Seizing the Zombie Sorcerer's Power
Baku slipped out of the statue chamber and cautiously scouted the situation above.
Damn...!
All the guild members were dead.
The zombies too.
In contrast, there were more surviving Forma Continent users than he'd expected.
The real problem was that some of them were relentlessly scurrying around, searching for something.
No way... me?
Anxiety made his heart pound.
Thump, thump.
Stumbling upon this place had been pure luck.
Yeah, that's right. So...
It should take them quite a while too.
There was less than a day left now.
If he could just hold out here until then, he'd gain the zombie sorcerer's power. Sure, the S-grade goal had failed, but the A-grade one was still within reach.
So please!
Just in case, he decided to try setting a trap.
Maybe something had changed?
But his hopes shattered.
Trap installation is impossible in this area.
Same message as before.
Damn it!
He descended the stairs and positioned himself in front of the statue again.
Remaining Time: 21 hours, 51 minutes, 33 seconds
Time kept ticking away.
One second, another second.
But it dragged on unbearably slow.
I'm going crazy here.
If he could just get this power, he was confident he could stand up to them openly.
He might not win, but he wouldn't go down without a fight either.
How much time had passed?
Five minutes? Ten?
As tension slowly ebbed, rationality returned.
He calmed down, grew cold and calculating.
"Whew, alright."
Finding this place was no easy feat.
Hope wasn't lost yet.
Stay calm, just stay calm.
He passed the time fiddling with this and that.
Before he knew it, twenty minutes had gone by.
Still no signs of anything. Confidence building, he climbed the stairs again to check the hostile users' movements.
Meanwhile.
Even after twenty minutes of meticulous scouting, no sign of the zombie sorcerer user or any traps.
There definitely hadn't been anyone like that in the battle, so it was truly bizarre.
Did they flee before using the scroll?
Possible.
Mu-hyuk pondered, then called out to the users.
"Hey, wanna take a break for now?"
"Sounds good. I'm beat."
"Ugh, feels kinda iffy, but rest first, yeah."
"Agreed. Let's rest."
Finally, everyone plopped down on the floor.
Mu-hyuk did the same.
Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, and Kim Ji-yeon settled beside him.
"That fight was rough, huh?"
"Rough? Dude, insane. Freakin' brutal."
"First time in ages agreeing with Min-woo oppa."
"M-me too..."
Even Kim Ji-yeon looked exhausted.
"Well, we won, at least."
Yura, the male MC Sung-ho, and the camera crew approached them.
"Good work out there."
"Nah."
"Tough, but we got some great footage."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Looking forward to more."
Everyone smiled warmly at Yura's greeting.
"Rest up then."
"You too, Yura."
Ten minutes of individual rest passed like that.
Hydra Summon
Skull Snake Summon
He sent the wriggling creatures scattering in all directions, then used his vision-sharing skill to scan everywhere.
Even after thorough, careful sweeps, nothing turned up.
But something felt off enough not to give up.
What was it? The battle had this desperate edge to it.
Like protecting something?
Might be his imagination, but Mu-hyuk knew his instincts rarely missed the mark, so he didn't brush it off.
Just a bit more.
He spread the skull snakes again, focusing on each field of vision.
That was when it happened.
Mu-hyuk tilted his head.
Skull Snake, halt.
Something had changed.
But he couldn't pinpoint what.
He checked calmly, one by one.
Still, no clue what was different.
The moment doubt surged—what the hell?—it changed again.
Whoa...!
The color of a small, dark hole at the base of the wall had shifted.
He sensed what happened.
An eye!
Someone had peeked outside through that hole.
There was space behind the wall.
Conviction hit as he stood.
"Oppa, where to?"
"That Kairon user is still alive."
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"Found him."
Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, and Kim Ji-yeon shot up.
"F-found him? The user?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa, nuts. Found him just sitting here."
Yura and Sung-ho, who had been watching, sensed the shift and hurried over.
"Something up?"
"Yeah, had the skull snakes scouting."
"And?"
"Found where the user's hiding."
"Pardon...?"
Mu-hyuk didn't clarify for Yura and dashed to the secluded wall.
The others followed.
"Here?"
"Yeah."
Mu-hyuk stopped and felt along the wall.
There had to be a mechanism.
With Mu-hyuk's group and the camera crew clustered, curious users approached too. They nodded after overhearing the crew.
"Looks like they found a secret spot."
"How?"
"Through skull snakes, apparently."
"The skull snakes?"
"Yeah, Mu-hyuk spotted something off via vision sharing."
"Impressive."
"Bet it's the zombie summoner and trap guy. Sung-ho, what do you think?"
"Hmm, if it's a real secret spot, yeah."
Right then, the wall Mu-hyuk touched sank in.
"Whoa, found it!"
A small vibration followed.
Grr rumble.
Stairs descending underground appeared.
Now it was certain.
Hostile users—one or two—were down there.
"Let's go."
Mu-hyuk led the way down the stairs.
How far did they go?
A small door appeared in the distance.
Creeeak.
The door opened easily.
You have discovered the Zombie Sorcerer's Resting Place.
You can borrow the zombie sorcerer's power here using resources, or undergo the trial to acquire it fully. The zombie sorcerer's power has no effect on your existing abilities. It simply adds to them.
The process is already underway. To reset and take the trial, you must kill the user currently undergoing it.
A hologram popped up simultaneously.
With unexpected details.
*
Checking again, they hadn't noticed a thing.
Good.
Baku sighed in relief and confirmed the remaining time once more.
Remaining Time: 21 hours, 28 minutes, 33 seconds
Still over twenty-one hours left.
So damn slow.
Then a faint vibration hit.
Baku's eyebrow twitched.
No way...?
He hurriedly hid behind the statue.
Damn, what if they really come?
Truth was, even one combat user would be tough.
Most items used up as resources, and trapper class limits.
With prep, he could handle dozens, hundreds—but without, even one was a struggle.
Creeeak.
The door opened.
Goddamn it!
The instant he saw who entered, Baku cursed inwardly.
Of all people, Mu-hyuk.
No, that wasn't the issue.
"Here?"
"Statue too—super suspicious."
Users poured in behind him.
Reality sank in.
It's over.
He accepted he couldn't hold out anymore.
Mu-hyuk approached the statue just then.
"Found you."
"Whew."
Mu-hyuk spotting Baku.
He'd grasped the situation the moment the hologram appeared.
The trapper borrowing zombie sorcerer tech here, in the midst of claiming it fully.
"Time to end this."
Without knowing the process, better kill quick.
Zombie sorcerer, huh.
Unexpected, but a chance like this—he had to seize it.
Storm Blade, Cross Slash
He drew his dagger and swung.
Clang!
Baku, resigned, didn't dodge.
No hope left.
He took the barrage standing still.
Baku dealt with simply.
The trial candidate for the zombie sorcerer has died.
The zombie sorcerer's trial has been reset.
You have become the trial candidate for slaying the previous one.
S-Grade Goal: Do not lose the small city
🎁 Reward: All powers of the zombie sorcerer.
A-Grade Goal: Survive for one week without dying
🎁 Reward: Portion of the zombie sorcerer's power.
Mu-hyuk smiled at the pop-ups.
*
No holograms for the other users, it seemed.
"Looks like it's just for me."
Mu-hyuk explained to the gathered users.
"...So now I'm taking the trial."
A hidden piece he'd earned fair and square—no foul play. No reason to hide it.
He'd own the consequences. Besides, hiding it meant no way to last a week here.
"Zombie sorcerer power?"
"Yes."
"Whoa..."
Greed flickered in some users' eyes.
If they attacked?
Regrettable, but he wouldn't yield it easily.
He'd fight, and show no mercy.
Mu-hyuk coveted the zombie sorcerer power too.
Luckily...
"Mu-hyuk did the heavy lifting."
"True. Super jealous, but he earned it."
"Agreed."
More accepted it than expected.
"Heh, as expected. Goddess of luck loves you only."
"Maybe?"
"Ugh, lucky bastard!"
"Jealous? Want me to hand it over?"
"What? Nah, man."
Sung Min-woo didn't covet it.
No envy either—just playful ribbing.
His genuine smile said he was happy for Mu-hyuk.
"Oppa, congrats!"
"C-congrats, oppa."
"Too early for congrats. Gotta pass the trial first."
Ye-rin and Kim Ji-yeon too.
"Hmm."
But some couldn't shake their greed.
BlueSea, the paladin user.
"What if Mu-hyuk dies?"
"Resets."
"I think I qualify for the trial too."
"You ready to own that?"
"Of course."
"Confident?"
"Right now? Absolutely."
He glanced back, stirring the users.
"Don't you all qualify? We fought together—unfair one gets the hidden piece while others watch. Why not step up now? Fairness matters here, right?"
"Hmm, fair point."
"Guess I'll join."
A dozen tempted users stepped forward.
Mu-hyuk eyed them coldly.