The Tedious Path to Power

Skeleton growth was slow.

Excruciatingly slow.

No, it was maddeningly slow. That was why so many users gave up, unable to endure the grind.

Only a handful who didn't quit managed to raise their levels and command larger numbers of summons—but even then, their utility remained limited.

Why?

As the character's level rose, the skeletons' levels naturally increased as well, but they were always five levels lower than the main character.

Moreover, while the main character gained one bonus point per level up, summons needed two level ups for just one bonus point.

So even at level 100, a summon would only have 47 bonus points.

A level 90 warrior could shatter them with a single poke, and a mage's AoE spell would melt them away.

Sure, they inherited 20% of the main character's additional stats, but most users didn't invest in Strength, Agility, or Vitality anyway, so it meant nothing.

Only in the late game, with summons like Death Knights or Golems, could they finally stand against high-level players. But if those players ignored the summons and targeted the main character directly? Nothing but futile deaths awaited.

Yet someday, the truth would come to light.

Higher Dexterity meant bigger bonuses when replacing bones, plus that extra 20% of the main character's stats. For those who'd focused on Strength, Agility, and Vitality, the summons became a force impossible to ignore.

And that was just the beginning.

No.

Gangster Necromancer added another 10% on top.

That made it a full 30% of the main character's stats transferred to the summons.

There were more growth possibilities too.

Assembling bones from stronger monsters boosted stats even more—the stronger the monster, the greater the gain.

Especially the skull. It was absolute.

You could only replace it once, and it was hard to obtain, so caution was key—but the growth was explosive.

You could even equip them with weapons and shields.

Later on, they'd learn helpful skills too.

The higher the Dexterity.

The higher the skill levels.

The better the gear.

The higher the main character's level and stats.

In the end, the summons grew strong as well.

It took grinding, time, pouring in effort. Enduring it all.

If you had the confidence to weather that, Mu-hyuk believed no job beat Gangster Necromancer.

"That's why..."

For now, this was the only way.

In the early game, the only method to make these pathetically weak skeletons and zombies somewhat useful.

"Attack!"

Use the summons as bullet sponges.

And seize the opening.

Paat.

Mu-hyuk jumped, landing on the snake's body.

He shifted toward the head while keeping his balance, then thrust the sword in his hand downward just before toppling over.

Kwaduk.

The rough sensation of blade tearing into flesh.

He twisted the sword.

Kieeeek!

The Snake of Wisdom let out a shriek, thrashing wildly.

But Mu-hyuk had already mastered his balance through repeated experience.

With the sword lodged in, falling was no longer a concern. From there, it was smooth sailing.

After all, the Snake of Wisdom's physical abilities were far inferior to those of the snakes of Vitality, Strength, or Agility.

Puk, puk.

A few daggers from his Infinite Sword Sheath later, it went still.

Dead?

A moment later, the message appeared.

A pleasant voice.

Not just Wisdom rising, but a level up too!

But there was no time to bask in the joy.

Slowly straightening his waist, he stood, then hurried down to dissect the corpse, which was scattering silver dust.

His hands moved on autopilot, slicing skin and extracting bones, which he stored in his inventory. Then he sat, taking a break.

Already hungry.

He pulled bread from his inventory and chewed.

Haa, tasteless.

He craved kimchi stew.

Time to learn Cooking soon.

He planned to pick it up right after leaving here.

Learning Cooking gave +3 Dexterity automatically.

Then, as skill levels rose or special dishes were made, Dexterity increased bit by bit.

That alone helped with Bone Assembly.

Plus, good food granted temporary stat boosts.

For Mu-hyuk, it was an essential sub-skill.

Though most users preferred dragging around someone who'd learned it, finding it tedious and finicky themselves.

After finishing the bread, Mu-hyuk checked his HP and MP.

They were at 90%, but for maximum safety, he decided to wait for 100%.

He passed the time reviewing his character info.

A smile crept across his face.

That 0.9 next to Strength came from catching nine Strength Snakes.

One more, and it'd vanish, pushing Strength to 24.

Agility, Vitality, Knowledge, and Wisdom had already risen by one each after ten-plus kills apiece.

Truly enjoyable.

He could feel himself growing stronger.

If only he could stay a month.

Where did it end?

The dungeon might clear in the next room—or he might climb to floor 2, 3, or higher.

Dungeon raids demanded long hours.

Exhaustion was common, but Mu-hyuk hoped this one never ended.

No—at least three more days.

That'd net at least five stat increases.

Pfft.

A chuckle escaped.

He knew it wouldn't last that long, yet he hoped anyway.

This was a Unique Dungeon, not Ancient. At most, two or three per stat.

He cleared his mind and checked his status again.

HP and MP full.

Swipe.

He stood and stepped forward.

*

At Agility 9, he couldn't catch the Agility Snake.

But grinding them relentlessly pushed it to 10, changing everything.

100.5%.

101%.

101.5%.

Every +5% let him feel his reaction speed surge.

Now at exactly 101.5%, he could faintly track its movements.

Reaction Speed was astonishing like that.

A tiny gap opened a whole new world.

But Agility wasn't the ultimate stat.

Fighting wasn't just about seeing—it required the power and speed to enter that world, plus stamina to rampage freely.

Mu-hyuk balanced all three perfectly.

Reaction Speed: 101.5%.

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

Pure Agility: 15.

Strength was 8 higher at 23, Vitality a bit low but sufficient at 12.

He qualified for that faster world.

Kiiik.

So he felt no worry.

Not even with the Agility Snake circling him now.

Dagger in left hand, Iron Sword of Destruction in right, he held position.

Then exploded forward.

Kicking off the ground, he swung the Iron Sword of Destruction.

A perfect strike into the snake's neck as it arced in a semicircle.

The startled snake whipped its tail desperately, but Mu-hyuk's enhanced reaction speed had already read it all.

He bent his knees slightly, then leaped into the air.

The snake's maw gaped wide before him. He hurled the dagger from his left hand.

It flew straight into the snake's tongue.

Another critical!

Kyaek, kieeek!

As it thrashed in agony, Mu-hyuk landed.

"Hup...!"

He inhaled sharply, holding his breath.

Exploding his muscles, he closed the gap.

Luckily, two crits in a row.

Its remaining HP was low—around 300, judging by past fights.

Four or five normal hits would do it.

With its movements readable, no problem.

Up close, he swung wildly.

Seok, seok.

Three strikes already.

The writhing Agility Snake tried to retreat, but Mu-hyuk summoned two skeletons and a zombie to block it.

While they stalled, he closed in again and thrust.

Puk—a rough sound, and silver dust erupted, soon enveloping the snake's body.

Mu-hyuk approached leisurely and used the skill.

"Corpse Dissection."

He stored the results, watched a moment, then the paused death timer resumed from the skill.

The corpse dissolved into smoke.

Drops: a few hides.

He pocketed them.

Special materials from dissection, plus monster drops.

Item collecting was rewarding too.

Glancing at them, he checked remaining ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠HP.

100%.

Zero hits this fight.

Good. Straight on.

No rest needed.

Thud.

Walking forward, he imagined the next snake.

Strength Snake? HP around 700, low defense—ten solid hits.

Vitality Snake: 1,200 HP, 40 defense. Just keep pounding.

Knowledge and Wisdom Snakes: block retreats, easier than the first three.

Perfect.

All that combat experience fused into instinct.

Nothing to fear.

Just raise those stats.

Thud.

No break—he pressed on.

A snake visible ahead.

"Golgol-il, Golgol-i. Attack!"

It dropped, and another +0.1 stat tick.