Solo Leveling
These days, the Starting Village was buzzing with unprecedented energy.
"Haha! I scored a seriously expensive item this time!"
A mysterious dungeon had suddenly appeared. Until now, the Starting Village had just been a rest stop for newbies, but now it had a new goal. As long as they didn't die, that was a win. Wanderers who used to content themselves with smacking rabbits and weak monsters on the Starting Plains were suddenly gripped by greed.
Enter the dungeon. Find even one item there, and they wouldn't have to worry about money for a while.
Erika quietly listened in as senior wanderers bragged about their hauls at the Sun Inn, hoping to pick up some advanced info she didn't know about.
"For real? There was really nothing?"
She perked up at an overheard snippet.
"Yeah! We got to the boss room, and there was no boss."
The guy looked seriously pissed. Erika was shocked by Shamel's words. No boss? That couldn't be.
The hottest topic in the Starting Village right now was the brand-new dungeon that hadn't even been named yet. And everyone's focus was on the dungeon boss.
"Someone already beat it first?"
Beating a dungeon boss dropped rare materials and items with a chance. Their value? Enough to buy a whole rural village.
But Shamel shook his head.
"Dunno."
"What? How do you not know?"
His friend looked baffled, and Shamel scratched his head irritably.
"No Return Stone anywhere in the boss room."
Clearing a dungeon by killing the boss usually left a Return Stone in the boss room, teleporting you straight out. No stone meant the dungeon wasn't cleared.
"Maybe it wasn't the boss room? Could be somewhere else."
That made sense at first.
"Checked everywhere on the way out, just in case. Nothing."
Was he just blind? Everyone wondered—until Shamel's next words convinced them.
"And why would the dungeon boss let us walk out unscathed?"
True. To a boss, wanderers were intruders storming its home. No monster was that nice after you invaded its turf.
Conclusion: The boss was really gone.
Shamel's crowd let out hollow laughs at the absurd end. But one person wasn't laughing.
'No boss in the dungeon...?'
Erika, eavesdropping, thought quietly. No guardian boss meant it was safe for newbies like her.
'Maybe I should check it out...?'
Of course, she had no idea what simple curiosity would lead to.
I'd hit a snag out of nowhere. Who'd have thought a level limit would block entry?
But it wasn't a total bust. The cave was pretty big, minus that key door.
Winding, uneven floors. Dank and gross, but I still scored.
"Found it!"
Clack clack!
Spotted a new chest—I bolted over, thrilled. Rickety old wooden box.
Kreeeak!
That creepy-familiar sound as backdrop, I inspected the contents.
A pathetic little dagger sat inside.
◈ A short dagger made of iron.
Bummer this time. But no disappointment—I'd already hit paydirt.
"Jackpot!"
Clack clack!
I examined the two items in my hands.
◈ A bronze helmet covered in rust. Shows age, but seems sturdy enough.
◈ A ring infused with shadow energy. Eliminates all presence while holding your breath.
Time to ditch the holey leather helmet. Slapped on the archaeological bronze one—looking sharp now. Hung the Earring of Serenity on it too, then slipped the Shadow Ring on a finger.
How good was the presence wipe? Holding breath? No issue for me. No heart, no lungs—breathing's not my thing anyway.
"Keeek!"
Something ruined the mood behind me.
Shwick!
Tested the new ring: held breath, snuck up, sliced a shadow bug's neck. Its head rolled clueless and aggrieved. Pretty effective—I got right behind it undetected.
Shook blood off the Drake Soul Sword. Hot life force soaked the cold floor. Watching the shadow bug's blood seep in, a question hit me.
Why no level-ups from these mobs? I'd killed tons, but stuck at 38. Killing humans levels me. Bosses with Soul Stones give a bit. What's the difference? Common thread?
Only Tree-blessed beings level up? Come to think of it, every floor's mobs were same level. Too uniform, like designed.
Who made this dungeon? Watchman's memory: some nameless mage made him boss. No face, gender. Just called "mage."
I eyed the inner door. Level-locked. Stared a while, then left disappointed.
"Huh? Out already?"
Gular eyed me curiously back in the skeleton knight room.
Explained the deal.
"Level. Blocked!"
Clack.
Clack clack!
Level limit stopped me.
"So what was in that cave?"
'Shadow bugs. Giant fly-lookalikes everywhere.'
"Clack clack."
"Shadow bugs... Never heard of 'em."
Even renowned alchemist Gular? Rare ones, then.
Recalled their look: huge eye half the face, short black fur everywhere.
"......"
Yeah, rare for good reason. World full of those? Nightmare. Stay buried in that cave forever.
'Oh right, grabbed one just in case. Want it?'
Pulled the bagged shadow bug head from my pouch.
"...Nah, I'm good. Get that outta my sight!"
Mountain of a skeleton freaking out. I cackled, waving the head around.
Mid-prank, tap on my back.
"Waaah—."
Karen, mouth wide, pointing at it.
Wants to eat this? ...For real?
Shook it in front of her again. She drooled nonstop, eyes locked.
Tossed it her way, dubious.
"Waaang!"
True to glutton ghoul form, she tore into it full throttle. Creepy at first... then oddly touching.
Undead body needs no food. Forgot what eating feels like.
Karen? Blissed out, devouring away.
Somehow... jealous—
Craving has activated...
Whoa, cool it.
Skill canceled due to item effect.
Ignored the kinda mopey message and yelled at Gular.
"Level up!"
Focus on that for now. Two ways: kill strong mobs with Soul Stones—done most bosses here, so no. Outside? Sunlight burns.
"Sunlight. Hurts."
Clack clack.
Still remembered turning red-hot.
Last option: kill humans. Specifically, hunt wanderers.
"Lure 'em here? Kidnap from the dungeon."
Gular's wild idea.
Solid—no wandering dungeon, fight on my turf.
How?
"Trust me!"
He looked reliable, shouting confidently.
*
Gular's plan was simpler than expected. Rig traps around the dungeon to summon catches here. No ganks, no time waste. Perfect 1v1s. Level slow and steady.
I was impressed.
You genius?
"Kekeke! I'm pretty great!"
Remembered the thumbs-up. Smart guy learns fast.
"Ready?"
"Do it!"
Clack clack!
Prep done, Gular shouted. He gestured weirdly, muttering.
Wooong.
Blue beam erupted mid-room. Trap sprung.
A dazed woman stood there post-light.
Welcome. First time with the dungeon boss?
Lounging half on a chair, max boss vibe—she spotted me and yelled in shock.
"H-Human Hunter...!"
"......?"
Her instant recognition threw me. Human Hunter? What's that?
She knew me somehow. Made sense—I'd rampaged before entering. Got a weird nickname?
Human Hunter... Kinda cool!
Infamy felt good. But playtime over.
Stood from chair, crooked a finger at the tense girl.
"Come at me."
Clack clack.
Let's see what you got.