Lower Demon's Scorching Assault
While facing the Minotaurs, some skeletons had been reverse-summoned and were no longer visible, but in their place, twenty revived Minotaurs had risen.
Though they only retained 60 percent of their abilities, they were still a solid force under normal circumstances.
Of course, this wasn't exactly normal.
Before Armor Knight 1 could finish speaking.
Whoosh.
A single wave of heat surged upward.
The heat was sharper than any blade, heavier than a typhoon, and hotter than anything imaginable.
Krunch.
The skeletons caught in the heat began to melt.
The commanding Armor Archer 1 shattered as well.
The low-HP Mages and Bone Bows had vanished long ago, and even the Minotaurs were crushed before they could charge.
Only the surviving Yetis, Cyclops Giants, Ogres, Orc Great Warriors, Burtans, Hydras, and a handful of Armor Knights and Armor Cavalry remained, staring down the haughty demon.
"Just like before."
The muttering one was a lower demon at level 240.
A being on an entirely different level from the lowest ranks.
--------!
The remaining six skeletons charged, unleashing their skills.
Swoosh.
With an irritated wave of his hand, another surge of heat rose, devouring all their skills. A massive explosion erupted from the center.
Boom, kurrrboom!
The heat even consumed the blast, crushing the six skeletons in the rear.
*
Mu-hyuk stared at the rising messages.
-ALL SUMMONS DESTROYED
Already all dead?
He wondered what kind of monster was waiting to wipe them out so quickly.
In Chaak's case, it would be a level 250 lower demon at best. Worst case, something close to level 300, a mid-tier demon.
Probably lower-tier, but even then...
Without the right setup, there was no way to take it down.
"Haa."
Mu-hyuk sighed and decided to put thoughts of the Demon Realm aside for now.
"Oppa, what's wrong?"
"Huh?"
"You sighed."
"Oh, just slipped out. Don't worry. Anyway, rested enough?"
"Yeah!"
"What about you, Ji-yeon?"
"Oh, my MP's almost full too."
"Alright, let's head out."
Mu-hyuk stood and took the lead, his companions flanking him.
How far had they gone? They clashed with more Minotaurs again.
They subdued them effortlessly with Revive, right after which Rudolph started grinning slyly.
Sung Min-woo, annoyed by it, furrowed his brow.
"Why do you keep laughing?"
"Hyung."
"What?"
"I think I won the bet."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Ten Minotaurs, right?"
"Yeah. You're not delusional from catching just a few, are you?"
"No way. There's another reason."
"What reason?"
Rudolph didn't drop his smile.
"What is it?!"
"The Revive skill."
"Uh...?"
Several scenes flashed through Sung Min-woo's mind.
Yesterday against the Dark Knight, and today with the Minotaurs.
Revive skill...!
He'd overlooked that crucial skill.
"Heh heh heh, so?"
"Uh, th-that's..."
"I win, right?"
Sung Min-woo couldn't deny it.
Damn it...!
He spun toward Mu-hyuk in a hurry.
"Hey, why didn't you use Revive against the Dark Knight yesterday?"
"Hm? Just didn't."
"What? Just? Why just?! Why use it today?!"
Mu-hyuk tilted his head.
"Just did."
"Ugh, uuu...!"
The goal had been to properly gauge the Yeti, Poison Ogre, and Orc Great Warrior's abilities, but Mu-hyuk kept it brief to avoid hassle.
Sung Min-woo trembled, at a loss.
"What's up?"
"Nothing..."
He slumped back to his spot, shoulders drooping.
My 50 gold, haa.
He'd already sensed defeat inwardly but kept a straight face in front of Rudolph.
"Ahem, you don't know yet."
"Heh heh, do I?"
"Yeah. Gotta see it through. D-don't get cocky."
"Kuh heh heh. Sure, whatever."
"Stop laughing."
"Yes, heh heh..."
Continuing this chat would give him a fit.
Just ignore him.
He plugged his ears with his hands and stared straight ahead.
"Kuh heh heh heh."
But the laughter seeped through the gaps, relentlessly pounding his eardrums.
Painfully.
My 50 gold...!
And miserably.
A little later.
As they reached the mountainside, the initial leisure faded.
Monsters appeared more frequently and in greater numbers.
"Hoo, this is insane."
"They keep coming. Just when I think we can rest, more show up...!"
"I'm dying here!"
Skilled players had thinned out.
Kraaaah!
Naturally, the number of Minotaurs Mu-hyuk's group had to handle exploded exponentially.
They held on with Revive, but even that had limits.
At best, 60 percent of original stats.
Simply put, level 190 Minotaurs revived at level 114 equivalent.
Not that it was purely that simple, but they weren't game-changers.
Helpful, sure, but not reversal cards. Fifty or more might tip it, but that was impossible now.
The gangster necromancers ahead kept using Revive steadily.
"Need a break."
"Where?"
Mu-hyuk scanned the surroundings using Hydra's Skull Snake skill.
"Hm, players scattered around."
"How about the spot with the most? Rest together there?"
"Yeah... Wait."
A familiar mark entered his view.
One player straight ahead.
"Found it."
"Huh?"
"Perfect spot. Let's go."
Everyone perked up at the good news.
They encountered a few Minotaurs en route and fought desperately, but reached the destination without issue.
"Hey, that guild..."
Sung Min-woo and Yerin noticed first.
Black Guild.
The place exclusively selling Mu-hyuk's enhanced items.
As they drew near, Hyeok-su turned at a guildmate's gesture.
His guarded expression softened upon recognizing Mu-hyuk at the front.
"Mu-hyuk?"
"Fancy meeting you here."
"Whoa, yeah."
They exchanged greetings.
"Moving with such a small group?"
"Easier that way."
"Must've been tough getting here. Impressive."
"Nah. But..."
"Yeah?"
"Mind if we join?"
"Join?"
"Yeah. Monsters are overwhelming."
Hyeok-su nodded.
"They are tough in numbers. Hm, then..."
He smiled at Mu-hyuk and his group.
"Join us. It'll help us too."
"Thanks."
"No biggie. Mutual aid."
Hyeok-su knew Mu-hyuk's strength.
He was certain it'd boost their monster hunting on the way to the continent, so he accepted.
Plus, receiving exclusive enhanced items from Mu-hyuk left no reason to refuse such a request.
"Everyone, sit and rest."
"Yeah, oppa! Oh, thanks guild master."
"We'll impose a bit."
"No worries. Make yourselves comfy."
They sat, bodies slumping instantly.
"Huaa, it's rough."
"Just till we cross the continent."
"Yeah, oppa."
During the break, Mu-hyuk turned.
Asrahan caught his eye.
Well, no fighting at least.
Rudolph and Asrahan were friends, and the priest seemed acquainted with Asrahan too, so he couldn't treat him outright badly.
He'd started as enemies with Rudolph, but now they were allies.
And he was helpful, fact was.
Though if challenged in an awkward spot, he'd thrash him for real.
"Hunger?"
"Down a bit."
"Me too."
"Hyung, mine's way down."
Mu-hyuk pulled cooking tools from his inventory.
"Let's make something light."
"Sounds good!"
"Anything oppa cooks is delicious."
"Kuh, looking forward. What?"
"Hm, steak?"
"Ooo...!"
"Sirloin, ribeye, lamb, tenderloin, etc. Pick."
"Lamb rare!"
"Sirloin medium for me."
"R-ribeye..."
Amid expectant gazes, Mu-hyuk started cooking.
Even Asrahan, who seemed disinterested in everything, couldn't look away.
The thick meat sizzling stirred his appetite.
"Me too... get some?"
Mu-hyuk glanced at Asrahan's words.
"What're you saying."
"Can I... eat too?"
"Hoo, your speech..."
He never got used to that way of talking.
Huh? Wait.
A fun idea struck.
Wonder if this works?
Mu-hyuk spoke anyway.
"Want some?"
"Yes."
"Then fix your speech first."
"What? My speech is perfectly normal."
Rudolph chimed in.
"Hey, hyung. He's always like that. Can't fix it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, not a bad guy though. Loves fighting obsessively, sure. Oh, and loves eating too. Total glutton."
"Hoo, is that so."
Then change tactics.
"Know polite speech?"
"Yes."
"Use it from now on, I'll grill you tasty ones. And fights or spars, whatever—only when I allow."
"Hm."
Asrahan pondered, then shook his head.
"No eat."
"Then just fights only when I say. Deal?"
One condition dropped; he mulled longer but still shook his head.
"No eat."
"Fine, last one. Just polite speech. Then you get some."
Conditions eased again.
Meantime, steaks finished; companions dug in.
Finally unable to resist, Asrahan approached Mu-hyuk.
"Me, me too..."
"Polite."
"Can I, eat too...?"
"Kidding?"
"Can I eat...?"
"Again."
Hesitating, Asrahan spoke.
"Can I eat...?"
"Yeah, what?"
"Lamb..."
"How done?"
"Well-done."
Mu-hyuk nodded, grilled lamb well-done, and Asrahan devoured it ravenously.
*
When they set off again.
Sung Min-woo and Yerin stuck close to Mu-hyuk.
"Oppa, I watched the whole time..."
"What?"
"That Asrahan guy."
"Ah."
"He's really unique."
Sung Min-woo shook his head.
"Not unique, he's nuts."
"Yeah, annoying sometimes, but kinda pitiful too. Like he has no thoughts. Anyway, travel together till the continent."
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"What, me too. Weird guy but..."
Still, fighting monsters together, they'd confirmed Asrahan's skill was no joke. He even subtly covered teammates.
"Not bad."
"Really?"
"Yeah, good teamwork."
"Teamwork?"
"Yeah."
"Surprising."
"Me too. Oh, monsters ahead."
"They'll handle it."
The lead Black Guild took out all the Minotaurs.
The path felt incredibly easy.
"Ah, this is nice."
"Hope it stays like this to Kaion Continent."
"Heh heh, would be great."
Leisure bred chatter.
But it didn't last long.
"Ugh, the numbers..."
As they neared the summit with the warp, situations forcing Mu-hyuk's group to act started cropping up occasionally.