Solo Leveling: Monarch of knowledge

If you love solo leveling, i wrote 5 chapters of a side project for free on Patreon, i used that fic to see if i learned the mistakes i did here.

Note: No I'm not dropping this story, I'm just writing to improve 🥸

Here's the synopsis and no it doesn't take word count:

Assane, a guy who gave up trying in life gets reincarnated into solo leveling with only a keyboard linked to his soul that he can control with his mind.

...

I'm writing this story just because i recently read a new manhwa that had an amazing idea but trash execution, and since this has been bugging me i decided to just write without care.

(Manhwa name: Awakened Fighting Gamer's Real Life Conquest)

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Adam walked into the living room, his steps silent as his eyes fell on the printer. The process had completed, and the spear sat neatly in the output tray, its sleek form illuminated by the faint glow of the printer's mana conduits.

The spear was simple, its length no more than 180 centimeters, designed with purpose over aesthetics. Adam approached and carefully lifted it, the weapon fitting perfectly in his hands.

He spun it lightly, testing its balance. The movement was fluid, precise, and eerily quiet. Not a single sound escaped as the spear cut through the air. Adam smiled faintly, satisfied. The design was deliberate, crafted to be soundless and highly aerodynamic.

'If you can't sense or hear an attack coming, you're cooked.' Adam thought, running his hand along the shaft.

The spear's blade gleamed faintly under the light, its craftsmanship a testament to both the printer's precision, Awà's calculations as well Adam humane creativity. It wasn't ornate or flashy, there were no unnecessary engravings or decorations.

The blade's edges were sharp and clean, a deadly curve designed for both piercing and slashing. The material had been reinforced with the D-Rank goblin boss's bones, fused with mana-infused alloys, ensuring durability and lethality.

Adam admired its simplicity. Every aspect of the spear was practical, built for speed, power, and efficiency. The shaft was smooth but provided enough grip for control, and its weight distribution allowed for seamless movement.

He gave the spear another spin, this time faster, watching as it moved with precision, the tip tracing invisible arcs in the air. Even at high speed, there was no resistance, no sound, only deadly silence.

Satisfied, Adam planted the butt of the spear on the floor, leaning on it slightly as he inspected the blade one last time. 'This is it.' he thought. 'Not a weapon for show. A weapon for conquest.'

He looked at the spear for a moment longer before nodding to himself. It wasn't the ultimate weapon, but for now, it was more than enough. A tool that matched his current abilities and the foundation he was building.

'Time to see how it performs.' Adam thought, gripping the spear firmly and turning his gaze toward the window. There were dungeons to explore, knowledge to gather, and power to refine.

....

Adam grabbed a set of plain, durable clothes and tossed them into the printer. 'Awà, make me a simple tactical armor. Lightweight, comfortable, and practical. No unnecessary details.'

[Understood, Host.] Awà responded. [Processing materials. Expected completion time: five minutes.]

The printer whirred to life, the soft glow of mana illuminating its sleek frame as the process began. Satisfied, Adam left it to work and headed to the kitchen. He pulled out some eggs, bread, and a carton of milk, quickly assembling a simple breakfast.

As he ate, he flipped on the TV mounted on the wall. The news anchor's urgent tone immediately caught his attention.

"This morning, the Lion Guild entered the A-Rank gate in northern France as planned. However, the situation took an unexpected turn. The gate turned crimson red the moment the guild members entered, sealing off its entrance and cutting off all communication with those inside."

Adam froze, his fork halfway to his mouth.

The screen showed live footage of the gate, now glowing ominously with crimson hues, its surface crackling with energy. Reporters crowded the scene, their voices clamoring for answers.

"This is a Red Gate incident." the anchor continued. "A rare and catastrophic event that has sent shockwaves across the global hunter community. Experts are now scrambling to assess the situation, but as many know, Red Gates are unpredictable and incredibly dangerous."

Adam leaned back in his chair, his mind immediately racing. He remembered watching the original announcement two days ago, when the Lion Guild confidently declared their intention to clear the gate. He hadn't expected things to go so horribly wrong.

He frowned, recalling everything he knew about these rare phenomena.

'A Red Gate...' he thought, his brow furrowing. 'Once someone walks through, the entrance seals completely, cutting off any chance for backup or escape. No one can enter, no one can leave.'

The conditions for reopening were brutal, unforgiving. 'The gate only opens if the boss is defeated, every hunter inside is killed, or the dungeon breaks and monsters pour out into the world. There's no middle ground.'

His eyes shifted to the TV, where live footage of the ominous crimson glow filled the screen. 'The lowest difficulty for a Red Gate is B-Rank, but it could be much worse. If they don't have enough A-Rank hunters, the odds are stacked against them.'

He rubbed his chin, his thoughts growing darker. 'And the environment... That's what makes these gates so much worse. It's not just the monsters. It could be a scorching desert, freezing tundra, or something else entirely. If the hunters don't die to monsters, frostbite, heatstroke, or starvation will finish the job.'

Adam's gaze turned toward the window, watching the faint breeze sway the leaves outside. He sighed. 'Time dilation only makes it worse. One day inside equals an hour outside. They could spend weeks or even months trapped, fighting, and struggling while the world barely moves on without them.'

The unpredictability of Red Gates gnawed at him. 'No way to detect them beforehand, no way to measure their mana levels once they seal. They look like ordinary blue gates until it's too late. There's no preparation for something like this. It's pure chaos.'

Adam tapped the table, his thoughts racing. 'Even for an elite guild like the Lion Guild, this isn't something you walk into and expect to survive easily.'

Adam sighed, placing his fork down. The situation was grim, but his mind quickly turned to the potential opportunity. Red Gates were infamous, not just for their lethality, but for the knowledge they held. The monsters inside were stronger, the mana more chaotic, and the rewards far greater.

'This could be my chance to gather information and prevent unnecessary deaths.' Adam thought, finishing his meal.

He stood, his resolve hardening as he cleaned up his plate and walked toward the living room. The printer had completed its work, the tactical armor resting neatly on the output tray.

Adam grabbed his phone from the counter and scrolled through his contacts. Pausing for a moment, he tapped on a number and brought the phone to his ear.

The phone rang twice before Marie picked up, her voice sharp but laced with her usual smugness. "Adam? Why are you calling me this early? Don't tell me you've fallen for my charm already." She laughed, an almost arrogant edge to her tone.

Adam deadpanned, his voice flat. "Not in the slightest."

Her laughter stopped abruptly, and he could practically hear her rolling her eyes. "Alright, fine. What's the reason for this call?"

"I'm ready to take the awakening evaluation." Adam replied simply.

The air on the other side of the call shifted immediately. Marie's tone became serious, all traces of humor vanishing. "You're not joking?"

"I'm not." Adam said firmly.

Marie let out a slow breath. "Alright. Meet me at the Hunter Association building. I'll make the arrangements."

"Understood." Adam ended the call without another word, slipping the phone back into his pocket.

He glanced back at the tactical armor resting in the printer's output tray, then at the spear leaning against the wall. Everything was falling into place.

"Time to take the second official step." Adam thought as he grabbed the armor and began preparing to leave.

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