Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 393: Tangled Web (1)

The *Sun’s Spring Water* was originally one of the special items created to safeguard *Yggdrasil*.

However.

*”There’s no way the beings on the 50th floor sent Sherry here just for that reason.”*

From their perspective, there was no need to protect Ragnarok or use the Sun’s Spring Water as a bargaining chip.

So, it must mean something else entirely.

There had to be another purpose compelling them to obtain the Sun’s Spring Water, even at such risk.

*”…So that’s it.”*

Jinhyuk mulled over his thoughts quietly.

The conditional anomalous quest, *Apocalypse*.

An event that usually only occurred after reaching the 40th floor, yet its activation requirements had been drastically altered.

*”Of course, back then, I wasn’t this much of a thorn in their side.”*

Every action he took disrupted their plans, so it was only natural they saw him as a nuisance.

Either way, time was running out.

The deadline agreed upon with Thor and Loki was approaching, and Olympus’s pursuit was intensifying. Speed was now critical.

*Swoosh…*

Jinhyuk shifted his center of gravity forward slightly.

His grip on Barnard tightened.

*”Let’s see… it’s been a while since I really let loose.”*

*BOOM!*

Jinhyuk unleashed the *Heavenly Demon Dominion Step*, known as the pinnacle of movement and combat techniques.

Using an impressive 5-star energy infusion, the technique generated a storm that tore through the fortress’s interior.

However—

*CLANG!*

Sherry intercepted his surprise attack from behind.

“You’re still holding back… Truly remarkable.”

[Sherry has activated her unique ability: *Hexa’s Blade*!]

A power passed down to a select few among the Wood Elf race.

It exponentially increased resistance against opposing elemental attributes.

*”Right, that’s what makes this elf such a pain.”*

Against dark properties or techniques like the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Sherry’s stats would multiply drastically.

The more power exerted against her, the stronger she became in response.

Moreover, her physical prowess was already exceptional, making her an exceedingly troublesome opponent.

*CLANG!*

Her strikes carried a distinct sharpness and speed, leaving afterimages as she pressured Jinhyuk.

“I know you’re strong. I’ve heard about the countless warriors who’ve fallen before you.”

Sherry sneered, a bitter smile gracing her lips as she moved behind Jinhyuk.

“But my ability is specialized in taking down those very warriors.”

If Jinhyuk relied heavily on techniques like the *Grave of Swords* or *Heavenly Demon Divine Art*, the battle would shift against him.

Yet abandoning his strengths would be akin to tying his own hands.

*”Either way, I hold the advantage. Besides, I don’t even need to win this fight—just stall for time.”*

She had already leaked information to Olympus.

Jinhyuk’s alliance with Ragnarok and his search for something here were no longer secrets.

Soon, residents and rankers aligned with Olympus would descend on this place.

*”Tch… Damn it.”*

Sherry glanced to the side.

Even with *Hexa’s Blade* active, she knew she couldn’t afford to underestimate her opponent.

No wonder her superiors were wary of him.

She had already lost sight of Jinhyuk twice in the brief exchange.

He was fast.

*…But so was she.*

*Whoosh!*

The crimson daggers in her hands seemed to predict his movements, crossing diagonally in his path.

Jinhyuk abruptly changed direction to avoid them, gaining some distance.

“They have a tracking effect, don’t they?”

“That’s right. No ordinary movement can escape them.”

“As expected of daggers forged from the fangs of a Red Dragon. Even if it’s just from a hatchling.”

Sherry’s eyebrows arched sharply at his comment.

Her expression suggested a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.

“You really do seem to know everything. Are you sure you’re just a player and not a hidden administrator?”

“I hear that a lot, but no, I’m not an administrator.”

Jinhyuk shrugged.

“Oh… And while we’re at it, I have a question for you.”

He casually guided the conversation toward something that had been gnawing at his curiosity.

Why would a Wood Elf—known for their noble pride—betray the honor of their race to work under the 50th floor?

What could they possibly wish to achieve by taking such a risk?

“Is it to maintain the Tower’s balance? Or is it for some personal desire? What did they promise you to make you take such a dangerous gamble?”

“You’re curious about something completely unrelated to this fight.”

“It might be more related than you think. I know your race’s history, after all.”

“…! If you say that again…”

“What? You’re going to kill me with that dagger? Hmm… Think you can manage it with your skills?”

“Let’s find out, shall we?”

Dark killing intent radiated from Sherry’s body.

*Swoosh!*

The moment she disappeared, Jinhyuk swung Barnard with ferocious force.

*CLANG!*

*”Looks like I hit a nerve.”*

Sherry’s speed surged, rising by at least one level.

*Clang! Clang-clang!*

No, make that two.

Her movements became so fast that Jinhyuk could only predict her location by the faint disturbance in the air.

However—

*Flash!*

He wasn’t slow, either.

With *Domain of the Wind*, Jinhyuk amplified his speed even further, while *Nihilism* suppressed Sherry’s abilities.

The two clashed violently in midair, their figures moving at blinding speed.

To onlookers, it seemed as though fiery sparks were erupting in an empty space.

One strike. Two strikes. Then seventy-two.

In less than a minute, countless attacks had been exchanged.

“Ugh!”

Sherry clicked her tongue in frustration.

A deep gash across her shoulder bled profusely.

This was her fifth wound already.

No matter how much Sherry increased her speed and mixed feints into her swordplay, every move she made was perfectly read by her opponent.

“Fast and sharp, but you’re lacking practical experience.”

“Dare you—an insignificant human who won’t even live a century—lecture me about experience?”

Infuriated, Sherry swung her daggers with increased ferocity.

Neck, chest, abdomen—she aimed for every vulnerable point she could see.

Of course, attacks made in anger were easier to predict.

*Clang-clang-clang!*

Jinhyuk deflected every strike using the flat edge of Barnard, redirecting the incoming blades harmlessly to the side.

“Experience doesn’t just mean the number of battles you’ve fought.”

True experience comes from duels with powerful foes, enduring countless defeats and despair, surviving near-death encounters, and learning to revel in that process. Only then can it truly be called experience.

“It’s not too late. Surrender what you’re holding and walk away, and I might let you live.”

“You want me to hand over my dagger?”

“Good weapons are always useful. Sure, I could just kill you and take it, but I’ve got some mid-tier administrator friends who might appreciate it.”

The daggers forged from the fangs of a Red Dragon were tempting. Though Jinhyuk already wielded Barnard in his right hand, there was always room for one more exceptional weapon.

“I don’t make the same offer twice.”

This was the last mercy he was willing to extend.

—

*Gulp.*

A dry swallow echoed in the silence.

*‘So this is what Father meant by keeping an eye on him.’*

The translucent figure, hiding its presence, was none other than *Hermes*, one of the Olympian deities.

After hearing Sherry’s report about Ragnarok’s plans, he had arrived first at this location.

And the situation unfolding before him exceeded all expectations.

A mere player was overwhelming Sherry, a mid-tier administrator renowned for her strength, as if she were nothing.

Hermes had thought the rumors about this player were exaggerated. But seeing it firsthand, he realized the truth: the rumors were not exaggerated—they were downplayed.

*‘What kind of monster joins forces with a dying faction like Ragnarok…?’*

Hermes licked his lips regretfully. He couldn’t help but imagine how much easier it would be to end Ragnarok if this remarkable player were on Olympus’s side.

*‘It’s a waste to leave someone like him.’*

If they could recruit this player, the tides of Ragnarok could be turned in their favor almost instantly.

At that moment—

“What’s this…?”

*Wooooong!*

Within the fortress, blue gates began to appear one by one.

A surge of incomprehensible, overwhelming magic energy flooded the space.

The vanguard of *Olympus* had arrived.

“So, it ends here. The only hope was to finish this before reinforcements arrived.”

Hermes turned away, deciding he had seen enough. Reporting the events to Zeus would suffice.

*”And I’d better start tracking Odin again. If I keep coming up empty, I’ll be the laughingstock of all the gods.”*

Flying smoothly through the air with his winged sandals, Hermes disappeared.

—

*Boom!*

*Clank!*

Warriors clad in resplendent armor poured out from the gates.

“Hahaha! See? I told you, time is on my side.”

Sherry gasped for breath, a victorious smile breaking across her face.

All her desperate efforts to hold on had finally borne fruit.

“Mid-tier Administrator.”

A slender man stepped forward from the vanguard, bowing slightly.

It was *Theseus*, another hero-grade warrior like Lü Bu.

“You’re not too late.”

“Thanks to your quick notice, we arrived just in time.”

Theseus glanced toward the battlefield.

The fight between Chun Yoosung and Lü Bu had already tipped in Chun Yoosung’s favor, but that wouldn’t last long.

With Olympus’s vanguard now present, the balance would shift decisively.

Only one task remained.

“We just need to deal with that man.”

“Exactly. He’s a threat to the Tower’s balance. Capture him alive if possible. We need to find out how he managed to obtain information surpassing that of us administrators.”

“Understood.”

Theseus raised his sword and shield.

[*Orpheus’s Lyre* has been activated!]
[A wide-area healing effect begins!]
[From now on, all entities allied with Olympus will recover +10 HP per second.]
[Duration: 4 minutes, 59 seconds.]

*Shhhhh…*

Sherry’s wounds began to heal rapidly.

A mid-tier administrator, a hero-grade warrior, thirty elite soldiers, and top-tier relics designed for capture—this combination turned the tide completely.

After already enduring a fierce battle, Jinhyuk and the beleaguered Chun Yoosung now had no means of reversing the situation.

Even Frey, as powerful as she was, was too busy handling hundreds of soldiers to intervene. It was only a matter of time.

Jinhyuk’s defeat seemed inevitable.

That was the logical conclusion. The natural order of events.

But despite this, Jinhyuk’s face remained calm and composed.

He hadn’t given up.

Nor did he have any intention of defeating these forces head-on.

“What’s with that look? Don’t tell me you’ve gone mad with despair.”

“No, not that. It’s just… I didn’t come here alone.”

[*A Gate is opening!*]

Across the battlefield, a golden gate materialized.

Adorned with symbols resembling the moon, it radiated an imposing energy.

Those symbols—

Theseus’s pupils trembled.

How could he not recognize them?

The insignia belonged to a being who had constantly humiliated Olympus in countless skirmishes.

“H-H…Heimdall.”

*Wooooong!*

The golden gate opened fully with those words.

“I guess it’s my turn to back up my contractor!”

Emerging from the gate were the *clan of Ataraxia* and *Alice*, who had returned from Eden.

“Hahaha! Finally, time to settle the score!”

Alongside them stood the giants and divine beings of *Ragnarok*, ready for battle.