An Unlikely Alliance
Mu-hyuk's lips curved into a smile.
"Dealt some damage."
"Oppa, me too!"
"Sent them back?"
"Yeah!"
"Not too hard?"
"Not at all. It's actually fun?"
"Good."
Mu-hyuk chuckled and sent out a few more Skull Snakes.
Unlike the ones attacking monsters, these were to scout the players ahead.
Hmm, nothing unusual.
Mu-hyuk and the other three had unexpectedly been forced into a grinding session.
Sung Min-woo dove into crafting he'd neglected, sparring with Mu-hyuk or Ye-rin whenever he had time.
When HP dropped in spars, Kang Ji-yeon healed them to level her skills.
Mu-hyuk spent most of his time on crafting, enhancements, and cooking.
High enhancements were too pricey on materials, so he stuck to +5 and auctioned them.
He used the proceeds to buy more enhancement materials or supplies.
Of course, that wasn't all. He steadily summoned minions for EXP, sending them to the Demon Realm when possible.
Summon EXP acquired.
Summon EXP acquired.
He poured most into the mounted archers.
They were the weakest now.
He planned to focus on them first.
"Moving again."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, hold on…!"
The ahead players—Phoenix Guild.
Some fell back.
"Checking the rear?"
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah, let's pull back."
Using shared Skull Snake vision, they assessed and responded.
"This spot good for hiding?"
"Perfect."
On the way to the entrance, they found a good hideout and ducked in.
Thud, thud.
Soon, Phoenix Guild members passed. After they checked the entrance and left, the group emerged.
"Safe now?"
"For the moment."
They relaxed a bit after spotting Phoenix Guild prepping food and resting.
"Skeleton Summon."
He recalled all minions and sent them to the Demon Realm.
Soon after.
Your summons have entered Hatawa Village in northern F12 zone.
You can change your starting zone to Hatawa Village in F12 zone.
Change?
[Yes/No]
Hmm?
Mu-hyuk pondered briefly, then selected Yes.
*
Mid-level demons Cork and Bokuma.
"Huff, huff…"
"Pant…!"
The two gasped raggedly.
"Those crazy bastards…!"
They were total weirdos.
Killed, yet they respawned.
"The skeletons are the same ones, right?"
"Yeah."
"But now there are these weird additions. Tougher and more persistent than expected!"
"Are they even monsters?"
"If not monsters, what?"
"Dunno. But respawning after death? Makes no sense."
"Well…"
"Forget it."
They'd fought them five times already.
Both were exhausted now.
If they showed again, running tempted.
"Please don't appear."
"Just to the village."
Of course, they didn't know.
Their destination was where skeletons spawned: Kashiu Village in F12 zone.
"Damn it."
Inevitably, they spotted them again. Exhausted Cork collapsed.
"Whatever, just kill me!"
"Cork, dangerous."
"Don't care, ugh!"
Bokuma grimaced, grabbed Cork's arm, and dragged him.
"You psycho! Get up!"
"Ah, just kill me. I'm beat, no strength left."
"Freakin' idiot…!"
Their pace slowed, and Enhanced Armor Cavalry surrounded them. Bokuma readied, but they just circled—no attack.
"What's with them?"
"Dunno…?"
"Huh?"
Then Armor Knight 1 stepped forward.
Shing.
Drew his sword, stabbed the ground.
Then wrote:
Why won't you attack?
Cork jolted up.
"See? Told you—not monsters."
"Hmm."
"Heard of monsters writing?"
"No."
"Respawning monsters?"
"No…"
"Conclusion: not monsters."
"Then what? What are you guys?"
Armor Knight 1 wrote again.
We are just us.
They conversed.
"Oh, really? Fine. Why no attack?"
If you don't attack first, we won't either.
"Monsters too?"
They always attack us first. We fight to grow stronger. We don't attack those who don't threaten us.
"Oho. Deal—we won't attack you."
Then we won't either.
"Great. Friends then?"
Friends…?
"Yeah, friends. Sounds good."
We'll think about it.
"Playing hard to get? Fine. We gotta hit the village anyway. Bye!"
Farewell.
They parted awkwardly.
"Whew, aged me ten years."
"Eh, it worked."
"Still, wild. Skeletons writing."
"Yeah."
"And respawning."
Cork's eyes sparkled.
"Hey, think about it."
"What now?"
"What if we take them to the intermediate zone?"
"Huh…?"
"Fun, right?"
Bokuma didn't disagree.
Lawless intermediate zone.
Undying beings there?
"Sound fun?"
"A bit."
"Follow and ask?"
"Too late. Gone."
"Damn."
"Village first. Tired."
"Fine."
They dragged to distant Kashiu Village. Villagers welcomed them.
"W-Welcome."
"Hot water first."
"Preparing."
"Thanks."
"No trouble…"
They washed, then ate at the first-floor tavern.
"Ah, living again."
"Rough…"
"Those weirdos."
Thinking of skeletons.
"Oh, you guys again! Hey, friends here!"
"Why the fuss every time?"
"Fun, right!"
"We see 'em daily…"
Outside grew noisy.
"What?"
Tavern owner: "Guests."
"Guests?"
"Yeah, mysterious sudden ones…"
"What?"
"Appearance is… odd."
"How?"
"Not monsters, but all bone."
"What…?"
Cork and Bokuma exchanged looks.
"No way…?"
"Check it out."
Outside, skeletons leaving village.
"It's them."
Cork rushed.
"Wait, wait!"
Armor Knight 1 stabbed ground with sword.
What?
Cork: "See you again. Know me?"
Yes.
"Knew it. You guys from before?"
Yes.
"Wow, cool. Anyway, got a proposition. Big win for you…"
Benefit? We want only strength.
"You said fighting makes you stronger? What exactly?"
We grow stronger from battle.
"Literally?"
Yes.
"Like us. Perfect for you."
Listening.
"Know the intermediate zone?"
No.
"Endless fights. Non-stop battles with super strong foes. Tempting?"
Enhanced Armor Knight 1 turned.
-Heard that?
-Yes.
-Thoughts?
-Not bad.
-Strong foes? I'm in.
-Need stronger ones.
-Want to grow.
Armor Knight 1 wrote.
Really strong?
"Obviously. Fought us? Peers everywhere, stronger too. No joke?"
Impressive.
"So come with us?"
Good. But first.
"What?"
Your benefit?
Cork frowned at the unforeseen question.
"Us?"
Yes.
Onlooking Bokuma spoke.
"Like you. Overwhelming power. And minions who follow us."
Alliance then?
"Right, alliance. No betrayal. Don't worry—no one wants undying foes."
Good. We'll trust.
Thus, an unexpected alliance between two mid-level demons and the skeletons formed.
"To Hatawa Village first."
*
Their journey wasn't smooth.
"Shit!"
"Died again, damn it!"
"Insane."
"Back to Kashiu?"
"Gonna puke. Why always there?!"
"Sigh, ditch 'em?"
Cork shook head at Bokuma.
"Bear it. Spawn changed entering Kashiu. Take to next village, decide. Honestly, need them for lawless zone."
"True."
"Tough, but amazing, right? Skeletons."
"Growth speed?"
"Yeah, insanely fast…"
"Agreed."
"That's why stick together. Let's go."
"Sigh, fine…"
Back to Kashiu.
How long waited.
Whoosh.
Wind with skeletons.
Sorry.
"Whatever. Move."
Understood.
Off again.
"Please, halfway at least…!"
"Begging."
To intermediate zone via Hatawa, but rank-1 beasts hindered.
Mid-level demons dodged easy, but skeletons couldn't.
Caught by fastest rank-1, Toyita.
Tried fighting, but numbers overwhelmed—skeletons vanished post-battle.
Solution: endless grind.
Kill Toyitas faster than they bred. Slow, but progress.
"Whew, we lead again."
Understood.
Grueling battles resumed.
"Die, die!"
Deleting rank-1 beast Toyitas.
Delete, delete again.
"Skeletons all dead."
"I'll hold Toyitas—you fetch."
"Nice?"
Now one stayed, one fetched skeletons.
Fought again. Skeletons grew, Toyita kills sped up, survival leaped.
Thus today.
"Yaaah, there! See it!"
Skeletons and two mid-level demons finally reached Hatawa Village.