Breakthrough to the Summit
The small town of Rubuhana sat at the southernmost tip.
That was their destination.
But they hadn't gone far when Mu-hyuk hardened his expression and came to a halt.
They've prepared for us.
He could see numerous hostile players through the Skull Snake's vision.
Swoosh.
He lightly raised his hand, and the mage behind him cast a partial amplification spell that only carried sound to the rear.
"Hostile players spotted hiding throughout the forest."
The somewhat lighthearted mood among the players instantly flipped.
It grew heavy. Tense. Hot.
Even Yura, positioned near Mu-hyuk, and the Illusion's World crew filming the scene showed signs of tension.
"The forest is large, and there could be traps, so we'll investigate thoroughly first. Use any summons or items useful for scouting. Report any findings to me immediately. Everyone else, stand by."
The scouting wrapped up in no time.
There were more relevant class users than expected.
"Quite a few hostile players scattered throughout the forest. Well, word was bound to spread. They've probably prepared thoroughly. Fortunately, no NPC soldiers or knights in sight."
Mu-hyuk paused in thought for a moment.
He glanced at the knight beside him for advice. As the watching mage cut off the amplification spell, the knight replied.
"I recommend breaking through with a small elite force."
"Why?"
"No point in the whole group slowing down to match pace. It'll just drag out useless skirmishes with those waiting in the forest. Drawing it out risks enemy reinforcements arriving. Better to punch through fast with elites, hit the summit, and sow chaos among their forces."
"Hmm."
The knight's words made sense. And there was another benefit: more contribution points for the taking.
Those confident in their skills and greedy for rewards would step up front; the rest would hang back.
"Good idea. Thanks."
"No problem."
Mu-hyuk relayed the knight's suggestion to the players.
"Players confident in speed and breakthrough, step forward. We'll rush the summit and pin down the hostiles on all sides. Meanwhile, the rest push up from below."
With that, Mu-hyuk advanced.
A good number of players followed.
He paused briefly, turning to look at Yerin.
"Come up slow. With Jiyeon."
"Got it."
Sung Min-woo exchanged a quick nod with Kim Ji-yeon before tailing Mu-hyuk.
"Kuuh, time to play."
"Sounds good."
Mu-hyuk grinned, drawing the red dagger of the White Horse Army from his inventory.
When they got close enough.
27 evolved, 23 unevolved.
Total of 51 cavalry summoned.
Dark Healing Spirit Summon
And healing spirits on top.
"Pushing to the summit at full speed."
The cavalry charged.
Pabababat!
Players followed in their wake.
"Enemies!"
Hostile players' voices rang out.
"Block them!"
"These bastards, trying to die!"
But what charged weren't players—it was Armor Cavalry. Even if attacked, they tanked the hits.
Kwagwagwang!
Above all, the healing spirits kept them from dropping easily.
"Fuck, what are you doing? Block them!"
Hostiles swarmed from all sides.
Before they encircle us...!
Armor Cavalry, full charge!
Mu-hyuk stuck tight behind the accelerating cavalry.
Wind Step!
Scanning ahead sharply from behind the cavalry.
Focused to a single point, they pierced through effortlessly.
But they couldn't block flankers closing in.
Splat.
Sudden arrows and spells disrupted them.
He dodged what he could, blocked the rest with his shield.
Arrows too—dodged or parried unavoidable ones with his dagger. When needed, he sacrificed cavalry.
"Fire Stone!"
That instant, a flaming meteor plummeted from the sky.
High Circle magic.
Long cast time, but devastating AoE damage once unleashed.
"Damn...!"
What to do? As he pondered—
"Fire Bear!"
"On it! Hoo-rah!"
Spearman Gepen, aided by Fire Bear, leaped into the air.
Then thrust his glowing green spear forward.
Energy from the tip cleaved the flaming meteor, erasing the heat in a puff.
Gepen fell back with rebound, landing smoothly and joining Mu-hyuk's left flank with his comrades.
Hoo, impressive.
Worth their top ranks.
Kwang!
On the right, Sung Min-woo smacked away an incoming spear with his knuckles.
Players at the rear pulled their weight too. Clearly, only the confident had stepped up. It gave Mu-hyuk breathing room to command the cavalry.
Sturdier than expected.
They relentlessly smashed through blocking hostiles, summit-bound.
-------!
The more breakthroughs, the more they adapted to the attacks.
Speed built up.
Kaiyon players couldn't even dream of keeping pace, stuck holding position.
Some shouted desperately, but few budged.
"Block them, hurry! Take them down!"
"Bullshit. Chase 'em for what? Then who handles the ones below?"
"Who the hell are you, punk?"
"What, I'm a player, dumbass."
"Ha, I'm the squad lead!"
"So? We all move on our own anyway."
Then returned to his post.
"These...!"
Most shook their heads at the squad lead.
"Damn it!"
He gave up and fell back too.
"Just wait for the main force from below."
"Best for contribution points anyway."
All eyes turned to the approaching Forma Continent main force.
*
Mu-hyuk reached the summit, smirking as he tore the scroll.
Sacred Battle Scroll used.
Barrier installed.
Allies identified.
Enemies identified.
Barrier persists until one side is annihilated.
Logout attempts blocked.
He summoned the remaining skeletons.
Kirrik, kiririk.
Gazing at them, he activated Death Skeleton Summon.
Wealth required to summon Death Skeletons.
What wealth will you use?
He sacrificed the interspersed regular skeletons as tribute.
10,000 MP consumed.
Death Skeletons (200) summoned.
He didn't stop at summoning.
Death Skeleton Enhancement.
Using low-HP Armor Cavalry as tribute to empower the Death Skeletons.
All Death Skeleton stats slightly increased.
Stronger Death Skeletons dispersed in all directions.
With surprisingly agile movements, they latched onto Kaiyon players everywhere, thrusting fists.
Using Continuous Thrust for moderate damage, then self-detonating.
-------!
Hostiles, caught off-guard by the sudden assault, flew back. Bone arrows rained on the dazed foes.
Kang, kagang!
Unable to withstand, they faded faintly.
Kwang, kwagwang!
Such scenes erupted everywhere.
"Su-suicide! Crazy!"
"Fuck, dodge 'em all!"
Kaiyon players belatedly panicked, scattering.
But bone arrows poured endlessly.
Not enough—numerous spells followed.
"Kuhuk!"
In that brief hesitation.
Boom.
Death Skeletons swarmed, engulfing hostile players.
*
Something unexpected unfolded at the summit.
Instead of awaited Forma players ascending, Kaiyon summit holders fled in horror.
"What? Why are they...?"
"What's going on?!"
"No way they're running?"
"Joking, right?!"
Waiting Forma players below moved.
"Focus! They're coming down!"
"Damn...!"
They soon grasped it.
"Crazy, skeletons exploding!"
"What...?"
"Damage is no joke!"
As info spread, swarming Death Skeletons overwhelmed Kaiyon players.
Massive blasts claimed several lives, finally driving home the gravity.
"Should we run too?"
"Idiot, where to?"
They fully realized.
Their ambush spot, once opportunity, now a death trap.
"Right, just log out!"
"Dumbass. Think it'll work?"
"Scroll already blocked it!"
Amid curses, one player laughed.
"Morons."
"What?"
"He's lost it."
Still chuckling, he pulled a scroll from inventory.
"Die well, kekeke."
Tore it—white light enveloped him.
"Logout!"
Then logged out.
"Wh-what? How?!"
"Ha, insane. He had that."
"What's that?"
"Survival Scroll!"
"Survival Scroll...?"
"Yeah. Overrides even Sacred Battle Scroll."
"Crazy..."
Money couldn't buy it. Only nobles with connections snagged a few.
*
Mu-hyuk busily wielded his dagger to max effect.
Stats rose with each kill.
Addictive.
"Hoo."
Catching breath, he charged again.
Kwang, kwang!
Shield-blocked incoming attacks.
Power Dash.
Closed on a player, slashed with dagger.
Storm, Cross Slash.
One down, he pivoted.
White Tiger Steps.
Daggered nearby foes.
Destroyer's Charge.
Shot toward distant player.
Chaos swirled.
"Hey, it's over."
"Huh?"
At Sung Min-woo's words, Mu-hyuk surveyed.
No hostiles left.
"Already?"
"Yeah. You were slaughtering like mad."
"Ahem..."
Mu-hyuk cleared his throat, approaching ascending Yerin.
"Good work."
"You too, oppa!"
"Rest up?"
"Nah, we're fine. Didn't do much."
"Then..."
Glancing back, the elite summit team looked fresh too.
"Let's move out."
They crossed the mountain promptly.
"There?"
"Probably."
Soon, first objective: Rubuhana small town.
Made short work of the few hostiles, then planted Forma Continent's flag atop the tallest building.
Mu-hyuk asked the mage.
"We need to advance, but what about holding here?"
"No worries. Forma Continent soldiers are en route."
"Soldiers?"
"Yes. Think this group's conquering Kaiyon Continent alone? Second wave underway, plus third and fourth."
"Ah...!"
"They'll hold it."
No joke.
He truly felt the war's massive scale.