Solo Leveling : Fire

CHAPTER 21

Choi's mind raced as he watched the evolved ant retreating deeper into the jungle. He had encountered something unexpected—this monster wasn't in the original story. The strongest ant he remembered was Beru, yet here was another evolved variant, something he had never anticipated. He needed to act fast. Before the creature could escape, he completely erased his presence and killing intent, making himself invisible to its senses.

With one swift motion, he drew his sword and slashed through the ant's carapace. The blade sliced cleanly, decapitating the creature before it could react. Its lifeless body was about to hit the ground when Choi immediately stored it in his spatial ring, ensuring no trace was left behind. The last thing he needed was the other ants discovering one of their own had been killed. He exhaled, his mind still processing the significance of this new enemy.

"So they've evolved to this extent… This wasn't supposed to happen," he murmured to himself. His grip on his sword tightened as a troubling thought crossed his mind.

"What if I just clear the dungeon now?" he considered. "It would solve the problem instantly."

But he quickly shook off the idea. This dungeon was essential for Sung Jinwoo's growth. If he cleared it now, he would interfere with the natural course of events. He sighed, rubbing his temple in frustration. "Damn it. I'll just have to take part in the raid instead."

Choi glanced back toward the nest, narrowing his eyes as he resumed his reconnaissance. His senses sharpened as he moved cautiously through the dense foliage, avoiding detection. What he saw next sent a chill down his spine.

There were at least twenty more ants like the one he had killed, all exhibiting similar levels of intelligence and power. They weren't just evolved—they were organizing. Communicating. Planning. These creatures were far beyond the simple-minded beasts from the original timeline. They moved with discipline, as if they were soldiers following orders.

"This is getting worse," Choi muttered under his breath. "They're not just mindless monsters anymore. They're acting like a civilization."

The implications were dire. If these ants had developed intelligence to this extent, the Jeju Island raid might not play out as it did in the original story. The hunters would be walking into a battle far more dangerous than expected. He had to report this immediately.

As dawn broke the next day, Choi heard the distant hum of rotor blades. The helicopter was approaching, right on schedule. He took one last look at the island before making his way toward the designated pickup point. As the aircraft hovered over the shoreline, he didn't wait for it to land. With a single leap, he propelled himself onto the helicopter's skids before slipping inside the cabin with ease.

The pilot barely had time to react before Choi barked, "Go, Get us away from here, fast"

The urgency in his voice made the pilot hesitate for only a moment before he pushed the throttle forward, speeding away from Jeju Island. As the jungle below became a blur, the pilot finally found his voice.

"Sir, what happened? Why are we leaving in such a hurry?"

Choi exhaled sharply, his gaze fixed outside the window. "The ants… they've evolved too much."

The pilot's knuckles turned white against the controls. "Evolved? What do you mean?"

"The one I fought last night… it had a power level close to an A-rank hunter. Maybe even approaching S-rank."

The pilot's face went pale. "That's impossible. You're saying these monsters are reaching S-rank levels?"

Choi nodded grimly. "And that's not the worst part. I found at least twenty more like it."

The pilot swallowed hard. "This mission… it's way worse than we thought."

Choi leaned back in his seat, his mind still racing. "It's not just their strength that's concerning. They're organized. They're thinking, strategizing. This isn't just some random evolution—it's structured. If they continue developing at this rate, Jeju Island won't just be unraidable; it'll be a stronghold."

The helicopter ride back to the mainland felt longer than before. As they landed at the Hunter Association's headquarters, Choi wasted no time. He stepped out of the aircraft and walked fast towards Chairman Gu Gunhee's office, his mind already formulating a strategy.

Upon reaching the chairman's office, he pushed open the door without hesitation. Gu Gunhee looked up from his desk, surprised by the sudden entrance.

"Choi Jong-in?" Gunhee furrowed his brows. "You're back sooner than expected."

Choi placed a storage ring on the table. "Look inside."

Gunhee hesitated for a moment before reaching out and activating the ring's mechanism. In an instant, the carcass of the evolved ant materialized before him. The chairman's expression darkened as he examined the creature's features—its hardened exoskeleton, its massive wings, and the unmistakable intelligence that still lingered in its lifeless eyes.

"This… this isn't like the ants from our previous reconnaissance reports," Gunhee muttered. "You're saying this is what you encountered?"

Choi nodded. "And there are at least twenty more of them."

Gunhee's fingers curled into a fist. "This changes everything."

Choi crossed his arms. "We need to reassess our strategy. If we send in the raid team as planned, we're sending them to their deaths."

Gunhee exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. "The Japanese hunters are already preparing their assault. We were supposed to support them, but with this information… I don't know if that's still a good idea."

Choi leaned forward. "Let me take part in the operation. I won't interfere with the main plan, but I'll be there to ensure we don't suffer unnecessary losses."

Gunhee looked at him, considering his request. "You're confident you can handle this?"

Choi smirked. "I'm the strongest hunter in Korea, aren't I?"

Gunhee let out a small chuckle despite the grim situation. "Fine. I'll make the arrangements."

As Choi turned to leave, he paused at the door. "One more thing… If these ants continue evolving, we might not be dealing with just a dungeon anymore. We could be looking at a full-scale invasion."

Gunhee remained silent, the weight of the words settling over him like a heavy cloud.

Choi glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "I hope Jinwoo's ready."

Chapter End