Reviver Drake's Fury
Mu-hyuk nocked an arrow to his bowstring as well.
Storm. Powerful Arrow Shot.
There was no need to aim anyway, so he released the string immediately. The arrow pierced through the air and struck the pink shield.
He felt a faint tremor and quickly nocked another arrow, firing in rapid succession.
The Armor Archers and Bone Bows around him unleashed a volley of bone arrows.
Arrows filled the sky endlessly.
Pang! Paang!
Right in front of the shield in the distance, the Enhanced Bone and Bone Swords were swinging their blades with all their might.
Burtan smashed the barrier with the skull in his hand, while the surrounding users added flair with various skills.
Like that, 10 seconds, 20 seconds...
Time passed.
"Hmm."
Simon's eyes narrowed from the back.
Before they knew it, 30 seconds had elapsed.
Only half remained.
Storm, Storm, Storm.
He applied Storm to the bone arrows.
Storm, Storm.
When the cooldown returned, he fired a Powerful Arrow Shot.
"Only 10 seconds left."
Simon's voice drilled into his eardrums.
5 seconds, 4, 3.
At that moment, the pink shield shook violently and cracks began to form.
Jjeojeok.
With the sound, the shield shattered. Before they could even sigh in relief, they had to face the red shield next.
The melee users could take a breather, but Mu-hyuk couldn't. Plus, from spamming Storm, his MP had dwindled significantly, making it burdensome to apply it to bone arrows.
But he couldn't afford not to use it. If they failed to break the red shield, the cursed monster would grow stronger—and that strength might surpass even the guild master here.
Damn it.
He started applying Storm again.
Storm, Storm.
His MP headed toward zero.
"Ah, this is freaking tough!"
"Just attack!"
"Power Shot!"
The other users were struggling too.
If their usual hunting was a marathon, this was a 100-meter sprint.
That's why they tired faster and easier. But they couldn't stop, so they gritted their teeth and endured.
"5 seconds."
The remaining time was tight.
Jjeojeok.
It finally cracked.
"Just a bit more!"
In the end, they shattered the red shield, leaving only the final black one.
The mage users stepped forward and unleashed their prepared spells. Mu-hyuk ordered his Mages to attack as well.
Various elements filled the sky in an instant, all slamming into the black barrier.
Kwaaaang!
"Phew."
There was nothing more Mu-hyuk could do now.
He could only watch.
"Fire Storm!"
"Aqua Spear!"
Still, as those who had passed the trial, they narrowly managed to shatter the black shield too.
"Good work."
Now it was the NPCs' turn.
Pakkan kicked off the ground first.
Pabat.
He leaped high and crossed the severed path.
His greatsword swung.
After the sound of tearing air came a dull thud.
Kaaang!
Simon from the rear drew his bow.
"Hup...!"
He nocked two arrows between each pair of fingers.
A total of eight arrows on the string, then he aimed at the shield and released.
The eight arrows shot forward at tremendous speed, spinning wildly and whipping the surrounding air into whirlwinds.
It looked like eight tornadoes hurtling toward the shield.
The destructive power was immense too. The moment they struck, the air quivered, unleashing a massive shockwave.
Right after, a jjeojeok sounded. Pakkan and the other NPCs retreated immediately, and Arena stepped forward.
"Fire Stone."
She unleashed a powerful spell that would shatter and incinerate everything.
A blazing rock materialized in the air and smashed down onto the shield unhindered.
Kwang, Kwaaaang!
The explosion's aftermath reached even here.
"Kuh!"
"Hah, what heat..."
They demonstrated phenomenal skill, smashing the remaining shields indiscriminately.
"Pakkan!"
"Got it."
Simon and Pakkan stepped up again.
How many more shields did they shatter like that?
-----------!
A heart-shaking roar echoed.
Thump, thump.
The cursed monster.
"Everyone, fall back!"
Pakkan shouted as he advanced. But the users froze in place, unable to move.
What was this overwhelming pressure?
The weight pressing on their shoulders was beyond endurance.
Thud.
Then, one person moved.
Mu-hyuk.
He too was gritting his teeth to withstand it.
This is insane, for real.
The cursed monster hadn't even fully revealed itself yet. And it was already emanating this much presence.
Still, he had to step up.
For the rewards, at least.
Smooth.
He pulled Slow Poison, Hallucination Poison, Weakness Paralysis, and Bleeding Tears from his inventory.
He approached the Armor Archer and applied them to the bone arrows, then watched for an opening.
"Kuh!"
"Fall back for now!"
That's when Pakkan and the NPCs retreated.
Krr, krrruk.
The source of the eerie sound revealed itself.
The space under the full moon. Crossing it revealed the monster's true form.
A massive dragon—no, a cursed monster that had aspired to be a dragon but failed.
Thus, it couldn't die and had to live on as the Reviver Drake.
Kiaaaak!
It screeched again.
Ears rang.
His heart dropped.
Entering 'Fear' state.
All stats temporarily decreased (20%).
Temporarily unable to move.
Mu-hyuk furrowed his brow and issued a command.
Armor Archers, Bone Bows—rapid fire!
Even immobilized, he could manage that much.
Pang, Paang!
The bone arrows flew and struck the Reviver Drake's hide.
For the poison on the tips to work, they needed to pierce the skin—but the Armor Archers and Bone Bows lacked the damage to penetrate.
They bounced off powerlessly and scattered on the ground.
Damn...!
He hadn't considered that.
I need to move too.
Biting his lip, he struggled to move his hand, but his body was still rigid. With more effort, his fingers twitched.
Resisting Fear with strong will.
Slowly but surely, his hand rose.
Smooth.
He carefully applied Hallucination Poison to the arrow tip.
Storm. Powerful Arrow Shot.
The arrow pierced the air.
Dealt 1 damage.
Dealt 1 additional damage.
Contribution (0 pts) has increased.
But it failed to pierce the hide.
Damn it all.
At that instant, the beast soared into the sky, crossing the severed path and flying toward them. Arena tried to block it with magic but failed.
"Damn, block it!"
Pakkan and the NPCs circled it, drawing its attention.
Kwaaang!
His greatsword tore flesh, dealing significant damage.
The howling Reviver Drake twisted its body, its tail whipping toward Pakkan.
He hastily raised his greatsword to block, but the impact sent him sliding back.
"Hup!"
As it pursued Pakkan, Simon intercepted, and the recovered Pakkan charged again.
It was a true clash of tiger and dragon.
The NPCs' battle with it was pure ferocity.
But as time passed, the NPCs were gradually being pushed back. Meanwhile, the cursed monster, Reviver Drake, seemed far stronger than at first.
Because of the full moon?
This wasn't sustainable; it was dangerous.
The NPCs might even die.
And after that?
The users' turn, naturally. To prevent that, they needed some kind of help.
Even the smallest thing.
He racked his brain, but nothing came to mind.
Something, anything...!
Then, a flash.
Ah, Burtan!
Maybe it could work?
He immediately commanded Burtan.
*
Burtan advanced.
Kikikik.
Its manic laughter was a bonus, and it naturally held the skull in its right hand.
Left hand gripped the shield as it stepped forward. Why both skull and shield?
Because Burtan didn't need a sword.
Attacking with the skull added damage equal to level × 2, which was stronger than using a sword.
Anyway, once Burtan positioned itself, it placed the skull on its palm.
With an obnoxious dance, it fired a Ki Wave. The wide-ranging blast engulfed the Reviver Drake.
Krr, krruk?
The Drake's movements halted.
Dealt 1 damage ×5
Contribution (0 pts) has increased.
Damage was a mere 5, but the Ki Wave had another effect: numbing senses via air vibrations.
Would it work on this thing? He had his doubts, but they had to try.
And the result was right before their eyes.
Kuuung.
The Reviver Drake had collapsed.
Senses 'Numbed'.
Contribution (50) has increased.
Mu-hyuk shouted.
"It's numb from my skill—everyone, attack!"
The guild masters' eyes widened.
"Ho, thanks."
"Nice!"
Their indiscriminate attacks followed briefly.
Kwagwagwang!
The Reviver Drake flinched from the impacts, shook its head, and began rising.
Burtan's status window came to mind.
And finally, its skill.
Deals physical damage using air vibrations and numbs senses.
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Remaining cooldown: about 45 seconds.
"Go in again in 45 seconds!"
At Mu-hyuk's shout, they nodded and drew the Reviver Drake's aggro.
Another fierce exchange ensued, and after 45 seconds, Mu-hyuk commanded.
Burtan, Ki Wave.
The joints of the skull on Burtan's right palm clicked, and the Ki Wave burst forth.
Dealt 1 damage ×5
Contribution (0 pts) has increased.
Senses 'Numbed'.
Contribution (50) has increased.
The attack succeeded again.
Krr, krruk...?
The Reviver Drake staggered and collapsed once more.
The guild master and NPCs attacked. But it rose again.
In the end, they bought time again and numbed its senses with Ki Wave.
They repeated this process about 10 times.
Kwaaaang!
With a massive explosion, messages appeared.
Experience has increased.
Level up!
The moment they felled it.