Revive and the Ancient Dungeon
Valsian was in the Hemil Empire.
Mu-hyuk had also been staying in the Hemil Empire lately, so he visited the old man frequently.
Every time he showed up, Valsian would grumble about why he was there again, but the smile tugging at his lips gave away his true feelings.
Today was no different.
Valsian flung the door open, spotted Mu-hyuk, and immediately barked in his gruff tone.
"What're you doing here? Just came to say hi again?"
"Not just for greetings today."
Valsian's eyes narrowed.
"Ho ho."
He'd noticed Mu-hyuk's growth.
"Not just greetings, eh."
"Of course."
"Get in here."
"Yes, sir."
Mu-hyuk stepped inside and sat across from the old necromancer.
"Heh, you've grown quite a bit."
"Thank you."
"Klcl, lemme see."
Valsian extended his hand.
A warm energy enveloped Mu-hyuk.
"Time to pass on some new techniques."
"Is it?"
At level 150, it was only natural for a Gangster Necromancer.
He knew exactly what skill he'd learn at level 150, but he played dumb and waited patiently.
"Here it is."
He'd found the book and handed it over.
"Take it."
"Yes."
There were two volumes.
"Read 'em."
His heart pounded.
Thump, thump.
He opened the first skillbook.
Revive
Mu-hyuk clenched his fist.
Revive.
The word meant resurrection, and it was a skill specialized for overwhelming numbers.
He'd finally learned it.
He checked the skill details right away.
Revive
Forcibly resurrects nearby monster souls into decayed corpses. Can be unilaterally controlled, applying 60% of their original abilities. Lasts 30 minutes.
MP Cost: 100 per unit
A skill without levels.
It couldn't grow, but its efficiency was top-tier from the start. As long as MP allowed, he could revive as many as he wanted.
Of course, the MP cost was no joke.
But that didn't matter.
The next skill would cover that weakness.
He opened the second skillbook.
ExChange
ExChange
Exchanges HP and MP at a 1:1 ratio.
No skill level here either.
But the efficiency was perfect.
Satisfied, Mu-hyuk thanked Valsian.
"Thank you."
"Pfft, what thanks."
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"But it ain't over yet."
"Pardon?"
"Gotta learn some basics, right?"
"Uh, yeah...?"
Mu-hyuk tilted his head in confusion.
Didn't the basics come at level 200?
He double-checked his memory, but no, level 150 wasn't it.
"Follow me."
"Ah, yes."
Following Valsian would reveal what was going on.
"Lucky for you, I'll tell ya."
"Pardon?"
"'Cause you're my prized disciple."
"Ah..."
Who knew the "prized disciple" title had perks like this.
"Thank you."
"Klkl."
They arrived at a branch of the Necromancer Guild.
It was in a rundown corner of the Hemil Empire. No users inside—just one NPC guarding the place.
A middle-aged man, fairly old, lit up at the sight of Valsian and approached.
"Elder! How've you been?"
"I'm fine. You?"
"Haha, well..."
"Tch, the higher-ups still the same, huh."
"Yes, sir."
"Anyway, this is my prized disciple."
"Oh?"
Mu-hyuk stepped forward.
"Hello. Name's Mu-hyuk."
"Impressive, a prized disciple."
"Thank you."
The middle-aged man glanced back at Valsian.
"That, right?"
"Yeah."
"You, Mu-hyuk?"
"Yes."
"Follow me."
The man handed him a book.
"This is...?"
"A book of techniques."
"Ah, thank you."
What skill would it be?
Something for level 200?
"Read it."
"Yes."
Anticipating, he opened the skillbook.
Weakness
Strength Increase
Stamina Increase
Not level 200 skills.
But...
The names alone gave him an idea.
They seemed familiar.
He checked the details.
Weakness Lv1 (0%)
Weakens monsters or living beings in range by 10% for 30 minutes.
MP Cost: 200
Strength Increase Lv1 (0%)
Increases allies' strength by 10 for 30 minutes.
MP Cost: 200
Stamina Increase Lv1 (0%)
Increases allies' stamina by 10 for 30 minutes.
MP Cost: 200
A gasp escaped him.
"Whoa."
Using all three skills would boost allies' strength and stamina by 10 each while dropping enemies' stats by 10%.
As levels rose, effects would improve—better than the supposed level 200 skills.
"Whaddya think?"
"Uh, it's, it's amazing!"
"Right? Krahahahaha!"
The middle-aged man laughed heartily.
"Aigoo, my ears! Shut it!"
Valsian barked, and the man quieted. Though a smile lingered on his face.
"Sorry, Elder."
"Whatever. Long time no see—spill the backlog."
"Heh, gladly."
They left Mu-hyuk standing there, lost in their chat.
*
Maybe 'cause it had been ages.
"Heh heh, so that's how it was."
"Aigoo, Elder. You have no idea how tough it was for me..."
They talked for a good while.
Unable to wait longer, Mu-hyuk approached cautiously.
"Master, I should head out..."
"Yeah, yeah, go on."
Even after the goodbye, Valsian didn't glance back. It felt oddly bittersweet, but Mu-hyuk shook his head with a smile.
He headed to the central district, stopping at the general store and food shop. Fully stocked, he entered the castle to meet Mist. But a knight blocked the entrance today.
"Sorry."
"Hm?"
"That criminal was released ages ago."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
"Can't be helped, then."
He'd planned to kill him one last time before the ancient dungeon kept him away, but oh well—not a big loss.
He'd gotten everything he could from the guy anyway.
Time for the fountain.
He left the castle and headed to the meeting spot at the plaza fountain. After two minutes, Sung Min-woo appeared.
"Late?"
"Fuckin' late."
"Huh, really?"
"Waited three hours."
Sung Min-woo fired back hard once he caught the joke.
"You psycho."
"Kek."
"Hilarious. Anyway, your girlfriend?"
"Not yet."
Then, dodging users, Ye-rin came running from behind Sung Min-woo.
"Oppa!"
"Here."
She stuck out her tongue upon arriving.
"Sorry, late?"
"Nah, just got here."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Sung Min-woo watched with a dumbfounded look.
"Said you waited three hours earlier."
"When?"
"Damn, single guy's the sinner here."
"Guilty."
"Ugh, fuck it. Dungeon time."
Ye-rin spoke up hesitantly.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"But... is it really okay for me to go to that dungeon?"
"Obviously."
"Hmm."
"What's up?"
"Well, I wasn't in on it from the start, and it kinda feels burdensome. You know how shocked I was when I heard about the ancient dungeon right after partying up? Been thinking since then—feels off if I tag along. Finally saying it now after agonizing."
Mu-hyuk tilted his head.
"What're you talking about?"
"Feels like I'm just mooching off you."
"Ah..."
Mu-hyuk waved his hands frantically.
"Everyone knows that's not it."
"Still."
Mu-hyuk eyed Sung Min-woo for help.
"Why me."
He signaled desperately. Finally, Sung Min-woo started convincing her.
"Sigh, Ye-rin."
"Yeah?"
"Truth is, clearing the ancient dungeon just the two of us ain't easy. Even with three, might fail. So we want someone who boosts firepower, someone trustworthy."
Ye-rin's eyes wavered.
"Later, you find dungeons or whatever and share with us."
"Still..."
"Two ain't enough. If it bugs you, repay somehow."
"That'd be okay?"
"Yeah, that works."
"Hmm."
Mu-hyuk took her hand as she pondered.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
She finally nodded.
"Alright, heading out for real?"
"Yeah."
"Skeleton Warhorse summon."
The three mounted and rode toward their destination.
The Ancient Dungeon.
An unknown hunting ground even Mu-hyuk didn't fully know.
Moments later.
At the site, Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo exchanged nods.
Ye-rin behind them had shaken off some tension, her face lit with curiosity.
"Whoa, this the place?"
"Yeah."
"Heh, fun. Never done a dungeon before."
"Probably tough."
"Hmm, but with oppa, it's fine."
Mu-hyuk smiled.
"Right. Let's go in."
"Yeah!"
"Okey dokey."
Sung Min-woo approached the tree pillar first.
Suk.
He passed through naturally and vanished.
"Wow..."
"Cool, huh?"
"Yeah!"
"You first."
"Got it, oppa."
Ye-rin went next, then Mu-hyuk last.
You have discovered the Ancient Dungeon.
Ignoring the message, he advanced.
A massive iron door.
The moment his hand touched it.
Entry level (150) reached.
Entering.
Light swallowed the three.
*
A dense forest—they opened their eyes inside.
"Forest right off the bat?"
"Hmm."
Not a sunny stroll in the woods. The eerie gloom made him instinctively rub his arms.
"Whew, super creepy."
"Eek, hate this stuff."
Ye-rin scrunched her brow.
"Definitely ominous."
Mu-hyuk agreed and started walking.
"Let's move."
"Yeah!"
Twenty minutes in.
"Why's nothing here?"
No monsters at all.
"No monsters?"
"Path's unclear too."
"First time in an ancient dungeon, after all."
This life, anyway.
In his paralyzed past life, he'd seen videos a few times. But ancient dungeons were hard to find footage for.
Only cleared ten times ever, and clearers hid info—no vids.
Not all, though—he'd watched the two available a few times, but memories were fuzzy.
Just one thing stuck emotionally: brutally harsh, merciless, vicious.
"Keep going."
Then a gloomy sound hit their ears.
"Sounds like ghosts."
"Eek, scary."
"Don't jinx it."
"But it does...!"
Sung Min-woo jumped back in shock.
"Holy shit!"
"W-what!"
"O-over there...?"
Mu-hyuk turned where Sung Min-woo pointed.