The Giant Statue's Self-Destruction
In an instant, half the mini statues lay in ruins.
Revive
Found 6 lingering monster souls nearby.
How many would you like to revive?
His MP reserves were plenty. He selected all of them.
Would you like to use the existing monster bodies?
[Yes/No]
He hit Yes, and the shattered mini statues reformed as before. Zombie mini statues had been born.
That made seventeen in total.
More than enough to handle the remaining mini statues. No, it was almost overkill. Combined with Mu-hyuk and his skeletons, their forces were overwhelmingly superior.
"Mu-hyuk."
"Yeah?"
"What are we doing?"
"Oh, the giant statue's for these mini ones to handle, so just rest. Jump in if they all get smashed."
"That'll do it?"
"Of course."
"Okay."
Yerin shot him a worried look.
"Oppa, tell me right away if it's too much."
"Got it."
He stroked her head again before focusing on the fight.
Revive
Without this skill, the situation would've been brutal.
Taking down even one mini statue properly required two Armor Knights.
But with Revive, targeting and reviving a few at a time snowballed into a massive boost for their side. It wasn't so bad.
Armor Archer, Power Shot.
Power Shot
Burtan, Ki Wave.
Ki Wave
With precise commands and skill usage, they toppled all fifty mini statues, reviving thirty-six of the ones that hadn't been utterly destroyed during the fight.
Rumble rumble.
The boss monster, the giant statue, stirred again.
"Get wrecked by the ones you made!"
Mu-hyuk's revived mini statues charged first, befitting his status.
"Strength Increase, Stamina Increase, Weakness!"
Strength Increase
Stamina Increase
Weakness
The thirty-six mini statues sped up slightly from the buffs, swarming the giant statue in seconds.
Like David encircling Goliath.
The problem? Goliath's attack power and defense were overwhelming. Right on cue, the giant statue swung its stone sword.
Boom!
Weakness had slowed it somewhat, but it was still fast. One mini statue took the hit but held.
Good!
It withstood the first strike.
Thanks to Weakness?
Anyway, as long as it didn't shatter in one hit, it was usable.
What about a second?
Crack.
The same one got hit again and crumbled.
Not twice, then...
But that was enough.
Thirty-five mini statues remained, and since they were the giant's own creations, no great loss.
That mindset made Mu-hyuk bold.
Push in deeper!
They clung relentlessly, chipping away for even the tiniest damage.
Fifteen mini statues vanished in a flash, but...
Crack crack.
They scarred part of the giant statue's leg.
"Whoa!"
Sung Min-woo, watching from behind, let out an awed gasp.
Mu-hyuk smirked and refocused on commanding.
Sacrificing the rest, they inflicted a larger wound.
Mu-hyuk stared it down and shouted.
"Help out!"
"Okay!"
"Got it, oppa!"
Sung Min-woo and Yerin, fully rested, joined in. Mu-hyuk pulled his skeletons back—just in case more minis spawned.
But he wasn't sitting idle. He had the highest attack power here.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.
Storm
Powerful Arrow Shot
The arrow was blocked by the statue's arm.
Scraaaape!
Staring at the falling stone shards, he nocked another arrow.
Boom!
It must've hurt—the giant swung its stone sword repeatedly. A few squirrels and one spirit encircling it vanished pointlessly.
"Damn, you son of a—!"
Sung Min-woo cursed and charged. He barely dodged the incoming sword, linking up with his spirit for a combo attack.
Bang! Boom rumble crash!
Flashy, but minimal damage. The statue fixed on Sung Min-woo and smashed down with its sword. Too focused on offense, he exposed his back and couldn't evade.
"Urgh!"
Sung Min-woo sprawled flat on the ground, rolling aside.
"F-Freakin' insane."
His HP plummeted. Sacrificing his spirit, he staggered up, but another sword lunged at the retreating man.
Shit.
Was this it? Then—
A gust of wind brushed past Sung Min-woo from somewhere.
Scraaaape!
The wind collided with the flying sword, taking form. Mu-hyuk, using Wind Step.
Even arriving at blinding speed and activating a skill, all he could do was block the swing.
"Fall back."
"Y-Yeah."
Confirming Sung Min-woo retreating, Mu-hyuk shoved the sword back hard.
He immediately Wind Stepped away. The statue pursued frantically, but spirits blocked its path.
"Thanks."
"I owe you more."
The skirmish dragged on like that.
Boom.
The giant halted once more.
*
The same cycle repeated.
While battling the giant, minis spawned when it paused. They cleared them, revived the fallen, then checked the reactivated giant.
"How many times is this...?"
"Dunno."
"Oppa, ninth time."
Nine grueling rounds.
Over an hour had passed, but the real issue loomed ahead.
Even battered and twisted with wounds, the giant's attacks remained ferocious, its defense absurdly high.
No clue how many more fights awaited.
"This sucks..."
Mental fatigue set in.
"When the hell does this thing die?!"
It wouldn't be weird if they dropped now.
Not the giant—the three fighting it.
All that remained was spite.
Lose after coming this far?
End like this?
Unthinkable. Too pathetic.
"Fuuuuck thiiiis!"
They roared and charged.
No skimping on HP or MP potions.
"Drink up."
"Thanks, man."
"Thanks, oppa."
Yerin and Sung Min-woo benefited hugely.
But stocks were running low.
Hoping to drop it first, he loosed arrows.
Mage, Magic!
Magic
The skeletons had rejoined long ago.
Zombie minis alone couldn't seal the win.
Armor Archer, Power Shot!
Power Shot
Just fall already!
But...
Rumble rumble.
It stopped again.
"Shiiiit!"
They suppressed the new minis and revived them. The giant reactivated, and the exhausted trio fought on, body and soul drained.
The stone sword flew in.
"Ah..."
He saw it coming but lacked the energy to dodge.
Thud.
Sung Min-woo flew back, shook his head, and stood.
"Ugh, hits like a truck."
Yerin got flung into a corner next.
Small mercy: the zombie minis, skeletons, spirits, and squirrels fought tirelessly.
Though dealing real damage was a stretch.
Mu-hyuk inflicted the heaviest blows. Shoving aside his desperate urge to rest, he exploited Wind Step to attack.
Crack, scraaaape!
...Huh?
Mid-attack, Mu-hyuk sensed something off.
The giant's body was reddening.
Getting... redder?
Deeper hue.
End it now clashed with dodge instinct.
Decision in a flash.
Whoosh.
He retreated fast.
Instinct overrode reason.
That much danger.
Thump, thump.
Heart ready to burst.
What? Why?
Something flashed in his mind.
No way... a skill!
Unconsciously, he drew his shield.
And witnessed it.
The giant statue's reddened body exploding.
Like walking a slowed world, every detail crystal clear.
The blast engulfed everything—zombie minis, skeletons, spirits, squirrels—melting them instantly.
--------!
The inferno rushed in.
Like darkness devouring light.
He saw it but couldn't move.
Couldn't dodge.
All he could do: huddle behind the raised shield.
*
His body floated weightlessly.
Dazed, endless.
The void shattered with a shake.
"...O-Oppa!"
"Nngh..."
Frowning brought voices into focus.
"Oppa, you okay? You with us?"
Opening his eyes, Yerin's face appeared.
How...?
The final moments resurfaced. Mu-hyuk bolted up, scanning around.
Just Sung Min-woo, Yerin, and himself. Nothing else.
"What happened?"
"It exploded at the end, that giant."
"Exploded?"
"Yeah, me and Yerin got flung far early, minimal damage. But you..."
"Ah."
Mu-hyuk checked his HP.
Holy crap.
Just 91 left.
"How long was I out?"
"Not long. Saw you caught in the blast, got up quick, and Yerin shook you awake."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, why?"
"HP's at 91."
"No way, for real?"
"Yeah."
"Insane. A bit stronger and you'd be toast."
"If my HP or defense were any lower, yeah."
Mu-hyuk rose slowly.
Idiot.
Lucky win. Otherwise, lifelong regret.
Didn't even think of its skill.
Subconsciously figured the mini summons were its only skill.
Wrong. It had a self-destruct on death's door.
One-use, ultra-destructive.
Hard enough to kill, then boom?
Really meant to be cleared...?
Yet they did it.
Three people.
A miracle?
Mu-hyuk shook his head.
No. A few less Vitality points, dead.
No title, dead.
Worse gear, dead.
Not a miracle.
Just the fruits of his buildup.
I did it. With my own power.
Cleared the ancient dungeon.
"You good?"
"Y-Yeah. Fine."
Mu-hyuk grinned.
"Let's go."
"Huh?"
"Sick of this place. Time to bail."
Sung Min-woo and Yerin's faces lit up.
"Cleared, right?"
"Probably."
"Finally...!"
"Oppa, hurry!"
They left the vast hall. Past the corridor, a shimmering dimensional gate appeared.
Sung Min-woo reached out slightly, glancing at them.
"Touch it?"
A sudden thought stopped Mu-hyuk.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Grabbed the box?"
Sung Min-woo grinned.
"Of course."
"Check it outside."
"Sweet. Anyway, touch?"
"Yeah."
Sung Min-woo's hand met the gate.
Whoosh.
Light swallowed them.