Chapter 2: [TS] I only level up alone -Episode 1

“Come.”

The giant, wreathed in blue mist, roared.

Aaaaaaah-!

Having overcome countless battles to reach this point, Jinwoo looked at the blue giant and, without a hint of concern, asked his shadow soldiers.

“Is everyone ready?”

Millions of shadow soldiers let out a roar, signifying their eagerness to fight.

Jinwoo commanded his shadow soldiers.

“All forces, sweep away the enemy.”

As if they had been waiting, millions of shadow soldiers charged towards the blue giant.

Then, the blue giant stared at the shadow soldiers for a moment before suddenly taking a deep breath.

Fwoooosh-!

The blue giant exhaled towards the approaching shadow soldiers.

“Eogeum-ni. Block that.”

Eogeum-ni nodded as if understanding, and at the same time, pulled out a staff made from a Sphere of Avarice, blocking the blue giant’s breath.

Kuaaaaaaaah-!

Seeing Eogeum-ni block its breath with a thick pillar of fire, the blue giant raised its hand and began to do something.

Hwoooosh-

The blue giant used its power, blue smoke, to create millions of blue soldiers identical to Jinwoo’s shadow soldiers.

‘It’s imitating my soldiers…’

Seeing the blue giant soldiers, who were identical copies of his own, Jinwoo commanded his soldiers.

“Show them clearly who is superior.”

At that, the shadow soldiers let out a war cry, vowing to annihilate the blue soldiers who looked just like them, and charged towards the blue soldiers.

Whoooooosh-!

Leaving the blue soldiers to fight his own, Jinwoo moved behind the blue giant.

Jinwoo’s form vanished in an instant, reappearing behind the blue giant, where he summoned the ‘Demon King’s Dagger’ and prepared to slash the enemy’s neck with it.

Hwoong-

The dagger, swung with the intent to sever the enemy, cut through the air with an empty sound.

“Oh?”

As if this was nothing, the blue smoke at the giant’s neck dispersed and then returned.

Kwooooh-!

Jinwoo, whose eyes met the blue giant’s as it turned its head to find the enemy that had slashed it, thrust his dagger, intending to cut through the giant’s eye and body.

“What are you looking at?”

Hwoong-

Then, once again, the blue smoke dispersed, and as the dagger cut through the empty air, the blue smoke gathered again as if it had been waiting.

‘As expected. So that was it.’

Drawing out the power of shadows and enveloping his dagger with his own shadow power, Jinwoo swung the dagger at the blue giant’s neck once more.

Sguk.

The dagger sliced through the blue giant’s neck, making a chilling sound.

The dagger, wreathed in shadow, pierced through the blue giant’s smoke and severed its neck.

The restrictions were gone, and much time had passed. The ancient power of shadows, which he had honed during that time, was beyond imagination.

Just when he thought it was all over.

“Tsk. As expected, it can’t withstand the Shadow Monarch’s power. It was a diligently crafted creation, though. What a waste.”

‘!!’

Jinwoo had not sensed the presence of the suddenly appearing individual at all.

‘I… I missed a presence…?’

“Oh dear, oh dear… You look quite surprised.”

The individual had their hood pulled low, obscuring their face.

‘This one is dangerous. I must eliminate them. Beru.’

[…]

‘Beru?’

[…]

‘Beru! Igris! Bellion!’

[……]

‘!!’

No matter how much he called, there was no answer, and looking around, he found all his shadow soldiers had vanished.

“This place has been my domain ever since you crossed over. Naturally, you can’t use your abilities without my permission. Hahaha!”

‘I let my guard down.’

‘I was careless.’

Who was he? Wasn’t he the Shadow Monarch? The one who had slain all his enemies and ultimately used the ‘Chalice of Reincarnation’ to turn back time, bringing peace to the world!

Jinwoo, who had unconsciously believed there were no longer any enemies in this world who could stand against him, had finally let his guard down.

‘Damn it!’

‘This place had already become his domain even before the blue giant crossed over. Why hadn’t I noticed?’

Carelessness.

Carelessness.

Carelessness!

‘I have to face this guy alone. If I can’t kill him… this world will just repeat the same events.’

Jinwoo had used the ‘Chalice of Reincarnation’ for the sake of the world, turning back time to create peace.

He couldn’t let a world without monsters, without people dying from monsters, without hunters killing monsters – a world like that – all turn to naught.

Jinwoo resolved to fight alone, and just as he was about to draw out the power of shadows.

Jinwoo was even more surprised than when his shadow soldiers had vanished moments ago.

‘My shadow power… it’s gone…’

“Haha! Didn’t I tell you? You can’t use your abilities without my permission.”

The hooded individual continued speaking in a cheerful tone, as if enjoying something.

“I have no intention of killing you. So don’t be so scared. Hahaha!”

“What… what do you mean?”

If he just killed Jinwoo, he could have this world, wasn’t that what he wanted?

It was unclear if he had read Jinwoo’s thoughts, but the answer to the question Jinwoo had pondered flowed from his lips.

“Well… I’ve already played with many worlds as I pleased, so I don’t really feel like doing that here. Hahaha!”

“…”

“So… how about I create a world that feels like a unique event? Hahaha!”

Snap!

The individual snapped their fingers, and an incredibly dazzling pure white light flowed out, enveloping Jinwoo’s body.

After Jinwoo was engulfed by the light and disappeared, the individual took off their hood and spoke as if relieved.

“Phew-! I set the bait well, so I wasn’t exposed. If I had fought him directly, I would have lost. I’m still not confident fighting against… yet…”

“I’ll protect this world, so come back when you realize. Many interesting things will happen in that world. …”