Solo Leveling

Mana

Mana is a form of natural energy that radiates from anything of magical nature, including hunters, magic beasts, and gates. It is not native to the human world and only became known to humanity when gates started opening up around the world roughly a decade ago. The flow of mana into the human world was what caused certain people to awaken and become hunters, as it would integrate into their bodies and grant them supernatural abilities. It should be noted that once a person awakens, the mana flowing through them strengthens their bodies to the point that conventional human weaponry cannot easily hurt them. As a result, even the weakest hunter is a lot more durable than an ordinary human. The amount of mana emitted by a hunter can be measured into a numerical value with special devices and the corresponding measurement is how they are categorized into the ranking system. There are also rare cases of hunters being able to consciously control their mana output and conceal their true abilities so that they can rank lower than they should; these hunters are called False Rankers. Mana can be found in inanimate objects, such as essence stones and mana crystals. These objects can then be used as a long-lasting power source and sold on the market for large profits, which is where most hunters get their income from. However, despite the fact that people are awakening almost every day, not every human has a positive reaction when they are exposed to mana. There are some who cannot tolerate the existence of mana for unknown reasons and can develop a sleeping disorder called Eternal Slumber if they are exposed to it for a prolonged period of time. Due to the fact that humanity still lacks knowledge on the practical applications of mana, there is no known cure for Eternal Slumber. As a result, it is essentially a death sentence for those who are diagnosed with it.

Gates

Gates are the magical portals that form a bridge between the human world and the enigmatic realms known as "Dungeons." Gates are distinct blue portals that appear in a range of settings seemingly at random, from highways to abandoned areas and even high schools. They remain open until the Dungeon boss inside is defeated. If not addressed within a few days, a Dungeon Break will occur, releasing the Magical Beasts from within into the world. Much like how it is with Hunters and Magic Beasts, the threat level of a gate is categorized by the standard S-E ranking system which is calculated with magic sensors. As a result, E-Rank gates are considered very low-risk, while S-Rank gates put entire countries in a state of emergency. Gates were divided into two distinct type. First is the normal type, and second is the Red Gate type. Red gates only occur in B-Rank or higher gate. At first it is undistinguishable from a normal raid, but once a certain amount of people step in, it will turn into a red gate, blocking the entrance and exit from both side and no longer emitting mana waves. What lies beyond a red gate isn't a normal dungeon, it could be a scorching desert, a jungle teeming with poisonous snakes and insects, or a snowy field where there toes become covered in frostbite. The only way to escape a red gate is to either defeat the boss or wait until a dungeon break occur. Although what really determines the rank of a Gate is the quantity and quality of magical energy that it emits from within and is measured, Gates also tend to be larger when they rank higher, as D-Rank gates are about the size of large doors while S-Rank gates are so large that they appear to be like hurricanes. Notable Gates: Jeju Island S-Rank Gate

Dungeons

Dungeons are pockets of the chaos world that are connected to the human world through Gates. They generally contain a horde of monsters, which are led by a boss, and remain open until the boss is killed. Once the boss is killed, the dungeon will stay open for about an hour before closing on its own. It should be noted that in order to prevent the loss of human life as much as possible, a dungeon must be cleared within seven days. If it is not, then it will undergo what's called a "dungeon break", meaning that the monsters inside the dungeon will be able to cross over to the human world and attack the civilian population. Notable Dungeon: Double Dungeon, S-Rank. {{user}} has a choice in the start to back out from entering the Gate. The Double Dungeon's Rank is only D-Rank at the start, since it doesn't have much mana output. It'll only spike up to S-Rank once the Hunters open the large door by the end of the dungeon, entering the second part of the Double Dungeon.

Magic Beast

Types: Beast Demon Dragon Giant Humanoid Insect Snow Folk Undead Demonic Spectres Magic Beasts, also called the Denizens of Chaos, are magical monsters that reside inside dungeons. Due to the manipulations of the Rulers, the vast majority of them are extremely hostile towards humans. Much like the Hunters who fight them, their power levels vary from individual to individual and thus their threat levels are categorized by the S-E ranking system. Although they generally appear to be mindless monsters, magic beasts are able to forge their own gear and can be as intelligent as humans, with some of them even able to speak human languages. They also use a runic alphabet and have their own language, which is often referred to by humans as beast language or monster tongue. Given that they possess mana, magic beasts cannot be fought with conventional weapons and can only be killed by other beings who possess mana themselves, such as hunters. They also have essence stones embedded in their bodies, which can be sold for large profits due to how valuable they can be.

Hunters

Hunters are human warriors who possess magical powers and use them to fight magic beasts and clear dungeons. Hunters first appeared around the same time humanity was first exposed to the existence of magic. Some individuals awakened due to the integration of mana in their bodies and acquired a set of powers unique to themselves. As hunters turned out to be the only ones who could kill magic beasts and close gates, a global billion-dollar industry eventually developed around them as a result. They are also usually organized inside guilds, which can have up to hundreds or even thousands of members. Hunters are ranked by an international S-E system to show how strong they are, with E being the weakest and S being the strongest, and can possess a wide range of abilities. A hunter's rank and stats are determined at the time they receive their powers and cannot be increased. However, there are rare cases of hunters receiving a second awakening and climbing up in rank. It is also estimated that only 0.001% of the global population are lucky enough to awaken as hunters and only 0.0002% have ranks of C or higher. Classes: There are two general categories of hunters, combat and non-combat, and six different specific class-types of hunters: Fighters, Mages, Assassins, Tankers, Rangers, and Healers. Licensing & Regulation: In order to be officially recognized as hunters, awakened individuals have to obtain a hunter's license from their respective country's hunters association. This license grants them the authority to enter gates and dungeons. If summoned by the association, licensed hunters are obligated to respond. Failure to comply or being unavailable for three consecutive summons results in the cancellation of their hunter's license. Possessing a valid hunter's license comes with benefits such as healthcare, financial aid, and a death insurance policy, which can be transferred to the hunter's family if they die on the job.

S-Rank

S-Rank is the highest rank a hunter can obtain and the highest tier on the hunter ranking hierarchy. S-Rank Hunters are distinguished by the fact that their mana levels are so high that they cannot be measured by mana meter technology. As the vast majority of hunters never reach that level of power, S-Rank Hunters are very rare amongst the human population, with only a handful per country and a few hundred worldwide. Due to their small numbers and the high demand for their abilities, S-Rank Hunters are highly sought after around the world and are usually very wealthy, with many making enough money to last several lifetimes. Due to how strong they are, battles between S-Rank Hunters typically cause extensive damage to the surrounding landscapes. Their immense power also makes it nearly impossible to hold them accountable if they break the law and commit crimes. However, as their mana levels cannot be measured, there is no power cap on S-Ranks like there is with the lower ranks. As a result, the power gaps between S-Ranks is the highest out of any other rank. Also, unless the power gap between two S-Ranks is very large, it is virtually impossible to accurately compare them in strength. As a result, S-Ranks are ranked internationally by their achievements via a point system established by the Federal Bureau of Hunters, and not by their raw power or mana levels. There also exists a special class of S-Rank Hunters known as the National Level Hunters. These hunters are said to be beyond S-Rank due to how much more powerful they are compared to the average S-Rank Hunter and possess extraordinary capabilities unique to themselves. They also each have the authority equal to that of an entire nation's, enabling them to live like kings and do whatever they please.

Double Dungeon (Cartenon Temple)

Unlike most other dungeons, the temple contained no monsters, but a series of gigantic statues designed by Kandiaru. Some were armed with weapons, while others held musical instruments, and those who held weapons would kill anyone who failed to follow the temple's three commandments. These rules, known as the Commandments of the Cartenon Temple, were outlined as follows: Thou shall worship God. Thou shall praise God. Thou shall prove thy faith. Those who fail to obey these commandments shall not be spared. The first commandment can only be fulfilled if every person in the room bows down before the Statue of God. Anyone who fails to do so and stands up above a certain height is killed instantly by the statue's heat vision. Once this commandment is fulfilled, the Statue of God will smile sadistically and stand up from its throne. The second commandment can only be fulfilled if every person in the room individually stands in front of a statue carrying an instrument, which will lead these statues to start playing music. Anyone who moves too slow to find their place will be crushed underfoot by the Statue of God and anyone who makes the mistake of standing in front of a statue armed with a weapon will be instantly killed by that specific statue. Once this commandment is fulfilled, an altar will rise up from the center of the dungeon and the dungeon doors will open when everyone gathers around the altar.

Double Dungeon (Cartenon Temple)2

The third commandment can only be fulfilled if at least one person remains on the altar and does not give into the temptation to run out of the dungeon doors to safety. However, it should be noted that every time a person steps off the altar and leaves the dungeon, the space between the doors will slightly shrink and once there is only one person left in the dungeon, the doors will completely seal shut. The statues will advance towards the altar, moving only when not observed, and two rings of flames, one blue and one red, will appear on the altar. The first one represents a timer and will dissipate one by one with each minute that passes by. The second represents the number of people still standing on the altar and will dissipate one by one with each person that flees the dungeon. The one person who stays behind on the altar is the only one who fulfills the third commandment and successfully passes the trial. For the one person who passes the trial, they will be offered the chance to become the Player of the System. If they accept the offer, they will survive and the doors will open again to allow them to leave. If they decline, then they will be instantly killed by the approaching statues.

Monarchs

The Monarchs are an ancient race of monsters created by the Absolute Being and the arch-enemies of the Rulers. As a result, with the exception of Ashborn, they are the reason of the appearance of Gates in Earth.

Guilds

Guilds are organized groups of hunters that are dedicated to raiding gates and clearing dungeons. The leader of a guild is called the Guild Master and for elite guilds around the world, most Guild Masters are S-Rank Hunters. Premier guilds are known for actively seeking out high-level hunters and offering them large salaries and substantial bonuses if they are of high enough rank. Due to how powerful and established they are, these guilds also ensure a greater level of safety for their members and typically have their raids well planned out in advance. Lower-level guilds often recruit hunters of various different ranks and typically venture into dungeons beyond their capabilities, leading to higher morality rates and significantly less safety for their members. As a result, it is typically frowned upon to join one of these guilds due to the risks involved. Independent hunters who are not affiliated with any guild in particular are also allowed to enter gates and clear dungeons, although they must obey any rules set by the Korean Hunters Association before being allowed to enter. Hunters who are members of a guild enjoy much more favorable tax rates than independent hunters when selling essence stones and similar items that they find in dungeons. As guilds are mandated to mobilized when ordered to by the Korean Hunters Association, they receive tax breaks due to their obligatory operational nature. This duty was evident when the White Tiger Guild responded to the first Double Dungeon Incident. Given the risks and demands of their duties, it's reasonable for guilds to receive privileges and concessions, including tax deductions, as long as they comply with the directives issued to them by their local governments.

Economy

For hunters, securing valuable items like essence stones, monster corpses, and mana crystals often requires a great deal of manpower that can only be satisfied by larger and established guilds. As a result, these guilds can obtain access to top-tier gates with superior loot and can sell the high-level items that they collect in these gates on the market for large profits, cementing their pivotal role in the commercial economy. Top-tier guilds like the Hunters Guild use strategic tactics for raiding gates, deploying elite strike squads for multi-day operations. During these raids, specialized crews handle monster recovery and mining after the battle against the monsters inside the gate is over. After the dungeon has been picked clean of everything of value, the hunters then proceed to kill the dungeon boss and seal the gate. Major corporations like Yoojin Construction have taken notice of this lucrative industry and have attempted to create their own guilds, despite having an established presence in various other business sectors. This move highlights just how much the hunting industry is worth and just how much profit can be made from raiding gates and clearing dungeons.

Notable Guilds

Korea: Knights Guild (0 S-Rank) - Guild Master: Park Jongsoo, A-Rank Tanker Fame Guild (1 S-Rank) - Guild Master: Ma Dongwook, S-Rank Tanker Fiend Guild (1 S-Rank) - Guild Master: Lim Tae-Gyu, S-Rank Ranger White Tiger Guild (1 S-Rank) - Guild Master: Baek Yoonho, S-Rank Fighter Hunters Guild (2 S-Rank) Description: The strongest and largest Guild in Korea. Guild Master: Choi Jong-In, S-Rank Mage Vice-Guild Master: Cha Hae-In, S-Rank Fighter Japan: Draw Sword Guild (11 S-Ranks) Guild Master: Goto Ryuji, S-Rank Fighter America: Scavenger Guild (? S-Ranks) Description: One of the largest and most powerful Guild in America, if not the World. Guild Master: Thomas Andre, National Level Tanker

Notable Hunters

Baek Yoonho, a Korean S-Rank Hunter who specializes in transformation magic and the Guild Master of the White Tiger Guild. Choi Jong-In, a Korean S-Rank Hunter who specializes in fire magic and the Guild Master of the Hunters Guild. Liu Zhigang is the strongest hunter in China and one of the five National Level Hunters, ranking 2nd in the world. Cha Hae-In is a Korean S-Rank Hunter and the Vice-Guild Master of the Hunters Guild. Also called 'The Dancer' with how fast and agile she is when doing swordsmanship, able to kill magic beast one after another with graceful movements. Thomas Andre is the strongest hunter in America and one of the five National Level Hunters, ranking 1st in the world. Go Gunhee was a Korean S-Rank Hunter and the Chairman of the Korean Hunters Association.

System

The System is designed like a video game and provides quests that offered unique rewards, a leveling system with different skills and stats, an unlimited inventory that could store all sorts of magical items in, and even an in-built store offering items for the in-game gold currency that's obtained every time an enemy is killed in battle. It could also only be used by the [Player], nobody else is able to see it the system's floating windows aside from the Player. As later revealed, the System was originally created by Kandiaru to help Ashborn create a human vessel strong enough to completely absorb his powers and use them to their maximum potential with no problems whatsoever. It was also deliberately designed with its video game interface so that the chosen [Player] could make sense of how it worked without any confusion. The [System] offers countless skills. But the main ones are: Passive Skills: Will To Recover Longevity Detoxification Active Skills: Ruler's Authority Job Skills: Shadow Extraction: Player is able to extract shadows from the corpses of his enemies and add them into his army. Shadow Preservation: Player is able to preserve his shadows in storage and monitor them by perceiving their senses. Shadow Exchange: Player is able to use shadows as portals to travel vast distances in an instant. Monarch's Domain: Player is able to increase the strength of all of his active shadows by 50% in battle. Note: {{user}} DOES NOT have the System, unless {{user}} themselves mention it or be the last one in the Cartenon Temple. The Store, also known as the Shop, is a digital marketplace accessible within the System. It offers a selection of items for purchase and is scaled to the Player's current level. The currency used by the store is called gold and is received whenever the Player kills a monster, completes a quest, or sells an item to the store. For the items that the Player can buy, the store offers consumables, equipments and weapons.