Big Mouth Onslaught
Mu-hyuk closed the distance in an instant, but something hurtled toward him.
A mouth?
For any other monster, it might have been a fist, but his opponent was a Big Mouth.
Naturally, what came flying at him was a massive, grotesque maw that sent chills down the spine.
The sharp teeth gleaming in the light were enough to make his blood run cold, even if only for a split second.
Damn it!
He hurriedly twisted away.
Ducking low, he targeted the Big Mouth's knee, visible right in front of him.
The mouth there gaped wide and lunged in an instant, but this time, he didn't dodge.
Or rather, he couldn't dodge. It felt better to counterattack instead.
Storm, Cross Slash!
The swung sword clashed with the razor-sharp teeth.
Boom!
The explosive impact sent his body reeling backward from the recoil.
"Ngh!"
The Big Mouth charged at Mu-hyuk.
"Armor Knights 3, 4, and 5—to the left!"
Three Armor Knights moved in without a moment to spare, blocking its path.
Thud!
Even as they blocked with their shields, they were shoved back a good distance, but the defensive line held firm.
Thanks to that, Mu-hyuk regained his balance and lunged at the Big Mouth again.
He aimed for its rear, but a mouth on its flank popped out, blocking him once more.
Tough bastard.
He couldn't back off, though. The Big Mouth had called for backup, so delaying meant facing two or more of them.
"Hup!"
He swung his sword again.
Clang!
The teeth blocked it this time too, but he'd anticipated that. He twisted his wrist immediately, lifting the blade upward, scraping it along the roof of the mouth.
Confusion Potion applied to Big Mouth.
The Big Mouth's movements froze for a moment.
It staggered.
Like it was doing some awkward shoulder dance.
It had lost control of its body.
Grr... grrr?
This was his chance to whittle down its HP.
"Let's finish it!"
"Okay!"
The summons, which had focused on defense, now switched to offense.
Puk! Puk-puk-puk!
It was only three seconds, but the damage was clearly substantial.
He could tell just from how the Big Mouth wobbled when the hallucination potion wore off.
Storm, Cross Slash.
Mu-hyuk's attack landed solidly too.
Critical hit!
310 damage inflicted.
580 additional damage inflicted.
Even with the critical, the damage was low due to the Big Mouth's insane defense. He ignored it—something he'd already accounted for—and pressed the attack. But then a chilling presence loomed from behind.
He ducked desperately.
Whoosh.
Sharp teeth grazed over his head.
He wouldn't have gotten away unscathed if they'd clamped down.
Springing up, he slashed his sword from low to high.
Slash.
The cutting sensation was followed by a retreat.
Deform.
He nocked an arrow, drew the string taut.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.
Aiming at the beast, he released the string.
Pang!
Mu-hyuk switched his bow back to a staff and pointed it at the Armor Knight whose HP had bottomed out.
Blessing of the Dead.
Its HP rose substantially.
Still not enough.
The Big Mouth's body was already covered in wounds. Burned by magic, pierced by arrows everywhere—it could drop any second.
Yet it clung on fiercely, a truly grotesque sight.
Grr... grr.
Then it staggered.
Almost there.
As expected, it collapsed moments later.
Experience gained.
Points gained.
He'd gained experience and points, but there was no time to check. A dust cloud rising in the distance stole his view.
The reinforcements the Big Mouth had called.
Too far to count exactly.
Sung Min-woo muttered anxiously.
"Crazy. How many are there to kick up that much dust?"
"Doesn't mean there are a ton just 'cause there's a lot of dust."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, they're huge."
"Oh, right."
Yerin chimed in from the side.
"But, oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Even two seems tough..."
She was right.
As Mu-hyuk opened his mouth to respond, Sung Min-woo pointed.
"Wait, I see 'em."
Their numbers came into view.
"Two."
"Better than more, but can we win?"
Mu-hyuk voiced what he'd held back.
"Two's doable."
"How?"
Mu-hyuk grinned and murmured.
"Revive."
Monster soul lingering nearby (1) detected.
How many to revive?
He selected one.
Use existing monster body?
[Yes/No]
No substitute body available, so he chose the existing one.
Yes.
Light poured from Mu-hyuk's body. The mystical glow swirled around the Big Mouth's corpse before seeping into the air.
Soon, a regenerated Big Mouth body emerged, emanating black energy.
Grr...
The Big Mouth had risen as a zombie.
"Like this."
"Whoa, what the hell is that?"
"New skill."
"No way! That's the monster we just fought, right?"
"Yeah, Big Mouth."
"Big Mouth? How do you even know its name? Wait, more importantly—can you keep summoning these?"
"Nah, temporary. Lasts 30 minutes."
"Whoa, still insane! While this guy tanks one, we take out the other."
"Exactly."
Even at 60% physical ability, pairing it with a few Armor Knights should handle one Big Mouth easily.
"Phew, saved."
"Feeling good?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Then let's take down those two."
"Okay!"
Yerin looked up at Mu-hyuk from nearby.
"Oppa, you're so cool."
"Cool? Anyway, what about the squirrels?"
"Can resummon 'em."
"Good. Get ready then."
"Yeah!"
The two Big Mouths, once distant specks, now loomed much larger. The gap had closed significantly.
"Gotta dodge those, right?"
"Nah."
"Not dodging?"
"Nope."
Dodging a Big Mouth's charge?
Anyone who knew the beast would shake their head.
You couldn't dodge it.
Other monsters charged straight, but not Big Mouths.
The more momentum they built, the faster and more precisely they turned.
They'd zigzag like lightning, devastating everything. You had to block the charge to stand a chance.
"So how?"
"Block it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Oppa, can't we just dodge?"
"I know this monster's name, remember?"
"Right."
"I know its traits too. Dodging the charge is suicide. The moment it turns, its speed spikes proportionally to the momentum. If we start evading, it'll blitz everywhere like lightning."
"That bad?"
"Yeah."
"Phew, no choice then."
The distance shrank further. Two massive monsters over five meters tall barreling in at terrifying speed—it was oppressive on its own.
Plus, each step shook the air faintly.
A prickling chill on his skin.
Ignoring the pressure crushing his body, he commanded the skeletons.
"Mages, all magic!"
The launched spells collided with the charging Big Mouths.
Kaboom!
No major damage; they burst through the dust. He fired arrows at the pair.
With so many Armor Archers and Bone Bows, the sky filled with bone arrows.
They rained down, embedding in the beasts' bodies. Their charge slowed slightly—success.
Next, Sung Min-woo's spirits joined. Some blasting magic, others harassing up close. The Big Mouths' charge noticeably weakened, distracted.
"Big Mouth, charge!"
He sent the revived zombie Big Mouth forward.
Roar!
It kicked off the ground with a bellow, slamming into the incoming duo.
Thoom!
The zombie flew back, tumbling, but rose immediately. He kept commanding.
"Cavalry, Armor Cavalry—charge!"
Regular cavalry and Armor Cavalry charged next.
The regular ones exploded pathetically on impact.
The Armor Cavalry at least stabbed spears into flesh, slowing them further.
Visibly decelerated.
"Bone Swords, all—charge!"
Still not enough; he sacrificed the Bone Swords too.
"Armor Knights, all forward!"
Finally, the Armor Knights advanced.
Kirrik, kiririk.
They'd form the wall.
"Defense mode."
Dozens stood in three ranks, shields forward. The two Big Mouths crashed into them.
Thoom!
The first row flew back.
The second blocked but slid.
The third yielded a bit but held firm.
Grr... grrr?
The charge halted.
Pang!
Arrows flew at the startled beasts. As they hunkered to block, squirrels leaped from all sides, spirits chaining attacks to disorient.
The Armor Knights fully encircled one Big Mouth.
The other faced the zombie Big Mouth and a few Armor Knights.
Rawr!
They held a slight edge even against two.
*
After slaying the first, Mu-hyuk revived it as a zombie and assaulted the remaining one.
Took it down without much trouble.
"Revive."
Monster soul lingering nearby (1) detected.
How many to revive?
Selected one.
Use existing monster body?
[Yes/No]
Yes again.
Now he commanded three zombie Big Mouths.
But with a time limit, he needed to clear the rest in the plains fast and escape.
"Let's push hard for a bit."
"Yeah."
The special stealth dispel potion still had time left—better move quick.
"Skeleton Warhorse summon."
The trio mounted and raced off.
Kirrik, kiririk.
Dozens of skeletons and zombie Big Mouths followed. Soon, they spotted another Big Mouth, stealth broken.
"There!"
Charged and felled it.
"Revive."
Zombified it. The first zombie had timed out, so still three total.
"They'll come soon?"
"It roared for backup."
The freshly killed one had bellowed too—wait, and they'd show.
About 20 seconds later, dust rose afar.
"Here they come."
"Two again."
Mu-hyuk unleashed the zombie Big Mouths.
Kuwaaang!
Three zombies canceled the duo's charge on collision.
"All attack!"
A fierce melee ensued.
Kaboom!
Thanks to the three zombies, victory came easier than expected.
"Phew, let's rest here."
"Yeah, stealth dispel timed out anyway."
"Resummon cooldown too."
"Oppa, gotta fill hunger too."
"Right."
Rest was essential now.
"Revive those last two after we recover and move."
Plan set, the three flopped down exhausted.