Chapter 97 Summary
The night sky over Seoul was a tapestry of bruised violet and iron, the kind of darkness that seemed to swallow sound as easily as it swallowed light. In the heart of the city, the towering glass of the Hunters’ Association glimmered like a beacon, its windows reflecting the restless pulse of a world that had learned to live with monsters. Inside, the air was thick with anticipation; the murmurs of hunters gathered in the briefing room formed a low, humming chorus that rose and fell like the tide.
Sung Jin‑Woo stood at the head of the table, his eyes a calm, unblinking amber that seemed to pierce through the chatter. The shadows that clung to his silhouette were not merely a trick of the light—they were his Shadow Army, a legion of loyal phantoms that had followed him from the depths of the first dungeon to the highest peaks of the Monarch battle. He lifted his hand, and the room fell into a hushed reverence.
“Tonight we raid the Antares Rift,” he announced, his voice low but resonant. “Intelligence reports a new Monarch has taken residence there. Its power rivals that of the previous Monarchs, and the Rift’s structure is unlike any we’ve encountered before. We’ll need every ounce of strength, every fragment of strategy, and every shadow we can summon.”
Cha Hae‑In, her silver hair catching the faint glow of the overhead lights, leaned forward. She had always been drawn to Jin‑Woo’s quiet confidence, the way his presence could calm the storm inside her. “What do we know about this Monarch?” she asked, her tone measured, her eyes never leaving his. “And what about the Antares Rift itself? The reports mentioned a shifting labyrinth, almost as if the dungeon were alive.”
Jin‑Woo’s lips curled into a faint smile, a gesture that seemed to make the shadows around him ripple. “Antares is a name that carries weight in the annals of the Monarchs. It’s said to be a being of pure darkness, capable of bending the very fabric of reality. The Rift is a living entity, a dungeon that rewrites its own corridors. It will test us not just with monsters, but with our own doubts.”
A sudden rustle at the doorway drew the attention of everyone present. Liu Zhigang, the Chinese hunter whose reputation for daring raids preceded him, entered with a confident stride. His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, scanned the room before settling on Jin‑Woo. “I heard you’re leading the raid,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. “I’m not one to sit on the sidelines when a Monarch threatens the world. If you need an extra pair of eyes, I’m ready.”
Jin‑Woo regarded him for a moment, the shadows around his feet shifting as if listening. “Your skills are undeniable, Liu. The Antares Rift will require more than brute force. It will demand coordination, timing, and an understanding of the shadows that we all carry. If you’re willing to trust my lead, you’ll find a place among the ranks.”
Liu Zhigang nodded, a faint grin appearing on his face. “Trust is a two‑way street, Jin‑Woo. I’ll follow your lead, but I expect you to trust my instincts when the Rift tries to turn us against each other.”
The briefing concluded with a flurry of preparations. Weapons were checked, potions stocked, and the Shadow Army summoned in a silent, swirling vortex that seemed to pulse with Jin‑Woo’s heartbeat. The hunters moved as a single organism, each step echoing the rhythm of a battle that had been rehearsed countless times in their minds. Yet, beneath the surface, a current of unease rippled—Antares was a name that had haunted the dreams of many hunters, a Monarch whose very existence seemed to warp reality.
When the doors of the Association opened, the night air hit them like a cold wave. The city’s neon lights flickered in the distance, casting long shadows that merged with the darkness of the sky. Jin‑Woo led the way, his silhouette a dark beacon against the night. Behind him, Cha Hae‑In moved with a grace that seemed to defy gravity, her sword glinting faintly as if it held a fragment of moonlight. Liu Zhigang followed, his eyes scanning the horizon, his hand never leaving the hilt of his weapon.
The Antares Rift lay hidden in the outskirts of the city, a fissure in the earth that glowed with an eerie, violet luminescence. As they approached, the ground trembled, and a low, guttural hum resonated from deep within the chasm. The Rift’s entrance was a jagged maw, its walls covered in ancient runes that pulsed with a dark energy. The air around it was thick with a metallic scent, as if the very atmosphere had been infused with the blood of countless battles.
Jin‑Woo stepped forward, his hand outstretched. The shadows that clung to him surged, forming a protective veil that seemed to absorb the Rift’s ominous glow. “Stay close,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum. “The Rift will try to separate us. Trust the shadows, trust each other.”
The group entered the Rift, and the world around them shifted. The walls seemed to breathe, expanding and contracting as if the dungeon itself were a living organism. The floor beneath their feet turned to a slick, obsidian surface that reflected their images in distorted, ghostly forms. The shadows of the hunters stretched and twisted, merging with the darkness that seeped from the walls.
The first wave of monsters emerged from the darkness—a horde of skeletal warriors, their eyes burning with a cold fire. Jin‑Woo’s Shadow Army surged forward, a tide of black silhouettes that moved with a fluid grace, their swords flashing in unison. Cha Hae‑In’s blade sang as she cut through the skeletal ranks, each strike releasing a burst of silver light that seemed to momentarily push back the darkness. Liu Zhigang, with a roar, unleashed a barrage of explosive arrows that detonated upon impact, sending shards of bone scattering like fireworks.
The battle was a symphony of motion and sound. Jin‑Woo’s voice, low and commanding, echoed through the Rift as he coordinated his army. “Focus on the front line! Hae‑In, take the left flank! Zhigang, cover the rear!” The shadows responded instantly, their movements synchronized as if they shared a single mind.
Yet, as the hunters pressed forward, the Rift began to shift. The corridors twisted, turning back on themselves, creating a labyrinthine maze that seemed to defy logic. The walls whispered, their voices a chorus of forgotten screams. The shadows that Jin‑Woo commanded flickered, as if the very darkness of the Rift was trying to swallow them whole.
A sudden, deafening roar reverberated through the cavern, and the ground split open, revealing a massive, towering figure cloaked in black flame. Antares stood before them, its form shifting between a colossal, winged beast and a humanoid silhouette that radiated pure, unadulterated darkness. Its eyes were twin voids, pulling in the light around them.
“Monarch,” Jin‑Woo breathed, his voice a mixture of awe and resolve. “We have faced many, but none like you.”
Antares’s voice was a low, resonant growl that seemed to vibrate the very air. “You dare enter my domain, hunter. Your shadows are but a flicker against the abyss I command. I will devour your light and turn your world into eternal night.”
The battle that followed was unlike any the hunters had ever experienced. Antares unleashed waves of dark energy that rippled through the Rift, tearing at the fabric of reality. Jin‑Woo’s Shadow Army surged forward, forming a protective barrier that absorbed the onslaught, their forms shimmering with an inner light that seemed to push back the darkness. Cha Hae‑In moved with a speed that blurred her outline, her sword cutting through the black tendrils that Antares hurled at them. Liu Zhigang, ever the tactician, darted between the shadows, planting explosive charges that detonated with a thunderous crack, momentarily destabilizing the Monarch’s form.
For a heartbeat, it seemed as though the hunters might be overwhelmed. Antares’s power was immense, its presence a crushing weight that threatened to crush their resolve. Yet, Jin‑Woo stood at the center of the chaos, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. He raised his hand, and the shadows that surrounded him coalesced into a massive, towering figure—his most powerful soldier, the Shadow Monarch, a manifestation of his will and strength.
The Shadow Monarch clashed with Antares, the impact sending shockwaves through the Rift. The two forces collided in a blinding flash of light and darkness, each trying to dominate the other. The sound was deafening, a roar that seemed to echo across dimensions. Jin‑Woo’s voice rose above the din, a command that resonated with the very core of his being. “All my shadows, give me your strength! Let us become one!”
The Shadow Army responded, their forms merging with the Shadow Monarch, creating a colossal wave of darkness that surged forward. The wave enveloped Antares, its black tendrials wrapping around the Monarch like a vice. The darkness was not merely an absence of light; it was a living, breathing entity, a force that fed on fear and doubt, yet also on hope and resolve.
Cha Hae‑In, sensing an opening, leapt onto the back of Antares, her sword glowing with a radiant aura. She drove the blade deep into the Monarch’s heart, a strike that resonated with a pure, white light. The impact caused Antares to howl, a sound that seemed to split the very air. Liu Zhigang, seizing the moment, unleashed a barrage of explosive arrows that pierced the Monarch’s defenses, each arrow igniting with a burst of fiery energy.
The combined assault of the hunters and the Shadow Army began to turn the tide. Antares’s form flickered, its black flame sputtering as the light of Hae‑In’s sword and the explosive force of Zhigang’s arrows pierced its core. The shadows that had once threatened to consume them now fought alongside them, a testament to Jin‑Woo’s mastery over the darkness.
With a final, earth‑shaking roar, Antares collapsed, its massive form disintegrating into a cascade of violet ash that drifted like snow in the cavern. The Rift fell silent, the oppressive hum fading into a faint echo. The shadows that had been summoned for battle lingered for a moment, their forms shimmering with a soft, golden light before dissipating into the air.
Jin‑Woo lowered his hand, the darkness receding, leaving the hunters standing amidst the remnants of the battle. He turned to his companions, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and triumph. “We did it,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “The Antares Rift is sealed, and the Monarch is no more.”
Cha Hae‑In approached, her eyes reflecting the lingering glow of the battlefield. “Your shadows saved us,” she said, her tone soft but sincere. “Without them, we would have been lost.”
Liu Zhigang clapped a hand on Jin‑Woo’s shoulder, his grin wide. “You’ve shown us that even the deepest darkness can be turned into a weapon. I’m honored to have fought by your side.”
The hunters made their way back to the surface, the Rift’s entrance sealing behind them as if it had never existed. The city lights welcomed them, a stark contrast to the violet gloom they had just escaped. As they emerged, a crowd of onlookers gathered, their faces lit with awe and curiosity. Whispers spread like wildfire—“Did you see the Antares Rift?” “Did you hear about the Monarch battle?” “What happened to Jin‑Woo’s Shadow Army?”
News of the raid traveled quickly through the hunter community. Forums buzzed with speculation, and fans gathered in virtual rooms to discuss the latest developments. The Chapter 97 summary began to circulate, each fan dissecting the events with fervor. Some posted detailed analyses, breaking down the strategies employed by Jin‑Woo and his allies. Others offered spoilers, eager to share the most shocking moments of the battle. Translations of the chapter appeared in multiple languages, allowing readers worldwide to read Solo Leveling chapter 97 online and experience the thrill of the raid.
In the days that followed, the hunters found themselves at the center of a heated fan discussion. Debates erupted over the effectiveness of the Shadow Army, the role of Cha Hae‑In’s sword techniques, and Liu Zhigang’s daring tactics. Some argued that Jin‑Woo’s decision to merge his shadows into a single entity was a turning point, while others praised Hae‑In’s decisive strike that pierced Antares’s heart. The community’s enthusiasm was palpable, each comment adding a new layer to the collective understanding of the Monarch battle.
Amidst the chatter, Jin‑Woo remained stoic, his thoughts turning inward. The victory had come at a cost—many shadows had been sacrificed, their essence scattered across the Rift. He felt the weight of each loss, a silent promise to honor them by continuing to protect humanity. Yet, he also sensed a shift within himself, a growing awareness that the line between light and darkness was more fluid than he had ever imagined.
That night, as the city settled into a tentative peace, Jin‑Woo stood on the balcony of his apartment, the wind tugging at his hair. The stars above were faint, their light dimmed by the lingering violet hue of the Antares Rift’s afterglow. He closed his eyes, allowing the memories of the battle to wash over him—the roar of Antares, the clash of swords, the whisper of shadows.
Cha Hae‑In appeared beside him, her presence a comforting warmth. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes reflecting the same resolve that had guided her through the Rift. “We’ll face whatever comes next together,” she said softly.
Jin‑Woo opened his eyes, meeting her gaze. “Together,” he echoed, a faint smile forming on his lips. “The shadows may be endless, but so is our will to protect.”
Liu Zhigang joined them, his grin still bright despite the fatigue. “The next raid will be even more intense,” he declared, his voice brimming with excitement. “But with you both by my side, I have no doubt we’ll emerge victorious.”
The three hunters stood together, silhouettes against the night sky, their shadows merging with the darkness in a silent pact. The world beyond the city’s borders remained fraught with danger, Monarchs lurking in hidden dungeons, each waiting for a chance to rise. Yet, in that moment, the bond forged in the Antares Rift shone brighter than any monster’s threat.
The story of Chapter 97 would be told and retold, its details dissected in fan forums, its spoilers whispered in hushed tones, its translation shared across continents. But beyond the analysis and the recap, the true essence of the chapter lay in the unbreakable resolve of those who dared to step into the abyss and emerge stronger. The Shadow Army, once a mere tool, had become a symbol of unity—a reminder that even in the deepest darkness, there is a spark of hope waiting to be ignited.
As the night gave way to the first hints of dawn, Jin‑Woo felt a renewed sense of purpose. The shadows around him swirled gently, as if acknowledging his thoughts. He turned to his companions, his voice steady. “The next Monarch will not know what hit it. Let’s prepare, train, and sharpen our resolve. The world depends on us.”
Cha Hae‑In nodded, her eyes shining with determination. Liu Zhigang raised his fist, a grin spreading across his face. Together, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, their hearts beating in unison with the rhythm of the Shadow Army that would forever stand by their side.
#SoloLeveling #Chapter97