Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 47

—The challenger’s future will be shone with a brilliant light.

—Great Spellcaster Kandiaru.

This was the inscription found by the hunters, a kind that had never before been discovered in the history of Egypt. Hunters were naturally excited about this historic discovery, which led to an influx of hunters willing to risk the dangers and visit the small city of Kamaru.

Beru, who had been quietly listening to Esil’s words, tilted his head. “Kandiaru?”

“What is it?” Suho asked, turning toward the ant beast.

“I know that name.” Beru stroked his chin. “Great Spellcaster Kandiaru. He’s the Architect, the being who designed the level-up system.”

“The Architect? Why would someone like that deface the pyramid?”

“That, I don’t know. More importantly, isn’t that structure ancient?”

“That’s right.”

“Kandiaru was a sorcerer from a mystical world who dreamed of eternal life.”

Great Spellcaster Kandiaru was originally a sorcerer who had aimed for transcendence and eternal life. Eventually, he came to an agreement with the Rulers to achieve that goal and designed the level-up system. The culmination of the System was none other than Suho’s father, Sung Jinwoo.

“So, what is he up to now?” Suho asked.

“His whereabouts have been unknown ever since the Monarchs War. No one knows if he ended up achieving eternal life or if he just simply died...” Beru stared at the pyramid in the distance with a meaningful gaze. “It’s possible that there may be traces of Kandiaru left in that pyramid.”

The goal of the emergency quest was to eliminate the cause of the dimensional crack. It seemed like creating a dimensional crack would be easy for a being like Kandiaru, the creator of the leveling system.

Suho felt like the pieces of the puzzle were neatly falling into place, and he turned his gaze toward the pyramid. “Let’s go inside right away.”

“As Suho and Esil attempted to move toward the pyramid, one of the guards urgently called, “W-wait!”

Baffled, they turned around and were stopped by a hesitant guard. “If you’re going to enter the pyramid, you should be careful.”

“Why?” Esil asked.

As the guard continued his lengthy explanation, Suho looked at Esil for translation.

“To summarize, there’s a recent guild that forcibly took control of the pyramid.”

“A guild?” Suho said, puzzled.

***

The Scavenger Guild was one of the major guilds in the United States. The guild was founded by S-rank hunter, Thomas Andre, who was a UFC Openweight Champion before his awakening. He had no real rivals in the ring, and he maintained his title as champion until retirement. As he was heading toward old age, he suddenly awakened as an S-rank hunter and subsequently became one of the strongest hunters in the United States, unmatched both inside and outside the ring. Due to his renown, the Scavenger Guild’s reputation was unparalleled in the United States.

The symbol of the guild was power. Under the guild master’s belief that those with power conquered everything, they had gained a notorious reputation. At the same time, they took responsibility for the safety of the citizens and exterminated numerous monsters.

“It seems like the Scavenger Guild isn’t in full force. There aren’t too many of them,” Esil, the walking interpreter, smoothly interpreted the words of the guards.

It was natural for the guards to be concerned for Suho’s group as they were about to enter the pyramid that had been taken over by the Scavenger Guild, which would surely lead to a confrontation.

However, Suho had no other choice but to proceed with the quest. Despite the guards’ objections, Suho and Esil entered the village and headed straight for the pyramid.

Having served him well thus far, Arachne returned to Suho’s shadow, finally free from the gaze of the onlooking residents.

Hmm. The atmosphere of the village is quite...

Suho crossed the street while observing his surroundings. Hunters of both great and middling levels of power were living throughout the village. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary village, but it was easy to sense that everyone’s attention was directed at the pyramid. They all seemed ready to dash toward the pyramid at any moment. But there was a reason why they couldn’t do so.

“It’s because of those guys,” Suho said.

Several fierce-looking young men were guarding the entrance to the pyramid.

***

The leader of the guards at the entrance was Gerald, a B-rank hunter from the Scavenger Guild. He had been feeling miserable ever since he was brought here unceremoniously a few days ago.

Dragging people all the way to Egypt for some prophecy or whatever is nonsense. Moreover, he was also upset about being made to stand guard under the scorching sun. Gerald’s already fierce appearance was further marred by the blistering heat.

“Who are these people?” Gerald spotted a man and a woman slowly approaching the pyramid, which caused his anger to boil even more. He turned to one of his underlings. “What’s the meaning of this? Weren’t all the hunters down there informed?”

“Everyone has been informed, sir. We told them that approaching the pyramid would be considered an act of hostility toward the Scavenger Guild.”

“What are they trying to prove, then? Do they think they have nine lives?”

There was a reason why Gerald was deliberately talking to his subordinate. Most hunters had excellent hearing, so his conversation served as a warning, an open threat promising death for whoever dared to approach.

His words naturally reached Suho’s ears, but he couldn’t understand them as they were in English.

Esil saw no need to translate such words.

“They are coming toward us,” a guild member said.

Suho and Esil ascended the pyramid’s stairs one step at a time. Just as they got closer...

Gerald signaled to his subordinates, and the Scavenger Guild members suddenly attacked Suho without any warning.

“Get lost, you punk!” one of them shouted.

“Huh?” Suho tilted his head as he looked at them. Is this how you want to do this? “Perhaps this is for the best considering the language barrier.” Suho smiled brightly and drew his swords. Actions speak louder than words. “Storm Slash.”

[Skill: “Storm Slash” has activated.]

Suddenly, a raging sandstorm was heading toward the hunters of the Scavenger Guild. As they descended the steep outer walls of the pyramid, their bodies flailed against the storm.

***

Meanwhile, a fierce battle was unfolding inside the pyramid. The dungeon break had changed the interior of the pyramid into a labyrinth. Other hunters were exploring the area before the Scavenger Guild arrived, and their attitude toward the existing hunters was domineering.

“You have two choices. Leave or die.”

“These people are completely insane! We were here first!”

The hunters standing up against them were burning with anger. Rio Singh, a B-rank hunter from the Asura Guild, had been exploring the labyrinth for a week, and he wasn’t about to let some newcomers forcibly drive him and the others out. No hunter would simply back down in a situation like this.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!” Rio said.

The Asura Guild, true to its name, was no pushover. They all carried dual swords, and the crimson glow emanating from their weapons evoked the image of the mythical demons they were named after. As they assumed a full combat stance, a sinister tension consumed the area.

The Scavenger Guild had underestimated them due to their inferior numbers, but now there was no turning back.

Rio Singh raised his dual swords, signaling that he wasn’t going to back down. “We didn’t come this far to leave empty-handed. It’s best not to underestimate us.”

Rio Singh was a rising star in the Asura Guild. In India’s caste society, social mobility was difficult without significant achievement or recognition. The developments in the pyramid had been a matter of great interest within the Asura Guild.

The rising star had volunteered for this task to elevate his status. They’ll expel me from the guild if I return empty-handed.

“Who are these guys?” Randolph, the leader of the gang of Scavenger Guild hunters, was taken aback by the Asura Guild’s unyielding response. They were much braver than the other hunters, but that wasn’t a concern for him. “These guys really want to see some blood!” His lips curled into a sinister smile. “It’s not a crime to kill in a dungeon. Kill them all!”

At that moment, the hunters of the Scavenger Guild were each enveloped in an armor of aura. While the Asura Guild’s vanguard consisted of damage dealers, the Scavenger Guild was primarily comprised of tankers.

The matchup isn’t favorable. Rio Singh felt an instinctual sense of danger.

The imposing presence of the well-organized tankers was reminiscent of colossal magic beasts. It was a clash of swords and shields. However, in this confined space where wielding weapons was difficult, the shield held a significant advantage.

“Take them all down!”

“Ahhhhhh!”

Scavenger Guild members rushed forward, relying on their exceptional defense.

“Spread out!”

At Rio Singh’s command, the Asura Guild members used their dual swords to ruthlessly tear down the barrier they had been using to block the attack.

With the space now secured... “Everyone, attack!” Rio ordered.

A clash of swords and shields ensued.

“Throw everything you’ve got!” Randolph overwhelmed his opponents with sheer force. They are putting up a fight, but this won’t change the outcome. “Your feeble strikes will never penetrate our armor!” The decisive factor in battle is overwhelming strength!

Randolph’s team was comprised of some of the strongest members of the Scavenger Guild, and their brute strength caused the Asura Guild members to bounce off uncontrollably.

“Aim for the gaps in their armor!”

Rio Singh’s command proved effective. No matter how great a tanker might be, they weren’t invulnerable. There were undoubtedly vulnerabilities in their armor they couldn’t protect.

However, the Scavenger Guild members were well aware of this fact. They had been trained to fill these gaps and pressure their opponents while doing so.

“Hahaha! Come at us from any angle!” Randolph roared and charged like a truck, slamming into Rio Singh and sending him flying.

The Asura Guild’s rising star slammed against the wall, and blood spewed from his mouth. Is this the end...?!

Right at that moment, a wall collapsed in the distance, and a man and woman snuck into this intense battle.

Suho had broken through the labyrinth walls to reach the battle. His eyes met with Rio’s before he casually shifted his gaze toward Randolph. He nodded slowly, seemingly in thought, before turning away from them.

“Well, please continue with what you were doing...”