Solo Leveling : Fire

Chapter 15

Choi Jong-in gritted his teeth as the massive aquatic serpent roared, its ear-splitting cry sending violent ripples through the ocean surrounding them. The beast's enormous body coiled and uncoiled like a living tidal wave, its obsidian scales shimmering under the eerie glow of the dungeon sky. He and his dragon hovered above, staying light on their feet, preparing for the incoming barrage.

The serpent lunged forward, its jaws snapping shut where they had just been. Choi Jong-in and his dragon narrowly dodged, spiraling into the air with perfect synchronicity. The battle had begun.

The serpent struck again, this time swinging its massive tail in a wide arc. The water below churned violently as the impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield. Jong-in gripped his dragon's scales tightly as they maneuvered in the air, avoiding another crushing blow.

"Fast," he muttered, impressed. "But not fast enough."

He motioned with his hand as if drawing a blade from his waist, gathering heat in his palm. A blazing arc of fire erupted from his fingertips, slicing through the incoming attack like a knife through butter. The serpent recoiled, its scales slightly charred from the intensity of the flames. Jong-in wasted no time.

"Now!" he commanded.

His dragon let out an ear-splitting roar before diving down toward the enemy, wind whipping past them as they closed the distance. At the last moment, Jong-in leaped off his dragon's back, hurtling toward the beast with flames erupting around his fist.

His attack connected. A deafening explosion shook the battlefield as his fire-infused punch slammed into the serpent's face, sending waves rippling across the water. The force sent the monster reeling, its massive body thrashing violently in the depths.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the ocean boiled.

The serpent's body pulsed with mana, and a deep, guttural growl rumbled through the battlefield. Its mouth opened wide, gathering energy within its chest. Jong-in's instincts screamed at him as he saw the massive buildup of power within the beast's lungs. A breath attack. And a powerful one.

He had no time to dodge.

Instead, he did what only a few could. He faced it head-on.

Jong-in took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening. His body ignited, flames dancing across his skin like living embers. He activated a technique he had been refining for years—one inspired by Captain Burns from Fire Force. His flames surged, creating an unbreakable barrier of heat around his body.

The serpent's breath attack roared toward him, a devastating blast of condensed mana and water. But as the attack met his flames, it evaporated instantly, sizzling away into steam. Jong-in stood firm within the inferno, completely unharmed.

Then, his dragon swooped in beneath him, providing the perfect landing. He touched down gracefully, his eyes locking onto the weakened serpent. The beast was still reeling from its failed attack, its massive body heaving with exhaustion.

Jong-in clenched his fist, gathering flames once more. This time, he shaped the fire into a blade, an extension of his very soul.

"Let's end this."

With a single, fluid motion, he slashed downward. The blazing edge of fire met the serpent's thick neck, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, the beast's head separated cleanly from its body, the severed remains crashing into the ocean below. The water turned crimson with its blood.

It was over.

Outside the dungeon, the gathered crowd anxiously waited. Officials, guild members, and reporters had all gathered to assess the rank of the gate. When the results came in, a collective gasp filled the air.

"S-rank…"

"This dungeon is an S-rank!"

The news spread like wildfire. An S-rank dungeon had appeared in the middle of the ocean, and a single man had entered it alone. The anticipation grew as they all waited for the hunter's return.

Then, without warning, the massive gate began to crack.

Everyone tensed. Hunters gripped their weapons, prepared for the worst. Reporters scrambled to capture footage of whatever was about to emerge. The air was thick with anticipation.

And then, from within the shattered remains of the dungeon, a colossal shadow emerged.

A dragon.

Standing atop its back was a lone figure, his silhouette outlined by the fading glow of the gate. His long coat billowed in the wind, and in one hand, he held a cigarette, the embers still burning brightly.

Choi Jong-in had returned.

The dragon's massive jaws were still moving, chewing on something. The realization hit the crowd all at once—the beast was feasting on the remains of its fallen prey.

Gasps filled the air. Reporters scrambled to broadcast the moment live.

"He's standing on top of a dragon…"

"He took down an S-rank dungeon… by himself?"

"He really is a one-man army."

Choi Jong-in smirked as he took a deep drag from his cigarette. The chaos of the moment didn't faze him. If anything, he enjoyed the attention.

He let out a long exhale, watching the smoke disappear into the night sky.