Solo Levelling: Perception

"You sure you want to come, Song-Yi?"

Jin-Woo thought that after witnessing what she saw back in the red gate some hours ago, Song-Yi would be terrified to ever cross this dimensional gate. And looking at the slight tremble her body was shaking with, Jin-Woo indeed was correct about Song-Yi's mental condition.

But the girl nodded her head once again and spoke in a determined tone.

"If Haru is going then I will as well, since unlike him, I have seen the horrors of dungeons and as his sunbae, I must protect my junior."

Seeing the visibly shaky yet bold front of the girl, Haru, and Jinho chuckled slightly and the oldest one of the group only sighed before they began walking inside the C-rank gate.

The onlookers could only shake their heads and decide to stay silent on the matter of seeing two youngsters diving into the dungeon. They were receiving their reward and that was all that mattered.

"Woah..."

Song-Yi dimly exclaimed upon feeling the chillness of the inside. The surrounding was just like an enclosed cave with a ceiling higher not much than twenty feet. The temperature was almost half compared to outside. Thankfully the big boulders were doing a great job as a barricade to stop the freezing breeze.

Even though there was silence when they entered, the eerie phenomenon of the place never failed to get on the nerves of the raiders as they pulled their guards on instincts.

**KRO?**

Behind one of such boulders, a strange creature of not more than four feet in height emerged and stood facing the group of four.

It was a humanoid reptilian creature, mainly known as a kobold with fiery red scales drawn all over its slim and slightly forward-slanted body. Its dangerous orange-red eyes glimmered in the dim light of the dungeon, making it look dangerous even though it had such a size.

Standing on its digitigrade feet, and swinging its rat-like tail, the kobold glared at the humans and released its affective killing intent in the process. Holding the club in its hand, the kobold hissed before it hopped into action and advanced toward Jin-Woo, who was standing in the front of the group.

But just before it could have reached its target, a blade pierced out of the shadow drawing the life out of the creature in an instant, making Jinho gasp in the process.

With the kobold still skewed on its blade, a huge knight-like shadow emerged just in front of Jin-Woo before throwing the creature away and kneeling before the raven-haired man.

Its dangerous sharp eyes, devoid of any features, glittered dangerously with vibrant blue radiance with black smoke continuously emitting out of its armor-cladded body. The presence of this new appearance gave was startling for Jinho since it was the first time for him to see something like this.

Even Haru was surprised to see the Blood-Red commander Igris for the first time but he was not terrified of it, but rather eager to have a dual with the knight one-on-one with just a sword and no other skill involved.

"H-Hyung-nim...this...?!"

Jin-Woo realized that it must be shocking for Jinho and Haru since they were seeing shadow summon for the first time. But turning toward the two, he was surprised to see Haru who against his expectancy, was leaking slight blood lust and clenching his fist in excitement...?

Jin-Woo noted that Haru was not startled in the slightest but seemed to have the urge to draw some blood with Igris for some reason. Maybe he was an enthusiast but knowing his current strongest soldier's capabilities, Jin-Woo knew that the teenage boy would get his motivation soon killed once he face off with Igris on the battlefield.

"This is my shadow soldier...but more than discussing my skill, I would rather like focus on something else."

As Jin-Woo spoke, a kobold, similar to the previous one jumped on Song-Yi from the nearby boulder. Jin-Woo had enough time to save Song-Yi but he didn't move and gambled the moment to see how the boy reacts.

If Haru cowers away then Song-Yi might get hurt but she wouldn't be killed for sure. It might be a bad idea to compromise Song-Yi's safety but Jin-Woo decided to have this test to evaluate the boy.

"Han Song-"

Jinho shouted to alert the girl who still was ignorant that something was approaching her from the back but before the D-ranked tank could have finished even saying her name, the Kobold was cut clean in several pieces in just a mere blink.

"Ah...!"

Song-Yi jumped on her feet before turning toward the place where she heard the sound of something dropping to the ground.

All that Jinho and the girl could do was widen their eyes until reaching the limit, upon witnessing the condition in which the creature was lying on the ground.

Each part and section of the small pitiful creature was cut cleanly to the point that one had to find even a single bump in those bisected pieces, that much precision was utilized in slaying the reptile.

Even Jin-Woo was no different but he just raised his brows in reaction to see the speed and accuracy Haru put behind those slashes. Even with his heightened senses and enhanced perception, Jin-Woo was only able to see when Haru moved from his spot but never caught when he got that short blade or how did he manage to cut those many portions in such a short time.

It was nigh impossible for someone of his age, heck even for a mature high ranking assassin to slay the kobold with such precision, given the mere half a second provided in slot.

"H-Hy-Hyung-nim..am I dreaming or something..."

It was not a great day for Jinho since being in front of youngsters he thought to protect them from the monster which despite being of higher rank than Jinho, was still within his capabilities to put fight against.

But now he could only sweatdrop at the sight of what he just saw which was even more terrifying than what he has seen Jin-Woo partaking in the past.

"I advise you guys to step back for a little."

With a small smirk, Jin-Woo advised the other two as he saw Haru standing in front of others with a frightening aura surrounding him as he faced the hordes of monsters approaching the group.

Jin-Woo had a feeling that indeed this raid would be finished before he primarily thought. He summoned his shadow soldiers in case some monsters sneak up on Jinho and Song-Yi but Jin-Woo himself didn't back away since he wanted to see what worth the boy holds.

As for Haru then he knew that Jin-Woo was here to test him for some reason. After all, leaving a teenage kid in front of those masses was not something someone like Jin-Woo would generally do.

But Haru had no reason or intention to back away, as he decided to give the best show the future shadow monarch has ever seen.

'Finally, some room to let loose... '

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A/N: - I am receiving comments that he ain't strong and such. First, please don't bother with the story if you don't like what I write, and second, you guys have to consider the fact that the goddess wishes something from Haru so it is given that she would provide him with the strength to handle such a level of threat right?

And about the harem...then it's a no.

About solo romance, then it might be a no either.

It would be a two-woman romance and yes, I don't call it a harem. Fight me if you can.

And about the second female lead then here she is...