Solo Leveling: Ragnarok - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

It was about a year ago that the name of the Hyena Guild became widely known.
It is said that they were originally backstreet bullies who were active in the Gwacheon area. But after awakening, stories said that they were originally from a popular group of gangsters, exaggerating their past history.
Indeed, it was a shallow bluff, but after they became awakened, they committed a lot of real gangster-like activities.
Such as making debts against low-level hunters for usury.
As a condition for foregoing the interest, they throw them into a dungeon and have them pickaxe without pay.
It would have been unimaginable now, but at that time, there was no Hunter Association. There were no hunter-related laws to prevent their evil deeds.
While researching about them, Suho found out a strange fact.
All of them, who were only bullies in the neighborhood, awakened almost at the same time.
Even the place where it happened- at Gwanaksan.
’Does that make sense?’
Suho felt puzzled.
A year ago, a dungeon break broke out in Gwanaksan.
The porters who came to bury the bodies in Gwanaksan ordered by the gangsters ’accidentally’ all awakened.
And right away, they created a group called the Hyena Guild. They took control of the Gwanaksan field, and were making money by mining mana stones.
Until now, a year later.
’It’s just too coincidental.’
Opinions were still divided as to the reason for those ordinary people to awaken their magical powers.
There were talks about heredity.
Some are saying that it was pure luck, like winning the lottery or the chance of being struck by lightning.
These guesses could have been all bullshit, or they could have been all right.
For some it’s heredity, for others it’s luck.
In the end, it was said that if the awakening came in any way, this ability would be obtained.
’After all, nothing quite makes sense anymore.’
It seemed that the Hyena Guild members awakened because they drank the blood of the canine clan.
If so, it would be understandable that they awakened at the same time.
‘The problem is that there is a separate canine clan that is said to have given that blood…’
Suho doesn’t know if it’s good luck or bad luck, but he thought he would soon find out who the canine clan really was.
Because right now, a tremendous sense of intimidation was emerging out of the gate.

[Grrrrr.]

Chills!
The breath of a terrifying beast.
The vicious life inside it shook the air of Gwanaksan covered with blue mist.
“…!”
At that blatant and obvious presence, Suho turned to the gate as he was fighting the werewolves.
[Young Master, it is dangerous.]
Beru climbed onto Suho’s shoulder and hurriedly whispered.
Beru’s expression changed.
[We need to get away from here as soon as possible. With an opponent like this… Young Master can’t handle it yet!]
It wasn’t that easy.

[‘Skill: Extreme Command’ increases the abilities of werewolves by 50%.]
[As a side effect of ‘Skill: Extreme Command’, werewolves are cursed with madness.]
“Kyaoooo!”
Suddenly, the werewolves that Suho was dealing with grew in size and their movements became incredibly fast and powerful.
Their madness started to put more pressure on Suho.
“Roar! Do you think I’ll let you run away?!”
“Die!”
Grrrrrrr!
“Ah! Kill that bastard!”
Slash! Thud!
[Young Master!]
“Ack!”
Suho’s body began to accumulate wounds at a rapid rate due to the unprecedented situation.

[‘Skill: Endurance’ level increased!]
[Physical Defense +20% → +40%]
It’s good that the skill level has risen, but that doesn’t mean the battle has become easier.
-Tsk. I knew this would happen so I warned you from the beginning. The closer you get to the sanctuary, the more dangerous it is.
Rakan’s Sword was displeased.
-This energy… Apparently, not only artifacts lived here, but also filthy hybrids.
”Hybrid?”
Suho, who managed to take down a werewolf, asked back.
-Yes. The great canine clan had numerous tribes following it. There was one of them that gave off this dirty aura.
It was then.
Swoosh.

[Grrrrrr!]

The roar of a bloody beast shook Gwanaksan.
-…Right. That’s him. Broki, the head of the hyena clan.
Just then, a huge monster appeared outside the gate.
“…!”
Messy mane, mottled pattern, pointy teeth.
A hyena the size of a house appeared.

[Extreme Commander Broki]
A red name tag appeared above his head.
That color meant one thing.
That hyena is a monster with power that Suho could not dare to handle.
‘…The boss of the dungeon was alive.’
Suho shuddered at the pressure he felt from him.
Apparently, the Hyena Guild had been intentionally hiding information about this place for a year.
A field-type dungeon with boss mobs is a disaster in itself.
If the other hunters knew this fact, they wouldn’t have left this place alone until now.
’Is this the reason why the guild’s name was Hyena?’
It was really odd.
The hunters who had to hunt the monsters would rather be the servants of the monsters.
Catching humans and offering them as food?
Clench.
Suho, who grasped the situation, gritted his teeth.
Seeing that, the giant hyena opened its mouth and yawned.
He then recognized Rakan’s Sword in Suho’s hand and giggled.
[I had been feeling this familiar energy? Was it Rakan’s Sword?]
-… Broki.
[What’s it like? How come that the great Beast Monarch’s remains is being held captive by a mere human?]
Rakan’s Sword felt humiliated.
Even at this moment, he is caught in Suho’s hand and is swinging around like crazy. Of all the ones, why did it have to be Broki?
-It wasn’t easy for you to become like that. Have you lost all your original strength?
[Isn’t it just the same for both you and me as defeated soldiers who lost their monarch?]
’It looks like the two of them aren’t close.’
Even at this moment, Suho was still fighting fiercely against the werewolves.
The problem is that even after killing all the wolves, that hyena still remains.
No matter how much the defeated soldiers who lost their monarch lost their original strength and became weak, Suho was still much weaker than them.
’But I don’t intend to die quietly.’
Even in this bleak situation, Suho kept his fierce eyes.
Slash-!

[You have killed a werewolf.]
[Number of enemies to be defeated: 10]
[Number of enemies killed: 9]
Only one werewolf left.
But Broki didn’t even bat an eye at the sight of his minions dying.
[Tsk. Weak guys. Can’t even stand a single human.]
Rather, he laughed at their deaths and spoke to the sword in Suho’s hand.
[Alright. Rakan’s Sword, join me to kill that human. Just in case you need a useful one, I’ll be your new master.]
-Bullshit. A mongrel like you dares to become my master? My master is only Rakan-nim.
[Isn’t Rakan already dead?]
-W-What? How dare you!
[Hahaha. Don’t be angry. If you’re weak, you die. The one who survives is the strongest. Just like me.]
Rakan’s Sword erupted in anger at Broki’s mocking laugh.
It shouted at Suho.
-Human! Kill him right now! Insert my blade into the throat of that bastard who insulted Rakan!
[Kyahahaha! You sound funny. Try whatever you want! Such a weak…]
Before he could finish his words, Rakan’s Sword lunged from Suho’s hand.
Slash!
-…!
The cold blade of the sword lodged in Broki’s throat, who was laughing.
[Kheeuuk…?]
In an instant, an airy voice escaped from Broki’s mouth.
Suho appeared in his widened field of vision.
The man stood in a calm posture looking at the beast.
With his other hand, he grabbed the remaining one by the neck.
“Are you okay?”
Broki’s eyes curved like crescent moons.
[…You’re interesting.]
Even with Rakan’s Sword stuck in his neck, he had a relaxed expression.
[But you can’t kill me with just this kind of attack…]
”I know. But I can still make it painful.”
Suho clenched his hand.
’Ruler’s Power.’
Swoosh.
’Twist.’
At that moment, Rakan’s Sword stuck in Broki’s neck started spinning like a drill on the spot.
Fiercely.
Krrkrrkrrk-!
[Kheheuk?!]
The pain Broki felt in his neck startled him as he struggled.
’Faster.’
More fiercely.
Krrkrrkrrk-!
[Accckk!]
’More!’
Deeper!

[‘Skill: Blade Storm’ has been used.]
Grumble-!
[Arrrgghhh! This is-!]
Rakan’s Sword whirled around like a storm and burrowed into Broki’s body!
The more he did, the more Broki struggled in pain.
-…I’m enjoying this, bastard.
Suho could hear the delight in Rakan’s Sword’s voice.
-Is it really okay to do this?
It was still absolutely impossible to kill Broki at the current level of Suho.
No matter how much Broki became weaker than before, his regenerative power far exceeded Suho’s attack power.
But…
It was refreshing.

’Isn’t Rakan already dead?’

How dare he!
A servant who insults the death of his master, the great beast monarch!
It was a sin that would not be forgiven even if he was to be beheaded right away!
But the reality is that he had to be content with just giving him that much pain.
Eventually…
[Aaaaccckkk! You bastard! I’m going to kill-!]
Suho received all of Broki’s wrath.
Grumble!
Broki, who had become a wounded beast, stomped his feet, spewing ferocious flesh.
His strength is so great that Gwanaksan shook!
[Kyaaoooo!]
A huge pressure like a rock hit Suho.
It was then.
-…I’m sorry. But, thank you for protecting the last pride of a defeated soldier.
The determined voice of Rakan’s Sword echoed.
Rattle!
[Keukreuk?!]
Broki’s body, which was about to trample on Suho, temporarily stopped.
[Rakan’s Sword, You bastard-! Ack!]
Rakan’s Sword, which forcibly controlled his movements inside his body, urgently shouted to Suho.
-Run away! I’ll try to buy some time!
However…
Suho didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.
Slash!
Just then, the last werewolf died in Suho’s hand.

[Number of enemies killed: 10]
Then the messages followed.
Ring.

[You have completed ‘Urgent Quest: Defeat the Enemies’.]
Ring.

[Your level increased!]
Ring.

[The following rewards are prepared.]
Reward 1. Ability Points +5
Reward 2. Title: ‘Wolf Slayer’
“Accept the reward.”

Ring.

[‘Title: Wolf Slayer’ has been acquired.]
Thuck.
Suho picks up a weapon used by werewolves from the floor.
With two swords in each hand, Suho’s eyes flashed like a hunter’s.
At that moment.

[Title: Wolf Slayer]
A title given to hunters who are good at catching wolves. All stats increase by 40% when facing beast type monsters.
“The hunt begins.”
Suho’s whole body was engulfed in intense contemplation.