Solo Leveling : 10 Shadow Technique

"So, you're saying that out of the entire elite squad of the Elastic Guild... only Jean made it back?" Finn asked, his voice unusually serious.

Elias, standing with his arms crossed, partially covered his face. "Yes... but she's still in critical condition," he admitted.

Finn sighed as he was handed a set of photos showing Jean's injuries. His eyes scanned the damage—deep lacerations, venom spreading through her veins. He turned to Elias.

"Can I talab out on?" he muttered, though his mind was already at work. Ankha stood by his side, waiting for instructions. Finn extended his hand. "Injection."

Ankha silently retrieved a syringe from the counter, opening it before handing it to Finn. He took it carefully and injected it into the area where the venom was most concentrated. A second later, he withdrew the needle.

'Only venom… barely any blood mixed in.' Finn noted, analyzing the liquid.

Without hesitation, he reached into his shadow and summoned Round Deer, the healing Shikigami. The golden deer stepped forward, its divine touch spreading healing energy over Jean. Within moments, her wounds began to close. Finn let Round Deer return to his shadow.

But just as he turned away—

The venom flared up again.

Finn exhaled through his nose, eyes narrowing as he realized something. This wasn't normal poison. It was alive.

Yet his mind was already elsewhere. 'If I eat this, will I turn into a pervert? Or is that normal? I mean, the only red thing in it is about 25 percent.'

Later That Night

Finn, still in his lab coat, sat in his office, sucking on a lollipop while playing a game. The vial of venom remained in his pocket, forgotten for the moment.

Then—

[Your character has been corrupted.]

[Game Over.]

Finn's eye twitched. 'This game is baiting me hard.' He nearly threw his console but stopped, remembering it was brand new. With a sigh, he pocketed it instead.

Bored, he walked onto the balcony, looking up at the night sky. Only a few stars were visible. He pulled the vial from his pocket and stared at it.

"Oh right… the venom."

He popped the cap open.

"I forgot about you."

Without overthinking, Finn drank it.

Instantly, a salty, metallic taste filled his mouth. Then the venom hit—hard.

His venom abilities surged, feeling stronger than ever. But then—

Red veins burst across his skin, blood seeping out.

"What the hell—?!" Finn gritted his teeth as agony tore through him. His body eroded as if dissolving from the inside out.

Instinctively, he summoned Round Deer again, allowing its healing touch to push back the venom. But the poison was evolving—adapting.

Finn's mind raced. 'It adjusted… it must have calibrated itself to my perfect lethal dose.'

Thinking fast, he created multiple clones, each summoning their own Round Deer. Through their connected shadows, they merged them into a greater form—

🔹 Celestial Stag – An evolved, radiant version of Round Deer, glowing like a celestial being.

Finn climbed onto its back. "Much better."

Then he winced. Right—he was still being eroded by the venom.

"Oh, right—Jean."

With a flicker of shadow, Finn disappeared into Celestial Stag's shadow.

Hospital Room – Jean's Healing

Finn appeared in Jean's hospital room, holding onto Celestial Stag as it worked to heal her once again.

As he casually texted Elias, he sent a simple message:[Yo, about Taal Lake—I'll do it.]

Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he removed his hand from Celestial Stag.

The venom surged again.

This time, Finn summoned Mahoraga's Wheel above him.

Before the venom could be fully purged, Finn extracted another sample with a fresh syringe. Then—the wheel spun.

In an instant, he adapted. The pain stopped. He was immune.

"Ahhh… that feels great."

But then—

The venom adapted back.

Finn growled as pain ripped through him again. The wheel spun again, forcing him to adapt once more.

Still kneeling, bloodied, he exhaled. "I hate adapting attacks."

Glancing down at his coat, now drenched in blood, Finn searched the hospital room. He grabbed bandages, heading to the bathroom.

Moments later, he emerged, his torso wrapped in bloodstained bandages, his mouth covered as well.

Summoning a clone, he ordered: "Summon Celestial Stag and just say 'here'."**

The clone nodded and obeyed.

Next Day – Elias' Office

Finn sat in Elias' office, now wearing a new outfit:

A black suit with matching pants A red coat with gold linings A small black top hat with a red band at its base Mahoraga's Wheel still spinning above his head A flintlock pistol strapped to his waist

Despite his refined look, the venom still lingered in his body. But now, Finn had something else—a countermeasure.

Acid. The eroding component of his Venom ability, refined into a new form. An acid that devours any venom that adapts.

"So, I'll do it. The venom seems to have adaptive capabilities," Finn told Elias. His voice was calm, but his golden eyes burned with focus.

Elias studied him carefully. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

Finn nodded. "Give me some prep time. I'll be ready in three days."

Standing up, he took out his phone and prepared to text Jess. But before sending anything, he looked at Elias again.

"Hey, you're the President, right?"

Elias raised an eyebrow. "Obviously."

Finn smirked. "Then get me access to every dungeon you can. As many as possible. Don't worry about overlap—just get me in."

Elias considered it for a moment. Then, slowly, he nodded.

"Done."

Finn grinned. "Perfect."