Unleashing the Storm

Mu-hyuk started with the items.

The belt boosted Wisdom, Strength, and Stamina by 1 each, and increased the MP recovery rate by a whopping 20.

He was already wearing the bracelet and ring, so the growth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠potential seemed significant.

When he removed the bracelet, the MP recovery rate dropped by 10, and the Strength and Stamina bonuses vanished.

Taking off the ring as well eliminated the Wisdom boost and the remaining 10 to MP recovery.

Putting both back on restored the belt's improved options.

The bracelet gained 1 more Wisdom and 5 more to the MP recovery rate.

The ring saw the same improvements as the bracelet.

Next up were the set effects.

The second effect was Storm.

Storm?

Curiosity piqued, he checked it out.

The description alone didn't quite make it clear.

Compress and explode?

But the real annoyance was the MP cost.

Hah, 200 MP.

His frown didn't last long, though—his eyes widened at the next part of the description.

It mentioned dealing additional damage upon explosion.

Normal skills didn't phrase it that way. Just look at Powerful Arrow Shot.

Powerful Arrow Shot dealt 160% of basic damage.

If Mu-hyuk's attack power was 100, hitting an enemy would deal 160 damage.

But Storm specified additional damage.

That meant, on top of his 100 attack power, it added another 180% worth.

In terms of other skills like Powerful Arrow Shot, it equated to 280% of basic damage.

Of course, as a set effect, it wouldn't level up. The percentage was fixed and wouldn't increase further.

A bit disappointing, sure, but still incredibly impressive.

Yeah, this is plenty amazing.

That thought crossed his mind when—

Wait a second...!

A potential use for Storm suddenly flashed through his head.

No way...?

Shocked, he hurried into action.

"Hey, where you going?"

"Uh, just—follow me for now."

"What's up?"

Sung Min-woo chased after the moving Mu-hyuk. They didn't have to go far before spotting a Bengal Tribe warrior. Mu-hyuk's face lit up with excitement as he nocked an arrow.

A gust of wind seemed to blow. No, it wasn't an illusion—a clear vortex gathered at the arrowhead, visible to the naked eye.

Powerful Arrow Shot…!

He fired the skill in that state.

Gulp.

Heart pounding, he released the bowstring.

"What the hell…"

Sung Min-woo, arriving late, couldn't finish his sentence before the arrow struck the Bengal Tribe warrior's chest.

The arrowhead pierced flesh.

Stunned, Sung Min-woo stumbled back.

"Wh-what the hell?!"

The Bengal Tribe warrior screamed in agony and charged at Mu-hyuk.

Even as it vanished into stealth, Mu-hyuk stood frozen in shock.

"Dude, do something!"

Sung Min-woo rushed forward, summoning a spirit to shield Mu-hyuk.

Kakakak!

The Earth spirit clashed with the hidden warrior, forcing it to reveal itself. Sung Min-woo quickly directed his remaining three spirits.

"Hraaah!"

He pressed the attack himself too.

"Ah…?"

Mu-hyuk snapped out of it at the battle cry.

"Ha, haha."

He couldn't help but laugh.

His current damage was 281.

The Bengal Tribe warrior's defense was 80.

That left 201 damage, boosted to 160% by Powerful Arrow Shot for 320 total.

That was the first message.

But it didn't end there. Storm added 576 more on the 320 base.

That was the second.

And then Excessive Bleeding.

That was the third.

One attack…

Dealt a whopping 896 damage and applied a special status effect.

How could he not laugh?

Stacking one skill on another.

This was…

An absolute jackpot.

*

"What're you doing? Help already!"

Sung Min-woo's shout stopped his laughter, but a new question bubbled up.

How would the new Storm interact with Wind Step?

Curiosity killed the cat—or so they said. No, test it and see.

He stowed his bow in inventory.

Drew sword and shield, then activated the skill to dash through the slowed world.

In an instant, he flanked the Bengal Tribe warrior and applied Storm to his blade.

Whirling wind coiled around the sword like a vortex.

He slashed as he passed. A clean slice, followed by a massive explosion.

It already had Excessive Bleeding, so no repeat message, but a casual swing dealt over 500 damage.

Downside was the 200 MP cost, but the effect was undeniable.

Insane.

He circled back and slashed again.

Again.

The roaring Bengal Tribe warrior.

Mu-hyuk positioned behind it and unleashed Storm.

Critical hit pushed the total to 744 damage.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Mu-hyuk let out a disbelieving chuckle. Storm's power was unreal.

Melee users at his level could deal more damage with less MP using their skills—and chain them endlessly.

But Mu-hyuk was a Necromancer.

Anyone watching him fight without skeletons would peg him as some specialized melee class holder.

It was that godlike.

He kept moving, tearing into the Bengal Tribe warrior.

Inflicting wounds everywhere.

No hesitation, no mercy—pure ruthless precision.

Thud.

The warrior finally collapsed forward, unable to endure.

Mu-hyuk approached the fallen body.

Kneeling down.

"Corpse Dissection."

He drew his dagger and activated the skill.

His hands moved naturally.

Slice.

Cutting skin, extracting bone.

For now, into inventory.

"Up we go."

As he stood, Sung Min-woo stared with furrowed brows.

"What the hell was that?"

"Oh, got the set effect from Grokion's relics—it's a skill. Was just testing it…"

"Hah, that exploding thing?"

"Yeah."

"Warn me next time, man. Scared the shit outta me."

Honestly, Mu-hyuk was at fault.

No excuses.

"Sorry."

Sung Min-woo sighed at the straightforward apology.

"Sigh, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just don't do it again."

"Got it."

"Alright, let's head down then."

The two descended the Yabbe Mountains together. They avoided monsters as much as possible, but when unavoidable, they hunted with full power.

Once at the foothills, it was smooth sailing. The entrance was vast enough that a little caution kept them from running into Katar.

They picked up the pace.

Less than 40 minutes later, they reached the village. Using the warp gate, they headed to the Weibra Empire, then straight to the mercenary guild.

After queuing up, they claimed their quest rewards.

Bengal Tribe extermination and Katar extermination completed simultaneously.

100 Mercenary Points.

100 Gold and 40 Contribution.

Not bad.

"Alright then…"

He checked the mercenary quests again.

Contribution, contribution…

No luck— no Contribution quests this time.

No linked quests either.

"Can't be helped."

"Monster subjugation quests?"

"Yeah."

The tedious but unavoidable field grinding began.

*

This time's prey was the Zaku. High Strength, Agility, and Stamina made them tough—not just damage, but tanky with great defense, movement, and reactions.

Plus, their burst speed bursts made them tricky.

Truth be told, Mu-hyuk wouldn't hunt them without the guild quests.

"Haa, still wiped out."

"Never doing Zaku again."

"Same here."

Highly likely.

Only endured for the Contribution reward.

"Next."

At the staff's call, he stepped forward.

Handed over his mercenary tag.

"Good work."

Rewards claimed.

50 Mercenary Points.

30 Contribution.

Now at 650 Mercenary Points and 140 Contribution total.

"When can I rank up?"

"C-Rank now, right?"

"Yes."

"Reach 3,000 points for the B-Rank promotion quest."

"Thanks. And show available quests."

"Sure."

Sung Min-woo followed up.

"C-Rank promotion?"

"2,500 from D-Rank."

"Aha!"

What did higher ranks offer?

First, more quests available.

Wider range, basically.

Mu-hyuk had a few solo options, but they were useless, so he picked for Sung Min-woo.

Second, better rewards.

Mu-hyuk got ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠50 Mercenary Points this quest; Sung Min-woo got 40.

30 Contribution vs. 25.

Higher rank meant better scores for the same quest.

Like trust level.

Anyway, they moved left to scout the next quests.

"How 'bout this?"

"Hmm…"

As he pondered,

"What, a boss monster?"

"Yeah, jackpot, right? Level 80 hunting ground spawn!"

Mu-hyuk's head snapped around.