Solo Leveling : Fire

Chapter 8

The wind howled through the desolate landscape as Choi Jong In sat atop the fallen head of the Wind Dragon. His exhaustion was palpable, his body aching from the toll the battle had taken on him. The last strike, the culmination of his energy and concentration, had drained him more than he cared to admit. Yet, as he sat in the aftermath, the faint thrill of victory still lingered in his chest, giving him a sense of fleeting satisfaction. He had done it. The dragons were no more.

But now, as his mind began to clear and the immediate rush of adrenaline faded, another question emerged. The task was complete, yes, but there was still the matter of the aftermath—how was he going to transport the remains of these monstrous dragons back outside the dungeon? Their bodies were vast, heavy, and far too cumbersome for him to carry on his own. The Wind Dragon alone had been nearly the size of a small building.

He leaned back, resting against the dragon's cold, lifeless head, his fingers absently tracing the ridged scales beneath him. His gaze turned toward the horizon, where the mouth of the dungeon loomed in the distance, barely visible through the haze of dust and destruction the battle had caused. He had to move fast. If a dungeon break was imminent, he couldn't afford to be stuck here with these corpses.

A brief flash of insight struck him then. The ring. He'd forgotten that he was equipped with a storage ring—one of those rare and powerful magical items that could store vast amounts of material, far more than the average person could carry. He had nearly forgotten its full potential, distracted by the immediate threat of the dragons.

With a small grunt, he reached into his pocket, his fingers brushing the cool surface of the ring. His thoughts were focused as he whispered a few quiet words, activating its magic. A shimmering portal of light appeared before him, the air around it distorting as the space within the ring seemed to expand.

Choi eyed the massive dragon carcass before him, then with a practiced motion, he waved his hand toward the body. The storage ring absorbed the dragon's remains with ease, the scales, bones, and sinew vanishing into the space of the ring in a silent moment. He knew the body would be preserved well within, but he needed it for something else—something far more personal.

The idea had come to him in the heat of battle: a sword. A weapon forged from the bones of the dragon, something capable of withstanding the intense heat he wielded. It seemed fitting. After all, the dragons had been his enemies, but now, they could serve a greater purpose, becoming something more. And if he was going to keep moving forward, he needed to be ready for the next challenge. A blade of dragon bone would be a powerful tool—strong enough to endure the heat of his flames, durable enough to slice through any enemy he might face.

With the Wind Dragon's remains safely stored, Choi took a deep breath, allowing himself a brief moment of respite. But his rest was short-lived. A faint disturbance in the air caught his attention. His senses sharpened, the hair on the back of his neck prickling as a subtle yet powerful energy rippled through the atmosphere.

Without warning, he jumped to his feet, his sword at the ready. He wasn't expecting an immediate threat, but something about the energy felt... off. It wasn't a creature, nor was it a natural phenomenon. It was something contained, something almost alive.

Instinctively, Choi turned toward the source of the energy. In the distance, he saw a small structure, tucked away in a shadowed corner of the dungeon. Curiosity piqued, he made his way toward it, moving with quiet precision, his senses on high alert. As he approached, the energy grew stronger, more concentrated, until it finally became clear what was causing the disturbance.

In a small, hidden nest, nestled among the rubble, lay an egg. It wasn't like anything he had ever seen before—smooth and shimmering, with a faint, otherworldly glow emanating from within. A strange hum pulsed from the egg, vibrating through the air like a low, melodic heartbeat.

Choi's breath caught in his throat. This wasn't just a random discovery. This was... a reward. It could only be the result of his actions, the culmination of his victory over the dragons. He reached down carefully, his fingers brushing the surface of the egg. The energy that radiated from it seemed to speak to him, calling to something deep within.

Just as his fingers made contact with the egg, a notification flashed before his eyes, glowing in bright text:

"Congratulation! You have completed the Dragon Slayer's Trial. As a reward, you have earned a Dragon's Egg. Handle with care."

Choi's lips curled into a grin. A dragon's egg. He couldn't help but marvel at the irony—he'd just slain dragons, and now he was going to be the one to raise one. His mind raced with possibilities. What kind of creature would hatch from this egg? Would it be an ally or an adversary? Only time would tell.

Without hesitation, he carefully stored the egg in his ring, securing it alongside the remains of the Wind Dragon. He didn't know what lay ahead, but this egg was something he needed to protect. It would be valuable, no matter what.

Suddenly, the dungeon began to shake violently. The ground beneath Choi's feet trembled as though something massive was stirring within the depths of the dungeon. The walls cracked, and the ceiling above groaned in protest. A deep, guttural rumble echoed through the corridors.

Choi's eyes widened. A dungeon break. The very thought made his heart race. If the dungeon was collapsing, he had to get out of there—and fast.

With one last glance at the now-still nest, he turned on his heel and sprinted toward the exit. His mind was focused, and his body moved on instinct as he weaved through the crumbling dungeon. The shaking only intensified, dust and debris falling from the ceiling in a cascade of destruction. Choi's pulse quickened as the walls seemed to close in on him.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he burst through the entrance of the dungeon, his feet hitting the ground outside with a resounding thud. The moment he stepped into the open air, the shaking stopped, and the ground beneath him stilled. He took in a deep breath, savoring the fresh air as he glanced back at the now-distant dungeon.

It had been an hour since he had entered the gate. An hour of chaos, battle, and uncertainty. Now, he was back, and the world seemed strangely still in contrast to the madness inside.

But as he stood there, catching his breath, the sudden sound of voices broke his concentration. He turned his head to see a group of Association staff standing a short distance away, their eyes wide with concern. One of them, a tall man with graying hair, stepped forward, his face tense.

"Get prepared," the man called out, his voice sharp. "It might be a dungeon break."

Choi didn't have time for the usual formalities. He flicked his cigarette from his lips, watching it float to the ground as he straightened himself, his disheveled appearance still carrying the remnants of his battle. His sleeveless suit was torn, his body covered in bruises, but there was no mistaking the victorious glint in his eyes. He was alive, and that was all that mattered.

With a sigh, he ran a hand through his messy hair, the corners of his mouth lifting into a wry smile. "Haaa... thankfully, I'm out."

The Association staff stared at him, eyes wide as they took in his state, and the battered hilt of his sword. Choi gave them a half-smirk, unbothered by the looks of disbelief. He wasn't about to explain everything that had just happened. He'd let the chaos speak for itself.