Solo Max-Level Newbie

“Ooh.”

“As expected…”

“More impressive than I anticipated.”

“Has that already been completed?”

Exclamations of admiration erupted from all around.

All eyes were locked on a girl with blue hair standing in their midst.

Her eyes, devoid of focus, were empty, and her slender body was held tightly in place by thick golden chains on her arms and legs.

Jinhyuk’s eyes also narrowed.

This was the highlight of the auction and the central force for the upcoming power struggle among deities.

It felt no emotions, therefore hesitating not in extinguishing life, and its combat abilities were exceptional by default.

In fact, Homunculus was to play a crucial role in the latter half of the Tower of Ordeals.

‘The very first of its kind is that girl.’

Code-named Alpha.

Unlike objects that usually improve over time, the earlier a Homunculus is created, the superior its quality.

This is because the ‘Philosopher’s Stone,’ its key ingredient, is used most abundantly in its initial production.

“Heh, as expected, everyone’s reaction is favorable! But as you all know, this auction item can’t be won by money alone.”

That’s right, it would be.

If this could be settled by wealth, deities would simply send their proxies with blank checks to outbid each other.

There were plenty of nouveau riche only possessing coins and magic stones.

Above all, the entity organizing this auction had little interest in coins or magic stones.

Feeling the concentrated gaze, the auctioneer continued.

“Bidding starts at the minimum condition. And to win the auction, you must be chosen by the Homunculus present here. Ah, but being chosen isn’t anything grand; you simply have to make her kneel. The Homunculus acknowledges only the strong as its master.”

In other words, one had to compel this emotionless doll into submission.

At that moment.

“This looks interesting.”

A giant man among the deities stood up.

Boom!

Just standing up made everything around shake.

His huge muscles and hands larger than a tiger’s.

He was Heracles, called the strongest hero of Greece.

Crash!

Heracles leaped from his spot toward the center of the auction, squirrel-like in agility despite his size.

“Is this little one supposed to become a combat weapon surpassing Titans in the future? Hmm, even looking at it doesn’t make it entirely believable.”

Snatch!

Heracles’ gigantic hand grabbed the Homunculus’s head.

“Acknowledge me as your master. If you refuse, I’ll smash that skull of yours.”

“……”

Blue hair tousled roughly, yet the Homunculus remained utterly motionless.

There simply wasn’t any emotion like fear in its eyes.

“Unfortunate for you, Lord Heracles. You cannot win her recognition.”

“You mean to say I am not qualified?”

“No, it’s just that…”

The auctioneer shrugged.

“Homunculus does not acknowledge deities as masters. It would be the same for anyone else, not just you, Lord Heracles.”

A product of the alchemists using the Philosopher’s Stone.

Therefore, the power of deities has no use here.

“That’s why… all deities have brought their own ‘Apostles.’”

Apostles are proxies.

They are those who receive the blessing and magical power of deities and execute their orders.

Swoosh.

Ssh.

Apostles began rising from their seats all around, as if they had been waiting for this.

And.

Someone from Olympus moved first, as though to follow in Heracles’ footsteps.

“Medeus. Are you the Apostle Hermes brought with him?”

“Yes. I’ve heard about the Homunculus from him.”

“Can you do it? There’s only one chance.”

“Of course. I shall bring the Homunculus back for the glory of Olympus.”

Tall and muscular at 190cm, with brown hair cascading down his shoulders, Medeus drew his sword.

Swoosh!

The blade shimmered, emitting a distinct Greek aura of freedom.

“Hmm. Good. I’ll trust you this one time.”

Heracles nodded and stepped back to give way.

Medeus glanced at the auctioneer.

“If making her kneel is the condition for submission, how far are we allowed to go?”

“You’re free to attack or use any other means. Just no killing. After all, this is a test of qualification.”

“No need to go that far.”

Pop!

Medeus vanished as he prepared an overwhelming strike, as if he planned to cut off her legs entirely.

But then.

Clang!

For the first time, the Homunculus moved, swirling her twin short spears like windmills.

She leaped behind the podium in a single bound, trying to gain a breath’s distance.

“Tricks!”

Medeus closed the gap instantly.

A 30cm space separated them as he thrust his right foot forward.

Clang, clang, clang!

In an instant, over dozens of exchanges occurred.

A flurry of sneaky blade attacks too fast to react to.

Yet.

“How is this possible?”

With time, Medeus’s face grew darker.

Clearly, he had been the aggressor, like a tempest.

The adversary was merely managing to fend him off.

Still, the precarious equilibrium showed no signs of breaking.

Boom!

A vertical strike halted right above the Homunculus’s forehead.

Blocked again.

Though Medeus had the upper hand in both strength and technique, the decisive blow eluded him.

“Argh!”

“….”

Leaping away, the Homunculus once more evaded Medeus’s reach.

“Stop running and fight!”

Pursuing any further would surpass a test and amount to an intention to kill.

But with many eyes upon him, it was inconceivable to lower Olympus’s dignity at such a gathering filled with numerous forces.

If he couldn’t possess it here, he’d rather obliterate it than let anyone else have it.