Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Prologue

A world that has lost its god is nothing more than a delicious prey!

**Outer Gods**

The absolute beings that have created countless universes since ancient times.

**Itarim!**

The Itarim, scattered across various dimensions, noticed that a distant dimension had lost its master and their eyes gleamed with interest.

The death of their kin did not concern them.

The only thing that mattered was the vast mana remaining in that world!

The power left behind by the departed master would belong to whoever claimed it first!

…Thus, the prologue to the ‘War of the Outer Gods’ began.

—

**ROAAAAR!**

The rift between dimensions that connected multiple universes.

Tearing through the solid dimensional wall with brute force, the emissaries of Itarim surged forth in unison.

Facing them stood a single man.

Sung Jinwoo, the Fragment of the Brilliant Light and the Shadow Monarch, enveloped in a black aura, spoke.

“Arise.”

**HOOOONG!**

At his command, an army of millions composed of angels of light and the Shadow Legion raised their weapons in unison.

Thus, the war began.

No matter how many invaders from the Outer Universe were killed, they kept coming endlessly.

The fierce battle, leaving no room for respite, continued for a long time.

[…There’s no end in sight.]

[In fact, it’s a miracle we’ve held out this long. From the start, this war was a disadvantageous fight for us.]

[I agree. Without the Shadow Monarch, our defenses would have been breached long ago.]

The Rulers, six-winged angels, paid their respects to Sung Jinwoo.

They were originally fragments of light born as apostles of God.

At some point, realizing God’s cruelty, they chose to become God Slayers by their own will.

A long, long time ago.

The ‘God’ who created this world split the primordial light and darkness into eight pieces, creating the ‘Fragments of Brilliant Light’ and the ‘Monarchs.’

From the moment they were created, they were destined to engage in an endless war, killing each other.

In this repeated war over eons, countless beings died, including the war’s commanders, the Fragments of Brilliant Light and the Monarchs.

However, the vacant positions were always filled by someone else.

When a Monarch’s spirit body was destroyed, the ‘Primordial Darkness’ within it found a new suitable host, creating another Monarch.

Similarly, when a Fragment of Brilliant Light died, the ‘Primordial Light’ within it found a new host, creating another Fragment of Brilliant Light.

To maintain the balance of war.

But the true purpose…

It took a very long time to realize that it was all a cruel game orchestrated by an absolute being who wanted the war to continue indefinitely.

But now, God was dead, the Monarchs were all dead, and the long, exhausting war had ended, bringing peace…

Only for the Outer Gods, aware of God’s absence, to begin their invasion.

[…The emissaries of Itarim continue to be born even at this moment.]

[Meanwhile, our forces are stagnant.]

Since ancient times, the heavenly soldiers led by the Rulers were born from the fruit of the World Tree.

However, after God’s death, the World Tree gradually stopped bearing fruit.

This meant no reinforcement of troops was possible.

But there was one exception.

The King who rules over death, the Shadow Monarch.

He and his legion alone were eternally immortal.

The power of creation had vanished, but death was eternal.

As the Rulers said, if not for Sung Jinwoo’s ever-reviving Shadow Legion, this war would have ended swiftly.

In the absolute end of this world’s annihilation.

[My lord, there’s a problem.]

The commander Igris urgently appeared before Sung Jinwoo.

[The defensive line at the rear has been breached!]

“Location?”

[It’s… they targeted the area with the weakest mana…]

“Could it be Earth?”

[I’m sorry. With our forces concentrated at the front, the rear defense was insufficient.]

Sung Jinwoo sighed deeply.

The Earth, which had barely regained peace, was once again exposed to danger.

[…Gates will open on Earth again.]

The Rulers murmured, gauging Sung Jinwoo’s reaction.

Once, Earth had been invaded by creatures of chaos.

The Rulers, who were the main culprits of that incident, hastily explained.

[But the situation is different now.]

[Indeed. Our goal was to nurture Earth to protect it from the Monarchs.]

[But Itarim’s purpose is pure invasion!]

[They’re trying to collapse the weakest point in our rear to confuse us!]

[My lord! We must send troops to Earth immediately!]

Igris’s insistence was met with strong opposition from the Rulers.

[Denied! Splitting our forces will break the delicate balance we’ve maintained!]

[That’s exactly Itarim’s strategy!]

[If we weaken the front to guard the rear, we will ultimately be defeated!]

Listening to their heated debate, Sung Jinwoo finally made his decision.

“Beru.”

[KIHIEEK! My king!]

The ant king, who had been enthusiastically tearing apart enemies, responded to his call.

[Commander Beru! Reporting for duty!]

“Go to Earth.”

[Kihihik! You mean…?!]

Sung Jinwoo nodded heavily.

“Yes. It’s time to break the seal on Suho.”

[…!]

Beru’s eyes widened with expectation.

“Return as quickly as possible.”

[I obey!]

At that command, Beru immediately became a streak of light and flew toward Earth.

Sung Jinwoo, watching Beru’s departure in silence, turned his gaze back to the approaching enemies.

His lips tightly pressed together.

His eyes burned fiercely.

“Come, emissaries of the Outer Gods.”

The war continued.