Clash with the Black Combat Unit
A short while later.
Mu-hyuk sent a chat message to the three who had just logged in, telling them to come to the empire.
After waiting a bit, they arrived.
"You guys got some good rest over the last two days, right?"
"Yeah, I slept like a rock."
"Me too...!"
"Same here!"
Everyone looked deeply satisfied.
"Alright, since you're all recharged, let's get back to it."
"Okay!"
He summoned Skeleton Warhorses and mounted up. They had to head to the westernmost edge of the Kairon Continent, which would eat up a fair amount of time just traveling.
Even maximizing the warp gates wouldn't change that.
So they didn't rush. They hunted monsters here and there along the way and stopped in major villages for ample rest.
He kept the auction system open intermittently, checking for skulls and decent items.
Crafting, enhancement, and cooking never stopped either.
"Whew, enhancement level went up too."
"Oh, already?"
"Yeah, Big Skeleton is at level 7 now."
Two at level 3, three at level 5. At level 7, he could summon four.
"What about the cavalry archers?"
"Leveled up once."
"Nice!"
"You leveled yours a ton too."
"Of course!"
But when it started feeling too leisurely, they picked up the pace.
Galloping on warhorses.
Taking village-to-village warps.
Resting.
And so, on the third day of travel...
"Hooah, finally..."
They reached the western edge marked on the map.
But this was just the beginning.
An unfinished path.
Stepping foot into uncharted territory for the first time.
"Stay sharp."
"Yeah."
With zero intel, caution was key.
Skull Snake Summon.
He first scattered Skull Snakes in all directions. Sending them as far as possible, he scanned the surroundings via vision sharing.
Nothing unusual in sight, so they moved forward. The Skull Snakes advanced the same distance. Maintaining a steady gap, they explored the western region.
"Oppa, how's it looking?"
"Quiet so far? Wait, hold on."
No sooner had he spoken than a monster pack appeared.
Roughly forty strong.
One at the rear caught his eye. It was huge, with a pair of wings on its back that drew even more attention.
"What is it?"
"Monsters. About forty."
"Oho, time for a warmup?"
"One's got wings."
"Really?"
"The rest have black horns on their foreheads. Weapons are spears, bows, staves..."
"Damn, it's a full unit."
"Yeah, let's fight 'em anyway."
Having assessed their appearance and gear, he prepared for battle.
Full summons.
They closed the distance slowly.
"I see 'em."
As the monster pack entered view in the distance.
Mages, prepare spells.
They waited in plain sight.
No cover anyway.
"Here they come."
They entered range.
No hesitation—he ordered the attack.
Magic barrage unleashed!
Magic filled the sky, raining down on them.
The monster pack looked up at the sight.
The winged one at the rear raised a hand, and the entire group pulled out massive shields from their backs.
They knelt, bodies hidden behind the shields.
Boom, kwarrrng!
Magic slammed into them.
Aftermath blast surges!
Armor Cavalry charged fiercely through the center.
Pababat.
Closing distance at terrifying speed, spears and lances thrust forward, piercing the rising dust.
Speed upon speed—raw destructive energy tore through the dust cloud.
It looked like they'd shred the pack, but things didn't go that smoothly.
*
Something blocked them. The cavalry halted, unable to advance further.
Kwarrrng!
A massive explosion followed, shoving the entire cavalry line back.
"Hm...?"
Mu-hyuk's brow furrowed.
That anticlimactic?
He'd figured they couldn't break through but could at least trade blows. That was the norm.
But no. Skidding back, gouging the ground deep—that meant the monsters' strength was overwhelming.
Yet the aftermath blast wasn't huge. Factoring that in, one conclusion emerged.
Perfect force control.
These non-human monsters were pulling it off.
"Whoa? Cavalry getting pushed back—haven't seen that in ages."
"Nah."
"Huh?"
"First time since they evolved."
"Oh, right...!"
"They're stronger than expected, so stay careful."
"Got it."
"Yeah, no worries."
"Ji-yeon, you focus too."
"Okay!"
Mu-hyuk started with buff and debuff skills.
Minimize the enemies' power, maximize allies'.
After basics, he pulled back the Armor Cavalry and ordered the charging Armor Knights to hold position.
As Armor Cavalry and Knights met, they split left and right, firing bone arrows straight ahead.
Pang, pababang!
The monster pack narrowed the gap, bodies shielded.
"Whew..."
The pressure was heavier than anticipated.
Faster.
Mu-hyuk fired bone arrows nonstop.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.
He didn't stop attacking either. But most strikes lost power against the shields, clattering to the ground or shattering.
Even homing arrows bounced off.
Storm, Devouring Arrow Rain.
Storm, Pouring Sword Strike.
Skills spammed, same result.
Parcheonsimgung Third Form, Parcheon Strike.
The monsters advanced unshaken.
Some way...!
Suddenly, a passage from yesterday's book flashed in his mind.
Strike the enemy's rear.
At the same time, the biggest one stood out.
Wait. Yeah, that's it.
If it worked as planned, it'd make for a hell of a show.
I can do this.
Mu-hyuk focused on Cavalry Archer 1's vision.
Cavalry Archer 1, tailbone equipped.
Storm, Power Shot prep.
He applied Storm to its bone arrow too. Tailbone nocked, trajectory appeared.
He lowered the blue line slightly. Naturally, Cavalry Archer 1 adjusted aim downward.
The blue line, offset from the monsters, now touched one—aimed at the massive rear one.
Direction locked.
The line hit a shield and arced skyward.
A bit higher.
Lower.
Angle tweaks sent the ricochet where he wanted.
Cavalry Archer 1, fire.
Apply Penetration Boost option to first target?
[Yes/No]
He selected 'No'.
Pang!
The tailbone tore through the air.
Perfect.
It struck the biggest monster's shield, ricocheting toward the slightly smaller one right in front.
Kwang!
Explosion rocked; the hit monster and neighbors flinched visibly.
-893 Damage to Black Combat Unit Member
Additional -1,607 Damage
He fired again nonstop.
Regenerated tailbone, precise angles.
Pang! Paang!
Damage wasn't huge.
Only one Cavalry Archer 1 could pull this off now.
But the Black Combat Unit member right in front of the giant was visibly slowing.
No need for big gaps. A tiny crack would do.
Tried tailbone with hallucinogenic poison—no effect. The one behind shoved the front one forward.
Distance closed inevitably; he sent Armor Knights and Cavalry to halt their advance.
Kwang, kwarrrng!
Fierce melee erupted there. Amid it, Cavalry Archer 1 kept targeting that one.
A few more reps to drill the motion, then the order.
Keep hitting the same spot.
Cavalry Archer 1 obeyed Mu-hyuk's command flawlessly.
Satisfied, he turned.
"Let's go."
"Okay!"
Sung Min-woo veered left; Mu-hyuk right.
Shake 'em up.
Create openings first.
Tight shield formation.
Break that for real damage.
Swift rightward dash, eyes on the Black Combat Unit.
All held shields in one hand, weapons in the other.
Blocking bone arrows and magic while counterattacking—disciplined like elite knights.
Wind Step.
Mu-hyuk charged them.
As distance closed.
Storm, Power Dash.
Slammed into the nearest Black Combat Unit member.
Kwarrrng!
Skill impact, yet it didn't budge.
Hoo...!
Sword slashed in sequence.
White Tiger Swordsmanship Second Form, White Tiger Wave.
Teng, teodeng, teododeng!
The Black Combat Unit member finally wavered slightly. But the one behind held firm—no gap.
Hup!
White Tiger Wave ended. Backstep into Third Form, White Tiger Slash.
Kuuuung!
Still no shake.
What the hell?
Brow furrowed, he pressed the assault steadily.
Kwang, kwagwang!
Via vision sharing, he checked Armor Knights and cavalry status.
Good news: enhanced Armor Knights held better than expected.
Healing spirits helped, but Enhanced Skeleton Mastery's power was undeniable.
1. Melee skeletons' defense and HP +12.5%
2. Ranged skeletons' physical/magic attack power +12.5%
4. All skeletons' attack speed, movement speed, reaction speed +6.25%
Melee survivability.
Ranged firepower.
Plus attack/movement/reaction speed.
He'd nearly fainted checking it first time.
Way too good.
Mastery skills level glacially slow.
Max 20, yet originals barely hit 13.
Enhanced version started at 13 thanks to base, huge combat boost.
Hold the line.
Until gaps form.
Storm, Cross Slash!
Mu-hyuk's strikes resumed.
Tedious exchange.
Irritation rising to his throat.
Black Combat Unit Member defeated
Experience gained
Message popped—he retreated sharply.
Where...!
The massive monster.
Space in front empty.
Ah, cavalry archer!
Tailbone angles finally killed the Black Combat Unit right ahead of the giant.
Mu-hyuk swiftly directed Poison Ogre. Tiny gap, before it sealed—a low-HP Big Skeleton leaped in.
Mages ordered to blast magic. Cavalry archer loosed bone arrows; Mu-hyuk spammed skills.
Kuwaaaang!
Magic rained on Big Skeleton 2.
Big Skeleton 2 forcibly unsummoned
Vanished from magic, but the sacrifice wasn't wasted.
Krwarrr!
Attacks poured into the unfilled gap; shock created a real breach.
Poison Ogre, Yeti, Red Orc Great Warrior, Big Skeletons landed there.
------!
Pierce, Earth Shatter.
Ki Blast.
Ice Hold, Ice Space.
Berserker Mode, Knockback.
Skills widened the gap further. Lances and spears wedged into the space.
Enhanced Armor Cavalry.
Their charges split the monster pack into groups. Armor Knights positioned to block reunions.
"Whew, finally..."
Now they could deal proper damage.