Fall of the White Wolf
Baekrang darted left, burrowing into Armor Knight 5's guard before shoving its shoulder aside.
Kwaaaang!
Armor Knight 5 flew back, slamming into Armor Knight 6 behind it. The blow was so ferocious that both armored skeletons tumbled across the ground.
Thankfully, the other Armor Knights nearby swiftly filled the gap, resuming their assault. Arrows and swords rained down like a storm, but few if any actually struck Baekrang.
Its movements were concise, devoid of waste, fluid like water itself—impossible to grasp, no matter how one slashed or cleaved.
"Hup!"
Even amid the chaos, Baekrang's occasional strikes were chillingly precise.
Peuseok.
Another skeleton lost, futilely.
This won't do.
Mu-hyuk decided to change tactics.
Go with Ki Wave.
He deliberately lured Baekrang into killing one skeleton, then left the gap unfilled. Baekrang rushed forward, exploiting the opening to break the encirclement—only to freeze for a split second.
A single bizarre skeleton stood directly ahead. But the situation had already shifted; Mu-hyuk had unleashed Ki Wave before Baekrang could react.
Kiaaaak!
Nothing was visible.
No time to dodge.
"Hup...!"
The world shook violently the instant it connected.
Just before collapsing.
Kuung.
Baekrang's leg slammed the ground once, hard—the vibration rippling out to engulf every surrounding skeleton.
At the same time, it straightened its back, seemingly shrugging off the Ki Wave damage already.
"Interesting."
A smile curled its lips as it stomped again.
Kuung.
It bellowed a ki shout.
------!
Air erupted from Baekrang like a storm, blasting outward in all directions. The force hurled skeletons back; the cracked earth exploded, shards pummeling them further. A chained assault.
Damn...!
The damage was worse than expected. The Bone Swords were all but annihilated. Even the evolved skeletons teetered on the brink.
Baekrang assumed its stance again.
Fist extended just before—
Mage spells ignited.
Hmm.
Baekrang hesitated briefly, then pivoted. It redirected the strike—not at the skeletons, but to nullify the incoming magic.
Myriad spells blotted the sky, plummeting toward Baekrang. It gazed up and thrust its fist.
"Haaap!"
Ki energy clashed with the barrage.
Kwaaaang!
Detonations rocked the heavens, winds slamming downward.
As dust clouded vision, several Skull Snakes slithered toward Baekrang.
Pabat.
Mu-hyuk himself moved, erasing the Skull Snakes' presence.
Baekrang focused on Mu-hyuk.
Hwiric.
Twisting to the whistling sword, it punched out.
"Hup!"
"Kuhk!"
The blade and fist collided, shockwaves repelling both.
Mu-hyuk was pushed farther back, but their expressions told a different story.
3 seconds.
Baekrang was stunned. Mu-hyuk smirked.
Its body began moving against its will— the charismatic, imposing figure now dancing grotesquely.
Only 1 second had passed.
Mu-hyuk closed in.
Storm, Cross Slash.
The blade whipped across, carving deep gashes into Baekrang.
2 seconds elapsed.
Armor Archer, Power Shot.
A bone arrow pierced Baekrang as the 3 seconds ticked over.
A bit short?
Regrettably, Baekrang didn't fall.
Freed from control, it swung with full force.
"Hwaaap!"
Mighty ki surged forth.
Pang, Paang!
The range was too vast to evade mid-air.
Mu-hyuk drew his shield, crouching low to brace. He ordered the skeletons to shield themselves too. A ferocious gale battered endlessly against the barriers.
-98 HP
-97 HP
-99 HP
HP plummeted rapidly.
How long...!
After 500 HP drained, Mu-hyuk could endure no more. Shield raised, he charged forward.
Lowering it slightly for sight, he locked onto Baekrang and barreled in.
Baekrang, still swinging, lit up at the sight. What attack would he use? Mu-hyuk simply extended his hand.
Purple energy flashed—that was all.
-1,850 Magic Damage
A single gesture inflicted staggering damage—20% of its HP.
With over 70% from the control phase, totaling 90%.
Factoring rapid regen, roughly 23% remained.
Still manageable.
And one key intel gleaned.
Magic.
Baekrang's wariness of Mu-hyuk spiked.
To think he'd wield this too.
Its trump card.
This technique would turn the tide.
As it prepared to unleash—
"...!"
Mu-hyuk vanished.
Where?
It scanned around—nothing.
Meanwhile.
Sensing an ominous vibe, Mu-hyuk activated Stealth hastily. Fortunately, Baekrang halted whatever it had planned.
What now?
Blessing of the Dead from the fallen had shaved some HP.
Not enough.
Something bigger was needed.
Powerful Arrow Shot?
He shook his head.
It'd likely deflect the arrow.
Left with...
Close-quarters he hadn't tried yet.
Right—let's see who wins.
Prep first.
Mu-hyuk prowled silently, applying Storm to skeletons. He swigged potions for MP, dragged time for natural regen. All while skeletons clashed with Baekrang.
Kwang, Kwagwang!
Skeletons unsummoned at a furious pace.
Storm-buffed ones pressed forward for damage. Burned once, Baekrang guarded its openings tightly.
No more time.
Mu-hyuk gripped his sword hilt hard, halting buffs.
Here goes.
Wind Step.
Pabat.
Slipping behind Baekrang, encircled by Armor Knights.
Storm, Cross Slash!
The swing broke stealth.
"Hup!"
Solid hit.
He thrust again, but Baekrang twisted, fist meeting blade.
Insane!
Reaction speed monstrous.
Mu-hyuk sidestepped behind Armor Knight 3.
Opposite Armor Knights unleashed heavy strikes, but Baekrang dodged lightly, charging Mu-hyuk's hideout.
Frightening velocity.
Armor Knight 3 shattered instantly; Baekrang closed in.
Mu-hyuk stabbed preemptively, but it slipped aside, shoulder-checking his chest lightly.
Tuung.
Mu-hyuk felt himself lift airborne. Then Baekrang's palm rushed his gut. He refocused too late.
Nowhere to evade.
Taak.
He yielded his abdomen.
Impact followed.
-1,400 Damage
30 seconds DoT
-32 HP per second
Movement Speed -10%
Attack Speed -10%
Reaction Speed -1%
Stunned for 2 seconds
The alerts left him dumbfounded.
What the hell?
An absurd skill.
Especially the 2-second stun.
How to survive that eternity?
Mu-hyuk summoned all Armor Knights urgently. Too slow—far too slow. Baekrang was already winding up.
Peueok.
One blow dazed his mind.
No pain.
But HP drain chilled him.
-900 HP
Skill-like poise flowed into the next.
Kwaaang!
Explosion launched Mu-hyuk skyward.
Pababat.
Baekrang leaped after, bone arrows swarming. Armor Knights below joined.
Failure meant doom.
But success seemed assured.
End it here.
Fists hammered relentlessly at Mu-hyuk.
Ki erupted.
Huuung.
The energy engulfed him.
Kwagwagwang!
Blast obscured sight.
*
Mu-hyuk's eyes gleamed.
Armor Knight 3 arrived just in time, visible.
Its drake longsword, bloodied. He ordered the damage absorption skill.
Armor Knight 3, Damage Absorption!
A pristine barrier enveloped Mu-hyuk.
Absorbs up to 5,000 damage for 5 seconds.
-2,490 Damage Absorbed
-2,491 Damage Absorbed
Razor-thin margin.
Good.
Stun lifted, Mu-hyuk landed, swapped sword for bow, nocked an arrow.
Baekrang was surrounded by skeletons.
Assuming Mu-hyuk dead, it let its guard slip.
Who wouldn't, after 5,000 damage?
Now's the chance.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.
End it for real.
Before Baekrang noticed.
Before the aftershock faded.
*
The strike landed true.
Over?
Fun while it lasted, but just a necromancer in the end.
Disappointing.
Baekrang surveyed. Skeletons dotted the field, but no fear.
No one fears skeletons just tilting their heads.
Even if Mu-hyuk survived, it had proven he couldn't command them. No real worry.
Kirik, Kirik?
Then a front skeleton shifted.
Blocking view.
Hmm?
As Baekrang frowned and sidestepped left, the skeleton advanced another step.
View cleared—and something pierced its brow.
Puuk.
One arrow.
A critical, no less.
Regening HP vanished pointlessly.
Down to ~5%.
"Hup!"
It rallied, retreating—but breaching the layered encirclement wasn't simple.
"Hwaaaap!"
Belatedly, its trump card.
Ku, Kugugung!
Massive ki descended like a mountain, crushing everything. Dozens of nearby skeletons exploded.
Kiririk?
Only five high-HP Armor Knights remained. Mu-hyuk had taken heavy damage too, barely standing.
Don't know how he survived, but...
Now it's truly over.
Baekrang clenched its fist.
Seuk.
Just before thrusting—Mu-hyuk appeared, one hand outstretched. Chest prickling with unease.
"Ah...?"
Purple energy registered too late.
That magic...!
Dodge? Impossible.
No time even to punch.
-1,850 Magic Damage
Damage ample to wipe remaining HP engulfed Baekrang.
"This... can't..."
With those words, Baekrang vanished.
Mu-hyuk's victory.