Solo Max-Level Newbie

Cheon Yuseong, Teresa, Frey, and Yuasis released their unique abilities.

Wooooong!

A brilliant light burst forth, accompanied by tremendous magical power.

“Calling the troops to stand by… and then connecting the dimensions, was it?”

Hound slowly opened his mouth.

He had anticipated traps, but not this kind of hidden agenda.

However.

Such a response was fleeting.

“So what are you going to do? You think the situation will change with this?”

Unless they were facing hundreds or thousands of troops, to the Old Guard, this level was hardly worth calling an ambush.

They were too familiar with chaotic battles and multiple enemies. It had become part of their daily routine.

If there was one particularly troublesome foe…

A doll with blue hair.

‘Homunculus… There were rumors that it would appear at the auction, and it seems it was completed after all.’

Indeed. As long as he stays cautious of that single entity, no variables would matter.

Clang!

Hound drew his greatsword.

Kukukukuku!

A sinister aura enveloped the blade.

“Damn. What’s with that formidable one?”

Cheon Yuseong immediately asked.

“Hm? What are you talking about?”

“What do you mean, what? Suddenly this manager named Rick says to prepare because the enemy is going to come. And now all these monstrous things have swarmed in!”

Hmm… that?

“Don’t worry about it. They look intimidating, but they won’t pose any real threat to you.”

Jinhyuk made light of the situation, but Cheon Yuseong didn’t seem amused.

The magic power touching his skin was not just prickly, but painfully so.

It was hard to gauge how strong the enemies that had arrived were.

“It won’t be easy to face them one-on-one.”

Teresa also added her comment.

She had considered activating ‘Corruption,’ but she wasn’t confident that it would be enough to properly deal with even one of them.

“It seems that the transformation of the ruins is related to these individuals. The residual magic power… is similar. Chillingly so.”

Finally, Yuasis analyzed the magical power emanating from the bodies of the Old Guard members.

Regardless of the details.

As their goals overlapped, battle was inevitable.

“Kill them. Except for Kang Jinhyuk, kill all.”

With Hound’s command, the intense battle began.

＊＊＊

Kwaang! Bang! Bang! Kwaang!

Magic clashed against magic.

Cheon Yuseong unfolded the forms of the Chucheon Sword, exchanging blows with the Old Guard’s Selly.

Within a mere ten seconds, dozens of sword strikes were exchanged.

It was a sequence of swift swordsmanship too fast for afterimages to be properly perceived.

“You’re pretty good. For a human, that is.”

A sneer formed at the corner of Selly’s mouth.

“You’re annoyingly fast yourself.”

Cheon Yuseong clenched his teeth so hard they could break.

Even using his fastest forms, the opponent had casually read and countered every move.

This feeling… he hadn’t experienced it since battling that cursed old-timer.

Kakakakang!

Once again, the sword split the air.

Sparks scattered, leaving trails in the void.

“If you are as strong as this, you would have realized during our exchanges that continuing any further is pointless.”

“That’s… true. Frankly, I don’t even have the faintest hope of winning.”

The stronger one was, the more accustomed they became to gauging the gap between their abilities and those of their opponent.

Knowing one’s own level, it sharpened their ability to predict the outcome of battles.

However.

Cheon Yuseong gripped his sword with both hands.

Hundreds. No, thousands of times.

He had challenged and been met with frustration.

He had downed countless bitter cups of defeat in pursuit of a single victory.

Perhaps because of that?

“I don’t know about anything else… but in terms of tenacity in the face of death, I’m above that bastard.”

Patzatz…

A beautiful melody began to emanate from the sword.

Sword qi and sword force melded together,

Throughout the climb of the Tower,

In order to surpass a single rival,

Everything he had built up was set aflame.

“…!!”

Selly crossed her two swords.

Kwakwakwakwa!

A mountainous strike pounded down upon the blades.

The force, not fully deflected, sent shockwaves through the body.

“The title of ‘Sword Saint’ is indeed an unworthy honor for me. You are right, there are countless foes I cannot overcome even now.”

Cheon Yuseong immediately prepared the next form.

Movements naturally flowed like water, forming a merger into one massive sword.

Kukukukuku!

The power imbued in the sword deepened even further.

And, with each attack Selly received, her feet were digging slightly more into the ground.

“But today, I will overcome you and rise to a place worthy of that title with my own power.”

“…Presumptuous brat…”

The swords danced once more.

＊＊＊

“Tch. Selly, that bastard, struggling.”

Blackrock clicked his tongue as he nocked an arrow.

The sight of someone unable to subdue a mere swordsman was exasperating.

“Finish the two of them quickly. The face of Old Guard won’t look good if we drag on with these weaklings.”

There were two enemies.

Teresa and Yuasis.

A versatile dealer capable of tanking and healing, and a long-range dealer, formed quite the combination.

‘Even if she’s the leader of the Dryad tribe, she’s only fumbling from afar… This one uses holy power, hmm. Individually, they’re nothing, but together they look somewhat presentable.’

At the very least.

It wouldn’t end too swiftly.

Tzut.

In an instant, Blackrock vanished and appeared above the two.

“Let’s start by testing your reaction speed…”

Booooom…

…Bang!

The arrow sliced through the air.

From top to bottom.

A beam of light descended.

“Be careful!”

Teresa, reacting slightly late, drew her shield to protect Yuasis.

However, the shield was knocked away by a single shot.

It was as if she’d taken a battering ram straight on, shaking her entire body.

“Aah!”

“Teresa!”

Yuasis, with her hair twisted into an arrow, nocked it onto the bowstring.

It was a precious moment bought by the tank.

She couldn’t miss this chance.

Paang!

The hair-made arrow streaked in a straight line.

It was swift and accurate.

However,

“Too slow.”

Blackrock reloaded faster than the arrow could fly.

Moreover.

Impressively, it wasn’t just speed.

While still airborne, Blackrock managed to align the tip of his arrow with the incoming one, sending the second arrow sliding along the side of Yuasis’ shot.

Thwack!

“Kyaaah!”

Yuasis let out a scream of agony.

The arrow pierced through her shoulder, pinning her to the opposite wall.

‘This is dangerous…’

Teresa instinctively used ‘Corruption.’

No holding back now; they had to fight with all they had.

＊＊＊

Meanwhile,

A different battle was about to unfold in a slightly remote place.

“It seems you are my opponent. At least I have the most formidable prey to hunt. Not too bad.”

The fourth member of the Old Guard,

A close-combat martial artist known as Royfang.

He was notable for his red tattoos covering his entire body and his slick, hairless head.

Kwoong!

Fists clashed, bringing forth azure flames.

A synthesis of ice and poison attributes.

“Do you… know me?”

Frey titled his head slightly upon being addressed.

“Of course, I do. Aren’t you the greatest masterpiece created by an alchemist? I am personally very pleased to have the opportunity to hunt Alpha, known as the homunculus.”

Royfang was burning with motivation.

Following the orders of Nyarlathotep was a given…

Hunting a strong prey was a driving force that made him feel alive.

“I don’t know satisfaction. I don’t even know if I like fighting strong enemies.”

“Is that so? Then what is your reason for fighting?”

Prompted by Royfang’s question, Frey looked briefly at the twin spears in her hands.

Her reason for fighting…

It was…

“I have someone I want to protect.”

The first person to give her a name.

The person who promised to stand by her, not as a fighting weapon, but as a comrade.

She wanted to spend more time… with that person.

If there was a reason, that was all.

＊＊＊

The fierce exchange continued.

Jinhyuk carefully observed the battlefield.

‘They’re holding up better than expected.’

Thanks to everyone, they had created a gap in three out of the four members.

Only one remained.

Hound.

The one who was practically the captain of the squad.

Despite his tremendous combat power, defeating the other three, the core of this fight wasn’t about who beat whom.

Getting the Crown of Corruption.

That was the purpose and reason for being here.

“Looking at you busy thinking, you must be calculating how to obtain the crown. After all, you wouldn’t want to waste the opportunity you’ve obtained at the cost of sacrificing your allies.”

“That’s harsh. You say sacrifice, but they all volunteered.”

And.

“Why would you think we’d be the ones to be sacrificed?”

It seems he underestimated the power of Corporation High-rankers.

They hadn’t even shown all their cards yet.

Wooong!

Jinhyuk opened his Spatial Inventory.

With a dazzling light, the second wave of reinforcements revealed themselves.

“Gogimaa!”

Gogima stretched out confidently on all fours.

His black scales and amber-colored eyes burnt fiercely.

Beside Gogima stood a noblewoman with her long, silver hair flowing elegantly.

Elis von Ataraxia.

If the Old Guard were the hunting hounds slaughtering high-rankers within the tower…

Elis was one of the absolute beings symbolizing the Tower.

Even if she wasn’t in her prime, her experience and prestige remained untarnished.

“I promised. After this is over, you have to let me dine at the place I choose. And the meal must be to my liking. And I don’t want any other pests around – especially that blue-haired brat or that foolish saint! Never! Promise me! Understand?”

Elis pouted while shooting Jinhyuk a look.

He had tried to assuage her, but she still seemed to harbor many grievances.

“Alright, alright. I’ll definitely promise you that.”

“Hmph! Well, I’ll trust you just this one time.”

“Don’t worry about that and just focus. This isn’t an enemy you can take lightly.”

“I know that.”

Perhaps due to sensing the grave threat, Elis went all out from the start.

[Elis has activated her unique holy spear ‘Apocalypse Revelation’]

With the rise of a crimson circle,

Flames emerged as if a sun had manifested.

Beyond the flickering space, countless crimson javelins sprung forth densely packed.

“Are you going to handle the one in front first?”

“That guy, I can deal with. You guys help the rest. Especially Teresa and Yuasis – they’re struggling. Start with them.”

“Understood. Then, I shall move quickly with the spirits.”

Elis nodded to the elemental spirits that emerged with her.

“Yes, leave it to me, Master.”

“We’ll fight diligently. We’ll rid them utterly.”

“Hehe. Oh my. I wonder which foolish ones disturbed our icy-blooded temper?”

The elemental spirits spouted all kinds of flattery.

Ancient species and true ancestors. And now elemental spirits as well.

With this much power, the situation had turned quite favorable.

But at that very moment.

Kukukukuku!

The sands within the arena began to churn violently.

Due to its structure shifting with the position of the sun, the sands started to change.

In a flash,

Amidst the grains,

“…!”

“I found it.”

Jinhyuk and Hound’s eyes both gleamed simultaneously.

No doubt about it.

The ‘Crown of Corruption’ lay within that maelstrom.