Solo Leveling- Ragnarok

Chapter 26:

Those words filled the eyes of the demons with greed.

"Radiru?"

"The Radiru Clan?"

The corners of their mouths were torn long and the laughter burst out.

"Was there still a demon who survived from the Radiru Clan?"

"Ha ha! It's a big fish this time!"

The blood of demon nobles is precious.

Especially in the demon world where all noble families are destroyed and only hybrids are left like these days!

"Don't give her a break!"

The demons attacked Esil, the demon of the Radiru Clan

Their size grew exponentially, and evil demons emerged from their long nails, aiming for Esil's life.

"You dare say that, low-level demons!"

Esil lightly jumped up to dodge all of those attacks and swung the spear without hesitation.

But the low-level demons snorted and continued to push Eshil.

"Haha! The world has changed a lot to even have divided levels!"

"I never thought the day would come when we would hunt down a demon noble!"

Esil, on the defensive side, gritted her teeth with a look of resentment.

It's been a long time since she has been chased by many demons in the demon realm.

To make matters worse, she was forcibly summoned to Earth in that state of her body, so her power was restricted.

The way to get rid of that restriction is 'possession'.

Those low-level demons had possessed humans stealing their bodies, and they also developed stardust to amplify their power.

A battle between a demon noble with weakened power and a low-level demon with amplified power.

It was obvious who would prevail.

"Ha ha ha! She is pure blood noble! Pureblood!"

"We can make stardust with pure blood!"

[Young Master.]

Beru quietly whispered to Suho's ears.

Suho slipped behind in the midst of a sudden battle.

"Yes. It's time."

Suho nodded and exchanged glances with the hunters on the cart.

The hunters also nodded and secretly moved their bodies.

'Something unexpected happened, but it worked out rather well.'

Their initial plan was this.

1) Infiltration: Wearing a crow mask and black robe, Suho will infiltrate the factory pretending to be the youngest low-level demon.

2) Distraction: After that, Suho will create 'something' inside and attract the demons' attention to himself.

3) Escape: The hunters covered with blood will then rescue the people captured in the factory and escape.

However, the situation right now happened even before Suho made a fuss.

'We will move according to plan.'

All of the hunters on the wagon, including Assistant Lim, possessed 'speed'-related skills.

Swoosh.

Suho, including them, disappeared from the spot at the same time.

They immediately arrived next to the people who were tied up in a corner and shut their mouths.

"Shh."

"...!"

After quickly exchanging glances with them, those who understood the meaning nodded in fear.

Suho tore off the chains that bound them with force.

'Done!'

Lim's heart raced, wanting to run away right away.

'Now all we have to do is put them on our backs and run!'

Right when he carried a civilian on his back.

"Huh?"

One of the low-level demons who was fighting Esil saw the scene.

"Youngest, what are you doing there without fighting?"

A light of doubt flashed in the demon's eyes through the crow's mask.

Instead of answering, Suho shouted.

"Run!"

Dash!

Just in time, the hunters with civilians on their backs rushed out at full speed.

The goal is to reach the exit!

"How dare you!"

At that moment, several demons fighting Esil quickly stopped.

Swish!

The demons rushed towards the hunters.

Suho shouted from behind.

"Don't stop and keep running!"

The hunters spurred on their speed with determined eyes.

The faster the demons moved, the lesser chance the hunters would reach the exit.

'Trust!'

They believed in Suho and kept running.

Suho did not betray them.

"Arise!"

Then.

[Krrrk!]

"...!"

Bite! Bite! Bite!

Bite! Bite! Bite!

The shadow goblins that Suho had planted near the exit rose up from the floor, biting the legs of the demons.

"What...?!"

The demons were startled.

But it was too early to be surprised.

[Kehehehe!]

Shadow Goblins have bad tempers.

They mercilessly cut the demons' ankles with the butchering knives they were holding.

"Slash!"

The bodies of the humans now possessed by demons are indeed weak. Even if their Achilles tendons were just slightly injured, they won't be able to use their strength.

The demons screamed and collapsed on the spot.

'In here!'

The hunters quickly passed by them and eventually succeeded in escaping out of the factory.

Assistant Professor Lim, who was leaving the iron gate for the last time, turned his head and looked at Suho who was left behind.

'Is he really going to be okay?'

Suho understood what he was trying to say just by looking into his eyes, and nodded with a smirk.

Then.

Clang!

The iron door was closed.

3 seconds to escape.

2 seconds for the demons to tear apart the Shadow Goblins and rise again.

5 seconds total.

All plans are going well.

'All that's left is...'

'It is my turn.'

Suho quickly counted the number of demons.

Except for the purple haired demon that was summoned a moment ago.

'A total of 9.'

The problem is that each one of those guys is on a similar level to the 'youngest' he managed to defeat earlier.

But...

'It would be worth it.'

Suho's gaze went down to his own shadow.

Right then.

"Arise."

He called the shadow soldier.

"Broki."

...!

At that moment, a huge shadow rose in front of Suho.

Swoosh!

[Broki Lv.1]

Knight Class

A gigantic hyena beast with its whole body turns into black steam.

This was Suho's initial plan for 'Distraction'.

Although the order was reversed now, it was a better situation for hunting demons.

[Grrrrrr!]

Broki's murderous roar shook the factory.

"W-What?!"

The demons who were onslaught to hunt Esil were greatly taken aback.

"Why is Broki here?!"

"No, something is different..."

The demons already knew Broki, who led the Hyena Guild.

Just up to recently, the Hyena Guild were the ones who had been kidnapping and handing over people as ingredients for stardust to the demons.

This made the situation much better.

Although, problems still remained.

Based on Suho's experience of fighting both Broki and a low-level demon, it was clear that one on one, Broki was stronger than the latter.

However, there are 9 of those demons in front of him.

There was no chance of winning.

How about this?

"Beru!"

[Kieek!]

Evil energy spreads from Beru's small body in all directions.

[Beru uses 'Skill: Harsh Command'.]

['Skill: Harsh Command' increases Broki's stats by 50%.]

[As a side effect of 'Skill: Harsh Command', Broki is cursed with madness.]

[Grrrrr!]

Broki attacked the demons without hesitation.

Blag!

"Ack!"

The demons bounced helplessly from Broki's huge forepaw, which swung like a baseball bat.

Then, Suho's twin swords whirled at those who were dashingly driven into the concrete wall.

'Blade Storm!'

[Use 'Skill: Blade Storm'.]

Swish-!

Suho's body whirled around like a typhoon and drove them away.

[You have killed a low-level demon.]

[Defeat the low-level demons...]

"Haa...Ha..."

Thanks to that, Esil, who was fighting a grueling battle alone, managed to breathe a sigh.

Rather than being relieved, her eyes widened at the sight of Broki raging.

"Is this real ?"

[Grrrrr!]

A black beast that drives demons with its massive body like an anti-tank.

As far as Esil knew, there was only one person in the world who could command a beast that looked like that.

The one who destroyed the demon realm alone long ago.

He who blocked the front and destroyed all demons, eventually overthrowing the King of Demons, Baran.

That frightening and great name.

"... Sung Jinwoo is here?!"

Esil's face, which had been exuding frost-like aura all along, suddenly brightened.

She hurriedly looked around to find Sung Jinwoo.

"Where?! Where are you? Jin..."

She finally found...

"...woo?"

Although it wasn't Sung Jinwoo.

A face very similar to Sung Jinwoo in his childhood.

"Ehh?"

Esil tilted her head.

[Long time no see.]

Beru slowly appeared in front of Esil.

"Is... Is that you, Beru?!"

Esil was surprised to see Beru's changed appearance after a long time.

"Why are you so small?"

The Beru she remembers was a demon more terrible than the one who took the lead in slaughtering his enemies by the side of Sung Jinwoo.

For some reason, Beru's current form had changed into a cute figure the size of a fist.

On the other hand, Beru was equally curious.

[You have gotten a lot weaker. What happened?]

"Hehe. I had a hard time."

Esil laughed and whimpered even while shedding blood.

Beru snorted as if that figure was pathetic.

[Your carefree personality is still the same despite being on the verge of dying.]

"As long as I'm still alive, that's what matters. Hahaha."

[What happened in the demon realm...]

Thud.

Esil collapsed to the ground even before Beru could finish his words.

The moment he saw Beru, all the tension she was feeling got relieved.

Esil whimpered while lying flat on the floor and called out to Beru.

"Beru, I really feel like dying, can you heal me?"

[Too bothersome.]

"Why?"

[It's a waste of mana.]

Seeing Beru's sudden refusal, Esil realized.

"Ahh. Are you weak too?"

[Kieek! I am not!]

Beru answered irritatedly.

Meanwhile, Suho's battle continued.

[You have killed a low-level demon.]

[You have killed a low-level demon.]

[Vulcan' Horn devoured a demon's soul.]

[Vulcan' Horn devoured a demon's soul.]

...

The situation was already almost leaning towards Suho.

The Harsh Command, which increased Broki's ability by a whopping 50%, had a much higher amplification effect than stardust.

In addition, the more demons were killed, the stronger Suho became.

[Devoured Demon Soul: 3]

[Devoured Demon Soul: 4]

...

[Effect 'Destruction Desire': Increases physical damage by [33%].

[Effect 'Destruction Desire': Increases physical damage by [34%].

...

[Your level increased!]

[Your level increased!]

"Keep it up!"

Slash.

Suho's sword decapitated the last demon.

Just like that, Suho's level reached exactly level 20.

Great.

Ring!

[Your level has exceeded 20, so you can use 'Shop: Purchase'.]

"Huh?"

After checking the message that arrived, Suho tilted his head.

"There's a shop system, too?"