Solo Max –Level Newbie – Chapter 659

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As the sun sank completely, fireflies of strange shapes drifted through the air.

Dazzling moonlight. The fresh scent of the forest.

The canyon’s true face—nature preserved in its purest form—finally revealed itself.

Jinhyuk, assigned to first watch, settled beneath a tree.

“Time really flies.”

Half a year had passed since they stopped the great disaster called the Covenant. It felt more like ten. Too much had happened.

Jinhyuk took out the rewards he’d obtained right after the battle with Unknown, laying them out one by one.

[The Final Reward for the First Conqueror of the Tower]

[Laurel of Honor]

Acquisition Difficulty: Limited to the first conqueror of the Tower

Mana Consumption: 1,000 per minute

Description: The Laurel of Honor can be used as the 8th crown, and by injecting Mana into the leaves of the laurel, you can create new items that did not exist before. However, if you create a new item, the effect as a crown will disappear. Also, the stats of the created item cannot exceed 150% of the best item you currently possess.

It really was a ridiculous reward.

The Tower’s restriction said you could only challenge the 50th floor after collecting all seven crowns. With this, you could reach the 50th floor with only six.

And if he used it for crafting, he could create something that shouldn’t exist in the first place. There was a 150% cap, but even a weapon approaching 150% of First Blade would be a monster in its own right.

[Unknown’s Mask]

Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable

Description: A mask used by someone who climbed the Tower to the 50th floor. Not only is it permanently enchanted with magic such as voice alteration and facial distortion, but it also has magic that increases basic stats by 20% when worn. In addition, you can randomly use one of the skills that Unknown used in each battle.

[Billy the Kid’s Pistol – X Model]

Acquisition Difficulty: SS

Attack Power 250,000

Durability: 1,100,000 / 2,370,000

Description: One of the pistols used by the legendary gunman ‘Billy the Kid’. The basic attack power itself is not high, but it can handle all existing bullets, and the attack power changes depending on which bullet is used.

On top of that, he’d secured piles of high-grade materials and Mana Stones.

‘My level also went up by 27.’

He’d gained experience that only came from hunting the highest-ranking ancient gods—Azathoth, Shub-Niggurath, Nyarlathotep.

Jinhyuk opened his personal status window.

——————————

Name: Kang Jinhyuk

Gender: Male

Level: 345

Strength 125 Agility 140 Stamina 198 Mana 809 Gap 100 Luck 10 Adaptability 78 Spirit 413.77

Stat Points Held: 0

Coins Held: 62,224,905

Class: Rune Dominator

Unique Holy Spear: The content of Unique Holy Spear is too large and has been switched to ‘Folded’ state.

Unique Ability: The content of Unique Ability is too large and has been switched to ‘Folded’ state.

Skills: The content of Skills is too large and has been switched to ‘Folded’ state.

——————————

[The current Mana stat is ‘809’.]

He’d poured every last point into Mana.

Because just maintaining Laurel of Honor cost a brutal 1,000 per minute.

‘My total Mana pool is around 40,000. That means roughly 40 minutes of use.’

And that was in a vacuum.

In real combat, he’d be burning Mana through Unique Holy Spears and skills on top of it. The drain would be far worse.

In other words—

Mana would matter more and more from here on out.

Jinhyuk closed the window.

Then he opened the Infinite Library where he stored his abilities.

Whoo-oong!

[Retrieving ‘Memory of the World’.]

He’d tested combinations, run through scenarios, and refined the formula until only one answer remained.

[Unique Holy Spear ‘Seraphim’, Unique Holy Spear ‘Phase 2’, Unique Holy Spear ‘Final Genesis’, and Unique Holy Spear ‘Billy the Kid’ are fusing!]

Delicate Mana control.

Perfect timing.

And a flawless harmony between abilities with completely different traits.

Only when everything meshed without a single error would a complete new power be born.

Jinhyuk sharpened every sense.

His cells pulsed, reacting to each drifting particle of Mana.

One minute. Two. Then three.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. Under extreme concentration, time itself felt distant.

How long had it been?

Just a little more. Just a little more—

His vision wavered. A dizzy heaviness pressed down as oxygen thinned in his lungs.

He was right there. He could see the end.

Jinhyuk held his breath one last time and connected the flow.

Now.

Whoo-oooong!

A golden status window bloomed before his eyes the moment the final synchronization completed.

[Fusion successful!]

[Unique Holy Spear ‘Outlaw of the Wilds’]

Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable

Description: As the highest-level ability of a Ranger, it can increase the potential of all abilities and skills related to ‘guns’ by up to 300%. You can use each Unique Holy Spear just by mentioning specific keywords related to guns, and the attack power at this time depends on the user’s capabilities.

[The fused ability is stored in ‘Memory of the World’.]

…It worked.

Jinhyuk clenched his fist.

It had been close, but he’d gotten exactly what he wanted. If it came to the worst, this would hold the line.

The best insurance.

He’d even taken Billy the Kid’s new gun from Unknown—perfect for some quick zeroing practice.

“……”

Something brushed the edge of his senses.

A presence, watching from the bushes.

…Not human.

It blended too naturally into the world. If his senses hadn’t been honed to the extreme, he never would’ve caught it.

‘So you’re finally here.’

The Spirit Beasts of the canyon.

Cautious by nature, they were observing from afar, judging his identity and purpose.

Most humans who came here were ugly—treasure-hungry, resource-obsessed. That was why direct contact was rare.

‘But I’m different.’

Friendly. Approachable.

A true friend of spirits.

Jinhyuk opened his Subspace.

Then he called out—gentler than he’d ever spoken to them.

“Hey. Snacks are ready. Everyone, come out.”

As a bonus, he’d already tied on an apron and lined up sauces and Mana Stones.

Drawn by the smell, the Spirit Beasts emerged one by one.

“You’ve had it rough in here, right? Sit down and eat. If you want more, I’ll make something else. Just tell me. And when you’re done, I’ll read you that fairy tale about the Spirit Princess you all like.”

“What is this?”

“Huh?”

“Master, are you insane? Or did you drink something?”

“I knew it! It’s a trap. Give us back our master, you nasty kidnapper!”

The Spirit Beasts bounced in place, exploding at the sudden shift.

Pajiik.

A thick vein bulged on Jinhyuk’s forehead.

He wanted to turn that mouthy Salamander into grilled lizard on the spot, but he endured.

Too many eyes were watching from nearby.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Kidnapper. I’m just doing what I always do. If you don’t eat, I’ll turn you into Goguma snacks. So shut it and come over here.”

Jinhyuk scraped together what little patience he had left.

His eyes smiled.

His mouth didn’t.

The Spirit Beasts felt the danger immediately.

“Ugh… uh!”

“Let’s play together.”

“Thank you, warm master.”

“Hehehe.”

“Everyone be quiet. My head hurts.”

They huddled together, gnawing on the Mana Stones he’d prepared, gathering around the campfire, showing off their little talents.

On the surface, it was peaceful. Cozy, even.

—

“Are they decent humans?”

“Seeing how well they get along with our kind, I don’t think they’re bad.”

“But we still have to be careful. Humans don’t care what it takes to get what they want.”

“Yeah. And the Spirit Beasts smiling like that feels… awkward. How do I put it? Like they’re wearing masks.”

“Still, they seem worth talking to.”

“I agree.”

The Spirit Beasts hidden in the bushes traded opinions.

They were divided, but they couldn’t keep watching forever.

A great danger had come to the canyon—and they couldn’t break through it with their own strength.

Finally—

“Eek! I’ll go.”

The largest fire spirit stood.

A Salamander with two plump horns.

Tot tot tot.

“Ahem! Hey, human!”

“Huh?”

“It’s here, here!”

The Salamander marched right up to Jinhyuk’s feet, waving both hands.

Jinhyuk lowered his gaze.

“Oh? What’s this—there’s a spirit here?”

He wore the most innocent expression he could manage, pretending he hadn’t noticed a thing.

At the same time, he hugged Undine even tighter.

“Let go, let go.”

Undine thrashed to escape.

It was pointless.

Jinhyuk locked her down with a grip like a hook.

There was a reason slogans always involved weak and cute things.

To lower the other side’s guard.

Then drain them dry once they relaxed.

-No.

-Stop!

-Please don’t go.

-I’m telling you for your own good.

The Spirit Special Forces of Veteran Corporation shook their heads, eyes full of pity.

But the Salamander, already half-relaxed, stared only at Jinhyuk.

“You seem different from other vicious humans, so I want to ask you for a favor.”

“A favor? From me?”

“That’s right. I’ll definitely pay the price, so please help us.”

He would’ve listened even without that.

He had to build rapport with the Spirit Beasts, then collect three hidden pieces.

That was the only way to conquer Yottleam Canyon.

“I can’t ignore small, precious spirits in trouble. Even if I’m not much, I’ll do my best.”

“Th-thank you. I’m glad. I’m so glad I met such a kind human.”

“I know. I’m glad too. People like me aren’t common.”

Jinhyuk gripped the Salamander’s hand tightly.

And with that, the hidden quest unlocked.

[Accept the spirits’ request.]

[A clue to find the first hidden piece is given.]

Find out why ‘Livolt’ is destroying the Spirit Beasts and the canyon after losing his mind, and help the Spirit King and the canyon regain peace.

Hint: You must find the ‘Fragment of Light’.

Spirit King of Light ‘Livolt’

Like the fire spirit Igni he’d faced before, Livolt was a great spirit at the pinnacle of an element.

Gentle by nature, he was considered the most neutral among the Spirit Kings.

And yet he was destroying the canyon.

It made no sense—unless something enormous had happened.

“He suddenly became strange after a strange sapling started growing.”

“Sapling?”

“Yes. A withered purple tree. It made the trees around it wither too. This canyon is blessed by spirits, so everything should be abundant… but I still don’t understand it.”

Given the description, the possibilities were extremely limited.

The most likely answer was—

No. Don’t tell me.

That sapling from Azathoth’s palace?

But there was no way it could grow outside the palace.

Jinhyuk’s eyes narrowed.

He’d started this quest lightly, but something was moving in a direction that felt wrong.

Chapter 659

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