Solo Leveling: Ragnarok - Chapter 298

Chapter 298

Meanwhile, in the middle of a dense jungle.

A huge greenhouse located deep in the dark forest.

The person who had been quietly curled up there opened his eyes.

[… … I guess he’s dead.]

I felt it instinctively.

The fact that the cognitive inhibition magic that had been hiding his hiding place until now suddenly disappeared.

But it didn’t matter anyway.

[… … Because I’ve already made enough time.]

Chook-

He spread his wings that had been curled up.

Then, huge wings fluttering like butterflies filled the ceiling of the greenhouse.

And he lifted up his eyes and looked ahead.

In this greenhouse, thousands of pupae were hanging in clusters.

And the identity of the giant tree that the pupae were hanging from was… … none other than the ‘Elvenwood’ obtained through a deal with the Apostle of Paradise.

But now with his death, the tree has lost its use.

So now… … .

[I have no reason to hide any longer.]

He flapped his wings toward the ceiling of the greenhouse.

Then, the light dust from his wings scattered in all directions and was absorbed by thousands of pupae.

Kugu-gung-!

And then the ceiling shattered.

It was the moment when the giant greenhouse, which had been quietly crouching until now, appeared above ground.

* * *

And that moment.

Somewhere in a deep valley in a snow-covered field.

A huge laboratory located in a deep, dark cave.

[That fool ended up dying.]

There, thousands of test tubes were glowing red and humming.

Tch.

The owner and sole resident of this place muttered with a displeased expression, clicking his tongue in the middle of the test tubes.

[I knew he would end up like that someday, since he is such an idiot… … .]

It didn’t matter to him whether the apostle of paradise died or not.

What he really disliked was something else.

The ‘achievements’ he left behind just before he died.

[You sly bastard. When did you start expanding your territory so secretly?]

He was looking at the numerous monitors installed in front of him, staring at the news screens being broadcast around the world.

Regardless of the country, news all over the world was highlighting the achievements of the apostle of paradise before he died.

From the perspective of invading Earth.

The ridiculous amount of Elvenwoods was nothing short of an achievement.

That’s why I dislike it even more.

[I was falling behind without realizing it. To a guy like that.]

My pride was terribly hurt.

[… … Did you have any helpers?]

As an assistant… … .

Considering the meager abilities of the Apostles of Paradise, it was quite possible.

But what can you do about it?

Anyway, the apostle of paradise had already died, so there was no way to confirm it now.

It wasn’t worth checking.

Here, the only thing that interests you is one thing.

The legacies he left behind when he died.

All I had to do was quickly retrieve the nutrients that had gathered in the numerous flower pots that had lost their owners.

[It’s annoying.]

licking.

My mouth is watering.

Unlike his frowning eyebrows, which looked as if he was displeased, his mouth was honestly raised at the corners.

The fact that the legacy left behind by someone I usually ignored was much bigger than I thought was a huge blow to my pride.

But at the same time, it was clear that inheriting such a vast inheritance would make one’s power stronger.

That had to be done quickly, too.

Before the others intercept it.

The fact that he knew this meant that other guys knew it too.

[I should take care of it a little more before that.]

He raised himself up, his eyes gleaming sinisterly.

* * *

Black waves.

A huge black wave was rolling along the mountain range.

The wave continued to advance, knocking down and swallowing up the Elvenwoods it encountered one by one.

The sight was as if countless black ants were eating everything they passed by.

But their true identity was the Shadow Army led by Suho.

[Your Majesty! I see the Association’s flag over there!]

Verga shouted from the sky.

The Korean Association’s flag was fluttering in the distance.

Suho stood there for a moment and looked at the association’s base.

And I could feel the gaze of Chairman Woo Jin-cheol, standing in the middle and looking this way.

We finally meet.

“let’s go.”

At Suho’s one word, Ber’s gaze changed in an instant.

The majesty of a commander enveloped Ber’s small body.

[Follow!]

The shadow army moved in unison.

Black waves flowed along the mountain range.

The sight was overwhelming.

“at las….”

Woo Jin-cheol was overcome with emotion as he watched the shadow army approaching from afar.

An old memory came to mind.

‘It was like this back then too.’

The moment when the world almost ended.

The day of the end when everything seemed to be over.

There was ‘him’ that day.

Leading thousands of legions of shadows like that.

And before him, powerful enemies were forced to kneel.

Even mighty beings from other dimensions were nothing more than prey before his shadow.

Looking back now, it was the most desperate and yet most hopeful moment.

War with monarchs.

In a war that seemed impossible to win.

A miracle created by a man.

“Association President.”

Towering.

Before he knew it, Suho had arrived in front of Woo Jincheol.

Even with that sight before him, Woo Jin-cheol had a hard time getting out of his thoughts for a while.

Isn’t that so?

The young man standing in front of him was so much like ‘him’.

Gait.

twinkle.

Even leading the Shadow Legion.

Suho greeted politely.

“nice to see you.”

“… … I somehow feel like this isn’t my first time.”

Woo Jin-cheol’s voice was filled with emotion.

“and….”

His gaze quickly turned to Ber, who was next to Suho.

And then I bowed to him with the utmost respect.

“Long time no see, Ber.”

[hmm!]

“… … Ber?”

Suho looked up at Ber with a puzzled look.

Before he knew it, Ber had grown to a huge size next to Suho.

Black steam billowing from all over the body.

Sung Jin-woo’s closest aide, who looked like an ant, was looking down at Woo Jin-cheol with narrowed eyes.

… … Gulp.

When he saw that sight, Woo Jin-cheol couldn’t help but swallow his saliva without realizing it.

And that’s what comes to mind instinctively.

The Jeju Island disaster that will never be forgotten even after time passes.

The disastrous demon that had mercilessly massacred the excellent hunters summoned to the scene……was now standing before him.

Unfortunately, even though Sung Jin-woo is no longer here, this Earth is safe with just that one Ber…

“Ber.”

[Huh?]

“You said you had to conserve your magic power.”

[Okay, I understand.]

Beep… … .

… … ?!

Mini Ber suddenly shrank at Suho’s one word.

Woo Jin-cheol’s eyes couldn’t help but widen at that sight.

He is not stupid.

Rather, the problem was that he was too smart.

So much information was gleaned from that short conversation.

“Could it be… … the power of Vernim… …?”

[What an irreverent look.]

“… … .”

There was silence for a moment.

At this very moment.

One hope has disappeared from Earth.

At least in Woo Jin-cheol’s mind.

‘… … Then it’s Plan B. Now the only hope left is the real Seongsuho Hunter.’

Woo Jin-cheol immediately shook off his foolish thoughts and introduced his colleague who was next to him to Su-ho.

“This is the final hunter.”

There was a brief exchange of greetings.

And then, out of nowhere, Woo Jin-cheol brought up the thing he had asked Su-ho to do over the radio in advance.

“First of all, could you please restore the memories of the final hunter? I think the next story will proceed only after that.”

“All right.”

When Suho took out the shadow key without saying anything, Choi Jongin looked at Woo Jincheol in confusion.

“Did I have some kind of amnesia?”

From his perspective, it was a situation that could not help but be confusing.

But at the sight of Woo Jin-cheol’s unwavering gaze, Choi Jong-in shrugged his shoulders and approached Su-ho.

Bam.

The shadow key touched his forehead.

At that moment.

“… … !”

Choi Jong-in’s expression began to change from moment to moment.

Memories came flooding back.

Gate.

Hunter.

The confusion when the first Awakened appeared.

The moment he founded the Hunter’s Guild.

A time when we were struggling to survive in competition with large guilds.

And finally, the moment when the Hunters Guild stands tall as the best guild in South Korea.

Battle in an S-class dungeon.

A battle with unknown beings within the gate.

Countless moments spent with my colleagues.

It all came back to life in an instant.

‘What, what is this memory?!’

Choi Jong-in suddenly looked like he had been hit in the back of the head.

Countless memories, both unfamiliar and familiar, passed through his mind like a movie, like a panorama.

Two lives.

Two awakenings.

The lives of the person named ‘Choi Jong-in’, who was once one and then two, overlapped and merged into one in an instant.

“…under.”

Suddenly, Choi Jong-in’s gaze changed.

There was a depth to his eyes that had never been there before.

No further explanation was needed.

All the questions that had been there were resolved in one go.

Even the fact that my meeting with Woo Jin-cheol before awakening was not a coincidence.

Choi Jong-in’s serious gaze landed on Woo Jin-cheol.

“Chairman… … Do you remember all of this?”

Woo Jin-cheol nodded silently.

“Since when… … .”

“Long before I went to see the final hunter.”

“Ah, so that’s why… … .”

Only then did he understand everything.

And sighed.

“Carry that heavy burden alone… … .”

“You are not alone anymore.”

At Woo Jin-cheol’s words, Choi Jong-in clenched his fists with a hardened expression.

Now he knew what he had to do.

“There is no need for the Hunters Guild in this world. The Association has taken its place.”

“No matter who sets what, the goal is the same.”

In the past, the Hunters Guild was the largest guild in Korea.

And the representative there was Choi Jong-in.

But this time it will be different.

What was needed was a force to protect the world, not just a group of simple savvy people.

And because Choi Jong-in knew everything that Woo Jin-cheol had done from the beginning of the association until now.

He realized it.

The fact that Woo Jin-cheol had already thoroughly prepared for everything humanity could do.

Even at this very moment.

“In that sense… … .”

Woo Jin-cheol opened his mouth towards Su-ho.

“Now let me tell you what we have been doing.”