Chapter 97

Leveling Up Alone: Ragnarok Chapter 96

[Domesticated Minotaur]

“Moo-oo-oo!”

A massive bull stood on two legs at the center of the Colosseum, roaring.

And in front of it stood a small, frail one-horned demon, Shugo.

The size disparity made Shugo look even more insignificant in the face of such a colossal monster.

[...Did they bring a beast from the labor camp?]

“Seems so.”

It was like bringing a plow ox to a bullfight in the human world.

Only, this ox now had an enormous muscular build and could walk on two legs like a human.

And with its magical shackles removed, it was snorting and ready to charge at Shugo at any moment.

[Will you be okay?]

“Who? Me?”

Shugo chuckled and asked back, but Eshil, with a worried voice, emphasized again.

[Even if it’s domesticated, a Minotaur’s strength is beyond imagination. Most importantly, its hide is incredibly thick, making it extremely durable. If things get tough, abandon everything and call us all out.]

If Shugo suddenly summoned the Shadow Soldiers here, it would effectively be the end of this demon impersonation.

And if it were revealed that Shugo was not a demon but of another race, all the demons here would undoubtedly attack him at once.

Of course, the usual Shugo could replenish his strength from the bodies of defeated enemies and continue fighting.

But that was different with demons.

[Mana is contaminated and cannot be extracted.]

Demons cannot be extracted into Shadow Soldiers.

In other words, if he were to face a total attack from all these demons, Shugo would have to fight alone.

Despite Eshil’s repeated concerns, Shugo only smiled meaningfully.

“Don’t worry. I’ll try to hold out as long as possible until the Tyrant King crawls out.”

How hard could it be, really? It couldn’t be worse than Ammut’s daily quest, right?

Shugo shuddered at the thought of having to do another daily quest right after returning from here.

However, the demon guards, seeing his reaction from a distance, were smiling meaningfully.

“Well, what does it matter if he’s a survivor of a demon noble or not? He’s so weak.”

“With only one horn, he must have been drained by other demons, or perhaps he’s a mutant who drank a few drops of demon noble blood and underwent a deformed mutation.”

But the warden, standing behind them, stared intently at Shugo with no trace of complacency.

“One at first.”

Finally, his order was given.

“Two after five minutes. And another two after another five minutes.”

“Warden, will he last that long?”

“Fools. That’s why we’re using the Minotaur.”

The demon guards nodded at the warden’s words.

Although the Minotaur was now thoroughly domesticated and raised in the labor camp, they were not always like this.

“Minotaurs are originally extremely cruel and savage. They crush all the bones of their prey with overwhelming violence and only eat them when the flesh is mushy.”

Regardless of Shugo’s true identity, they had the obligation to make this execution as long and cruel as possible.

“Thank you for waiting! The execution will now resume!”

Clank!

Just as the announcer shouted, the shackles restraining the Minotaur were released.

“Moo-oo-oo-oo!”

The massive beast, as if waiting for this moment, charged at Shugo with terrifying momentum.

Rumble...

‘Fast!’

A huge cloud of sand and dust rose, and in an instant, the Minotaur’s massive fist slammed down on Shugo’s head.

Contrary to expectations, the Minotaur was not slow despite its size.

Boom!

The ground where Shugo stood shattered from the tremendous impact.

This was followed by a series of wild punches from the Minotaur.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Moo-oo-oo!”

The slaves in the audience were stunned by the overwhelming spectacle.

They realized that the stupid beasts they used to pull carts in the labor camp were originally this terrifying.

‘Yes, this is exactly the reaction we want.’

The demon guards’ faces lit up with satisfaction at the slaves’ reactions.

But then.

“Moo-eh?!”

The Minotaur, suddenly sensing something, raised its head and plunged its fist into the ground.

Amid the thick sand and dust!

Shugo, who had leaped into the air at some point, was now descending with his sword.

Swoosh!

At that moment, the Minotaur swung its arm vertically at Shugo.

Boom!

A shockwave created by its massive muscles tore through the air, aiming at Shugo.

[Evade...!]

With Eshil’s warning, Shugo twisted his body in mid-air, lightly stepping on the Minotaur’s fist and leaping higher.

‘Impressive reaction speed.’

Shugo’s eyes sparkled in mid-air.

But why did his gaze resemble that of someone selecting meat at a butcher shop?

“Ooh!”

“Wow! He dodged that!”

The cheers from the audience.

Despite the overwhelming size difference, Shugo was putting up a good fight, and the slaves were now cheering for him.

Swoosh!

Just then, Shugo had circled around to the Minotaur’s back and plunged his sword into its shoulder.

Crunch!

At that moment, the sword, which had been bent into a V-shape, crumpled grotesquely.

“Hahaha! Look at that!”

The demon guards burst into laughter.

This worn-out sword could never penetrate the Minotaur’s thick hide.

After all, it was given to him precisely for such a farce.

Having anticipated this situation, Shugo calmly redirected the bent sword and plunged it into the Minotaur’s eye.

“Grrr-oo-oo!”

The Minotaur, finally roaring in pain, thrashed about.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shugo, holding onto the Minotaur’s large horn with one hand, managed to hang on.

He then raised his other fist with a meaningful expression.

“It’s going to hurt.”

Squeak!

[‘Title: Wolf Slayer’ buff applied.]

Wolf Slayer.

A buff that increases all stats by 40% against beast-type monsters wrapped around his fist.

Shugo plunged it into the Minotaur’s face with full force.

Boom!

“...!”

The Minotaur’s vision went blurry, and stars danced before its eyes.

Then, an overwhelming shock followed, leaving it dazed.

“Moo-oo?!”

“Tough hide!”

Encouraged by the Minotaur’s resistance, Shugo struck again.

As if gauging the Minotaur’s endurance, he struck again and again!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Moo...!”

The relentless, overwhelming violence continued.

Before long, the Minotaur’s face began to collapse and crumble.

“What... what is this...!”

The demon guards, without a word, leaped to their feet in shock.

The Minotaur was dying without even managing to let out a proper scream!

“Quick, bring out two more! No, four more!”

Clank! Clank!

Panicked, the warden’s order was given, and the doors restraining the beasts were opened simultaneously.

[Hmm.]

And at that moment, a small ant’s eyes, watching from the shadows, narrowed like a crescent moon.

[Now that I look, they’re quite impressive. The young lord will be pleased.]

Ber’s assessment was accurate.

Rumble...

Shugo, still holding the Minotaur’s horn, suddenly raised his head.

Then, he grinned at the four new beasts charging towards him.

“Sure. The more, the better.”

At that moment, Shugo began to use his full strength.

“Gray’s Possession.”

[‘Pet: Gray’ possesses.]

Whoosh!

Shugo’s hair turned silver.

“Oh! The one-horn...!”

“A shape-shifting demon?!”

“First time seeing a trick like this...!”

But the commotion in the audience was cut short.

A massive presence, like an aura, suddenly appeared behind Shugo.

[The Beast King, Fang Lord, salivates at the sight of prey running towards him.]

Shiver!

“Moo-oo-oo-oo?!”

The Minotaurs, sensing an unknown presence, were seized by instinctive fear.

[‘Effect: Fear’ activated.]

[All stats of the targets are reduced by 50% for one minute.]

The Minotaurs, who had been charging madly, noticeably slowed down.

But perhaps due to being domesticated and suppressed for too long by the demons?

“Moo-oo-oo-oo-oo-!”

The Minotaurs, unaware of their reduced stats, tried to shake off the eerie feeling and struck Shugo with even more desperate punches.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The relentless assault.

The shockwaves from the Minotaur’s massive, muscular arms filled the Colosseum with a thick cloud of dust.

The audience’s excitement grew proportionally.

Wow!

And then.

[‘Skill: Body Strengthening’ activated.]

Crash!

“Moo-oo?!”

A Minotaur was suddenly sent flying backward through the dust.

And.

Crash!

“...!”

Another Minotaur was slammed into the wall.

What was happening?

Crash!

The third Minotaur was also slammed into the wall, shaking its dazed head.

“What’s going on...”

“What’s happening...?!”

As all the demons watched in disbelief.

The dust settled slightly, revealing the massive silhouette of the one-horn, or rather, Shugo.

“That... that appearance?!”

At that moment, the eyes of all the demons, whether slaves or guards, widened in shock.

Shugo had used ‘Skill: Giant’s Armor’ and grown to a size similar to the Minotaur.

He was now grappling with the Minotaur, his hands, covered in a black aura, locked with the Minotaur’s.

Smirk.

In the intense struggle, Shugo looked the Minotaur in the eye and smiled.

“You’re pretty strong, huh?”

“Moo-oo!”

“But what can you do?”

Shugo, grinning with bared teeth.

At that moment.

Rumble!

“Moo-oo-oo?!”

Suddenly, Shugo’s strength increased, and the Minotaur, terrified, bent its knees.

“I’ve been working out too hard lately.”

Seizing the opportunity, Shugo raised his fist and crushed the Minotaur’s body.

Boom!

“...!”

The moment a silent scream erupted from the Minotaur’s mouth.

Shugo bent his waist and began to thoroughly crush the Minotaur.

But the audience was silent.

Seeing Shugo’s overwhelming and chilling battle, the older demons’ minds were reminded of a long-forgotten presence.

“Vulcan...”

A small voice escaped from someone’s mouth.

That short word spread like wildfire.

“Lord Vulcan...?”

“Vulcan?”

The demons, who had just realized, were filled with shock.

“Ah! Now that I look, that one-horn...!”

“The horn of the Greed Demon, Vulcan, looks exactly the same!”

The massive silhouette of Vulcan, long forgotten, flashed through the demons’ minds.

The imposing build.

The destructive and ferocious strength.

Vulcan, the demon noble who was the greediest of all!

“Oh my... it’s really him...”

The demons who had seen Vulcan even once were now in shock.

“It’s Lord Vulcan! Lord Vulcan has returned!”

“No! No, you fools! Vulcan is dead! He died a long time ago in the Lord War!”

“But...!”

“It’s similar, but different! No, very different! Besides, that guy only has one horn...!”

The demon guards shouted to calm the panicked slaves.

But then.

“Oh my...”

The warden, standing behind them, let out a suppressed sigh.

“Who would have thought Vulcan had a hidden son...!”

“...!”