Solo Leveling: Banishment of the Anomaly

The city hummed with its usual chaos, but Jake could sense a shift in the air. The reports of gates appearing more frequently than ever had stirred up unease across the nation.

He sat on his sofa, eyes glued to the TV screen as the news droned on about the sudden influx of dungeons. Authorities were scrambling, calling for more hunters to be mobilized as the threats escalated. Jake frowned, tapping his finger against his cola can, deep in thought.

"This wasn't supposed to happen yet," he muttered, concern lacing his voice. "In the novel, things didn't move this fast... or is this something that wasn't mentioned?" The timeline felt off. Jin-Woo hadn't even unlocked his class yet, but if the gates were appearing at an accelerated rate, it meant the future would likely veer off course. And Jake, despite his knowledge, would be dragged along for the ride.

Jake glanced down at the faint blue glow of his system screen, which sat idle in the corner of his vision. He sighed. "Even with a system of my own, I'm still weak." Unlike Jin-Woo's System, which handed out quests and power-ups—even access to a system shop, Jake's Sage Enlightenment System seemed almost passive—observing, nudging him along, but offering little in the way of direction.

It was more like a silent guardian, subtly guiding him, rather than an aggressive force pushing him toward greatness.

No quests. No big missions. Jake took a sip of his drink, feeling the fizz against his tongue. "It's been weeks now, and I've barely made any progress." His frustration simmered beneath the surface.

Without a clear path forward, his growth had hit a plateau. Sure, he had leveled up a few skills, but it wasn't enough. Not when the world was speeding toward chaos faster than he could keep up with.

Joining a hunting party? He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. Even if he could tag along with a team, the moment he faced a monster, Joo-Hee's body would likely betray him. The instinctive fear, the trauma she had from the double-dungeon incident, still lingered in her nerves.

He could almost feel the tremble that would ripple through him at the sight of those beasts. The thought of charging into battle was still too much.

"Damn it," Jake whispered under his breath. He had always imagined that being transmigrated into a world like this would be exhilarating—adventure, power, the thrill of the fight.

But the reality was far from it. The emotional baggage from Joo-Hee's memories and the cautious nature of her body weighed him down. For now, all he could do was train. Grow stronger in silence, with no shortcuts or miraculous power-ups.

After turning off the TV, Jake stood and moved to the small garden he had been cultivating in his apartment. He took a deep breath, summoning his mana and focusing on his Verdant Growth skill. Slowly, he extended his hands over the plants, concentrating on the flow of energy that surged from his core and into the soil.

Tiny buds began to sprout, leaves unfurling with unnatural speed. It was a small success, but a success nonetheless. The plants in the corner of his apartment grew taller under his guidance, reacting to the magical energy he fed them—instantly becoming a sturdy house flower plant.

"At least this is something," Jake murmured and smiled, watching the greenery grow and bloom. The connection he felt with nature through this skill was profound, a part of him that was growing stronger each day. Yet, it was far from enough to be used in real battle. The system, which was silent all the time, then sent a notification as a pang entered Jake's mind.

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[You have gained enough proficiency. Verdant Growth has reached Level 3]

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Jake leaned back on the sofa, staring at the vibrant plants in his apartment. The sight brought him a brief moment of peace. "At least something's progressing," he muttered with a faint smile, admiring his recent progress.

His Verdant Growth skill had finally leveled up again, and while he knew Joo-Hee's body wasn't suited for combat, her affinity for magic was undeniable. "Her talent with mana is decently good, even if her combat skills lag behind."

Just as he was about to relax, his phone buzzed with a message from Mr. Kang Ho, a retired veteran hunter. It was an invitation for a special training session for hunters who had recently healed from injuries.

The association was working to get them back into fighting shape, especially with gates appearing more frequently. Jake read the message carefully, and his heart began to race.

A vivid flash of memory hit him—Joo-Hee's fear, the double dungeon accident. Her body started to tremble at the mere thought of stepping into another dungeon. The terror that had overwhelmed her back then resurfaced, and Jake felt it now, as if it were his own.

His hands trembled as he typed a hesitant reply, sweat forming on his brow. "I... I'll try, Mr. Kang, but I can't promise I'll be able to attend. Can you still send me the details, just in case?"

Within minutes, Mr. Kang responded. "I see, but make your decision fast. It's a low-rank goblin dungeon, so no need to worry too much. You still have two days. If you're not ready for the frontlines, you can always stay in the rear and focus on healing."

Jake sighed in relief at the understanding tone. "Thanks, Mr. Kang," he replied before hanging up the phone.

Sitting in silence, Jake stared at his trembling hands. "What should I do?" he muttered. "I just told myself that joining a party right now was ridiculous, but now this opportunity shows up, like the heavens are pushing me into it." His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled with the decision. He wanted to grow stronger—there was no denying that—but was he ready to face a dungeon?

For the next thirty minutes, Jake lay on the sofa, wrestling with his thoughts. He could feel Joo-Hee's fear, the instinctive aversion to anything dungeon-related. But at the same time, he knew that if he wanted to progress faster, he couldn't avoid it forever.

With a sudden burst of resolve, Jake sat up, slapping his cheeks to snap himself out of it. "Okay, let's do it. Just once. I'll face this fear and move forward."

He stood up, determined to make the most of the next two days before the dungeon. "Status," he said, the familiar discomfort of using the system lingering, but it was the only way to see his progress. His stats appeared in front of him once again:

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[Sage Enlightenment System]

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Name: Lee Joo-Hee (Jake Garcia)

Class: Sage of Eternal Leaf

Level: 2 (30/150)

HP: 160/160 | MP: 290/290

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Stats:

- Strength: 18

- Dexterity: 16

- Vitality: 16

- Magic Power: 29

- Intelligence: 23

- Wisdom: 20

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Skills:

- Healing Touch (Skill Level 2 - 24%): Amplified healing abilities, allowing for rapid recovery of wounds and ailments.

- Verdant Growth (Skill Level 3 - 0%): Manipulation of plants and nature, enabling the user to control and accelerate plant growth.

- Nature's Embrace (Skill Level 2 - 57%): A protective barrier formed from natural energy, capable of shielding the user and others from harm.

- Basic Swordsmanship (Skill Level 3 - 9%): Fundamentals of sword fighting, focusing on precision and control.

- Basic Meditation (Skill Level 3 - 12%): Enhances the user's ability to sense and manipulate internal mana, aiding in the recovery of magic power and increasing the effectiveness of other mana-based skills.

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Jake sat on the edge of the sofa, deep in thought. His eyes scanned the system's display, taking in his stats. The small improvements from his consistent training were noticeable, but they still hadn't reached the point he desired.

He already knew something was off a few weeks ago—these weren't Lee Joo-Hee's original stats. As a B-rank healer, she must have been far more average than this before her death. The degradation of her abilities was clear, likely a result of her trauma and the events leading up to her death. It was as if her mana reserves had shrunk over time.

"Joo-Hee probably had way more mana than this," Jake muttered to himself. He was certain of it. Her being a B-rank wasn't just for show. He sighed. He had a long way to go before he could recover her original mana reserve. But he had a plan. It wasn't going to be quick, but it was a start.

He opened the status window again, focusing on his mana pool and magical abilities. Increasing his mana capacity was now his priority, and the best way to do that was through Basic Meditation. It had proven to be a reliable tool in refining his control over mana, and little by little, he knew he could build up what had been lost at the expense of sacrificing a portion of his sleep.

"Slow and steady," Jake whispered, leaning back on the sofa. His goal was clear: raise his mana and sharpen his skills before the dungeon dive.

He decided to dedicate the next two days to an intense regimen. First, he would practice his healing and plant magic. Healing Touch would be vital in the upcoming dungeon, especially since he had decided to stay in the rear as a healer.

His role would be to support, but he needed to be ready for anything. Nature's Embrace, his defensive trump card, would offer protection in case things went sideways. And Verdant Growth could bind enemies or create barriers if necessary.

"The healer role it is," Jake said, clenching his fists. "I'll play it safe for now, but I won't be useless. I'll contribute in some ways, I guess."

With a solid strategy in place, Jake stood up and stretched. His determination was renewed. "I'll try to overcome this fear in her stead," he murmured. "This isn't just about surviving anymore. It's about becoming stronger, step by step."

He closed his eyes and began to meditate, feeling the natural energy flow through him, slowly but steadily increasing his mana pool. This was the beginning of his true preparation.