Solo Leveling : The Shadow of Vectors

The next morning, Kael woke up in his apartment. He was used to getting up without haste, always calm and serene. After stretching, he headed to his closet and picked his usual black joggers and black sweatshirt. He put on his red beanie, letting his hair peek out, and tied a red jacket around his waist. He slipped on his white sneakers and checked one last time to make sure his lollipop was still in his mouth. Once ready, he glanced at his phone, where he had spotted a nearby portal. It would be the first one he explored alone, without following the usual rules of the hunters.

Kael left his apartment, closing the door behind him, and casually walked toward the portal with his lollipop still in his mouth. He wasn't in a hurry, strolling leisurely through the streets, eyes fixed on his phone. He felt good. It was just another portal, but it was also his playground. He didn't bother with formalities, ready to test his abilities without hesitation.

When he arrived at the portal site, a group of hunters had already gathered. Kael observed them for a moment. He could hear their mocking whispers about him, particularly about his laid-back appearance and carefree attitude. They whispered, some mocking him, but Kael paid little attention.

"What's this kid about?" one of the hunters muttered when he saw Kael approach. "You really think he's going to enter that portal without going through the Guild?" another added, smiling mockingly.

Kael, hands in his pockets, ignored them. He stepped toward the portal without being disturbed, confident in his demeanor and with a bright look in his eyes. He walked past the hunters without asking for permission, heading straight for the entrance.

At that moment, he noticed Cha Hae In, an S-rank hunter, talking with other members of her team. Cha Hae In was always discreet and cold, her imposing figure and stoic expression making her almost intimidating. She wore her scarf around her neck, as usual, to shield herself from the unpleasant smells of other hunters.

Kael stopped dead in his tracks as he got closer to her. He had noticed that she had a strange way of protecting herself from the smell of others, as if she didn't want to feel them. But when he got closer, he noticed her scent wasn't unpleasant to him. The air around him seemed to clear up, a phenomenon he hadn't expected.

He stared at her for a moment before confidently stepping forward. Cha Hae In turned her head as she noticed him, her cold gaze settling on him. But to his surprise, she removed her scarf and stared at him with intrigue, as if a pleasant scent had wafted in the air.

"You… don't have an unpleasant smell," she said, almost in shock, while casting a quick glance at the other hunters around them.

Kael, unable to resist smiling, replied lightly, teasing a little. "It's one of my secret talents. You should try it, but I doubt you're ready for it."

Cha Hae In blushed imperceptibly, her cheeks turning a subtle shade, though she didn't want to admit it. She turned away for a moment to regain her composure, but the effect of the compliment seemed to have unsettled her.

"You're really not like the others…" she murmured, readjusting her scarf around her neck. She resumed observing him with her piercing gaze, her face returning to its usual impassive state. "But you should really go through the Guild before trying anything."

Kael, still staring at her, shrugged. "I do what I want. I'm not here to discuss the rules." Then he turned on his heel and walked directly toward the portal, not looking back.

The other hunters, who had witnessed the exchange, whispered among themselves, clearly shocked by Kael's attitude. Some seemed puzzled, others annoyed by his audacity. They couldn't understand why a young hunter, even an S-rank, would behave like that. But Cha Hae In remained stoic, her face still impassive. She didn't say anything and simply followed Kael with her gaze as he entered the portal.

"He doesn't even know what he's getting into," one of the hunters muttered behind her, but Cha Eun didn't respond.

Kael entered the portal, disappearing into the shadow that surrounded him, not boasting about his S-rank status. He didn't need to flaunt his abilities. It was obvious, and he preferred to act rather than talk. His gaze lingered on Cha Hae In one last time before the portal closed behind him. She didn't move, simply readjusting her scarf, her face frozen in a neutral expression.

The hunters watched the moment with confusion. They couldn't understand what had just happened, but Cha Eun didn't let Kael's departure affect her. She knew that, no matter his attitude, he would soon learn more about what he was risking by venturing alone into this portal.

Kael entered the portal with an almost unsettling calmness. He surveyed his surroundings as the portal doors closed behind him. The darkness of the dungeon enveloped him, but his vision quickly adapted to the ominous ambiance. He wasn't in a hurry; he had all the time in the world to test his abilities in this unfamiliar terrain.

"Alright," he murmured, "let's start testing these famous vectors." He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on aligning his abilities, mentally calculating the angle, direction, and force he was about to apply.

He paused for a second to think. "If my vectors can interact with objects and even living beings, then why not use them to detect movement around me?" He placed his hand on his forehead, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he entered his thought process, quickly calculating the variables.

The idea was simple: if he could manipulate vectors to affect matter, he could also use those same vectors to sense things. It all came down to precise calculations. He needed to define the intensity of the impulse he was going to send first, then the calculations for refraction and projection to sense the movement waves in the air around him. It was purely a scientific approach.

"It's like sending an invisible wave," he told himself as he moved forward slowly. "I'll have to send vectors in all directions, making them bounce off the objects or creatures around me."

He began generating small waves of vectors, very subtle, which he propelled into the air around him. It was a precise calculation: the impulse had to travel through the space and bounce off the objects or living beings present. With each wave projected, he felt the disturbances, like an echo returning to him. The air around him became almost tangible. He smiled. "It works."

Relying on this newly created sense, he continued walking through the dark corridors of the dungeon, delving deeper into the darkness. He felt as though he could "see" every creature within his range. He sensed the vibrations in the air like invisible shivers, detecting everything around him.

Suddenly, he perceived a stronger disturbance to his right. He stopped dead in his tracks. "Creatures." His vectors moved toward the origin of the disturbance, and he detected a massive form full of movement.

Before he had time to react, a series of web threads suddenly deployed in front of him. Kael dodged with a swift movement, feeling the threads pass just beside him thanks to his vectors. But the threat was far from gone. Giant spiders, the size of horses, were charging toward him. Their dark bodies loomed in the darkness, their legs making a sinister sound as they scuttled.

One of them shot a venomous spray toward him, the acidic saliva hissing through the air. Kael had no trouble dodging the attack. He used a vector to deflect the angle of the spray, sending the venom brushing past his head before redirecting it to crash against a wall.

"Here we go." He smiled.

Kael used his vectors more aggressively this time. He deployed several simultaneously, adjusting the pressure of each to strike the spiders. One vector hit the first spider, propelling it against the wall with such force that a deep scream echoed through the air. He followed up with a second, more precise vector that grabbed the next spider by its legs and tore it apart before sending it flying into a corner of the dungeon.

The other two spiders, more cautious, attempted to attack him with their webs. Kael activated a vector to wrap the threads heading toward him and counter them with deadly precision. The webs froze and then snapped under the pressure.

"Vectors are perfect for this." He focused on the last spider. It lunged at him with the intent to bite, its sharp fangs ready to pierce his skin. But Kael deployed a vector that sent it flying backward, forcing it to lose its balance. Before it could recover, Kael used another faster and more powerful vector, crushing it under infinite pressure. He heard a sharp scream followed by the sound of its legs snapping.

The spiders were dead, reduced to mangled pieces. Kael, without losing his calm, observed the remains of his enemies. "Impressive... but I'll need to improve my calculations for force output." He began mentally analyzing the way he had used the vectors and adjusted his calculations for the next battle. He could feel that each use of his vectors was honing his control and precision.

Kael resumed his walk through the dungeon, still as serene as ever, despite having eliminated a series of enemies with disconcerting ease. The experience gained from each battle, each movement of the vectors, helped him improve. He was slowly distancing himself from his initial hesitations, developing an increasingly intuitive mastery of his powers.

"It's as if every calculation becomes a part of me," he thought to himself as he walked down the damp corridor, his eyes scanning the darkness. The light in his environment was weak, but that didn't matter to Kael. His sense of vector control didn't depend on light. He could "see" everything around him through the invisible waves he projected, his vectors analyzing the air, the matter, even creatures from a distance.

He muttered quietly to himself. "If my vectors can push and move objects, why not use them for close combat?" He slightly squinted, considering the implications of this idea. If his vectors could manipulate objects from a distance, why not use them to create forces on enemies he faced head-to-head? Why not push away a punch or a claw attack before it reached him?

He smiled inwardly at the prospect of the progress he could make. "A well-placed vector could allow me to repel an attack while simultaneously creating a counterattack. The only problem is coordination. But if I focus, I can manage it."

As he continued, a dull noise echoed from the end of the hallway. He raised his eyes, extending his senses, feeling the vibrations in the air. More spiders. The group awaiting him seemed far more imposing than the ones he'd fought before. They were massive, with gigantic legs and mandibles covered in venom. A swarm of even larger spiders was heading straight toward him, their eyes fixed on his figure.

Kael wasn't intimidated. On the contrary, he focused more, his vectors activating almost automatically within him. "This is the perfect opportunity to test my theory."

The spiders were close now, their movements quick and jerky. Without a sound, they launched their first attack: a precise, taut web shot. But Kael, as calm as ever, reacted instantly. A vector deployed in front of him, he calculated the trajectory of the web, and effortlessly deflected it, sending it against the wall. It almost seemed easy.

Other spiders lunged at him, their mandibles ready to bite, but Kael didn't even need to think before reacting. Another vector extended into the air, striking the first monster with such an impulse that it was thrown against the wall. The impact was so violent that the creature almost shattered into several pieces.

"Alright, this method works well... but now, I need to test close combat." Kael thought back to his previous reasoning. He needed to use his vectors to influence the attack of one spider while attacking another simultaneously.

He approached the group of spiders fearlessly. One of them tried to attack from behind, its hungry fangs ready to bite him. At the last moment, he used a vector to push the attack away, deflecting it as if he were brushing away a light breeze. In the same instant, he activated another vector beneath his foot, propelling his body forward with great speed. In a flash, he reached the nearest spider and, while maintaining the push from his supporting vector, he delivered a precise kick to the creature, sending it flying several meters away.

He felt the friction of his movements intensify with each strike, his vectors now perfectly synchronized with every gesture. His calculations were becoming faster, more natural. He could anticipate and dodge the movements of the spiders with almost disconcerting ease. In an instant, another venomous spray shot toward him. Without hesitation, he sent a deflection vector, diverting the venom with perfect precision, almost like a reflex.

However, although Kael could dodge the attacks with ease, he realized that he still struggled to return the attacks as effectively. "I can avoid, but sending a counterattack directly from the vector... that... still takes more work." He realized that while his ability to manipulate vectors to dodge and repel attacks had improved significantly, the idea of "turning" an attack, transforming it into an offense, was not yet perfectly mastered.

A new swarm of giant spiders launched their assault. Kael focused again. He deployed two vectors simultaneously: one to repel an attack and another to strike the closest creature. The spider was thrown against the wall, but the counterattack wasn't as clean as he'd hoped. Another spider rushed at him, and Kael, in a quick reflex, deflected it with a vector, but this time, he used a stronger and more controlled impulse to send it crashing into one of the nearby walls.

As the spiders fell, Kael advanced, his abilities honed and his vectors sharper. He killed hundreds of these creatures, each one bigger and more powerful than the last. The dungeon seemed endless, but with every encounter, every enemy he defeated, he continued to improve.

He understood that he was changing, evolving rapidly in his mastery of the vectors. The more he fought, the more he felt the fluidity of his movements, the total control over every particle in the environment around him. He was no longer a mere novice hunter. He was becoming a true maestro of the vectors, manipulating the space around him as if he were its master.

Kael moved cautiously, his footsteps echoing faintly in the oppressive silence of the dungeon. He sensed a heavier, more menacing presence. His vectors detected movements outside of his usual range. He stopped for a moment, focused. "I'm close to the boss." He smiled. He felt ready. At this point, his abilities were far beyond what he had thought possible just a few hours ago.

He entered a large circular room, the air thick and damp. In the center stood a massive creature: a gigantic spider, much larger than any he had faced so far. Its eyes glowed with an evil gleam, and its giant legs moved with terrifying grace. Unlike the other spiders, this one seemed far more intelligent and formidable.

"So, it's you... The famous boss..." Kael thought, observing it carefully. The enormous creature let out a guttural growl, its mandibles snapping with a deep sound, and it immediately lunged at him.

He didn't have time to think further. The creature was already in motion, its legs shooting forward at an impressive speed. Kael instinctively activated several vectors to repel the webs it shot toward him. These webs were stronger and faster than those of the other spiders. One vector extended in front of him, sending the webs crashing into a wall with great force, but the boss was fast. He felt a strong vibration in the air: the giant spider had adjusted its attack angle to bypass his defenses.

"It... It anticipates my movements." Kael furrowed his brow. It was no longer a matter of passively repelling the attacks. He had to take the initiative. His calculations sped up, searching for the best way to fight this monster. He had improved greatly, but this spider seemed to possess a resistance far beyond anything he had faced.

The spider lunged again, but this time, Kael didn't just dodge or block. He deployed a powerful vector beneath him, propelling himself suddenly into the air with an upward thrust. He rose quickly, cutting through the air with incredible speed, ten meters above the spider, which launched another barrage of webs.

"The vertical vector is faster than I thought." The ground was beneath him in an instant. Kael calculated the trajectory, preparing for a downward attack. He used another vector to concentrate all the energy in his legs, enhancing the force of his strike. He crashed down onto the spider with such power that the entire room shook. Its legs broke under the force, but it wasn't enough to incapacitate it. The creature roared in pain, thrashing violently, sending webs that sliced through the air.

Kael quickly moved away to regain his position. "It has impressive resistance, but I'm faster, more precise." He reset his stance, adjusting his vectors for defense. He now had a plan: he needed to wear it down, and for that, he had to limit its movement.

The enraged spider charged once more, shooting webs in all directions. Kael concentrated a portion of his vectors to surround the webs and control them, using them as a floating shield. He deflected the webs that reached him while keeping an absolute focus on the spider.

But at that moment, the spider changed tactics. It struck the ground with such force that Kael felt the shockwave, and a moment later, shards of stone flew up around it. "It's using the environment to protect itself." The spider wasn't just a brute. It was using its abilities to manipulate the space around it and attack with the environment to its advantage.

Kael didn't hesitate for a second. He used his vector to teleport across the room, changing positions in an instant. This rapid movement confused the spider, which suddenly found itself without a target. Kael appeared in several different spots, his vectors transporting him like a flash of lightning, each appearance following a precise calculation to trick the spider.

When he reappeared in front of it, he used a new technique, one he had just developed in the heat of battle. He concentrated all his vectors in the air around him, generating a massive amount of pressure that sent him forward with destructive force. He propelled himself at an unimaginable speed, striking the spider directly in the heart with such velocity and power that the impact blew part of its abdomen apart.

But the spider was not yet defeated. It roared, trembling with rage, and began to concentrate its forces for a final attack. Its webs multiplied, its speed increased, and Kael felt the pressure in the air.

He didn't have time to wonder what he would do next. He focused on one of his most powerful vectors, the one that allowed him to manipulate objects around him. This time, he decided to swap places, not just with himself, but with the flying stones the spider had thrown up. He altered their trajectory, sending them straight at the creature. A large number of rocks rained down on the spider, pinning it down, forcing it to collapse under the weight of the stones.

Kael didn't hesitate. He used one last vector to concentrate all his energy. He made a quick calculation and imploded the air around him. He released a concentrated shockwave, sending a blast that tore through the spider's body, shattering the remains of its shell and finally taking it down.

The enormous creature collapsed to the ground with a deafening thud, and a heavy silence fell over the room.

Kael stood, breathing slightly heavier. "Finally… It's done." He smiled faintly, looking at the dead creature lying at his feet. His hands trembled, but not from exhaustion—excitement. "I still have a lot to learn."

The battle was over, but for Kael, it was just the beginning. He had mastered his vectors in a way that made him almost invincible, but he knew that each battle, each enemy, would be a new opportunity to push his limits.

He turned, ready to leave the dungeon.