Solo Leveling: Ragnarok – 3



Episode 3

Erosion is a phenomenon in which the blue fog flowing from the gate pollutes the surrounding area.

Areas polluted by the magical power of the other world turn into an environment conducive for demonic beasts to live in.

If the area beyond the gate was called a ‘dungeon’ the area around the gate that was so polluted was called a ‘field-type dungeon’.

First of all this polluted place was like a dungeon and considering that the Korea University Art Museum was now like a land of death.

“Anyway that student…”

Hunter trailed off.

But anyone could guess the story behind it.

* * *

Meanwhile Suho…

[Your level has risen!]

‘This… is that right?’

Something unbelievable happened.

Letters floating in the air.

The level-up system that was only seen in dreams a long time ago has now appeared in reality.

‘oh my god. Could this be a dream again?’

no.

This time it was definitely not a dream!

This vivid sense of reality grazing my skin proved that fact.

Moreover the moment the level up message appeared all the accumulated fatigue disappeared.

Even minor burns caused by mist burns were completely healed.

But what is this?

[You have met the completion conditions for ‘Secret Quest: Courage of the Powerless’.]

[There are unread messages.]

The level-up system I experienced in my dream simply displayed the level and there was no separate message like this.

It feels like something authentic.

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When Suho looked at the message the message box automatically opened.

[There are two unread messages.]

[Welcome to becoming a ‘player’ in real life.] (Unconfirmed)

[Quest has occurred.] (Unconfirmed)

‘In real life… a player?’

First I checked the first message.

[Secret Quest: Courage of the Powerless]

You have proven your qualifications by gaining experience while in an unawakened state.

You can now check the status window by awakening from level 0 to level 1.

[information]

This system supports the growth of ‘players’.

This time it is not ‘tutorial mode’. In reality you only have one life so please be careful.

‘Tutorial mode? ‘Are you really talking about that dream?’

Suho instinctively realized this.

All the dreams I had during my adolescence were practice games and from now on this is the real game.

And as is the case with this game features that were not supported in the tutorial were added.

For example that ‘status window’.

[Status Window]

Name: Seong Su-ho

Level: 1

Occupation: None

Title: None

HP: 100/100

MP: 10/10

[stats]

Strength: 10 Stamina: 10

Dexterity: 10 Intelligence: 10

Senses: 10

(Distributable ability points: 0)

[Skill]

Passive Skill: None

Active Skill: Ruler’s Power Lv.1

The status window briefly displayed information about Suho.

Just like a game.

Suho immediately checked the next message.

[Quest: Rescue the survivors.]

There are people nearby waiting for your rescue.

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Rescue as many of them as possible.

Rewards vary depending on the number of people rescued.

-Current number of survivors: 52

-Current number rescued: 0 people

The second was the quest window.

This quest was also a system I had never experienced before in my dreams.

‘Does the reward vary depending on the number rescued?’

This made it feel like a real game.

But this is a stark reality.

Even at this very moment people were continuing to die in real time.

[Current number of survivors: 52 → 51]

[Current number of survivors: 51 → 50]

Suho suddenly came to his senses when he saw this status board.

It was then.

[That’s it!]

‘Oops!’

I guess I was too distracted by the status window.

Before I knew it a Mist Bun had come a short distance away and was attacking me.

“this!”

Suho waved his arm in confusion.

puck!

But something surprising happened.

[Crack!]

Mist Bun who was hit by Suho’s fist was thrown back in pain.

“…uh?”

Instead Suho looked at his hands in even more confusion.

I hit the glowing blue smoke with my bare hand but it wasn’t even hot.

At that time another Mist Burn attacked from behind.

Suho immediately threw his fist without hesitation.

Pow!

[Crack!]

It was the same this time too.

Mist Burn was thrown back helplessly by Suho’s ordinary punch.

[Huh?]

At this point Mist looked embarrassed.

He was obviously a normal-looking person but it hurt so much to be hit.

However Mist Burn is a being that moves solely on instinct.

[Kaaaa!]

As the Mist Burn roared all the Mist Bundles around came flocking towards Suho.

But Suho was not shaken at all by that threatening sight.

Because I realized it.

The fact that they pose no particular threat to me now.

Now it was time to counterattack.

Taaat!

Suho rushed towards them without any delay.

Pow! Puk puk puk puk!

[Kaaah!]

[That’s it!]

A completely different aspect from a typical raid occurred.

Originally the strategy would have been to calmly assess the monster’s power and then have the tank block the front and the dealer attack.

But Suho ignored all of that and was swinging his fists and grappling with the demon beasts.

Still the effect was clear.

[Mist Burn has been defeated!]

[Mist Burn has been defeated!]

[Mist Burn has been defeated!]

….

Suho kept moving defeating them one by one.

[Current number of survivors: 37 → 36]

Meanwhile the number of survivors continued to decrease.

This means that the number of Mist Burns will gradually increase.

‘As their numbers increase the rate at which people die will accelerate exponentially.’

I had to hurry.

Suho searched the museum and found survivors.

“Get out now!”

They were sent out of the Jokjok Art Museum to find them.

[Current number rescued: 12]

* * *

“what? How on earth are they all escaping?”

The hunters outside the museum were surprised.

I was just about to check the equipment and go inside but people kept coming out one by one.

“Someone saved me from inside.”

“A student saved me!”

The hunters who heard their words were even more surprised.

“Who is inside fighting the demon beasts now?”

“Is there already another hunter in there?”

After hearing those words Assistant Professor Lim tilted his head.

“That won’t be it. “Not only are there no hunters among the students but the other hunters haven’t arrived yet.”

Daehyun who was listening next to me spoke in a hopeful voice.

“Could it be Suho?”

“Suho?”

Assistant Professor Lim and the hunters who hesitated at those words exchanged glances with each other.

The chances of an ordinary person surviving a field dungeon were extremely rare. But I couldn’t bear to tell Daehyun that your friend was dead.

However one of the survivors who escaped a little while ago knew Suho.

“that’s right! “Senior Suho saved us!”

“what?!”

“Suho? “How on earth?”

“You beat the demon beast with your bare fists?”

“…with bare fists?”

The hunters looked pitiful at those words.

The survivors must have been so scared that they saw something wrong.

Fighting Mist Burn with bare fists was too dangerous.

‘My hands would all burn.’

‘It’s suicide.’

Unless you are a hunter who can apply magic to your fists you must at least protect your hands with gauntlets while fighting to avoid getting burned.

In any case it seemed certain that a student named Suho was alive and saving people.

The hunters muttered with serious expressions.

“Maybe that student… may have awakened.”

“Suho awakens?”

At those words Assistant Professor Lim’s eyes turned to the art museum again.

Even at this moment survivors were still coming out. Rescued by Suho.

At that moment the hunters also finished preparing to enter the museum.

“Team leader the horsepower measurement has been completed. “It seems to be a D-class dungeon.”

“I get it. “Then we’ll have to hurry.”

At the mention of a D-class dungeon a determined light appeared in the hunters’ eyes.

In a D-class dungeon there will be demons much stronger than Mist Burn.

Even if a student named Suho had just awakened no one could guarantee how long a beginner with no dungeon experience would be able to last in there.

* * *

Pushik….

[Mist Burn has been defeated.]

Suho took a deep breath after destroying all the visible mist bundles.

‘Almost done.’

I was so tired that I wanted to lie down right away but my mind was clear.

But that was then.

Tiring!

[Your level has risen!]

Suho’s whole body was enveloped in transparent light and vitality surged throughout his body.

‘I can keep going at this rate!’

Just as Suho was about to move on to find the remaining people.

Ku-kwa-kwang!

“…!”

Suddenly the ceiling exploded overhead.

Heaps of stones flew in all directions along with a great deal of dust.

Suho was startled and rolled on the floor but was unable to avoid it.

As he reached level 2 red blood flowed from Suho’s forehead where all his wounds had recovered.

But that wasn’t the problem.

A huge wolf came down from a hole in the ceiling.

[Crunch!]

Sigh!

The moment Suho saw that enormous majesty his senses came to him.

‘You can never win this.’

I realized it as soon as I saw it.

A survival instinct that all living creatures have.

I felt an instinctive fear that was on a different level from the Mist Burn.

[Crumbling.]

The giant wolf looked down at Suho arrogantly.

The eyes looking at a wounded prey with nowhere to run.

At the same time a tremendous sense of intimidation pressed on Suho.

“Tsk.”

Suho gritted his teeth.

I had no intention of coming this far and being overcome by fear.

Just do your best.

‘If you can’t run away attack first!’

Taaat!

Suho suddenly threw a rock he could get his hands on at the guy.

However the giant wolf raised its front paw and shook off the attack as if it was ridiculous.

‘In this gap!’

Suho pounced on the guy like a madman.

And then he swung his fist that killed dozens of Mist Burns.

But it wasn’t enough.

[Crunch!]

Kwasik!

The giant wolf’s jaw bit into Suho’s shoulder.

“Ugh!”

Suho gritted his teeth and slammed his body into the guy’s head.

That too was not enough.

Quang!

In the end Suho was thrown to the floor miserably.

The giant wolf’s front paws arrogantly crushed its body.

It was a fight I couldn’t be an opponent in the first place.

Knowing this the wolf enjoyed victory as if it was only natural.

And just as the wolf’s vicious teeth were about to bite off Su-ho’s neck.

It was right then.

A miracle happened.

[Keeeeeeeeeeeeek-!]

Jeaaaeaeaeaeaeak-!

A distant universe.

Suddenly a black bolt of lightning struck vertically from the dark sky.

Quaaaaang-!

[…!]

The ceiling exploded splitting the space between the giant wolf and the guardian in two.

As the dust cleared what appeared was the king of ants his entire body engulfed in black vapor.

[Ber Lv.Max]

Marshal level

Ver was holding the wolf’s mouth with one hand and looking down at Suho.