be damned.
Black market exit, stat.
No thanks to Bloodless entanglements.
"Sir."
She stopped him cold.
"More?"
"Just... curious. Why the Sword-Tooth boy?"
Lips twisted under the mask.
Tamer question than expected.
"He's bad merchandise, you know."
Sells him knowing why, then warns the buyer.
Peak sleaze.
But landed the boy.
"Sick of Pioneers."
Leyzon answered straight.
"For a backup? Slave contract's more trustworthy."
He glanced at the boy.
"Six-Ascension Sword-Tooth? Gold."
Bloodless Sovereign paused.
Then smiled softly, nodded.
"Fair enough. Thanks for humoring me.
Next visit, even better service. Come again."
Already plotting a gear run soon.
Bloodless Sovereign skip preferred.
Leyzon bounced.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Leyzon gone.
Alone, Bloodless Sovereign eased off the golden butterfly mask.
Red eyes gleamed.
"Bloodless Sovereign."
A black-suited man appeared, bowed low.
Mask off meant ruling as sovereign.
Subordinates: announce, bow.
"Hm. Thought he was Shadow Warlord's plant."
Why kidnap the Sword-Tooth boy?
Lure the Shadow Warlord.
He'd rebelled against the Empire.
She knew the real story.
Rebellion, sure.
Not public knowledge.
Shadow Warlord killed an Empire noble.
Noble dead, secrets spilled to Shadow Warlord.
Intrigued her deeply.
Bet it's what the Empire's old dragon's hiding.
Rarest race alive: dragonkin.
Leftovers? Empire's ancient wyrm, one fresh hatchling.
Far east: evil dragon.
Herself last.
Old one's tucked away tight by the Empire.
Less Empire curiosity.
More the dragon's secrets.
Tied to what Shadow Warlord uncovered, maybe.
So she'd planned his downfall.
Via bait.
His little brother.
Perfect hook to gut the Shadow Warlord.
Waited forever. No show.
Growing bored of babysitting. Time to dump him.
Then bam.
"Snagged a weirdo."
A nasty grin spread.
Sized up Leyzon.
No Shadow Warlord ties.
Just a six-Ascension greenhorn.
Yet... eyes stuck.
And.
The shadow under his feet nagged.
Something unsettling even to her infamous self.
Lurking in that shadow.
What the hell?
Rare spark of curiosity.
Dragons thrive on it.
Hers ignited.
"Aimed for Shadow Warlord via bro. Hooked oddity instead."
Tossed the mask aside.
Man caught it swift.
"Strange about that man?"
"Loaded."
She smirked cryptic.
"Dig his intel?"
Stroked chin at the ask.
"Nah."
Shook head.
Shadow's mystery? No hive-kicking.
"Short leash or long, word'll come. Wait it out."
"Understood."
Boredom reigned lately.
Hopes: toy worthy of the hype.
Bloodless Sovereign slipped into shadows, expectant.