Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 51

[Target is eligible for shadow extraction.]

As Suho cast Shadow Extraction, the shadow of the Venomous Sand Centipede’s carcass began to squirm.

[Attempting Shadow Extraction.]

[Extraction attempt in progress...]

Inside the shadow, the giant centipede’s venomous fangs sprouted out in an attempt to extend outward. Just then, a metallic sound echoed, accompanied by a notification.

[The Shadow Extraction failed.]

[Two more chances remaining.]

Failed? Suho clenched his teeth. Am I not good enough?

The Shadow Extraction skill had a chance of failure. The description for the skill clearly outlined that the probability of extraction failure increased in proportion to the target’s stats. In this case, the Venomous Sand Centipede was vastly stronger than Suho.

The truth is I didn’t kill it alone. Suho had exhausted every method at his disposal to defeat the creature, which made him desire its shadow even more. I have two more chances left... He took a deep breath and calmly attempted the second extraction. “Arise.”

[The Shadow Extraction failed.]

[One more chance remaining.]

He felt his throat dry up. He only had one more attempt.

The centipede, in its pre-shadow form, writhed its numerous legs as if it were struggling to escape from the dark smoke.

Do you want to come out too? Suho composed himself. Sure, come on out, and crush my enemy by my side. He solemnly reached out his hand and held it in front of the creature’s colossal body.

“Arise!”

At that moment, the sand centipede roared as it thrust its forelimbs out of the darkness beneath. Its numerous legs followed and touched the ground, lifting the body. The dark shadow intertwined and weaved the unfinished body together.

[The Shadow Extraction was a success.]

“That’s more like it!” Suho erupted in celebration.

[?? Lv.1 Knight Class]

A massive sand centipede enshrouded in black vapor revealed itself before Suho.

Caught off guard by the creature’s fierce presence, Esil, who had returned from Vulcan’s Horn, took a hesitant step back.

Gray had just detached from Suho and shivered behind the lavender-haired demon with his tail tucked between his legs.

Suho, recalling the memory of his first battle with the centipedes, gulped. But now, it’s mine.

[Names can be given to shadow soldiers with a rank equivalent to Knight Grade or higher.]

[The assigned name will remain until the shadow is destroyed.]

[Please provide a name for this soldier.]

A name isn’t that important. Especially since this guy is a temporary hire, Suho thought.

[Shadow Centipede - Knight Grade]

“Let’s go.” Suho quickly decided on the creature’s name and climbed onto its back.

“Wait... Me too!” Esil urgently jumped up after Suho onto the shadow centipede, holding Gray in her arms.

The frightened pair made Suho chuckle. His eyes gleaming, he then turned his gaze toward the heart of the labyrinth.

“Great. Let’s go.”

***

Meanwhile, Randolph and the remaining hunters of the Scavenger Guild were tirelessly navigating through the labyrinth.

“Randolph! I need to catch my breath!”

“The mummies aren’t following us anymore.”

Randolph stopped in his tracks, looked back at his exhausted subordinates, and said dismissively, “Tsk. Weak fools.” He sneered at the thought of the fallen hunters he had left behind. “Those sturdy creatures will catch up sooner or later. We must keep moving!”

“Yes, sir!”

Fortunately, the pace had slowed down. Randolph was walking through the seemingly endless corridors with great caution, diligently scanning his surroundings, when something triggered his curiosity. “But why did the mummies disappear?”

“Perhaps we’re not far from reaching the end?”

“Hmm.” Randolph’s lips formed a subtle smile as he recalled the inscription found in the pyramid.

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

“It seems that we are the only challengers left.” In that case, the artifact is naturally ours! “Make sure to search every nook and cranny for the artifact!” Randolph shouted.

“Yes, sir!”

“Whatever it is, it will be worth the effort!”

The hunters of the Scavenger Guild were renowned for their robust physique, and their strength shone through in such challenging terrain.

“We can endure any traps with our bodies! Smash through everything and look for any clues!”

No one would dare obstruct their path. They crumbled walls, smashed any suspicious objects, and gradually, they advanced toward the end of the labyrinth.

“It’s a door!” a hunter shouted.

Finally, a massive door appeared before them.

“We found it!”

“Yes, we found it!”

The hunters were elated, joy illuminating their faces, and they swung the door open without hesitation. But what they found inside petrified them.

“This is madness!”

Their eyes widened in disbelief. They had discovered an enormous ring of space with a gigantic humanoid crocodile chained to it. The beast opened its eyes and fixed its gaze upon the uninvited guests, sending chills down the hunters’ spines

The vertically slit eyes of the crocodile monster instilled an instinctive fear inside the hearts of the Scavenger Guild’s hunters, except for one.

“Ha!” Only Randolph exploded with energy. “We found the boss monster!” With all his skills ready to fire, he charged toward the creature.

His subordinates trembled as he looked at his sturdy figure.

“Listen up! Don’t be afraid! Everyone, attack together! Remember the prophecy! If we defeat that thing, we’ll have all the glory and wealth!” Randolph said, reminding the others about the prophecy.

—Soon, life born from death will break free from its seal. And that power will raise the dead

The promise of death-defying power had fueled the hunters’ desire and confidence as they roamed through the labyrinth.

Those mummies are proof! The power to raise the dead must be dormant here! one of the hunters thought.

They all believed that such menacing power could only belong to the Scavenger Guild, and the only thing standing in their way was the chained crocodile monster. The reward would be theirs once the creature was defeated, as was the case in all the dungeons they had encountered so far.

“Let’s go!”

“If we rush the beast together, we have a chance!”

“Trust in Randolph...!”

But at that moment, the heads of the hunters bravely charging forward exploded.

“Wh-what the hell?!”

The crocodile beast’s substantial tail was responsible for the attack. The creature was as big as a mountain, and despite being bound by chains, it looked down at the pitiful humans with arrogance as if they were mere moths flying into the flame. White smoke poured from the beast’s mouth as its elongated jaws formed a cruel smile. It severed ten necks in a matter of seconds. The necks of the near-impregnable tankers of the Scavenger Guild.

“S-save us...!”

The surviving hunters, their faces pale with horror, began to stagger backward. Eventually, they turned and started fleeing back the way they came.

“No, it can’t end like this! I must survive!” a hunter cried.

But before he could get away, the monster’s tail collected another life. The only hope they had left was Randolph.

“Yes, we have Randolph! He can save us!”

The surviving hunters desperately turned toward Randolph, but they found him pinned to the wall from the initial assault.

“Ugh...” Randolph, drenched in blood, rose to his feet again. He had taken considerable damage, but his eyes still burned with intense determination. “Interesting... I’ve finally encountered something worth fighting.” Once again, he ignited his mana and charged at the creature.

But something moved against him, undetectable to the naked eye. Blood sprayed like a fountain as Randolph screamed, clutching the shoulder now missing arm.

“H-Healer...!” Randolph turned his head, frantically searching for a healer. His face was already marked with a deathlike pallor. I can’t beat that monster. It was an uneven match from the start. It’s insanely powerful!

At that moment, The image of Thomas Andre, the guild master of the Scavenger Guild, flashed through Randolph’s mind. His gaze alone could make Randolph shiver and was forever etched in his memory. The beast shook him with the same overwhelming fear he felt from the famous guild master—the fear of facing a vastly superior opponent.

“We need to retreat...” Randolph’s trembling voice escaped his lips.

A terrifying roar erupted from the chained giant crocodile. The powerful roar infused with magical power forced the remaining hunters to start fleeing with all the energy they had left. But as luck would have it, the chain binding the giant crocodile’s body snapped—starting a frenzy of hellish chaos.

***

Randolph kept running without looking back. He had never run so frantically in his entire life, but as a result, he had managed to save his own life.

“Damn it!” The problem was that Randolph was the only survivor. Having lost his entire team, he muttered the same words incessantly, his face strained with fear and anger, “It’s a monster. A monster!”

The monster was invincible. If it could talk, Randolph would have begged for mercy. He was even prepared to fall on his knees. He couldn’t understand why such a powerful magic beast was confined in a place like this. He couldn’t comprehend how a beast of such strength could be bound by such pitiful chains, unable to move. His mind was in chaos. What on earth is this place?

Suddenly, as the walls of the labyrinth crumbled, Suho appeared before Randolph.

Suho recognized the A-rank hunter between the cracks of the wall and widened his eyes, not knowing that his cheerful face was about to become the target of Randolph’s suppressed anger.

“You...!” Sparks flew out of Randolph’s eyes. But then, a cunning idea emerged. Yes, capture him and use him as bait! When that crocodile b*stard comes to capture me, I’ll throw him. That way, I can survive!

Randolph rushed toward Suho with great enthusiasm. No matter how many wounds he had sustained, taking down a summoner was child’s play for him. After all, he was Randolph, the A-rank tank of the Scavenger Guild. As long as the opponent wasn’t a boss monster, there was no one he couldn’t overpower in a fight. A thunderous roar erupted from his entire body as he concentrated an explosive aura into his fist. His tremendous strength was enough to crush a mere summoner like an insect.

“This is all because of you! If it weren’t for you, we could have strategized step-by-step...!”

“Strategize...?” Suho tilted his head.

At that moment, the wall crumbled, and the massive shadow that Suho had been riding on was revealed.

The revelation left Randolph crushed. What on earth is happening?

Standing before him was the Venomtooth Sand Centipede. The very monster that had claimed the lives of numerous hunters brave enough to enter Kamura’s pyramid was mere inches away.

This is unbelievable... How can a summoner summon such a creature?

As an A-rank hunter, Randolph was well-versed in summoning magic. He knew that it was impossible to summon a boss-level monster with something as simple as summoning magic. More importantly, a creature like that was likely to devour the summoner instead.

“Oh my God...”

The menacing sand centipede of the red desert had appeared with Suho on its back.