Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 330: Taming Master (1)
From the ground emerged a raven, its entire body covered in silver feathers.
Jinhyuk already knew what this was.
A mythical creature that served as a guardian for the Sea Dragon Clan, the **Phantasmal Beast ‘Sylvia’** had manifested through a contract.
“Oooooh…!”
Peshaktu’s voice trembled with awe.
Finally, the chance to avenge all the humiliation he had suffered had arrived.
“To think… a Phantasmal Beast would appear here.”
“Is it a magic-type? Or maybe a flying-type?”
“If we don’t at least figure out its type, how are we supposed to prepare? Damn it.”
The main attack team of the Silla Guild had previously taken down an S-rank boss monster—a massive plant-type monster.
Although it had been a challenging battle, they had managed to defeat the boss through precise teamwork.
But the enemy in front of them now…
This was on a completely different level.
“I can’t even begin to estimate its mana.”
The magic-type hunters, who were usually more sensitive to such things, were shaking uncontrollably.
The aura was so powerful that it was difficult to even move a finger.
“Hyung! The drones in the air… they’ve stopped working.”
“Oppa!”
Lee Taemin’s Machine Lord abilities and Yoo Yeonhwa’s Hwarang Martial Arts both failed to activate properly.
At that moment…
*Rumble!*
A chilling, sinister mana wrapped around their entire bodies, accompanied by frost-colored mist.
[Sylvia activates Lv?? ‘Mana Perception’!]
In an instant, a cold shiver ran down their spines.
It felt as if those sapphire-like eyes were piercing right through their hearts.
“Be careful! It has mental-type abilities!”
Mental-type abilities.
Of all the possible opponents, they were up against one of the most troublesome kinds.
“Don’t make eye contact! If you meet its gaze, you’ll be drawn in!”
The raid team quickly changed formation.
Specifically, they spread out and kept their eyes down, avoiding direct eye contact.
If they didn’t do this, Sylvia would take control of their minds, turning them against each other.
“Ms. Yoo Jinah!”
“I know!”
The only hope was Yoo Jinah.
As the only one with taming skills, she was their best shot at countering the Phantasmal Beast.
[Yoo Jinah uses her unique ability ‘Mantra Taming’!]
A golden light emanated from Yoo Jinah’s fingertips and flowed into Sylvia’s body.
The power intensified the connection with the target, creating the illusion that they had been lifelong companions.
It was the same skill that had successfully tamed the sea dragon.
However…
“Foolish. To think you would dare challenge me with such a trivial ability.”
Sylvia scoffed.
The golden mist that had begun to seep into her body dissipated in an instant.
Yoo Jinah’s renowned taming ability.
It didn’t have the slightest effect.
“Now it’s my turn. Those who keep their heads down will be decapitated, and those who raise their heads to save themselves will become my puppets, slaves to be toyed with for eternity.”
Just as Sylvia prepared to launch her attack…
“Hmm?”
She noticed someone.
While everyone else had their heads lowered, this one human walked confidently forward.
A human who smiled leisurely, without a trace of fear.
Sylvia’s curiosity was piqued.
“Oh? Not all humans are cowards, it seems. Is that the one who has been troubling the Sea Dragon Clan?”
“Y-Yes, Guardian Deity!”
Peshaktu nodded vigorously.
“He’s the one who slaughtered our clan and desecrated this sacred land! You must kill him at once to avenge us!”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of sparing such an arrogant fool.”
Sylvia plucked a feather from her body.
The silver feather glinted sharply, like the edge of a blade.
“You seem confident, stepping forward like that. Do you also possess taming skills? If so, it’s useless. I won’t be subdued by such trivial means.”
Even Yoo Jinah, who specialized in taming, had been unable to do anything.
Sylvia was effectively immune to all taming skills.
Of course.
Jinhyuk was well aware of that fact.
“It’s a bit early to be so sure. My taming is a little different.”
“Different? How so?”
“You’ll see. If you pay close attention, that is.”
Jinhyuk’s words were filled with meaning.
“Your kind must have a penchant for empty bravado.”
Sylvia smirked but then tilted her head.
Wait.
Now that she thought about it…
There were strange creatures standing beside Jinhyuk.
A small black reptile, about the size of a puppy, and behind it, a similarly sized dragon.
Though they had shrunk considerably, there was no mistaking it.
An ancient species and one of the Four Divine Beasts of the East, the ‘Azure Dragon’.
“Gasp!”
Sylvia nearly gasped in shock.
She hadn’t expected to find herself in the presence of beings of a higher rank than herself—beings she would normally dare not even look at directly.
But what was even more shocking…
‘How could such supreme beings… be in the company of a human as if they were his guards?’
The idea that such powerful entities would submit to a mere human…
It was incomprehensible.
Even though she could see it, she could hardly believe it.
But denial wasn’t an option.
This was the harsh reality.
“I haven’t done much taming, but… hmm. For some reason, I have a good feeling about this. I think it’s going to work out quite well.”
Jinhyuk activated his skill toward Sylvia.
[Lv12 ‘Communion’ is activated!]
A light of the same color as when Yoo Jinah had used her taming skill began to flow out.
Of course, it was far inferior to Yoo Jinah’s skill.
Communion was only meant to create a sense of familiarity with the target.
“That won’t work…”
Knowing this, Yoo Jinah sighed in frustration.
Meanwhile, Peshaktu, seemingly overjoyed, burst into hysterical laughter.
“Pwahahaha! At least I can take you with me!”
But then.
“What… What is this power!”
Sylvia’s entire body trembled.
As if struck by an overwhelming force, she shuddered uncontrollably.
Though it was somewhat awkward, no one else seemed to notice the discrepancy.
“Huh?”
“What?”
“What’s going on?”
Various reactions erupted.
Even with such a meager amount of mana, Sylvia was visibly struggling.
It was confusing, to say the least.
However, for Sylvia, this was the only way to survive.
-Hmm. The raven is submitting on its own. It seems I won’t need to use the Dragon Orb after all.
-Tweat tweat.
Sylvia was forcibly synchronizing herself with Jinhyuk’s inadequate skill.
Deliberately allowing herself to be tamed was no easy feat.
But it had to be done.
If she didn’t…
She would die.
‘Those two beings didn’t even bother to use their full power in my presence.’
It was clear that her mental abilities would have no effect on those two.
*Whooooom!*
The light grew brighter and brighter.
And finally…
[Taming successful!]
A notification window appeared, signaling success.
“Good.”
Jinhyuk’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
If Sylvia had known about the current mana limitations and Goguma’s inability to fully manifest, she would have resisted to the death.
But thanks to Sylvia’s premature intuition, everything had gone according to plan.
‘It’s a shame I can’t make her a permanent subordinate like I did with the Soft Black Crane.’
Unfortunately, Sylvia couldn’t be bound by the ‘Soul Imprint’ for permanent subjugation.
Her mental abilities were too advanced, making it impossible to restrain her with the imprint.
Moreover, as the guardian of the Sea Dragon Clan, her role was to protect them, so Jinhyuk would have to settle for using her appropriately during this raid.
As soon as the taming was successful, the atmosphere around them became eerily quiet.
Yoo Jinah, in particular, was now looking at Jinhyuk with a mixture of awe and reverence.
“You’re… incredible. Truly. How is it possible to tame a Phantasmal Beast without a dedicated taming skill? How well must you understand monsters to achieve such a feat?”
Before the Tower appeared, Yoo Jinah had lived with numerous animals.
That experience had led to her acquiring the Tamer profession.
And so.
She knew better than anyone how difficult it was to tame higher-level creatures.
How much one had to love and care for monsters to achieve it.
‘I completely misunderstood him…’
Yoo Jinah’s gaze softened with warmth.
At the same time…
[Yoo Jinah’s Affection has reached its maximum.]
[You have successfully copied her ability.]
[**Mantra Taming**]
**Acquisition Difficulty**: AA
**Description**: Allows you to definitively tame monsters of the same rank or lower. (As the skill’s proficiency increases, stronger monsters can be tamed. Taming higher-rank monsters can also increase the skill’s rank.)
A special skill that can grow based on conditions.
With this, Jinhyuk had gained another valuable ability.
—
While everyone’s attention was focused on the island in the East Sea…
A gate, unnoticed by anyone, opened on the rooftop of a high-rise building in Seoul.
*Whooooom!*
From the ominously glowing red gate, someone emerged.
*Thud!*
The owner of the heavy footsteps stood on the rooftop, looking down at the Seoul skyline.
“So, this is outside the Tower? Humans sure do live in filthy crowded places out here.”
With bulging muscles, golden hair, and a thick beard, he was none other than the Thunder Lord, **Thor**, one of the mightiest gods of Norse mythology.
And beside him stood a handsome man with red hair.
“Loki. Are you sure that human left the Tower?”
“Yeah. He left Murim just recently to stop Shub-Niggurath. I heard it from the mid-level administrators, so it’s reliable information.”
Loki nodded.
The two gods had come to Korea with a single purpose.
“Kang… Kang… Damn it. I forgot his name again.”
“It’s Kang Jinhyuk. You should at least remember the name properly. It’s come up several times in the Council of Gods.”
“Damn it. Whatever! We just need to find that bastard, right?”
“Exactly. He’s the key figure in all of this. But hold on a second. We need to pinpoint his location first.”
Loki’s eyes narrowed.
‘Loki’s Eye.’
With his eyes capable of seeing up to a thousand kilometers away, Loki could scan the entire country of Korea from the rooftop.
But then…
*Throb!*
Loki’s expression twisted in pain.
“What’s wrong?”
“No… It’s unrelated to our mission.”
“Unrelated, huh? I may be brutish, but I’m not stupid. Something’s clearly off.”
At Thor’s words, Loki spoke heavily.
“The Valkyries I sent to the mid-level floors… They’ve been wiped out.”
“…! Are you saying ‘Beretina’, the high-ranking Valkyrie, is dead?”
“It’s the Greeks. And it looks like that ‘monster’ stepped in personally. He single-handedly wiped out an entire battalion of Valkyries.”
A being who could destroy the world with his bare hands.
Heracles, the mightiest warrior of Greece and a demigod, was a nightmare even for the Norse gods.
“This complicates things. Even if we find the crown, retrieving it won’t be easy.”
“If we’re pursued, Thor, you’ll have to buy us some time.”
“Right. I’m probably the only one who can stand against him.”
But all of this hinged on safely securing the crown.
The top priority was locating the crown itself.
According to the prophet who could see the future…
The one who knew the location of the ‘Crown of Domination’ was currently in Korea.
Loki’s eyes turned a deeper shade of gold.
In that moment.
“Found him.”
His gaze locked onto a single point.