208

Solo Leveling Chapter 208

Jin-woo’s gaze was fixed on the dagger that was made from the fangs of Karmish.

The ridiculous stats of the dagger made one doubt their own eyes.

[Item: Karmish’s Wrath]

[Item Difficulty: ??]

[Type: Dagger]

[​Attack +1500​]

It was one of the finest daggers made with the polished canine of Karmish’s teeth by the hands of a world-renowned craftsman.

It’s sharpness was unmatched, and it’s sensitivity to mana was so good that it could become a more potent weapon depending on the user’s strength and ability.

There was a long description of the dagger.

However it was hard to notice anything except it’s attack power.

+1500 attack?

There was no other modifications other than on attacking power.

1500.

It was hard to imagine how much a dagger could have been created from a being weaker than Karmish.

Does anyone have a weapon with an attack power of 1500?

Excited by the ability of the dagger, Jin-woo did not care about the fact that he had a lot more to read and opened the Inventory.

The daggers listed there seemed embarrassingly weak compared to the unbelievable dagger he was holding.

Huh.

The shop’s most expensive dagger’s attack power was just barely over 1,000.

No matter how rare and expensive, even the attack power of the Great Sword was only 1000.

But this dagger was 1,500.

If you grab it with one hand, isn’t it the same as wielding an incredibly powerful sword with one hand?

The heavy weight of the dagger could be felt in his hand as he gripped it.

Thomas, who could read Jin-woo’s thoughts, shook his head with a smile.

“Hunter Sung, even if I improved my defenses I would still suffer a deep wound from that dagger. Don’t tell me that you are planning on attacking me with that dagger I just gave you?”

Of course he didn’t intend for that.

Jin-woo returned Thomas’ playful jab with laughter and returned his attention to the dagger.

I see that it’s very sensitive to mana?

Mana is magical power.

To learn what this attribute meant, Jin-woo sent a little bit of his mana into the dagger.

Now let’s see.

“Wow …”

Laura and Thomas’ bodyguard, who was standing nearby, quietly couldn’t resist and let out a gasp. He covered his mouth quickly but no one blamed him.

Everyone was blinded by Jin-woo’s dagger.

“My god …”

Thomas, who had see many things in his time, was also amazed.

The tip of the dagger.

A dark black aura was climbing up the handle to the tip of the dagger.

‘This dagger … is responding to my magical powers.​’

It wasn’t a mistake.

The weight of the dagger, which had been quite heavy until recently, suddenly vanished.

It seemed impossible. The dagger was now as light as a feather.

A weapon that could adjust its weight depending on the will of the user.

* Vrrr vrrr vrrr vrr *

The dagger [Karmish’s Wrath] vibrated as if it was greeting its new user.

Jin-woo’s heart pounded as he grabbed the handle.

I want to fight with this dagger. I want to see what it can do.

I don’t know if this desire is my will, or the will of the dagger.

Jin-woo put the dagger back, and soothed his beating chest.

As soon as he sheathed it, the dagger stopped vibrating.

Laura and her bodyguards, who had been breathing in short gasps due to the immense pressure from the black mana, drew in a relieved and deep breath.

Thomas, who had been looking at Jin-woo, turned to glance at Laura.

Do you still think my decision was a mistake?

Looking back at him, she shook her head. Thomas’s decisions was absolutely correct as long as those daggers were going to be aimed at Magical Beasts and not humans.

A weapon had just found it’s master. Even Laura, an ordinary person who could not sense mana, could see it at a glance.

Thomas, who had just had his hunch confirmed, smiled.

“So how about my present, Mr. Sung?”

Powerful feelings were expressed through action and not words.

Jin-woo gave a thumbs up.

“Hahahaha”.

Feeling better, Thomas clapped his hands slowly to express his approval and joy.

These daggers that he bequeathed to Jin-woo are now proof of a friendship between the two of them. It was used as a price to win Jin-woo’s favor. In fact, it was Jin-woo who now felt burdened.

“Are you sure I can have this for free?”

Free?”

Thomas who had been smiling this whole time, suddenly put on a more serious demeanor.

“I think this is a cheap cost to pay for all of my guild members. What is two daggers compared to all of their lives?”

This was Thomas’ way of giving a gift.

Jin-woo, who had heard from Laura about Thomas’ way of expressing himself, replied with a smile.

“In that case, I am grateful.”

“I am glad that Mr. Sung is grateful.”

It was two peak Hunters at the top of their moods.

Suddenly, Jin-woo and Thomas stopped moving at the same time.

Laura and her bodyguards were horrified at seeing the suddenly serious faces that both men put on.

Thomas opened his mouth first …

“Mr. Sung … I just …”

Jin-woo moved his head slightly. A nod.

A chilling sensation crept down everyone’s spines as Thomas felt the same thing.

It was in the sky.

Jin-woo and Thomas stood at the window.

How could such a thing appear in the sky?

Thomas couldn’t close his mouth when he saw the gate in the sky.

“Unbelievable. This is the first time in my entire life seeing a gate this size.”

The gate that Karmish came out of was smaller.

Even Thomas who was one of the first to Awaken as a Hunter had never seen a gate of this magnitude.

But, Jin-woo had a memory of a gate of similar size.

It was from the data that came when the angel statue gave him.

It was the same gate where winged soldiers poured out.

The enormous size of the gate that now covered Seoul matched the size of the gate from the data.

As he recalled the soldiers that poured from the black sky, he felt a sudden chill in the back of his neck.

Is this the source of the giant mana that was detected above Korea?

Jin-woo was speechless. Neither Thomas nor Laura could say anything in the midst of a somber silence. The huge gate that suddenly appeared from the sky just stared at them quietly, as if it was ready to devour the world.

***

Underneath the gate, citizens that knew there was no immediate danger took out their phones. They filmed the gate. It’s size was unprecedented. People could not contain their curiosity as there was no danger of anything coming out yet.

Crowds gathered and foreign media were amongst them. These journalists filmed the growing crowd.

“Yes, I am now under the gate which has covered the sky of Seoul, South Korea.”

“The gate above is the largest gate ever seen since the first appearance of a gate years ago …”

“As you can see many citizens are watching the gate with me, but their expressions are light.”

“... This was Nick Folwell of BBN News. Please stay tuned for …”

Reporters from each country gave their grim reporting. Japan which had been paying especially close attention to Korea made a special announcement in reporting the gate about Seoul.

Dr. Norman Beller, an expert who has first noticed the concentration of immense magical power over Korea, was invited to talk on the show.

After a brief introduction, Dr. Beller spoke into the microphone.

"I've been warning you about the huge force clinging to the sky for some time. The huge gate over Seoul is just the beginning, and we will see the terrible gates in the skies of many countries."

The host shook his head.

"Yes? So what you're saying is, there's more than just one or two places that will show these unusual gates?"

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

As he had explained to the Hunters during the international conference, Dr. Beller repeated himself. Now that the mana that was gathering turned out to be a real threat it was time to inform the public.

Seoul is just the beginning.There were eight locations that were dense with mana.

When Dr. Beller revealed the names of the nine other places one by one, showing an aerial photo of each, the audience groaned and gasped.

Some were relieved that Japan was not on the list while others were shocked by the crisis that their neighboring countries, South Korea and others, were about to face.

The host who had listened to all of this with a stern expression, asked “Haven’t you studied gates for a very long time?”

“Yes.”

“So in your expert opinion, what is the wisest thing you would advise us all to do?”

The audience were silent as they waited with bated breath for the next words.

However what the Dr. said next was not something anyone expected. Especially not coming from such an eminent researcher.

“We must pray.”

He continued.

“How can this unprecedented event end, other than in a tragedy?”

The doctor went onto explain to the audience who were looking at him with a somber expression.

“But there is one piece of good news.”

This changed the host’s facial expression immediately. He grabbed onto this opportunity to turn the gloomy atmosphere that had permeated the television set.

“And what is that, Dr. Beller?”

“Fortunately the gate was created in Korea.”

Does he have any personal antagonism towards Korea?

The shocking remarks made by the doctor caused the audience to burst into utter confusion.

The producers behind the program had a cold face as he was worried this broadcast could lead to international conflict.

But, what they were worried about did not come to pass.

“Korea has the best Hunter that has prevented several world-class disasters in the past.” The Hunter’s name was no stranger to anyone.

“Yes I’m talking about Hunter Sung Jin-woo, who removed the Jeju Island ants and killed the Japanese giants.”

Where the magic was most densely concentrated, also lived the world’s strongest Hunter. It didn’t seem like a coincidence to the doctor.

“If he cannot stop it, then no Hunter from any other country will be able to. So from the perspective of the world, it’s a good thing that the gate appeared in Korea.”

Is this really something to be grateful about?

To the audience who had still not caught on, the doctor emphasized this point again.

“I can say this: Korea has a serious crisis ahead but we should not mourn prematurely.” Another broadcasting faux pas! The producer was starting to tear his hair out. As if to poke fun at him, Dr. Norman Beller concluded with a stern expression.

“If the time comes when we will have to mourn Korea, then it will also be time to mourn each other.”