The Giant Statue Boss
No matter how many times he looked at it, all that came out was awe.
Is this what level 151 stats look like?
Anyone unfamiliar with it would call it impossible, a blatant cheat, and probably storm Illusion headquarters with complaints right then and there.
The stats were that overwhelmingly superior. A normal player wouldn't reach this level until the early to mid-200s.
Yeah, I was right all along.
His growth path diverged sharply from those with innate athletic genius or martial arts training from childhood—and the tournament had proven it wasn't wrong.
He'd thought the same back then: trying to catch up by picking up exercise or martial arts late in the game would be pointless.
I'll stick to my own path.
His main character's stats were impressive, but Mu-hyuk was a necromancer at heart.
His core power came from his summons. That's why the 21 stats he'd gained from the ancient dungeon meant even more to him.
Just keep going like this.
From here on, he'd stay ahead using information—just like always.
Even if he faced top rankers again someday, he'd win the same way he had before.
"Whew."
He closed the status window and glanced to the side.
Sung Min-woo and Yerin.
The two were still agonizing over potions.
"Ugh, this is driving me nuts. Which one?"
"Hmm... uh-huh."
Mu-hyuk chuckled at the sight.
"Why overthink it? Just grab what you need."
"That's what's hard about it!"
"Screw it, I'll take this one!"
Yerin picked first, and a flustered Sung Min-woo followed suit.
"Fine, then gimme all of these!"
"Got it, humans."
The penguin handed over the potions to Yerin and Sung Min-woo, then flapped its wings as it packed up its bundle. The sight was downright adorable.
"Looks like that's everything. I'm outta here, humans."
"See ya."
The penguin waddled off, and Sung Min-woo soon furrowed his brow in self-reproach.
"You idiot!"
"What?"
"I only bought destructive power potions!"
"You picked 'em."
"I got too hyped earlier..."
"Eh, whatever. It's bonus stuff anyway."
Sung Min-woo sighed and nodded.
"Yeah, I guess. Damage is always nice."
Yerin, on the other hand, had made solid choices, though her eyes were a bit glazed.
"Yerin? You okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. But, oppa."
"Yeah?"
"I still can't believe it."
"What?"
"This insane benefit is a first, even after all my time playing Illusion."
"Same here. Pretty shocking, but hey—this is what makes hunting ancient dungeons fun, right? Plus, we're the first ones here."
"True, but..."
Mu-hyuk ruffled Yerin's hair.
"Good things are good. Let's leave it at that."
"Mhm."
Her face flushed as she bowed her head.
Adorable.
He almost wanted to pull her into a hug right there.
Damn.
He shook off the stray thought and looked ahead.
"Alright, let's get moving again."
The ancient dungeon wasn't over yet.
Over two days, they hunted Stoneheads. Then they moved to another area, facing monsters even trickier than the Stoneheads.
For the next five days of nonstop battles, the trio leaned on each other for strength amid their exhaustion.
And today.
The moment they passed what they'd thought was the path's end, the surrounding space shifted like magic. The three found themselves in a long, endless corridor.
"Whoa, look at that."
At the end: a door shaped like a demon.
The ominous atmosphere screamed it.
Tense up.
Something major was coming.
"Whew, wonder what monster's waiting in there."
He grumbled as he stepped forward.
Thud.
He pushed open the demon-shaped door.
Creeeak.
A harsh metallic screech echoed, revealing a vast hall.
"Hm?"
Cold air slapped his skin.
But more than that—it was too quiet.
Visibility was fine.
He took a few steps, scanning the area. The space was wide but visible at a glance. No monsters anywhere.
"What? Nothing here."
Mu-hyuk advanced after a quick look around.
Sung Min-woo and Yerin followed.
"Hm, empty room?"
"Just pass through? Or a rest spot?"
"Maybe a bonus stage kind of thing."
By the time they finished talking, they were at the center.
"Whoa? There's a hole here?"
"A hole?"
Mu-hyuk turned at Sung Min-woo's words.
Sure enough, a small hole.
He crouched to peer in, but it was too deep to see anything.
"Fire it up."
"On it."
The spirit Fire appeared, illuminating the hole. Now he spotted a small button near the entrance. The three exchanged glances and debated.
"Probably meant to be pressed, right?"
"What if it's a trap?"
Sung Min-woo and Yerin split on it.
The choice was Mu-hyuk's.
"Hm."
After a moment's thought, he looked up.
"Let's press it. That's the fun of games, right?"
Both nodded. They tacitly acknowledged Mu-hyuk as party leader.
"Here goes."
"Wait, one sec. Lemme summon."
Sung Min-woo and Yerin summoned their spirit and squirrel for safety. Mu-hyuk called all his skeletons, then pressed the button.
Grr rumble.
Machinery groaned, and a pillar rose from the hole. A small box atop it stopped at Mu-hyuk's shoulder height.
"A box?"
The moment he muttered in confusion—
Click.
The lid popped open.
Inside: three tiny elixirs.
"No way—this our reward?"
"Oppa, what reward out of nowhere?"
"Why not? Clear reward!"
"Ah...!"
Mu-hyuk smiled bitterly at their exchange. There was one unavoidable step to clear an ancient dungeon.
The hardest one. So not a clear reward. Then what was this box? Another bonus stage? Should've had a message at least...
As he pondered, Sung Min-woo excitedly lifted the box.
"If it's clear reward, grabbing it finishes it!"
Then a massive tremor—and something huge dropped from above.
"Wh-what the hell!"
A colossal statue in the form of a demon warrior.
Staring at it, realization hit.
"Boss monster...!"
This was the final stage to clear the ancient dungeon.
The statue stood about 4 meters tall.
It wielded two stone swords, its twisted face and aura of intimidation crushing the space.
"B-boss monster?"
"Yeah, probably."
"Insane...!"
As Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo talked, the statue turned its head toward the noise.
Chunks of stone pattered to the floor, but no one had eyes for them.
Locking eyes triggered intense danger sense. Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk kicked off, diving left and right.
Boom!
One stone sword slammed where they'd stood.
They scrambled up—Mu-hyuk relieved, Sung Min-woo horrified.
"Fuuuuck!"
The statue chased Sung Min-woo.
Startled by the sword closing in, he flattened to the ground.
Wind from the swing whipped his hair.
He rolled sideways.
Thud, thoom!
The sword struck with devastating force, repeatedly.
"S-save meee!"
Mu-hyuk and Yerin were already directing summons.
Small, agile squirrels reached it first.
They climbed, clawing, biting, tail-whipping from perches.
Minimal damage, but enough distraction.
Grr rumble.
The statue shook them off.
The brief opening let Sung Min-woo widen the gap.
"Hah! Thought I was dead for real!"
"Looked dangerous."
"Dangerous? That was suicidal!"
Even in VR, such brute force inspired terror.
But game awareness ignited his fighting spirit.
"Grr, can't let it just wreck me!"
Sung Min-woo charged with his spirit.
Whoosh.
Mu-hyuk commanded skeletons while nocking an arrow. As the statue raised its sword at Sung Min-woo, he released.
The arrow struck the blade, deflecting it. Sung Min-woo dodged easily and closed in for a combo with his spirit.
"Hyaah!"
Problem: negligible damage.
"What the hell's its defense!"
Then a stone sword clipped a spirit.
- [Massive Damage] HP
One hit reverse-summoned it. Shocked, Sung Min-woo retreated. Mu-hyuk ordered mages to fire, preventing pursuit.
Boom!
Magic did almost nothing. Unscathed, it burst through the explosion, rampaging wildly. Nearby skeletons crumbled like dominoes.
Overwhelming.
Mu-hyuk's brow furrowed instinctively.
Can we even win?
He wondered if it was designed to be unbeatable.
"This is too much."
Sung Min-woo sidled up, Yerin too.
"Any ideas?"
"Hm."
Mu-hyuk had no easy answer.
Crack.
Skeletons were vanishing pointlessly even now.
Armor Knight 2 has been reverse-summoned.
Armor Cavalry 3 has been reverse-summoned.
Even Armor Knights focusing on defense couldn't block three hits. At this rate, time would run out before victory.
"Honestly?"
"Yeah, straight talk."
"Looks rough."
"Sigh, right? How the hell do you beat that thing!"
"Well, we've got plenty of rewards already."
"True. That's enough. Kinda bummed about the clear reward, though."
As they grumbled—
Halt.
The attack-focused statue froze. Skeletons struck in the opening, but zero damage.
What?
Then it moved, and the fallen stone chunks on the floor began wriggling.
Watching, small stones rapidly grew into mini statue forms.
Much smaller than the original powerhouse—no bigger than 1.5 meters, one sword each.
But numerous.
At least 50 by rough count.
"Ah, this is just..."
As Sung Min-woo and Yerin despaired, Mu-hyuk spotted victory's spark.
Armor Archers, Power Shot!
Wind Step, Storm.
To fan that spark, Mu-hyuk moved himself. He closed on a mini statue hit by a bone arrow and thrust his sword.
Crack!
It shattered against the chest with heavy recoil.
Yes! This works!
He slashed again.
Crush.
One down.
Experience has increased.
Even experience gain!
Joy was brief.
Time to prepare against the still-immobile boss.
He murmured low.
"Revive."
One statue revived as an ally. Eyeing the remaining 49 foes, Mu-hyuk kicked off the ground again.