Torment of the Big Red Bear
Whenever the skeletons tormented the Big Red Bear,
Pa-ba-bat.
Mu-hyuk moved just as vigorously.
"Grgh...!"
Using Wind Step to clash with it right up close was enough to make his whole body tense up, cold sweat pouring down.
"Hup! Hrrraaagh...!"
His neck stiffened, shoulders hunching.
Tension-laced saliva trickled down his throat.
His pupils dilated massively, over and over.
"Hoo, haa..."
Then came the brief respite.
Only after the skeletons were all massacred by the Big Red Bear did he finally take off the VR gear.
"Crazy, whew."
It was thrilling beyond belief—a blockbuster among blockbusters.
No way he could just sit still.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and clicked into the Illusion TV chat window. His fingers flew across the keyboard.
A few people chimed in.
The man chuckled and kept typing.
Messing around in chat ate up the time before he knew it.
The man hurriedly donned his VR gear.
Just in time—Mu-hyuk had sent the skeletons forward and triggered Wind Step.
"Oh, ooh...!"
Time for another wave of chills.
*
No matter how dumb it was, after three or four repetitions, even it would catch on.
Mu-hyuk had summoned skeletons to target the Big Red Bear's hind legs—the same spot—seven times now. The beast had no choice but to recognize the pattern.
But there was one problem.
Recognizing it didn't mean it could dodge.
Kroooar!
That shook the Big Red Bear's mentality.
Sstuuk.
The spirit—Darkness—that entered its body drained its mind as well.
Puuk.
The incoming arrow carried poisons and potions that ravaged its flesh.
Ugh, uuuugh...
Its movements slowed, bizarre hallucinations flickering.
While the Big Red Bear flailed,
"Now, now's the time!"
"Hurry!"
"Spam time!"
A barrage of skills slammed into it.
Kwa-gwa-gwang!
The accumulated damage plus the fresh hits staggered the Big Red Bear.
It reacted most violently to the sharp arrows ripping into its wounds.
Roars and exploding flames—a festival of fire.
The active volcano that was the Big Red Bear scorched the surroundings.
Not satisfied, it showered red rain over a wide area, but it was futile. It killed users in range, sure, but far more survived.
Mu-hyuk survived too, having retreated when he predicted the skill.
Still, not yet.
Stronger skills than the previous two remained. Until then, he'd pepper it with arrows from afar.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.
The arrow burst through the air and embedded in the Big Red Bear.
That was the moment.
----------!
It finally unleashed it.
Mighty Power Burst.
Purple energy swept everything.
Potions and poisons?
It ignored them all, instantly crushing users.
"Ah, damn it!"
"Dodge, dodge!"
New arrivals died cluelessly, while those who knew about Mighty Power Burst kept their distance, watching warily.
"Ah, crap!"
"Let us live!"
"Heals first!"
Each swipe of its forepaw insta-killed three or four users. Each charge pulverized dozens in its path.
Time marched on.
The purple faded.
Now!
The Cyclops Giant and skeletons charged. Mu-hyuk kicked off the ground hard, closing in.
Wind Step.
When close enough,
Power of Darkness applied.
MP continuously consumed.
Dealt fixed damage (30) to Big Red Bear.
Absorbed MP (3).
Absorbed HP (3).
Closing the distance activated Power of Darkness. Almost simultaneously, the Cyclops Giant bear-hugged the Big Red Bear from behind. Its movements restricted for the moment, Mu-hyuk dashed to its front and leaped lightly.
Storm, Cross Slash.
He slashed at its eyes.
Up, then sideways.
A cross of light exploded, shocking the Big Red Bear.
Critical hit!
Dealt 2,088 damage.
Additional 3,758 damage.
The Big Red Bear roared and flung the Cyclops Giant away. As it charged Mu-hyuk, he didn't dodge.
Fear Stimulation.
The spirit—Darkness—was absorbed into it.
Big Red Bear stunned for 3 seconds.
Mu-hyuk retreated in the gap. Meanwhile, Armor Cavalry, Cavalry, Armor Knights, and Bone Swords rushed at it.
They swarmed it thickly—and then the air filled densely with something.
Countless arrows.
And spells.
Kwang, kwa-gwa-gwang!
Skeletons exploding amid the merciless skill barrage.
Bone Sword 7 unsummoned.
Additional 721 damage.
108 additional damage from Fear Stimulation.
Contribution increased.
Armor Knight 5 unsummoned.
Additional 721 damage.
108 additional damage from Fear Stimulation.
Contribution increased.
Bone Sword 3 unsummoned.
Additional 721...
Storm and Fear Stimulation combined for devastating damage. The Big Red Bear finally collapsed backward.
Gained experience.
Checking boss monster Big Red Bear hunt contribution rankings.
[Contribution Status]
1st (Mu-hyuk, Gangster Necromancer): 73,553 points
2nd (Courage, Power Archer): 73,522 points
3rd...
31 points ahead—barely enough for Mu-hyuk to claim first. The all-in strategy of buffing skeletons with Storm at the end sealed it. Without that, no chance. Amid it, second place caught his eye.
Courage.
A user he'd never heard of.
Power Archer class.
He glanced back at the distant figure steadily raining arrows from afar—that had to be second place.
Heavy DPS archer vibe?
As he eyed him curiously, contributions finalized.
Confirmed 1st place.
Issuing rewards based on contribution.
Can select Special Boxes (3).
Mu-hyuk got to pick boxes.
1. Weapon
2. Armor
3. Accessory
4. Experience
5. Gold
6. Fame
7. Achievement Points
8. Contribution
Three of them, no less.
Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, and Rudolph approached.
"Rewards?"
"Boxes."
"What boxes? I got an Advanced Random Box."
Ye-rin and Rudolph got the same—one each.
"I got Special Boxes."
"Oho? Random?"
"Nah, pick 'em. Weapon, armor, experience, that kinda thing."
"Ah."
"Kinda underwhelming for first place, though?"
The three tilted their heads, unimpressed.
Mu-hyuk grinned.
"Three of 'em."
"Huh? What?"
"Can pick three boxes."
"Whoa, three Special Boxes? And choosable?"
"Yeah."
"Damn, I'm 39th and got one Advanced Random..."
39th: one Advanced Random Box.
1st: three Special Choice Boxes.
A big gap, but unavoidable.
That's why first place matters.
"So, what're you picking?"
"Dunno."
That was the issue.
He wanted them all, but only three picks.
Hmm, what to choose.
Weapon, armor, accessory—pass.
No need.
Gold? Meh.
Experience? Not necessary.
Left: Fame, Achievement Points, Contribution.
Exactly three.
No need to overthink.
Mu-hyuk selected.
Acquired Contribution Box (Special).
Acquired Fame Box (Special).
Acquired Achievement Box (Special).
He opened them right away, starting with Contribution.
Acquired Warrior Guild Contribution (500 points).
Warrior Guild Contribution.
"Oho...!"
Cross Slash was learned with Contribution too—and now more. Enough for a new attack skill.
Fame next?
Acquired Fame (20,000 points).
Additional 2,000 Fame from title 'Witness to Change'.
A whopping 22,000 points.
Nice!
Riding the high, he opened the Achievement Points box.
Acquired Achievement Points (150 points).
Top-tier rewards, no question. The boss hunt fatigue vanished instantly.
"Awesome, right?"
"What'd you pick?"
"Contribution, Fame, Achievement Points."
"Whoa, Achievement Points too?"
"Oppa, you picked Achievement Points?"
"Yeah."
"How many?"
"150."
"Krr, killer."
"Wow..."
"Hyung, jealous."
Well-known info by now.
Achievement Points.
Forum posts popped up occasionally, but no repeatable method. Only from insanely hard feats, quests, or special rewards like this.
The "points you can't get even knowing about."
Mu-hyuk had some already, spent them, and now more.
Ignoring the audience's envy,
"Skeleton Warhorse summon."
The four headed back to the Hemil Empire.
"Straight to the village?"
"Nah."
"Ah, spend those Achievement Points?"
"Yeah, restock too."
"Roger."
Imagining even greater strength ahead, they sped up.