Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 89

*[Shadow Extraction is available.]*
*[Shadow Extraction is available.]*
*[Shadow Extraction is available.]*

Over the corpses of the Black Tortoise Guild, black smoke writhed violently, defying their deaths.

The moment Suho’s command was issued—

*Aaaaaahhh—!*

Blood-curdling wails resonated from the void.

Black shadows swirled ferociously, reconstructing new bodies from the fallen corpses.

*Swoooosh!*

*[Shadow Infantry Lv.1]*
Rank: Common

*[Shadow Spearman Lv.1]*
Rank: Common

*[Shadow Shieldbearer Lv.1]*
Rank: Common

Though the Black Tortoise Guild’s second team was weaker than the main force, it was still composed of hunters with a balanced formation fit for a raid. When extracted as shadow soldiers, their power slightly diminished from their living strength, but the trade-off was more than worth it.

*Immortality.*

Once turned into shadow soldiers, they became relentless, sacrificing everything to annihilate their enemies, transforming into a horde of deathly spirits.

*[Kraaah!]*
*[Grrraah!]*

Their guttural roars echoed like thunder, bereft of human language or reason.

*[Th-this… could it be?!]*

The *Transcended Mid-Rank Demon* was stunned at the sight of Suho’s shadow soldiers.

Impossible.

What was happening defied all logic.

All demons remaining after the Monarch War were essentially defeated remnants who had fled and gone into hiding.

None of the demons here had ever witnessed the true form of the *Shadow Monarch*, the victor of that war.

However, the Mid-Rank Demon, superior to the lowly demons, instinctively recognized the deathly aura emanating from Suho.

*[Shadow Mon…!]*

No, it couldn’t be. The *Shadow Monarch* wasn’t supposed to be on Earth.

If the Shadow Monarch were still here, they would never have dared to invade this realm.

*[Tch! That’s impossible! If you were truly the Shadow Monarch, you would have obliterated us at first sight!]*

The Mid-Rank Demon roared as it unleashed its mana at Suho, commanding the low-rank demons to attack the shadow soldiers.

*[Kill them! Use them as precious materials for our grand plan!]*

*Boom!*

Lightning crashed again from the sky.

‘It’s definitely a skill.’

Suho kept an eye on the sky, slashing through demons with precision.

The lightning dismembered shadow soldiers repeatedly, scattering them into pieces.

But it didn’t matter.

*Swoosh!*

The dismembered shadow soldiers reformed into their original forms, enveloped by black smoke.

They resumed their savage assault, severing heads and piercing hearts like merciless ghosts.

At the forefront of the carnage was none other than *Lee Youngho*, reborn as a shadow soldier clad in armor.

Now a soldier of death, he unleashed his brutality on the demons with zeal, acting as Suho’s loyal servant.

“Was he always this fierce?”

Suho smirked at the ferocity with which Lee Youngho turned even severed demon heads into weapons.

‘Looks like I can leave the small fry to them.’

The repeated resurrection of shadow soldiers was draining Suho’s mana rapidly.

*[Purchased: Mid-Grade Mana Potion.]*

Drinking the mana potion, Suho called out to Esil.

“Esil!”

“Got it!”

No further instructions were necessary.

With the *Vulcan’s Horn* in hand, amplified by the souls of countless demons, Suho’s weapon brimmed with immense power.

But it wasn’t enough.

To defeat the massive demon before him, Suho needed a stronger demon soul.

Responding to his call, Esil turned into her spirit form and infused herself into the *Vulcan’s Horn*.

*[Vulcan’s Horn devours a demon soul.]*

*Swoooosh!*

An even darker and more ominous energy surged along the blade.

Then Suho raised the *Fang of Rakan* in his other hand.

“Rakan!”

From a distant place, a voice responded.

*[The Beast Monarch, Fang of the Beast King, grants his blessing with a nod.]*

*Swoooosh!*

A divine aura enveloped the Fang of Rakan.

With both weapons radiating power, a smile spread across Suho’s face.

“And now, Giant’s Armor.”

*[Skill: Giant’s Armor activated.]*

*Whoooosh!*

An aura of armor enveloped Suho, enlarging his form. The twin swords in his hands grew proportionally, fitting his amplified stature.

Wasting no time, Suho charged at the Mid-Rank Demon.

*Slash! Slash! Slash!*

*[Graaaah!]*

The demon retaliated, summoning bolts of lightning to strike Suho.

But Suho pressed on, taking the lightning head-on without slowing his assault.

*[Skill: Storm Slash activated.]*

*Boom!*

Lightning and storm clashed, ripping through the skies as Suho and the Mid-Rank Demon engaged in fierce combat.

The demon, pushed to its limits by Suho’s relentless onslaught, suddenly pulled out an object.

*Crack!*

As it crushed the object in its hand, a violet powder enveloped its entire body.

Esil’s voice rang in Suho’s mind.

*[Oh no! That’s a Bloodstone!]*

“A Bloodstone? What’s that?”

*[It’s refined demon blood, far more powerful than stardust—a potent magical enhancer!]*

“Stardust? So it’s getting stronger?”

*[Of course! You have to kill it before the Bloodstone is fully absorbed! It’s not a perfect stone, so it’ll take time to digest!]*

Even as they conversed, Suho continued his attack.

*[Kuhaha! Even in its early version, the power is incredible! But no matter—capturing this demon noble will allow me to create an even stronger Bloodstone!]*

The Mid-Rank Demon reveled in its growing power, blocking Suho’s attacks with one hand and flinging him away.

*Boom!*

“Ugh!”

Suho coughed up blood.

*[My Lord!]*

Beru rushed to him in concern, but Suho immediately stood, potion in hand.

“I’m fine. Still good to go.”

If the demon relied on a Bloodstone for strength, Suho had his own resource: potions.

Thanks to his increased health, the healing was slightly slower, but it bought him enough time.

And pushing himself to his limits had already proven worth it.

*Ding.*

*[Skill: Resilience leveled up.]*

*[Physical Defense +80% → +100%.]*

Suho smirked, enjoying the heightened sense of durability as he watched his first shadow soldier in action.

*Swoosh!*

From above, Quay rained down spear-like strikes at the *Transcended Mid-Rank Demon*, exploiting every opening it left. The demon’s vision was constantly disturbed by the streaks of light, like a spider’s web blinding it.

*[Dare to make my master bleed?]*

*[Graaah!]*

Though Quay could no longer use Royal Jelly—his former toxic ability to brainwash and command his own army—it didn’t diminish his fierce combativeness. Reduced to a shadow soldier, Quay no longer had the right to lead, but his aggressive nature burned as fiercely as ever.

Once a schemer who manipulated subordinates from the shadows, Lee Minseong had now transformed into a bold and ruthless vanguard, striking down enemies with unrelenting ferocity. And Quay reveled in this new role.

*[How delightful.]*

*[How utterly delightful.]*

The immortality he had once coveted was now his. Without needing to rely on schemes or tricks, he could crush his enemies with raw power.

*[This is… true joy.]*

Quay’s spear finally found its mark, piercing the shoulder of the Mid-Rank Demon.

*[This… this is strength.]*

*Thrust!*

*[Aaaaargh!]*

*[Die. Die. Die. Die! Vomit out ten thousand times the blood my master shed! Hahahaha!]*

Blood gushed from the wound, and the energy of the Bloodstone began to seep out of the demon.

Despite the chaos, all of this happened in mere seconds. During that brief time, Suho had regained enough stamina to move, his recovery accelerated. His mana reserves were also restored sufficiently to resume the *Body Strengthening Technique*.

*[Skill: Body Strengthening Technique activated.]*

*Boom!*

A black aura enveloped Suho’s arms, the intensity reflecting the immense mana consumption required to maintain the skill at its current high level. But with increased mana consumption came overwhelming power.

*Grab!*

Suho’s hand pierced through the Bloodstone’s aura and seized the Mid-Rank Demon by its neck.

The demon’s eyes trembled as they locked with Suho’s.

*[W-wait…! That energy—is it…?!]*

It misunderstood.

To think it mistook Suho for the *Shadow Monarch* himself!

*[You… you’re a descendant of the Monarch of Body Strengthening…!]*

*Crack!*

Before it could finish, Suho twisted its neck, ending the fight.

*[You have defeated the Transcended Mid-Rank Demon!]*

*[‘Item: Vulcan’s Horn’ devours the demon’s soul.]*

*[Level up!]*

*[Level up!]*

A flurry of messages appeared before Suho. But among them, one stood out.

*Ding!*

*[You have acquired the title: Demon Slayer.]*

“Oh?” Suho’s eyes sparkled. Killing so many demons had earned him an exceptionally fitting title.

*[Title: Demon Slayer]*
*A title awarded to a skilled hunter of demons. Increases all stats by 40% when fighting demon-type monsters.*

“If I had gotten this earlier, it would’ve been much easier.”

*Swoosh!*

As Suho’s body returned to its normal size, Esil emerged from the *Vulcan’s Horn*. She hesitated, trembling slightly as she sensed the energy of the *Demon Slayer* title emanating from Suho. Her demonic instincts identified him as a predator.

“Why are you standing so far away?”

“N-no reason.”

Snapping out of it, Esil realized she had instinctively hidden behind Im Do-Gyun.

Meanwhile, Suho checked the messages he hadn’t had time to read earlier.

*[Emergency Quest: Eliminate the Enemies completed.]*
*[Would you like to check your rewards?] (Y/N)*

“Check.”

*[The following rewards are prepared:]*
– *Reward 1: Status ailment recovery*
– *Reward 2: Buff: War Cry of the Battlefield*

“A buff?” Suho’s eyes gleamed. “I’ll save that for a critical moment.”

Postponing the rewards, Suho turned to his surroundings.

Esil stood atop the Mid-Rank Demon’s corpse. A crimson aura flowed from the body, seeping into her hand.

“Suho.”

Her expression was grim.

“This Bloodstone… it was made using my blood.”

“Your blood?”

“Yes. It must mean that someone who hunted me in the demon world is here.”

*[My Lord.]*

Beru looked gravely at Suho.

*[If her words are true, this won’t be an easy fight.]*

Beru vividly remembered the Radir family from the Monarch War. Those who had overthrown the family and amplified their power using its blood were unlikely to be allies of the Shadow Army.

Suho nodded solemnly.

“Then it’s certain there’s a factory here.”

“Right. Whoever is producing both Stardust and Bloodstones is somewhere nearby.”

The problem was that they no longer had a lead to track the factory’s exact location.

“I should’ve kept one alive.” Suho frowned in frustration.

Demons corrupted by mana couldn’t be extracted as shadows, leaving him without a trail.

“Let’s scour the area for clues—”

Before he could finish, Im Do-Gyun’s voice interrupted.

“Suho! I think I found something over here!”