Overwhelm with Numbers
Time passed in a brutal haze.
Finally, the long-awaited message appeared.
Time limit exceeded.
With a flash of light, the space shifted.
"Haa..."
Everyone except about thirty users had been slaughtered by the boss monster. Mu-hyuk had only survived by sacrificing dozens of skeletons himself, so it wasn't an exaggeration to say those thirty-odd survivors were incredibly lucky.
Of course, if they'd worked together to take down the boss, they might have succeeded. But rattled by the initial attack, the users had scattered in panic.
That was their fatal mistake.
They'd lost, but there was one gain: confirmation that phase four was the final one.
There couldn't be anything beyond a boss monster.
"Whew, no more challenges today."
"Y-yeah?"
"Yeah. We'll try again tomorrow when more users log in."
"Haa, I'm out then."
"Me too..."
"Phew, I'm beat. Good work, everyone."
The users logged out or headed back to town for repairs.
Best for him to head back too.
From now on, aside from hunting, he'd devote all his time to crafting. That was the fastest way to learn enhancement.
He'd need to rent a forge workshop.
Summoning his warhorse, he returned to the Hemil Empire.
"Excuse me."
"Hm? Gear's on the display racks outside."
"Here for something else."
"Something else?"
"Could I rent a workshop for a day?"
"Oh ho, a blacksmith, eh?"
"Yes."
"Fine by me. Rental's 10 gold."
A steal, considering disposable crafting tools.
"Here you go."
"Head into the building out back—spot 7 should be free. Use that."
"Thanks."
He moved to the building the blacksmith indicated.
Spot 7 was...
In the far right corner.
Sitting there, Mu-hyuk immediately got to work.
Clang, clang!
Weapons poured out at a ferocious pace.
*
Viewers on Illusion TV watching Mu-hyuk clicked their tongues in awe.
Viewership plummeted.
Yet a few diehards stuck around.
Even their patience wore thin eventually.
An hour later, Mu-hyuk finally paused.
"Phew."
With a long sigh, he tidied up roughly and logged out.
Emerging from the capsule.
The next day.
Necromancer penalty timers still had plenty left.
Another 8 hours of crafting possible.
He dove back in.
Clang, clang!
Progress ticked up with every swing.
Grain aligned.
Progress (5.2%) increased.
Bonus progress (0.2%) increased.
Perfect grain alignment.
Progress (10.4%) increased.
Bonus progress (0.3%) increased.
Mistakes happened occasionally.
-Progress (15.8%) decreased.
Grain misaligned.
As his crafting skill and Strength rose, failures deducted more progress.
Now over 15% per flop, but failures were rare—one in ten swings, if that. No big deal.
"Phew."
Finishing a greatsword, he checked its options.
◈ Physical Attack: 157
◈ Strength +3
◈ Attack Speed +2%
◈ Durability 450/450
◈ Requirements: Strength 80, Stamina 50
Decent for a level 100 user.
[Listing at auction house.]
24-hour auction set, back to work.
One hour, two, three.
Mu-hyuk repeated the grind endlessly, no breaks.
*
Now curses flew in chat.
About two hours later.
The moviegoer returned.
As if hearing their pleas, Mu-hyuk left the forge.
"Summon."
Mounting his warhorse, he headed for the dungeon. En route, checking something twisted his expression oddly.
Dark Knight?
Ranker #1 Dark had changed from Holy Knight to Dark Knight.
This...
A job from Mu-hyuk's memories.
Ranker #1, Dark Knight.
Linked to future episodes too.
Interesting.
But that was far off.
Just note it for now.
"Hey, over there!"
He ran into yesterday's dungeon party.
"Oh, Mu-hyuk!"
"Fancy meeting you here."
"Yeah, mind if we join?"
"Of course."
They merged naturally.
"Hey!"
Another Gangster Necromancer joined en route, and soon dozens headed to the dungeon together.
"Gotta clear it today."
"Damn right."
They reached the Time Attack Dungeon.
"Hold up."
"Yeah?"
"No other users around?"
"Ah...!"
They scanned the area.
"Clear."
"In we go."
Inside, Mu-hyuk tallied the arrivals.
Counting manually, still under 250.
"Gonna take time to gather everyone. Rest till then."
At least an hour?
Wrong. In 20 minutes, all were there.
"Faster than expected."
Rare dungeon quest—everyone rushed. Good for him. He briefed plans and entered.
*
Phases 1-3 were no sweat.
"Time..."
"Whoa! Only 25 minutes!"
"Impressive."
"So phase 4 in under 25 total."
"Yeah...?"
Mood sank at phase 4 mention. The Cyclops Giant's overwhelming presence lingered.
"Think we can clear it?"
Mu-hyuk cut through the negativity.
"Focus, everyone."
Eyes turned to him.
"From last time, this many can win. You panicked, saved your skins, did nothing."
"Mm."
"True..."
Uncomfortable, but they knew it.
"Like I said before entry: do your jobs. Time's ticking—let's move."
He descended to phase 4.
Narrow hall.
The beast appeared center-stage.
Prepped attacks unleashed.
Kaboom!
Then 317 skeletons—warriors and cavalry—surged like waves.
Arrows riddled its body, debuffs piled on. The Cyclops Giant roared.
---------!
Fan-shaped shockwave shattered skeletons in range, but more poured from every angle.
Weak individually, unstoppable en masse. Steady chip damage wore it down.
Kraaaargh!
It thrashed to shake them off.
Pang!
A slowing poison arrow flew.
Cyclops Giant's movement decreased.
Bleeding Tears and Weakening Paralysis followed.
Cyclops Giant's HP draining continuously...
Cyclops Giant's physical stats decreased...
Hallucination Poison, Confusion Potion, Shroud Potion saved for crisis.
When would it hit? One slip, and it'd be over. He watched intently.
Hmm.
Reminded him of Zerg from that old game.
Quantity, and more quantity.
Like watching Zerg in action.
Kirrik, kirrik!
Zerglings swarming Ultralisks.
Normal lings? No threat. But fully upgraded—attack, armor, speed?
Even thick-skinned Ultralisks melt.
Exactly this.
Skeletons shattered per swing, but endless replacements slashed away.
Bone arrows rained, spells interspersed. The Cyclops Giant had to panic.
Weary, it fired ki waves again.
-------!
Over half its skeletons remained, flailing forward.
Kirrik, kirrik.
Jaws clacking.