Arrival in the Lawless Zone
The mid-level demon Cork grumbled.
"Ah, seriously. When the hell is it coming?"
"Hmmm."
"This is driving me nuts. How long do we have to wait?!"
"Hmmm."
"It's so frustrating, so frustrating. You feel it too, right?"
"Hmmm."
"Lately, it's showing up slower and slower. What if it stops coming altogether later?"
"Hmmm."
Bokuma, accustomed to it, simply responded to Cork's complaints with a single hum each time.
"Hey, do you only know how to say 'hmmm'? Wait a sec. Could the last battle be the final time it showed up?"
"Who knows."
"This is insane. Ah, whatever! One more day! If it doesn't come in exactly one day, we'll just go by ourselves!"
"Do what you want."
"Damn it! Our grand plan's falling apart. Wait, you're not saying 'hmmm' anymore?"
"It's my mood."
"Ugh, you're killing me."
Just as he sighed in lament,
Whoooosh.
A familiar wind blew, and the skeleton appeared.
"Whoooaahhh!"
Cork jumped up in joy, ready to welcome it.
"Whoo, whoa...?"
But at the sight of an unfamiliar creature alongside the skeleton, he tilted his head.
"Huh? What are those guys? Whatever, doesn't matter. It's finally here!"
"Yeah, yeah. Long time no see. Really glad to see you. But what's with this zombie?"
"Got it. Anyway, let's head out right away!"
Cork led the skeleton and the zombie.
"The road's long, real long!"
Along the way, a bunch of level 2 and 3 demonic beasts appeared.
"These guys are nothing now."
The skeleton stepped forward and subdued the demonic beasts with ease. Its growth rate was that impressive.
"Let's pick up the pace! Just two more zones and we're at the Lawless Zone!"
Cork started running.
"Haa."
Bokuma, the skeleton, and the zombies followed behind.
They subtly enjoyed Cork's backtalk.
A short while later.
They arrived at F25 zone, the final rest spot.
"The Lawless Zone is just ahead."
"Yeah. Just one more zone! The Lawless Zone we've been waiting for—the intermediate region. Let's have a real fight there. Build up our skills through battle. And if we conquer it..."
"We'll be kings of the Lawless Zone."
"Kings! Kings! Heh heh heh!"
Cork let out a creepy laugh.
"Heh heh, cough, cough."
He ended up coughing, probably from choking.
"Pathetic."
"Cough, ahem. Ahem. Whatever, let's go!"
The skeleton silently followed.
Demonic beasts appeared on the way.
Perhaps because it was the final stretch to the Lawless Zone.
"A lot of them?"
There were really a ton.
"Eh, whatever. Just charge through!"
There, most of the zombies and regular skeletons died.
But the survivors were the elite of elites, evolved through trials.
Moreover, each of the Number 1 skeletons wore command authority runes, making their movements seamless.
The Armor Knights swiftly filled the gap.
Crunch.
Even if it meant their bodies shattering, they followed orders without complaint.
Flawless coordination, absolute obedience, and ruthless disregard for their lives dominated the battlefield.
The Armor Knights strained to hold the line.
From behind, Armor Mages unleashed a barrage of spells.
Rumble!
The mounted archers toyed with the demonic beasts, scattering and regrouping using their mobility.
Around them, Armor Cavalry always stood ready, blocking or shoving back approaching beasts.
Thanks to timely use of Charge, it was no trouble.
Occasionally, they combined Charge with Accelerated Thrust to shatter the beasts' solid formations.
"Cr, incredible..."
Even amid the fierce battle, Cork marveled.
"Getting more amazing by the day."
"Agreed."
Bokuma nodded too.
Truly astonishing.
At this growth rate, they might dominate the Lawless Zone soon.
Kings of the intermediate region.
A new demon lord could be born.
Then, a demonic beast lunged at Cork.
"Ha, you bastard!"
He swatted it away effortlessly.
"Heh heh heh."
He too had grown incomparably stronger than before.
Advanced demon level's just around the corner!
Grinning, he began massacring the rest.
"It's over."
"Let's move again!"
The Lawless Zone was right before them.
How far had they gone?
"We're here at last!"
They'd arrived at the Lawless Zone.
At what could be called the entrance, they sensed multiple killing intents.
"Hmmm? Two guys and some weird bones?"
Exactly seven appeared.
Each one's aura was extraordinary.
Two mid-level.
Five low-level.
One advanced.
"Right from the start..."
"What a welcome."
Smiles crept onto Cork and Bokuma's lips.
"Eh, just weaklings guarding the entrance."
"Agreed."
"Let's wipe 'em out."
At their words, the eight demons living on the outskirts twisted their faces like enraged ghosts.
"These bastards...!"
"Kill them and drag 'em here."
"Yes!"
At the advanced demon's command, the five low-level ones charged.
"Take the weak ones."
The command-authorized skeletons nodded.
The cavalry kicked off the ground.
Giant Ogre, Yeti, and others followed.
"Bone bastards!"
The first-colliding Armor Cavalry was pushed back.
The low-level demons took minor damage from Charge but nothing serious.
As smirks formed on their lips, two flanking Armor Cavalry thrust their spears.
The momentum from Charge plus Accelerated Thrust.
The two skills synergized perfectly.
"Kuh...!"
The low-level demon slid backward from the impact.
Thud.
At that moment, the Red Orc Great Warrior behind it swung its greatsword horizontally.
Using Knockback skill, it shoved all five low-level demons—who'd been toying with the Armor Cavalry—forward.
-------!
The ensuing ki blast made them stagger.
Various skills exploded, striking the low-level demons.
Boom!
When the dust cleared, only the corpses of the slain demons remained.
"Puh, puhahaha! Oh man, my sides! They mocked the bones and got themselves killed? Kee hee, kuhihi!"
His sly cackle turned the faces of the remaining two mid-level demons red with rage.
But they didn't charge recklessly.
They'd witnessed the low-level ones die with their own eyes.
"Fun guy."
Then the advanced demon stepped forward.
"Yeah, that laugh. Let's see how long it lasts."
Only then did Cork stop laughing.
Overwhelmed by the aura emanating from it.
"As expected, advanced level."
"Dangerous."
"Run."
"What...?"
"Let's run."
Cork and Bokuma turned and fled.
"Cover our backs, friends! See you next time!"
The remaining skeletons fought desperately.
But against an advanced demon, it wasn't enough.
*
Mu-hyuk read the popup message.
The summon has left the northern zone.
The summon has entered the intermediate region, A1 zone—Hokun Village.
You can change the starting zone to Hokun Village.
Change it?
Interest sparked in Mu-hyuk's eyes.
Intermediate region?
A place name he'd never heard before.
Was there such a spot?
A sudden question arose.
Does the intermediate region have no demon lord?
East, west, south, north.
With demon lords in those four spots, maybe none in the center. Based on his knowledge, that seemed likely.
Hoo.
The skeleton had entered quite an intriguing area.
This'll be fun.
He organized his thoughts and reached out.
Starting zone changed to A1, Hokun Village.
Not long after.
Summon EXP Acquired ×5
Quite a hefty EXP gain.
Consecutively, too.
Right after, the summons started dying off rapidly.
"Hm?"
Seemed they'd run into a strong foe.
Well, got plenty of EXP.
Plenty satisfied, but then users gathered around.
"Um, Mu-hyuk-ssi?"
"Yes?"
"That +10 weapon up at the auction house—is it yours?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Whoa, that's huge. Congrats!"
"Thanks."
"Man, I was wondering if I could just take the +7 one, but this puts my mind at ease."
"Really? No need to feel burdened. I wanted to make it for you."
"Haha, got it. Thanks!"
"Hope it sells for a good price!"
"Thanks."
He received quite a few more congratulations after that.
Not bad at all.
Good deeds attract flies, as they say.
Surprisingly, no one asked for +8 enhancements or to use his artisan title for their +7 items.
Maybe that's why he felt even better.
The next day.
After repelling two attacks as the sun set.
"Call if something urgent comes up."
"Yeah, oppa."
"You sure you don't wanna watch together?"
"It's fine. Too far."
"Alright, then weekend or whenever you're free."
"Okay! I'll hang with unnie."
Mu-hyuk smiled.
"You know, oppa."
"Yeah, I got it."
After exchanging secretive glances, he logged out.
"Hmmm, something's off? Suspicious."
"Suspicious my foot. Hurry up, don't keep my oppa waiting."
"Fine, got it."
Sung Min-woo logged out soon after.
"Let's eat."
Mu-hyuk changed clothes right away and grabbed his phone. More missed calls than expected—mostly unknown numbers.
Lazy to check, he pocketed it and headed out. Destination: the chicken place from last time.
Sung Min-woo was already seated when he arrived.
"You made it."
"Yeah."
He pulled out his phone only after sitting across.
"Hmmm."
"What?"
"Tons of missed calls."
"Ah, from the +10 weapon buzz? Broadcasters or something?"
"Maybe."
He pondered, then sent a group text.
His phone buzzed nonstop after.
Beep, beep beep, beepbeepbeep.
Texts poured in.
And calls too.
Mu-hyuk accidentally hit accept.
"Ah, crap. Ahem, hello?"
(Hello. This is SBT Broadcasting Station.)
"SBT?"
(Yes. I'm An Sung-ho PD, producer for Second World: Illusion. We reached out hoping you'd appear on our show. We can make it a special and air it tomorrow. Full promo for your +10 item, of course. And top-tier compensation.)
"Ah, sorry."
(Don't say that, let me...)
"Sorry."
Mu-hyuk apologized and hung up.
Beep beep.
Another call immediately.
"Calls won't stop."
"Time for a new phone..."
He stared at Sung Min-woo.
"What? Something on my face?"
"Hmmm."
Mu-hyuk recalled his secretive chat with Yerin. Now that he was here, there was one absolute goal he had to achieve.
"You see."
"What? Spit it out."
Mu-hyuk's expression turned deadly serious.