Slaying the Guild Leader
Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk's sudden plunge into the enemy ranks made it nearly impossible for the Hayaku Guild members to unleash ranged attacks like spells or arrows. The risk of hitting their own allies was just too high.
Thanks to that, neither Mu-hyuk nor Sung Min-woo met a pointless end. Now they just had to focus on the melee users closing in, dodging and weaving as needed.
On top of that, the four spirits Sung Min-woo had absorbed power from in the Dark Forest were putting up a fierce fight.
That should buy us enough time to execute the plan, Mu-hyuk thought.
Kirrik, kiririk.
The skeletons, who had been holding back at a distance, had crept closer unnoticed.
Kwaboom, kwakwakwang!
Spells and bone arrows rained down.
"Hup!"
Wind Step
Mu-hyuk unleashed an overwhelming surge of momentum with Wind Step. He poured skills without restraint, tearing through the enemy lines.
At this rate, his MP would run dry soon—he couldn't sustain it long. But there was no choice. He had to crush their morale first.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Miyamoto bellowed in rage.
"It's just two guys! Get your shit together?!"
In that instant, Mu-hyuk pivoted toward him.
Pabat.
He charged straight at the shouting Miyamoto.
Cutting off their momentum means taking out the leader, he reasoned. Right now, that was Hayaku's guild master, Miyamoto.
As the distance closed rapidly, someone stepped up and blocked Mu-hyuk's rush with a shield.
Kaang!
The unexpected rebound force sent Mu-hyuk staggering back. He swung his sword horizontally in response.
"Grk! The damage...!"
"Heal him up!"
"Just push through, you idiot!"
Mu-hyuk infused his blade with Storm and hurled himself to the right.
The user raising his shield to meet him slowed just a fraction—Mu-hyuk spun along the shield's curve, landing behind him and unleashing Cross Slash, targeting the fully exposed neck.
Seogeok.
A chilling sound echoed.
-1,140 HP
-2,052 HP
From the gear, this was clearly a Guardian-class tank.
His HP pool had to be massive. No way this one combo finished him.
Transform.
Mu-hyuk backpedaled, nocking an arrow. The wounded user twisted around.
As expected...!
No hesitation—he released the string.
Peong!
Staring at the fading figure, Mu-hyuk sensed wind from behind and twisted left.
A barrage of attacks flooded his vision. He blocked what he could with his shield, but the relentless assault chewed through his HP.
You take damage.
You take damage.
You take damage.
He had to keep moving—now.
Even under fire, he pressed forward.
Just a bit more.
The moment Burtan came into view, Mu-hyuk kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.
Kiaaaaa!
The users chasing him crumpled under the ki blast. As bone arrows shredded them, Mu-hyuk landed behind Burtan and loosed an arrow at Miyamoto.
Pang!
It was blocked effortlessly, as expected.
This won't be easy.
The enemy numbers were overwhelming.
Most Bone Swords had been unsummoned already, and half the Bone Archers and Mages were gone too.
The Enhanced Bones, Cavalry, and Burtan were holding strong, but they wouldn't last.
At least the chaos they'd sown had loosened the encirclement a bit.
Mu-hyuk caught his breath and kicked off again.
Wind Step
He reached Sung Min-woo, lent a hand, then dispatched an Enhanced Bone to buy him some breathing room.
After that, he kept Miyamoto in his sights while circling the fray, striking maximally without getting surrounded.
"Ah, damn it!"
"Another one down!"
An item dropped.
Swipe.
Mu-hyuk scooped it up mid-stride and stashed it in his inventory.
"You moron, don't let him grab items!"
"Fuck, you think that's easy?!"
Ownership of dropped items went to the killer—Mu-hyuk. It timed out eventually, but blocking him before then was no simple task.
This repeated several times.
Just a little more. Just a bit longer.
Another user fell, dropping a shield. Mu-hyuk lunged for it, bulldozing through with insane agility.
He snagged the shield, slashed horizontally, then broke free of the encirclement with Burtan's aid.
"Goddamn it!"
Most Hayaku members' eyes were already glazing over in fury.
How infuriating must it be to watch Mu-hyuk snatch items without dying?
Naturally, obsession took root: stop him from looting.
This is my chance.
Mu-hyuk's eyes gleamed as he hammered a presumed Warrior user relentlessly. He took heavy hits but ignored them.
HP left: around 800.
I can do this.
He backpedaled, firing an arrow.
Kwaaang!
One Hayaku member dropped dead from the blast.
Thud.
A sword hit the ground.
"B-block it!"
Nearby users surged toward the sword.
Mu-hyuk smirked coldly and hurled himself elsewhere—far from the drop. Hayaku realized too late, faces twisting in horror.
You're dead.
Distance to Miyamoto closed.
"Hup!"
He juked sharply, spinning past a blocker.
There!
Sword arcing toward Miyamoto.
Kagang!
Miyamoto parried with his own blade.
"Tch, you mad bastard."
"..."
Mu-hyuk ignored him, pressing the assault. Every second dragged favored the enemy. He had to concentrate fire in a burst.
Bit by bit, he shifted position so his summons faced Miyamoto squarely.
Miyamoto, fixated on Mu-hyuk, had his back to the remaining skeletons.
Now!
Bone arrows from the Heavy Bows, mages' spells.
And Burtan's ki blast erupted.
"G-Guild master!"
"Watch out...!"
Perfectly timed, Mu-hyuk retreated, shield up.
Miyamoto twisted at the last second, but the ki wave engulfed him.
Bone arrows and spells followed, slamming home. Amid the swirling dust, Mu-hyuk's strikes landed.
Storm. Cross Slash.
Transform. Storm. Powerful Arrow Shot.
Transform. Blessing of the Dead.
The dust settled.
The carnage revealed.
Miyamoto was gone. A single piece of armor lay on the ground.
Swipe.
Mu-hyuk claimed it.
HP left: 300.
MP: 150.
Hayaku survivors had him surrounded, closing in.
Even with full MP, escape seemed impossible now.
He glanced at Sung Min-woo. The Enhanced Bone had helped—he was still standing, though staggering on the verge.
Mu-hyuk shouted.
"Now!"
Six bone arrows from three Heavy Bows rained around Sung Min-woo.
Pang!
Mu-hyuk fired too.
"Skeleton Warhorse summon."
As his pursuers flinched, Sung Min-woo mounted Mu-hyuk's summoned steed.
Clop clop, clop clop.
They sped away.
Sung Min-woo glanced back.
Mu-hyuk finally exhaled in relief, facing forward.
"Hoo, it's over."
A Hayaku executive stepped up.
"Squads 1 and 2, chase that bastard. The rest, stand by."
"Yes sir!"
He eyed Mu-hyuk.
"Hey, you just fucked up."
"Fucked up?"
"Yeah. You don't think we'll kill you just once, do you?"
"Of course not."
"Then why so cocky?"
Mu-hyuk laughed.
Stealth's on cooldown, but no matter. After respawn and penalty, it'll be ready.
"Killing the guild master means you're wanted forever."
"Oh yeah?"
"Log off for good. Got it?"
"Won't happen."
"Tch, we'll see."
"Yeah, we'll see."
With that, Mu-hyuk advanced.
Step.
Transform—staff to sword—and charged.
"Bored. Let's end it."
The executive yelled.
"Finish him!"
"Yes!"
Attacks poured in.
Kwakwakwang!
Explosion. Vision went black.
You have died.
Mu-hyuk's mood soured bitterly.
*
Emerging from the capsule, Mu-hyuk stared blankly for a moment before flopping onto the bed.
"Hoo."
The operation wasn't bad. He'd killed over a hundred users and rattled a massive guild. But death was inevitable.
It's fine.
He had Stealth.
Using it smartly would dodge manhunts easily.
But hide forever?
Live in the shadows constantly?
No. He hated that.
I'll end this.
His expression hardened with resolve.
Swipe.
He sat at his desk.
Opened his laptop, logged into the Illusion homepage, and posted on the trading board.
Buying skulls as per the title. Limited to max 10, at 10 gold each. If interested, send screenshot via PM or mail. I'll review and decide.
He hadn't planned to buy skulls so openly. He'd wanted to advance quietly, unnoticed.
But now he knew: that wouldn't topple Hayaku Guild.
This post would tip some off that skulls mattered.
His ID was famous enough.
But without knowing the exact use, no real worry. Most oblivious players would sell to him anyway.
I have to snag them.
A moment passed. Refresh.
Already over 10 comments.
As expected, some questioned it, but he ignored them. Back to main page, checked inbox.
Nothing yet.
Mails too—empty. Comments kept piling. One chilled him.
Innocuous to others, but a dagger to Mu-hyuk.
Regret flickered—he shook it off.
Worst case, skull info spreads. But he'd be miles ahead by then. No catching up.
And he'd use this to stockpile as many as possible.
The 10 limit? To rush impulsive sellers. He planned way more.
30, 40.
Or beyond.
As many as possible.
Pull ahead again.
Untouchable.
Mind cleared, calm settled.
Yeah. Wait patiently.
He closed the laptop, lay back, zoning out—until his phone buzzed.
"Hello."
"Yo, how'd it go?"
"Died."
"What? You said you wouldn't!"
"Don't worry. Won't happen again."
Mu-hyuk's eyes turned ice-cold.