solo leveling the light Monarch

Through the Second Gate

As Jinwoo stepped through the towering second gate, the air grew heavy, filled with a primal, oppressive aura. Across the vast chamber stood a colossal werewolf, its muscles rippling with raw power and its amber eyes glowing like molten gold. The beast bared its teeth in a menacing snarl, letting out a feral howl that reverberated through the walls. Above its head, glowing in stark white letters, appeared the name:

[King of Wolves Zegrath]

"So this is the final challenge of this dungeon," Jinwoo thought, smirking. "No wonder I'm stronger than him. The power I've gained here has pushed me far beyond anything I could've imagined."

The moment Zegrath's howl ended, the beast lunged forward, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Jinwoo sidestepped, the claws missing him by a hair's breadth.

"Is that all you've got?" Jinwoo taunted, his smirk widening.

The boss growled in fury, its claws sparking against the stone floor as it pushed off into another charge. This time, Jinwoo didn't evade. As Zegrath's claws came down, Jinwoo activated Skill: Dash, propelling himself forward in a blur. He ducked beneath the attack, his sword flashing as he delivered a quick slash to the beast's side.

Zegrath howled in pain but retaliated instantly, spinning with its claws extended. Jinwoo leapt back, the force of the swipe cutting through the air and leaving deep gouges in the stone pillars behind him.

"Not bad," Jinwoo admitted. "But it's still not enough."

The werewolf roared, activating its Berserk skill. Its body swelled with power, and a crimson aura enveloped it, doubling its size and amplifying its ferocity. Zegrath pounced, the sheer force of its leap cracking the ground beneath it. Jinwoo countered by activating Skill:Dash, vanishing and reappearing behind the beast.

Before Zegrath could react, Jinwoo unleashed a flurry of slashes, each strike precise and devastating. The boss howled in agony, but its Berserk state dulled its sense of pain. It turned and swung its massive arm in a wide arc.

Jinwoo raised his sword just in time, blocking the strike, but the impact sent him skidding back several meters. Dust and debris filled the air as Jinwoo planted his feet firmly, stopping himself.

"This is getting interesting," he muttered, his blood pumping with excitement.

Zegrath charged again, this time feinting left before slashing from the right. Jinwoo barely dodged, but the beast anticipated his movement and followed up with a devastating overhead slam. Jinwoo activated Skill: Reinforced Guard, bracing himself as the claws collided with his sword, creating a shockwave that shook the entire chamber.

"I guess I'll stop holding back now," Jinwoo said, his voice calm but laced with menace. He activated Skill: Dash, his aura surging with power.

In a blur, Jinwoo closed the distance, his blade glowing with energy. He slashed upward, striking Zegrath's chest and launching the beast into the air. Not letting it recover, Jinwoo leapt after it, spinning mid-air to deliver a crushing blow to its back. Zegrath hurtled to the ground, smashing into the stone floor with enough force to create a crater.

Before the dust settled, Jinwoo landed gracefully atop a nearby pillar, surveying the fallen beast.

"It's over," he said, his tone devoid of excitement.

But Zegrath wasn't done. With a guttural roar, it rose from the crater, its aura now an inferno of crimson rage. The beast's claws extended, shimmering with dark energy. It unleashed a barrage of slashes, each one carving deep fissures into the ground as Jinwoo danced around them, his movements fluid and calculated.

Jinwoo's eyes narrowed. "Enough."

He planted his foot firmly, activating Skill:Blodlust. Dark Enegry erupted from the Atmosphare, wrapping around Zegrath's and pinning the boss in place. The beast struggled, its raw strength breaking some of the tendrils, but it was too late. Jinwoo dashed forward, his sword glowing with the energy of his finishing move.

Skill: Forward Slash.

With one fluid motion, Jinwoo slashed through the air, a crescent of black and silver energy arcing toward the immobilized boss. The energy struck Zegrath, detonating with a blinding light. When the glow faded, the mighty King of Wolves lay motionless, its form crumbling into ash.

Ding! Congratulations! You have defeated Zegrath, King of Wolves.

Ding! You have obtained Zegrath's Fang.

Ding! You have obtained Zegrath's Dagger (Rank S).

Ding! Level up x2!

As the system notifications appeared before him, Jinwoo watched as the dungeon began to dissolve. Moments later, he found himself back in the familiar setting of the train station, ready for the next chapter of his adventure.

"Jinwoo, what are you doing here?"

A familiar voice broke his thoughts. He turned around to see his brother standing there.

"Why does it have to be him, of all people, now?" Jinwoo thought, his mind racing. "This is strange. In the Solo Leveling story, Jinwoo didn't have a brother. Does this mean I'm in a parallel universe where he does? Or… is he, like me, someone who has been reincarnated?"

"H-hello, brother," Jinwoo stammered, trying to sound casual. "What are you doing here?"

"I just finished a dungeon nearby and was heading home when I saw you appear out of nowhere," his brother said.

"Great," Jinwoo thought. "Should I lie and say I awakened a teleportation ability? Or tell him about the instant dungeon?" After a moment of hesitation, he decided.

"I was in an instant dungeon," Jinwoo said cautiously.

His brother, Dracon, raised an eyebrow but didn't react beyond that. Instead, he smiled. "What's an instant dungeon?"

"It's a dungeon I can access using a special key," Jinwoo explained.

"Interesting," Dracon replied, still smiling. "Since you've shared your secret, let me share mine." His expression turned serious. "Jinwoo, I'm not actually your brother. I'm a reincarnated soul."

Jinwoo's eyes narrowed slightly. "I knew it," he thought. Without hesitation, he said, "I'm a reincarnated soul too."

Dracon was genuinely surprised. "You are? How was your previous world?"

"It was completely normal. No powers, no magic. I was just an ordinary student. What about you?"

"Same here," Dracon replied. "Just a normal world, no powers. How did you die?"

"I died of cancer," Jinwoo admitted. "I had it since birth and spent most of my life bedridden. I only experienced a few years of school before it all ended. And you?"

"I died in a car accident," Dracon said quietly. "I saved a girl from being hit and died in her place."

Jinwoo's eyes widened. "There's only one person I know who died like that… Mark? Is that you?"

Dracon's jaw dropped. "Joshua? Is it really you?"

"Yeah, it's me," Jinwoo confirmed.

"When did you die?" Dracon asked.

"A few weeks after you," Jinwoo replied. "I just couldn't hold on any longer."

Dracon smiled warmly. "So we've both been reborn in the same world. That's amazing. And now we can experience so much together. You're no longer bound by your illness."

Jinwoo returned the smile. "I'm looking forward to all the adventures we'll have."

Dracon chuckled. "Same here, bro."

The two clasped hands in a firm handshake.

"By the way," Dracon said, "you might want to suppress your aura a bit. I can barely handle it, but others won't stand a chance."

"Got it," Jinwoo said, focusing for a moment to diminish the overwhelming pressure around him.

"Thanks," Dracon said with a sigh of relief. "And one more thing. You should consider placing seals on your strength. Otherwise, your sheer power might destroy the world."

"Good idea," Jinwoo said with a laugh. "I'd rather enjoy the story than ruin it all in one go."

As they walked away, Jinwoo asked, "Should we stick to the original story, or do you want to change things?"

"For now, let's follow the story," Dracon said, "but I'll join you every step of the way."

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear," Jinwoo replied, smiling.

The two eventually came upon the stone golem boss.

"Your turn," Dracon said, stepping aside.

Jinwoo pulled out an old sword and hurled it with incredible force. The blade pierced the golem's head, causing it to explode in a shower of stone and dust.

"I think it's time to head home," Jinwoo said, as they vanished into the darkness.

At the dungeon's entrance, a young girl sat trembling.

"Jinwoo…?" she whispered, her voice shaking.