Trials of the Three Guilds

The three had left, leaving the two behind to observe the results.

Mu-hyuk glanced at the pair, who shot him looks that screamed 'You're no different.' He sighed and took his position.

Then he parted his lips.

"Skeleton Archer Summon."

In that instant, nine archers materialized.

Three Armor Archers.

Six Bone Bows.

They drew ribs from their own frames and notched them as arrows.

"To them...?"

"Just skeletons?"

The two watching users muttered. Disdain laced their words, but Mu-hyuk ignored them and spoke to Simon.

"Let's begin."

"Go ahead."

Time had started ticking—no second could be wasted. Mu-hyuk hurriedly notched an arrow.

Storm. Powerful Arrow Shot.

He unleashed a skill right from the start.

His command followed.

Armor Archers, Bone Bows—all volley fire!

The bone arrows hammered the steel dolls.

Mu-hyuk's arrow struck too.

The floating messages revealed the steel dolls' defense.

250.

Currently, Armor Archer 1 and 2 dealt around 320 damage each, while Armor Archer 3 hit 360. The Bone Bows ranged from 260 to 280.

With 250 defense, Bone Bows barely scratched them, Armor 1 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and 2 managed a measly 70, and only Armor 3 exceeded 100.

That alone was far too little.

No wonder everyone failed.

Of course, there was a way.

One thing only Mu-hyuk could pull off.

Thud.

He rushed to the Armor Archers and Bone Bows.

Storm, Storm, Storm.

He began infusing bone arrows with Storm at blinding speed.

Armor Archers, Bone Bows—volley fire!

Mu-hyuk infused his own arrow and loosed it.

KABOOM!

Massive explosions chained off in succession.

MP drained by about 2,000.

He could do it once more, but less than 20 seconds had passed, so he held off to watch.

Storm.

Still, the arrows never stopped.

From Mu-hyuk, the Armor Archers, and Bone Bows alike.

Paang! Pang!

Arrows flew relentlessly.

The two watchers' eyes bulged.

"Wha—what the...?"

By now, five steel dolls lay shattered.

Not bad damage output at all.

"Impossible."

Time marched on regardless.

"40 seconds, 6 down."

"48 seconds, 7."

Over 2,000 MP remained.

"57 seconds, 8."

Now!

Mu-hyuk dashed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to his summons and reapplied Storm.

Volley fire!

He notched his own arrow.

Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.

Time hit 60 seconds as he released.

"Stop."

Explosions roared behind him.

KABOOM!

Dust settled, revealing the carnage.

Every steel doll destroyed.

The Archer Guild Master nodded in satisfaction.

"You pass."

"Whew, thank you."

"Follow me."

He headed back to the office with Guild Master Simon.

"I'll brief you on this matter."

"I'm all ears."

Simon nodded.

"This job's highly dangerous. Two days ago, a cursed monster appeared in Namur Valley. Normally, it can't be damaged at all."

A cursed monster?

Impossible to harm?

Definitely a tough spot.

"There is a way, though. On the full moon night, it takes damage—but it grows far stronger too."

"Hmm."

A question arose for Mu-hyuk.

"One thing I'm curious about."

"What?"

"Why gather so few people?"

"Because others are after the cursed monster."

"Targeting it?"

"Yeah, not to kill it like us—they want to capture and subjugate it. Problem is, we don't know who or where they are. We just suspect they're close. So we're keeping it secret."

"I see."

"Also..."

Simon started to say more when the door burst open.

"Guild Master!"

"What?"

"A guest arrived. Urgent matter..."

"Mm, got it. Give me one minute."

"Yes!"

Simon stood.

"Anyway, come to the central square of the three major guilds the night before the full moon."

"Understood. Alone, or with other passers?"

"No, one prior passerby, and any more who succeed will join."

"Got it. One more thing."

"Yes?"

"When's the full moon?"

"Four days from now."

"So three days from now—what time?"

"By 9 PM."

"Understood."

Only then did the message appear.

Mu-hyuk left the guild immediately and checked the details.

A question mark on the reward.

Hmm.

The penalties were worse.

Curse and massacre...

The 'curse' would afflict Mu-hyuk himself; 'massacre' meant the monster rampaging through nearby villages or kingdoms, slaughtering NPCs and players.

As expected of a B-rank commission—heavy weight.

Like bearing a burden.

Mu-hyuk chuckled wryly and stepped forward.

He headed to the Warrior Guild on the left of the Archer Guild.

*

About ten users were in the Warrior Guild.

More than expected.

At the guild master's urging, he sat.

"Pleased to meet you all. To reiterate, this ultra-secret operation requires minimizing numbers. Better to have the skilled few if we must team up, right? So I've prepared a not-too-hard test. Pass it, and you join me. Sound good?"

All nodded.

Mu-hyuk's brow twitched.

Feels familiar?

Shaking off the odd feeling, he followed the Warrior Guild Master out.

"This is my private training ground."

Steel dolls again.

"Destroy 10 steel dolls in 1 minute using only melee attacks. Questions?"

Mu-hyuk had to confirm one thing.

"I can summon. Allowed to use summons?"

"If they can melee, yes."

Permitted here too.

"Who first?"

A man with a greatsword stepped up.

"Starting!"

"Go ahead."

The greatsword user kicked off the ground, leaping high. His ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠massive blade plunged down, unleashing a shockwave.

Flashy skills chained like machine-gun fire, but in one minute, only seven dolls shattered.

"Failed."

"Ah, again..."

"No retries."

The greatsword user gritted his teeth and retreated.

"Next?"

Users tried one by one; excluding Mu-hyuk, only one passed.

With passers, two others, and Mu-hyuk last.

"Hmm, you're up."

"Yes. Summoning first."

"Go ahead."

"Skeleton Warrior Summon."

Eighteen skeletons appeared.

Clack, clack.

The remaining users snickered, just like at the archer guild.

A few were bulky, but still—just skeletons.

"Decent numbers, at least."

"Numbers alone."

Ignoring them, Mu-hyuk closed in on the steel dolls. Up close, he turned to the guild master.

"Beginning."

"Go ahead."

Skeletons scattered instantly.

Kiririk!

They drew swords and swung.

Mu-hyuk activated Wind Step for cutting power and struck. Sparks flew as metal clashed.

Kang! Kang!

Sounds erupted nonstop.

Still insufficient, so he added Storm.

Nearby Enhanced Bones got Storm on their blades too.

Storm, Storm, Storm.

He whirled about ferociously.

Thud, KABOOM!

Compressed wind burst with every Storm-infused strike.

"......"

The watchers' jaws dropped.

No flashy skill chains like melee pros.

Not eye-catching one-shots.

But endless onslaught glued their eyes.

Like flowing water.

Relentless current.

"Whew."

Mu-hyuk halted.

Skeletons froze.

About two seconds later.

"You pass."

"Yes."

Ten steel dolls shattered.

*

Chatting with the Warrior Guild Master revealed it.

"So..."

"Very dangerous. That cursed monster."

He rubbed his temple.

Same quest.

This was...

Amusing situation, but what could he do?

They wanted melee and ranged aces; Mu-hyuk covered both.

Mage Guild quest might be identical.

High chance.

If he passed that too?

Would be fun.

"Come to the three guilds' central square the night before full moon."

"Got it."

Even the meetup spot matched.

Now for Mage Guild. He exited Warrior Guild, crossed to Mage Guild opposite. A staffer approached.

"Help you?"

"Here to see the guild master."

"Appointment?"

"No, for a commission."

"From Mercenary Guild, then."

"Yes."

"Follow me."

The staffer led to the Mage Guild Master's office.

About seven this time.

"No more entrants."

"Yes, Guild Master."

"Come in."

"Ah, yes."

The Mage Guild Master was a middle-aged woman.

"I'm Mage Guild Master Arena. Those gathered here must pass the test to join me. Ultra-secret matter, so..."

Same spiel again.

Mu-hyuk mentioned summons to her.

"Allowed."

To the training ground, he smirked at the steel doll. Rules differed slightly.

"10 seconds. Destroy one steel doll within. Note: immune to physical attacks."

Not one minute.

Just one doll too.

Makes sense for mages.

Waited his turn, last up: summoned skeleton mages.

One Enhanced Mage.

Five standard Mages.

"Beginning."

"Proceed."

Multicolored lights gathered in their hands.

Whoooosh.

A typical level 80 mage's spell power was 600-700.

With level 10, 50, and 80 spells, over 3,000 damage in seconds.

Seemed low, but user cooldowns were 10-20 seconds—minute-long DPS outclassed all classes.

Skeleton Mages? Two-minute cooldowns. But 10-second limit favored mages here.

All mages—magic attack!

Spells poured out.

Roughly 3,250 total.

Shattered?

Not yet.

"Hmm."

Arena checked time.

8 seconds, 9...

Mu-hyuk's hand glowed.

Blessing of the Dead.

Crack!

The remaining doll crumbled simultaneously.

"Pass."

Two passers: Mu-hyuk and a female mage.

Followed Arena to the office.

Her briefing began.

"To handle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the cursed monster, gather at the three guilds' central square the night before full moon."

Message popped.

Not over.