Chapter 79

Level Up Alone: Ragnarok Chapter 78

Suhwo has used a wide variety of shadow soldiers over time.

Many of them were quite useful, but unfortunately, they were only one-day mercenaries.

This time is no exception.

When a swarm of black bees descended from the sky, if there had been a 'Grave Spider Arachne,' it would have immediately cast a web to bind the bees in an instant.

However, Arachne had long since returned to nothingness, and Suhwo had to deal with the numerous mobs one by one this time.

There was something Berg had once said to Suhwo.

[Only a sovereign can command an army.]

Although Suhwo inherited the shadow power from his father, he himself was not a shadow sovereign.

Like all sovereigns, one must first become a sovereign only after the current sovereign dies, leaving a vacancy.

But since the shadow sovereign Sung Jin-woo was already an eternal being, it meant that Suhwo could never become a shadow sovereign.

However, Berg clearly said at that time:

- "My Lord, you ‘still’ do not have the authority to maintain an army."

‘Still’ he said.

And that moment finally came to Suhwo.

[Skill: Shadow Storage lv.1]

Shadow Power.

No mana consumption.

Absorbs and stores shadow soldiers within the user's shadow.

Stored soldiers can be summoned or reabsorbed at any time the user desires.

Stored shadow count: 0 / 1

"Wow..."

Suhwo's eyes widened as he checked the skill window.

Above his head, Berg flew around, shedding tears of joy.

[Keek! How thrilling! My Lord has finally granted you the authority to have personal troops!]

"Personal troops..."

Suhwo nodded, muttering to himself.

"Turns out there was a level restriction."

Level is ultimately a metric that the system uses to easily gauge Suhwo's rank.

If such power were given to someone of a low rank, they would be consumed by the death aura and turn into a shadow soldier.

Storing death soldiers in one's shadow is equivalent to having death always following at one's feet.

Now that he finally has the authority to command personal troops, the number is crucial for Suhwo.

[Stored shadow count: 0 / 1]

"Just one..."

Suhwo chuckled.

This must be due to his low level.

"Since I'm still a low-level, I guess I have to increase them one by one."

This number, like the shadow extraction skill, is influenced by the intelligence stat.

Suhwo suddenly remembered playing games with his father when he was young.

Back then, his father would often nag him, saying, "Can you even sleep at that level?"

'No wonder he leveled up so fast. Leveling up was his main job.'

[But which soldier will you store first?]

Suhwo snapped out of his thoughts and grinned at Berg's question.

"What do you mean? You already know."

Of course, it would be the one he had the most trouble with recently.

Suhwo placed one of Im Sung's arms on the ground.

[This is a target that can be used for shadow extraction.]

Shadow extraction is possible with just a part of the body.

After all, the body is merely a medium.

Black aura was already seeping out from Im Sung's arm.

Aaaaah!

A sinister wail echoed from within the shadow.

Im Sung was crying out, begging to be freed from this hell.

His ferocity was terrifying.

'Alright. If you want it so badly, I'll free you.'

Suhwo extended his hand toward him.

"Rise."

As Suhwo gave the command, the black shadow began to stir.

[Attempting shadow extraction.]

[Extraction in progress...]

Kraaaah!

Im Sung's face emerged from the shadow, opening his mouth savagely.

However.

Ding!

A metallic sound rang out, and a notification appeared.

[Shadow extraction failed.]

[2 more attempts remain.]

'Failed.'

Suhwo's eyes narrowed.

He wasn't too surprised, as he had anticipated this to some extent.

The probability of shadow extraction failure increases in proportion to the target's stats.

In reality, Im Sung was an A-rank Hunter with far more mana than Suhwo, and he hadn't defeated him alone.

'So, he's even more tempting.'

Suhwo recalled.

Im Sung, the strongest spear knight evolved by Queen Arsha, had broken away from her to satisfy his own desires.

If he could make this arrogant fellow his soldier, the mere thought of it made his heart race.

'Two more chances...'

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

"Rise."

Ding!

[Shadow extraction failed.]

[1 more attempt remains.]

"..."

It's nerve-wracking.

He had expected it, but with only one chance left, he couldn't help but feel tense.

Kraaaah!

Im Sung was still trying to escape from the black smoke.

'You want to come out too, don't you?'

He could feel it.

Suhwo's gaze became serious.

'You were definitely jealous of my shadow spear knights.'

He had shown a base jealousy when he saw the spear knights who wouldn't die even when killed.

- Why didn't the queen give me such regenerative abilities! Could she have been afraid I would become too strong!

But he was mistaken.

That power was not something the queen could give.

'Come to me. I will make you the strongest spear knight.'

Suhwo's eyes flashed with determination.

"Rise!"

At that moment.

Kraaaah!

Im Sung roared and emerged from the black smoke.

The black smoke that followed began to form his incomplete body.

[Shadow extraction successful.]

"Done!"

Suhwo let out a cheer.

It didn't seem to be a complete revival, though.

[Strong desire has brought out the deceased's former will.]

[However, the deceased's stats are too high compared to the user, weakening the shadow soldier's power.]

[The shadow's level starts at 2.]

'Level 2, weakened?'

Suhwo looked puzzled.

What was his original level?

[?? Lv.2]

Knight rank

Chk.

Soon, a spear knight made of black smoke knelt and bowed before Suhwo.

[Saluting my lord.]

"Huh? He can talk?"

[Keek?]

Suhwo and Berg's eyes widened simultaneously.

Other shadow spear knights couldn't speak, but this one retained language ability.

"Is it because he's a knight rank?"

[Ah, no. To speak, one must be at least a general rank... No, not necessarily?]

Berg also looked flustered.

[Hmm. Perhaps it's because you played with shadow soldiers from a young age...]

In the end, they could only speculate that it was due to talent and early education.

Ding.

[Names can be given to soldiers of knight rank or higher.]

[The name will remain until the shadow is destroyed.]

[Please name the soldier.]

Suhwo pondered for a moment at the system's question.

'A name...'

The name Im Sung was too notorious to use.

'Right. Since Im Sung wanted to succeed Quereza...'

"Quai."

[Do you want to name him 'Quai'?]

"Yes."

As Suhwo finished speaking, a new name appeared on the creature's head where the question mark had been.

[Quai Lv.2]

Knight rank

[Thank you for the good name.]

Quai, newly born with this name, smiled faintly and stood up.

In life, he had long, venomous stingers instead of hands, but now he had a stinger on one side and a normal hand on the other.

'Because only one arm was brought.'

As Suhwo examined Quai, Berg flew over and mocked him.

[Kehe. Pitiful. Such a strong guy is now just a level 2 knight.]

But Quai only sneered at Berg's provocation.

[Ha. Ridiculous. Do you think you have the right to mock me?]

[Urgh.]

Berg flinched, hit where it hurt.

[Berg Lv.1]

Recruit rank

For reference, the current Mini Berg's rank was far below.

[This, this isn't my true form!]

[That's the same for me. What matters is the present, right?]

[What! A lowly recruit dares to talk back?!]

[Recruit, what?]

[...!]

Berg, genuinely upset, and Quai, calmly crossing his arms and looking at him.

A nerve-wracking battle of wills was taking place between them when Suhwo spoke.

"Quai."

[Yes, my lord. Did you call me?]

"Headbutt."

[What?!]

Quai's eyes widened in surprise.

But his body immediately obeyed the command and he bowed his head.

[My, my lord! Why are you...!]

"Berg is like an uncle who raised me. He'll scold me if I act up."

[My. Lord. -! Cough!]

Berg, shedding tears of gratitude, flew over and stuck to Suhwo's head.

While doing so, he shot a glare at Quai and started to laugh.

[Now I see, you're the second-in-command, so you're level 2!]

[Urgh.]

The comment hit a nerve, and Quai's face, pressed to the ground, crumpled.

[...We'll see, recruit.]

Their battle of wills would likely continue.

* * *

[Hmm. A fairly useful soldier. Where did you catch such a guy?]

Ammut, who had been watching Suhwo's actions, was looking at Quai with interest.

Suhwo had told her everything that happened today, and Ammut burst out laughing upon hearing the story.

[You still have a long way to go. You struggled with just a few bugs?]

"It wasn't just a few! Even you would have had a hard time, Master."

[Ha! What a joke. Even if a few billion bugs swarm at once, they can't harm me.]

It wasn't an exaggeration.

Ammut's thick skin was like a full steel armor.

With such formidable defense, she could ignore all attacks and step on the leader.

"But I have a question."

[What is it?]

Suhwo recalled his appearance during the final battle today.

"I'll show you. Look at this."

Woo!

[Using skill: Body Reinforcement.]

Suhwo raised his sword and used Body Reinforcement.

The energy flowed from his arm and wrist, forming a sword aura.

Ammut's eyes sparkled at the sight.

[Oh? Impressive. Extending Body Reinforcement to a weapon!]

"Is this possible?"

[Of course, it's possible. But Tarnak couldn't do it.]

"Even the Sovereign of Body Reinforcement couldn't?"

Suhwo's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected answer.

Ammut smiled meaningfully and stared at Suhwo.

[Yes. He was a goblin from birth, so all he could do was strengthen his body. It was strong enough, but you are different.]

Suhwo was not a goblin but the son of a shadow sovereign.

[With a different starting point, the result must be different. I'm curious to see what kind of monster you'll become when you master Body Reinforcement!]

Goo!

At that moment, Ammut's body began to grow and materialize.

[So, now that you're done, let's start training!]

"Wait, wait! I'm not mentally prepared yet..."

A heavy gravitational field pressed down on Suhwo.

The workout, or rather the daily quest, was more challenging than fighting Quereza.