Berserker's Crushing Aura
When had it started?
He clearly held the overwhelming advantage, yet it felt like he was the one being pushed back.
He finally sensed the strange undercurrent.
What is it...?
The moment he tried to pull back to assess the problem, a red light erupted from the eye sockets of the helmet worn by the Dark Knight.
Exposed to the Berserker's Aura.
Your entire body is overwhelmed.
Physical abilities reduced for 3 minutes.
Attack Speed -5%
Movement Speed -2%
Reaction Speed -0.5%
Mu-hyuk's brow furrowed.
Damn it, that crazy bastard!
Attack speed and movement speed made sense.
But reaction speed?
His current reaction speed hadn't even reached 103 percent yet. And now it dropped by 0.5 percent.
His ability to react had fallen a full tier. He had to endure for three minutes in this state.
He'd thought he was pressing the attack, but now he was the one overwhelmed.
And to top it off, the enemy's skill was the absolute worst matchup.
A Berserker, of all things...
It was infuriating, nose-stuffing levels of absurdity.
As its HP decreased, it grew stronger and faster. There was no way the skeletons' steady attacks would work against that.
No, no.
Mu-hyuk forced himself to stay calm.
There was always a way, no matter the situation.
As his surging excitement began to subside...
Flash.
The enemy charged.
With overwhelming speed.
Mu-hyuk reacted a beat too late.
Ah, shit!
The moment he raised his shield to meet it, the Dark Knight veered off course.
Crack.
One of Bone Sword 7's arms shattered.
All units, fall back!
No time to gather his thoughts.
The barely suppressed excitement reared its head again.
Fine, it's do or die!
Bone Bows, rapid fire!
Bone Swords, charge!
Mu-hyuk charged in too.
It's a slugfest anyway!
Just land a few more hits after surrounding it.
Kirrik, kiririk!
But the Dark Knight sliced through the rapidly fired bone arrows with its sword. It twisted its body to dodge the charging Bone Swords' advance.
Of course, with so many Bone Swords, the Dark Knight couldn't hold its ground.
As it darted left and right through the dungeon's narrow passage, it steadily swung its blade, inflicting wounds on the Bone Swords.
Hmm...
This wasn't winnable like this.
Mu-hyuk abandoned his plan to bide his time and stepped forward boldly.
"Hah!"
With a shout, he closed the distance and swung his sword downward. The Dark Knight laid its blade flat and blocked the attack effortlessly.
Clang.
With a metallic ring, the Dark Knight's sword slid along Mu-hyuk's blade toward his hand.
Startled, Mu-hyuk swallowed and kicked out.
Thud!
Using the recoil from the kick to his abdomen, he retreated.
Crazy...
The Dark Knight was truly fast.
And tricky.
If only I were level 50...
Things would be different then.
His resolve hardened.
He needed to hit level 50 and build a proper foundation. From there, effort would yield results.
But he couldn't afford stray thoughts now.
He closed in again on the Dark Knight, which was indiscriminately smashing Bone Swords.
The sword thrust at him.
He couldn't see it clearly, but he trusted his instincts.
Hup!
Ducking low, he rolled forward. The pursuing Dark Knight's sword grazed his back. He took a hit, HP dropping.
-311 HP
At least it wasn't a critical.
He sprang up immediately and thrust his sword at the charging Dark Knight.
Thanks to the surprise?
The Dark Knight couldn't dodge or block.
176 damage inflicted.
Explosion damage (+88) added.
Almost done...!
But Mu-hyuk took a hit from the Dark Knight's sword at the same time. His HP plummeted below 30 percent in an instant.
He retreated desperately, chugging a Potion of Life. HP rose by 200, easing his breathing.
But the Dark Knight was still pursuing.
Bone Swords, charge!
He issued the command and rolled across the floor again.
Just then, a charging Bone Sword collided with the Dark Knight.
Mu-hyuk rose and cautiously closed in, unleashing attacks, but he couldn't land solid hits.
The Dark Knight's movements were too flashy and fast, even with its HP near zero.
Damn, just one or two more hits!
Then the Bone Swords swung at the Dark Knight's back.
Swish.
The Dark Knight twisted toward the wall, kicked off it with all its might, turned toward a Bone Sword, and launched itself.
Bone Swords, defend!
Bone Bows, rapid fire!
He commanded frantically, but two Bone Swords were sliced by the Dark Knight's blade.
Crush.
Bone Swords 3 and 4, their bodies shattered, were reverse-summoned.
Clang.
The belated bone arrows struck the Dark Knight's armor. They bounced off, but some damage must have gotten through.
Mu-hyuk scowled and closed the distance again.
No matter what anyone said, he himself dealt the highest damage.
Swish.
As he approached, Bone Sword 5 was reverse-summoned.
Mu-hyuk reached point-blank range and attacked again, but the Dark Knight ignored him and lunged at another Bone Sword.
As this repeated, Mu-hyuk's reason began to numb.
"Raaagh!"
Now only three Bone Swords remained.
Two Bone Bows had also been reverse-summoned.
The Dark Knight darted everywhere, targeting Bone Swords and Bows, while the durations of Explosion Light and Power, Agility Potion, and Vitality Potion all expired.
The momentum had shifted to the enemy.
Damn, damn...!
Then Mu-hyuk spotted Bone Sword 1.
I should save it...
He'd wanted to use it after level 50.
For maximum efficiency.
But there was no other way now.
Nothing else.
Dying here would be too pathetic.
Goddamn it.
In the end, he pulled it from his inventory.
The cherished Variant Lizardman Knight skull.
*
While the Dark Knight attacked the remaining summons, Mu-hyuk stood before Bone Sword 1, holding the Lizardman Knight skull.
"Hoo..."
No time for prolonged deliberation.
Goddamn it.
Cursing inwardly, he gripped Bone Sword 1's skull.
"Bone Assembly."
Bone Assembly
The skull popped off with a click.
He placed the Lizardman Knight skull in its place.
'Bone Sword 1's skull has been replaced.'
Evolution begins.
Changes to 'Enhanced Skeleton' complete.
Neutral attribute series.
HP increase per level: 5 → 10.
Lizardman Knight traits applied: Strength +5, Stamina +5.
Attack Power +10.
Defense +15.
Magic Defense +15.
Attack Speed +5%.
Movement Speed +5%.
Reaction Speed +1%.
All Stats +2.
Its skeletal frame thickened to the girth of an adult's forearm, filling the empty spaces and making it look armored. Its height grew by about 20 centimeters.
Overall, attack, defense, and magic defense rose sharply.
HP and MP each increased by 170 thanks to the +5 per level.
And attack speed, movement speed—even reaction speed—all improved.
Plus Lizardman Knight traits added +5 Strength and Stamina, and +2 to all stats, making it incomparably stronger.
But even witnessing this dramatic change, Mu-hyuk's expression didn't brighten.
Damn...
This Enhanced Skeleton would evolve into an Armor Knight at level 100.
But that was the end.
No further evolutions.
If he'd hit level 50 and learned proper skills?
Using Enhanced Bone Assembly on the skull then?
It could evolve to Armor Knight at 100, then Enhanced Armor Knight at 200.
That one difference.
That's why he'd saved it.
To use it as late as possible.
Havng just seen this astonishing transformation made the regret even sharper.
"Haa."
But it was used now.
No point in belated regrets.
At least you'll make a fine asset.
Gazing at the still rampaging Dark Knight, he commanded.
Enhanced Skeleton, charge!
Mu-hyuk followed behind.
Slash.
The Dark Knight, mid-attack on a Bone Bow, glanced back at the approaching Enhanced Skeleton.
As if dismissing it, it turned back to the Bone Bow and swung.
Kiririk.
The Bone Bow was reverse-summoned by the strike.
Swish.
Only then did the Dark Knight pivot. It collided with the now point-blank Enhanced Skeleton.
Their swords clashed in midair, ringing out metallically.
Clang! Clang!
The Dark Knight's sword struck the Enhanced Skeleton's side.
Tang.
But it made an odd sound, like striking armor.
The evolution hadn't just made it look cooler—the bones' thickness boosted actual combat power.
The pity was, even evolved, it was still outmatched by the Dark Knight.
It was a fierce deadlock compared to before, but if it couldn't win, it meant nothing.
Swish.
Mu-hyuk approached the skirmish cautiously.
Just one hit.
Compared to the start, the Dark Knight felt like a whole new monster—stronger.
No wonder he'd assumed its HP was bottomed out.
The Enhanced Skeleton was holding it down.
Not landing attacks, but with high HP and defense. And its speed now kept pace with the Dark Knight's movements.
A bit more.
Mu-hyuk had closed to three steps from the Dark Knight.
Not yet in sword range.
One more step...
Their fierce battle raged on.
Clang, clang!
He stepped forward in time with the sword clashes.
Adapted to Berserker's Aura.
Reduced physical abilities return to normal.
Lucky.
His heavy body felt much lighter.
Pouring all his power into the swing.
Whoosh.
Mu-hyuk's sword sliced into the Dark Knight's shoulder.
Correction effect triggered.
Critical hit!
352 damage inflicted.
It was as if time had stopped.
"..."
Everything was silent.
Thud.
The delayed sound snapped him back.
"Hoo..."
Steadying his excitement-tainted breaths, he took in the fallen Dark Knight below.
He'd defeated it.
*
Gazing at the graying Dark Knight, he spoke.
"Corpse Dissection."
Corpse Dissection
The skill activated, his hands moving on autopilot.
Stripping the armor revealed the hidden form: a skeleton no different from his summons.
A quick sweep over its body ended the skill.
Exclusive gear acquired.
Whoa, even the skull?
Another level up too.
It would have been perfect if that was all.
Quest-related.
Contaminated Unique Dungeon cleared.
🎁 Reward: Special Item Chest x3
Quest updated.
But expectations always backfire.
A quest he'd ignored popped up unbidden.
Swarming Darkness
From ancient times, Necromancers operated in the shadows, enduring contempt and mockery from White Mages. The founder of the Gangster Necromancer class, unable to bear it, burst forth and discovered darkness lurking among the White Mages. Believing that exposing this darkness would drive out White Magic and allow Necromancers to step into the light, he delved into it—but its true nature remains unknown. As the founder's prized disciple, you must seek this darkness to pave the way for Necromancers.
+ Confirmed Variant Lizardman Knight in contaminated dungeon tainted by darkness.
+ Confirmed Dark Knight in contaminated Unique Dungeon tainted by darkness.
📍 Success: ?
📍 Failure: Loss of class
📍 Judged later
Staring at the new messages, Mu-hyuk let out an involuntary chuckle.