Chapter 48

Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 47

"May the challenger's path be filled with light."

—Grand Magician Candiaru

The inscription discovered by the hunters.

It was a record that had never been found in Egyptian history.

Naturally, the hunters were furious at this historical discovery.

The number of people who risked danger to come to the small town of Kamaru increased.

However, Berg, who had been silently listening to Eshil, had a strange expression on his face.

[Candiaru?]

"Why?"

Soo-ho looked at Berg.

[It's a name I know.]

Berg stroked his chin with a look of genuine interest.

[Grand Magician Candiaru. He is the designer of the Level-Up System.]

"Designer? Why would someone like that graffiti a pyramid?"

[That, I don't know. But isn't this building quite old?]

"True."

[Candiaru was a magician of a long-lived race who dreamed of immortality.]

Grand Magician Candiaru.

He was originally a magician who aimed for transcendence and immortality.

In the end, to achieve his goal, he made a contract with the 'Rulers' and designed the Level-Up System.

The being completed by that system was Soo-ho's father, the Shadow Monarch Seong Jin-woo.

"So, what is he doing now?"

[His whereabouts have been unknown since the War of the Monarchs. Whether he truly achieved immortality or died...]

Berg gazed at the distant pyramid with a meaningful look.

[Perhaps there are traces of Candiaru left in that pyramid.]

Soo-ho nodded.

The content of the emergency quest was to eliminate the cause of the dimensional rift.

If it was Candiaru, who created the Level-Up System, causing the dimensional rift would not be difficult.

It felt like the pieces in his head were falling into place.

Soo-ho turned his gaze to the pyramid.

"Let's go in."

"Wait, hold on!"

As Soo-ho and Eshil were about to head towards the pyramid, the guards urgently called out to them.

"…?"

Perplexed, they turned around to see the guards looking awkward as they tried to stop them.

"You need to be careful if you're going into the pyramid now."

"Why?"

As the guards continued to explain, Soo-ho looked at Eshil, who quickly translated.

"To summarize, a guild recently took over the pyramid by force."

"A guild?"

Soo-ho looked puzzled.

* * *

The Scavenger Guild.

One of the large guilds in the United States, founded by S-class Hunter Thomas Andre.

Thomas Andre, who was a UFC heavyweight champion before his awakening, was unbeatable in the ring and never lost his champion title until his retirement.

Then, in his old age, he suddenly awakened as an S-class Hunter and became one of the strongest hunters in the United States, unbeatable even outside the ring.

Given the reputation of the person who founded it, the Scavenger Guild's fame in the United States was unparalleled.

The symbol of the Scavenger Guild is strength.

Under the guild leader's philosophy that the strong should take everything, the guild was notorious for its many misdeeds.

However, it was also a guild that protected the safety of citizens by slaying numerous monsters.

"It doesn't seem like all the Scavenger Guild members are here. The numbers are small."

Eshil, the walking translator, smoothly translated the guards' words.

Naturally, the guards were worried about Soo-ho and his group.

Entering the pyramid, which the Scavenger Guild had taken over, was essentially declaring war on them.

But Soo-ho, who needed to progress the quest, had no other choice.

Despite the guards' attempts to dissuade them, Soo-ho and Eshil entered the town and headed straight for the pyramid.

[Crack.]

Whoosh.

Ara, who had been helping so far, naturally hid in Soo-ho's shadow, freeing them from the townspeople's gaze.

'Hmm. The town's atmosphere...'

Soo-ho observed his surroundings as he crossed the street.

Hunters of various strengths were living throughout the town.

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary town.

However, he could feel that their attention was focused on the pyramid, ready to rush towards it at any moment.

But the reason they couldn't do so was...

"Those guys."

Rugged-looking men were guarding the entrance to the pyramid.

* * *

Gerald, a B-class Hunter of the Scavenger Guild, was the leader of the guards at the entrance.

He had been in a bad mood ever since he was dragged to this place a few days ago.

'Why did they drag me all the way to Egypt for some prophecy or superstition?'

And to make matters worse, they made him guard the entrance in this scorching heat.

Gerald's already rugged face was even more distorted by the hot sun.

"Who are those guys?"

Just then, he saw two people slowly approaching the pyramid, which made his frown deepen.

Gerald asked one of his subordinates.

"What? Didn't you announce to all the hunters in the town?"

"We did. We told them that approaching the pyramid would be considered an act of hostility against the Scavenger Guild..."

"Then what kind of guts do they have? Do they have two lives?"

Gerald had a reason for deliberately having this conversation with his subordinate.

Most hunters have good hearing.

This was a kind of warning, a threat that they would be killed if they approached.

And his words naturally reached Soo-ho's ears, though he couldn't understand the English.

Eshil didn't bother to translate such words.

"They're still coming?"

Soo-ho and Eshil were climbing the steps of the pyramid, and as they got closer.

"Hey."

Gerald signaled to his subordinates, and the Scavenger Guild members attacked Soo-ho without any warning.

"Get lost, you brats!"

Whoosh!

"Huh?"

Soo-ho was puzzled as he saw the attackers.

Attacking like this without any warning?

"Well, it's for the best since we couldn't communicate anyway."

Soo-ho smiled brightly and drew his twin swords.

Sometimes, a punch is a more effective form of communication than a hundred words.

"Storm Slash."

['Skill: Storm Slash' activated.]

Boom!

"Kuh?!"

A sudden sandstorm swept through.

The Scavenger Guild members, already struggling on the sloping outer wall of the pyramid, stumbled.

* * *

Meanwhile, a fierce confrontation was taking place inside the pyramid.

The pyramid's interior, now a labyrinth due to the dungeon's influence, was being explored by other hunters before the Scavenger Guild arrived.

The Scavenger Guild's attitude towards these hunters was oppressive.

"You have two choices: leave or die."

"These guys are completely crazy! We got here first!"

The hunters opposing them were red with anger.

B-class Hunter Leo Singh of the Indian Asura Guild had been exploring the labyrinth for a week.

But now, the newcomers were trying to force them out by force.

No hunter would back down in such a situation.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!"

Clang, clang, clang!

The Asura Guild, as their name suggests, were not easy to deal with.

They all wielded twin swords, and the red sword auras emanating from their weapons evoked the image of the mythological Asuras.

As they prepared for battle, a terrifying killing intent enveloped the area.

Even the Scavenger Guild, who had underestimated them due to their smaller numbers, had to stiffen their expressions.

Leo Singh raised his twin swords and bared his teeth.

"We can't leave here empty-handed. Don't underestimate us."

Leo Singh was a promising member of the Asura Guild.

However, in the caste system of India, he could never rise without a significant achievement.

This event was of utmost importance within the Asura Guild.

Leo Singh had volunteered for this mission to elevate his status.

'If I return empty-handed, I'll be kicked out of the guild.'

"What, what is this?"

Randolph, leading the Scavenger Guild members, was taken aback by the Asura Guild's refusal to back down.

But so what?

He grinned wickedly.

"Looks like we have to see some blood."

"Killing inside the dungeon is not punishable. Kill them all!"

Roar!

At that moment, the Scavenger Guild members were enveloped in auras of light.

While the Asura Guild's front line was centered around damage dealers, the Scavenger Guild's front line was composed of tanks.

'Their composition is not favorable.'

Leo Singh instinctively felt a sense of danger.

The organized pressure from the tanks was overwhelming, like a giant monster.

A clash of spears and shields.

But in such a narrow space where it was hard to swing weapons, shields had a clear advantage.

"Knock them all down!"

Roar!

The Scavenger Guild members, relying on their superior defense, charged forward.

"Create more space!"

At Leo Singh's command, the Asura Guild members destroyed the walls they were blocking with their twin swords.

Crash!

With the newly secured space,

"Attack!"

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Spears and shields, or rather, swords and shields, clashed.

"Struggle all you want!"

Randolph overwhelmed his opponents with sheer force.

Though they put up a good fight, the outcome was inevitable.

"Your puny blades can't pierce our armor!"

The decisive factor in the fight was overwhelming power.

Especially the members Randolph brought were known for their brute strength even within the Scavenger Guild.

Boom!

"Ahh!"

The Asura Guild members were helplessly thrown back by the brutal force.

"Slash the seams of their armor!"

Leo Singh's command was effective.

No matter how strong a tank, they were not invincible, and there were gaps in their armor.

However, the Scavenger Guild members were well aware of this.

They were trained to cover each other's gaps while pressuring the enemy.

"Ha ha! Come at me all you want!"

Randolph roared and charged like a truck, knocking Leo Singh back.

Boom!

"Kuh...!"

Leo Singh, flying back and crashing into the wall, spat out blood.

'Is this the end...!'

At that moment,

Crash!

The sound of a distant wall collapsing was heard.

A pair of men and women had quietly joined the intense battle.

"Huh?"

Soo-ho, who had broken through the labyrinth wall to reach this point, met Leo Singh's eyes.

Then, he turned his gaze and met Randolph's eyes.

Soo-ho nodded silently and turned around.

"Um, continue with your business."