Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 371: The Cult Leader of the Wraith, 'Sloth' (1)

A hexagonal box, shimmering with a subtle silver light.

*Oh… This came out here, huh.*

Jinhyuk narrowed his eyes.

The Random Skill Box was a type of deconstructable item. Depending on how thoroughly the sealed box was dismantled, the type of reward would vary.

*In other words, the more you dismantle it, the better the skill you can acquire from the 20th floor.*

However, opening the Random Skill Box would be a task for later. It was something to be done only when everyone around had disappeared—when the moment was just right.

“Jinhyuk!”

“Kang Jinhyuk, sir!”

The players, who had been anxiously watching the battle, came running up in a rush.

Their faces showed the exhaustion they had endured.

Having been relentlessly pursued since reaching the 20th floor, they were naturally at their limit.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes. Thanks to you arriving just in time, we avoided annihilation.”

Teresa nodded, and the others quickly followed her lead, expressing their gratitude.

“Thank you so much. We thought everything was over… We truly believed it was the end.”

“When the raid leader abandoned us, we gave up hope entirely.”

“We owe you a debt we can never repay. Kang Jinhyuk, you are a savior to our guild.”

Tears of relief and gratitude echoed from all around.

They had been certain of their deaths, thinking they’d be hunted down and slaughtered one by one.

But in the bleakest of moments, the strongest ally had appeared—none other than the Veteran Corporation.

“I’d heard that only elite members are chosen, but seeing it firsthand, it seems the rumors didn’t do them justice.”

Carlos, the magic commander of this raid, muttered in awe.

The Veteran Corporation…

Even if the elite rankers from major guilds had gathered, it was questionable whether they could take on just one of these members.

Even if the entire Olympus Guild and the six other top guilds combined their forces, it was doubtful they could match them.

*Of course, there have been rising rookies recently.*

The mana released from the Tower of Trials had awakened new challengers. Among them, a few possessed extraordinary talents.

One such person was Payton, the deputy master of the Olympus Guild.

However, comparing them to people like Chun Yoosung or Alice was utterly absurd.

*And those two… The muscular old man and the blue-haired girl… they’re just beyond comprehension.*

The scene of them sweeping away the enemies was still vividly imprinted in Carlos’ mind.

The overwhelming gap in power.

These rankers could single-handedly carry an entire raid by themselves.

*And that knight in the white armor… He’s undoubtedly formidable too.*

Carlos cast a glance toward where Abraham was maintaining his weapons and Pesis was tending to the injured.

Even at a glance, it was clear that these two were far from ordinary.

But most of all…

*Kang Jinhyuk himself.*

Carlos clenched his trembling fists, struggling to calm himself.

The raid boss who had overwhelmed them all—a monstrous being. Even Teresa, one of the most powerful paladins in the world, couldn’t stand against that creature.

And yet, Jinhyuk had crushed it effortlessly.

To Carlos, Jinhyuk appeared nothing short of divine.

“Prepare the injured and set up camp. We’ll spend the night here.”

“Camp? Here?”

Carlos and the other players reacted with shock.

“Are you concerned about the cult’s followers?”

“Y-yes, exactly.”

Though the immediate crisis had passed, the cult’s relentless pursuit was still ongoing. They had been hunted without respite so far, and there was no reason to believe the encirclement would ease.

“Don’t worry. We’ll hold them off for at least tonight.”

Jinhyuk gave a reassuring smile.

[The ‘Wide-Area Illusion Barrier’ has been activated within a 15-kilometer radius.]

A barrier had already been deployed around the forest. Although a six-star barrier was the best he could manage in haste, it was layered three times, making it far from easy to break.

—

The allied players soon fell into a deep sleep, one after another.

Meanwhile, Jinhyuk found himself drenched in cold sweat, stuck in a rather troubling situation.

It had all started with hunger.

*Let’s find something to eat nearby.*

And if he was going to eat, it might as well be something delicious.

*That was fine… but then things escalated.*

Jinhyuk pressed his temples, feeling a headache forming.

The situation had spiraled out of control into an intense competition.

“Contractor, isn’t this cute? You have to eat this one, okay? No one else’s, just this one.”

“My, my. That little thing will kill you the moment you eat it. Why not try these lovely mushrooms instead? Far more elegant, wouldn’t you say?”

“…All of these have a 0% survival rate. The thing I brought is the only reasonable option for food.”

Alice, Frey, and, oddly enough, Teresa—who seemed to have slipped into a strange, half-darkened state—all gathered around the campfire.

It was a scene so dreadful that even the witches of the Mist Village would shudder.

Jinhyuk glanced at the bizarre ingredients each had brought.

Alice was proudly holding up the corpse of an insect with three legs, something he had never seen before, even in the Tower of Trials. While it did look oddly cute, its purple spikes radiated a dangerous aura.

Teresa’s contribution was no better—a mushroom known as the “Widowmaker,” notorious for its deadly poison.

*Isn’t it common knowledge that poisonous mushrooms are flashy? Why on earth would she bring one that glows like a rainbow?*

And then there was Frey’s choice:

*A nest of gray hornets and their honey.*

While the taste was exceptional—addictive even—it was dangerous. Consuming too much would result in severe hallucinations. Calling it food was a stretch; it was more like a drug.

“So, which one will you choose? Mine, right? Of course, it has to be mine!”

“No sane person would eat what that child brought.”

“W-who are you calling a child, you dumb saint!”

“Honey… is good for you.”

If Jinhyuk didn’t choose, they seemed ready to force-feed him.

*Rumble…*

They began gathering their mana, encircling Jinhyuk as if to prevent any escape.

There was no way out.

If he didn’t make a decision soon, he might have to eat all of it.

“Haha! Nothing beats a good drink after a victory! Disciple, once you finish what these ladies gave you, you’ll share a drink with me too. I’ve got 30 barrels, so don’t even think about sleeping until we finish them all.”

Even the Black Emperor had joined in, laying out barrels of liquor, each with an alcohol content over 60%.

“…This is hell.”

Or something very close to it.

Jinhyuk slowly closed his eyes, resignation washing over his face.

“Do you want me to find something tasty for you too, Young Master Chun?”

“…I’ll pass. Master, you enjoy it yourself.”

Chun Yoosung bit into a piece of fruit with a crunch.

And so, the night grew darker and deeper.

—

The scenery shifted into a surreal, otherworldly landscape.

A night sky filled with ominous constellations and red giants loomed overhead.

And along a strange path lined with bizarre plants, Nyarlathotep walked forward, silent and grim.

It was rare for someone usually so cheerful to seem so subdued, but this was no ordinary moment.

Ahead, seated upon a throne made of black branches, was a half-human, half-beast woman with flowing pink hair. Her upper body was that of a human, but her lower half resembled that of a goat.

Nyarlathotep stopped before her and spoke quietly.

“Mother.”

The woman on the throne slowly turned her gaze toward him.

“You’re late.”

“Apologies. I had some matters to attend to.”

“I heard the Old Guard was wounded.”

Her words, though brief, carried weight.

*Boom!*

Nyarlathotep bent at a sharp 90-degree angle, trembling under an overwhelming force.

Shub-Niggurath—the Mother of All Things—possessed power beyond comprehension, even to Nyarlathotep.

“…I only intended to steal the crown from a mere human for our future. It wasn’t supposed to be difficult…”

“You underestimated him, even after witnessing him defeat me.”

Shub-Niggurath rose from her throne, and the plants around her parted, filling the air with eerie laughter.

“The First Hourglass has begun to flow.”

“…Does that mean causality is in motion?”

Nyarlathotep’s eyes widened in shock.

The First Hourglass—a prophecy like the Greek Fates or the Book of Revelation—predicted a singular event:

Someone would reach the 50th floor.

“And it’ll be that human.”

Shub-Niggurath smiled with unsettling certainty.

“Send orders to our minions below. We’re joining the war.”

The forces of the 50th floor began to move.