Birth of the Skeleton Cavalry Archers
He truly hadn't anticipated this in the slightest.
"What... is this...?"
He never thought it would actually succeed.
"What's wrong?"
"Oppa, did it fail?"
"Huh? No, it succeeded, so..."
"It succeeded?"
"Yeah."
"Then why the long face?"
"Well, it's just..."
He couldn't tell if he should be happy or sad.
He'd planned to use it for something else, and now that had gone awry, so part of him wanted to be angry.
Yet he'd gained an unexpected harvest, so he felt he should be pleased.
It was an utterly ambiguous situation.
For now, he decided to check the skill first.
Skeleton Cavalry Archer Summon 34+2Lv (11%)
Summons 36 skeletons proficient in cavalry and archery. As the skill level increases, the number summonable and MP consumed per 10 seconds rise.
The skeleton archers were level 40 including titles, and the warhorse summon was level 36, so it seemed to have aligned with the lower-level warhorse summon skill.
What on earth were the conditions?
Then why hadn't the Dark Healing Spirit's level increased?
This was tricky.
There were still many unknowns even while combining skills.
Well, whatever...
In the end, the result wasn't bad.
It was a gain for him.
As he sorted his thoughts, another desire welled up. The urge to summon the cavalry archers and test them overwhelmed him.
He wanted to check the skills he'd made so far too.
He'd planned to hold off until combining all skills, but that didn't seem possible.
"I'll go test some skills real quick."
"Right now?"
"Yeah, looks like I need to verify while combining."
"Well, okay."
"Oppa, want me to come?"
He shook his head at Yeri's words.
"Nah, I'll be right back."
"Okay."
He left the restaurant and exited the village.
Riding the warhorse, he stopped and dismounted when monsters appeared nearby.
One by one.
First, he summoned the Dark Healing Spirit.
Then the cavalry archers.
Skeleton Cavalry Archer Summon
Whoosh.
The summoned skeletons were, as their name implied, enhanced Armor Archers mounted on warhorses. Mu-hyuk's eyes widened slightly as he checked their stats.
Not bad at all.
Of course, they were weaker than Armor Archers with extensively replaced bones, but still very usable.
What about the skills?
He glanced down to check.
First skill: Moving Shot.
It was a kind of passive skill. It allowed them to accurately aim and fire bone arrows even while running nonstop.
Using the warhorse's speed, they could toy with monsters while maintaining distance.
Second skill: Power Shot.
Third skill: Multi Shot.
Aside from Moving Shot, the rest matched the existing Armor Archers.
This is better than I thought?
He could already picture how to command them.
Cavalry archers, advance.
The cavalry archers began charging.
The healing spirit flew above them.
When they'd closed enough distance on the eight monsters, they fired bone arrows. The arrows embedded into the monsters' bodies.
Kraaaargh!
Roaring in pain, the monsters charged.
Left, right—split!
The 36 cavalry archers split precisely into two groups of 18, veering left and right.
Kraa...?
While the monsters hesitated,
the cavalry archers, now at a safe distance, fired bone arrows as they retreated.
Under the relentless barrage, the monsters' HP dwindled bit by bit.
They chased the instinct-driven cavalry archers, but closing the gap on the warhorses wasn't easy.
Even using Multi Shot and Power Shot, the cavalry archers never stopped, steadily maintaining distance.
Ha, this is really...
Mu-hyuk marveled even as he commanded them.
Too good.
The massive boost in mobility skyrocketed their utility.
Simultaneous summon probably won't work?
He tried summoning skeleton archers.
Cannot summon Skeleton Archers.
Like the spirit, no simultaneous summons.
Well, that's to be expected.
Mu-hyuk halted the cavalry archers.
Kieeeek!
A monster used a skill, striking multiple cavalry archers.
Dark Recovery.
The moment he activated the skill, the Dark Healing Spirit pierced through the wounded cavalry archers.
Cavalry Archer 3's HP (60) recovered.
Spirit's energy consumed.
It passed through multiple cavalry archers like that.
Cavalry Archer 7's HP (60) recovered.
Cavalry Archer 11's...
After piercing five,
Spirit's energy depleted.
Low energy meant five was the limit.
Still good.
Mu-hyuk smiled nonetheless.
Experience gained.
Experience gained...
Spirit's level up. ×11
Thanks to the spirit's level ups.
He checked the increase.
Grants healing to the dead and curses to the living.
Skills: Dark Recovery, Dark Curse.
Healing power and energy rose by 5 per level.
Alright, again.
The healing spirit approached the unhealed cavalry archers.
Cavalry Archer 3's HP (126) recovered.
Spirit's energy consumed.
With 105 energy, it could recover ten times total.
Pretty solid.
As the spirit leveled up, healing power and capacity would grow.
Just then, more monsters were caught, and the healing spirit leveled up again.
Three monsters left.
The cavalry archers ravaged them with superior mobility.
Once Mu-hyuk focused and commanded properly, no more hits landed.
Pure offense—relentless attacks until the monsters fell. A perfect victory.
*
Mu-hyuk, surrounded by numerous monsters.
He dodged attacks with White Tiger Steps.
Swords rained down.
Amid it, he used a skill, generating three swords.
They floated slowly in the air before charging at the scattered monsters.
Slash, stab.
Some pierced thin skin, others grazed.
But they didn't vanish.
Whoooong.
Still hovering, they glared at the monsters. No eyes, yet the intent was clear.
Mu-hyuk kept dodging with White Tiger Steps, observing how the skill progressed.
Whoosh.
Three more swords flew in.
Tearing monster flesh.
Kiaaaak!
Some monsters screamed at the swords, not him.
They chased the floating swords, lashing out. But ground-bound monsters couldn't easily hit airborne swords.
After evading several attacks, the swords zipped behind, stabbing necks. Retreating, then advancing again.
Stab, stab.
Dealing continuous damage.
-1,297 damage.
-1,297 damage.
Critical hit!
-2,594 damage.
Numbers weren't bad.
He tried Pinpoint Shot just in case.
Cannot use skill.
As expected.
No good.
The three swords attacked for a full minute before vanishing.
Now?
With the raining swords gone, it should work.
Paradise Archery First Form: Pinpoint Shot.
Light gathered on the nocked arrow.
Arrows shot forth.
It works.
White Tiger Swordsmanship Second Form worked too, naturally.
So, use this first, then Raining Swords.
He drew that conclusion and fell back momentarily.
Next.
Time to test Destroyer's Charge.
Hup!
He shot forward like the wind.
Boom!
Upon colliding with a monster, he chained another skill.
Power Attack.
His body automatically shifted sideways. Linking Destroyer's Charge and Power Attack felt refreshingly new.
"Nice, really nice."
He tested Corroding Arrow Rain and Numbing Sensation next.
All satisfactory.
Now, how to combine the remaining skills.
Time to decide.
*
He checked the unused ones first.
Powerful Arrow Shot, Power of Darkness, Revive, Existence Exchange, Skeleton Mastery, Mental Resonance, Meditation, Crafting, Cooking, Enhancement, Corpse Dissection, Book of Creation, Madness of the Battlefield, Field of Vision.
14 in total.
Pairing two each yields 7 combinations.
He already had ideas for some, so no dilemma there.
One issue: what to pair Enhancement with? Anything seemed promising.
For now...!
First skill: Cooking
Second skill: Meditation
Combine the two skills?
[Yes/No]
Start with low-priority ones.
Combination failed.
He hadn't expected success anyway.
Again.
Two consecutive attempts.
Both failed.
Now everything left was too precious to discard.
Albetar's Talent.
Select skills to combine.
Using the recent failure as fodder, he selected Skeleton Mastery and Enhancement, then hit yes.
One of the combinations he desperately wanted, so he prayed inwardly.
Combining...
Percentage rose slowly.
Combination failed.
He cursed at the message.
"Damn...!"
Another try, another failure.
Last chance left.
Didn't want to waste it.
Save it.
After agonizing, he combined others: Power of Darkness and Field of Vision.
Combination failed. ×3
After three straight failures, he challenged Skeleton Mastery and Enhancement.
Last chance.
He watched the rising percentage with wide eyes.
97, 98, 99.
Finally, 100.
Combination successful.
Acquired skill Enhanced Skeleton Mastery.
Enhanced Skeleton Mastery has...
The rest didn't register.
Success.
That word filled his vision.
*
Several combinations failed in a row. But they were unimportant, so no big deal.
Next...
Same approach.
Powerful Arrow Shot.
Mental Resonance.
Two he wouldn't mind losing.
Combination successful.
Acquired skill Guided Arrow.
But it succeeded.
And so,
Combination failed.
he lost Madness of the Battlefield, which he valued.
"Ah..."
He steadied himself briefly.
Can't be helped.
No need or reason to dwell.
Only two skills left for combining.
"Albetar's Talent."
He selected the two he'd saved for last.
First skill: Revive
Second skill: Book of Creation
Combine the two skills?
[Yes/No]
Revive and Book of Creation.
His finger trembled faintly as he pressed yes.