Unraveling Kaljekan's Deadly Rhythm
The numbers were substantial this time.
Roughly twenty players?
About a dozen melee users among them approached Kaljekan, shields raised to cover their bodies.
The beast let out a guttural roar. Just like before, the watching veterans unleashed a torrent of attacks in response.
"Hmm..."
Mu-hyuk pondered for a moment before closing the distance to Kaljekan.
"Let's attack for now."
"Now?"
"Yeah, just one hit to check the rankings. It'll be good to know what the top score is."
"Ah, got it."
Sung Min-woo summoned his spirits and ordered them to cast spells, while Mu-hyuk loosed a simple arrow.
112 Damage
Contribution (+3)
The damage was pathetically low.
Holy hell...
Mu-hyuk's current physical attack power was 293, yet it only dealt 112 damage. That meant Kaljekan's defense was a filthy 180.
Insanely high.
And its HP was undoubtedly monstrous.
Can we even take it down?
Mu-hyuk shoved the thought aside and checked the contribution rankings.
1st place at 172 points. 4th at 161.
From 10th to 17th, it dropped to 131 points, and further down, 81st to 97th were all tied at 55.
100th was 54. Mu-hyuk's measly 3 points didn't even register on the rankings.
But confirming that 1st was only at 172? That was plenty.
For some reason, even the top contributors couldn't avoid death.
They'd been dying nonstop?
Until they figured out the pattern.
Leading to this standoff?
That seemed about right.
Hmm.
To intervene, they needed to crack the pattern. But so far, nothing stood out.
Sure, approaching meant steady damage ticks—but that alone wasn't enough.
Just heal through it, right?
And the veterans' hesitation was weird. No ranged attacks at all.
If proximity was the issue, ranged pressure should work fine.
But they weren't doing it.
Only striking when newbies provoked Kaljekan.
Why the hell act like that?
"1st place is only 172?"
"Yeah, but it's kinda weird."
"What is?"
"We just did ranged attacks, right?"
"Yep."
"But it didn't react to us. It's only glaring at the first attackers. So if we keep ranged-bombing from here, we could rack up points easy?"
"Huh, you're right."
"But look at the others."
"Not attacking."
"Means there's more to it."
"Mm."
No way they were trolling.
A few unhelmeted veterans showed naked determination on their faces—resolve to down the beast, laced with caution.
The mystery lingered.
What? What is it?
Meanwhile, more newbies kept arriving.
Most watched warily, but some strutted in, dismissing Kaljekan.
"Here?"
"Yeah, that's the boss monster."
"Whoa, it's huge."
"Doesn't look that impressive. Like a Twin Head Ogre."
"But no one's approaching?"
"Something's up. Stay back."
These newbies were like that—cocky, but not total idiots like before. They grasped the situation enough not to charge blindly.
Instead, they unleashed ranged attacks from afar.
"Hey, my contribution's already 30!"
"25 for me!"
"Piece of cake. Rankings are gonna skyrocket."
"We taking top spots!"
They cackled.
Then Kaljekan roared.
KRAAAAAARRGH!
Kaljekan fixed on the laughing attackers. The veterans, who'd held back, erupted like they'd been waiting.
KWABOOM!
Insane firepower.
But this time, it didn't stop at one volley.
It kept coming.
What the—?
The question answered itself.
KRAAAAAARRGH!
Kaljekan rocketed into the sky.
Its massive bulk made the ascent look sluggish and heavy. The veterans halted attacks the instant it leaped, leaving its gaze locked on the still-firing cacklers.
What're you—
Air slammed into them like a wall.
Then the boom.
KRUUUUNG!
Too fast to track properly.
"Fucking insane."
Kaljekan had leaped dozens of meters up; the drop took a mere blink.
How much force to crater the ground like that?
The laughing idiots? Smashed flat, instantly.
"That was it."
Kaljekan's other threat: it was a living bomb.
That's why no ranged.
Approach: DoT damage.
Ranged: Get bombed.
Insane...!
Ascent so slow, descent a blur. Even Mu-hyuk wasn't sure he could dodge.
Wind Step...?
Maybe?
Kaljekan hauled itself from the crater. All those holes they'd passed? Mystery solved.
*
Veterans pulled back, holding fire again.
"Pull aggro first, or you eat it."
"Aggro?"
"Yeah. Close in, DoT ticks. Ranged, bombing run. So they only attack when newbies tanklessly aggro it."
Sung Min-woo nodded.
"Smart."
"But problem."
"What?"
"How do they tell if aggro's pulled?"
"The roar."
"Ah..."
Right—veterans only moved on roars. That was the aggro signal.
"Yeah, the roar."
"Heh, I helped."
"Obviously."
Pattern grasped.
Time to move.
More newbies meant more chances.
As expected, clueless ones provoked it.
"Here it comes."
"Let's go."
Mu-hyuk summoned Archers and Mages.
Sung Min-woo called spirits.
Wait.
Newbies blindly ranged it.
KRAAAAAARRGH!
Mu-hyuk closed in.
Strong Bows, Bone Bows—full volley.
Mage spells.
Mu-hyuk nocked an arrow.
Storm.
Powerful Arrow Shot.
Bone arrows whistled; mage magic tore space. Mu-hyuk carefully aimed and released.
PANG!
The arrow pierced air, slamming Kaljekan.
270 Damage
486 Bonus Damage
Contribution (+6)
Contribution (+10)
16 points in one go.
Strong Bows: 3 pts each, total 12.
Bone Bows: 2 pts each, but wait—text says 24? Math: anyway, follow.
Mages: 6-9 pts each, total 41? Cumulative.
1-50 dmg = +1 pt; 51-100 = +2; 101-150 = +3, scaling up.
"I'm out."
"Already?"
"Yeah, others are pulling back."
"Right, me too."
Mu-hyuk retreated far, then checked rankings.
The gap had narrowed massively.
Good. Solid.
Keep this up, top ranks were feasible.
Mu-hyuk's high damage, enhanced skeletons, mage firepower shining.
"Your score?"
"95."
"Damn, high."
"You?"
"81."
Sung Min-woo's was no slouch.
Spirit synergy excelled.
All ranged magic base, big points there.
Post-attack: Earth disrupted ground to hinder Kaljekan; Wind slowed it—extra contrib.
"Next round, tighter synergy."
Sung Min-woo muttered, eyes gleaming.
"Me too."
"Tch, this big bro's gotta catch up, but you're stepping it up?"
"Can't make it easy."
They bantered as hordes arrived.
1,500+ including spectators.
Few dared Kaljekan. Amid the standoff, it suddenly roared skyward.
"Shit, too late!"
"Summon quick!"
Veterans yelled.
"Damn! Skeleton summon!"
A necromancer summoned one.
It hurled its sword skyward, clipping Kaljekan. Gaze shifted—air trembled.
KRUUUUNG!
Late boom chilled the spine.
"No taunter for a bit, it random-bombs?"
"Mm."
Probably.
Wait—!
Flashback: Skeletons dying to Mokryeong gave contrib.
Melee warriors useless anyway.
Use as aggro bait?
No.
Veterans aren't dumb.
They know skeletons as bait work—used one just now.
But rarely. Only as last resort, dragging time otherwise.
Reason there.
Don't move till known.
Mu-hyuk waited calmly.
"Here they come."
Fearless newbies.
"That's the boss?"
"Sizeable. Wanna try?"
Blind to others, like Mu-hyuk once was. Only Kaljekan in view.
"I'll close; prep magic. You arrow."
"No worries."
Melee approached; archer loosed.
KRAAAAAACK!
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo surged, unloading.
Storm.
Powerful Arrow Shot.
Big contrib haul.
"Jump! Scatter!"
Kaljekan leaped.
Provokers crushed; allies swept in shockwave.
"Whew."
Safe distance, Mu-hyuk exhaled, awaiting next.
Sung Min-woo bragged.
"Total 130+ now."
"Nice?"
"One more, I'm ranked."
"I'm already 92nd."
"Damn...!"
Another newbie poked it.
"Go!"
Mage cooldown up—no go. Archer skeletons and Mu-hyuk hit.
PANG! PAAANG!
No mages, still jumped to 89th.