Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 60

Gu Dongjae turned menacing again as he glared at Suho. “What did you just say?”

“I’m going to fight separately. I’m going to keep my distance and handle things on my own.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be interfered.” Suho refrained from saying anything else. For leveling up, of course. Otherwise, my experience points would decrease.

More allies fighting with you meant fewer experience points. Moreover, considering that the assault team was essentially a rag-tag group of rookies, Suho’s summoned creatures would swarm in and disrupt the formation and become a nuisance for everyone.

Dongjae was clearly angered by Suho’s lack of explanation. “Interference? Who the hell do you think you are?” His massive hands grabbed Suho by the collar to lift him, but Suho’s body didn’t move an inch. “Wh-what the hell?!”

Confused, Dongjae channeled all of his strength into his forearms and lifted again, but the result was the same. Despite his efforts, Suho’s seemingly lightweight body remained glued to the ground.

“Hey, you’re stretching out my clothes...” Suho grabbed Dongjae’s wrist and twisted it nonchalantly.

“Aaargh...!” An agonized scream erupted out of him as he writhed in pain. His wrist was still caught in Suho’s grasp.

“Oh, sorry. I haven’t been able to control my strength lately,” Suho said as he casually released his grip.

Dongjae dangled his wrist like a broken doll. “Aaargh...! My, my...!”

He wasn’t the only one surprised by Suho’s strength. The other hunters watching nervously from the side were astounded by what they saw.

Suho also seemed surprised by Dongjae’s reaction. “Don’t tell me that it’s broken. You look like you can move mountains. Who would have known that you’re so fragile?”

“You, you...! Ugh!” Gu Dongjae glared at Suho, still reeling from the pain.

Looking at his bloodshot gaze, Suho decided to take action, and he quickly took out an item. Geez.He looks like he’s in a lot of pain.

[Item: “Mummy’s Bandages” has activated.]

“What’s going on?!”

Suddenly, a white bandage flew out from Suho’s hand and wrapped around Dongjae’s wrist like a snake, forcibly securing the dangling wrist like a cast.

“Ugh!”

Of course, the process was painful.

“Okay, it should be fine now. Can someone please heal him?”

One of the White Tiger hunters was a healer, and they hurriedly approached and grabbed Gu Dongjae’s wrist.

“Aaack!”

That summoner really gave it to him. “It’s painful, but you’re being healed,” the healer said, chuckling.

The healer also found Gu Dongjae’s actions irritating and felt that the confrontation had come to an end at just the right moment.

Hunters fighting or bickering before raids were a common occurrence, especially among freelancers without guilds. After all, hunters were fighters who risked their lives to kill monsters and earn money. With superhuman strength added to the mix, it was natural for disagreements to get intense. Besides, with healers around, a wrist injury was practically nothing.

What’s with these bandages?Are they correcting his broken bones? the healer thought as they tended to Dongjae’s injury.

Special items with unique abilities were discovered from time to time in dungeons. However, the healer had never seen nor heard of a bandage that automatically flew over and wrapped around an injured area.

Typically, items like this are designed for single use. Why would that summoner use such a rare item on a guy who was trying to pick a fight with him?

Having the bones immediately secure and aligned before administering healing magic sped up recovery, and it also conserved the healer’s mana.

Did he use this because he was wary of the mana I’d be using? This rookie only recently awakened, yet he’s managing the team’s mana levels?The real leader is right here.

It seemed like the healer’s colleague had also caught on as they exchanged glances, seemingly sharing similar thoughts.

I see we might have a diamond in the rough here. Who said this team was going to be a drag?I’m already having fun.

Meanwhile, Gu Dongjae, who was receiving treatment for his wrist, was still sweating from the sheer pain Suho had given him. What’s going on?I thought he was a summoner... There’s no doubt. But how can a summoner have this much power? Unbelievable.

Of course, a C-rank summoner could have additional skills, but irrespective of that, their mana levels were similar to others of the same rank. The reason why summoners were often overlooked was because they used most, if not all, of their mana for summoning spells.

Knowing this, Dongjae couldn’t believe that he had been attacked, while Suho’s hand-sized summoned creature was by his side the entire time. Can that shadowy thing give strength buffs?Yes, that’s probably it! He stared at Beru with a confident gaze.

“Huh? What are you trying to do? You’re more worthless than an insect husk. I’ll poke those eyes out!” Beru approached him in an instant and brought his face close to Dongjae’s.

Sensing the fierceness in Beru’s eyes, Dongjae subtly lowered his gaze.

***

—Times Square Field

—Entry is restricted to White Tiger Guild members only.

Before they knew it, the assault team had arrived in front of a large, majestic building. The Times Square building was once a bustling hub of Yeongdeungpo, but it was now a dungeon submerged in a blue mist.

It’s another field-type dungeon, Suho thought.

Due to Seoul’s extensive clusters of tall buildings, it wasn’t uncommon for dungeon breaks to occur within high rises and retail buildings, eventually transitioning into field-type dungeons. Explored field-type dungeons were considered relatively safer than unknown dungeons beyond gates, but it was still crucial to be on one’s toes.

After all, this is a C-grade field.

As soon as they stepped into the field, the expansive interior of Times Square Mall came into view. The curved corridors of each floor wrapped around and joined into a circle, creating a hollowed-out core reminiscent of the Pantheon. However, all the walls and ceilings were covered in thorny vines, wriggling and crawling as if they were alive.

“F-finally! It’s the dungeon,” Dongjae stammered.

He was a far cry from the ambitious rookie wanting the leader role. The corners of his mouth were trembling as if he needed to use the bathroom.

The faces of the other rookie hunters were also filled with tension and apprehension.

Suho chuckled and enthusiastically patted Gu Dongjae’s back. “Hey now! What are you doing? The captain should take the lead.”

“Uhh...!” Gu Dongjae’s body bounced forward. Before he knew it, he found himself at the front of the pack.

Suho casually passed by and said, “Well then, as I mentioned before, I’ll be moving on my own.”

“Hunter Sung Suho,” a White Tiger hunter called out. “I don’t mind you working alone, but it’s dangerous. Please don’t stray too far.”

Expecting strategic teamwork from a temporary assault team composed of freelancers was unrealistic. They didn’t want to micromanage the raid, but they felt some caution was necessary as senior hunters.

“It will be difficult for us to provide protection when the villain appears.”

“Yes, understood,” Suho responded passively. I don’t want to be too far anyway since it will be difficult to come back if the villain attacks the team.

As Suho began distancing himself from the other hunters, he noticed something that made him stop.

“Damn it... Are we already surrounded?”

Not even a minute had passed since they had entered the field, but extraterrestrial invaders had already occupied this place and had them surrounded.

[Thorny Scarecrow Woodvine]

[Thorny Scarecrow Woodvine]

The creatures resembled wooden dolls that had been covered in thorny vines. The unpleasant magic beasts creaked as they lurched forward, preparing their assault on the hunters from all directions. Their speed was unexpectedly agile, and their movements were as eerie as their appearance.

The hunt begins. Suho’s eyes gleamed intensely as he leaped forward.

The other hunters rush forward, ready to initiate the battle.

“Everyone, be careful! These thorns carry a paralyzing toxin! Even a light brush will dull your senses!” the healer from the White Tiger Guild shouted urgently from behind.

They carry poison?No matter. Suho was immune to any poison thanks to the reward he received after clearing the pyramid quest.

[Blessing: Grand Spellcaster Kandiaru’s Blessing]

[Grand Spellcaster Kandiaru has gifted you a special spell. With Kandiaru’s blessing, you will always enjoy a robust and healthy life.

“The challenger’s future will be shone with a brilliant light!”

– Passive Effect: Immunity to all diseases, toxins, and abnormal effects with a significant increase in regenerative abilities during sleep. Immune to all toxins.]

Poison wasn’t a concern for Suho. However, the thorny vines lashing like a whip posed a significant threat. As a relentless onslaught began from all directions, the other hunters could be seen frantically scrambling away.

“S-summon!”

At the beginning of the battle, the experienced summoners had strategically stayed back and deftly summoned their creatures—flame insects. They were small fireflies that burned red. They sprayed out in every direction, sparking fiery explosions on the Thorny Scarecrow Woodvines’ bodies. The flames clung onto them, igniting roaring blazes.

“Hey, look! They’re flame insects!”

“Look how effective they are!”

“It’s great we have so many summoners!”

The hunters were ecstatic and called out triumphantly. They were now acting as if they had never underestimated the summoners. White Tiger Guild’s decision to include experienced summoners in the team proved to be a measured move, clearly demonstrating their foresight. However...

The woodvines boldly tore apart their burning vines and carried on as if nothing had happened. Some were even without heads as they pressed forward. Their extreme durability reminded the hunters of zombies.

“Damn it!” a summoner cried.

“Y-you persistent bastards!”

“Don’t you have more flame insects?! What are you doing? Keep summoning! Summon more!” Dongjae urged as he swung his giant sword to strike down the woodvines at the vanguard.

However, the summoners couldn’t continuously summon more creatures without a break.

“We need some more time before we can summon more!”

“What? This is why summoners are such a nuisance!” Dongjae shouted, expressing his frustration.

At that moment, Suho, who had run ahead on his own, suddenly stopped. He had paused right in front of the advancing woodvines.

“Hunter Sung Suho! How did you even get there? It’s too dangerous! Come back this instant!” the healer exclaimed in surprise, having noticed him a moment too late.

“This seems to be the perfect place,” Beru said.

“Right?” Suho nodded, exchanging glances with the ant beast.

Having distanced themselves from the group, it was now a matter of swiftly dealing with whatever came their way.

Just then, dozens of Thorny Scarecrow Woodbines surged fiercely toward him.

Suho chuckled before smiling arrogantly. He stomped on his own shadow and said, “Arise.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, mummies wrapped in black bandages simultaneously rose to their feet. The shadow mummies emitted black steam, rising intensely from their bodies. They opened their mouths wide and screamed harshly at their master’s enemies.

“Wh-what are those?!”

“Are those mummies?”

Suho’s shadow creatures grabbed the hunters’ attention, leaving them captivated. They were engaged in fierce battles of their own, but they couldn’t help but peer over their shoulders.

With the attention now on him, Suho commanded the shadow mummies like a mystical pharaoh from myths.

“Now, you shall kill each other.” And become my new shadows.