Attack Power Milestone
[Your attack power has increased by 0.1.]
Your attack power has increased by 0.1.
This brought both of their attack powers up to 4.9.
"Whew, already day three?"
"Yeah."
"Starting to get boring. The attack power boosts are nice, but..."
They'd even gained a level.
Everything was going great, but the dungeon's confined space brought a stifling boredom.
"Let's hit 5 and take a break."
"Sounds good."
As they pressed forward, a Sword Demon appeared.
"Skeleton Summon."
He summoned Bone Swords, Archers, and Mages, then dove into battle.
With Sung Min-woo and his four spirits joining in, taking down a single Sword Demon was now a breeze.
Mu-hyuk focused solely on commanding, testing how far they'd grown.
Reinforced Bone 1, diagonal right—autonomous combat.
Reinforced Bone 1 blocked the Sword Demon's sword with its shield.
Ka-clang!
But the follow-up was the problem.
Even though the Sword Demon's attack wasn't over, it lowered its shield and thrust its sword forward.
The concept of attacking after defending had formed, but ideas like shoving with the shield to disrupt balance or dodging then striking an opening hadn't yet.
Those would come with higher wisdom.
For now, it was enough.
They could grow slowly.
That was when it happened.
Skeleton Mage's level has increased.
The summon level had risen.
Oh ho.
Now he could summon five Mages.
What about Warriors and Archers?
He checked the skills.
They were a bit short on experience.
A few more days, and they'd level up.
The other skills were also nearing the end of their experience bars.
They'd rise a level soon enough.
Mu-hyuk left autonomous combat to his summons and summoned the new Mage powerhouse.
He opened its status.
Inheriting 30% of Mu-hyuk's stats, it had solid numbers without using a single bonus point.
Mu-hyuk smiled in satisfaction and immediately allocated the bonus points.
All into knowledge.
Mage spells had long cooldowns anyway, and mana regenerated plenty in that time.
800 mana would last a good while.
He renamed it too, of course.
Naturally, to Mage 5.
Staring at the name, Mu-hyuk pondered.
Just stick with Mage?
Felt simpler.
Done.
Mu-hyuk changed all the Mage names to just "Mage."
Finally, he checked Mage 5's status.
◈ Physical Attack Power:54
◈ Defense:16
◈ Magic Attack Power:215
◈ Magic Defense:86
◈ Attack Speed:118%
◈ Movement Speed:116%
◈ Reaction Speed:101.2%
Extremely satisfying.
Magic attack at 215.
He handed it a pre-crafted staff. Damage was a low 80, but fine for now.
Magic attack jumped to 295.
Mu-hyuk checked Mage 5's skills right away.
Flame Spear 1Lv (0%)
Pierces the enemy with a spear of flame.
• Magic Damage ×150%
• Cast Time: 2 seconds
• Cooldown: 150 seconds
Flame Spear.
150%...
With the skill, damage hit 442.
Even one was no joke, and he had four more like it.
Those four were already level 2 skills with better weapons, outdamaging Mage 5.
If all five cast at once?
Even factoring enemy magic defense, over 2,000 HP vanished in an instant—an overwhelming force.
He couldn't help grinning.
"I'll finish it."
"Got it!"
Sung Min-woo fell back, and Mu-hyuk confirmed it before ordering the five Mages.
Cast magic.
Two seconds of cast time passed.
Kwaaaang!
Five spells shot out, slamming the Sword Demon.
It didn't die in one go—the thing was still twitching.
"Aw, it didn't die!"
"Tch, yeah."
Sung Min-woo's spirits handled the cleanup.
Your experience has increased.
At the spot where it vanished, Sung Min-woo picked up the gem and said,
"One more, and we smash it together."
"Whatever."
No need for rest.
They swept the dungeon, encountering another Sword Demon soon after.
Mu-hyuk took the gem from that one, and they absorbed it together.
Your attack power has increased by 0.1.
Now both had reached attack power 5.
"Think it'll go higher?"
"If it does, great."
Since they were already in, raising it more would be ideal.
"Let's keep going."
They advanced again.
"..."
No monster—instead, three massive doors confronted them.
*
The doors were enormous.
A strange rune atop the sturdy-seeming doors seemed to press down on the air itself.
Magic rune?
Mu-hyuk tilted his head, examining them.
"Hmm."
One looked like a shield.
The others, he couldn't tell.
"That one's a shield, right?"
Sung Min-woo saw it the same way.
"The middle one?"
"No clue..."
"Right one?"
"Magic?"
Sung Min-woo's words sparked it.
Yeah, kinda looks like a magic symbol...
The more he looked, the more it felt right.
"Left: shield. Right: magic. Middle: unknown."
"Pick one?"
"Seems so. Where to?"
"Magic feels heavy..."
"Could be easier."
"Huh?"
"Low HP means summons could overwhelm it quick. Shield looks tanky—super tough guy would suck too. Or maybe no monster per rune."
"Ugh, tough call."
Mu-hyuk was stumped too.
After long deliberation.
"Just pick."
They chose the unknown middle door.
He reached out.
Cold to the touch.
Will you select this?
[Yes / No]
He chose Yes, and space warped.
Breath caught.
"Hoo."
When he exhaled, the view had changed.
Wider and brighter than typical dungeons—roomy enough for summons in a line.
"Pretty spacious."
What would come out?
Already worrying.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
They moved slowly.
No rush.
They scoured the dungeon, vigilant.
Kieeeak!
Then the monster appeared. Humanoid like a Sword Demon, but distinctly different—"Shield Fiend."
Level 75, as expected, but Mu-hyuk didn't know this one.
"Scout first."
"Got it."
Bone arrows first.
Pafang! Pang!
They sliced air, embedding in it.
Slow?
To confirm, another volley—plus Sung Min-woo's four spirits casting.
Kwagwagwang!
It didn't dodge.
Or... didn't it?
Mu-hyuk's expression twisted unlike before. Checking messages confirmed his suspicion.
-37 HP
-35 HP
Bone Archer 1 and 2's damage was around 200 each. No shield block, yet only 37 and 35 damage.
Trait?
Sword Demons had high base attack; this one might absorb impacts.
Low attack power likely.
He relaxed his furrowed brow.
Time to check.
Reinforced Bone 2, forward.
Placed Reinforced Bone 2 right up close.
Kieeeak!
The Shield Fiend swung its club.
Thud.
Reinforced Bone 2 staggered with a dull sound.
Defense mode.
He hurriedly checked HP.
"...!"
His assumption missed.
HP down 150?
No shield meant true damage readout.
With Reinforced Bone 2's 100 defense, enemy damage was 250.
Sword Demon was 550-ish, so lower attack, but defense incomparable.
"This'll be rough."
"Huh? Why?"
"Defense too high."
"Eh, that much?"
"Attack's no slouch either."
"Oh? Really?"
Sensing the gravity, Sung Min-woo tested with spirits.
"Holy..."
He looked more shocked than Mu-hyuk.
"What?"
"That's not all."
"Then?"
"Magic defense is busted too."
"Ah..."
Extreme physical and magic defense, solid attack.
C-grade difficulty felt real.
"No joke."
But quitting wasn't an option.
Tough meant big rewards.
"Split into groups."
"Groups?"
"Yeah. Don't all-in; rotate groups to harass. Three groups: one engages, others harass or rest. Swap when HP drops."
"Smart."
"Reinforced Bone 1 and 2 with Earth first, spread Bone Swords and spirits evenly."
Archers and Mages as steady DPS—no need for groups.
Left: Reinforced Bone 1, Bone Sword 3,4,5,6.
Center: Reinforced Bone 2, Bone Sword 7,8,9,10.
Right: Bone Sword 11,12,13,14—with Earth spirit.
Three groups set.
"Done!"
"Yeah, fall back."
Sung Min-woo pulled back after a brief clash.
Reinforced Bone 1, forward.
Bone Sword 3,4,5,6 forward.
Five skeletons tanked its attacks.
From inventory: Slow Poison, Hallucination Poison, Weakening Paralysis, Tears of Bleeding—coated on Bone Archers' arrows.
Rapid fire.
Bone arrows launched.
-36 HP
-35 HP
-37 HP