King Crocodile Conquest
Not too long.
In that span of time most would call short.
Boom, kwagwagwang!
Mu-hyuk had sufficiently boosted his contribution points against the King Crocodile.
Of course, it wasn't entirely smooth sailing.
Realizing it was hard to catch the mounted archers, it switched targets. On top of that, with skill cooldowns not yet returned, it couldn't deal proper damage. The two factors overlapped, inflicting heavy losses on the melee skeletons.
A 190-level boss monster.
A beast with power that couldn't be underestimated.
----------!
Its whipping tail and the sharp spikes erupting from it tore chunks from the HP of numerous skeletons.
Determined not to let the casualties grow further, he sent the Poison Ogre—with the highest remaining HP—to the front lines.
He fired off Fear, drawing its aggro. The beast charged straight at the Poison Ogre.
Kwaaang!
It staggered badly from the impact.
Kworrr!
Another charge followed, and it finally lost its balance, collapsing. The King Crocodile mounted it and devoured its left chest and shoulder.
Crunch.
The consumed bones shattered.
There was no pain.
Just the steady drain on its HP—a problem in itself. At this rate, it might hit zero and reverse-summon.
Ki Wave was on cooldown too...
But it wasn't time to give up yet.
He had a newly acquired skill.
The Dark Healing Spirit.
Dark Recovery
The healing spirit flying about pierced straight through the Poison Ogre.
Poison Ogre's HP (440) recovers.
Spirit's stamina (10) consumed.
The recovery amount was low, forcing repetition.
Twenty-five times in total.
Expending 250 stamina to restore a full 11,000 HP. In the meantime, the Armor Knights, cavalry, and mounted archers surrounded and assaulted the King Crocodile.
Just a bit more.
But since it wasn't a skill effect, the King Crocodile ignored everything else, fixated solely on the Poison Ogre.
Poison Ogre's HP (980) decreases.
Poison Ogre's HP (440) recovers.
Spirit's stamina (10) consumed.
Poison Ogre's HP (980) decreases...
It barely held on through repeated heals.
Good.
Finally, some summon cooldowns had returned.
Bone arrows streaked from the mounted archers, while Armor Knight sword strikes plunged down.
Empowered by skills, their destructive force had surged.
The King Crocodile staggered, and seizing the opening, the Poison Ogre unleashed Fear.
Burtan, Ki Wave!
Followed by a Ki Wave blast to shake it further.
"Huup...!"
He loosed an arrow coated in confusion potion, seizing control of its body for 3 seconds.
1, 2, 3 seconds.
The moment passed; he used a curtain potion.
Steals King Crocodile's vision.
Endure another 3 seconds.
Wait.
He unleashed a few recovered skills.
Armor Cavalry, Charge!
Mounted Archers, Power Shot!
All units, retreat.
Then, the second set of spells gained from evolution: Fire Spear, Ice Stone, Wind Cutter, Thunder Fist.
Every attribute filled the air.
Brilliant lights rained down on it.
Kwaaang!
And that wasn't the end.
Surround it.
Piercing the dust as it writhed, the Snow Woman used Ice Hold to bind its feet.
Its overwhelming strength shattered the ice, but the enhanced Armor Knights were already in position.
Kworrr!
Furious, red light spread from its body. Clearly, a major skill was imminent.
Enhanced Armor Knight, Shock Return.
Activate the perfect counter skill and wait.
Then, the powerful energy erupted.
----------!
The energies piled onto the barrier enveloping the Armor Knight's body, then transmitted back in full.
-1,491 damage ×44
Contribution (30) rises ×44
Mu-hyuk nocked a single arrow.
Hallucination poison.
He fired it at the beast on the verge of glowing.
King Crocodile falls into hallucination.
It wouldn't escape the hallucination until a certain HP threshold was crossed.
All he had to do was wait leisurely for cooldowns. A satisfied smile formed naturally.
Good.
Was it because his skills had multiplied?
Filling the gaps, he felt even more complete.
Really good.
A sense of fulfillment he hadn't felt in ages.
*
The users risking their lives against the King Crocodile suddenly froze in place.
"Crazy...!"
"What the hell is that?"
"Looks like a necromancer..."
"Who is that guy?"
Mu-hyuk and his summons were relentlessly pressuring the King Crocodile.
Most other users had instinctively stepped back amid the sudden shift.
There was no room to intervene—the skeletons had formed a perfect encirclement.
Dazed as they watched, spells rained down, red light exploded outward. Yet the skeletons refused to die, maintaining the pressure.
Then, a single arrow flew, and it suddenly halted.
"Whoa, that's insane?"
"He's solo-raiding the boss monster, right...?"
"Seems like it?"
"Is that even possible...?"
Suddenly, a shout from somewhere.
"I know him!"
Heads whipped around.
"That user's Mu-hyuk!"
"Ah...!"
Only then did it click.
Ranking 2nd, Mu-hyuk.
If it was him, it was entirely plausible.
"No time to stand around!"
"Right! Let's take it down this time, no matter what!"
"Ooooh!"
"Charge!"
Ranged users opened fire first.
Melee users cautiously closed in.
Watching from behind, Black Guild leader Hyuk-su wore a complex expression.
"Still amazing as ever."
Mu-hyuk was always strong, no matter when you saw him.
Just when you thought you'd caught up a little, he'd pull light-years ahead.
In a game, getting stronger with levels was natural. But this man operated outside those norms.
Past and present differed. Present and future would too.
An existence whose path ahead was utterly unpredictable.
"Hoo, let's go, us too."
"Eh? Ah, yeah, we should."
"Everyone, snap to it!"
"Ah, yes...!"
"Time to end this boring slog!"
The Black Guild advanced to the center of the battlefield.
"Us too."
"Yes!"
"Chaaaarge!"
"Kill it!"
Other guilds observing the situation joined the fray.
Thanks to them, Mu-hyuk gained some breathing room.
He pulled back the summons with low HP slightly.
Kworrr!
Users filled the gap.
Hoo, I can breathe now.
Mu-hyuk smiled and morphed his bow into a sword.
Alright, time to play for real.
Until now, it'd been command-focused. Now, he'd delegate command authority to the skeletons and cut loose himself.
Wind Step.
He became the wind and shot toward it.
At the same time.
Viewership on Illusion TV surged for Mu-hyuk's stream.
Viewership climbing in real time.
Old fans returning.
Just as one viewer said.
Mu-hyuk's vision spun.
A tail dropping from above.
Sharp spikes erupting from it.
No escape in sight.
Everyone thought so.
Then, the scene warped—and the skin beneath the King Crocodile's face appeared.
Power Dash had closed the gap in an instant.
"Huup!"
He chained into White Tiger Swordsmanship.
1st Form: White Tiger Sever.
Seven illusory strikes materialized, carving wounds into its neck.
2nd Form: White Tiger Wave.
Becoming light, he swept in all directions with endless assaults.
Storm, Cross Slash.
Short but heavy damage.
Wind Step.
He retreated and unleashed Storm White Tiger Slash.
A crescent of condensed ki energy stretched out, leaving a deep gash in its hide.
Now the real start.
Pacheon Bow Arts 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Forms in rapid succession.
Then Storm, Destroyer's Charge.
Mu-hyuk's body enveloped in light.
Overwhelming speed.
Destructive power surpassing it.
Kuuung!
The perfectly harmonized force toppled the King Crocodile's balance.
"Huu."
Summons' attacks followed.
Mu-hyuk finally pulled back.
Contribution nicely boosted.
With a satisfied expression, he checked the status.
Dead users vanished from rankings, letting him rocket to 3rd.
Now, just unleash summon skills to climb higher.
He was the only top-100 ranker here.
Then 1st it is.
A matter of pride, really.
Kuung.
The King Crocodile staggered and collapsed.
Kworrr!
It struggled up, preparing a skill.
"Dodge!"
"Fall back!"
"Hurry!"
Users widened the distance.
Armor Knight, approach.
A transparent barrier enveloped the Armor Knight.
Skill: Shock Return.
As viewers marveled.
------!
The King Crocodile's massive energy blanketed the area.
"Kuh...!"
Even users retreating took damage, but the enhanced Armor Knight held firm.
HP plummeted fast, but not enough for instant death.
Thus, 20% energy gathered. It erupted, engulfing the beast.
-1,491 damage ×44
Contribution (30) rises ×44
Contribution jumped 1,320 in one go.
New rank?
Edged into 2nd by 12 points.
Gap to 1st: 895 points.
Mage cooldown back just in time.
Spells and bone arrows flew.
He'd claimed 1st after all.
And soon enough.
Boss Monster ‘King Crocodile’ hunted.
Experience acquired.
Rewards acquired based on contribution ranking.
King Crocodile down.
"Fun one after a long time."
A thoroughly satisfying fight. He'd tested the skills in detail and grasped more precisely how to deploy them.
Time to head back.
Demon Realm Teleport.
Sent the summons to the Demon Realm.
Skeleton Warhorse Summon.
Cannot summon Warhorse.
His expression hardened at the message.
Ah, the mounted archers.
Couldn't summon simultaneously.
This is annoying.
No choice—he kicked off with Wind Step and ran.
This is inconvenient...
Needed some thought.
"H-hey, Mu-hyuk-nim!"
"Wait a sec!"
"Muuu-hyuk-nim!"
Innumerable shouts calling him.
Why call?
Autograph? Handshake? Quest details?
Bothersome.
No reason or need to get involved.
Pababat.
Ignoring them, he pushed off the ground harder.
"Just one question! Hey!"
"Mu-hyuk-nim! Wait, just wait!"
Pitiful pleas.
Among them, Black Guild leader Hyuk-su's voice.
"Hey, Hyuk-su...?"
"Ah, why! Can't you see I'm calling Mu-hyuk-nim?"
"Dunno why you're calling..."
"If you don't know, call him too!"
"No, just use chat..."
"Eh? Ah, r-right."
He belatedly flushed and hurriedly opened the chat window.