The Skeletons' First Demon Kill
Karanserber bowed his head.
"As if that could happen."
"Then why haven't you properly dealt with those bastards!"
"I turned them completely to dust."
"You live with lies on your lips, you pathetic worm."
He had spoken the truth, yet was accused of falsehood. Karanserber seethed inwardly, but he still didn't dare defy the Demon King's advisor.
"Escalon!"
At that moment, the succubus called out to another low-tier demon.
"Yes!"
"Go verify if Karanserber handled the job properly and report back."
"Understood."
"Karanserber."
"Yes......"
"Don't tarnish the honor of demons."
"Ugh, understood."
Karanerber and Escalon moved out together.
"There they are. Can't even handle lowly monsters properly. Tsk."
"Shut up and just watch."
"That was my plan anyway."
A ferocious aura erupted from Karanserber's body. It shot skyward before slamming down as if to devour space itself.
KABOOM!
The world fell silent at the thunderous roar.
Soon, the devastation was revealed.
"Huff, huff......"
"Ho, looks like you got serious this time?"
"Hoo, want to check?"
Escalon shrugged and blew away the dust.
There were no traces left.
"Clean work. Let's head back."
"You confirmed it, right?"
"Of course."
But even this time, Karanserber got scolded.
Along with Escalon.
"I sense them again!"
"......"
"Fine, I'll handle it myself this time."
The succubus finally stepped in.
"There you are."
She found and killed the skeletons, but hours later, they reappeared. Slightly stronger, though ever so faintly.
Only then did she realize the truth: they didn't truly die when killed, and they grew stronger over time. And that was the real reason the Demon King had taken notice.
"There's only one way. Karanserber."
"Yes."
"You'll stay in the F11 region for a while."
"Pardon......?"
"Kill them every time they show up. Don't let them do anything! Got it?"
"A, understood......"
In the end, Karanserber relocated to the F11 region and began patrolling its vast expanse, eliminating the skeletons whenever they appeared. He'd killed them dozens of times now, but they kept respawning sporadically.
"Haa, why the hell am I stuck with this crap mission......!"
Karanserber lay in a corner, venting his frustration openly as he rested.
A short while later.
A skeleton clutching a +6 weapon and shield reemerged in the Demon Realm.
-He's gone.
-Yeah, that guy's not here.
-More importantly, you heard it, right?
Confirming the absence of the mad monster, Armor Knight 1 glanced back. His gaze fixed on Armor Knight 2.
-You, the Master said to push harder.
Armor Knight 2 drooped his shoulders dejectedly.
-A, got it......
Next, he looked at Armor Knight 3.
-You heard it too, I assume.
-Heard what?
-The Master said to play it moderately.
-G, got it.
Armor Knight 3 deflated like Armor Knight 2. Of course, Armor Knight 1 didn't care about their reactions. He finished his piece and faced forward.
-Moving out, before he notices.
-Understood.
But they hadn't gone far when Karanserber blocked their path.
"Ha, more showed up."
He swung an arm infused with powerful energy.
-Defend!
The lead Armor Knights thrust their shields forward.
KABOOM!
Normally, that strike would have melted them away.
This time was different.
-Finally, we blocked it.
Thanks to reinforcing their shields to +6, they survived Karanserber's attack.
-Now it's our turn to attack.
Dust still hung in the air. The enemy likely assumed the strike had ended things and was off guard. This was the perfect chance to inflict damage. Every archer and mage activated their skills.
-Ice Fist.
-Power Shot.
-Wind Storm.
Spears of magic and arrows pierced the dust cloud.
"Wha......?"
Karanserber, lost in thought mere feet away, couldn't react in time and took the hits full force.
KABOOM!
Burtan's ki blast followed immediately.
--------!
Charging cavalry strikes.
-Accelerated Thrust!
-Powerful Strike!
Giant Cyclops and Armor Knights charged in.
They unleashed everything in one go.
A massive shockwave dwarfing what a low-tier noble like Karanserber could produce erupted.
Bone arrows from Armor Archers and Bone Bows still filled the air relentlessly.
Amid the ceaseless barrage, only the Armor Knights fell back, shields raised in preparation for any counter.
Whoosh.
The shockwave finally died down.
Dust billowed.
"Kek, kihek......"
Karanserber emerged in wretched shape.
He must have found it absurd himself.
Lowly monsters had nearly taken his life. He whipped himself with a self-mocking smile, then hardened into cold fury.
"You monster scum, how dare you......!"
As ferocious energy surged from his body again.
THUD!
The Giant Cyclops stomped the ground.
The ki wave disrupted Karanserber's balance. Armor Knight 1, shield up and vigilant, advanced.
-Surround him.
Karanserber didn't look great. Another round of Armor Mage spells and Armor Archer Power Shots could finish him. So they decided to encircle and stall until skills were ready again. Under Armor Knight 1's command, they moved in perfect unison.
-Hold out as long as you can.
-Understood.
Regaining balance, Karanserber swept his hand.
BOOM!
The Armor Knights staggered from the blast.
But their layered encirclement held firm.
"Y-you monster bastards!"
The +6 shields' effect was huge, plus Mu-hyuk's recent dagger enhancements had boosted their inherited stats considerably.
Karanserber swung wildly.
Bang! Kaboom!
Explosions rocked everywhere.
Armor Knights began vanishing one or two at a time.
-Don't fall back.
Even the last holdouts, Armor Knight 1 and the Giant Cyclops, were swept away. With the area cleared, Karanserber prepared a long-cast technique—when an Armor Cavalry charged.
"You bastards......!"
The Armor Cavalry didn't last long.
"Hahk, hahk......"
But they'd done their job.
They'd worn Karanserber down.
-Magic ready?
-Affirmative.
The moment they'd waited for arrived.
The hidden Burtan stepped forward.
Karanserber swung, but Burtan blocked with his shield, closed the gap, and unleashed a brilliant ki blast.
----------!
As Karanserber froze momentarily.
-Ice Fist.
-Wind Storm.
-Fire Wall.
-Thunder Lightning.
-Power Shot.
Magic and bone arrows laced with potent energy slammed into him.
*
Mu-hyuk's hand paused mid-enhancement.
Summon experience gained.
It had been ages since he'd seen that message.
Oh ho?
The message popped only once, but the thrill was fresh. He hurriedly checked the gained experience.
He thought he'd misread the number for a second.
100k......?
Double-checking confirmed it: not 10k, but 100k. With the prior 2,336, killing one monster had netted enough for +10 stats.
Crazy, what the hell did they kill?
Who gave 100k exp?
High-tier monster?
No, those topped out at 10k.
Top-tier then.
He shook his head, ruling that out too.
Then demons came to mind.
No way......?
Only then did he vaguely recall: low-tier demons gave 100k, mid-tier 200k.
They'd hunted a low-tier demon noble. A level 150-200 foe, without Mu-hyuk's help—purely on their own power.
"Ha, haha......"
It didn't end there.
The survivors kept hunting monsters.
Summon experience gained.
Summon experience gained.
They amassed over 110k before all perished. Summon cooldown unfinished, he waited a bit before resummoning.
"Skeleton Summon."
He sensed a smug vibe from the reappeared summons. Chuckling, he exchanged the 110k for 11 stats and distributed them evenly.
"Armor Knight 1, Armor Knight 2......"
Mostly to the frontline stars, of course.
Mages and archers later.
Solid defense first.
"Alright, stats distributed."
Time to send them back to the Demon Realm.
"Demon Realm Teleport."
After despatching them, he resumed enhancing gear to lend NPCs.
Armor Knight 2 has been reverse summoned.
Armor Knight 7 has been reverse summoned.
Giant Cyclops has been reverse summoned.
But the same thing happened again.
"Ah, what the hell?"
All summons reverse-summoned in an instant.
Without gaining a single exp.
This is driving me nuts.
What was going on in the Demon Realm—in F11?
Mu-hyuk lost hours to gnawing curiosity.
*
By morning, when Sung Min-woo logged in, Mu-hyuk was still at it. His condition was rough.
"You look hollow-eyed."
"Yeah, you're here."
"Voice sounds dead too. Pulled an all-nighter?"
Mu-hyuk nodded.
"Damn, impressive. Anyway, checked the homepage before logging in."
"Yeah."
"Paradox is recruiting mercenaries—level 120+ only."
Mu-hyuk paused his hammering at "mercenaries."
"Terms?"
"Entry fee's 10 gold, I think."
"Not bad."
"Plus 10 gold per kill."
"Hmm."
Those terms would draw a crowd.
110 gold for 10 kills.
"Could be trouble if they get a lot......"
"Right? What now?"
Mu-hyuk pondered.
Ah, might actually work?
An idea sparked. Risky, but their personalities suggested it could fly. He packed his hammer and items, standing.
"Gonna head to the Hemil Empire."
"Huh? Why?"
"If Paradox grabs too many mercs, we're screwed. Gotta do something."
"Want company?"
"No tasks?"
"What's there to do here?"
"Then come along."
"Sweet."
Mu-hyuk summoned his warhorse and rode with Sung Min-woo to Abenso Village. Warping to Hemil Empire, they went straight to his mentor, Valsian.