Back to Basics
His first visit to the Hemil Empire in a long while.
Mu-hyuk walked through the bustling interior of the Hemil Empire, now far more vibrant than before.
Nice.
A feast of countless users.
Some had set up shop with signs.
"Come check it out! Lots of great items!"
Others were recruiting for parties.
"Looking for ranged DPS over level 40!"
"Need a tank over level 45!"
"Priest level 30 or higher, come on over!"
The closer he got to the plaza, the more crowded it became, but Mu-hyuk saw even this as a kind of leisure.
He leisurely browsed before turning toward the plaza and heading north.
The buildings grew shabbier the higher he climbed.
That alley.
He stopped in front of a house on the verge of collapse, deep within it.
Knock knock.
No answer to the knock.
It was the same back then too...
Mu-hyuk smiled and called out.
"It's me, Master!"
The door flew open.
There stood Valsian, the old man with a subtle expression.
"What brings you here?"
"Just dropping by."
"Ahem, come in."
He entered and took a seat.
Valsian stared intently at Mu-hyuk.
"Ho, you've grown quite a bit."
"I've put in the work."
"Well, you're barely scraping by, but since you've met the minimum, let's give you a test while you're here."
"A test?"
"Indeed. Gangster Necromancers have always lacked proper attack skills. They've focused solely on skeletons, making their summons incredibly strong but leaving themselves frail. To compensate, they delved into the basic skills of basic jobs."
Finally, it was here.
The thing he'd been waiting for.
The Most Fundamental Thing
Gangster Necromancers lack proper attack skills. To compensate, previous Lords devoted themselves to mastering basic job skills. Before learning those basic skills, first understand the foundational jobs.
📍 Understanding:0%
🎁 Success: Acquire previous Lord's basic skill, gift
🎁 Failure: Acquire ordinary basic skill, gift
Valsian continued.
"Many ignored them, but basics are the most important foundation in the world. The previous Lord mastered those basic skills repeatedly. And he realized that everything in the world stems from these basics."
"You must first understand the five foundational jobs. Pass this test, and I'll grant a fitting reward."
"The five jobs...?"
"Knight, Mage, Priest, Archer, Fighter."
"How do I understand them?"
"In your own way."
"..."
"One hint: They must be together."
Mu-hyuk nodded.
"Got it."
"Then go understand and return."
"Yes."
Leaving Valsian's house, Mu-hyuk grinned.
Good thing it's the same.
Those who'd first received this quest observed users in the plaza. But understanding didn't rise, so they visited each job's guild, talked to instructors, watched skills, and barely gained a few percent after hours.
Thinking it'd take a month, they gave up and went hunting.
Naturally, they formed a party with a Priest, Mage, Archer, Fighter, and Knight.
By pure coincidence, it had all five jobs needed.
The moment they hunted together, understanding skyrocketed.
Watching their skills up close and acting with them filled the gauge to 100% instantly. One even got a level 50 basic skill and skyrocketed from there.
The key point: All five jobs together.
Missing even one? No rise in understanding.
Valsian's hint meant the same: Together.
All five jobs.
Time to form a party.
Mu-hyuk headed back to the plaza.
Should I recruit?
Finding a party with Knight, Archer, Mage, Priest, and Fighter was tough.
Ideal combo, but Fighters were somewhat shunned.
Usually, they'd swap for double Mages or Archers.
Even that was hard...
Party recruiting wasn't easy.
"Hmm..."
He scanned the plaza first.
"Mage level 30+! Tank ready!"
"Hunting Orc Great Warriors. Any melee DPS! Two Mages waiting!"
"Recruiting Archer!"
Not easy, as expected.
But the plaza was vast.
He looked more carefully.
"Recruiting tank level 40+! Priest, Mage, Archer, Knight waiting!"
There—one user caught his eye.
All four needed jobs.
"Hey."
"Ah, yes! Tank?"
The guy asked right away.
Tank, huh?
With enhanced skeletons, sure.
"Yeah, sorta... But I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"Got a Fighter too?"
"Ah, yes. That's me."
"...!"
Mu-hyuk's expression changed.
All five jobs!
Misreading it, the Knight guy smiled bitterly.
"I get it, the Fighter makes it iffy? We all picked different jobs at start..."
"Ah, all friends?"
"Yeah."
"Not that I hate Fighters. Just surprised."
"Ah."
"Can I join? I can tank properly..."
"Of course! Party first..."
"Sure."
⊳ [Yes / No]
The name was unique.
Harpoon Combo.
He chuckled and selected Yes.
Reveal Job? [Yes/No]
Reveal Level? [Yes/No]
Mu-hyuk revealed only his level.
"Joined. Ready to go?"
"Yeah. What are we hunting?"
"You'll tank with the Knight, so we'll decide based on your level."
"Got it."
He nodded and opened the party window.
Fighter 47, Knight 45, Priest 43, Mage 46, Archer 45.
Evenly distributed.
Knight highest.
They arrived at the inn.
"Waiting here."
Inside, four users nursing dumplings and drinks.
"Hey, you're here."
"Oh, that's him?"
"Yeah, says he's confident in tanking."
"Oho!"
Mu-hyuk greeted them.
"I'm Dio, the party leader, Fighter."
"Silbea, Priest."
"Han Areum, Mage."
"OneShotOneKill."
Archer obvious from the name.
Finally, the level 45 Knight.
A burly guy stepped up.
"Knight class, nickname Pitong."
Greetings done.
Mu-hyuk bowed slightly.
"Mu-hyuk."
"Uh, your job?"
Time to reveal.
What to say?
Thoughts raced.
Out popped:
"Tankromancer."
"Pardon?"
"Tankromancer?"
An awkward silence fell.
Even I think it's...
Tankromancer was ridiculous.
But too late.
Own it.
"Yeah, secret class."
"The name's a bit..."
"Sounds like Necromancer?"
This'd get annoying.
Mu-hyuk led them out.
"Let's go. You wanted to test tanking, right?"
"Ah, true, but..."
Mu-hyuk exited the inn.
The other five followed.
*
Hemil Empire's east gate spawned level 30 monsters from the start.
A bit further, mid-30s to early 40s everywhere.
Mu-hyuk faced a level 42 Minotaur.
Human body, bull head.
Its massive horns intimidating, it snorted and charged.
"Summon."
Ten Bone Swords summoned.
Party grimaced.
"What, summons? Real Necromancer."
"Barely skeletons too."
"One's kinda unique though."
One skeleton stood out, like bone-armored.
It blocked the Minotaur's charge with its shield.
Boom!
Dust billowed with the crash.
As it cleared, the enhanced skeleton hadn't budged, trading blows evenly.
Party's eyes changed.
Blocked it?
Casually.
Minotaur attacked again. Blocked effortlessly.
Dio laughed.
"Impressive."
"Hmm..."
"Gotta admit it."
All nodded.
"What do you think, Pitong?"
"Without skills, that unique skeleton matches me."
"Whoa, really?"
"That good?"
Pitong's face soured.
Pride stung.
Or better than me...?
But no admitting.
With skills, I'm better.
Minotaur swung wildly.
Bone Swords weakening.
"That one's about to despawn."
Silbea's words: Bone Sword 8 critical.
Arms shattered, no sword or shield.
Purple light from Mu-hyuk enveloped it.
Arms regenerated like magic.
Kiririk!
Healing skill!
"Whoa, heals too."
Had to admit now.
Mu-hyuk turned.
"Can I finish?"
"Huh?"
"The Minotaur. Okay to kill?"
"Ah, yeah, but..."
Mu-hyuk faced front, ignoring.
Summons Archers.
"Archers?"
"Skeleton Archers..."
Five bone arrows flew.
Another five, total ten. Eight hit face and body.
Minotaur flinched. Enhanced skeleton and Bone Swords charged.
Shifting to offense, HP plummeted. It collapsed.
Experience gained.
Level 42 Minotaur.
Easy for Mu-hyuk's level 50.
Dio eyed his friends.
All dumbfounded.
Couldn't speak, but same thought.
What Necro's that strong...?
Dio recovered first.
"Snap out of it. Impressions?"
"With Pitong, late 40s fine."
"Same."
"Black Orcs then."
Consensus reached, Dio approached Mu-hyuk.
"Great show."
"Ah, thanks."
"Fits Tankromancer perfectly. Didn't expect skeletons to tank like that, and DPS too."
Mu-hyuk just smiled.
"With Pitong, Black Orcs no problem."
"Black Orcs..."
Higher HP than Orcs, twice as fast.
No issue though.
"Sounds good."
Mu-hyuk agreed; Dio grinned.
"Alright, Black Orc hunt!"
For Mu-hyuk, hunting with them was the point anyway.