Awakening the Poison Ogre
Once a considerable number of users had dispersed from the tower.
"Phew, now everyone's taking a break, right?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Whew, I can finally breathe."
"Me too, oppa."
"Alright, let's head somewhere without people first."
"Okay."
"Skeleton Warhorse Summon."
He wanted to check his rewards right away, but there were too many users around. Suppressing his curiosity, Mu-hyuk returned to Column Village. As soon as they arrived, they headed to a secluded spot devoid of people, where he pulled out the boxes.
◈ A box containing special rewards.
◈ A box containing special rewards.
Mu-hyuk had two boxes, but one belonged to Doran.
"Doran."
"Yes, my lord."
"Take this."
"This is...?"
"It's the reward from finishing off the last ogre. Us Outsiders get them in a weird way."
"I'm fine without it."
"Nah, I can't even open it anyway."
"Ah...!"
Doran bowed his head.
"Thank you."
"What're you thanking me for."
Sung Min-woo and Yerin were holding onto theirs.
"Shall we open 'em up?"
"Hell yeah."
Mu-hyuk opened the box with anticipation.
He'd half-expected it, but sure enough, out came parts of the Poison Ogre's body. But the important part was that it didn't end there.
It even contained a Dragon Heart—the one thing he'd needed most.
Just one, but it was rare and hard to obtain, so he was satisfied.
"Everyone get something good?"
"Yeah, oppa!"
"Hell yeah, this is insanely satisfying!"
"Then let's rest a bit."
"Okay. But what're we gonna do?"
"I'm gonna do some monster crafting. Got a Dragon Heart too."
"Crafting? Right now?"
"Yeah, one came out of the box."
"Ooh, guess I'll watch."
Sung Min-woo, Yerin, and Doran.
All three watched Mu-hyuk with shining eyes.
Mu-hyuk smiled and first checked his skill.
Assembly Master
1. Not only can you replace a skeleton's bones, but you can also transform it into new forms. However, there may be restrictions if the new form is too large.
2. Upon meeting certain conditions, you can craft and control bone-based summons. However, it consumes 10 MP per second, and the monster's level cannot exceed the character's level.
The condition in point 2: the monster's level couldn't exceed the character's. Fortunately, all the monsters he'd gotten from the tower were below his level.
What to make first?
For now, the Snowman or Poison Ogre appealed most.
The Snowman could freeze foes in a narrow area or slow them in a wide one.
Pretty damn good.
The Poison Ogre had overwhelming stamina and destructive power, could lower most stats with its fear aura, and even induce confusion.
Plus, it could block magic or ranged attacks by smashing the ground.
Both were great, but...
After a brief deliberation, Mu-hyuk nodded.
Yeah, this guy for now.
The Poison Ogre was more vividly etched in his mind than the Snowman. He took out its body parts one by one and laid them on the ground.
Upper and lower body, face, eyeballs.
And finally, the heart.
"What's this? Snowman?"
"Nah, Poison Ogre."
"Whoa, smaller than I thought."
"It's just bones."
"Oppa, what do you mean small? It's gotta be at least five meters tall."
"But it's kinda puny."
"I-is it?"
Mu-hyuk handed the Dragon Heart to Sung Min-woo.
"Shut up and look at that heart over there?"
"Yeah."
"Press this against it."
Sung Min-woo placed the Dragon Heart on the Poison Ogre's heart.
"Press now?"
"Hold on."
Mu-hyuk pulled out his magic stones and placed them on the upper and lower body, face, and eyeballs.
"Now."
"Okay!"
Light burst from the Dragon Heart and began absorbing into the actual heart.
"Gotta keep pressing?"
"Dunno."
"Crazy! Press or what?!"
"Press."
Sung Min-woo gritted his teeth and pushed harder.
Assembly Master
3% Achieved
9% Achieved
11% Achieved
The absorption rate rose slowly. Sung Min-woo yelled at the sluggish pace.
"Dude, why's this taking forever!"
"Tough?"
"Fucking exhausting."
"It's rising kinda slow..."
"What percent?"
"15%."
"Damn it, this sucks!"
"Hmm, fine, I'll do it."
Mu-hyuk took over from Sung Min-woo and pressed down hard.
The rate shot up.
"Whoa, it's climbing way faster when I press!"
"It's not that fast."
"Already 35%."
"..."
"You weren't pressing hard enough."
"I was!"
As they bickered lightly, the absorption hit 100%.
Monster 'Poison Ogre (Lv.170)' has been bound.
Consumes 10 MP per second.
With the binding message, the Poison Ogre stirred.
Clack.
It stood up—definitely tall.
"Hmm."
The bones were a bit flimsy in thickness.
"Eh, not bad though?"
"You think?"
"But oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Got a sudden question."
"What?"
"You do Corpse Explosion or whatever on monsters, right?"
"Corpse Dissection, yeah."
"Heard you got a ton of bones."
"Right, got plenty now too."
"I've seen you swap 'em sometimes..."
"So?"
"Why've you never swapped the Giant Cyclops' bones even once?"
Mu-hyuk chuckled and answered.
"Oh, that's 'cause the Giant Cyclops was made with Assembly, not the summon skill..."
Mid-sentence, he trailed off.
Wait...?
To be precise, Assembly Master was a skill Mu-hyuk had learned for the first time too.
So it was definitely different from the special summon crafting unlocked at level 200.
Normally, summons made via special summon crafting couldn't have their bones replaced.
That said...
That didn't guarantee the same rule applied to Assembly Master summons.
Which meant...!
He needed to test it.
Step.
Mu-hyuk approached the Poison Ogre as if entranced. He pulled out its thinnest rib bone, and a message appeared.
Poison Ogre's Vitality has decreased.
Influenced by Dexterity, a decrease of 0.13 has occurred.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
"Ha..."
No way it actually worked.
He pulled a Snowman bone from his inventory.
Slotting it into the empty spot.
Poison Ogre's Vitality has increased.
Influenced by Dexterity, an increase of 0.27 has occurred.
Confirmation received once more.
Aah, damn it...!
If he'd known sooner, he'd have bulked up the Giant Cyclops ages ago.
"Phew, it's fine."
Still not too late.
He could start now.
"What's fine?"
"Oh, I thought the Giant Cyclops couldn't have its bones swapped."
"For real?"
"Yeah, but it works. So..."
"Then you figured it out 'cause of me?"
"Yep."
Yerin approached Mu-hyuk.
"I did a super good deed, huh?"
"Yeah. Super good girl."
"Praise."
Mu-hyuk patted her head.
"Good job."
Sung Min-woo shook his head from the side.
Doran gazed into the distance.
After petting for a good while, Mu-hyuk lowered his hand and eyed the Poison Ogre.
"Alright, I'll tweak this guy a bit."
"Okay!"
Approaching the Poison Ogre, Mu-hyuk removed its bones.
Replacing empty spots with his thickest, best-quality Snowman bones.
One, two, three.
As Snowman bones filled in, the Poison Ogre's upper body thickened considerably. Even if just parts, those sections felt as sturdy as armored plate.
Poison Ogre's Strength has increased.
Influenced by Dexterity, an increase of 0.27 has occurred.
Poison Ogre has broken its limits.
Poison Ogre's level has increased by 1.
The message that popped up then.
"Whoa."
How many surprises was this today?
Even a level up?
With excitement and anticipation, he checked its status.
Level: 171 | HP: 36,410 | MP: 10,810
(Poison Ogre)
Just looking made him grin. Even after becoming a summon—which surely slashed its HP—it still had 36,410.
He could raise a beast like this?
And keep raising it?
Inheriting 30% of his own stats too?
The thought alone brought a smile.
"Kuh."
Admiration was brief; action swift.
More, more...!
He kept swapping the Poison Ogre's bones.
Poison Ogre's level has increased by 1.
Poison Ogre's level has increased by 1.
By the time he'd used most of his Snowman bones, the Poison Ogre reached level 177.
One down.
Next up: bulking the Giant Cyclops.
"Skeleton Summon."
He approached the manifested Cyclops.
Pulled bones, slotted in his best stockpiled ones.
How many times did he repeat it?
Giant Cyclops' level has increased by 1.
Giant Cyclops' level has increased by 1.
He raised the Giant Cyclops to level 161.
Level: 161 | HP: 28,710 | MP: 9,510
(Giant Cyclops)
Inferior to the Poison Ogre, but the Giant Cyclops' HP and other stats were impressively high too.
Add in Snowman and Red Orc Great Warrior bones?
Mu-hyuk got chills just thinking about it.
"Hoo, gotta swing by the Hemil Empire."
"Why there, oppa?"
"Check the private auction house."
"Ah."
"Wanna come?"
"Nah, I'll rest. Kinda tired."
"Cool. You?"
Sung Min-woo pondered briefly.
"Hmm, might hit the auction too."
"Suit yourself. Doran, stick around."
"Understood."
He reverse-summoned all summons except the two warhorses.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
They shot out of Column Village at high speed.
Moments later.
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo arrived in the Hemil Empire and headed straight for the auction house.
"Welcome."
Mu-hyuk showed his nameplate to the attendant.
"This...!"
Recognizing Duke Amur's crest, the attendant guided him.
"Right this way to the reception room."
"This is my friend—mind if he joins?"
"Of course."
A beautiful woman greeted them in the reception room.
"Welcome. Please, sit."
"Sure."
As they sat, she approached.
With a rather provocative gaze.
"I heard you showed your nameplate."
"Yes."
"Looking for something specific?"
"When's the next private auction?"
"Need a particular item?"
"Dragon Heart."
"Dragon Heart..."
She paused thoughtfully.
"Conveniently, two are up in tonight's private auction. About two hours left."
Exactly what he needed.
"I'd like to join."
"Anyone with Duke Amur's nameplate is always welcome."
Now right beside him, she perched on his chair's armrest.
"Thanks just for saying that."
"If you're grateful..."
Business was done; no need to linger.
Her demeanor was a bit much anyway.
Whatever she was about to say, he wasn't interested.
"We could..."
"We'll be back in two hours."
"Pardon?"
"See you."
Mu-hyuk stood and left the room with Sung Min-woo.
"Hm."
The woman left alone licked her lips with a wistful expression.