Summit Battle and the Warp to Kaiyon
Most of the Minotaurs that appeared had been handled by the Black Guild.
But as they neared the summit, the beasts came charging from all directions, forcing Mu-hyuk and his group into the fray as well.
Of course, they'd dispatched them without much trouble each time, but the situation now was a bit different.
Kwaaaarrr!
The Minotaurs encircling the rear numbered well over ten.
The vanguard was likely facing more than fifty, locked in battle with the Black Guild.
With numbers like that, their mere presence made hearts race.
"Whoa, this is scary as hell."
"The pressure's no joke, for real."
"Thirteen, exactly."
Mu-hyuk hurriedly summoned his skeletons.
"Summon."
He followed up with Revive, but there were zero wandering souls.
Apparently, the Gangster Necromancer from the Black Guild had already used it.
No helping it.
He had the skeletons surround himself and his companions for now.
"If it gets dangerous, fall back up the slope immediately."
"Got it, oppa."
"Don't worry, hyung."
"Kim Ji-yeon-ssi, use your healing skills carefully and wisely."
"Y-yes, sir!"
After delegating command to his summons with Command Authority, Mu-hyuk surveyed the battlefield.
He wanted to assist any companion who might find themselves in peril.
"Oh no...!"
Sung Min-woo, dashing around solo, had been surrounded by five Minotaurs.
In that state, focused attacks would overwhelm him in under thirty seconds.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot. Wind Step.
He loosed one arrow, then closed in swiftly.
Sul-in, this way.
Calling Sul-in, he unleashed attacks to draw four of them away.
Sung Min-woo finally caught his breath, but now Mu-hyuk was in crisis.
Kwaaang!
He blocked the assault with his shield, enduring as best he could.
HP...
As it dropped below half, a soft energy enveloped his body.
Ah, Kim Ji-yeon.
The priestess had used her skill.
Good, he could hold.
Four beasts hammered relentlessly at his shield.
Kwang, kwaaang!
Of course, he had no intention of just taking it.
Hmm.
With cold, sunken eyes, he quietly waited for an opening.
Meanwhile.
Hyuk-su, commanding the Black Guild members, took a moment to breathe and glanced back.
I wonder how Mu-hyuk-nim is faring.
The rear was in full battle too, with quite a few Minotaurs showing up.
"Squad Leader 1."
"Yes!"
"I'll head to the back. Wrap things up here."
"Understood!"
Handing off command, he rushed rearward.
Hmm.
The rear fight was fierce, but with five hundred Black Guild members, they weren't being pushed.
They were methodically overwhelming the Minotaurs.
But Mu-hyuk and his group at the extreme rear weren't getting Black Guild support.
The Minotaurs had conveniently crashed right at their position.
Oh man...!
Hyuk-su's tense expression eased as he charged to help. Mu-hyuk's overwhelming prowess was on display.
Watching him weave through like a single gust of wind left no room for thoughts beyond sheer awe.
Whew, incredible, really.
This must be the dignity of the continent's top ranker.
Wait. The summons?
He scrutinized the skeletons deployed everywhere.
Is that even possible...?
Their movements were natural.
The Black Guild had Gangster Necromancers too, but they barely moved once battle started.
Commanding skeletons alone was overwhelming. Yet Mu-hyuk fought fiercely while directing them.
Of course, it was thanks to the Command Authority runes, but Hyuk-su didn't know that.
"..."
He halted his steps.
No need to help.
Mu-hyuk had already slain several and revived them with Revive.
And his companions were no slouches either.
"Well, damn."
Reflecting on his brief worry, he turned back.
*
Mu-hyuk finished off one more Minotaur and scanned around.
"All clear?"
"Yeah, looks cleaned up."
"Up front..."
The Black Guild was still battling Minotaurs.
"Should we help?"
"Hm, they're almost done there too."
Fewer than ten left, and they were dropping fast.
Less than three minutes later, it was over.
Just then, Black Guild leader Hyuk-su's voice carried to the rear via magic—clear, if not loud.
"Combat's ended. Take twenty for rest."
Mu-hyuk and the others sat to recover.
As they settled in, Hyuk-su approached.
"How's the spot?"
"Spot?"
"You're at the extreme rear. Not too uncomfortable?"
"It's fine."
They needed the exp and Minotaur bones anyway.
"Good to hear. Anyway, we're almost there—just a bit farther."
"Yeah. About an hour."
The summit was close.
"Any plans once we hit Kaiyon Continent?"
"Sightseeing first."
Mu-hyuk smiled as he replied, and Hyuk-su nodded.
Not spilling easily, huh.
Kaiyon info was out there if you looked—Latin American and North American players started there, so their Illusion homepages, run through a translator, gave the basics.
"Got it. Let's stick together till we cross."
"Sure."
They rested, then...
"Alright, move out!"
They pressed toward the summit again.
Kwaaaarrr!
They felled Minotaurs several more times en route.
Dangerous moments arose, costing dozens of Black Guild lives.
Fortunately, Mu-hyuk's group reached the goal unscathed.
"Finally..."
The warp gate loomed ahead—the passage to Kaiyon Continent, lined with waiting players.
"No monsters here?"
"It's the summit. Climbers from below might show."
"So latecomers fend for themselves on the outskirts?"
"Pretty much."
Luckily, large groups arrived after the Black Guild.
Thanks to them, Mu-hyuk could ignore monsters and wait his turn.
"Oppa, almost our go."
"Yeah."
Hyuk-su ahead turned, exchanging nods.
The Black Guild entered the warp.
"Our turn."
"Yup!"
"S-so tense."
With faces mixed fear and excitement, Mu-hyuk stepped into the gate. Light rose slowly, enveloping them, and the world went white.
*
Arrival in unfamiliar lands.
"This the place...?"
Countless players landed in the vast plaza, looking around.
All from Forma Continent.
"Oppa, this is it, right?"
"Yep."
"Not much different yet. But why no Kaiyon players?"
"Yeah? They must've tried crossing to Forma too. Where are they?"
Mu-hyuk cleared it up.
"The warp to Forma is elsewhere."
"Ahh...!"
"This is for Forma players incoming. To go to Forma, head to another zone."
"Right."
"You know everything."
"Anyone can with research."
"Heh, too lazy."
"Whatever. Village first."
"OK!"
"Skeleton Warhorse summon."
Mu-hyuk rode ahead.
"Black Guild's already out of sight."
"Moved fast."
"Makes sense. New continent or not, site info's plentiful."
They'd gone their own way.
"Where to first?"
"Hm."
Mu-hyuk answered Sung Min-woo while eyeing the group, pausing at Rudolph.
"Thanks for coming this far."
"No biggie. I planned to anyway."
"Cool. You're free now."
"Where you headed, hyung?"
"Still deciding."
"Our logins don't sync, so Asrahan and I'll split. Oh, Ji-yeon noona coming too?"
Kim Ji-yeon flinched.
"Uh, uh...?"
"Come on."
"I, uh, that is..."
She pondered, then shook her head firmly.
"I'll stick with Mu-hyuk-nim."
"Hm? With me?"
"Y-yes!"
"We could use a priestess, but..."
Rudolph frowned briefly.
"Tch. No choice if that's your call, noona. Take care, hyung."
"Yeah."
"Oh, arrows."
He took back the arrows left with Rudolph.
"Copied some?"
"Tons. See ya!"
"Later."
Rudolph and Asrahan left.
Sung Min-woo, beaming, approached Kim Ji-yeon.
"Great choice!"
"Th-thanks."
"I'll serve you well!"
"Uh, y-yes...?"
"Oppa! Dial it back. You're creeping her out!"
"Am I...?"
Mu-hyuk approached too.
"Dunno why you're staying, but thanks. Looking forward to it."
"Yes! I'll do my best."
No one noticed her gaze lingering on Sung Min-woo.
"Let's move."
"OK!"
The group mounted again.
Mu-hyuk scanned about and spoke.
"Was thinking earlier—first stop should be the north."
"North?"
"Yeah. Got business, and Death Tower's nearby."
"Ooh, Death Tower! Heading there?"
"Yeah. Clearing it ourselves wouldn't be bad."
"Sick!"
"But oppa, Kaiyon players haven't cleared it yet. Can we?"
"Might not clear, but climbing floors could be fun."
"Fun?"
"Yeah. Tower system's quirky."
Sung Min-woo leaned in.
"Oh yeah, I saw. Kinda gacha-style."
Ye-rin tilted her head.
"Gacha?"
"Random pulls, like that."
"Ah. In Death Tower?"
"Yep, that's the vibe."
"Luck-based floor progression, huh."
And Mu-hyuk had info that could really help.
Maybe...
Harboring faint hope, he spurred faster.