The Third Skull
Just before the two enhanced bone skeletons were struck.
Kiririk!
Bone Sword 12 threw itself forward.
Kwaaaang!
The ogre staggered back from the explosion.
'Bone Sword 12' has been reverse-summoned.
Deals 220 additional damage.
Your Contribution (0.2) increases.
In that moment, the two enhanced bone skeletons managed to escape the beast.
"Phew."
Mu-hyuk let out a sigh of relief. He'd hung Storm on Bone Sword 12 just in case it might come in handy, and it had been a stroke of genius.
But the relief was short-lived. Worry soon crept in. The enhanced bone skeletons had been pushed back far too easily.
Was I too complacent?
He felt the pressing need to grow stronger, tougher.
I need to upgrade my gear too.
Until now, he'd relied on the sheer number of summons and their base stats, putting off new equipment. But he couldn't delay any longer.
Of course, he couldn't swap now.
For the moment, he had to subdue this thing.
With what he had on hand.
Mu-hyuk's head turned, and countless users came into view.
Swipe.
He pulled out Slow Poison, Hallucination Poison, Weakness Paralysis, and Tears of Bleeding from his inventory. He'd been saving them since supplies were low, but now was the time to use them.
He applied them to the heavy crossbows and bone archers first, then ordered the attack.
Pang!
The arrow slammed into the beast's chest.
Four debuffs triggered.
Krr, krrrng.
Hallucinating, it froze in place.
Now was the chance.
Mu-hyuk hurriedly gathered the ten-man leaders. They already knew about the summary execution rights and wore displeased expressions, but none acted out.
"Thanks for coming."
"Yeah, sure."
"Let's take down that biggest one first. Seems like a special monster. Killing it might drop the other ogres' morale."
One stepped forward.
Ten-man leader Aran.
"Hey."
"Yes."
"You took down that orc earlier too, right?"
Mu-hyuk tilted his head.
"We did it together—why ask?"
Aran's eyes looked at him like he was an idiot, making her bristle.
"No, that monster dropped an item! You gonna skip mentioning that?"
"Any need? The top contributor gets it."
The other ten-man leaders murmured.
"Item?"
"Oh, that bigger monster drops items, they say."
"Damn, for real? Why didn't you say?"
"Thought you knew."
Mu-hyuk clapped his hands.
"Alright, reason to hunt it down, right?"
"Well, yeah……."
"Then let's start the hunt."
At Mu-hyuk's words, the ten-man leaders took positions. They exchanged glances, nodded, and simultaneously attacked the still-thrashing hallucinating beast.
Storm. Powerful Arrow Shot.
Mage spells.
Heavy crossbows and bone archers unleashing volleys.
Mu-hyuk didn't stand idle either.
No choice now…….
He had to deal maximum damage.
*
Guardian Gurom focused on defense. Nearby, the unarmed fighter Han Jumeok dazzled with agile strikes, while other users stuck to their roles.
Contribution didn't require direct hits—just aiding the monster hunt. The system judged the amount.
Suddenly, a barrage of arrows embedded in the ogre's body.
"Magic incoming!"
Melee users pulled back.
Five elemental spells followed.
Kwa-gwang!
Users frowned. No matter how you sliced it, Hundred-man Leader Mu-hyuk had the top contribution.
But they couldn't give up. Item value was immense—especially when unpredictable.
What if a legendary weapon drops?
Or epic armor?
Such fantasies fueled them.
"Hraaah!"
"Heal first!"
Skills flew wildly.
Kwa-gwang!
Maybe because high-level users gathered—the defense felt more stable than the two enhanced bone skeletons could manage.
Mu-hyuk pondered from the rear.
If there were three enhanced bone skeletons? Four? Could've tanked that ogre easily.
It fueled his greed. Skulls were damn hard to get.
If this uncharted zone was truly named monster heaven, he had to farm as many as possible.
So…….
First, the one in front.
Storm. Powerful Arrow Shot.
After a few more attacks.
Krr, kruk.
The ogre collapsed.
Experience increases.
You've defeated the named monster 'Orger'.
Materials drop.
Measuring contribution.
Priority to user 'Mu-hyuk'.
The ten-man leaders' faces twisted.
"Ah, damn it!"
"Shit……."
Mu-hyuk smiled faintly, approaching the ogre. As it vanished, a blue glow floated to him and stopped.
Swipe.
He grasped it.
*
Five days crossing the uncharted plains.
Skeleton Warrior and Archer skills hit level 9. Mage at 6.
Skeleton Mastery up one level.
Mu-hyuk's level: 83.
Skulls obtained so far: 2.
Goblin on day one, ogre same day.
He'd killed plenty more named monsters since, but no more skulls. For five whole days.
First luck was beginner's luck, huh.
But he didn't quit.
One more would come eventually.
He hunted with that faith.
And just now.
Experience increases.
One more named down.
You've defeated the named monster 'Kiku'.
Materials drop.
Measuring contribution.
Priority to user 'Mu-hyuk'.
The material in Mu-hyuk's hand.
"Ah……."
A strange gasp escaped.
◈ Traits: Knowledge, Wisdom
The third skull.
Perfect for a mage.
He couldn't help but grin.
"30-minute break!"
Battle over, rest granted. Mu-hyuk savored the skull for about five minutes.
Then he snapped to, starting maintenance. Noticing his sword and shield's durability was low, he jumped up and approached the resting knights.
One week of hunting.
Their gear must be wrecked too.
"I'll repair your gear."
"Huh? Gear……."
"Sword and shield. Hand them over."
"Is that okay……."
Normally, they'd refuse. Gear was life to knights. But Mu-hyuk fed them daily. The goodwill had closed the gap.
"I'm skilled at repairs."
"Hmm, really?"
"Think of me as a blacksmith."
"If you insist……."
The knight handed over sword and shield. Mu-hyuk sat, sharpening the blade finer and fully mending the shield.
"Here."
The knight inspected them.
His eyes widened.
"O, oh……!"
Amazed, he bowed.
"Truly grateful!"
"No problem."
Contribution was a bonus.
Your Contribution (0.5) increases.
More than numbers, this goodwill paid off later. A good word to the captain meant better rewards.
"Me too!"
"Hand it over."
He kept repairing.
Kaang!
Seeing the satisfied comrade, another knight shouted.
"My gear too?"
"Of course."
He dove into repairs, but time ran short. After about a hundred pieces, break ended. Regret showed on faces.
"Rest next time for the rest."
"For real?"
Cheerful atmosphere.
Knights happy with repairs, Mu-hyuk thrilled with the long-awaited skull.
Imagining more skulls excited him.
Plains endless— at least a month more. Break's end was welcome.
"Charge!"
Expectancy swept the battlefield.
*
Regrettably, no more nameds that day.
"Rest well."
"Yes!"
Everyone settled.
Knights center.
Users left, right.
Knights maintained; users gestured in air. Logout without vanishing—handy setting, reset on login but essential with NPCs.
"Reveille at 7 AM tomorrow."
For users.
"Apprentice knights on watch."
"Yes!"
Users logged out one by one. Their forms would last till morning.
Mu-hyuk logged out too.
Chiiik.
Out of the capsule, he hit the homepage. Posting paid guides every other day since two days ago. Likely daily for a while.
Monster info.
Skip low-levels.
Orcs minimum.
Today: steel ants.
Leisurely writing.
[Steel Ant Strategy]
Steel ants are level 31 monsters divided into head, thorax, and abdomen. Like normal ants, but the joints connecting them are weak points. The thin part linking head and thorax—stab there with a sword, and the ant freezes in agony, hurting itself. Best way: climb a tree branch and...
He reviewed slowly.
No issues.
Good, post it.
Posted, he pondered, then added one more. Good post-steel ant hunt.
[Trent Strategy]
Trents are level 34 tree monsters; their whip-like branch attacks annoy. To kill easily, need one fire mage and one ice mage. First, ice mage freezes...
Two posts up.
Four total with yesterday.
Views unknown, but he'd steadily cover sub-60 monsters he knew.
No immediate cash, but momentum meant steady income.
He trusted himself.
His ID was known on the homepage.
Done for today.
Shut laptop.
Swipe.
Lay in bed, seeking sleep.