Chapter 17

Alone Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 16

The Hyena Guild began to gain a notorious reputation about a year ago.

Originally, they were just a bunch of street thugs operating in the Gwacheon area, but after their awakening, they started to inflate their past, claiming they were once successful gangsters.

It was indeed a shallow show of bravado, but after their awakening, they did indeed commit many acts that resembled real gangsters.

For example, they would lend money at exorbitant interest rates to lower-level hunters.

Then, they would offer to forgive the interest in exchange for sending the hunters into dungeons to mine for free.

At the time, this would have been unthinkable, but back then, the Hunter Association had not yet been established, and there were no laws to regulate the actions of hunters.

While investigating the guild, Suho discovered a peculiar fact.

All of them, who were originally just neighborhood thugs, had awakened almost simultaneously.

Moreover, the place of their awakening was right here, on Gwanak Mountain.

‘Is that even possible?’

Suho felt puzzled.

One day, about a year ago, when a dungeon break occurred on Gwanak Mountain.

The errand boys, who had come to bury a body on Gwanak Mountain as part of their gangster duties, all ‘coincidentally’ awakened.

They immediately formed the Hyena Guild, took control of the Gwanak Mountain field, and started mining mana stones for profit.

And they have been doing so for the past year.

‘It’s too convenient to be just a coincidence.’

The cause or reason for an ordinary person to awaken to mana was still a matter of debate.

Some said it was due to talent or genetics.

Others claimed it was pure luck, like winning the lottery or being struck by lightning.

Perhaps all these theories were just nonsense, or maybe they were all true.

For some, it was genetics, and for others, it was luck.

Ultimately, if the trigger for awakening came in any form, one would gain supernatural abilities.

‘In the end, it’s a case-by-case basis.’

In this context, the reason the Hyena Guild members awakened seemed to be because they drank the blood of the Fang Clan.

If that was the case, it made sense that they all awakened at the same time.

‘The problem is, there must be a separate group of the Fang Clan that provided the blood...’

Whether it was good luck or bad, it seemed he would soon find out who the Fang Clan members were.

Because an overwhelming presence was now walking out of the gate.

*Grrrr...*

Chill!

A terrifying animal's breath.

The malevolent aura it carried shook the air of Gwanak Mountain, which was covered in a blue mist.

“...!”

Suho, who was fighting the werewolves, turned his gaze towards the gate, sensing the overt and clear malevolence.

*Young Lord, it’s dangerous.*

Berg climbed onto Suho’s shoulder and whispered urgently.

Berg’s expression, which had been relaxed until now, had lost all its ease.

*We need to escape from here as quickly as possible. This opponent... is still beyond Young Lord’s capabilities!*

But that was easier said than done.

*Skill: Harsh Command increases the werewolves’ stats by 50%.*

*Side effect of Skill: Harsh Command causes the werewolves to be cursed with madness.*

“Kyaoo!”

Suddenly, the werewolves Suho was fighting grew larger, and their movements became incredibly fast and powerful.

Their madness began to pressure Suho even more.

“Grr! Do you think I’ll let you escape!”

“Die, die, die, die, die, die!”

*Swish, swish, swish, swish!*

“Gaaah! Kill that brat—!”

*Punch, boom!*

*Young Lord!*

“Gah!”

With the sudden turn of events, Suho’s body began to accumulate wounds at a rapid pace.

*Skill: Toughness has leveled up!*

*Physical Defense +20% → +40%*

While it was good that his skill had leveled up, it didn’t make the battle any easier.

-Tsk. I warned you this would happen. The closer you get to the sanctuary, the more dangerous it becomes.

Lakan’s fang seemed somewhat displeased.

-This aura... It seems there are not only relics but also filthy mongrels living here.

“Mongrels?”

Suho, who had just barely cut down a werewolf, asked.

-Yes. The great Fang Clan had many subordinate tribes. And among them, there was one that emitted such a filthy aura.

Right at that moment.

*Boom.*

*Roar!*

A fierce animal’s roar shook Gwanak Mountain.

-...Yes. That’s him. Broki, the leader of the Hyena Clan.

A massive hyena appeared outside the gate.

“...!”

Filthy mane and mottled patterns.

Randomly protruding sharp teeth.

A hyena the size of a house had appeared.

*Harsh Commander Broki*

The red name tag above the creature’s head meant one thing.

This hyena was a monster that Suho could not possibly handle.

‘...The dungeon’s boss was still alive.’

Suho trembled from the pressure emanating from the creature.

It seemed the Hyena Guild had intentionally kept the information about this place secret for a year.

A field-type dungeon with a boss monster is a disaster in itself.

If other hunters had known about this, they would not have left it untouched.

‘The reason they named their guild “Hyena” was because of this.’

It was truly absurd.

Hunters, who were supposed to hunt monsters, were actually serving as the minions of a monster.

Moreover, they were even bringing other humans here to offer as food?

*Grind.*

Suho clenched his teeth, having understood the situation.

The giant hyena yawned, stretching its mouth wide.

Then, recognizing the Lakan’s fang in Suho’s hand, it chuckled.

*Huh? What’s this? I felt a familiar aura, and it’s Lakan’s fang?*

-...Broki.

*What’s with that look? How did the great relic of the Fang Clan end up in the hands of a mere human?*

Lakan’s fang felt humiliated.

It was being wielded by Suho, who was frantically swinging it around, and its opponent was one of Broki’s minions.

-Your situation isn’t much better. Have you lost all your power?

*Hehe. Whether you or I, we’re both remnants of a lost clan, aren’t we?*

‘They don’t seem to be on good terms.’

At that moment, Suho was still fiercely battling the werewolves.

The problem was that even if he killed all of them, Broki would still be there.

Even if the remnants of a clan had lost their power and become weaker, Suho was far weaker than them.

‘But I don’t plan to die easily.’

Despite the dire situation, Suho maintained a calm gaze, assessing the battlefield.

*Swish!*

*Werewolf defeated.*

*Enemies to defeat: 10*

*Enemies defeated: 9*

Now, only one werewolf remained.

But Broki didn’t flinch at the sight of his minions dying.

*Pfft. Weaklings. They couldn’t even handle a single human.*

Instead, he mocked their deaths and made a proposition to the Lakan’s fang in Suho’s hand.

*Good. Lakan’s fang, if you let me kill that human, come to me. I happen to need a useful tool, and I’ll become your new master.*

-Don’t talk nonsense. You, a mere mongrel, dare to be my master? My master is only Lord Lakan.

*But Lakan is already dead, isn’t he?*

-What, what did you say? You dare!

*Hehe. Don’t get angry. The weak die, and the strong survive. Just like me.*

Lakan’s fang was enraged by Broki’s despicable laughter.

And it shouted at Suho.

-Human! Kill him now! Pierce the throat of that mongrel who insults Lord Lakan with my blade!

*Haha! What a funny thing to say. Try it if you dare! That weak...*

Before he could finish, Lakan’s fang shot out in a straight line from Suho’s hand.

*Thud!*

-...!

The cold blade pierced Broki’s throat, who had been laughing.

*Ke... Huh?*

A deflated voice escaped Broki’s mouth.

In his widened eyes, Suho was visible.

Suho stood calmly, having thrown the blade, and was holding the neck of the remaining werewolf with his other hand.

“Done?”

Broki’s eyes curved into a crescent.

*...You’re an interesting one.*

Even with Lakan’s fang embedded in his throat, he wore a relaxed expression.

*But you can’t kill me with just this attack...*

“I know. But I can still hurt you.”

Suho flicked his wrist.

‘Dominion’s Authority.’

*Whirr.*

‘Rotate.’

At that moment, Lakan’s fang, embedded in Broki’s throat, began to spin like a drill.

Fiercely.

*Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch!*

*Gah, keh?!*

Broki, startled by the pain in his throat, thrashed around.

‘Rotate.’

Even more fiercely.

*Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch!*

*Gah!*

‘Rotate!’

Even deeper!

*Skill: Storm Slash activated.*

*Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack, crack, crack!*

*Gah, gah, gah! This, this is outrageous-!*

Lakan’s fang, slicing through Broki’s body like a storm, causing him even more agony.

-...You, you brat, I like you.

At that moment, a laugh from Lakan’s fang reached Suho.

-But is this really okay?

No matter what, at Suho’s current level, it was impossible to kill Broki.

Even if Broki was much weaker than before, his regenerative ability far exceeded Suho’s offensive power.

But.

Isn’t it satisfying?

‘But Lakan is already dead, isn’t he?’

How dare you...!

Insulting the death of the great lord who was his master!

It was a sin that couldn’t be forgiven, even if he were beheaded on the spot!

But in reality, he could only be satisfied with this level of pain.

And the price for that would be...

*Gah, gah, gah! You, I’ll kill you-!*

Broki, now a wounded beast, roared with fierce killing intent and charged.

An incredible force that shook Gwanak Mountain!

*Roar!*

A massive, rock-like pressure enveloped Suho.

At that moment,

-...I’m sorry. But thank you. For preserving the last dignity of a remnant.

Lakan’s fang’s resolute voice echoed.

*Click!*

*Huh?!*

Broki’s body, which was about to stomp on Suho, paused momentarily.

*Lakan’s fang, come on-! Crack!*

Lakan’s fang, which had forcibly controlled Broki’s body, urgently called out to Suho.

-Run! I’ll try to buy some time in here!

However,

Suho, who should have run, showed no intention of retreating.

*Thud!*

At that moment, the last werewolf’s life was cut short in Suho’s hand.

*Enemies defeated: 10*

Then, the following messages appeared.

*Ring.*

*Quest: Defeat the enemies completed.*

*Ring.*

*Level up!*

*Ring.*

*The following rewards are available.*

Reward 1: +5 Ability Points

Reward 2: Title: ‘Wolf Slayer’

“Accept rewards.”

*Ring.*

*Title: ‘Wolf Slayer’ obtained.*

*Snap.*

Suho, picking up the weapons the werewolves had used, held two swords in his hands.

His eyes, like a hunter’s, gleamed.

At that moment,

*Title: Wolf Slayer*

A title given to skilled hunters who excel at killing wolves. All stats increase by 40% when fighting beast-type monsters.

“Hunting begins.”

Suho’s entire body was enveloped in intense fighting spirit.