Sweeping the Hunting Grounds
Satisfied, Mu-hyuk turned his head at a sudden thought.
Oh, right. What about Burtan?
The guy was still evolving.
Slow.
The current evolution rate was 80%.
He waited a bit longer.
Evolution rate at 99%......
‘Burtan’ completes evolution to ‘Armor Knight’.
Possesses traits specialized in ‘skull’.
Using ‘skull’ increases Damage (5%).
Acquires skill Powerful Strike.
Per level......
Burtan wasn't much different from the other summons. His body had grown larger, his height a bit taller. The stat increases were similar, and he still gripped a skull in one hand.
Anyway, having gained new power, it was only right to put it to use.
Mu-hyuk quickly named the Armor Knight and checked the skill acquired during evolution.
Delivers a single strike infused with overwhelming power.
◈ Physical Attack Power ×130%
◈ MP Cost: 50
◈ Cooldown: 30 seconds
Compresses mana power into an arrow and fires it.
◈ Physical Attack Power ×130%
◈ MP Cost: 100
◈ Cooldown: 30 seconds
Creates a path of flames for continuous damage.
◈ Magic Attack Power ×80%
◈ Duration: 5 seconds
◈ MP Cost: 200
◈ Cooldown: 60 seconds
The cooldowns were long due to the summons' nature, but the skills themselves were quite solid.
Shing.
He drew his sword and passed Sung Min-woo, saying,
"Take a break."
"Huh?"
"Gonna test how strong they've gotten."
"Ah, got it."
He reverse-summoned the regular skeletons.
He wanted to properly check the combat power of the evolved Armor Skeletons.
Just then, a Kakan wandered into view. When the distance had closed sufficiently, he sent the Armor Knights and Burtan forward.
Kirrik, kiririk!
Thirteen Armor Knights charging ahead.
And one Burtan.
They clashed with the Kakan, but the Armor Knights and Burtan didn't yield an inch. Was it truly a level apart from their reinforced bone days?
Mu-hyuk smiled softly and continued commanding. The Armor Knights moved nimbly, encircling the Kakan in an instant.
All units, Powerful Strike.
Red energy cloaked the Armor Knights' swords.
Whoosh.
Swords slashed across the Kakan's hide, triggering massive explosions.
Kuwaaang!
The impact was stronger than expected.
-491 HP (Armor Knight 1)
-485 HP (Armor Knight 2)
-499 HP (Armor Knight 3)
......
It dealt substantial damage.
Thirteen of them.
This attack alone shaved off over 6,000 HP.
Before evolution, it would've been around 300 damage at best. Now, with evolution boosting damage and skills in play, they hit nearly 500 each.
Even knowing the Kakan's defense was 150 made it clear the Armor Knights' damage wasn't low by any means.
"Hoo."
Of course, Mu-hyuk, who knew that fact all too well, didn't hide his admiration.
And besides...
This was just the beginning.
Pang!
The Armor Archers unleashed Power Shots.
The Kakan twisted in agony as arrows struck home, but the Armor Knights held firm with their shields, preventing escape.
Then the Armor Mages cast Fire Wall.
Roooar.
A wall of surging flames inflicted continuous damage.
Flame spears followed in quick succession.
Kwaaang!
Unable to endure, the Kakan curled up momentarily, horns erupting in all directions.
Even the Armor Knights couldn't fully withstand this. Despite shields, they were pushed back hard. Those who couldn't block fully lost over half their HP.
The Kakan exploited the gap to break the encirclement.
Kiaaaak!
At that instant, Burtan unleashed a ki blast.
Kr, krerr...?
The Kakan lost balance and halted.
In that window, the Armor Knights closed in again, re-encircling it.
Regaining equilibrium, the Kakan tried to break through once more but was blocked by shields. It thrashed with roars, but the Armor Knights held steady.
Blessing of the Dead.
He kept their HP topped up, ensuring no gaps. Watching for a while, Mu-hyuk morphed his sword into a bow and nocked an arrow.
Storm. Powerful Arrow Shot.
A single arrow pierced the wind.
-1,195 HP
-2,147 Additional Damage
The master-level Powerful Arrow Shot dealt a whopping 210% damage. Combined with Storm, it became overwhelmingly destructive.
Swipe.
This time, he gripped two arrows between his fingers.
Storm, Storm. Multi-Shot.
Two arrows streaked out.
Left, right.
Arcing parabolas, they naturally embedded in the Kakan's body.
-340 HP ×2
-612 Additional Damage ×2
Less damage than Powerful Arrow Shot, but two arrows made the total respectable.
As skill levels rose, more arrows per shot and higher damage would make it far more useful than Powerful Arrow Shot alone.
Shaking off distractions, he refocused on the fight.
A few Armor Knights had been reverse-summoned by the rampaging Kakan.
Cooldown?
One second left.
A brief wait.
Armor Knights, Powerful Strike. Armor Archers, Power Shot. Rapid Fire.
Massive damage again.
Krwoooar!
The Kakan spewed horns once more, reverse-summoning two more Armor Knights.
The fierce battle dragged on, and only when nine Armor Knights were lost did they finally fell it.
Experience gained.
Hunting had become far easier than expected.
That was how much stronger they'd gotten.
Mu-hyuk turned and headed to Sung Min-woo.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"To sweep Hayaku Guild's hunting grounds."
It was time to shake them up.
*
The highest-level hunting ground occupied by Hayaku Guild.
"Here?"
"Yeah."
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo targeted Parkbarlin Forest, habitat of level 97 monsters.
"I'll scout first."
"Okay."
Using Stealth, he prowled the forest.
One team first.
A five-man party.
Noting their position, he moved on.
But after circling extensively, no more Hayaku Guild members appeared besides the first group.
Most high-level users seemed focused on searching for him and Sung Min-woo.
Ah, found another.
Another four-man party. Confirming the emblem on their armor, he returned to Sung Min-woo.
Stealth released.
Sung Min-woo flinched as the stealth dropped.
"Whoa, you scared me. How many teams?"
"Two."
"What? Just two?"
"Yeah, looks like most pulled out to hunt us."
"Hmm, how many users there now?"
"Nine."
Sung Min-woo's lips curled up.
"Not tough."
"Nope."
They immediately summoned skeletons and spirits. To maintain vision skills, they kept close to the summons, adjusting distance carefully. Finding a spot, they hid and commanded.
Numerous skeletons and four spirits fanned out.
Encircling the first team's position in a massive ring, they gradually closed in, scanning surroundings meticulously.
Almost there.
Hayaku Guild members hunting came into view.
Minimum level 90.
Back then, it might've tensed him up, but now? No need. Against just five users, the Armor Knights, Archers, and Mages were overwhelmingly powerful.
"Hey, what's that?"
One Hayaku hunter pointed at the skeletons.
"Busy now!"
"No, look over there."
"What the—!"
The focused fighter turned.
-------!
Frozen at the sight.
"Ah, damn......"
"What's up?"
"It's that bastard! That bastard!"
That phrase alone clicked. All fighters retreated, scowling.
They scanned everywhere—no escape. An absurd number of skeletons closed in relentlessly.
Kirrik, kiririk.
Armor Knights, Cavalry, and Bone Swords pressed them.
Red-glowing swords swung, exploding on impact.
"What the hell!"
"Skills too? No word on that!"
Power Shots and Rapid Fire followed.
Pang!
Armor Mages' Fire Walls and spells rained down.
"Sh, shit......"
Five couldn't hold.
Infamy (+10) increased ×3
At +30 infamy, Mu-hyuk ordered skeletons to hold. With HP bottomed, the remaining two couldn't survive the spirits' follow-up and died.
Thus, 20 infamy went to Sung Min-woo. Pre-agreed to prevent Mu-hyuk monopolizing it.
"You got 30?"
"Yeah."
"One more team here, and we can hit others?"
"Let's roam as much as possible today."
They finished the last team and rode skeleton warhorses toward the village.
Reverse-summoned before arriving—Hayaku might have eyes there.
Luckily, warp gate unhindered.
"Welcome to Beba Village."
Beba Village.
Spotted one Hayaku there but ignored. The user, in disguised gear, didn't recognize them anyway.
Left village, remounted, headed to another Hayaku hunting ground—level 80. More users than expected.
About 20.
Perfect number for a massacre.
*
Over two months had passed.
Hayaku Guild vs. Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo.
Their game of tag.
Sung Min-woo died once mid-way, sparking crisis, but mercenary guild commissions overcame it.
Costs were huge, but better than quitting the game.
More cautious thereafter, neither died again, tormenting Hayaku relentlessly.
Two months in, cracks appeared in Hayaku's ranks.
"Haa, this ain't working."
"What now?"
"Gotta quit."
"You'll get an execution order."
"Whatever. Saw how they operate—no point even issuing one."
"That's 'cause those guys are monsters."
"Ugh, forget it!"
"You really quitting?"
"Yeah. Sick of it. Two months chasing tails—what kinda shit is this?"
"Fair......"
One quit declaration swayed others. About 15 followed.
They nodded at each other, gestured in air.
Left ‘Hayaku’ Guild.
Staring at the message, one spoke.
"I quit."
"M-me too."
"This guild's trash—I'm out!"
Sub-guild master Shota watched it all.