The Elite Onslaught
Mu-hyuk veered off the path, blocked by another group of corrupted apprentice holy knights.
There was no choice but to change direction.
Just a little further.
He kept checking for openings as he moved.
There—one.
The moment an angle opened up, a massive surge of energy gathered in Mu-hyuk's sword. He slashed horizontally, and the energy shot out in a crescent shape.
-8,514 Damage
x7
Additional -15,325 Damage
x7
Severe Bleeding Inflicted
x7 | -100 HP/sec
The damage was substantial, and he'd even inflicted severe bleeding.
Armor Cavalry—charge!
Mu-hyuk sent the Armor Cavalry into the gap created as the priests staggered back.
Thanks to that, the seven priests had to dodge frantically, unable to cast healing spells. Mu-hyuk's holy knights' HP dropped even faster in the opening.
"Let's maximize the damage!"
"Okay!"
With the priests thinning out, the holy knights couldn't keep up either.
"One down!"
"Me too!"
"Two for me!"
"Four here!"
"Crazy...!"
In the midst of subtle rivalry, they steadily cleared the corrupted apprentice priests and holy knights. After the prolonged battle, everyone gathered.
"Whew, tougher than expected."
"But the exp is insane."
"True."
"And the quest rewards too."
Mu-hyuk nodded.
It's my first time with this achievement quest too.
Corpse Dissection.
As he dissected the corpses, Mu-hyuk chatted idly.
"By the way, how many we got now?"
"Heh. Check yourself."
"Might as well."
Mu-hyuk opened the quest to view the monster kill count.
They'd already taken down a total of 350.
"Hm, 350..."
"Not bad, right?"
"Yeah, faster than I thought."
"Still way short though."
The tiered rewards fired them up every time they thought about it.
Not just Mu-hyuk—Sung Min-woo, Yerin, and Kim Ji-yeon felt the same.
"Alright, let's move."
"Okay!"
"Everyone, fighting!"
"F-Fighting..."
As they advanced, Mu-hyuk extended his hand.
Revive.
37 lingering monster souls detected nearby.
How many to revive?
Mu-hyuk chose none.
From experience, monster souls lingered for about seven days, haunting their death spots. No worry of them vanishing suddenly.
The apprentices were tricky enough; elites, high priests, and holy warriors? Unimaginable strength.
Best to stockpile power. No respawns yet anyway—no need for Revive.
Skeleton Warhorse Summon.
Mu-hyuk mounted the summoned horse.
"Crank the speed till we spot monsters."
"Sounds good."
About a minute in, they spotted a large group of corrupted apprentices.
*
Mu-hyuk woke groggily and checked the Illusion homepage.
Hidden power... Dark...
Twenty minutes of browsing—no users reporting a hidden power yet.
He sighed in relief, headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Water cascaded over him, sharpening his mind.
"Haa."
Hunting nonstop in Albetar Temple had worn him down.
Day five.
In exactly nine hours, the entrance apprentices' souls would fade.
Problem: no elites yet.
This'll take time.
If someone snagged the hidden power first? Disaster.
Hence his habit: homepage checks four times daily—morning, lunch, dinner, bedtime.
It's fine. Still early.
First to claim it: Dark.
Focus on him.
Date fuzzy in memory, but definitely premature now.
Still, with changes afoot, no assumptions.
Hurry.
He finished showering, planning a busier day.
"Gotta eat."
"Yeah."
Quick breakfast, then login.
"Oppa, you're here?"
"Already online?"
"Yeah, woke up early."
"You two?"
"Not yet."
Mu-hyuk smiled at Yerin's reply.
Rare alone time—short, pleasant chat.
"Finish this quest, then let's go somewhere fun."
"Sweet!"
Sung Min-woo and Kim Ji-yeon logged in; back to hunting.
They carved through more apprentice groups, pressing on.
Three hours later, around 11 a.m.
"Huh? Look there."
"What?"
Not just numbers—different look.
Bigger builds.
Aura felt off.
"Those elites?"
"Jackpot, finally...!"
Joy lit Mu-hyuk's eyes.
Here they are.
The four retreated to the prior zone, priming peak condition.
Summons out; Mu-hyuk Revived 33 apprentices too.
Mu-hyuk's 198 skeletons.
Sung Min-woo's 12 spirits.
Yerin's 42 enhanced squirrels.
Plus 33 Revived apprentices.
Elites? No sweat.
"Elites can't be that bad."
"Right? Let's mop 'em."
Confident strides toward the elites.
"Begin."
"Okay."
Buffs and debuffs first. Mages, archers, spirits—ranged barrage kicked off the fight.
--------!
Poison Ogre's roar and ground shatter, Ice Human's Ice Hold and Ice Spear, Red Orc Warrior's knockback, Burtan's and Giant Cyclops's ki blasts, Dark Spirit's fear provocation—all unleashed.
Mu-hyuk hit elites with Sky-Piercing Divine Bow and White Tiger Swordsmanship.
"Insane...!"
But they wouldn't drop easy.
"Whole different league!"
Apprentices to elites: sky and earth. Priests' heals unmatched, knights' tanking and DPS overwhelming.
That alone wouldn't twist Mu-hyuk's face so.
That skill's bullshit...!
A skill forcing curses under breath: Corrupted Divine Sphere from elite priests.
Corrupted Divine Sphere strikes Big Skeleton.
Exposed to opposing energy: 2x damage.
-1,719 Damage (x multiple hits)
Big Skeleton forcibly unsummoned.
Big Skeleton's 14,000+ HP—gone in nine spheres. Even shielded.
Not just it—other skeletons melted. Basic Bone Swords and cavalry dissolved; Revived apprentices crumbled fast.
"Hraaah!"
He downed two knights amid it, but damage taken dwarfed gains.
Wind Step, Storm.
Dodging max, targeting priests.
Just one...!
Hard-fought priest kill—but a dozen skeletons unsummoned meanwhile.
Corrupted Divine Power strikes Ice Human
Exposed to opposing energy: 2x damage.
-1,681 Damage (x multiple)
Ice Human now in peril.
Burtan—Ki Blast!
Burtan's blast saved it, but HP bottomed.
Blessing of the Dead!
HP refilled—but another sphere flew, pushing Ice Human toward death. Two more, and gone.
Damn...!
Mu-hyuk shielded it personally with his own shield.
Checked status, shifted, Stormed Ice Human, hurled into fray.
Knight charged, hammering relentlessly.
Boom!
Storm detonated first.
-1,119 Damage
Additional -2,014 Damage
Stunned knight—hit with Ice Hold and Ice Spear.
Bone arrows pierced frozen knight—but rear priest healed it. Wasted.
Mu-hyuk pivoted to backline priest, slashing throat.
Storm, White Tiger Swordsmanship Second Form: White Tiger Wave.
Barrage slammed elite priest.
Crack, grind!
But adjacent priest healed it.
Damn...!
No nearby summons to aid—knights too sturdy. Post-Wave, Wind Step retreat.
No choice.
Sky-Piercing Divine Bow, cooldown not up—but used anyway.
First Form: One Point Shot.
Seven arrows thundered out.
450 MP used.
Nocked another arrow.
Storm, Third Form: Heaven Piercer.
Massive energy unleashed.
2,500 MP used.
Apprentice Holy Knight unsummoned.
Apprentice Priest unsummoned.
Armor Knight 3 unsummoned.
Giant Cyclops...
Losses heavier still.
Earthquake, Brutal Slaughter!
Long-cooldown ultimates—but no reversal.
"Oppa."
Yerin rushed over.
"They're too strong."
Mu-hyuk agreed.
Sung Min-woo disengaged too.
"Hoo, nuts?"
"What now, oppa?"
Decision time.
Can't push more.
Mu-hyuk fell back slowly.
"Pull out first."
Sacrificed summons to escape. Rested in a monster-free zone.
"What now?"
"Back to entrance."
"Entrance?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Haven't Revived from entrance to here once."
"Oh...!"
"Revive max, then hit 'em."
150 should sweep elites.
"Go."
Full gallop on warhorses.