Solo Leveling: Banishment of the Anomaly

Unbeknownst to Jake, his body outside the soul realm was also undergoing substantial changes—changes witnessed by Song Chi-Yul, Kim Sang-Shik, and Kang Jeon-Ho.

Jeon-Ho's voice broke the tense silence, his tone laced with both alarm and awe.

"Hey, hey! Look at Joo-Hee! Something's happening to her again!"

The ground beneath Joo-Hee's body transformed as grass and lush greenery spread outward, vibrant and alive.

A mysterious energy radiated from her figure, its presence almost tangible.

Her eyes glowed with an ethereal green brilliance, brighter than before, while her parted lips released a strange smoke of blue and green.

Her head tilted back, her gaze fixed on the cave ceiling.

Song Chi-Yul wiped the sweat forming on his brow, his voice firm as he commanded.

"Sang-Shik, you're the fastest of the three of us. Go now and notify the surveillance Hunter outside. Jeon-Ho and I will stay here and protect Joo-Hee. Move quickly!"

Sang-Shik nodded, his voice low but resolute.

"Understood. Don't you dare die, either of you."

As he prepared to run, Sang-Shik unsheathed his sword and handed it to Chi-Yul.

"Here, take this. Use it if things go south. I can avoid the goblins if any are still lurking."

Chi-Yul gave a faint smile, the ghost of humor in his voice as he accepted the blade.

"It seems this old man's heart isn't completely black yet."

He turned serious as he gripped the sword, watching Sang-Shik sprint into the distance.

With a nod of farewell, he muttered under his breath, "Good luck."

Turning back to Jeon-Ho, Chi-Yul spoke in a measured tone.

"Judging by the speed of the energy leaking from her, it won't be long before Tae-Shik senses something is amiss and comes here himself."

Jeon-Ho's fists clenched as he glanced at Joo-Hee, her glowing form exuding power that made the air heavy.

"What do we do, then?"

Chi-Yul's eyes hardened, his grip tightening on the sword.

"I'll prepare to cast a spell. If Tae-Shik shows up, we may have a chance to injure him—at least enough to buy time. Stay close to her and keep her safe while I prepare."

Jeon-Ho nodded, his gaze unwavering as he stood guard.

"Got it. Let's hope Sang-Shik can bring help in time."

The air crackled with tension as the mysterious energy continued to pour out of Joo-Hee, the once-dim dungeon now illuminated with an otherworldly glow of moss and ferns.

Every second felt like an eternity as the two Hunters steeled themselves for whatever might come next.

...

On the other side of the middle cave section, Jinwoo clutched his side, feeling the sting of the gash Tae-Shik had inflicted.

Tae-Shik, too, was bleeding from the numerous confrontations with Jinwoo.

Blood seeped through Jin-Woo's torn clothes, but his resolve remained unshaken.

Across the battlefield, Tae-Shik watched him, his stealth abilities making his figure flicker like a mirage, barely discernible against the rocky terrain.

Jinwoo narrowed his eyes, his thoughts calm yet racing.

'I better heal first in case something unexpected happens besides his Stealth ability.'

Keeping a wary eye on the shadows, Jinwoo reached into his pocket and pulled out the healing orb Joo-Hee had given him.

Without hesitation, he crushed it in his palm.

The warm, soothing energy immediately spread across his body, closing his wounds slowly and restoring his vitality.

From his hiding spot, Tae-Shik cursed under his breath as he circled Jin-Woo.

'This brat… I didn't think he'd have healing items. If he's hiding more like this, no... I can't let this fight become a battle of endurance.'

Tae-Shik blurred into motion, his stealth ability rendering him nearly invisible as he darted toward Jinwoo.

Their blades clashed in a discord of sparks, the sound reverberating through the cavern.

Jinwoo gritted his teeth, his arms at ease as he blocked each strike.

Tae-Shik's movements were swift and precise, his years of experience evident in every feint and parry.

Their fight was a blur of speed and power, their swords dancing in deadly arcs.

Slowly, Jinwoo's eyes began to adapt, his heightened senses honing in on Tae-Shik's faint movements—the ripple of air, the subtle disturbance of dust, the glint of a blade just before it struck.

His mind was calculating, analyzing every detail.

Suddenly, Tae-Shik lunged, his blade aiming for Jinwoo's throat.

Jinwoo sidestepped with ease, his eyes sharp as he thought.

'There you are, you bastard.'

Tae-Shik's eyes widened in shock as Jinwoo spun, his sword slicing through the air with precision.

Tae-Shik instinctively ducked, but Jinwoo's blade still grazed his neck, inflicting another poison effect and leaving a deep, bleeding cut.

Tae-Shik stumbled back, clutching his wound as he gasped for air, his face pale.

'Shit!' Tae-Shik thought, his heart pounding.

'This kid… he's getting more dangerous with every second.'

Jinwoo stared at him coldly, his grip on his sword tightening.

"This ends now," he muttered.

Before either could strike again, the cavern trembled.

Roots and vines began sprouting from the ground out of nowhere, twisting and growing at an unnatural speed.

The air grew thick with an unknown energy, its presence both suffocating and brimming with vitality.

Both fighters froze, their attention drawn to the entrance of the dungeon, where the plants seemed to originate.

Jinwoo's stomach churned with dread.

'Crap, what's happening now?! I should have finished this earlier.'

"Joo-Hee... Mr. Song... I won't be able to forgive myself if something happens to them. Please, be safe!"

Tae-Shik, too, felt the unease, his eyes narrowing.

'What the hell is this? No one in their group should have magic of this nature…'

Sensing Jinwoo's momentary distraction, Tae-Shik smiled and seized the opportunity.

With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, his blade aimed to deliver a fatal blow.

"Die, you bastard!" he roared.

But Jinwoo moved like lightning, sidestepping the attack with ease.

His expression darkened as he fixed his gaze on Tae-Shik.

"You piece of shit… This has gone on long enough."

Without warning, Jinwoo activated his "Bloodlust" skill.

Tae-Shik froze in place, his body paralyzed as a wave of overwhelming dread washed over him.

His mind was consumed by visions of darkness—blinding, suffocating, and endless. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to move, his muscles refusing to obey.

Jinwoo approached him slowly, his eyes cold and merciless.

His voice was low and devoid of emotion. "Die. And repent in hell."

With a swift and decisive strike, Jinwoo's blade pierced Tae-Shik's chest.

He fell and collapsed to the ground, his breath shallow and labored as blood pooled beneath him.

Yet even in his final moments, his defiance didn't waver.

Coughing violently, he managed a smirk as he rasped, "You… false ranker bastard… Do you really think… you're safe now… that you've killed me?"

His body trembled with effort as he forced out a bitter laugh.

"Others… will know your existence and... true rank now… Hah… hahahaha."

The laughter turned into a hacking cough, blood spilling from his lips.

As his vision dimmed, he whispered, "To think the one who hunts… will someday be hunted. Ha… and you're no saint either… you're just like me…"

His words trailed off, his head slumping to the side as the light faded from his eyes.

Jinwoo stared at the lifeless body for a moment, his face a mixture of grimace and cold determination.

Slowly, he wiped his daggers clean with a flick of his wrist, the crimson droplets scattering onto the cavern floor.

He turned his attention to the growing plants, their roots spreading like veins across the dungeon walls and floor.

Despite their unnatural presence, they showed no hostility, their movements calm and deliberate.

Jinwoo narrowed his eyes.

'This isn't normal. But there's no malice here… at least not yet. I better go to them now, just in case.'

Breaking the silence, his cold voice echoed through the chamber.

"Hey, you. Quit pretending to be dead. I know you're still breathing. Get up."

A man lying among the corpses stirred, trembling as he realized he'd been discovered.

His long, curly hair was matted with blood, and his vocal cords had been severed, rendering him mute.

Jinwoo's piercing gaze bore into him as he remarked with a hint of disdain, "Tae-Shik was really brutal, but it's not like you didn't deserve it."

Jinwoo grabbed the man by his collar, effortlessly lifting him to his feet despite his injuries.

Blood dripped from the man's wounds, his face contorted in pain and fear.

"You're bleeding out," Jinwoo said flatly. "Joo-Hee might've been able to save you… if she were still here."

The man's eyes widened in surprise and confusion.

He clung to the faint hope that Jinwoo might spare him, misinterpreting the words as mercy.

But the cold bloodlust emanating from Jinwoo's aura told a different story.

'Is he… really sparing me?' the man thought, a glimmer of hope sparking amid his despair.

Jinwoo's grip tightened, and without another word, he began dragging the man toward the entrance of the cave intersection.

His steps were measured, his senses heightened as he remained wary of the growing roots and vines.

As they neared the entrance, Jinwoo froze.

His eyes narrowed as he saw a silhouette shrouded in swirling miasma.

The figure stood motionless, its form difficult to discern.

The aura it exuded was strange—both familiar and foreign.

Jinwoo's hand instinctively tightened on his dagger as the air grew heavy.

The miasma around the figure rippled, and a distorted, feminine voice emerged, cold and mechanical:

[Bloodlust detected. Protecting the host. Precautionary measures initiated.]

Jinwoo's heart sank as the voice continued:

[Attempting to possess the host. Past battle data examined. Fighting mode activated.]

[Eliminating the enemy.]

The figure moved.

From the swirling miasma, two wooden swords materialized, their edges sharp and gleaming with a faint green energy.

The figure's posture shifted into a combat stance, its movements unnervingly fluid and precise.

Armor of twisting roots and bark encased the being's body, reinforcing its form with an organic yet unyielding defense.

Jinwoo's breath hitched as the miasma cleared slightly, revealing the face of Lee Joo-Hee—or what remained of her.

Her glowing eyes radiated an eerie green light, devoid of any humanity.

"Joo-Hee?!" Jinwoo whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief and worry.

But the entity didn't respond.

Instead, it dashed forward with inhuman speed, fueled by the self-buff, its wooden swords aimed directly at him.

Jinwoo reacted with ease, his daggers clashing against the wooden blades with a sharp crack.

Still, the force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his arms slightly trembling from the unexpected strength.

'What happened while I was gone?... and this thing?'

'It feels strangely familiar... almost like a system? System?!' Jinwoo's mind raced with questions.