Solo Leveling : Fire

Chapter 11

After finalizing his purchase of the mountain with the real estate agent, Choi wasted no time in seeking out a construction firm to bring his vision for the guild to life. He wanted an expansive headquarters, one that would not only serve as a base for his guild but also provide a home and training grounds for his hunters.

As he browsed through different firms, one in particular caught his eye. The moment he stepped into the office, murmurs spread like wildfire. The name Choi Jong-In carried weight, and soon enough, the firm's boss himself rushed forward to greet him.

"Good morning, Mr. Choi! It's an honor to meet you." The older man, a seasoned contractor, extended a hand with a polite bow.

Choi nodded and got straight to the point. "I'm planning to establish a guild and need a firm capable of handling a large-scale construction project. I've already secured a site on a mountain. Can your team build there?"

The old man's eyes widened. "A mountain, you say? That's quite an ambitious undertaking." He hesitated for only a moment before nodding with confidence. "Yes, Mr. Choi, my firm can handle such a task. But may I ask what kind of facilities you have in mind?"

Choi had already visualized his ideal guild headquarters. "I need a tall main building, a large shelter for emergencies, and an arena for combat training. Additionally, I want to establish dormitories or housing scattered within the mountain for my hunters."

The contractor stroked his beard thoughtfully. "That's going to require a substantial budget, Mr. Choi. You'll need considerable funding for materials, labor, and maintaining accessibility to the site."

Choi smirked. "Money isn't an issue. Just make sure the quality is top-tier."

The old man chuckled, impressed by Choi's confidence. "In that case, consider it done. We'll begin preparations immediately. Expect the initial designs within the next few days."

With that settled, Choi turned his focus to his next objective. He had scheduled a dungeon raid with Park Jong-Soo and his team, eager to assess their skills and teamwork. Without wasting any time, he drove directly to the designated gate—a high-level A-class dungeon—where Jong-Soo and his men were already waiting.

The team members, all clad in their standard hunter attire, turned toward him as he arrived. Unlike them, Choi wore his usual black outfit, devoid of any traditional weapons. He exuded a composed yet formidable presence as he approached.

Jong-Soo greeted him with a nod. "Mr. Choi, you're here."

"For today's hunt, I'll be acting as a mage," Choi announced. "I want to observe our team dynamics firsthand."

Jong-Soo exchanged looks with his team before nodding. "Understood. Everyone, get ready."

With their positions set, the team entered the dungeon. Inside, they found themselves in a vast swampy forest, the air thick with humidity and the ground uneven with patches of murky water. The scent of damp earth and decay lingered, making it clear that this environment was home to dangerous creatures.

Jong-Soo immediately took charge. "Stay alert. Formation ready!"

The hunters moved into their positions, forming a defensive perimeter. Suddenly, the rustling of vegetation signaled the approach of a beast. Without warning, a massive crocodile-like monster lunged at them, its jaws wide open, ready to devour anything in its path.

"Brace for impact!" Jong-Soo shouted.

But before anyone could engage, Choi raised his hand, forming a finger-gun gesture. A glowing bullet of fire materialized at his fingertip, and with a flick, he fired it at the incoming beast. The bullet streaked through the air, striking the monster dead center, instantly incinerating it upon impact.

The team stood in stunned silence. The ease with which Choi dispatched the creature left them speechless.

Jong-Soo exhaled sharply. "That... was incredible."

Choi simply smirked. "Let's keep moving."

As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, they encountered numerous monsters. Choi mostly refrained from intervening, allowing Jong-Soo and his team to handle the threats. He silently observed their tactics, strengths, and areas in need of improvement.

After several successful battles, they finally arrived at a large clearing dominated by a massive swamp. The stagnant water shimmered eerily under the dim light filtering through the dense canopy above.

Choi narrowed his eyes. "This could be problematic. If something big is lurking beneath, we'll have a hard time maneuvering."

Jong-Soo's men tensed up at his words. "Don't jinx it," one of them muttered.

Choi let out an awkward chuckle and casually lit a cigarette. Just as he took his first puff, the swamp erupted violently. A monstrous serpent, easily the size of a building, emerged from the murky depths, its glistening scales reflecting the dim light as it let out an ear-splitting roar.

The hunters instinctively took a step back, a cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads. "Damn it!" someone cursed under their breath.

Choi, standing at the front, sighed as he exhaled smoke. "This mouth of mine... I really need to stop speaking things into existence."

Without missing a beat, he flicked away his cigarette and positioned his hands as if wielding an invisible sword. Bright red flames surged along the length of his forearm, crackling with intensity. The sight was reminiscent of Benimaru Shinmon's signature move from Fire Force.

"Stand back," Choi instructed.

With a swift slicing motion, a blazing arc of fire tore through the air, cutting clean through the serpent's massive body. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, a rush of scorching heat filled the area before the serpent's body split in half, collapsing into the swamp with a loud, wet thud.

The dungeon fell into silence.

The hunters stared, slack-jawed.

"He... he just one-shot an A-class boss monster…" someone mumbled in disbelief.

Jong-Soo ran a hand through his hair, still processing what he had witnessed. "Mr. Choi, you're a monster yourself."

Choi dusted off his hands as if the battle had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "Gate cleared. Now, let's go get something to eat. I'm starving."

Still dazed from the sheer display of power, the team followed him toward the dungeon exit, their minds buzzing with newfound respect—and perhaps a bit of fear—for their new guild leader.