Steel Ant Extermination
Luckily, there were no other users or guild members occupying the area in sight.
Good.
He immediately climbed up a tree to survey the situation.
As he moved slowly, he spotted two Steel Ants passing below.
He summoned skeletons and had them grab one, then mounted the remaining ant's body and stabbed his sword into the joint connection.
Minor damage.
-10 HP
-9 HP
-9 HP
In that state, he mentally commanded the skeletons for a moment.
He could barely deal any damage.
This is gonna be tough.
He switched them to defense mode and focused on the Steel Ant he was fighting.
As he struggled to hold on against the wildly thrashing creature,
-11 HP
-9 HP
the damage kept piling up.
Whew.
Some breathing room returned. He'd adapted to the Steel Ant's movements.
He turned his head to watch the duel between his summons and the Steel Ant.
Kirrik, kiririk!
Bone Sword 1 flew back after taking a headbutt from the Steel Ant. Bone Sword 2 was next in peril.
Mu-hyuk instinctively issued commands.
Bone Sword 2, to the left.
The Steel Ant charged again to finish it off, but Bone Sword 2 dodged.
Instead, Bone Sword 1, rising to its feet, took another hit.
Bone Bow 1 and 2, attack.
Bone arrows whistled through the air and struck the Steel Ant's hide, but it was too tough—they bounced off without penetrating.
The ricocheted arrows clattered to the ground, enraging the Steel Ant, which switched targets to the Bone Bows.
It charged swiftly, eyeing Bone Bow 1 and 2, then clamped its jaws hard on Bone Bow 2's shoulder.
The shoulder shattered, crippling its combat ability, but the Steel Ant didn't stop there.
It crushed the chest and spine before turning away.
That was the moment.
The vibrations stopped.
The Steel Ant with the sword stabbed in slowed down.
Thud.
It collapsed in place.
Mu-hyuk's eyes gleamed as he swiftly pulled out the sword and stabbed again.
-159 HP
Steel Ant defeated.
The Steel Ant was dead.
No time for corpse dissection—Mu-hyuk dashed behind the Steel Ant attacking his skeletons.
He kicked off the ground hard, leaped onto its back, and stabbed the sword into the chest-abdomen joint.
*
The Steel Ants gave massive experience.
Worth level 32, as expected.
Even in Illusion, infamous for slow leveling, each kill visibly boosted his EXP.
Thanks to that, he leveled up in under two days.
Should boost Vitality.
Allocating one stat point strengthened all skeletons except Bone Sword 1 and 2.
Their Vitality rose by 1 each.
Good.
Higher HP and defense was huge.
They could now withstand Steel Ant attacks a bit longer.
This'll be much easier.
Mu-hyuk focused on the hunt again.
One day, then another.
He killed Steel Ants over and over.
Experience rising.
Finally, level 22.
A feat in just four days.
Summons window.
(Bone Sword 1)
The summons were level 17, five below Mu-hyuk.
A bonus point appeared, invested in Vitality—Bone Sword 1's HP hit 615.
He boosted Vitality on the others too.
Now all hovered near 600 HP.
The numbers alone were reassuring.
Bone Bows should go for damage.
Bone Bow 1 and 2 got Strength boosts.
He checked the rankings.
Number one was level 54.
Leveled up by one.
How long to top ranker? Half a year?
Time to enter the 10,000 rankers.
Another half year after...
Total about a year, and Mu-hyuk figured he'd hit at least rank 100.
*
Two more days passed.
Mornings: gym, grab brunch on the way home.
Home: log in, simple cooking to fill hunger.
Then five hours Steel Ant hunting, log out for lunch/dinner, back in for more.
Snacked on bread mid-session to maintain stats.
Stopped at 11 PM.
Repeat daily.
Level 23 loomed close.
Then it happened.
Skeleton Warrior skill level increased.
Skeleton Archer skill level increased.
Summon skills leveled up.
Oh ho.
Checked the info right away.
Skeleton Mastery 2Lv (23%)
Skeleton attack power and defense +2%.
Skeleton Warrior Summon 3Lv (0%)
Summons 6 sword-proficient skeletons. Higher levels increase count and MP cost per 10 sec.
-Current MP per 10 sec: 3 per entity
Skeleton Archer Summon 3Lv (0%)
Summons 3 bow-proficient skeletons. Higher levels increase count and MP cost per 10 sec.
-Current MP per 10 sec: 3 per entity
6 Warriors. 3 Archers.
Total 9 summons possible.
Sustain time shorter, but burst power up.
This would intensify with higher skill levels.
And...
Mu-hyuk pulled an item from inventory.
A staff with a skull ornament at the end of an iron club.
The item from the box old man Balzac gave at the end.
One more level.
Then usable.
Swish.
He checked the staff's options again.
"Whew."
Still astonishing, no matter how many times.
This weapon wasn't in the original game.
Likely a gift for the disciple title holder.
He'd been floored seeing the options first time.
Never dreamed such an item so early.
It'd hugely aid his path ahead.
Still good so far.
But no complacency.
Dungeons would soon be known to all users, sparking fights everywhere for control.
Only victors enter.
One issue, though.
Mu-hyuk chuckled.
Dungeons don't stay forever.
Normal: 100 clear limit.
Special: 50.
Unique: 30.
Ancient: 10.
Clear the number, dungeon vanishes.
No secret here.
Normal ones clear easy; repeats make it obvious.
Monopolization wars intensify.
To survive brute force tyranny, get stronger.
Do it right.
Back in inventory.
Two hours later.
Level 23 achieved.
Boosted Agility this time.
Staff equip limit cleared.
Item check.
Staff with a skull at the end. Embedded transformation magic.
Attack +55
Magic Attack +75
Wisdom +1
MP Recovery (+10) increased
Durability 200/200
Restrictions: Strength 25, Agility 10, Vitality 15
Two sub-options besides attack: Wisdom and MP recovery.
Overpowered for current level.
And he'd realized at first sight: dual wield.
Mu-hyuk pressed the skull head at the grip end with interest.
A sharp blade sprang from the club's base, pressing the ground.
Swing: club.
Thrust: sword.
Not the end.
Pressed skull again, retracted blade, pulled an arrow from bag.
Drew it with the taut iron string.
Transformation Magic activated.
MP -5 consumed.
The body bent into a bow.
This is transformation magic.
Mu-hyuk aimed at a distant tree pillar and released.
Bang!
Air burst; arrow flew with slight arc, missing far.
"Hmm...!"
Gonna need long training.
Practice in spare time.
Can't lead hunts forever.
Soon, skeletons front, him commanding from back—or support magic, sniping with bow.
Practice essential.
This routine would bear fruit soon.
Set that as first goal.
*
Too immersed in game?
Mother's long-overdue call made him feel neglectful.
"Busy on the weekend?"
"Nah, it's fine."
"Then..."
"Coming home today."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Family dinner after so long."
Mother's voice brightened.
Smiling, he hung up and prepared.
Headed out.
Subway home.
Family reunion.
"Son, you're here?"
"Yeah, Mom."
Old memories welled; eyes misted.
Whew, past now.
Shook it off with a smile.
Table set meanwhile.
Savory aroma.
Miso stew.
Mother's cooking brought a smile. In living room, Father at table. Mu-hyuk sat left.
Sister followed.
"Let's eat."
"Thanks for the meal."
Dug in.
Rustic, simple.
Warm chatter flowed.
Looks good.
This life, now routine.
He vowed never to forget its preciousness.