First +8 Longsword
Mu-hyuk stepped out from the village expansion worksite and messaged Yerin.
He mounted his Skeleton Warhorse and raced toward the Red Trolls' habitat.
Three figures deep in the hunt came into view. As he arrived and dismounted, Yerin and Kim Ji-yeon glanced back.
"Huh? Oppa, when did you get here?"
"Just now."
"Hehe. What do you think of us?"
"You're fighting well."
With Mu-hyuk and his summons around, Sung Min-woo rarely stole the spotlight.
But watching them fight separately like this, it hit him anew: they weren't top rankers for nothing.
Even if it was just a game, there was something linking them through their summons.
A sense of unity from that, flowing into seamless, coordinated attacks.
They moved like a single body, making it almost inevitable that a level 198 Red Troll would fall so pathetically.
"Uracha!"
Sung Min-woo spun around after finishing the last one.
"How was that! We fought awesom—"
He spotted Mu-hyuk and hurried over.
"What the? When'd you get here?"
"Just now."
"Heh, so? How'd we do?"
"Top ranker material, alright."
"Puhaha! Damn right!"
"Don't get cocky. Anyway, plenty of Red Trolls here, huh? Wanna grind some real exp?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Totally!"
Their enthusiastic response drew a nod from Mu-hyuk.
"Skeleton Summon."
Skeleton Summon
A horde of skeletons materialized.
Clack, clatter.
The area began to lay waste under the overwhelming wave of their ferocious pressure.
Exp acquired.
Exp acquired...
He extracted bones from the slain trolls.
Corpse Dissection performed.
Using them, he boosted his skeletons' stats.
"Alright, again!"
The relentless battle raged on.
Boom, kwarung!
After a long grind, Mu-hyuk finally pulled back with his companions for a break.
"Gonna need to cook something too..."
"Take it easy, oppa."
"Yeah, let's eat first. I'll make something simple—steak sound good?"
"Sure."
"Oppa’s cooking is always the best."
As he cooked leisurely, he checked his MP now and then.
Full tank.
Confirming it was topped off,
Revive.
Revive
He activated the skill to gauge the lingering souls nearby.
Number of lingering souls nearby: 273
An insane number.
With his current MP, he could precisely revive 147.
Revive 147 souls?
Yes / No
He selected Yes.
MP (14,700) consumed.
He watched the revived Red Orcs for a bit.
Once his MP recovered somewhat,
"Skeleton Summon."
He summoned all his skeletons.
Big Skeleton Synthesis.
He fused two Big Skeletons into one, then sent them to the Demon Realm.
He couldn't even recall the last time they'd gained exp there, but he hadn't stopped sending them.
It had become habit.
Eh, they'll die quick anyway.
With that thought, he distributed the finished food.
"Here, dig in."
"Thanks for the meal!"
"Smells amazing."
Tender yet chewy beyond beef, with a luxurious aroma filling the mouth, followed by bursting juices amplifying the flavor.
The profound nuttiness emerging as he chewed lifted his spirits effortlessly.
"Uwaa, so good...!"
Endless exclamations and laughter.
And pure satisfaction brought its own joy.
Meanwhile.
In Demon Realm F11, a swarm of lifeforms appeared.
Red Trolls and skeletons.
A massive total of 300, but the lesser demon stationed there just scoffed outwardly.
Inside, though, it was tense as hell.
Guarding this place alone for so long, it was intimidated by these monsters growing stronger by the day.
Unbelievable growth speed.
Felt slow day by day, but month over month? Absurdly fast.
No words for it.
Thoughts ended there.
The lesser demon unleashed its assault.
Boom, kwarung!
Dust billowed, but it didn't stop.
The monsters counterattacked too.
Magic clashed midair and exploded. Of course, the demons had long swallowed such feeble monster spells.
But damage would be reduced because of it.
This wouldn't wipe them out. Past experience confirmed it.
"Huuup...!"
As it prepared another strike, a fierce wind blew, unleashing a backlash gale.
It slammed down urgently, watching the monsters scatter.
Rumble, grrr!
Purple-black lightning crashed from the sky.
- Hide behind the Red Trolls.
- Got it.
Commands from those with Command Authority.
- Fire arrows.
- Cast magic.
- Spread out wide.
Simple exchanges, but executed swiftly.
They moved in perfect unison, encircling the lesser demon before it knew it.
Dodging or blocking the onslaught from all sides, it methodically picked off the monsters—sweat beaded on its brow.
Then, a chill pierced from behind.
"Kuh...!"
Its body froze in an instant.
It poured strength to shatter the ice.
"You damn monsters!"
These abominations were hardly "monsters" anymore. They revived upon death, growing stronger each time.
It wanted to flee, but that was impossible.
Escape would spread instantly, dooming it to isolation.
So it'd hold this time, report up: too strong for one demon.
Honor lost, but better for the future.
The question: could it survive now?
The lesser demon shook off dark foreboding and attacked again.
"Haaap!"
But damage was far lower than hoped, while it took heavier hits.
As this repeated, its stamina bottomed out.
*
Three Red Trolls survived.
Poison Ogre.
Three Armor Knights and two Armor Mages—that was it.
- But we won.
- Finally.
- Couldn't kill it, though.
- Time to move on.
- Numbers are low, but...
Nine advanced, footsteps echoing.
Thud.
How much time passed?
Two demons appeared.
"These the ones?"
"Seems like."
"Ha, Parma fled from these puny monsters?"
"Tactical retreat, he said."
"Kek, retreat my ass. Guy's done for."
"Let's finish 'em."
The two demons attacked.
--------!
At that moment, the Poison Ogre roared.
"Pfft, what's this goofy vibe?"
"Body feels a bit stiff..."
"Stiff? Nah, just annoying noise."
Not very effective.
"Begone, monsters."
They endured the demon attacks but fell short.
- Next time, again.
They vanished from the Demon Realm.
One hour later.
The two demons, mocking Parma, didn't lose their smirks even at the horde.
But after clashing properly, grim expressions dawned for the first time.
"This... is a problem."
"Monsters this strong..."
Definite report material.
"Head back."
"To report?"
"Yeah."
"Our honor?"
"Bigger than honor."
"Hm."
They returned north to the castle, informing the succubus serving the Demon King.
*
Mu-hyuk paused his item enhancement.
All summons forcibly unsummoned.
As expected. He refocused.
Clang!
Regret vanished.
Title effect increases enhancement success rate.
Enhancement successful.
His first +7 success in ages.
Try for +8?
Mu-hyuk gripped the hammer tighter, eyes gleaming.
Twenty attempts so far—all fails.
Success rate too low; he'd ignored it lately. But now? Good vibes.
Let's do it.
Enhancement.
A red dot appeared—tiny.
He eyed the sharp central edge on the hammer's broad face, then the dot.
Hit the dot dead-on with that thin edge to succeed.
Memorizing the position like a photo, he held his breath and swung.
Clang!
Enhancement level rises.
Nailed it.
One more!
But fail dropped it back.
Repeats pushed the gauge slowly toward 100%.
Past 50%, fails plummeted—peak focus.
Enhancement level rises.
Enhancement level: 100%
Title effect increases enhancement success rate.
Enhancement successful.
Focus shattered as Mu-hyuk exhaled.
"Haa..."
Long breath out, grinning at the +8 sword. Sung Min-woo, watching, asked urgently.
"That effect was killer! +7?"
"Nah."
"+6?"
"+8."
"..."
Silence hung.
"O-oppa. For real +8?"
"Yeah."
How much in gold?
"W-what's the weapon damage?"
"Longsword, base physical atk 290."
"Insa-a-a-ane!"
"Whoa...!"
Mu-hyuk felt a bit dazed too.
Actually pulled it off?
Pity—the longsword's sunset transformation magic was too good to overwrite.
Time to sell. But price?
"This the first, right?"
"Obviously!"
"First +8 weapon! Longsword with 290 base atk!"
Mu-hyuk messaged Black Guild leader Hyeok-su.
Sell to Hyeok-su first, auction the rest.
"Not ideal for me anyway. Let's sell it."
"Kya, if it sells big, treat us to meat."
"Obviously."
Too hyped, hunting mood killed.
"Back to the village for now."
"OK."
The four hung out in Column Village before logging out.
Till tomorrow.