He sighed. "I'm not freeing you."
"What do you mean you are not freeing me? Don't you understand the consequences yet?"
'No, I shouldn't end the conversation yet. I need to add to my knowledge. Ask a few more questions,' Min-Jae thought. "I have a few more questions for you. After that, I'll free you."
"As you said about the war between Monarchs and Rulers, how does that connect to this world and the gates and monsters in it?"
"Like I said, the gates and monsters are just preparation to transform this world into a battlefield. The Rulers are creating those gates and sending those monsters to do it, to fight the Monarchs once again."
"I don't quite understand. How does sending magical beasts into this world transform it into a battlefield for the war?"
"It's simple. It's all to inject magical energy into your world and make it a battlefield that can withstand the war. Soon, the world you live in will turn into a living hell," he said. "Now, free me. I don't have time to answer more of your questions. There is no time."
"Wait, wait. I have questions. First of all, how strong are these Rulers and Monarchs? I mean, other than you, I only know the Shadow Monarch. So...?"
The King of Giants growled. "The Rulers are beings of immense power. They command legions of angels and wield authority over life and death itself. Each Ruler is strong enough to lay waste to entire worlds. As for the Monarchs—we are their equals."
Min-Jae processed this, his expression unreadable behind his blindfold. 'So they're all on a completely different level. Even stronger than what I've faced so far. Well that's obvious.'
"Wait... Don't hurry. I still have an important question. As you said, the world will turn into a living hell—that would mean the humans living in this world will be in danger too, right? If that's the case, will you protect the humans? According to your answer, I will decide whether to free you from those chains or free you from your sad life."
The King of Giants paused, his glowing red eyes narrowing. Then he spoke, his tone cold and indifferent. "Humans? Why would I care about such insignificant creatures? They are nothing but ants beneath the feet of giants. If they die in the war, so be it. My only concern is survival—mine and that of my kind."
Min-Jae's expression didn't change. "I see."
"Now free me—"
"I don't like that answer," Min-Jae interrupted. "Free you from your life it is."
The King of Giants' eyes widened. "Wait—what are you—"
"You seem like a threat to humanity," Min-Jae said calmly. "Not that it matters much to me personally, but I have no choice but to kill you."
"You fool! You don't understand what you're doing! The war is coming whether you—"
Min-Jae raised his hand.
"Hollow Purple."
A sphere of blue and red energy merged in his palm, forming the glowing violet orb of pure destructive force. He released it.
The beam shot forward, distorting the air as it tore through space itself.
The King of Giants roared, struggling against the chains, but it was futile.
The beam struck him dead center.
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
Then the King of Giants simply ceased to exist—not shattered, not burned, but *erased*. The chains that had bound him clattered to the ground, now empty.
Silence.
Min-Jae lowered his hand and turned toward the entrance of the gate.
---
As he walked, his thoughts began to churn.
'As predicted, I won't be strong enough in my current state to fight the Monarchs—or whatever the Rulers are.'
He frowned behind his blindfold.
'But it's not like I have many options. The power I put into this character would have been good enough for Jujutsu Kaisen or many other universes. But who knew I'd end up here in the Solo Leveling universe with these powers? If I'd known, I would have at least given myself light speed or something. I don't know. Annoying.'
He stepped through the gate, back into Tokyo.
The devastated cityscape stretched out before him, the remnants of the dungeon break still visible everywhere.
Camille and Ayaka were waiting near the gate, along with a few other hunters who had arrived as backup.
"Well?" Camille called out as he emerged. "Did you kill the boss?"
"Yeah," Min-Jae replied simply.
"That's it? Just 'yeah'?" She raised an eyebrow. "No dramatic exit? No explosion?"
"There was an explosion. You just didn't see it."
Camille smirked. "Well, at least now I can say I fought alongside the guy who cleared the S-Rank Gate alone . That'll look great on my résumé."
Min-Jae gave her a flat look. "You threw one fireball."
"Details," she said with a wave of her hand.
---
Min-Jae reappeared on the rooftop of a building overlooking the chaos of Tokyo, he was currently in Shibuya, as he confirmed by the map.
'Shibuya. Though, my first visit, I already hate this place from the start.'
He pulled out his phone and stared at it for a moment.
'I need to talk to Sung Jin-Woo. About the Monarchs. About the Rulers. About what's coming.'
But he hesitated.
'What am I even going to say? "Hey, there's a war coming between godlike beings, and apparently you're one of them"? He probably already knows more than I do.'
He sighed and pocketed his phone.
'One problem at a time. For now, I need to get stronger. A lot stronger.'
He looked out at the city, his mind already planning his next steps.
'Because if the King of Giants was telling the truth, this world is about to become a battlefield. And I need to be ready, to not die in an instant I guess. Though, I don't think I am that weak to get crushed in an instant by anyone.'