Chapter 52

Alone Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 51

[This is an object from which a shadow can be extracted.]

At Suho's words, a black shadow began to squirm from the corpse of the venomous sand scorpion.

[Attempting to extract the shadow.]

[Extraction in progress...]

Keeaaah!

A huge scorpion's fangs were roaring, trying to stretch out from within the shadow.

However.

Ding!

The sound of metal clanging and an alert appeared.

[Shadow extraction failed.]

[2 attempts remaining.]

'Failed?'

Suho gritted his teeth.

'Is it because I'm not good enough?'

The shadow extraction skill had a chance of failure.

The skill window clearly stated that the extraction failure rate increased in proportion to the target's stats, and in reality, the venomous sand scorpion was a much stronger monster than Suho.

'Actually, I didn't kill it alone.'

Suho had used every means and method at his disposal to catch this one.

That's why it was even more tempting.

'Two attempts left...'

Suho took a deep breath and calmly attempted the second extraction.

"Rise."

Ding!

[Shadow extraction failed.]

[1 attempt remaining.]

"..."

Suho swallowed hard.

Now, the last attempt.

Keeaaah!

The sand scorpion was still struggling, flailing its numerous legs, trying to break free from the black smoke.

'Do you want to come out too?'

Suho's eyes became calm.

'Yes, come out.'

And let's defeat the enemy by my side.

Suho solemnly extended his hand in front of the giant corpse.

"Rise!"

At that moment.

Crack!

The sand scorpion roared and extended its front legs out of the black smoke.

That was the beginning.

Crack, crack, crack, crack!

Crack, crack, crack, crack!

The numerous legs that followed rose from the ground, and the black smoke intertwined to form the incomplete body.

[Shadow extraction successful.]

"Done!"

Suho let out a cheer.

[?? Level 1]

Knight Class

Soon, a giant sand scorpion made of black smoke appeared majestically in front of Suho.

[Keeaaah!]

Rattle, rattle!

[...!]

Eshil, who had already come out of Volcan's horn, shuddered and took a step back at the fierce aura.

Gray, who had just separated from Suho's body, curled his tail and hid behind Eshil, trembling.

Suho also swallowed hard, remembering the first battle.

'But now it's mine.'

Ding!

[Names can be given to soldiers of Knight Class or higher.]

[The given name will remain until the shadow disappears.]

[Please name the soldier.]

What's the point of a name?

After all, this guy is just a one-day temp.

[Shadow Scorpion Level 1]

Knight Class

"Let's go."

Suho roughly named the creature and climbed onto its back.

"Hey, wait...! Me too!"

"Grumble!"

Eshil quickly held Gray and jumped onto the shadow scorpion, following Suho.

Suho smiled at the sight and turned his gaze towards the depths of the labyrinth.

"Alright. Shall we go now?"

* * *

Meanwhile, Randolph was leading a small group of subordinates, continuing to run through the labyrinth.

"R, Randolph-sama! Huh, huh!"

"The mummies are not following us anymore...!"

Thud.

At the words of his subordinates, who were out of breath, Randolph stopped and looked back.

"Tsk. Weaklings."

He clicked his tongue at the subordinates who had fallen behind.

"Well, they're tough, so they'll catch up eventually. We keep moving!"

"Yes, sir!"

Fortunately, the speed had decreased.

From now on, every step carefully.

Randolph walked down the endless corridor, keeping an eye on all sides.

"But why did the mummies disappear?"

"Maybe we're almost at the end?"

"Hmm."

A smile slowly appeared on Randolph's lips.

The inscription found in the pyramid.

May light be in the path of the challenger.

"Now we are the only challengers."

Then the relics are naturally ours!

"Search thoroughly!"

"Yes, sir!"

"There must be something to find!"

The Scavenger Guild was known for their physical strength.

This strength shone especially in such treacherous terrain.

"Endure all traps with your body! Just destroy and break everything to find any clues!"

Boom! Boom!

No one dared to block their path.

Walls crumbled, and any suspicious objects were destroyed as they gradually moved towards the end of the labyrinth.

And finally.

"A door!"

A huge door appeared in front of them.

"We found it!"

"We found it!"

Joy spread across their faces.

And the moment they opened the door without hesitation.

"..."

They saw it.

"Damn!"

Their eyes widened in shock.

A huge circular space.

In the center, a giant crocodile-human was chained.

'He' opened his eyes and looked at the uninvited guests who had entered.

Chill!

"..."

The moment they saw his vertically slit reptilian eyes.

The Scavenger Guild members felt an instinctive fear.

Only one person.

"Ha!"

Randolph alone had a cruel smile on his lips as he unleashed his energy.

"Found it! Boss monster!"

Boom!

He charged at the creature, armed with all his skills.

"Listen!"

At his command, his subordinates trembled and looked at his sturdy back.

"Don't be afraid, attack together! Remember the prophecy! If we defeat this monster, all the glory and wealth will be ours!"

They remembered.

The prophecy of the fortune-teller.

-Soon, a life born from death will awaken from its seal. And its power will raise the dead.

A power that could ignore even death!

The seemingly far-fetched prophecy had instilled confidence in their hearts as they wandered through the labyrinth.

'Those mummies! The power that raises the dead must be sleeping here!'

And that power would surely be theirs the moment they captured the crocodile monster.

Just like all the dungeons they had faced before!

"Let's go!"

"We have a chance if we attack together!"

"Trust Randolph-sama...!"

Boom!

At that moment, the heads of the bravely charging hunters exploded.

"What, what, what...!"

Boom!

What attacked them was none other than the crocodile-human's thick tail.

Though chained, the creature looked down on the pitiful humans who were charging at him like moths to a flame, with a mountainous presence.

"Grumble..."

White smoke flowed from his mouth, and his long, cruel smile widened.

In an instant, ten heads were severed.

The tankers of the Scavenger Guild, known for their toughness!

"Save... me..."

The surviving hunters, with pale faces, began to take a step back.

Then they finally turned and fled down the path they had come.

"I, I can't! I have to live...!"

Thud.

Another life was lost.

At that moment, Randolph...

"Y, Yes! Randolph-sama! If it's Randolph-sama...!"

The surviving hunters desperately turned their gaze to Randolph.

But he had already been knocked into the wall by the initial attack.

"Ugh..."

Bleeding, Randolph struggled to stand up again.

But his eyes were still burning hot.

"F, Finally, a worthy opponent."

He burned his mana again and charged at the creature.

Boom!

"..."

What had just passed?

Nothing was visible.

"Kyaah!"

Blood gushed out like a fountain.

Randolph clutched his shoulder, where his arm had been torn off, and screamed.

"H, Healer...!"

Randolph's face, already filled with defeat, turned to find a healer.

'This is impossible.'

This was a fight he couldn't win from the start.

'So strong...!'

At that moment, the image of the Scavenger Guild's leader appeared in Randolph's mind.

The leader of the Scavenger Guild, 'Goliath' Thomas Andre, whose presence alone made his body tremble.

The fear he felt from this creature was on par with the fear he felt when facing such an overwhelming opponent.

"R, Retreat..."

Just as the trembling voice escaped his lips.

A terrifying roar erupted from the chained crocodile giant.

"Kwooooh!"

"Kuh!"

The roar, imbued with mana, sent the Scavenger hunters fleeing down the path they had come.

Then.

Crack!

The chains binding the crocodile giant snapped.

At that moment, hell began.

* * *

"Kuh, kuh!"

Randolph ran and ran.

Had he ever run so frantically in his life?

As a result, he managed to save his life.

"Damn! Damn!"

The problem was that he was the only survivor.

Randolph, who had lost all his subordinates, was repeating the same words with a face stained with fear and anger.

"Monster. It's a monster, a monster!"

Absolutely impossible to defeat.

If it were a creature that could understand language, he would have begged for his life.

He couldn't understand why such a powerful monster was trapped in this place.

He couldn't understand how such a powerful monster could be bound by such a miserable chain.

His mind was in chaos.

'What the hell is this place?'

At that moment.

Rumble!

The wall of the labyrinth collapsed, and Suho appeared in front of Randolph.

"Huh?"

Suho's eyes widened as he recognized Randolph through the hole in the wall.

The cheerful expression on Suho's face triggered all of Randolph's pent-up anger.

Crack!

"You...!"

Randolph's eyes blazed with fury.

And a thought crept into his mind.

'Yes, I'll capture this guy and use him as bait! When that crocodile comes for me, I'll use this guy...!'

Then he could survive!

With a face full of joy, Randolph charged at Suho.

No matter how injured he was, capturing one summoner was nothing.

He was the A-class tanker of the Scavenger Guild, Randolph!

If it weren't for that boss monster, he could defeat anyone!

Rumble!

A thunderous roar erupted from his body, and explosive aura concentrated on his fist.

His monstrous strength was enough to crush a mere summoner like a bug.

"This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, we could have...!"

Rumble!

"Planned...?"

At that moment.

The wall completely collapsed, revealing the giant shadow Suho was riding.

"..."

Randolph's expression crumbled.

What was happening?

[Keeaaah!]

The venomous sand scorpion.

The giant monster that had taken the lives of countless hunters who had come to Kamaru's pyramid was there.

'This is impossible...'

How could anyone control such a creature with summoning magic?

As an A-class hunter, Randolph knew summoning magic very well.

It was impossible to control a boss-level summon with summoning magic.

If that happened, the summoner could be devoured by the summon.

But now.

"My God..."

The terrifying demon of the red desert appeared before him, carrying Suho.