Level 30 Milestone
He lay in wait atop a tree branch, eyeing his chance, then dropped straight onto the back of a steel ant passing below.
-242 HP
Negligible damage inflicted.
-9 damage.
-16 damage.
-12 damage.
A critical hit exceeding 240 damage exploded the moment the blade of his skull staff pierced the weak point.
On top of that, the weak point damage—which had ranged from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 11—had risen sharply. Now the minimum was 9, and the maximum reached 17.
He could kill steel ants far faster than before.
Kiririii….
The creature lost its strength in an instant and staggered.
He pulled out the blade and stabbed again.
Another critical burst forth.
He dispatched it all too easily.
"This… well…."
Of course, the experience points coming in had dwindled dramatically compared to the start.
His current level was 27.
The fruit of a full week focused solely on hunting.
Maybe it was time to move on from here.
He shook his head soon after.
Still, this spot was best until level 30.
Once he hit 30, he could enter the regular dungeon and special dungeon whose locations he knew.
Before entering, he'd swap out all his gear, clear the regular dungeon while keeping experience gain at 90% or below, then immediately head into the special dungeon to hit 32.
After that, he'd hunt field monsters.
Just three levels to go.
Of course, the process would be excruciatingly boring, but there was no helping it.
Kiiiii!
Mu-hyuk's gaze snapped around.
Three steel ants emerged.
He charged straight at them.
He swerved sideways at the last moment, then leaped to a spot beyond the reach of their jaw attacks.
The instant he mounted one, he plunged the skull staff's blade into its weak point.
The other two were lured away by his bone sword and bone bow skeletons under his control.
Kirik, kiririk!
The skeletons weren't easily overwhelmed.
Mu-hyuk leisurely issued commands while observing the situation.
-16 damage.
-15 damage.
In the meantime, the steel ant with its weak point stabbed was thrashing wildly.
It even attacked its own kin at one point. Good news for Mu-hyuk.
How many minutes did it last?
The steel ant finally slumped lifelessly.
For a clean kill, he struck the same spot again.
The critical triggered, and experience rose.
Mu-hyuk dismounted and charged the next steel ant.
He mounted its back the same way, stabbed the weak point, and endured.
It didn't last long before dying.
Finishing the last one was a breeze.
No tension at all.
Leveling up was undeniably easy.
That was a good thing, but he couldn't deny the thrill was far less than when hunting wolves.
Wolves and bears had been more fun.
As idle thoughts wandered, his MP fully recovered.
He set out to hunt again.
The repetitive battles continued.
*
Another week passed.
He'd finally hit the target: level 30.
"Haa."
The monotonous hunt was over.
He removed his helmet and looked up. The sky peeking through the leaves was incredibly blue.
Maybe he shouldn't hunt things whose weaknesses he knew anymore?
He was even thinking that far.
The fierce battles with the early wolves and bears stuck in his memory more vividly.
Facing them had been thrilling.
Extreme tension, and the euphoria of victory.
For now, time for maintenance.
Time to head back to the kingdom.
He donned his helmet and turned.
Hm…?
In that moment, a strange unease swept through his body.
He scanned the surroundings carefully.
Come to think of it….
At some point, not a single user had been in sight.
At first, he'd deliberately hunted in user-free zones.
He'd been cautious to avoid guild members' eyes.
But now, he couldn't spot even a single sneaky hunter.
Something up?
He pondered briefly, then shook his head.
Not his concern.
He'd achieved his goal of 30.
He was sick of even hearing "steel ant."
He hurried onward.
Step, step.
It took over an hour of walking, but it wasn't boring.
Users swarmed the lizardman habitat he reached.
"Unseong, block it!"
"Okay!"
"I'll heal a bit!"
"Got it!"
"Hey, attack!"
"I'm doing it!"
Passing the lizardman hunting ground.
Over the orc village.
Even to the bear habitat.
Users were far denser here. As hunting ground levels dropped, monsters grew scarce while users overflowed.
The wolf forest was a full-on turf war.
Through there, past the rabbit plains, and finally, the kingdom.
Mu-hyuk visited the smithy after a long time.
Entering the workshop, he spotted Luke milling about.
Luke noticed him too and approached with a pleased expression.
"Been a while."
"Yeah."
"Finished your business?"
"For now."
"Heh, good. Follow me."
Luke took position in front of the forge.
"I'll be busy starting tomorrow, so today I'm teaching you armor crafting like I mentioned before. Watch closely."
"Ah, yes!"
Skill transfer right away.
This must be his way of showing affection.
Thud.
Luke placed iron ore on the iron plate.
"You watching?"
"Of course."
"Don't look away."
"Got it."
Only then did he raise the hammer high.
Whoosh.
With the sound of cutting wind, the hammer fell, striking the ore.
The iron ore began to spread thin.
Normally it'd need heating in the furnace, but the game skipped that.
He thinned several ores, then placed fresh iron ore on both sides.
Layering thin ore over intact ore.
"Hup!"
He swung the hammer mainly at the left and right sides.
Clang! Clang!
A shape for shoulders and waist emerged, and soon a full upper armor piece was complete.
"Made a simple top. What do you think?"
Simple, thanks to the game.
"I think I can do it."
"Give it a shot."
"Yes."
Mu-hyuk took the hammer and replicated Luke's exact process, crafting an upper armor.
His stagnant crafting skill rose a level.
Crafting skill level has risen.
Dexterity (1) has increased.
Crafting was now level 4.
A bit disappointing, but….
Still, this was the phase where stats gave +2 each.
Usage restrictions included.
Luke approached and inspected the armor.
"Not bad. That's everything I've taught you. The rest is up to your effort. Wherever you go, never forget that."
Frankly, hunting spots here were scarce now.
Time to head to another kingdom, stake a claim, and grow.
Luke seemed to sense it too.
"Thank you."
"Get to it. I'm busy."
"Yes."
Luke paused mid-step.
"Focusing on travel now, right?"
"Probably…."
"Still, drop by when you have time."
With that, Luke left the workshop.
Mu-hyuk felt a strange pang but shook it off.
He'd visit often anyway.
He glanced at the workshop.
Armor crafting, huh.
Maybe make a few more.
It had been pretty fun.
Swish.
His hesitation was brief. Soon, Mu-hyuk was at the forge, hammer in hand, striking iron ore.
Clang!
The sound rang out loudly.
Struck the grain.
Progress (3.7%) has increased.
Thanks to his increased strength?
Progress rose more than before.
The iron ore thinned in a flash.
He layered another ore and thinned it the same way.
Soon, an upper armor was complete. Mu-hyuk smiled contentedly and checked its options.
◈ Defense: 11
◈ Vitality +1
◈ Durability: 90/90
Solid defense.
Vitality bonus too.
Luckily, an option attached.
Higher skill level and strength must've boosted option chances.
"Hoo."
Impressed, Mu-hyuk started another armor.
Clang, clang!
Another ten minutes, another armor born.
But defense 9, no options.
Greed piqued, he crafted more.
Fail, fail, fail again.
He stopped after five.
Only the first had options.
"Tch…."
One last sword.
With that resolve, he placed an iron ore.
"Hoo."
Deep breath, then struck the grain.
Perfectly struck the grain.
Progress applied at double rate.
Progress (7.2%) has increased.
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened.
Double progress—a first.
He paused, hand frozen at the new phenomenon.
So that's how it works.
He knew level 4 meant +2 stats.
Probably tied to this double progress.
He checked the message again.
"Perfectly"—that word stood out.
A sort of critical.
One more….
Focus, strike again.
Struck the grain.
Progress (3.4%) has increased.
Bonus progress (0.1%) has increased.
No "perfectly" this time.
"Hup…."
Deep breath, strike again.
Twice, thrice, ten times.
No repeat.
The sword finally completed. Mu-hyuk couldn't hide his regret as he checked its stats.
Item info.
A hologram appeared.
◈ Attack Power: 33
◈ Strength +1
◈ Agility +1
◈ Durability: 110/110
◈ Usage Restriction: Strength 22, Agility 13
Attack 33 with two stats.
Nice!
A solid sword after ages.
Usable well into the mid-to-late 30s.
Usage restrictions were a nitpick, but overall excellent.
Motivation surged.
A few more.
Lost in weapon crafting, Mu-hyuk forgot the flow of time.