Big Skeleton Synthesis
Valsian headed straight for the Mage Guild.
"Why here...?"
"Quit yapping and follow me."
"Yes, sir."
Valsian exchanged a few words with one of the guild's NPC staff, nodded, and passed through.
They arrived at an upscale training hall reserved exclusively for the higher-ups among the Mage Guild's NPCs.
"Alright, we'll train here."
"Here?"
"Yeah. No outsiders, nice and quiet."
"It's perfect, yeah."
"Knew you'd like it."
The location didn't really matter anyway.
Only the skill does.
Mu-hyuk looked at Valsian, his eyes burning with anticipation.
"Haven't seen that fire in your eyes in a while."
"I can't wait to learn it."
"Good attitude. Alright, let's get started. Summon a Big Skeleton first."
"Right now?"
"Yeah."
Mu-hyuk quickly opened the skill book.
You have acquired the skill Big Skeleton Summon.
He summoned it immediately.
Whoooosh.
Two golem-like skeletons materialized amid a gentle breeze.
Cool...!
Mu-hyuk couldn't tear his eyes away from their imposing forms.
"Hm? Two of them?"
Valsian tilted his head.
"You shouldn't be able to summon two right from the start..."
"Ah, it's this special power I got."
"Special power?"
"Yeah, it's a title only outsiders can use. It boosts skill levels."
"Ho, interesting."
Thanks to the title that raised skill levels, his Big Skeleton Summon was effectively at level 3, allowing two summons. Valsian nodded in understanding.
"Lucky break. Saves me the trouble."
"Huh?"
"I was planning to force-boost your power a bit. It only lasts a short time and comes with nasty backlash, though."
"Oh..."
"Alright, watch closely."
Valsian summoned his own Big Skeletons—fifty of them.
The Big Skeleton Summon skill increased the summon count by one at odd levels: 1, 3, 5, 7, and so on. Summoning fifty meant his skill was at level 100.
"What's with that look?"
"Just respect."
"Heh, right. Pay attention."
"Yes."
Just seeing all those golem-like skeletons gathered felt like a scene straight out of a movie.
Mu-hyuk watched intently, wondering what Valsian would do next.
Valsian waved his hand, purple light trailing from it. The energy enveloped the Big Skeletons.
Then something incredible happened.
What the...?
It was a sight even Mu-hyuk had never seen.
Crunch.
Pairs of Big Skeletons began merging. Their numbers halved, but their presence grew even more overwhelming than before.
"Heh, impressive, huh?"
"Th-this is..."
"Lost for words?"
He really was.
An absurd skill like this.
Seeing it firsthand.
How could words even describe it?
"Amazing, right?"
"Yeah... truly..."
Valsian grinned at Mu-hyuk's dazed reaction.
"Not done yet."
"What...?"
"Keep watching."
Valsian waved his hand lightly again.
They grouped into sets of five—five massive groups—growing to seven meters tall.
Just five, yet they dominated the entire training hall.
Mu-hyuk was utterly entranced by this impossible skill.
Valsian approached him.
"You can merge two, three, or even four."
"Th-then all fifty?"
"No, max ten per group. That's why I summoned fifty and ended with five."
It was still overkill.
And incredibly satisfying.
He's gonna teach me this?
"Wanna learn it?"
"Of course."
"Heh, special lesson for my prized disciple. Even brought the Blood Herb Root."
"Thank you."
"Haven't seen you this polite in ages."
"I've always been like this."
"Always? You slack off most times. Try keeping it up like today."
"Sure, whatever..."
"There it goes again."
"No way."
Enough fooling around.
"Alright, time to teach properly. Focus."
"Yes."
The real training for skill acquisition began.
*
It wasn't that hard, really.
The system helped, after all.
About three hours?
With persistent effort, he mastered it.
You have acquired the skill Big Skeleton Synthesis.
He informed Valsian.
"Got the skill already."
"Already?"
"Yeah."
"Damn. Even for a prized disciple, outsiders are ridiculous."
Valsian furrowed his brow slightly, then looked at Mu-hyuk.
"Give it a try."
"Got it. Big Skeleton Summon."
Two Big Skeletons appeared.
Status check.
The Big Skeleton's base stats were low.
Strength, Agility, Vitality around 80.
Knowledge and Wisdom about 10.
But with 30% of Mu-hyuk's stats added, they reached those holographic numbers.
Untouched by growth, their total of 260 was still impressive.
But it felt lacking somehow.
He shook his head.
First, the skill.
Big Skeleton Synthesis.
The two locked together in a flashy display, seamlessly becoming one.
Bulkier body, taller frame, denser aura. Mu-hyuk checked the status again, excitement building.
Stats skyrocketed.
Let's see...
Rough math: about 80% of the combined stats from two Big Skeletons.
HP increased by 6 per Vitality point now, instead of 5. Same for MP.
What about three?
Still 80% of total? That'd be broken.
Probably drops lower.
"Ho, you really got it."
"Ah, yeah."
He cleared his thoughts and faced Valsian.
"Impressive. One tip: merging more isn't always better. In open spaces, overwhelming with numbers can be key. Tight spots are different, though."
"Got it, I'll remember."
"Didn't expect you'd learn this fast..."
Valsian turned away.
"Anyway, good work. Let's go."
"Yeah."
Mu-hyuk followed Valsian out of the Mage Guild. The old man never looked back, so Mu-hyuk stayed silent.
They reached Valsian's house. Mu-hyuk followed him inside to a room.
"Huh?"
Valsian finally turned.
"Why're you following?"
"Uh...?"
"You learned everything. Go home."
"..."
Truly unpredictable old man.
*
The three still in the party.
Sung Min-woo, Yerin, Kim Ji-yeon.
Mu-hyuk messaged them.
Sung Min-woo arrived in under five minutes.
"Here. Where we headed?"
"Time to strengthen your spirits."
"Huh?"
Sung Min-woo tilted his head briefly, then jolted wide-eyed.
"Oh yeah! At 200, you can evolve 'em again, right?"
"Yeah, forgot?"
"That was ages ago. Where was it?"
"Brutal Forest."
"Right, got it. +15 to each stat, yeah?"
"Yep."
"Fuck yeah! Let's go!"
"Skeleton Warhorse Summon."
They mounted the warhorses and rode to the Brutal Forest.
Moments later.
Scanning the area upon arrival.
"Not many here."
"Users?"
"Yeah, perfect."
With level 200+ Dark Spirits everywhere, few users hunted here.
Plenty of Dark Spirits scattered around.
"Let's start."
"OK."
"Skeleton Summon."
Mu-hyuk summoned his skeletons in sequence.
"Big Skeleton Summon."
He tested the new skill too.
Two golem-like skeletons appeared.
"Whoa, what's this?"
Sung Min-woo approached the newcomers.
"New skill."
"Whoa, looks just like a golem!"
"Pretty cool, right?"
"Hell yeah...!"
"Wanna see something even cooler?"
"Even cooler?"
Mu-hyuk grinned and swung his hand.
The two Big Skeletons approached each other.
Whoooosh.
They merged into one.
"Insane!"
The fused Big Skeleton looked even more badass.
While Sung Min-woo gawked, a few Armor Archers loosed arrows to lure a Dark Spirit.
"How long you gonna stare?"
"Ah, time to fight."
Even then, Sung Min-woo eyed the Big Skeleton.
"Seriously cool."
"You'll hit second evolution soon too."
"Whoa, yeah. Second evolution."
He muttered softly.
Swish.
Turning to the approaching Dark Spirit.
"Let's grab three more levels while we're at it!"
He charged with his spirits.
Papapap!
Mu-hyuk shook his head and shifted direction.
Sung Min-woo had taken the front, making it hard for skeletons to attack safely.
He lured another Dark Spirit from elsewhere and ordered the Mages to blast it.
Boom! Kaboom!
Magic spells followed by bone arrows.
Then the Armor Cavalry's charge.
No need for more.
You have acquired experience. ×2
That took out two Dark Spirits.
At the same time.
Sung Min-woo grinned at the messages.
Spirit 'Fire' power +0.1.
Spirit 'Wind' agility +0.1.
He'd siphoned 0.1 stats from the two Mu-hyuk killed.
"Hell yeah!"
Even more pumped, he quickly downed another Dark Spirit.
Spirit 'Earth' knowledge +0.1.
Any stat was fine.
He aimed for +15 across the board.
"Let's go!"
He charged another distant Dark Spirit with his spirits.
Boom! Kaboom!
Each gain felt so sweet.
Maybe that's why.
Sung Min-woo hunted relentlessly, minimal breaks.
Mu-hyuk, meanwhile, hunted moderately and rested plenty.
Like now.
He glanced at the frenzy-mad Sung Min-woo, then pulled gear from inventory for enhancements.
Clang!
Up to +6, then stopped.
Back to hunting...
Then he remembered a skill book.
Oh, right.
He hadn't learned Book of Life yet.
Skill first.
He hurriedly pulled the book from inventory.
Book of Life.
Carefully, he opened the skill book.