Solo Leveling: Banishment of the Anomaly

Inside the serene expanse of his soul realm, Jake sat in stark contrast to the chaos unfolding outside.

With a few experiments and system queries while being afloat, he learned that this space was actually a sanctuary entirely under his control.

Here, anything he imagined could materialize—except for living beings and high-level treasures.

Seeing the remaining energy of the Sagefruit pulse gently nearby, a dense, glowing orb of power awaiting full absorption.

Jake devised a clever approach to the task.

Instead of enveloping himself to absorb the orb manually, he had reshaped it into the form of an IV fluid drip, allowing the energy to flow steadily into his body while he reclined on a rattan rocking chair he had conjured.

He even transformed the circular platform, where the system obelisk and his loved ones' crystal pillars lay, into an island reminiscent of a 5-star paradise vacation spot.

The once solemn and eerie space was now a vibrant oasis, complete with lush greenery, sparkling blue waters, and golden sandy beaches—an idyllic paradise anyone would dream of staying in.

Jake's smile nearly reached his ears, his face radiating with pure elation.

"System, you should have told me about this earlier!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy and excitement.

Anyone witnessing the scene might have thought Jake had lost his mind to overly savor the moment, but to him, this was an opportunity of bliss and comfort.

The method even proved surprisingly efficient, with the energy integrating seamlessly into his being, not wasting an ounce.

It freed him from the tedious process of manual absorption.

As he lounged and relaxed, a book materialized and floated before him—a copy containing the entire story of Solo Leveling based on his memories.

The pages fluttered gently, each one a testament to his incredible recollection and love for the tale.

Jake flipped through its pages leisurely, his fingers grazing the ethereal paper, a smile playing on his lips.

Unaware of the turmoil outside, he muttered contentedly, "Ha! This is the life I've always wanted. Peaceful, serene, and free of stress."

"This is also the perfect timing for remembering scenes from Solo Leveling. How smart am I to take advantage of this opportunity, huh?"

"After all, it's not like I have a photographic memory to remember each scene."

"And I'm not some unrealistic MC who knows every detail as if they have a search algorithm placed in their head," he said with a satisfied smile, removing his sunglasses and reclining back in his chair.

He chuckled, enjoying the moment both by himself and with the system.

"This is my vacation. I've deserved it after everything I've been through. Right, system?"

[Affirmative.]

But something still felt missing.

With a flicker of thought and a snap of a finger, he materialized a frosty can of cola and a steaming box of pizza.

The rich aroma of melted cheese and pepperoni filled the air, purely for his sensory delight, as he didn't actually get full or experience hunger here.

Even the book floated at eye level on its own, allowing him to stay reclined.

Jake took a sip of the materialized soda, the carbonation tickling his tongue, and bit into a slice of pizza.

"Now this...," he said with a grin, "...is perfection!"

"I should do this more often. Maybe I'll even find time to brainstorm strategies for future events while I'm at it."

Leaning back, he continued reading, savoring the surreal calm of his soul realm.

The Sagefruit's energy steadily dripped into his core, strengthening him outside and improving his soul strength bit by bit.

Within his domain, Jake felt untouchable, the master of his own fate, oblivious to the storm brewing outside.

...

Nearly an hour had passed since Jake started his 'mini vacation.'

With a snap of his fingers, he bid it farewell, returning everything back to what it was.

His eyes gleamed with a sense of accomplishment.

"Finally, it's done!" he exclaimed while stretching his arms, a delighted expression lighting up his face.

Placing both palms against his cheeks, he marveled, "I've read and familiarized myself with half of Solo Leveling. This should keep me going for a couple of months. And I'll just memorize the other half later."

"Time sure flies too fast when you're doing something... And to think I've completely absorbed the Sagefruit, too."

He glanced down at his now solidified form with amazement, watching as every inch of his soul regained its touch and detail.

"What's even better is that I gained an Origin Skill and strengthened my soul form."

"And I'm no longer translucent like before. I can even see my appearance better now."

He stretched his arms and examined himself, his voice softening as he added, "It's almost strange, though. After weeks in a female body, this real face of mine feels… rather foreign."

Jake shook his head, pushing the thought aside, and mused, "... and gained new knowledge from that guy, Zephyrion Babel, about these realms and dimensions."

"Worldview of Tower of Babel..."

"Wait!"

His brow furrowed.

"That witch he was fighting... Why does she seem so familiar? I feel like I've seen her before, but where?"

He lingered on the thought for a moment before waving it away.

"Nah, forget it for now. After all, it's probably impossible to see someone from another worldview coming to this one unless they managed to create their own sigil or something like that."

Resting a finger against his chin, he began to ponder.

"But the idea of Worldviews is rather amazing. And to think this world is just a single Worldview…"

"That means there are countless others out there too, beyond the Solo Leveling Worldview. There might even be ones for Reverend Insanity or Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint!"

His voice rose with excitement, and a wide grin spread across his face.

"Just thinking about it is rather thrilling."

His enthusiasm tempered as practicality set in.

"But, I'd better go back first. Mr. Song is probably worried about me by now. And who knows? Jin-Woo might've already finished fighting Tae-Shik..."

Jake's steps faltered as a thought struck him, his expression darkening.

"..."

"That guy… Tae-Shik. He must be dead by now, right?"

A pang of unease hit him, and he slapped his cheeks lightly to snap himself out of it.

"Jake, don't be weak. You need to get used to this... or you'll end up dead yourself."

"But to kill a human with my own hands..."

After shaking his head and taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and declared, "System, I'd like to return now."

A mechanical voice echoed across the soul realm:

[Preconditionary body possession will now be disabled. Authority over body possession is being returned to the host.]

Before returning, Jake took one last, lingering glance at the crystal pillar of his family.

His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he whispered, his voice trembling, "Goodbye... I'll see you all soon. Someday... I promise."

His sorrowful smile conveyed a depth of pain and longing, capturing the weight of the moment.

Then, Jake slowly closed his eyes as the realm dissolved around him.

...

When he opened them again, he was back in Lee Joo-Hee's body.

Her soft voice was laced with confusion as she whispered, "Jin-Woo…?"

As soon as Jin-Woo noticed that Joo-Hee's attacks ceased and her eyes had returned to their usual soft gaze, he didn't hesitate.

In one swift motion, he lunged forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace, despite his injuries and tattered clothes.

His bloodied arms trembled as they encircled her, and his voice, thick with relief, broke the silence.

"You fool," he whispered, his tone carrying a mix of anger, fear, and overwhelming relief.

"Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Joo-Hee froze at first, caught off guard by the sudden warmth enveloping her.

"Jin-Woo..." The single word slipped from her lips, heavy with confused emotions.

But as Jin-Woo's words sank in, she felt it—the trembling in his voice, the unspoken terror behind his relief.

"I… I thought I al-almost lost you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper now, as though saying it aloud would make the fear real again.

Her heart tightened.

For a moment, she let herself melt into his embrace, the weight of his concern washing over her like a tide.

'His embrace… how can it feel so much like home,' she thought instinctively.

Without realizing, the words slipped out. "Sorry, it took me a while…"

Then, her teasing tone crept in, trying to break the heaviness of the moment.

"But… when are you gonna stop hugging me, perv?"

Jin-Woo froze for a second before smiling softly.

'Her teasing lines. She's finally back. Thank you. Thank you, Joo-hee, for coming back,' he thought.

"Yeah, I'm a pervert! So, stay still for a moment, will you?"

"Can't you just do that for me?"

His trembling voice, now steadier, carried an undertone of something deeper—something Joo-Hee couldn't ignore.

Her heart raced, and she cursed the way her emotions were slipping through her grasp.

'Is this guy for real?' she thought, trying to distract herself.

'What even happened while I was out? And he's really bleeding quite a lot...'

'Was his fight with Tae-Shik that severe? I'm pretty sure it wasn't.'

'And... why is he being like this? So clingy all of a sudden... I can't even see the ground with his hug locking me down.'

The warmth of his embrace, however, was impossible to ignore.

She felt his heartbeat against her cheek, and for a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to lean into him, causing her to blush slightly.

"Okay..." she murmured softly, almost shyly. "I'll allow it for now."

Inwardly, she struggled to make sense of her emotions.

'I know I'm being influenced by Joo-Hee's soul fragment, but… this guy… he's genuinely kind.'

'If I were truly a girl, I might actually…'

She shook the thought away, unwilling to finish it.

Instead, she let herself cherish the moment. Just this once.

Time seemed to slow.

The silence between them was heavy but comforting, like a salve for the chaos that had just unfolded.

But after what felt like an eternity, Joo-Hee shifted uncomfortably.

Her chest felt tight, and the warmth of the moment was giving way to an awkward heat.

"Okay, I think that should be enough, little Woo," she muttered, her tone back to its usual teasing edge.

"It's getting hot, and I'm a bit sweaty now."

"I need some space to breathe, you know."

Jin-Woo pulled back reluctantly, his sharp eyes scanning her face for any signs of lingering danger.

"Are you really okay now, Joo-Hee?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

She nodded with a small, reassuring smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I'm sure a little collaps—"

But as her gaze drifted around the cave, her smile faltered.

"won't..."

Her eyes widened as she took in the destruction—the ruined earthy ground, the towering plants, and the countless blades and destruction marks strewn about.

"hurt..."

Seeing the state of the cave—now more like an abstract forest full of roots and glowing plants—a single phrase echoed in her mind.

'I'm doomed.'