After awakening at the Hunter Association, Damien and Jin-Woo receive their results—Jin-Woo as the weakest E-rank hunter and Damien as a seemingly powerless F-rank. Despite the disappointing ranks, the two brothers support each other, determined to carve their own paths. As they return home, their bond strengthens, sharing responsibilities while dealing with their mother's illness and taking care of their younger sister. Now, as Jin-Woo prepares for his first dungeon, Damien begins to explore his mysterious new power…
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It had been some time since the day Damien awakened his memories in this world. His brother, Sung Jin-Woo, had already begun searching for a party to join dungeon raids and earn money for their struggling family. Meanwhile, Damien had dedicated himself to understanding and mastering his newfound abilities.
Through rigorous practice, he discovered that the strength of his toy soldiers depended on two crucial factors—his concentration while crafting them and the materials he used. The more effort and precision he put into shaping a toy, the more lifelike and powerful it became.
For his first real experiment, Damien decided to create a warrior—an ancient soldier armed with a sword and shield. With limited materials at hand, he turned to paper. Drawing from his past life's brief experience with origami, he meticulously folded the figure, focusing every bit of his willpower into the process.
The moment he activated his ability, the paper soldier trembled, then began to grow. What was once a small, delicate figure now expanded into a life-sized warrior, its form still crafted from paper but radiating an imposing presence. The intricate folds gave the illusion of sculpted armor, and its expression—though featureless at first—began to shift into something fierce and battle-hardened.
Damien took a step back, eyes wide with amazement. So this is my power... He clenched his fists, excitement building within him. If something as simple as paper could bring forth such a creation, what would happen if he used stronger materials?
But before he could think any further, the soldier moved.
The paper soldier now knelt before Damien, its form radiating an eerie sense of loyalty despite being made entirely of folded paper. Shocked but intrigued, Damien began to experiment with his creation.
This toy soldier, though crude in design due to his still-developing origami skills, bore the unmistakable resemblance of a warrior from an ancient dynasty. The armor, though simplistic, had a faint resemblance to dragon-scale plating, the ridges of the folds mimicking overlapping scales. Its sword, though paper-thin, had an elegant curve similar to blades wielded by warriors from dragon-worshipping empires, and its shield bore a rough imprint that Damien had unknowingly shaped into a dragon's head crest. Though far from perfect, the soldier carried the essence of a warrior once tied to legends of dragons and conquest.
Encouraged by this discovery, Damien decided to push his limits further. He picked up a piece of ordinary wood—not some magical artifact from a dungeon, just regular wood. After several failed attempts and broken carvings, he finally crafted something new: a mounted knight.
The wooden knight sat atop its equally wooden steed, its form more refined than the paper soldier. Though small, its presence exuded an eerie aura—one that reminded Damien of death itself. The longer he observed it, the more convinced he became that the knight embodied something beyond just a toy.
Curious, he tossed the knight into the air and instinctively whispered a command.
"Rally."
The moment the word left his lips, the wooden knight trembled, then landed gracefully on the ground as if it had truly come to life. A deep connection formed between Damien and his creation—one he hadn't experienced with the paper soldier. It wasn't just an animated toy; it was something more.
Attempting to communicate, Damien reached out with his mind. To his surprise, the knight responded telepathically, its voice formal and unwavering.
"My lord, I am yours to command."
Through their mental link, the knight explained its abilities. While not overwhelmingly powerful, it possessed a faint affinity for death—its strikes carried a lingering presence, a minor ability that could weaken enemies over time.
Damien's thoughts flickered to his brother, Sung Jin-Woo, and his future knight, Igris. Had his subconscious influenced the creation of this toy? Perhaps his admiration for Igris had somehow bled into the crafting process, resulting in a knight imbued with a shadowy presence.
A grin formed on Damien's lips.
This was just the beginning.
In the world of Solo Leveling, hunters are ranked based on their power and abilities, ranging from E-rank (weakest) to S-rank (strongest). These rankings are determined through magical aptitude tests conducted by the Hunter Association upon awakening.
Hunter Ranks & Their Strength Levels:
E-Rank: Barely stronger than a normal human, often considered the weakest and nearly useless in combat.
D-Rank: Slightly above average, capable of handling low-tier dungeons but still weak compared to true fighters.
C-Rank: The middle ground—decent combat ability, suitable for mid-tier dungeons but not strong enough to be considered elite.
B-Rank: Considered powerful hunters, able to take on high-tier monsters, usually found leading teams.
A-Rank: Among the strongest hunters, capable of fighting alone against powerful dungeon bosses. Some A-ranks even rival lower-tier S-ranks.
S-Rank: The peak of human potential, possessing immense power, often capable of leveling entire dungeons solo. Each S-rank hunter is a national-level asset.
Some special hunters, like Sung Jin-Woo, undergo a reawakening and gain abilities that break past even S-rank limitations, becoming near-unstoppable forces.
After getting to know about his soldier Damien got to know their power level and what kind of skills have they got.
1. The Paper SoldierRank:C-Rank (Low)
Description: The first creation, crafted from basic materials (paper). While not particularly strong, it possesses superior agility, rapid movements, and an ability to regenerate itself if destroyed (as long as Damien provides more paper).
Abilities:Paper Phantom: Can momentarily dissolve into loose sheets and reform, avoiding fatal blows.
Dragon's Mark (Weakened): Due to faint influence from dragon-related origins, attacks carry a minor force enhancement against weaker enemies.
Lightweight Combat: Extremely fast but fragile—effective in battle but easily destroyed if struck hard.
2. The Wooden Death KnightRank:B-Rank (Mid to High)
Description: Created from wood and shaped with Damien's influence of death-related energy. The knight and its steed radiate a subtle aura of decay. It isn't as fast as the paper soldier but possesses superior durability and combat instincts.
Abilities:Gravewalker's Curse: Attacks leave a weakening effect on the opponent, draining stamina and slowing reaction time.
Soulbound Steed: The knight and horse operate as a single entity. If one is damaged, the other shares the pain, but the horse can regenerate itself slowly over time.
Darkened Blade: The wooden sword, despite its appearance, carries traces of shadow energy, increasing its lethality against organic beings.
Knight's Valor: The knight is immune to fear-based abilities, making it reliable in dangerous fights.