Life Rebooted with Copy and Paste-Chapter 154. From the Beginning

A young Hunter from the Eight Dragons Association stood frozen in place, clutching his weapon tightly. It wasn’t due to fear, but astonishment and sheer disbelief at the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Crash! Boom!

After discovering him and the civilians hiding in the building behind him, the shadow soldiers had advanced relentlessly. But now, they were being slaughtered—not by fellow Hunters, but by monsters that had appeared out of nowhere.

Dark Skeletons unleashed arrows with precision, while red-hearted Orcs hacked the shadow soldiers apart with massive glaives. Although the shadow soldiers could regenerate, even their resilience had its limits. Continuous critical attacks eventually brought them down.

Still, why were monsters killing each other? The young Hunter had never seen or heard of such a thing.

What astounded him the most was the presence of Nagas, which were upper-tier monsters known for their intelligence and scaly skin. They cleaved through the shadow army with terrifying efficiency.

A single Naga could match a shadow soldier in combat, a feat Orcs and Skeletons could achieve only in groups. The shadow soldiers were formidable, but the Nagas outclassed them.

Splat!

At last, the final shadow soldier was cut down by a Naga’s blade. What had been an overwhelming swarm just moments ago was now reduced to nothing.

One of the Nagas scanned the area, his gaze sharp and unyielding. His eyes locked onto the young Hunter, who flinched, instinctively raising his weapon with trembling hands.

That particular Naga seemed stronger, more fearsome than the rest. While other Nagas wielded ordinary curved blades, this one carried a menacing, massive, crescent glaive.

The young Hunter gulped. He appreciated the help, but there was no guarantee these creatures were allies. If they turned on him, he had to protect the civilians as their last line of defense.

Just then, a man strode into view.

“Ashunaga.”

The young Hunter’s eyes widened. Where had this man come from? The younger Hunter hadn’t sensed any presence at all!

However, the real shock came a moment later.

Thud! Thud!

The Nagas and even the other monsters immediately knelt, bowing low before the man as if his very existence demanded reverence. None dared to lift their heads.

Oh... So, he’s their master!

The young Hunter’s mind reeled at the sight. A Hunter commanding such a vast number of monsters wasn’t something the young Hunter had ever heard of before. He wondered whether it was even possible to tame monsters.

Perhaps these creatures were summoned beings? Even if that were the case, he knew that maintaining such a large force would require an astronomical amount of mana.

This is beyond anything I could ever imagine...

The young Hunter couldn’t fathom it. He had been a Hunter for less than three years, and this level of power was utterly out of reach. If only he knew the man before him, Kim Do-Joon, had been a Hunter for less than two years.

“I told you,” Kim Do-Joon said, his voice calm but firm. “The only thing you need to take down is the shadow soldiers.”

One of the Nagas, Ashunaga, replied in a curious tone, “Don’t worry, I know. I was just... intrigued.”

Ashunaga’s serpentine eyes sparkled with curiosity as she eyed the young Hunter.

Kim Do-Joon exhaled softly. At least it seemed the Naga meant no harm. For now.

“It’s my first time seeing a human that isn’t quite... human,” Ashunaga remarked, tilting her head.

“What does that even mean...” Kim Do-Joon muttered under his breath.

The Naga ignored him and approached the young Hunter, poking him lightly with a clawed finger.

“Eek!” the young Hunter squeaked, recoiling in terror.

Well, who wouldn’t be scared? Anyone would panic when a monster twice their size, armed with a massive crescent glaive, approached them.

Paying little attention to the exchange, Kim Do-Joon examined the Nagas and the other monsters under his command.

Thankfully, it seems like the Ring of Dominance is working well.

Kim Do-Joon could tell that Ashunaga and other Nagas were showing unwavering loyalty to him. Besides, they were also buffed by the ring. Without the enhancements, the Nagas would’ve struggled to defeat the shadow soldiers in one-on-one combat.

None of them have evolved yet, though.

Well, he’d just summoned them, so they hadn’t had time to gain enough experience. Still, Kim Do-Joon noted a slight flaw. The Nagas seemed slightly less obedient than the Orcs or Skeletons, likely because of their higher intelligence.

Even so, if it worked on those who had higher intelligence, it’ll work on well on these ones too.

Suddenly, a flash of white light erupted in the distance, accompanied by a deafening crash.

“The Mahal Tribe, always putting on a show” Kim Do-Joon murmured, recognizing the source of the commotion. He chuckled lightly. “Let’s go.”

“Ah, alright!”

As Kim Do-Joon turned toward the pillar of light, Ashunaga trailed after him, and the other monsters rose from their bowed positions to follow.

“Wait!”

A voice called out from behind. Kim Do-Joon glanced back to see the young Hunter.

“Thank you for saving us! If it’s not too much to ask... may I know your name?”

For a moment, Kim Do-Joon’s gaze shifted to the building behind the Hunter. Though hidden from sight, his senses picked up the presence of dozens of civilians.

Has he been protecting them on his own?

Kim Do-Joon was impressed. For someone so young, the Hunter had shown remarkable resolve. He stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy’s head, ruffling his hair carelessly.

“Ah! Hey!” the young Hunter protested, startled.

Without another word, Kim Do-Joon turned and walked away, leaving the boy staring after him, stunned.

“Wait! Your name!” the boy called out again, but Kim Do-Joon didn’t answer.

Despite his disappointment, the boy felt an inexplicable surge of strength. It was as if his efforts had been acknowledged. Resolute, he gripped his weapon and resumed his watch, his stance more confident and determined than before.

Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon led his monstrous legion and Ashunaga toward the source of the disturbance.

Still can’t understand a word of their language...

***

Originally, Kim Do-Joon hadn’t planned to summon the Mahal Tribe. He wanted to first confirm the Ring of Dominance's effects on them, wary of wielding such power without understanding their behavior.

It’s all because of a crisis far beyond ordinary measures.

The emergence of the Branch and the resulting destruction of the major city of Shanghai had left no room for hesitation. Holding back his strongest cards would be foolish.

Nearby, the Mahal Tribe warriors were already engaged in battle with a swarm of shadow soldiers. Their shimmering white blades—which were eerily similar to Siwelin’s sword—sliced through the opponents with brutal efficiency.

Compared to the Nagas, the Mahal warriors were on another level entirely. A single swing of their swords cleaved through multiple shadow soldiers in one go, turning what had been a formidable enemy into little more than scattered remnants.

By the time Kim Do-Joon arrived, the Mahal Tribe had already finished off the entire group of shadow soldiers.

“Hey,” said Fuad, the priest. His pristine sword gleamed as he sheathed it. The shadow soldiers didn’t bleed, after all.

The other Mahal warriors, including Shura, gathered around Fuad. There were thirty-five warriors in total. Every one of them had achieved A-rank combat ability by the age of fifteen, while the elders, like Fuad, could be considered S-rank.

To an outsider, the idea that this elite fighting force—enough to rival any major guild—was summoned by a single man would sound utterly ridiculous.

Shura glanced behind Kim Do-Joon, spotting Ashunaga trailing closely. She raised an eyebrow and pointed at the massive crescent glaive slung across the Naga’s back.

“Someone still lugs around that ridiculous weapon?” Shura remarked, her voice dripping with disdain.

The crescent blade was a trophy from the Naga king Raksith, a weapon Ashunaga had taken after the mighty foe’s defeat. It was as intimidating as it was oversized.

“What are you saying! It looks cool!” Ashunaga shot back, clutching her blade protectively.

“Cool? A proper weapon should complement the wielder’s body, not just be obnoxiously big and heavy,” Shura commented.

“You insolent brat!”

Shura’s casual criticism set Ashunaga off, her fanged mouth twisting into an indignant scowl. From the moment Kim Do-Joon had summoned the Mahal Tribe, Shura had taken an inexplicable dislike to Ashunaga. Perhaps, it was because the Nagas had subdued her during their first encounter.

“Stop, both of you,” Kim Do-Joon interjected. freёnovelkiss.com

“I’m not doing anything!” Ashunaga grumbled. “She’s the one picking fights.”

“Tsk,” Shura muttered, folding her arms and glaring.

“Look at that! She’s glaring again! See, human? She’s picking on me!” Ashunaga exclaimed, pointing accusingly.

Kim Do-Joon sighed deeply. At least, the animosity seemed superficial. It wasn’t like Ashunaga could harbor deep hatred toward Shura. Nagas were monsters, after all.

Waving them off dismissively, he turned his attention back to Fuad.

“Fuad.”

“Yes,” the priest replied with a solemn nod.

Compared to the bickering duo, Fuad’s calm demeanor was a welcome relief. His steady presence helped ease the tension brewing in Kim Do-Joon’s mind.

“I’ll be heading to the Branch.”

Fuad’s expression darkened slightly. “The Branch?”

Kim Do-Joon pointed toward the ominous black coffin in the distance.

“You’re heading off to that accursed place,” Fuad murmured, understanding immediately.

“Yes,” Kim Do-Joon confirmed. “The source of all this chaos is there and I need to eliminate it.”

“And what about us?”

“Please stay here and continue dealing with the shadow soldiers. Their numbers will keep growing, so I need you to keep them contained.”

Both Shura and Ashunaga turned to face him.

“You’re going alone? That’s dangerous! I’ll go with you!” Shura exclaimed, concern flashing across her face.

In stark contrast, Ashunaga grinned broadly. “Oh? Going solo, huh? Excellent choice, Human! Best of luck!”

The two spoke almost simultaneously, prompting Shura to glare at Ashunaga.

“Don’t you care about him at all?” Shura snapped.

“Care? About that monster of a human? Are you an idiot, Little Human? He doesn’t need anyone’s worry,” Ashunaga said.

“What did you just say?!” Shura shot back.

What had been a tense standoff was quickly devolving into another round of petty squabbling. Kim Do-Joon spared them a brief glance, then turned back to Fuad.

Fuad nodded, his expression unwavering. “Are you sure you’ll be okay alone? It might just be a feeling, but that black shadow seems especially ominous. My instincts are rarely wrong, so you’d do well to be cautious.”

Kim Do-Joon shook his head. “No, I’m not going alone.”

Turning to Ashunaga, who looked like she was moments away from lunging at Shura again, he locked eyes with her. Feeling his gaze, Ashunaga turned toward him.

“You. Come with me,” Kim Do-Joon said firmly.

Ashunaga's eyes widened in protest. “What?! Why me?”

“Hey, wait! I want to come too!” Shura interjected, stepping forward eagerly.

“You’re staying here,” Kim Do-Joon replied, his voice leaving no room for argument.

“Why?” Shura pouted, looking betrayed.

Kim Do-Joon had already made his decision. He needed the Mahal Tribe to defend Shanghai. The enemy had a way of turning allies into puppets, stealing their forces. If the Mahal Tribe were to fall into enemy hands, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The Nagas, on the other hand, were less risky. There were more of them, and in the end, they were monsters. As long as Ashunaga did not fall into enemy hands, the risk was manageable.

I’ll leave the shadow soldiers to the Nagas. The elder and I will take on the bigger threats.

Kim Do-Joon recalled the earlier fight with Li Weipeng at the hotel. Similar threats would undoubtedly lie ahead, along with Gao Lin who was the suspected mastermind behind this disaster.

Kim Do-Joon and his allies could focus on taking down these heavy hitters while the Nagas held the line against lesser enemies.

“Follow me,” Kim Do-Joon ordered again.

Ashunaga threw her arms up in frustration. “No way! Why me? Is this because I wasn’t as cute or obedient as that little human brat?”

“No,” Kim Do-Joon replied flatly. “I planned to bring you along from the beginning.”

“Liar!” Ashunaga growled, writhing like a child throwing a tantrum.

Ignoring her protests, Kim Do-Joon grabbed her by the arm and headed toward the Branch. Ashunaga thrashed, but he dragged her forward with ease. Behind them, the Nagas silently followed their leader, their expressions unreadable. Whatever they thought of their commander being hauled away like an unruly child, they kept it to themselves.

Ordinary Nagas couldn’t speak, anyway.

***

“Something’s off...”

Inside a black hollow, a voice muttered to himself, and the sound echoed in the cavernous space.

The chamber resembled a colossal egg, with smooth, pulsating walls. Shadows writhed in the dim light as the being contemplated its next move.

“Why isn’t he coming back?”

He had sent a knight out along with his shadow soldiers. The knight’s task was straightforward: to track down a human who lingered in Gao Lin’s memories. By now, the knight should have returned, either victorious or carrying the human’s severed head.

However, there was no sign of it. Moreover, the domain itself felt quite constrained.

The Branch—a manifestation of its power—should have extended far beyond its current size, easily becoming hundreds of times larger. However, for some reason, it remained stunted.

There was only one explanation: a Branch could only be blocked by another Branch. But that made no sense because there should’ve been only one Branch in this world.

A faint sense of déjà vu gnawed at the figure. It felt like a well-oiled machine suddenly skipping, its gears grinding ever so slightly off rhythm.

“Ugh, whatever...”

Still, he shrugged off the thought. Soon, he’d fully adapt to this body. Once he did, he could crush all the obstacles in his path.