Solo Leveling: Monarch of Light

The Training Hall 17 was bustling with energy as Suho stepped through the entrance. His muscles still ached from the previous day's sparring, but there was no time for rest. His body had become accustomed to the pain, and now, it was simply a part of the journey. He wasn't here to take breaks or nurse wounds. He was here to prove himself.

The hall was vast, with various training zones, each dedicated to different aspects of combat. Some hunters were testing their reflexes with speed drills, while others practiced precise strikes with their weapons. The clang of steel against steel filled the air, the sound almost hypnotic.

Suho's eyes locked onto Kang Joon-Ho immediately. The B-rank hunter was already waiting for him in the center of the training arena, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His eyes narrowed as Suho approached, as if appraising him for the hundredth time. Joon-Ho had the aura of a seasoned veteran, someone who had fought through countless battles and seen more than his fair share of bloodshed.

"You're late," Joon-Ho said bluntly, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Suho glanced at his watch. He was five minutes early, but he wasn't about to argue. He stepped into the ring without a word, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

Joon-Ho pushed off the wall and cracked his knuckles. "We'll see how long you last this time."

Suho didn't respond. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, but he wasn't backing down. Not now.

The moment the signal was given, Joon-Ho was already in motion. His speed was unbelievable, a blur of muscle and precision. Suho barely had time to react before Joon-Ho's fist was hurtling toward him. Instinctively, Suho ducked to the side, but the shockwave from the punch sent a jolt through his body, causing his balance to falter.

Joon-Ho's foot connected with his ribs a split second later.

CRACK!

Suho's breath was knocked out of him as he was thrown back several feet. His body slammed into the floor with a heavy thud. The pain radiated through his chest, but he gritted his teeth and fought to stand.

"Is that all you've got?" Joon-Ho taunted, taking a step forward. "I've seen better fights from the B-rank trainees."

Suho didn't respond. He couldn't afford to lose focus.

With a grimace, he rose to his feet, his body still shaking from the blow. He took a deep breath and adjusted his stance. He couldn't match Joon-Ho's raw power, but Suho had something he could rely on. Speed, precision, and adaptability.

This time, as Joon-Ho charged again, Suho didn't retreat. Instead, he focused on his opponent's movements—predicting his next move.

Joon-Ho swung a wide punch, aiming to land a decisive blow, but Suho slipped underneath the attack, using the momentum to get behind him. With lightning-fast reflexes, Suho slashed his sword at Joon-Ho's back.

CLANG!

The sound of metal meeting steel reverberated throughout the hall. Joon-Ho had spun just in time to block the strike with his forearm, but Suho could tell that the blow had grazed him.

Not bad, Suho thought, gritting his teeth.

Joon-Ho smirked. "You've got some speed, I'll give you that. But speed alone won't win you a fight."

Before Suho could react, Joon-Ho charged again, his massive frame closing the gap in an instant. He swung a crushing blow aimed at Suho's midsection. Suho dodged to the side, but the force of Joon-Ho's punch still grazed his shoulder, sending him spinning to the ground.

Suho groaned as he hit the floor, but he didn't stay down. He quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a stomp that would have crushed him. His breath was ragged, his muscles burning, but he had to keep moving.

Joon-Ho didn't stop. He was relentless, his attacks becoming more precise, more deliberate, as he tested Suho's defenses. Each punch, each kick, was designed to wear him down.

Suho blocked as best as he could, but he wasn't fooling himself. His body was slowly starting to give way under the relentless assault.

Don't slow down now, Suho thought to himself. Keep moving, keep striking

Joon-Ho swung again, but this time, Suho didn't dodge. He weaved through the punch, using the opening to strike at Joon-Ho's wrist. The movement was calculated—he was playing the long game now.

CRACK!

Joon-Ho recoiled, momentarily stunned by the strike. Suho seized the opportunity. With a quick motion, he drove his sword into Joon-Ho's exposed side.

For a moment, the world went still.

Joon-Ho's eyes widened, and Suho could see the flash of surprise in his face before it was replaced with a smirk. "Not bad, kid. You're learning."

Before Suho could press his advantage, Joon-Ho grabbed his sword with his bare hands and yanked it away, sending Suho stumbling forward.

"You've got guts, kid," Joon-Ho said, his voice low and approving. "But you're not quite there yet. This fight isn't over."

Joon-Ho charged again, faster than ever, launching a devastating combination of punches. Suho barely managed to block the first few strikes, but the sheer force of the blows pushed him back. His legs were starting to feel like they were made of lead. His vision blurred slightly from the blows to his head.

Focus. Stay focused. Don't give up.

Suho forced himself to keep his eyes locked on Joon-Ho's movements. As Joon-Ho threw another powerful punch, Suho ducked low and swept his legs.

BAM!

Joon-Ho hit the ground hard, momentarily stunned. Suho leapt on him, his sword aimed at Joon-Ho's throat.

Joon-Ho's eyes glimmered with amusement as he stared up at Suho. "You're not as much of a pushover as I thought."

Suho hesitated for a fraction of a second, then pressed the sword closer to Joon-Ho's throat, his breath heavy. "I told you I wouldn't give up."

Joon-Ho chuckled, the sound surprisingly light. "You've got spirit. I'll give you that. Alright, kid. You passed. You're in."

Suho stood over him, still panting heavily, his body exhausted and bruised. But there was a satisfaction that settled into his chest. He had earned his place.

"You fought well," Joon-Ho said, standing up and brushing himself off. "We don't have time for weaknesses in our team. But you—you're ready."

Suho wiped the sweat from his brow, his body aching. "I won't stop. I'll keep getting stronger. I'm ready for the raid."

"Good," Joon-Ho replied. "Meet us at Gate 42 tomorrow. We'll see how you hold up in a real raid."

Suho nodded, his grip tightening on the sword in his hand.

This was just the beginning.

---

-Aftermath and Reflection-

As Suho stepped out of the training hall, the cool evening air greeted him. His body was sore from the fight, his muscles protesting with every step, but his mind was sharper than ever.

I did it. I made it through the test.

The pain was nothing compared to the feeling of having earned his place. He had passed the test, but that didn't mean the journey was over.

Suho pulled up his status window.

---

[Status Window]

Name: Kim Suho

Level: 6

Class: None

HP: 380

MP: 80

Strength: 41

Agility: 37

Vitality: 35

Intelligence: 30

Sense: 28

Points Available: 5

---

His stats had grown again.

I'm getting stronger. I'm not done yet.

Suho looked up at the setting sun. Tomorrow, he would face his first real raid. And he would survive—no matter what it took.

-----

Suho's breath came in sharp, uneven bursts as he staggered out of the training hall. His body screamed in protest, but the satisfaction of surviving Joon-Ho's brutal test was more than enough to keep him standing. His ribs ached, his muscles felt like they were on fire, and there was a dull throbbing in his head from the blows he'd taken.

But none of that mattered.

He had survived. And that meant something.

As he stepped outside, the cool evening air hit him like a refreshing wave, and for a moment, he stood still, letting it wash over him. The sun was beginning to set, casting an amber glow across the city. The sky had darkened to a soft orange hue, the last remnants of daylight fading away.

Suho closed his eyes for a moment, letting the world spin around him. He thought about the fight. The pain. The struggle. The burning desire to push forward, no matter the cost. And he thought about the raid. Tomorrow would be his first real test, and this time, there would be no room for error.

"I can't fail," Suho thought to himself. "Not again."

The memories of his mother's grave visit surfaced, heavy as ever, filling his chest with an aching void. He had promised her that he would become strong—strong enough to protect everyone he loved. That promise weighed on him like a boulder.

For her. For everyone I've lost.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and stared at the contact information Joon-Ho had given him. The raid was tomorrow, and there was no room for hesitation. The truth was simple: this was just the beginning.

---

The Road to Strength

Suho's feet carried him forward, but his mind was miles ahead. He wasn't the same kid who had walked into the Hunter Association just days ago. The pain, the struggles, the grueling tests—they had only sharpened him. Each bruise, each cut, was a lesson. Every mistake was a stepping stone toward becoming something greater.

Tomorrow would be his first real test as a hunter, and he would not back down. Not this time.

He thought back to his fight with Joon-Ho. The B-rank hunter had overwhelmed him with raw power at first, but Suho had adapted. He'd learned to read Joon-Ho's movements, countering and striking when the moment was right. It hadn't been easy. It had taken every ounce of his focus to stay in the fight. But when Joon-Ho had tried to push him down, Suho had pushed back.

That was what mattered. He had proven that, no matter the odds, he could stand his ground.

As he walked, Suho's mind replayed the fight. The moves, the counters, the moments where he thought he might give up—but didn't. He had stayed in the game.

"That's what it takes," he muttered to himself, barely able to catch his breath. "That's what it takes to survive."

His fingers itched to grip his sword again, to feel the weight of it in his hand. The blade had become an extension of his will. He wasn't just fighting with it; he was growing with it.

Tomorrow, he would stand alongside a team of veterans, facing a C-rank dungeon. It would be a challenge for him, this is the first C-rank dungeon raid for Him. But Suho wasn't afraid. He was ready.

---

Suho arrived home shortly after. The streets were quieter now, the city settling into its nighttime rhythm. But he couldn't afford the luxury of sleep just yet. His mind was still buzzing, his body in overdrive from the sparring match.

He dropped his sword in the corner of the room and sank onto the couch. The apartment was small, cramped, with barely enough space for his belongings. There were no frills, no distractions. It was just him and the battle ahead.

His phone rang amidst his rest as he sat back up.

"Yeah?"

"This is Joon-ho speaking. Just reminding you not to be late tomorrow, after all we got some guest accompanying us tomorrow"

"Got it"

"Tomorrow," Suho said, his voice firm. "I'll be there."

Joon-Ho's voice came through the line, slightly amused. "..... Ha~ Don't get cocky, kid. A raid isn't a sparring match. But I'll see you there."

Suho's grip on the phone tightened. "I won't disappoint you."

Joon-Ho's low chuckle was the last thing Suho heard before he hung up. His words weren't just a promise to Joon-Ho—they were a promise to himself. He would make sure he was strong enough to survive, to fight beside them, to grow.

---

-The Final Countdown-

Suho tossed the phone aside and stood up. The night stretched out before him like a vast, empty battlefield. It was quiet. Too quiet. But that silence was exactly what he needed. The stillness allowed him to focus on the task ahead, to push all the noise and distractions out of his mind.

His fingers found their way back to his sword, and he gripped it tightly. He wasn't ready to go to sleep just yet. There was no rest. Not until he had completed his mission. His body was exhausted, but his mind was still sharp, still hungry.

The road ahead wouldn't be easy. Suho knew that. He knew there would be more fights, more struggles, more nights like this one. But he would keep moving forward, no matter the cost. He would keep fighting—and he would never stop.

Tomorrow, the real battle would begin.

He would grow stronger. No matter what it took.

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Well, well, well. I decided the heroine already, guess we'll see who it is

Bye~ <3