Solo Leveling: Monarch of Light

The sterile scent of antiseptic still clung to the air as Kim Suho sat on the edge of his hospital bed, stretching his arms. Three days had passed since he woke up, and though his body still ached, he felt significantly better.

"You seem eager to leave," the nurse said, entering the room with a clipboard, her eyes studying Suho with a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Wouldn't you be if you were stuck in a hospital room for days?" Suho said, with a snort, his tone trying to play it cool even as he still seemed on edge.

She smiled. "Alright, that's fair. Your discharge papers are ready. Don't try too hard, all right? Hunters have a tendency to come right back to where they're coming from."

Suho smiled and waved her off, though a part of him felt that she was right. He had heard enough stories of hunters rushing into battles too soon and getting gravely injured.

She left; Suho looks at the sterility of hospital room white-washed walls while taking a very deep breath within. He goes through all sorts of thoughts pertaining to the peculiar happenings during the double dungeon: the danger of death looming over him and the odd visit from Jin-woo and strange golden light appearing in his horizon. It could only happen on a page-it felt surreal-so here he still is, all alive, sturdier now.

A blue screen that was very familiar appeared in front of him.

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[Status Window]

Name: Kim Suho

Level: 3

Class: None

Title: None

HP: 230

MP: 40

Strength: 27

Agility: 25

Vitality: 24

Intelligence: 24

Sense: 22

Points Available: 6

---

His stats had changed for sure. For three days, doing his Daily Quests had constantly been improving him physically and mentally. He could feel it in every muscle and every bone—the strength, the endurance, the heightened senses. He hadn't felt that kind of awareness about his own body in years. It was as if a haze had lifted from his mind and his senses were much sharper and more alert.

What stood out most, however, was the Random Box reward he received this morning. When he opened it, he had been greeted with something entirely unexpected.

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[Quest Reward]

Item Acquired: Key to an Unknown Dungeon

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A dungeon key?

Dungeons were only accessible through gates, which appeared randomly and required raids sanctioned by the Hunter's Association. But this… this was something entirely different.

"Is this related to why I survived the double dungeon?" he grumbled to himself.

Whatever the reason, one thing was for sure-this key was not ordinary.

Suho stepped out of the hospital after completing all his discharge paperworks. It was a bracing evening. The city was much more full of life as compared to the sterile isolation within the hospital. People passed through the streets oblivious to the unseen dangers in this world.

Instead of going home, he headed into a dark alley. The key in his palm pulsed with an otherworldly energy, as though it were almost a living thing—breathing in time to his heart.

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[Want to use the Key to an Unknown Dungeon?]

(Y/N)

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Suho paused. His thumb hung over the screen. He was about to step into the unknown, to enter a dungeon with no official sanction, no promise of safety. But then, he thought about everything he'd been through in the double dungeon. Survival instincts had kicked in. This was his chance to test his strength, to find out if he could really get stronger.

After inhaling deeply, Suho hit the screen button [Y].

Instantly, the world around him shifted. Dim streetlights and city noises were erased and replaced with a creepy silence that fell heavy on his chest. He was confused for a brief moment as if the air itself had changed around him. When Suho opened his eyes, the street was gone. Familiar concrete pavement beneath his feet was now replaced with rough-hewn stone.

He stood now in a stone corridor older than his lifetime, dimly lit by the glow of crystals embedded in the walls. Damp earth and metallic scent from something much, much older, wafted through the air, sending shivers of both fear and excitement to his heart.

"This place…", Suho whispered as he clutched his sword tightly, for the weight of his decision finally hit him.

The atmosphere was oppressive, the walls of the corridor closing in around him. The dungeon was alive in a way he had never felt before. Every step he took seemed to resonate with an ancient energy, as though the dungeon itself was watching him.

A sudden low growl echoed from the shadows ahead.

Suho spun around, his eyes narrowing as a hulking creature emerged from the darkness—a Lycan.

It was the largest Lycan Suho had ever laid eyes on, standing over him with matted fur, yellow eyes glowing like lanterns in the dusk, and claws that could rip right through steel. The beast snarled, its teeth glinting wetly in the weak light as it fastened onto Suho with an appetite that made his skin crawl.

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[Monster: Lycan]

Rank: E+

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"An E+ rank monster?" Suho whispered, catching his breath. His mind worked quickly as he thought things over. He had fought Lycans before, but always as part of a team. This was different, though-a solo fight.

The Lycan lunged with a speed that surprised him, its claws slicing through the air. Suho sidestepped, barely avoiding the strike. His reflexes had improved, no doubt due to his enhanced stats. He could feel the agility coursing through him, guiding his movements more fluidly than before.

The Lycan, undeterred by the miss, turned and came at him again, faster this time. Suho tightened his grip on his sword, his senses heightened to the point where he could almost anticipate the monster's every move. The next strike came—swift, ferocious, but he was ready.

He blocked with his sword, the impact reverberating up his arms, but his footing remained steady. Then, in one smooth motion, he countered, slashing across the beast's side.

The Lycan howled in pain, but it didn't stop. It was relentless, charging again with surprising agility for its size. Suho didn't hesitate. He feinted to the right, drawing the Lycan off balance, and drove his blade deep into its exposed flank.

The beast gave a final, pained howl before slumping to the ground in a heap.

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You have killed a Lycan.

You gained experience.

---

Suho took a breath, his heart still racing as he gazed at the glowing text. He had killed the Lycan, but adrenaline was still rushing through him.

"So I really can get stronger by fighting." he mumbled, excitement coursing through him. Survival just wasn't an option here; it was about moving forward. Strengthening. Becoming something more.

He walked even further into the dungeon while the Lycan's lifeless body lay at his feet. The corridor seemed endless; the walls were indeed covered with carvings of old battles between warriors and monsters. The more he walked, the darker and colder it became.

Without warning, there was a light tapping noise outside. Suho tensed as he instinctively clenched the grip of his sword.

Then from above dropped down a disgusting Spider Soldier gliding down eerily. Their eight eyes looked piercingly and had venom dribbling from the fangs on its mouth.

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[Monster: Spider Soldier]

Rank: E+

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"Another one?" Suho muttered, narrowing his eyes. This was no ordinary spider. Its legs were thick and muscular, its fangs capable of injecting venom that could paralyze its prey. He had no choice but to fight.

The spider lunged at him with blinding speed, its fangs aiming for his neck. Suho rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. The creature hissed, rearing up for another attack.

He swung at it when it was unable to recover. His sword split through two of its legs and the Spider Soldier shrieked in agony. It flailed wildly, attempting to strike with the remaining limbs, but Suho wasn't letting it happen. He strode forward and plunged his sword into its head.

The spider twitched furiously before lying still, lifeless.

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You defeated a Spider Soldier.

You have earned experience points.

You have leveled up!

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A surge of energy coursed through Suho's body as the screen flashed with his new level. He had grown stronger. The thrill of it hit him hard.

He opened his Status Window to check the changes.

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[Status Window]

Name: Kim Suho

Level: 4

HP: 250

MP: 45

Strength: 31

Agility: 29

Vitality: 27

Intelligence: 25

Sense: 24

Points Available: 3

---

He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through him. This was real. The dungeon wasn't just a death trap—it was an opportunity. And he wasn't about to waste it.

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The Challenge Ahead

Suho ventured further into the dungeon, determined to see just how far he could push himself. The further he went, the more dangerous the monsters became. The Lycans and Spider Soldiers went around in groups, forcing him to fight tactically. He used every bit of his new strength and agility, weaving between their attacks and striking with precision. His swordsmanship, honed over years of hunting, now felt sharper than ever. He could feel his body growing more powerful with every battle.

By the time he entered the central chamber of the dungeon, his body was covered in cuts and bruises, but his determination was unbroken. The chamber was huge, its floor littered with bones. At its center stood a single figure—a massive Stone Knight, its granite body radiating an ominous energy.

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[Monster: Stone Knight]

Rank: D

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Suho's heart raced. This wasn't going to be easy. But as he gripped his sword and steadied his breathing, a small smile tugged at his lips.

For the first time in his life, he felt like he could take on the world.

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I forgot to release it yesterday💀