Solo Leveling: Monarch of Knowledge

(Monday, June 17, 2026 – 2:57 PM)

As they made their way toward the beach, the scent of saltwater filled the air even more with the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore mixing with the laughter of tourists enjoying the sun. The walk was peaceful, yet Adam's attention remained elsewhere.

Even before they got close, he had long sensed the presence of a group of hunters stationed near the water. They were on boats, dressed in full gear with their weapons and mana signatures making it clear, they were preparing to enter a gate.

But this wasn't just any gate.

It loomed over the sea, floating just above the water's surface, its dark blue swirling vortex standing in sharp contrast to the clear blue sky. A faint hum of energy pulsed from it, the telltale sign of an A-Rank dungeon. The Spanish Hunter Association had already blocked off the area with patrols stationed along the beach to keep civilians at bay.

Marie followed Adam's gaze, spotting the gate almost immediately. Her expression shifted, and she groaned in frustration. "Seriously? Now?"

Adam glanced at her, amused by how quickly her excitement turned into disappointment.

She crossed her arms. "Of course, the one time we come to the sea, there's a damn gate on top of it."

Her eyes trailed toward the blockade, noting the strict security. The Spanish Association wasn't taking any chances. Their hunters kept a close eye on the perimeter, ensuring no civilian got too close. Meanwhile, on the boats, a team of experienced hunters was ready for the dive into the dungeon. At the lead was a man who radiated power, an S-Rank.

Marie sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Well, there goes our beach day."

Adam simply shrugged. "Not necessarily."

Marie gave him a skeptical look. "The Hunter Association already has this under control. We're in Spain, not Italy. This isn't my jurisdiction."

He nodded. "Yeah, but that doesn't mean we can't speed things up."

She raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

Adam smiled, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. "I can just make a call."

Marie's eyes narrowed, but before she could continue, Adam confirmed, "It's an A-Rank gate."

She exhaled, clearly not thrilled. "Alright, fine. But again, this isn't our country. You can't just-"

Before she could finish, Adam let his mana slip.

Not enough to be overwhelming, but just enough to send a ripple through the air, an invisible wave of power.

The response was immediate.

The S-Rank hunter on the boat, the one who had been focused on the dungeon, suddenly froze. His head snapped in Adam's direction with his eyes locking onto him with deep focus.

Marie noticed. "And there it is."

Adam smiled. "Told you. Things will go just fine."

(3:04 PM)

Adam stepped forward with his feet sinking slightly into the damp sand as he approached the barricade separating the civilians from the restricted zone. Marie followed closely behind, her eyes shifting between the massive gate hovering over the water and the team of Hunters preparing for entry.

Even before she saw him, she knew an S-Rank was present. The sheer pressure of his existence pressed against the air like a warning to any who dared to approach. When her eyes landed on the man standing at the edge of the boats, overseeing the operation with an imposing stance, she immediately recognized him.

Héctor Valverde.

Spain's strongest Hunter.

Adam knew about him as his nano-machines allowed him to gather everything available on the man within seconds. Every public battle, every achievement, every rumor, it was all processed and stored instantly.

Since his awakening at the auction, Adam had unlocked the capability to use his nano-machines to connect directly to the internet, something that he could not do when he didn't have mana.

This allowed him to absorb and process information at an unimaginable speed, filtering through endless data without pause. Every subject, every field of knowledge, if it was available online, it was his to access.

And he had been using it ever since.

But Héctor's reputation was irrelevant right now.

As they moved toward the Gate, HA officers stepped forward to stop them, but before they could even speak, a gust of wind signaled something, or rather, someone, appearing.

In the blink of an eye, Héctor was right in front of them.

Marie tensed, realizing she hadn't even registered him moving. One moment he had been by the boats, the next he was standing before them with his golden-brown eyes locked onto Adam.

[Image]

Adam, on the other hand, remained relaxed, meeting Héctor's gaze with calm amusement. He nodded in acknowledgment before making a casual motion with his fingers.

In an instant, the traits cloaking their faces dissolved, revealing their true appearances.

Héctor's eyes narrowed slightly with recognition flashing across his face.

"The Saint." he said, his deep voice carrying the weight of someone who had seen far too much of the world. "Your face has been going viral since yesterday."

Adam chuckled. "Yeah, I saw."

Héctor crossed his arms. "You here to spectate?"

"Not quite." Adam replied. "I want in."

Héctor's expression remained neutral before shaking his head. "Not happening. This gate is mine. I bought the rights to it."

Adam wasn't surprised. Many high-tier Hunters, especially guild leaders, purchased exclusive rights to dungeon raids. Technically, anyone could enter an unclaimed gate, but if someone like Héctor had bought it, then forcing his way in would cause unnecessary issues.

He had no reason to do that.

"How much for a ticket?" Adam asked casually.

Héctor raised an eyebrow before letting out a low chuckle. "You want to buy your way in?"

"Call it a fair trade." Adam shrugged.

Héctor thought for a moment before nodding. "Fine. 2,000,000 euros."

Without hesitation, Adam pulled up his Hunter App and sent the payment.

Héctor's phone vibrated. He glanced at the confirmation, then smirked. "Fast." He turned slightly, stepping aside. "Welcome aboard, then."

Marie, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up. "Wait. Just like that?"

"If he's willing to pay, then he's not here to waste time." Héctor glanced at her briefly in an assessing gaze.

His brows furrowed slightly. "You're weak."

Marie frowned. "Excuse me?"

"This is an A-Rank Gate. C-Ranks don't belong in there."

Before Marie could snap back, Adam placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

Héctor sighed, shaking his head. "Young love is reckless." Then, without another word, he turned back toward the boats.

Marie folded her arms. "Why do I even need to go? I won't be much help."

Adam didn't care. "That doesn't matter. You're coming."

Marie sighed, but she didn't argue further.

Together, they walked toward the boats.

----

Ahh i was getting tired from the slice of life, it good but progressing the plot is better!

What's Héctor fighting style?