Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 78

Suho had extracted and used various shadow soldiers over time.

Among them, many were quite useful, but unfortunately, they were nothing more than one-day mercenaries.

Even this time was no different.

If only “Aracne, the Tomb Spider” had been around when that swarm of bees descended from the sky, she could have cast webs to instantly bind them all.

But Aracne had long since returned to nothingness, leaving Suho to handle the horde alone.

There was something Beru had once told Suho.

[Only a Monarch may lead a legion.]

Although Suho inherited the power of shadows thanks to his father, this didn’t make him the Shadow Monarch.

Like all monarchs, for one to become a monarch, the current monarch had to die, creating a vacancy.

However, Sung Jinwoo, the Shadow Monarch himself, was already an immortal being, meaning that Suho could never become the Shadow Monarch.

But back then, Beru had clearly said:

-Young Lord, you simply do not have the authority to maintain a legion… yet.

“Yet,” he said.

And that moment had finally come to Suho.

[Skill: Shadow Storage Lv. 1]

Shadow Authority.

No mana consumption.

Stores shadow soldiers within the caster’s shadow.

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

Number of stored shadows: 0 / 1

“…Incredible.”

Suho’s eyes widened as he checked the skill window.

Above him, Beru was flying around in joyful tears.

[Kieee! This is too touching! My lord has finally granted the Young Lord his own personal soldiers!]

“Personal soldiers, huh….”

Suho nodded, muttering to himself.

“So, in the end, it was restricted by level.”

Level serves as a gauge, making it easier to discern Suho’s standing.

If such power were granted to someone of low standing, they would be overwhelmed by the aura of death and become a shadow soldier themselves.

To store soldiers of death within his shadow means that death would always follow close at his heels.

Now that Suho finally had the authority to keep his personal soldiers, what mattered was the number.

[Number of stored shadows: 0 / 1]

“Only one….”

Suho chuckled.

This too was because of his low level.

“So, for now, I guess I’ll have to add them one by one.”

This number would likely increase, just as with his Shadow Extraction skill, influenced by his Intelligence stat.

Suho suddenly remembered sitting next to his father, playing games together when he was young.

Back then, his father would often say, “How can you even sleep at that level?” nagging him.

“Come to think of it, you leveled up incredibly fast, didn’t you? Guess leveling up was your main job.”

[So, who do you plan to store as your first soldier?]

Beru’s question pulled Suho from his thoughts, and he responded with a sly grin.

“Why ask? You already know.”

Of course, it was the one who recently caused him the most trouble.

Suho placed Lee Minseong’s severed arm on the ground.

[Shadow Extraction possible on target.]

Shadow Extraction only requires a part of the corpse.

After all, the corpse is just a medium.

Already, black energy was emanating from Lee Minseong’s arm.

Aaaahhhh-!

An ominous wail echoed from within the shadow.

Lee Minseong was crying out, begging to be freed from this hell.

His aura was fearsome enough to be intimidating.

‘Fine. If you want it that badly, I’ll bring you out.’

Suho stretched out his hand towards him.

“Arise.”

With Suho’s command, the black shadow began to wriggle.

[Attempting Shadow Extraction.]

[Extraction in progress….]

Kraaah!

Lee Minseong’s face emerged from within the shadow, his mouth opened wide in a savage snarl.

But.

Ping!

With a metallic sound, a notification appeared.

[Shadow Extraction has failed.]

[Two attempts remaining.]

“A failure.”

Suho narrowed his eyes.

He wasn’t too surprised; he had somewhat anticipated this.

The failure rate of Shadow Extraction increases with the target’s stats.

In reality, Lee Minseong, an A-rank hunter, had much more mana than Suho, and he didn’t even defeat him alone.

‘Which makes him all the more desirable.’

Suho recalled Lee Minseong, the strongest spear knight evolved under Queen Bee Arsha’s meticulous care.

If he could make that arrogant guy, who even abandoned his queen for his own desires, his soldier, just the thought made his heart race.

“Two chances left….”

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

“Arise.”

Ping!

[Shadow Extraction has failed.]

[One attempt remaining.]

“…….”

It was nerve-wracking.

Even though he expected it, he couldn’t help but feel tense with only one attempt left.

Kraaaaah!

At that very moment, Lee Minseong struggled desperately, trying to escape the black smoke.

‘You really want to come out, huh.’

Suho could feel his intentions.

Suho’s gaze turned serious.

‘You envied my shadow spear knights, didn’t you?’

While fighting Suho, he had shown a petty jealousy, watching the knights who couldn’t die.

-Why didn’t the queen give me this regenerative power! Was she afraid I’d become too strong?

But he was deeply mistaken.

That power wasn’t something the queen could grant.

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

Suho’s gaze flashed with firm resolve.

“Arise!”

In that instant.

Kraaaah-!

Lee Minseong roared as he emerged from the black smoke.

The black smoke, following him, began to intertwine, forming an incomplete body.

[Shadow Extraction successful.]

“Got him!”

Suho let out a cheer.

However, it didn’t seem to be a complete revival.

[The deceased’s strong desire has fueled their will to serve.]

[However, as the deceased’s stats are significantly higher than the caster’s, the shadow soldier’s strength is weakened.]

[Shadow level starts at 2.]

“Weakened to level 2?”

Suho’s expression turned puzzled.

What level could he have been originally?

[?? Lv.2]

Knight grade.

Thump.

Before Suho, the spear knight formed of black mist knelt with dignity and bowed his head.

[I greet my lord.]

“Huh? You can talk?”

[Kieek?]

Suho and Beru’s eyes widened simultaneously.

The other shadow spear knights couldn’t speak, but this one retained its language ability.

“Is it because he’s a knight-grade?”

[A, actually, no. Normally, you’d have to be at least a general grade to talk… or not necessarily?]

Beru seemed taken aback.

[Hmm. Maybe it’s because the Young Lord has been around shadow soldiers since infancy….]

In the end, it was just a guess—an effect of talent and early exposure.

Ding.

[Solders above knight grade can be given a name.]

[The given name will persist until the shadow is destroyed.]

[Please name the soldier.]

At the system prompt, Suho pondered for a moment.

“A name….”

The name Lee Minseong had a notorious reputation; he didn’t want to use it as is.

“Well, since Lee Minseong wanted to succeed Querehsha….”

“Quay.”

[Are you sure you want to name him ‘Quay’?]

“Yes.”

As soon as Suho confirmed, a new name replaced the question marks above his head.

[Quay Lv.2]

Knight grade.

[Thank you for bestowing a good name upon me.]

Lee Minseong, now reborn as Quay, faintly smiled and rose.

When he was alive, both of his hands had elongated poison stingers instead of fingers, which had functioned like spears. But now, one hand was a regular hand, and only one stinger remained.

‘Is it because I only brought one arm?’

While Suho observed Quay’s form, Beru flitted over and mocked him.

[Keh! How pitiful. You were so mighty, and now you’re only a level 2 knight-grade.]

But Quay merely smirked at Beru’s taunt.

[Ha. Ridiculous. Do you think you’re qualified to laugh at me?]

[Ugh.]

Beru recoiled, hit where it hurt.

[Beru Lv.1]

Soldier grade.

For the record, Mini Beru’s current grade was significantly lower.

[This isn’t even my true form!]

[The same goes for me. But isn’t the present what matters?]

[What did you say? You dare talk back to your senior?!]

[Senior? A mere soldier like you?]

[……!]

Beru was visibly irked, while Quay stood with his arms crossed, calmly staring him down.

Just then, Suho spoke.

“Quay.”

[Yes, my lord. You called?]

“Bow your head.”

[W-what?!]

Quay’s eyes widened in surprise.

But his body already responded to the command, bowing low.

[M-my lord! Why…!]

“Beru is like an uncle who helped raise me. You mess around, you get punished.”

[Y-Young Lord-! Sob!]

Tears of joy streaming down, Beru flew up and clung to Suho’s head, glancing triumphantly at Quay.

[So, you’re a level 2 because you’re the second in command!]

[Grr.]

Seemingly angered, Quay’s face crumpled as he pressed his forehead to the ground.

[Just you wait, you little soldier.]

It seemed the tension between the two would continue for a while.

—

[Hmm. Quite a capable soldier. Where did you find such a one?]

Amut, watching Suho’s work with interest, looked Quay up and down with curiosity.

Suho explained the day’s events, and Amut chuckled heartily after hearing the story.

[You still have a long way to go. Struggling against mere insects?]

“It wasn’t just a few insects, Master. Even you would’ve struggled.”

[Absurd. Even if billions of insects swarmed, they couldn’t harm me in the slightest.]

It wasn’t an exaggeration.

Amut’s thick skin was like armor forged of steel.

With his formidable defense, he would have ignored any attack and simply crushed the leader underfoot.

“But there’s something I’m curious about.”

[What is it?]

Suho recalled his final appearance in today’s battle.

“It’s faster if I just show you. Look at this.”

Wooong!

[Activating skill: Body Strengthening Technique .]

Suho raised his sword and activated Body Strengthening Technique .

The aura traveled from his arm to the blade, radiating energy along the edge.

Amut’s eyes lit up at the sight.

[Ho! Extending Body Strengthening Technique to your weapon! Impressive!]

“Wait, so that’s actually possible?”

[Of course, for me. But Tarnarq couldn’t do it.]

“The Monarch of Body Strengthening couldn’t?”

Surprised, Suho’s eyes widened as he asked.

Amut stared at Suho with a knowing smile.

[Correct. That guy, a goblin by birth, could only strengthen his own body. That was enough to make him strong. But you’re different.]

Suho wasn’t just any goblin—he was the son of the Shadow Monarch.

[If you start from a different place, you end with a different result. I, too, am curious to see what kind of monster you’ll become once you master Body Strengthening Technique!]

Gooooo!

At that moment, Amut’s body began to grow, taking on his spectral form.

[Then, if you’re done, let’s start training!]

“W-wait! I’m not ready…!”

A crushing gravitational field pinned Suho down.

It was a hellish, or rather, a daily quest that was harder than fighting Querehsha.