Blackened Plains Assault
The battle ended in less than five minutes. There were far more users than monsters.
Mu-hyuk clicked his tongue in disappointment as he dropped the bow from his hand.
At that moment, Vice Captain Kirk shouted.
"We'll take a 10-minute break!"
Mu-hyuk returned to his position in the ranks, sat down, and pulled out a disposable crafting tool.
Ten minutes would be plenty.
He swung the hammer.
Clang!
He began crafting a dagger.
Many watched with interest, but Mu-hyuk, fully focused, didn't notice their stares.
Clang!
The progress bar rose sharply.
One strike at a time.
With each hammer blow, the shape changed.
Clang!
He swung the hammer once more.
"Whew."
Mu-hyuk exhaled and lifted the completed dagger. But his expression wasn't bright when he checked the options. It was a dagger that would barely sell. Shoving aside his regret, he stored it in his inventory.
Oh, right—contribution points.
He hurriedly checked the status.
His eyes widened automatically.
"Whoa."
The total was a whopping 133.9.
What about the rankings?
Unfortunately, he couldn't check right now.
There was no system to display it.
It seemed rankings were only revealed when entering uncharted territory or when Mook wanted to check.
He couldn't see the rankings with his own eyes, but Mu-hyuk could sense it instinctively. He was likely in first place.
Of course, with plenty of hunting left ahead, there was no guarantee he'd hold onto first until the end. Unexpected variables could pop up anytime.
But he had confidence.
And a few methods up his sleeve.
"Break time's over!"
Kirk's voice rang out right on cue, and everyone stood.
"Skeleton Warhorse Summon."
As he mounted one, he ordered the remaining horse to advance. It stopped in front of Sung Min-woo in the distance, who quickly caught on and hopped aboard.
"Move out!"
They stepped forward once more.
To cross the Ayak Mountains.
*
As they climbed toward the midsection, monster spawns increased in frequency, but the apprentice knights still didn't budge.
Well, the Ayak Mountains were nothing much.
Real combat would kick off after crossing them. That was the true uncharted zone—a battlefield swarming with monsters.
‘Additional Contribution (0.003)’ has increased.
‘Additional Contribution (0.002)’ has increased.
Mu-hyuk watched his rising contribution points with satisfaction as he commanded his skeletons.
After a fairly long battle wrapped up...
"We just need to cross this final peak. Take a last 20-minute break."
At Mook's words, the captains of ten gathered around Mu-hyuk.
"Mu-hyuk."
"Yeah."
"It's getting tougher bit by bit as we near the uncharted zone."
"Yeah."
"By the way..."
"Yeah."
"How much contribution do you have?"
Mu-hyuk smiled faintly.
Hmm, so that's why they came over.
He pondered how to respond, then decided to slash the number way down. No point in revealing something unusually high—it would just invite scrutiny.
"350."
"Huh? 350?"
"Yeah."
"That's all?"
"You don't get the 100-man additional?"
"I've got 10-man additional, total 400."
"I'm at 420."
"Oh, I'm down to 380 now..."
Mu-hyuk replied nonchalantly.
"I see."
"How'd that happen?"
"What?"
"I mean, you're a captain of a hundred—why so low?"
"Necromancer."
Everyone let out exclamations at Mu-hyuk's words.
Necromancer.
They knew the class's limitations. A job that couldn't do much on its own, relying entirely on summons.
"Still, you had a lot of summons..."
"As many as there are, they're weak."
"And shooting arrows..."
Another captain of ten chimed in at the mention of arrows.
"A necromancer's arrows—how much damage could they do? Right?"
"Yeah, exactly."
Mu-hyuk answered flatly.
"Necromancer and all..."
"Could be."
Most nodded in agreement. A few looked skeptical, but no need to mind them.
"Anyway, I'm out."
Mu-hyuk cut the chat and pulled out his disposable crafting tool. The captains of ten, having achieved their goal, turned away without regret.
Then they muttered among themselves.
"Captain of a hundred's no big deal."
"Let's ignore him."
"His score's even lower than mine."
"Right."
Another captain of ten, Han Jumeok, smirked as he watched them.
"Idiots."
He'd observed Mu-hyuk properly, so he knew.
He couldn't possibly be weak.
Twenty-nine summons. Was that normal? No other necromancer could dream of that number. So he couldn't be average.
Plus, monsters hit by Mu-hyuk or his skeletons died faster than others. He'd confirmed it multiple times.
The moment you dismiss him, you're done.
Han Jumeok mentally struck a few captains of ten from his list of rivals.
And refocused on Mu-hyuk.
I wonder what his real score is.
Curious, but no way to find out yet.
*
Around the time Mu-hyuk, who had recently hit level 81, saw his experience reach 35%, they finally crested the last peak of the Ayak Mountains.
In the process, his Meditation, Blessing of the Dead, and Skeleton Warhorse skills leveled up. Experience for Skeleton Warrior, Archer, and Mage skills had filled up considerably too.
His condition was excellent, but he still tensed up. The moment they crossed the final peak, a vast plain stretched before them, teeming with monsters that filled his vision.
The monsters were varied.
Front, left, right, center, rear—each dominated by different types.
Right side first.
Goblins. Small stature, poison-spewing, pack-hunting green monsters. Identical to the usual ones, save for one difference.
"Weird, right?"
"Huh?"
"The goblins are black."
The color.
Black.
It gave off an eerie foreboding.
"Still just goblins."
"Yeah."
Just goblins.
Easy prey even low-level users could hunt effortlessly.
What about the left?
A horde of black orcs.
Center: black werewolves.
Black aside, they were familiar monsters—not high-level.
These users alone could clear them easily. Yet no orders came.
Clop clop.
Mu-hyuk cautiously headed to the center.
No sign of Kirk.
Probably off to see the captain. He waited a bit, and Kirk approached from the front. Sung Min-woo, captain of a hundred, was beside him.
"Oh, perfect timing."
"Yeah."
"I had something to tell you two."
Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk waited quietly.
"From here on, we'll engage in full combat. The captain judges that reckless moves like in the Ayak Mountains won't cut it for progress."
Mu-hyuk had doubts.
"Just goblins, orcs, and werewolves, right?"
"Hmm, you don't feel it?"
"Feel what...?"
Kirk turned to gaze at the monsters.
"That ominous aura—don't you sense it?"
"Mm."
Truth be told, Mu-hyuk felt uneasy too. He'd encountered "darkness-corrupted" monsters in dungeons before.
They far exceeded normal strength.
If all these were like that?
Chills ran down his spine at the thought.
"Anyway, captains of hundreds—properly command your captains of ten."
"Got it. But we're outsiders."
"I know. They won't listen well. So I'm granting you special summary execution authority."
"Summary execution?"
"Exactly as it sounds—authority to punish them at your discretion. Just refrain from killing. Though showing an example with one or two might be unavoidable."
He spoke of killing so casually. A knight seasoned in battle could say that. Death was ever-present there.
He felt a bit unfamiliar like this, but Mu-hyuk smiled. Users didn't truly die anyway.
Summary execution authority.
Pretty nice perk.
Not that he'd use it.
"Anyway, good luck. I've got the rest of the outsiders to command."
"Yes, sir."
He answered and returned to the rear.
Called the captains of ten.
"They told me to command you all."
Their expressions soured.
"Hmm, command us?"
"Yeah."
"No need to follow that, right? These monsters aren't tough anyway. Just keep doing our own thing like before?"
"Sounds good to me."
Most didn't welcome Mu-hyuk's command.
Natural.
Who liked taking orders?
Especially in a game.
"Sure, whatever."
Mu-hyuk readily accepted their view.
Honestly, just a hundred people. Commanding them wouldn't achieve much. Better to focus on skeletons. He could report he'd done his best commanding later.
Not like it was a quest.
Kirk's voice rang out just then.
"All outsiders, listen up! We're going to slaughter the monsters occupying this plain! First, form up properly!"
Under his command, everyone bustled into position.
The formation was set.
Over 2,000 users including Sung Min-woo on the left; over 2,000 including Mu-hyuk on the right. Apprentice knights in the center.
"Charge!"
Nearly 5,000 advanced.
The colorful wave clashed with the black wave on the plain.
*
Enhanced Bone 2 collided with a goblin warrior.
Clang, claaang!
A fierce sword exchange ensued. High HP and defense were baseline for Enhanced Bone 2, with damage nothing to scoff at, but surprisingly, the goblin warrior matched it in destructive power and speed.
Thuk.
Even after a bone arrow struck from behind, it charged ferociously.
Kieeeek!
It roared and went berserk.
But another bone arrow flew in, pressuring it, allowing Enhanced Bone 2 to push back.
Kikik.
Two more goblin warriors joined, reversing the tide.
1 vs. 3 was too much.
Swish.
Enhanced Bone 2 switched to defense mode, blocking their attacks.
-60 HP
-59 HP
The shield absorbed much of the impact, but HP dropped fast.
As it neared zero...
Blessing of the Dead has activated.
HP (1,092) recovered.
As HP recovered, two elemental magics crashed down in front of Enhanced Bone 2.
Boooom!
The three goblin warriors attacking it took heavy damage.
Seizing the slowed moment, bone arrows pierced their bodies everywhere. Then one arrow exploded on contact with a goblin warrior.
Kieeeek!
Finally, one died. The remaining two crumbled under Enhanced Bone 2's attacks and the relentless bone arrows.
After cleaning them up, Enhanced Bone 2 advanced. Mu-hyuk, commanding, took a few steps forward too, taking in the battlefield with both eyes.