Simple Overkill
Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best.
"I figured it out."
"Huh?"
"I know how to beat those guys."
"For real?"
Sung Min-woo blinked in surprise.
Ye-rin and Doran were just as stunned.
Kang Ji-yeon didn't show it, but her expression brimmed with anticipation.
"Yeah. I tested a few attacks and pieced it together. They're using some weird skill that splits the damage among them."
"Splits the damage?"
"Holy crap, that's total BS!"
"Right?"
"So what do we do?"
"Simple."
"Huh?"
"Just hit them with more damage than all fifteen of them can handle combined."
His allies stared blankly for a moment.
"Pfft."
Sung Min-woo burst out laughing first.
"Yeah... yeah, it is simple."
"Told you."
"Wanna go dump everything on 'em right now?"
"Not yet. Cooldown's up."
Mu-hyuk grinned and waited it out.
Once the cooldown ended...
"Ready. Let's go."
"Hell yeah!"
They finally moved.
An overwhelming barrage that exceeded the total HP of every last one of them. To make it happen, he first pulled back the Armor Cavalry.
As Mu-hyuk entered the village, the players ahead spotted him.
"Yo, it's Mu-hyuk!"
"Whoa, he's here!"
"Clear a path! Mu-hyuk's arrived!"
"Those ridiculous bastards— he can wipe 'em all out, so move it!"
"Fall back to the sides!"
The crowd parted naturally.
A path opened up.
Through shared vision, he confirmed the Armor Cavalry.
Enough.
He ordered them to charge at full speed.
Meanwhile.
The fifteen hostile players from the Kaion Continent were led by James, bearer of the hidden class Battlefield Commander.
His skill had a hard limit of fifteen targets, including himself—that was why this exact group had joined.
They were the guild's elite, top-tier talent. No matter the numbers or who they faced, defeat wasn't even on their minds.
"Hm?"
Magic poured down from afar.
Bone arrows flew in.
"Damage?"
"Barely any!"
"Good."
It was negligible.
"Just to be safe, one heal."
"Got it!"
Still, topping off HP was smart, so they cast area heals now and then. It kept them at full strength as they pushed back the Forma Continent mercenaries.
"Time for our counterattack?"
"You bet!"
"Let's go."
One archer player drew his bow.
"I'll start."
"Do it."
James, the Battlefield Commander, swept his hand.
Purple light converged on the archer.
"Firing!"
He nocked five arrows and loosed them.
Pababang!
The arrows streaked out.
"Just arrows? Pfft!"
A rogue up front thrust out his shield.
Kang!
Two arrows slammed into the shield.
Now for my counter...
As he moved to pull the shield aside—
-8,300 HP
-8,300 HP
The absurd damage froze him solid.
What the...?
He'd blocked with his shield—one that absorbed 65% of impact, no less.
Meaning he'd only taken 35% of the raw hit.
Yet two arrows shaved off 16,600 HP.
Impossible!
How much raw damage did those pack?
This is cheating!
He wanted to scream it, but his character was already fading.
The archer loosed again. This time, one arrow rocketed skyward, trailing flames before plummeting as a fireball that cratered the area.
Hostile player 'Kalan' defeated.
Hostile player 'ShiningPower' defeated.
Hostile player ...
A dozen players in the blast vanished.
From a single skill.
"Wh-what the hell...!"
The archer smirked past the stunned Forma players.
"Taken care of."
"Nice work."
James nodded casually.
Of course.
The skill didn't just split damage—it could also focus every ally's attack power onto one target.
"Insane! What the hell do we do?!"
"Spam every skill we got!"
"That's the problem, idiot—it ain't working!"
"Then what?!"
"Damn it...!"
Forma players unleashed everything, but nothing could one-shot fifteen of them.
High levels, top gear, killer weapons—they were tough nuts. After two area heals topped them off, James eyed his mage.
"Your turn."
"Yes, sir!"
As the mage prepped an area spell—
"Hey, over there...!"
The hostiles suddenly cleared a path.
What?
Something was charging from afar.
"Check it out."
The archer's eyes gleamed.
"Cavalry."
"Cavalry?"
"Yeah."
"How many?"
"Big ones—about twenty."
"Big, huh..."
"Looks like Armor Cavalry."
"Ho."
To be precise, they were Enhanced Armor Cavalry, evolved once more—but the enemies had no clue.
"Some high-level Gangster Necromancers must be around."
"Figures—a few pros teamed up. Keep shields up tight. We won't get pierced, but just in case."
"No worries!"
He never underestimated them.
Armor Cavalry with speed buffs were piercing pros.
But this skill wouldn't shatter from twenty.
Just reinforce it a bit.
Shff.
Three shield-bearers took position.
Dudududu.
The Enhanced Armor Cavalry hit max speed and closed in. Just when they thought it couldn't accelerate more, it surged like lightning, smashing the shields.
Kung, kuwung!
All twenty-one in sequence.
-28 HP
-28 HP
...
Regular cavalry followed, while the enhanced ones hit Acceleration Pierce. Then Armor Knights swarmed from all sides, encircling them.
-------!
Roars and ki waves erupted.
Whooo.
Ten Big Skeletons smashed down with fists from every direction.
-19 HP
...
The onslaught didn't stop.
Yeti and Poison Ogre strikes.
"Bone arrows incoming!"
"Heavy magic too!"
Bone arrows rained, magic blotted the sky.
"What the—?"
Even tiny squirrels scampering across the ground.
Too small to hit easily, but their damage packed a punch—enough to furrow brows.
Kwang, kwagwagwang!
Attacks pierced the dust clouds.
Mighty blows!
Overwhelming tremors mixed in.
-43 HP
Attribute Hit (5) triggered.
Additional -77 HP
Attribute Hit (9) triggered.
Mu-hyuk's arrows.
Storm.
Storm Bow Art, Third Form: Storm Scatter.
"Raaah!"
Sung Min-woo and his spirit's attacks were no joke either.
As it all piled up...
"HP's dropped big time!"
"Area heal?"
"Ready!"
"Cast it!"
Area heal restored HP.
But the assault raged on. With Forma hostiles joining in, damage spiked.
James thought amid the chaos.
How many are there?!
How many Gangster Necromancers brought skeletons with this level of specs—and this many?
"Where's the Gangster Necro user?"
"N-not seeing 'em!"
"Not seeing 'em?!"
"Probably hiding in the group!"
"Damn it. Spam area spells in order!"
"Yes!"
Find the Gangster Necro user somewhere.
Kill them, and the skeletons vanish.
"Homsen, you first!"
Light drained into Homsen—
Magic blasted forward, melting players.
If even one was the necro, numbers would drop. He scanned—no change.
"Again!"
James shouted. Next mage fired. More deaths, no skeleton losses.
Damn, where?!
Then a frantic voice.
"HP's under half again!"
"Heal!"
HP refilled.
But cooldowns locked out heals now.
"How long?"
"3:50!"
"Kill 'em before then."
Just the Gangster Necro.
This time for sure...!
That instant.
Eh...?
Through a skeleton gap, one figure appeared.
That player...!
Aiming an arrow.
Pang!
It nailed his forehead.
-86 HP
-10 HP
Additional -154 HP
-18 HP
One hit—why four times...?
No, why this much damage?
I'm fine. Still good.
Then the player slashed with his sword.
Oncoming fierce energy.
I can take this.
It struck—
The world went dark.
Wha—?!
Dying, James realized one thing.
Rank 2 player, Mu-hyuk.
His power was beyond imagination.
This war wouldn't be easy.
*
A smile tugged at Mu-hyuk's lips.
"Oppa...?"
"Dude, how'd you kill him?"
"Luck."
"What kind?"
"Think White Tiger Slash has an instant-kill effect. Proc'd this time."
"No waaay...!"
A rare instant-kill—even monsters rarely triggered it. Perfect timing.
Otherwise, it'd have dragged messier.
Not over yet.
In 24 hours, they'd log back in.
From Kaion Continent, of course.
Cross the sea again soon.
They'd meet again.
But next time, it'd be tougher.
More hidden pros.
Weirder skills.
Perfect prep? Impossible.
Just raise the odds.
Time to get serious.
No more skimping on enhancement mats.
Upgrade skeleton weapons and shields to +7 at least—for max war contributions.
Try armor enhancements too.
Restock runes.
"Whew, barely took 'em out."
"Yeah."
"Leftovers?"
"Gonna finish 'em."
The fight wasn't done.
Mu-hyuk drew his dagger.
Mopping up the rest was easy.
They were skilled, but leaderless and panicked—sloppy moves, no teamwork.
Wind Step.
Plenty of stats to farm.