Chapter 63

Level Up Alone: Ragnarok Chapter 62

Currently, the members of the White Tiger Guild were genuinely flustered.

They had been assigned to this raid to protect Im Myung-sung from any possible ambush.

However, upon entering this field, an unexpected fierce battle had begun.

“What? This is supposed to be a C-grade field, right?”

“There was no information about bees, right?”

In dungeons where anything could happen, information was as valuable as life itself.

Wasn't that one of the reasons why hunters preferred large guilds?

The White Tiger Guild, one of the prominent large guilds, naturally had a lot of data on unexplored dungeons.

Especially for field-type dungeons outside the gate, where movement was free, they could gather more detailed information about the types of monsters and the environment.

This was true for this place, Times Square Field, as well.

Since they knew in advance that the monsters appearing here were Woodvines, the raid team, which included two experienced Flame Bug Summoners, was assigned here.

Flame Bugs themselves were not summon creatures that dealt significant damage, but at the C-grade level, the number of summoned creatures was quite large, making them highly efficient against plant-type monsters.

With the addition of three B-grade hunters, including themselves, they never imagined they would face such difficulties in a mere C-grade field.

‘If we had known, we would have brought a magic-type hunter...’

If there had been a magic-type Awakened with fire skills, they wouldn't have suffered from those hornets.

Or...

Kwaang!

“...That skill is pretty good, too.”

In front of them, a whirlwind of blades from the dual swords and the combined attack of the Flame Bugs were showing incredible synergy.

Seeing the remains of the hornets scattered like ashes in the air, the White Tiger Guild members were speechless.

“...What is this guy’s real identity?”

He was too skilled in battle to be a rookie who had just awakened a month ago.

Suhwo, who was using the summoners as if they were his subordinates, seemed too natural.

Moreover, he was giving appropriate instructions to the other hunters.

“Leave the bees to us! The rest of you, just deal with the thorn vines! The tanks will be handled by my mummies, so the damage dealers focus on attacking, and the tanks stay right in front of the damage dealers!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

The hunters moved in unison at Suhwo’s command.

The formation, which had been momentarily disarrayed, quickly regained its structure.

This left Gudongjae, who had been acting as the raid leader, in an awkward position.

Suhwo, noticing him, glared.

“Hey, what are you doing here? Don’t get in the way and go back to get treated!”

“Yes, sir!”

Gudongjae, flinching at Suhwo’s reprimand, hurriedly ran towards the healer.

The White Tiger Guild’s healer, while casting a heal on Gudongjae, looked at Suhwo’s reliable back with a strange expression.

“This was the party I was most worried about...”

It seemed to be going better than expected, all thanks to that rookie hunter named Suhwo.

However, it seemed the dungeon had the same thought.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Suddenly, thorn vines started to entangle each other from the walls and floor, separating the hunters.

This was another phenomenon not mentioned in the White Tiger Guild’s information.

“Scattering is dangerous!”

“Quickly come over here!”

The hunters, flustered by the thorn walls suddenly rising from the floor, moved hurriedly.

The problem was Suhwo.

From the beginning, Suhwo was far away, and a thorn wall sprang up in front of him, completely isolating him from the other hunters.

“No...!”

The urgent cries of the hunters, now separated from Suhwo, gradually faded away.

* * *

Swoosh!

Suhwo swung his dual swords, mercilessly slicing through the thorn wall, but the gaps he cut were quickly filled by the creeping vines.

Suhwo, standing in front of the wall, muttered with a displeased expression.

“Does this definitely seem like it’s trying to isolate me?”

[Clearly.]

“So what are they saying?”

When Suhwo looked at Ber, Ber was still staring at the hornets floating in the air, continuously shaking his antennae.

Click?

Click-click.

[Oh?]

Click-click?

Click-click!

[Oh!]

Ber, seemingly realizing something, finally spoke.

[They are cursing at me. They want me to die.]

“...”

As Suhwo’s expression turned sour, Ber chuckled and continued.

[But I overheard all their conversations.]

Ber’s narrowed eyes stared intently at something.

[It’s over there.]

“Let’s go.”

Suhwo turned without hesitation.

He would see who was waiting for him there.

As if waiting for him, a thorn wall in front of Suhwo suddenly split open, creating a path.

Suhwo smiled sardonically, baring his teeth.

“It seems they’re waiting for me over there.”

[What a presumptuous insect.]

Ber’s expression was even more menacing than Suhwo’s.

Suhwo ran forward without hesitation.

At the end of the path...

Thud.

“Interesting guy, huh?”

Suhwo chuckled, seeing the demon waiting for him at the end of the maze.

[Corrupted Lancer]

A bizarre form, a mix of insect and human.

A human-shaped demon armed with a full-body armor of yellow and black, with long, sharp lances extending from its hands.

“Lancer? Is that a bee stinger in your hands?”

The demon’s hands were replaced by long, sharp lances.

“Kiriik! Yes, I am a lancer serving the great queen.”

Flap.

The lancer spread its wings and flew up.

At that moment, Ber, standing beside Suhwo, muttered with interest.

[What a fascinating insect. It can speak human language.]

“...?”

[Why are you looking at me like that, little master?]

Suhwo, who had been silently staring at Ber, finally looked away.

He had a lot to say, but decided to let it go for now.

Suhwo glared at the lancer and asked.

“So, why did you invite me here?”

“Kiriik. I just found you a bit annoying and decided to isolate you. Consider it an honor. I, the lancer of the queen, am dealing with you personally.”

Swoosh.

The lancer crossed its sharp arms, or rather, lances, and glared at Suhwo arrogantly.

Suhwo smiled slightly.

“Isolate me? Me?”

Suhwo’s smile grew, as if finding the idea absurd.

The more he smiled, the more his shadow spread out.

“The one trapped is you.”

[Keeheeek!]

[Kyaahaaak!]

The shadow mummies, which had returned to Suhwo’s shadow, rose simultaneously.

Ten mummies went to where the hunters were.

The other ten stayed with Suhwo.

Even as the maze separated them, Suhwo had calmly adjusted his forces according to the situation.

However, the lancer, now surrounded by the shadow mummies, showed no signs of panic.

Instead, it mocked Suhwo with a derisive smile.

“Kiriik. For a summoner, you’re quite bold. I know the weaknesses of summoners well. I was once a hunter myself.”

‘Once a hunter?’

The moment Suhwo’s eyes lit up at the last words.

Flap!

The lancer’s wings fluttered rapidly, and its figure disappeared from the spot.

‘It’s coming!’

Swoosh!

[Keeh...!]

So fast!

The lancer, in the blink of an eye, pierced through the shadow mummies and charged straight at Suhwo.

The weakness of a summoner is the summoner themselves.

‘Once a hunter...’

Suhwo, pondering those words, slightly twisted his body to avoid the attack.

Boom!

The spear-like lance grazed past Suhwo, creating a large hole in the thorn wall behind him.

A truly formidable attack.

‘At least C-grade, or higher.’

The aura from the lancer was C-grade.

But its speed was on par with B-grade, and with its body evolved for piercing, it was incredibly powerful.

“Kiriik! Not bad! Keep struggling!”

Swoosh!

Boom!

A truly incredible attack speed.

In the blink of an eye, numerous straight attacks were launched at Suhwo.

All the attacks targeted his blind spots, and the speed was so fast it felt like being attacked by many enemies simultaneously.

An endless hell where the space itself was being torn apart.

In the center, Suhwo was dodging the attacks by mere inches, rather than counterattacking.

His eyes continued to follow the movements.

Then, suddenly.

“Really interesting guy. For a demon, you can even think strategically.”

Suhwo chuckled and spoke to the lancer.

“Do you usually pretend to be alone to make your opponents relax and then kill them?”

“Kiriik.”

The lancer, struck by the truth, stopped in mid-air.

A cruel smile appeared on its face.

“Despite being a rookie, you’re quite perceptive.”

The voice came from a different direction.

Suhwo was now surrounded by five lancers.

Each had a slightly different appearance, but all were a mix of insect and human, armed with full-body armor and sharp lances.

“Even if you noticed, it doesn’t change anything.”

At that moment, the lancers simultaneously flew up and charged at Suhwo.

However, Suhwo was also quite confident in speed battles.

“Enhancement.”

[‘Pet: Gray’ has been enhanced.]

Swoosh!

Suhwo’s hair turned silver.

Chu-pat!

“...!”

Suhwo’s figure disappeared from the spot and reappeared far ahead.

Crossing his dual swords.

Swoosh!

A lancer’s head was cleanly separated from its body.

Thud, roll.

[Corrupted Lancer has been defeated.]

“Now, four.”

“...!”

The lancers, shocked by the sight of their comrade’s head rolling on the ground, watched as Suhwo’s figure disappeared again.

Swoosh!

Another lancer’s head rolled on the ground.

[Corrupted Lancer has been defeated.]

“Now, three.”

“...!”

The lancers, who had been calm until now, suddenly changed their expressions.

A soldier evolved to increase its attack power?

So what?

Suhwo had poured all his remaining stats into strength.

The power and speed he gained, combined with the enhancement, were far beyond what mere flying insects could match.

“Don’t worry.”

Suhwo smiled at them.

“I’ll let one of you live.”

Whether they were the king or queen of the insects.

One of them had to reveal their location.