Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 62

The White Tiger hunters were genuinely perplexed. They had been assigned to this assault team to protect them against potential attacks from the unpredictable villain at large, but they found themselves entangled in an unexpected battle in a dungeon they thought was easy.

“What’s going on? Wasn’t this supposed to be a C-grade field?”

“We weren’t told anything about these bees!”

In unpredictable dungeons, information was as valuable as life itself. One of the reasons why hunters preferred large guilds was precisely because of this. Prominent guilds like the White Tiger Guild possessed enormous data on unexplored dungeons.

Since field-type dungeons existed outside of gates, they were easier to access, which allowed hunters to gather more detailed information about the types of monsters and the environment, making their data more comprehensive.

The same principle applied to the Times Square Field. The White Tiger Guild had strategically placed two experienced summoners with the power to summon flame insects knowing that the magic beasts that inhabited the area were Thorny Scarecrow Woodvines.

Flame insects alone weren’t strong enough to inflict significant damage, but the White Tiger hunters believed that two C-grade summoners were capable of summoning a considerable amount of them to mount a threat. In vast numbers, the summoned insects were highly efficient when dealing with plant-type monsters.

The two B-grade hunters of the White Tiger guild could have never imagined they’d run into so much trouble in a C-grade field.

Had we known in advance, we would have brought a mage-type hunter, one of them thought.

With a mage adept in fire magic, they wouldn’t have had to endure the torment of insects, like the hornets attacking them.

“But I suppose skills like that are useful too...”

Up ahead, the combined assault of Suho’s twin blades and the flame insects was like poetry in motion, the two moving in seamless synergy. The White Tiger hunters were left speechless by the swirling husks of dead hornets scattered in the air.

“Who the heck is this guy...?”

Given the display of combat proficiency, it was hard to believe that the rookie summoner had only awakened less than a month ago. He also seemed to possess great leadership skills, ordering his senior summoners like his juniors and giving appropriate instructions to other hunters.

“Leave the bees to us! Everyone else, focus on the thorn vines! My mummies will act as tankers, so the assault team should concentrate on attacking. Tankers, stick close to the assault team!”

“Yes, got it!”

“Understood!”

The hunters moved swiftly in response to Suho’s command, and the disarrayed formation reorganized in an instant. However, the position of the assault team leader, Gu Dongjae, became uncertain.

Noticing this, Suho narrowed his eyes at Gu Dongjae. “What are you doing here? This is no time to be a deer caught in the headlights. Quickly retreat to the rear, get your arm treated, and come back!”

“Okay, got it!” Gu Dongjae hastily ran toward the healer.

The healer began casting healing spells on Dongjae. Tilting his head, he then glanced at Suho’s retreating figure. “And to think this was the team I was most worried about...”

Everything seemed to be going more smoothly than expected thanks to the rookie hunter. The only problem was that the creatures in the dungeon had also picked up on the fact.

The thorny vines from the walls and the floor intertwined, creating an even more solid barrier that began to separate the hunters. The woodvines’ ability to bind together was never logged into the White Tiger Guild’s database.

“Don’t get separated!”

“Quickly, come over this way!”

Taken aback by the sudden rising barrier of thorns, the hunters scattered in confusion.

Suho was already far from the other hunters, but a sudden thorn wall sprouted right in front of him, completely isolating him from the others.

“No...!”

The desperate cries of the hunters, now separated from their de facto leader, gradually faded away.

***

Suho mercilessly sliced through the thorn wall with his swords, but new vines swiftly filled the gaps he had cut.

“It seems like they’re specifically trying to isolate me, right?” Suho asked, frustrated.

“Clearly,” Beru answered.

“So, what are they saying?”

Beru continued to shake his antennae while observing the hornets buzzing around in the air. “Hmm?” His antennae twitched, making clicking sounds with every conversation he was picking up. “Oh?” After a series of nods and ahs, the ant finally revealed his findings, “They’re cursing at me, telling me to die.”

Suho remained silent, evidently displeased.

Beru chuckled. “Nevertheless, I managed to catch everything they were saying.” His narrow, alert eyes focused sharply on something. “Over there.”

“Let’s go.” Suho sped toward the direction without hesitation. Whatever lies beyond, I’ll have to face it head-on.

As if in response to his anticipation, a thorn wall split wide with a snap, creating a path that hadn’t existed before.

Suho smirked, revealing his teeth. “It seems like something is waiting for me over there.”

“It’s most likely a pompous insect.” Beru’s expression was much harsher than Suho’s.

Suho ran forward down the path without hesitation. And at the end of the path...

“Well, would you look at that?” Suho chuckled as he saw the magic beast waiting for him at the end of the labyrinth.

[Contaminated Lancer]

The creature was a bizarre mix between insect and human. The humanoid magic beast was clad in armor of yellow and black.

“A lancer, huh? Is that a stinger on your hand?”

Instead of hands, the creature had long, pointed lances extending from its arms.

“That’s right. I’m a lancer who serves our great queen,” the beast said as it spread its wings wide and soared into the air.

Beru, seeming intrigued, muttered something from the side, ”What an interesting specimen... A bug that can speak human.”

Suho stared pointedly at him, hoping he’d realize the irony of his words.

“Why are you staring like that, Young Monarch?”

Suho glanced at Beru for a moment in silence before turning his gaze away again. There was much to say, but for now, it was time to move on.

He turned his attention back to the lancer and asked, “So, why did you call me here?”

“You were causing a fair bit of trouble back there, so I decided to keep you in this labyrinth. Consider it an honor. As the Queen’s most loyal lancer, I shall deal with you myself.” The insect lancer glared menacingly at Suho, crossing its sharp lance-like arms.

Suho smiled subtly. “You must think you’ve trapped me.” His shadow began to expand in all directions. “But the one trapped here is you.”

In a flash, the shadow mummies simultaneously rose from his shadow.

Ten mummies appeared where the hunters were, while the remaining ten appeared by Suho’s side.

Even though he had been separated from the others by the labyrinth, he remained cool-headed, adjusting his forces according to the situation.

Despite being surrounded by shadow mummies, the lancer showed no signs of panic and smirked mockingly at him instead. “You’re too arrogant for a summoner. I know the weaknesses of your magic well. I too was once a hunter.”

He used to be a hunter? Suho’s eyes widened in shock.

The lancer’s wings flapped rapidly before it disappeared from his position.

Here it comes! It’s much faster than I thought. Suho readied himself.

The lancer charged straight toward Suho, piercing through the shadow mummies in the blink of an eye. The beast understood that the main weakness of a summoner was themselves.

It seems like he was a hunter... Suho pondered as he swiftly twisted his body to evade the attack.

The lance narrowly brushed past him, creating a sizable hole in the thorn barrier behind him. It was a truly formidable attack.

It was once at least a C-rank hunter, or even possibly higher. The energy Suho sensed from the lancer felt comparable to that of a C-rank hunter.

Its frantic speed rivaled that of a B-rank hunter, and in combination with its body that had evolved perfectly for piercing through defenses, the lancer was a frightening combination of speed and power.

“I’m impressed, but you’re only prolonging your suffering!”

The lancer’s attack speed was truly astonishing, unleashing piercing attacks aimed at Suho’s blind spots in lightning-quick bursts.

Suho felt like numerous enemies were attacking him simultaneously. The flurry of endless strikes made him feel like he was stuck in a loop as if he was being attacked from every inch of space around him. Finding his center, he focused on evading the attacks with razor-thin precision rather than retaliating, following the movements with his eyes.

“You’re an interesting one. I’ll give you that. I’ve never faced a magic beast with this much creativity,” Suho said, sneering at the creature. “Acting like you’re alone usually makes your opponents lower their guard, right?”

The lancer stopped and laughed, standing still in midair. Realizing it had been found out, the beast smiled menacingly.

“And I’ve never met a greenhorn as sharp as you.”

But the voice came from another direction, and not from the lancer in front of him. Suho suddenly found himself surrounded by five lancers. The creatures, a mix of insect and human, slightly differed in appearance, but all were armed with lance-like stingers and clad in full body armor.

“Regardless, this changes nothing,” said the unknown voice.

At that moment, the lancers simultaneously flew and charged at Suho with great speed.

But if it was to be a battle of speed, Suho was more than confident of his own abilities.

“Divine Possession.”

[Pet: Gray” has been bound to the Shaman.]

Suho’s hair turned silver, revealing his new form. As soon as the transformation was complete, he quickly disappeared before reappearing just a short distance ahead with his two favorite swords.

Soon, without even a predictable death cry, a lancer’s body stood without a head.

[Contaminated Lancer has been defeated.]

“Now there’s four.”

Seeing the head of their fallen comrade rolling on the ground, the other lancers were horrified.

They had no time to respond, and Suho disappeared once again before quickly reappearing to leave another head rolling on the ground.

[Contaminated Lancer has been defeated.]

“Now, three.”

Any remaining hint of composure had now abruptly left the lancers’ faces.

I thought they were soldiers who were evolved for battle. I guess none of that matters...

Suho had consistently funneled all of his rewarded ability points into Strength. His speed and strength were also improved by Divine Possession, which propelled his movements to a level the insects couldn’t hope to withstand.

“Don’t worry.” Suho laughed as he faced them. “I’ll spare one of you.”

Whether it was a king or queen that awaited him, he needed one of the lancers to reveal their location.