Empire's Hidden Secret
Mu-hyuk's Knowledge was at 21.
Magic damage: 105.
But it had been reduced to 90, meaning Hanbang's magic defense was 15.
Not bad, but on the low side.
Then what about his physical defense?
Mu-hyuk pulled out an arrow from behind the Enhanced Bone 1 and nocked it.
Powerful Arrow Shot
Hanbang furrowed his brow and charged again.
He'd been a bit surprised by the previous attack. Damage had come flying in the instant he'd reached out.
But it wasn't critical. Shaking off his fluster, he closed the distance once more.
Pa-ba-bat.
Mu-hyuk targeted him.
He released the drawn bowstring.
Pang!
Hanbang didn't dodge.
It was a necromancer's attack anyway. The purple blast from before might've hurt because it was magic, but this was an arrow.
He probably thought it'd just tickle.
Mu-hyuk's guess was spot on.
Hanbang had no intention of dodging the arrow.
At best, it'd take 50 HP?
Dodging such an attack and missing his chance to strike would be the real stupidity.
He vowed to unleash a powerful skill on Mu-hyuk, who was busy dodging every which way.
Just close the gap, and it's over!
At that moment, Mu-hyuk's arrow struck his chest.
-712 HP
The damage landed perfectly.
Adding the previous Blessing of the Dead, he'd already inflicted nearly 1,100 damage.
Warrior class.
Level around 50, by his estimate.
Even with high Vitality, maybe late 30s.
Total HP around 2,000.
Already more than half gone.
Quick and decisive.
The two Enhanced Bones stepped forward.
"Y-You bastard!"
Hanbang, visibly panicked, unleashed the skill he'd prepared for Mu-hyuk on the Enhanced Bone instead.
Whoooong.
Fierce winds whipped up around Hanbang's body, slicing the air like razor blades.
His greatsword's own attack power was impressive too, pushing back the Enhanced Bone.
Mu-hyuk, watching, hurriedly pulled back the rest of his skeletons.
Windmill skill, huh.
Mu-hyuk retreated as well.
He naturally built a wall of skeletons.
Preparing rapid fire.
Even as the Windmill skill raged on.
Cast time: 7 seconds.
About to end.
Aim...
Now.
Fire.
Six bone arrows flew toward Hanbang. Two got caught in the wind and veered off.
Just then, the Windmill skill stopped. The remaining bone arrows slammed into Hanbang's body as if on cue.
Pu-buk.
Bone Archers had high attack power. Even accounting for defense, each one did at least 80 damage.
Four arrows: around 320 total.
Remaining HP: 400 to 500.
That was when it happened.
Whooong.
A sharp whoosh cut the air.
All the Bone Swords around Mu-hyuk raised their shields.
Kwang!
A fireball hit the shields first.
The following arrow was likewise blocked and rendered useless.
Player 'Nanun Beopsada' attacks.
Hostile relations initiated.
Right of self-defense established.
Player 'Maparang' attacks.
Hostile relations initiated.
Right of self-defense established.
Mu-hyuk turned his head and grinned.
Two of them. That was...
The other two didn't trigger self-defense, but waiting would just put him at risk.
Mu-hyuk decided to call it good here.
One down, at least.
With that thought, he issued commands.
Mages, prepare magic.
Four Skeleton Mages extended their hands.
Attack.
Four elemental spells blasted toward the clustered PKers.
Kwaang!
An explosion erupted, dust billowing.
*
The smirk on Heukrang's face vanished at some point.
What kind of necromancer is this guy?
He was dumbfounded.
He'd thought they were just messing around watching Hanbang get one-sidedly wrecked, but after taking that magic hit, he realized otherwise.
The damage...!
Especially that last magic barrage.
It rivaled a high-level player's strongest skill.
Sure, four mages made sense.
But still, overkill!
Heukrang regained his cool instead.
Dust.
Visibility blocked for everyone.
The perfect chance to stealthily close in. But bone arrows pierced the dust, firing wildly.
Three struck Heukrang.
-140 HP
-148 HP
-139 HP
Heukrang scowled.
Not even a player attack—just skeleton archer bone arrows.
Yet this damage.
Three in an instant.
436 HP gone.
With the magic, over 1,000 HP vanished.
But...
Heukrang relaxed his expression.
Swish.
His body vanished.
Stealth skill.
Summons didn't matter.
Just one target.
Take out the player under summon protection, and done.
Necromancer—low HP, probably.
High HP? Unlikely.
At most 1,000.
Crit, and one-shot.
A bit more.
He'd already reached the skeletons' front lines. Passed one—no reaction.
Relief spread across Heukrang's face, twisting into murderous glare.
No need to worry.
Shoulders squared, he headed for the necromancer target.
Passed another skeleton.
One more.
Finally behind the necromancer.
End it.
Strongest skill.
Shadow Slash.
Dagger whipped like lightning.
-216 HP
(x4)
Four times, no less.
Tch. No crit.
Regrettable, but whatever.
Triple Strike!
He followed with Triple Strike.
Meanwhile.
Suddenly attacked, Mu-hyuk urgently retreated. He avoided the follow-up skill.
But over 800 HP gone in one go.
He twisted, blocking Heukrang's incoming dagger with his bow body.
Kang!
Metal clanged, shock reverberating.
Mu-hyuk thrust his front foot forward.
Puk.
Pushed Heukrang's gut, then nocked an arrow.
Powerful Arrow Shot
No aim needed—just too close to miss.
-721 HP
Heukrang's face hardened.
Then vanished.
Mu-hyuk rolled desperately behind Enhanced Bone 2.
Thought he'd dodged well—but no. Heukrang emerged from Mu-hyuk's shadow behind him.
Chilling sensation.
As Mu-hyuk turned.
Puk.
Dagger plunged into his gut.
No pain, so he could think.
Chance.
Grabbed Heukrang's wrist. Nearby archer fired bone arrows.
One, two, three.
"Kuh...!"
Heukrang tried to pull away after the hits.
"See ya."
As Mu-hyuk spoke, two Bone Swords charged from left and right.
Slamming in, swords into Heukrang's gut.
Puk.
Sickening sound. Heukrang grayed out and vanished, scowling.
Thud.
Mu-hyuk picked up the dropped item.
"Hoo..."
Four players left.
Of course, Hanbang was about to fall to Enhanced Bones and Bone Swords, and the other three, hit by Skeleton Mage magic, were pinned by Bone Archers—no real threat.
Really lucky.
What if he hadn't cleared the 2nd training hall quest?
He probably couldn't have overwhelmed them like this.
Only one or two mages—he might've been one-sidedly beaten.
Then 24 hours logout penalty.
Even logging back in, they'd camp at the temple village.
Hunted, hunted again.
Repeat a few times, time wasted. Even with his knowledge, the frustration would've been immense.
Can't have that.
So overwhelm them. Root them out completely.
Nocked another arrow.
Powerful Arrow Shot
Fired at Hanbang.
"D-Damn..."
Forced logout for him too.
No item drop.
Three left.
Focused on commanding skeletons to finish them.
Blessing of the Dead
Kept healing too.
The three were steadily pushed back.
"Kuh...!"
"Crazy, this make any sense?!"
"Damn it, arghhh!"
Ordered mages to magic again.
Kwa-gwang!
The three, barely holding, finally fell.
"Hoo."
Mu-hyuk was pretty worn out too.
Dismiss summons.
Dismissed all skeletons and headed to where the three had been.
A document lay on the ground.
A document?
He picked it up.
Empire-Related Quest Activated
Empire's Hidden Secret 1
📍 Deliver the document to Count Kairon Baekjak of the Weibra Empire.
🎁 Success: Massive EXP. Linked quest.
🎁 Failure: No re-challenge.
Mu-hyuk's eyes narrowed.
Count Kairon Baekjak?
Rang a vague bell, but not clear. The quest title felt oddly familiar too.
What is this? Do I know it?
He pondered but couldn't recall.
Hmm.
Shook it off.
Hand it over, and he'd find out.
Anyway, jackpot.
Empire quest document acquired.
Hurried away.
Back to village, warp gate to Weibra Empire.
Finally checked inventory.
The item from killing Heukrang was there.
*
24 hours later.
Heukrang logged back in hastily, checked inventory.
Please, please...
Prayed fervently, but no use.
"Ah, aaah..."
Gone.
The one that had to be there.
"Arghhh!"
Sealed item, but someone wanted it.
For a huge sum.
Should've sold it this morning, but logout delayed him till now.
Logged in, and it was gone.
20 million won!
Heukrang's face twisted.
Damn it!
If the guy was that strong, should've warned them.
Sending just five against such a freak was the mistake.
Damn, damn!
In panic, rushed to drake habitat. Knew it, but no sign—gut burned.
Ran into Maparang.
"Huh...?"
"Why're you here?"
"Uh, well..."
"Don't tell me you dropped an item?"
"You too?"
Heukrang and Maparang both wore miserable expressions.
"How important?"
"20 million won one..."
"Haa."
"Yours?"
"Empire-related quest document."
Both speechless.
20 million won. Empire quest.
Nothing not precious.
"Damn vice guild leader...!"
The thought burst out.