Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 345: The Giant Factions of the Upper Floors (3)
“Hooh.”
“Indeed…”
“More impressive than expected.”
“Has it already been completed?”
Exclamations of awe erupted from every corner of the room.
All eyes were on the figure standing before them—a girl with blue hair.
Her eyes were vacant, as if devoid of focus, and her frail body was in stark contrast to the thick golden chains tightly binding her arms and legs.
Jinhyuk’s gaze also narrowed as he observed her.
She was the highlight of the auction and a key asset in future power struggles among the deities.
An alchemical masterpiece hailed as the pinnacle of creation, the **Homunculus**.
Devoid of emotions, she possessed no hesitation in eradicating life. Her combat abilities were also formidable.
In fact, homunculi would play a significant role in the middle and later stages of the **Tower of Trials**.
‘And that first creation is this girl.’
She was known as **Alpha**.
Unlike other items that typically improve over time through refinement, homunculi were unique in that the earlier models were of higher quality.
This was because the **Philosopher’s Stone**, the key ingredient in creating them, was used in greater quantities in the initial creations.
“Haha, it seems the reactions are positive! However, as you all know, this particular auction item won’t be won with money alone.”
Of course, that made sense.
If money alone could secure this, the deities would have just sent their agents with blank checks, showering the auction with wealth.
There were plenty of wealthy bidders with deep pockets full of coins and mana stones.
Moreover, the entity hosting this auction had little interest in coins or mana stones.
Sensing the growing attention, the auctioneer continued.
“Bidding is just the minimum requirement. To win this homunculus, you must first be chosen by her. Ah! The ‘choice’ isn’t too complex—just make her kneel before you. The homunculus only acknowledges those who are strong.”
In other words, this emotionless doll had to be made to submit of her own accord.
Just then…
“Interesting.”
A giant figure among the deities stood up.
Boom!
The ground trembled just from him rising.
Muscles that seemed on the verge of bursting and hands larger than a tiger’s.
It was none other than **Hercules**, the greatest hero of Greek mythology.
Boom!
Hercules leaped into the center of the auction hall in a single bound, moving with an agility that belied his massive size.
“So, this little one is supposedly a weapon that can surpass even the Titans? Hmm. I find that hard to believe.”
Snatch!
Hercules grabbed the homunculus’s head with his massive hand.
“Accept me as your master. If you refuse, I’ll crush your skull.”
“…….”
Her blue hair became disheveled, but the homunculus didn’t move an inch.
There was no trace of fear in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Hercules, but you won’t be able to gain her recognition.”
“Are you saying I’m unqualified?”
“No, it’s just…”
The auctioneer shrugged.
“Homunculi do not acknowledge deities as their masters. It doesn’t matter if it’s you or any other deity here.”
A creation of alchemists through the **Philosopher’s Stone**.
For that reason, divine magic had no effect on her.
“That’s why all of you deities have brought your own ‘apostles’ here.”
Apostles were the deities’ proxies.
They were mortals blessed with divine power and chosen to execute the will of their gods.
Swish.
One by one, apostles stood up, as if waiting for this moment.
From the **Olympus** faction, a man stepped forward to follow Hercules.
“Medesus. You’re the apostle Hermes sent?”
“Yes. I’ve been briefed on the homunculus by him.”
“Can you do it? You only get one chance.”
“Of course. I will bring this homunculus back to Olympus.”
Medesus, standing at 190 cm with a muscular physique, drew his sword.
Ssshring!
The blade shimmered as the distinctive free-flowing magic of the Greek pantheon surged around him.
“Hmm. I’ll trust you this time.”
Hercules nodded, stepping back to give Medesus space.
Medesus glanced at the auctioneer.
“If the condition for submission is to make her kneel, what methods are allowed?”
“You’re free to attack or use any other means. However, killing is prohibited. This is a test of qualifications, not an execution.”
“I won’t need to go that far.”
Whoosh!
Medesus vanished.
With both speed and force, his sword strike carried the weight to sever the homunculus’s legs entirely.
But…
Clang!
For the first time, the homunculus moved.
She swung a pair of short spears, each about a meter long, in a circular motion like a windmill.
Simultaneously, she leaped back behind the platform, creating distance between them.
“Such tricks!”
Medesus immediately closed the gap.
With a large forward step, he reduced the distance between them to less than 30 cm.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In the blink of an eye, dozens of strikes were exchanged.
Each thrust aimed to exploit the homunculus’s vulnerabilities.
However…
“This can’t be… how?”
Despite the relentless assault, Medesus’s expression darkened.
He was the one pressing the attack like a storm, while the homunculus seemed barely able to keep up with his strikes.
And yet, somehow, the delicate balance between them wasn’t breaking.
Boom!
A downward slash stopped just above the homunculus’s forehead.
Blocked again.
Though Medesus was superior in both strength and skill, he lacked a decisive blow to break through.
“Damn it!”
“…….”
The homunculus calmly blocked the attack with her spear, slipping out of Medesus’s range once more.
“Stop running and face me!”
Pushing further would mean turning this test into a full-on fight to the death.
However, with so many eyes watching—including the furious Hercules and countless other factions—Olympus couldn’t afford to lose face here.
If they couldn’t claim her, they might as well ensure that no one else could.
In that case…
Blue energy gathered around Medesus’s arm.
Whoooo!
The light intensified, signaling his intent to finish the fight with one strike.
[Medesus activates his unique ability, ‘Unmatched Rift’!]
“I said no killing!”
The auctioneer intervened immediately.
But Medesus’s attack came faster.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A space-tearing strike.
The superheated air remained seared along the path of his sword.
It was a testament to how fast the attack had been.
However…
Sizzle!
The homunculus had survived even that.
Somehow, she had deflected the attack with her spear, redirecting the trajectory just enough to avoid a fatal blow. The ground around her showed the deep gashes left by the near-miss.
“What the hell is this thing? A doll… blocking *that*?”
Medesus muttered in disbelief.
He hadn’t anticipated that she would block even that attack.
“Let’s end this. If you continue, Olympus might be banned from future auctions.”
The auctioneer’s warning finally cooled the heated atmosphere.
However, the minds of the deities watching the duel were filled with different thoughts.
“This is… astonishing.”
“To think the apostle of Olympus couldn’t defeat her, even after activating his unique ability.”
“The first homunculus… even more tempting now.”
A weapon that could rival—if not surpass—the strength of high-ranking apostles.
Every faction in the upper floors had now resolved to secure her at all costs.
“The Greeks have reached their limit. This is what happens when you accept a mediocre resident from the 20th floors as an apostle. The **Demon Realm** is the only one worthy of possessing that homunculus.”
**Guntaphel** let out a wicked laugh.
“Kantura!”
At Guntaphel’s command, an old man wearing a black cloak appeared.
He was a resident from the late 30th floors.
His thin frame and the two short horns protruding from his head gave him a sinister appearance.
“Heh. I’ll admit you’re fast, but in the end, you’re no match for me. This will be over in less than a minute.”
After paying the minimum bid, Kantura drew a pair of curved blades.
Tap!
With a faint sound, he dashed forward.
Shhhh! Shhhk!
His movement was almost like teleportation.
If Medesus had relied on strength and technique, Kantura specialized in exploiting blind spots with assassin-like precision.
“…….”
The homunculus remained expressionless, deflecting his strikes with her spears.
Clang!
Clang!
Once. Twice. Thrice…
The battle dragged on again.
***
By now, seven apostles had attempted to subdue the homunculus, but none had succeeded in making her kneel.
Even though the Tower’s current wars prevented the very best apostles from attending, the results were still shocking.
“At this rate…”
“She’s like a fruit beyond reach.”
“Even Eden’s apostle couldn’t make her submit. Truly a masterpiece.”
While the deities marveled at the homunculus’s abilities, a sense of disappointment lingered at not being able to claim her.
‘Hmph… just as expected.’
The auctioneer stroked his chin with a small hand.
This homunculus was the highlight of this round’s auction, but brute force alone wouldn’t secure her.
If they had thought more deeply about the **Philosopher’s Stone**, alchemy, and her unique status as the first of her kind…
If they had, one of these factions might have stood a chance.
But it seemed no one here was capable of winning her today.
‘Looks like it ends here.’
The auctioneer raised his hand to announce the conclusion of the auction.
But at that very moment…
Someone stepped forward.
It was Jinhyuk.
Having observed everything carefully, he finally made his move.
Whoooo!
He opened his **Subspace Inventory** and took out an item to pay the entrance fee.
“Hah! It’s just a bracelet? If that’s all you’ve got—”
Guntaphel’s mocking voice trailed off.
This wasn’t just any bracelet.
It was a top-tier relic from an ancient kingdom buried beneath the sands, a relic only obtainable from that now-vanished land.
If someone possessed it, they were surely the former head of Ataraxia.
Why it was here was a mystery, but one thing was clear: it was more than enough to meet the auction’s minimum bid.
Click.
Jinhyuk grasped his weapon.
It seemed as though he, like the others, was preparing to make the homunculus submit through combat.
‘So, he’s the same as the rest…’
The auctioneer sighed, letting go of the brief hope he had harbored.
Every participant had gone straight for their weapons.
It was obvious how this would end.
However, the auctioneer’s disappointment was short-lived.
‘Hmm?’
His small mouth fell slightly open.
His bunny ears twitched in surprise.
A sweet fragrance wafted toward his nose.
There was no doubt about it.
It was the **Philosopher’s Stone**.
To be precise, Jinhyuk had dissolved a replica of the Philosopher’s Stone and coated himself with it.
“……!?”
For the first time, the homunculus’s blue eyes narrowed slightly.
Now, the real game had begun.