Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 35
The relentless barrage of attacks continued.
[Effect: Critical Hit has been activated.]
The special effect attached to *Rakhan’s Fang*—a 15% chance of inflicting more than double the damage—had triggered.
This was just the beginning.
*BAM! BAM! BAM!*
[Effect: Critical Hit has been activated.]
[Effect: Critical Hit has been activated.]
…
As Su-ho’s attacks piled up, critical hits kept landing one after another.
*CRUNCH!*
Eventually, one of Arachne’s leg joints gave way under the pressure and snapped.
“*Gwooooaaargh!*”
Arachne let out a guttural shriek and staggered in pain.
Su-ho seized the opportunity.
*Tap!*
He quickly leaped onto the broken leg and used it as a platform to jump onto Arachne’s back. With both swords held in reverse grip, he plunged them into the joints between its armored plates.
*Squelch!*
Green blood spurted out as Arachne let out another agonized screech.
“*Gwaaaaargh!*”
*BAM! BAM! BAM!*
Arachne thrashed wildly, slamming into the walls in a desperate attempt to shake Su-ho off.
But the more it struggled, the deeper Su-ho drove his blades into its back.
Then it happened.
“*Screeeeech!*”
[Grave Spider Arachne has used the skill: *Puppet Show*.]
[Grave Spider Arachne has used the skill: *Puppet Show*.]
*Swish!*
‘Behind me!’
Instinctively, Su-ho twisted his body and jumped into the air.
A sharp attack sliced through the space where Su-ho had been just moments before.
*Swish!*
Landing back on Arachne’s back, Su-ho turned to see who had attacked him.
“I-I’m sorry!”
“My body is moving on its own…!”
The hunters, still wrapped in webs, had been forced to attack him, their bodies manipulated by the strings like marionettes.
‘*Puppet Show*, huh?’
The bodies of the hunters, hanging from the ceiling and walls, moved like grotesque zombies, controlled by Arachne’s web.
“Beru!”
Still clinging to Arachne’s back as it thrashed around, Su-ho shouted for his lieutenant.
In an instant, Beru appeared before him.
[Yes, my Lord. You summoned me?]
No further explanation was needed.
Beru, who had been holding back to avoid stealing Su-ho’s experience, sprang into action.
With a sharp turn of his head, he glared at the puppet-like hunters, then roared.
[How dare these insects interfere with the Young Lord’s glorious battle!]
*Slash! Slash! Slash!*
[SCREEEEECH!]
Beru’s claws sliced through the webbing at an incredible speed.
“Ahhhh!”
“P-Please spare us…!”
The hunters screamed in terror.
But then—
“…Huh?”
*Snap!*
The webs binding the hunters snapped all at once, and their bodies, like marionettes with their strings cut, fell to the ground.
*THUD!*
“Ugh! Ouch…”
The hunters groaned in pain as they tumbled to the ground. Then, they looked up and saw Su-ho atop Arachne.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
“…What the hell?”
The scene before them was utterly absurd.
*CRACK! CRACK!*
“*Gwooooaaargh!*”
Su-ho was… tearing off Arachne’s armor with his bare hands.
‘If its defense is too strong, just rip off the armor!’
[Strength: 51]
His forearms bulged with muscle, veins popping under the strain.
Sweat poured off him like rain.
“*Screeeeech!* *Grrrrrrr!*”
*BAM! BAM! BAM!*
The more Arachne thrashed, the tighter Su-ho held on, using every bit of his strength and willpower to stay on its back.
Then Su-ho’s eyes flashed.
‘The daily quest!’
This was the moment he had been saving his rewards for.
[The following rewards are available.]
Reward 1: Status Recovery (Unconfirmed)
‘Accept reward!’
*Flash!*
A refreshing energy surged through Su-ho, instantly restoring him to peak condition.
“Perfect!”
With renewed strength, Su-ho grinned and tightened his grip even further.
But even now, it still wasn’t enough.
‘I need more power…!’
Instinctively, Su-ho thought of a way to bolster his strength.
‘*Ruler’s Authority*!’
*Flash!*
An invisible hand materialized, merging with Su-ho’s right arm, just like the time he had sent Association Hunter Han Jae-hyuk flying with sheer force.
Dark energy enveloped his arm.
*CRUNCH!*
Finally, with a powerful tug, Su-ho ripped off a large piece of Arachne’s armored back like a lid from a can.
Underneath, its vulnerable flesh was exposed.
Without hesitation, Su-ho drove his fist directly into its unprotected body.
*BOOM!*
[You have learned the skill: *Smash* Lv. 1.]
The sheer force of the blow caused Arachne’s massive body to collapse, folding in on itself.
“…!”
[You have defeated Grave Spider Arachne.]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
Without even a final scream, Arachne crumpled to the ground.
Standing atop its fallen body, Su-ho reached into its corpse and yanked out the *relic* it had been harboring.
*Tug!*
[You have obtained the item: *Rakhan’s Fang-2*.]
The sword Su-ho pulled out was identical to the *Rakhan’s Fang* he already owned.
Even its personality was the same.
*Who dares covet the sword of a king!*
An ominous voice echoed in Su-ho’s mind.
*I shall devour your body!*
*Shwaaaa!*
Red energy shot out from the sword, attempting to engulf Su-ho.
But at that very moment, shadows surged up from beneath Su-ho, swallowing the sword whole.
The red energy recoiled and dissipated.
*W-What is this power?! Is this… the power of the Shadow Monarch?!*
Su-ho smirked as he spoke to *Rakhan’s Fang-1*.
“Do all of you have the same script or something?”
At that moment, the two *Rakhan’s Fangs* began to resonate with each other.
*Ding!*
[The items: *Rakhan’s Fang* recognize each other.]
[The skill: *Sanctuary of Beasts* has been activated.]
And just then, a series of system messages appeared before Su-ho.
*Ding! Ding!*
[You have learned the passive skill: (Unknown).]
[The passive skill: (Unknown) has been activated.]
A new skill had automatically appeared in Su-ho’s skill window.
[Skill]
Passive Skill: (Unknown) Lv. max
‘What’s this…?’
Before Su-ho could fully process the situation, the world around him suddenly shifted.
*Shwaaaa!*
Su-ho’s shadow expanded outward, engulfing everything around him and painting the world in darkness.
…And time came to a halt.
* * *
‘Where am I…?’
Su-ho found himself standing in a vast, empty world.
The horizon stretched endlessly before him, devoid of anything.
Gone was the raven mask he had been wearing. Gone were the *Rakhan’s Fangs* in his hands.
‘Beru.’
Su-ho tried to call out for Beru, but no sound came from his mouth.
‘Is this a dream?’
As he pondered the situation, a voice suddenly spoke.
[This is no dream.]
‘…!’
Su-ho’s eyes widened, and he looked ahead.
At the edge of the horizon stood a man, staring back at him.
He was a massive figure, towering well over 2 meters, clad in clothing made from the hides of beasts. His presence was wild and untamed.
No, it was more than wild—it was pure savagery.
[It’s a pleasure to meet you. So, you’re his descendant.]
The man grinned, revealing sharp fangs.
‘Who are you?’
Su-ho asked, and the man responded.
[My name is Rakhan, the eternal wraith who was slain by the Shadow Monarch.]
As he spoke, a system message appeared before Su-ho.
[The King of Beasts, the Fang Monarch, is watching you.]
‘…!’
Su-ho’s eyes widened.
The sheer presence of this man was overwhelming, like that of a predator—a bear, no, a tiger.
A lion, a shark, a crocodile, a viper—no predator in existence could match the sheer intimidation Rakhan exuded.
‘A king.’
Su-ho realized the truth.
This was the true King of Beasts.
And as that realization dawned on him, Rakhan’s silhouette began to grow larger in his vision.
‘…!’
And finally, Su-ho saw it.
Behind the man, towering over him, stood a colossal, pure white wolf, staring down at Su-ho.
[Ah, so you can see my true form. Interesting.]
The giant wolf, Rakhan, grinned, amused.
[No surprise, I suppose. You were able to summon me from the void. It only makes sense you have such abilities.]
‘Summon you?’
Su-ho frowned in confusion.
[Yes. Somehow, you woke me from my slumber. Thanks to you, my soul, which had fallen into eternal rest, is now dreaming once more—dreaming of you.]
‘A dream?’ Su-ho’s frown deepened as he tried to grasp Rakhan’s words.
[Yes. This is my dream, and you’ve entered it. But make no mistake, this place is no illusion.]
Rakhan chuckled, glancing around at the empty expanse surrounding them.
[There’s nothing here.]
His laughter was hollow, a sound born from centuries of loneliness.
[It’s only natural. When the dead sleep, they don’t dream. This world is a reflection of that emptiness.]
Rakhan’s smile was bitter, filled with a strange mix of amusement and despair.
[Isn’t it ironic? The great Fang Monarch, who slaughtered and dominated so many beasts, is left with nothing but a void for a kingdom.]
He shifted his gaze back to Su-ho, and his expression became more focused, almost hungry.
[But now, I have you.]
The weight of Rakhan’s gaze was intense. It felt as though this ancient king, who had once ruled the wilds with absolute authority, had found a new source of entertainment—or perhaps, something far deeper.
[So, you are to become my one and only source of amusement, aren’t you?]
Rakhan grinned, baring his sharp fangs again. There was a dangerous gleam in his eyes, as if he’d found something precious—something worth his attention.
Ding!
[The King of Beasts, the Fang Monarch, is watching you.]
Once again, the same message appeared before Su-ho.
[From now on, I will watch your life unfold through my dreams. Every time you draw on my power, I’ll be there, observing.]
Su-ho furrowed his brows. ‘You’re saying you’ll be spying on me?’
[“Spying” is such a harsh word, don’t you think?] Rakhan smirked. [It’s more like… I’ll be living vicariously through you.]
Su-ho didn’t seem too pleased by the idea. ‘And what exactly do you gain from watching my life?’
Rakhan tilted his head, then burst out laughing.
[What do I gain? I gain the chance to feel alive again, if only through your experiences! After all, I’m no longer part of the living world. You’re the one who awakened me, after all.]
‘My power… awakened you?’ Su-ho’s thoughts immediately went to the unknown passive skill he had just acquired. Something had changed when the two Fangs resonated.
[Worry not. I won’t be watching your every move. I can only see what you do when you use my power.]
‘Your power… you mean Rakhan’s Fang?’
[Indeed. And also when you’re with my descendant.]
‘Gray?’
Rakhan’s eyes narrowed, and he let out a low chuckle.
[Yes, Gray. You’ve given him that name, haven’t you? I must thank you for not killing my descendant. By allowing him to remain by your side, you’ve ensured that my legacy continues. Now, I have something to look forward to, even in this empty existence.]
Rakhan’s massive form suddenly glowed, radiating an ethereal light. The brightness washed over Su-ho, enveloping him completely.
Whooosh!
[The King of Beasts, the Fang Monarch, has bestowed his blessing upon you.]
Su-ho blinked as the light cascaded over him, feeling a strange energy permeate his body.
[You have received the Blessing: Rakhan’s Blessing.]