Solo Leveling (Only I Level Up): The Red Player

The sound of arrows cutting through the air echoed around Xavier, his body twisting and dodging with precision born of desperation. The Hob Goblins' aim wasn't perfect, but there were too many arrows flying toward him to rest easy.

A few minutes earlier, Xavier had rolled out from under the wrecked car he'd used as cover, hoping to sprint toward the ruined building ahead. But as soon as he made his move, arrows rained down from above, fired by Hob Goblins perched on the rooftop. Before he could adjust, more arrows whistled toward him from the shattered windows of the building's lower levels.

"Fantastic," Xavier muttered under his breath. "They're everywhere."

He leaped, rolling forward to avoid a volley, only to slide behind another broken-down car. As he moved, he spotted an arrow flying straight for his face. With sheer reflex, he reached out and caught it midair. The rough shaft of the arrow scraped his palm, peeling the skin.

"Ah, damn it!" he hissed, clutching his bleeding hand.

But there was no time to dwell. He tucked the arrow into his belt—no weapon was too small at this point.

"God bless that agility boost," he muttered, wiping sweat off his brow. He crouched low behind the car, his breathing steadying as arrows thudded into the metal.

His mind raced, processing the situation. Goblins inside the building. Goblins on the roof. No weapon. No clear path.

"Great job, Xavier. Just stroll into a dungeon, no weapon, no plan. Genius move," he muttered sarcastically to himself.

Steeling his resolve, he whispered, "I'm crazy. I'm crazy. I'm crazy."

Then, without giving himself the chance to second-guess, he pushed off the ground and vaulted over the car. Arrows flew immediately, as he'd anticipated.

Xavier sprinted, weaving through the onslaught like water flowing through cracks. His parkour training kicked in instinctively:

He dove over a crumbling concrete slab, narrowly avoiding arrows aimed at his legs.

Planting a hand on a half-standing wall, he flipped over it with ease.

Kicking off a chunk of debris, he spun mid-air, dodging an arrow that passed just inches from his shoulder.

He rolled under a fallen beam, sliding to safety behind another broken section of the building's outer wall.

Breathless but alive, Xavier pressed his back against the cold surface. The grin on his face was one of triumph, tinged with adrenaline-fueled madness.

"Made it this far," he whispered, peeking around the edge. "Now… I just need to figure out how to deal with those bastards inside."

He scanned the area for anything—a rock, a loose piece of metal—anything he could use as a distraction.

….

Thousands of miles away, deep within the shadows of a small, abandoned dimension, the corpses of goblins littered the ground. Blood pooled around their twisted forms, soaking into the cracked earth.

Standing amidst the carnage was Sung Suho, his hand outstretched. Floating in the air near him was a crude goblin axe, its jagged edge glinting faintly.

Suho's System chimed softly, displaying notifications in glowing blue text in his vision:

[You Have Leveled Up]

[You Have Leveled Up!]

Suho's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. Twirling his fingers in the air, he made the axe spin lazily. The movement was effortless, as if the weapon was an extension of himself.

"This skill," Suho murmured, his voice filled with quiet confidence, "feels so natural."

[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED!]

Skill Name: Ruler's Hand

Type: Active

Description: Allows the user to manipulate objects, moving them toward or away from themselves without physical contact.

The notification faded, and Suho tested the skill further, rotating his wrist to make the axe spin faster.

"KeKeKe!" A raspy laugh echoed by his shoulder.

Suho turned his head slightly, finding Beru, the ant-shaped shadow with an almost mischievous glint in his many eyes.

"I knew it, young master!" Beru exclaimed, practically buzzing with excitement. "I knew you'd enjoy this skill! Doesn't it feel magnificent? To command objects without lifting a finger!"

Suho chuckled, offering the shadow ant a small nod. "You're right. It's… efficient."

Ahead of him, more goblins emerged from the darkness, their yellow eyes glowing with malice. They snarled and raised their weapons, but Suho didn't flinch.

Instead, he extended his arm. The axe shot forward, spinning like a saw blade as it hovered before him.

"Well," Suho said, his voice calm and cold, "who's next?"

The goblins hesitated, but Suho didn't give them the chance to retreat. With a flick of his wrist, the axe flew forward, cutting down the first goblin with brutal precision.

Beru cackled. "Yes, young master! Cut them down! Let them know who rules this land now!"

Suho's grin widened. He slung the axe back into the air, letting it hover at his side as he advanced toward the remaining goblins. The shadows shifted around him, dark and menacing, as if the dimension itself bowed to his will.

The battle wasn't over, but Suho relished the challenge. After all, the stronger his enemies, the faster he could grow.