Solo Leveling: Ragnarok - Chapter 1

In that dream, Suho had to fight for his life with the monsters without knowing why.

There were armored knights and ant legions that endlessly blocked his way, and a giant dragon that appeared after.

Upon killing those monsters, he leveled up, just like in games.

Even if he dies, everything would instantly reset.

He had to go back to the beginning and restart everything from level 1.

The only way out of that dream was to somehow survive and reach the final boss’s room.

After fighting non-stop like that, he managed to reach that room and to his surprise, the face of the final boss…

‘Resembles my father.’

Smirk.

Suho smiled bitterly saying that it was just an absurd dream in his puberty.

However, from some point on, he never dreamed of it again.

‘That’s probably…around that time.’

Yes, to be exact, summer in the 10th grade.

Ever since his parents went missing.

…Suho’s daily peaceful life collapsed.

* * *Around that time.

Unusual things were happening in the corner of the museum building.

“You left them here?”

“Yes, Senior. The assistant professor told me to keep them here.”

Squeak.

The Art Department students opened the door to collect the paintings.

Their eyes widened as they saw ‘it’.

“Huh?”

Crackle! Crackle!

A black portal floating in the air.

“Ack! Isn’t that a Gate?!”

“Hurry and report it!”

The students panicked and backed away.

One took out his cell phone with trembling hands to report it right away, but the 4th Year senior urgently stopped him.

“Calm down! It’s a closed gate!”

“Ah, that’s right. The blue mist hasn’t come out yet.”

“Yeah. The dungeon break is still a long way off.”

“Ha. That freaked me out.”

They sighed in relief upon their late realization.

Dungeon Break is a term used to refer to the phenomenon of monsters pouring out of the gate.

The appearance of a Gate does not immediately trigger a dungeon break.

Prior to that, a “blue mist” flows out of the gate and pollutes the surrounding area, so that the gate could open and monsters could come out.

“That means, we’re still safe. Hehe.”

“S-Senior. Why are you laughing like that? It’s still dangerous. Shouldn’t we report it immediately?”

“You idiots. Haven’t you heard the rumor? You can be ‘awakened’ if you consume the blue mist.”

“Ah!”

The senior’s words made the juniors’ ears perk up.

The composition of the blue mist has not yet been clarified.

However, such a rumor spread secretly on the Internet like an urban legend.

The mist was actually a vaporized magic, and it was rumored that even ordinary people could awaken their magic skills immediately by consuming it.

“Wasn’t that just a nonsense rumor?”

“It wasn’t proven to be a baseless rumor.”

“Well.”

“Hehe. So, let’s check it out this time. Who knows? There might be an S-class Hunter among us.”

“…!”

The junior’s eyes changed rapidly due to the senior’s words.

The unimaginable amount earned by S-Class hunters came to their minds.

Since the corpses of the demons and the ores of the dungeon became popular as new materials, the job of a hunter who can sweep all the goods has become a symbol of wealth and glory.

However, it has been only two years since the cataclysm occurred.

It was not clear yet how to awaken one’s magical power.

“Besides, you guys know that Assistant Professor Lim awakened as an E-Class hunter, right?”

“Of course. He always grumbled that he couldn’t make money because he was an E-class hunter. That’s why he’s working as an assistant professor for the semester.”

“Tsk, tsk. You’re really clueless. That’s a lie, man. Do you know how much one earns just by entering the dungeon as a mining team?”

“How much?”

The senior spoke in a low voice as if revealing a huge secret, and immediately after that, the eyes of the juniors widened.

“What? They earn that much?”

“Even for E-Class hunters?”

“That’s right, dude. You’re lucky enough if you become a low level hunter. Are you still going to blow this great opportunity? Huh?”

“Wow, being a hunter is really the best. I mean, why is Professor Lim still stuck in here if he’s earning that much?”

“He probably wanted to make money in the dungeon and spend it on art. There’s nothing better than being a professor in order to see a lot of artworks.”

“That’s really awesome.”

E-Class income became much more persuasive than S-class awakening, which was said to be much rarer than winning the lottery.

After the senior’s continued persuasion, the juniors quietly put down their hands holding their cell phones.

“Well, hmmm. It’s still safe for a while after the blue mist appears…”

“S-So, shall we wait for it? Just for a while?”

“You punks. Now we’re talking. Besides, it’s a once in a lifetime experience. As soon as the mist comes out, take just one sip and report it. There won’t be any danger.”

After some time.

Finally, a blue mist began to seep out from the gate.

* * *Rumble!

The building suddenly started to shake.

‘Huh?’

Suho, who was in the exhibition hall, raised his head.

‘What’s that? Earthquake?’

Something is weird.

It feels like the entire space is shaking.

However, Suho was the only one who felt the change. No one in the exhibition hall noticed this.

It was then.

Thud.

“Uhh.”

A student was scurrying into the exhibition hall.

Assistant Professor Lim, who was near the entrance, approached him and talked to him.

“Youngchul, why did you come so late when I told you to go to the warehouse and…”

“I-I…tried to stop him.”

“…Youngchul?”

“S-Senior keep on…”

“Park Youngchul?”

“He kept on…”

Chills.

‘Something’s wrong.’

After checking Yeongchul’s condition up close, assistant professor Lim’s expression hardened.

His eyes are wandering and lost while he’s trembling.

He keeps muttering nonsense.

“Park Youngchul? What’s that in your mouth?”

After professor Lim asked him, Youngchul finally came to his awareness.

Swoosh.

Before he knew it, blue smoke was slowly leaking out of his mouth and nose.

“Ah, t-this shouldn’t…be happening. Ack.”

Youngchul was embarrassed and covered his mouth with his hand.

But, the more he did, the more smoke came out between his fingers.

Then.

Roar!

Along with the hot air, blue smoke swallowed Youngchul’s body.

“Professor!”

Just in time, Suho, who ran from behind, pulled professor Lim’s body away.

“Ack! It’s hot…!”

“…!”

Professor Lim stepped back and opened his eyes wide.

Youngchul’s body was engulfed in blue smoke and began to burn.

“Kyaaaah!”

“W-What is that?!”

Students nearby witnessed the terrible sight and screamed in horror.

It was then.

Wiiiiiiiing-!

The school alarm rang through the school speakers.

[This is an emergency!]

Students began mumbling.

[A gate has appeared in our school!]

“…?!”

“G-Gate?”

[The current identified location of the gate is at the museum building…!]

“Fuck! It’s in this place!”

“Aaack!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Panic arised.

Students started to run for their lives.

Seeing a person burn to death right in front of their eyes, the horror was indescribable.

However, there was one problem in getting out.

The place where Yeongchul’s body was burning was in the middle of the exhibition hall entrance.

They had to pass by body to get out.

Roar!

One of the students running ahead was startled by the heat and flinched.

‘Where are the other exits…?’

He hurriedly looked around, but there was nowhere to be found.

There’s only one exit.

While the students are frightened and wandering around.

[Keeuuhhh…]

Something unbelievable happened.

“Huh?”

“T-That person…!”

Yeongchul’s body, which had turned into a lump of charcoal, was getting up again.

As it was engulfed in blue smoke.

“W-Wait. Is that perhaps…?”

Professor Lim’s eyes widened at the sight.

“Monster! Get out of there right now!”

Professor Lim shouted urgently.

[Keuhaaa!]

But, it was too late.

With the magic of blue mist, the demonic monster took Youngchul’s body as a wick and swung its arms like a whip.

Blag-!

“Ack!”

The students’ bodies rolled on the floor while vomiting blood.

As the blue smoke clung to their clothes, their bodies also began to burn hot.

“Ack! Fire! Fire!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Students scattered in panic.

There are desperate cries and screams everywhere.

“It’s a monster. A Mist Burn…”

Professor Lim hurriedly took out his cell phone

Mist Burn is not something an E-Class hunter could handle alone.

Suho hurriedly asked Assistant Professor Lim, who sent a request for support.

“Mist Burn? What kind of monster is that?”

“Once we get hit by that creature…”

Professor Lim bit his lip.

“We’ll turn into something like him.”

[Grrrr!]

With that, the bodies of the students attacked by Mist Burn were on their feet again, surrounded with blue smoke.