Chapter 15

Leveling Up Alone: Ragnarok Chapter 14

Field-type dungeons are contaminated areas that arise because dungeon breaks cannot be completely prevented. This often happens due to the special characteristics of the terrain rather than the strength of the monsters that appear, with China and Russia being prime examples. Because of their vast land areas, when gates open, hunters find it difficult to track down and deal with the monsters, leading to these areas being neglected. Additionally, finding the location where erosion has started is challenging, making the time required to clear these areas several times longer.

For similar reasons, South Korea, despite its smaller land area, has many rugged mountains, making it quite common for field-type dungeons to appear.

[Guangak Mountain Field]

※ Entry prohibited except for Hyena Guild members

At the entrance of Guangak Mountain, which is completely sealed off by barbed wire, stands the field-type dungeon that the Hyena Guild has occupied for a whole year.

Suhwo protected his face with a hood and mask as he watched Guangak Mountain from a distance.

[This is the place.]

Berg, perched on Suhwo's shoulder, licked his lips greedily.

This was the place where the aura of the sanctuary, as indicated by Rakkan's fang, could be felt. However, even Rakkan's fang did not know what lay inside the sanctuary.

[You don't know even after we've come this far?]

- No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same. I am just a sword stuck in the ground. I can sense the aura of the sanctuary, but I cannot accurately determine its contents.

Rakkan's fang argued, sounding aggrieved.

Berg, chewing on a mana stone, threatened with a mischievous expression.

[I hope you're not lying. If you are, I'll start eating you from the hilt, very, very slowly...]

- Stop with the threats already?

[What if I don't?]

- It's scary.

[...]

Rakkan's fang was honest, perhaps because it was a sword and lacked pretense.

The sun was setting, and Suhwo, who had been waiting for this moment, glanced at the sky with a gleam in his eyes.

"Good. Let's go in."

Pulling his hood deeper, Suhwo slowly walked toward the barbed wire. Thanks to his increased Sensory stat, he could see well enough in the dark, which should not hinder his combat.

In fact, the darkness was better.

'First, I need to avoid being noticed by the Hyena Guild.'

It goes without saying that entering a dungeon occupied by another guild without permission is illegal. However, since he wasn't there to make money, he planned to quietly enter and retrieve the relic of the Fang Lord, which would be no problem as long as he wasn't caught.

If the relic of the Fang Lord fell into the hands of an ordinary Awakened, the hunter might end up like the one who possessed Rakkan's fang, becoming a Berserker.

'CCTV and barbed wire.'

Suhwo calmly surveyed his surroundings.

It was impossible for humans to guard the vast field-type dungeon. The only defenses were the electrified barbed wire and CCTV cameras scattered throughout.

'Dominion's Power.'

Swoosh.

Suhwo slowly lifted a black plastic bag with telekinesis and naturally moved it to cover the camera.

'Now.'

Swoosh.

In one leap, Suhwo cleared the barbed wire, a moment that showcased the strength he had invested in his Strength stat.

Thud.

Landing lightly inside the field, Suhwo immediately scanned his surroundings. A thick blue mist covered the entire Guangak Mountain area. In reality, it was this mist, not the barbed wire, that defined the boundaries of the field.

[This blue mist is the magic power of the Outer Beings. It is used to forcibly pierce the dimensional barrier and create a rift in the world.]

- That's right. Because of this mist, the sanctuary I was in drifted through the dimensional gap and connected to Earth.

[Ultimately, the Outer Beings want to spread this mist across the entire Earth to create a massive rift, large enough for their army to cross dimensions.]

"Shh."

Suddenly, Suhwo held his breath and narrowed his eyes.

'Killer intent.'

Less than a minute after entering the field, red eyes began to watch him, increasing in number.

[Blade-clawed Brigas]

[Blade-clawed Brigas]

[Blade-clawed Brigas]

Under the cold moonlight, the monstrous monkeys began to reveal themselves.

Suhwo now knew that the Leveling System displayed the names of monsters in different colors based on their strength:

- White for relatively weak,

- Orange for equal or stronger,

- Red for much stronger.

The monkeys were 'orange.'

[Weak monkeys have surrounded us. Still, you, little lord, are even weaker, so please be careful.]

"Your encouragement is really annoying."

With a faint smile, Suhwo gripped Rakkan's fang. While the difficulty and number of enemies made it somewhat dangerous,

'This is manageable.'

In fact, it was better.

If he only fought weak enemies, he would gain less experience.

Suhwo's eyes gleamed as he moved.

It was time to level up.

"Ugh!"

At that moment, the monkeys fell from the trees in unison.

Their blade-like long claws flew at Suhwo, ready to tear him apart.

Suhwo's hand, holding Rakkan's fang, cut through the cold night air.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!

[Blade-clawed Brigas defeated.]

[Blade-clawed Brigas defeated.]

...

"Keeek! Keeek!"

Thus, Suhwo trampled the bodies of the endless monsters and continued forward.

Of course, he had no intention of aimlessly wandering in the dark.

"Guide me. Which direction is the gate?"

- ...I'm surprised. Are you used to such chaotic battles?

Rakkan's fang was genuinely astonished.

The situation was clearly dire.

Kill one, and two more come.

Kill two, and five more fall from above.

The despicable monkeys used the darkness and trees to confuse Suhwo.

Squish!

Some even threw rocks from the trees, laughing maniacally.

"Keeek!"

But Suhwo showed no signs of panic, darting left and right in the chaotic battle.

- No, even as the successor of the Shadow Lord, you seem too skilled for your power. What kind of battles have you faced until now?

"Guide me."

Suhwo smiled wryly.

It wasn't a battlefield; it was all because of the dreams he had during his teenage years.

To wake up from the dream, he had to survive and reach the final boss, and those intense experiences were deeply ingrained in his body.

If he died in the middle, he had to start over from the beginning.

'The tutorial was too hard.'

No matter how bad the situation, it was heaven compared to back then.

[Cough. Cough. Hehe. Hehe.]

The only thing that annoyed him was Berg, who kept making proud gestures.

At that moment, the tip of Rakkan's fang in Suhwo's hand moved on its own, pointing in a direction.

- First, go this way. But the path to the sanctuary will be hell. You seem quite familiar with chaotic battles, but even so, it will be difficult for you to reach there alone...

"Who said I'm alone?"

- What?

Suhwo chuckled and looked around.

Just then, black smoke began to rise from the bodies of the monkeys that had been brutally killed on the ground.

[Target for shadow extraction.]

[Target for shadow extraction.]

...

Suhwo extended his hand toward the shadows.

"Rise."

Keeek!

Chilling screams echoed through the night air.

From the shadows of the dead monkeys, black hands began to emerge.

Crack, crack!

The hands grabbed the ground and crawled out of the shadows, rising to their feet.

[Shadow extraction successful.]

[Ooh!]

[Ugh!]

In total, five black monkeys, emitting black steam, appeared before Suhwo.

[Shadow Monkey Lv.1]

Common grade

[Shadow Monkey Lv.1]

Common grade

Berg clapped.

[Oh, five! The number of shadow soldiers has increased with the rise in Intelligence stat! But compared to the millions of the great lord's army, it's too pitiful... Quack?]

"Shut up."

Suhwo grabbed Berg and threw him at the monsters.

[Keh. I won't be surprised by this.]

Berg, flying through the air, extended his sharp claws.

And with one move, he tore the monsters apart...

Bang!

[Hmm?]

He was deflected.

"Ugh!"

The monkeys who kicked Berg away pounced on Suhwo again.

But in the meantime, the shadow monkeys behind them stabbed the monsters' necks with their blade-like claws.

"Keeek."

[Blade-clawed Brigas defeated.]

[Blade-clawed Brigas defeated.]

[Level up!]

Suhwo felt a surge of vitality.

[Ooh!]

The shadow monkeys, trampling the bodies of the monsters and laughing despicably, now seemed a bit cute.

"Let's keep going."

But the farewell was quick.

The deeper he went into the mountains, the stronger the monsters that blocked his path.

[Black Shadow Lazan]

[Black Shadow Lazan]

Swoosh!

Stealthy assassins hiding in the darkness, the red-eyed monsters resembling black leopards tore the necks of the shadow monkeys.

[Keeek!]

The shadow monkeys, helpless, had their necks bitten.

The difference in strength was clear.

"Hmm."

But Suhwo's eyes gleamed.

'These are mine too.'

Whoosh!

At that moment, a killing aura burst from Rakkan's fang.

[Skill: Contempt for the Weak activated.]

"!"

The bodies of the Black Shadow Lazans suddenly became heavy.

[Effect: Fear activated.]

[All abilities of the targets are reduced by 50% for 1 minute.]

However, Rakkan's fang's 'Contempt for the Weak' was a skill that worked well only against opponents weaker than Suhwo.

"Kyaoo!"

[Effect: Fear deactivated.]

The name of the Black Shadow Lazan was orange.

They were equal to or slightly stronger than Suhwo, so a strong roar was enough to dispel the fear effect.

But that brief moment was enough.

Suhwo's figure vanished from the monsters' sight.

And.

Swish!

"Kyaah!"

A black leopard was decapitated, spraying black blood.

[Black Shadow Lazan defeated.]

Swoosh!

The other monsters quickly hid in the darkness, but one was enough.

Suhwo immediately extended his hand toward the corpse.

"Rise!"

[Shadow extraction successful.]

At that moment, one shadow monkey disappeared, and the shadow of the Black Shadow Lazan rose.

[Kyaoo!]

[Shadow Leopard Lv.1]

Common grade

Suhwo smiled contentedly.

"Good. A new member."

[Rrroar.]

The creature that had tried to tear Suhwo's neck a moment ago now rubbed against his leg, tail drooping, and bared its teeth at its kin watching from the darkness.

Suhwo also smiled and said,

"Lonely? Go get your friends."

[Kyaah!]

The shadow leopard immediately ran off to hunt its kin.

Suhwo, upgrading his shadow soldiers one by one, continued forward.

- ...That's why we lost the war. Such despicable creatures.

Rakkan's fang muttered in despair.

* * *

Some time later.

"Everyone, stop."

[Rrroar.]

The shadow leopards, following Suhwo's command, crouched and held their breath.

- Yes, it's right ahead.

There was no need for Rakkan's fang to say it.

A Hyena Guild outpost was set up there.