Exoskeleton Robot Summon

"Is there such a thing?"

Exoskeleton Robot Summon. It was a name so unfamiliar it caught him off guard, even just skimming past it. Yoo Taejeong's curiosity piqued like never before.

'Skill data.'

"Oh."

Yoo Taejeong's lips twitched unconsciously as he scanned the skill details. It looked way better than he'd expected.

"Strength boost, speed increase, and even jump power?"

Muttering to himself, he activated the skill right away.

A bluish glow started from the soles of his feet, forming a holographic outline that solidified into a skeletal leg frame below his waist. Something instantly encased his lower body. Taejeong touched it in disbelief.

"What the hell is this? Some kind of machine?"

The material felt just like steel. The structure was incredibly complex and detailed—no cheap knockoff here. Visually, it was a solid pass.

Now that he'd summoned it, he had to test the performance.

Pushing his chair back as far as it would go and freeing his legs, Taejeong stepped out of the car and took a few experimental strides. A gasp escaped him immediately.

"Holy shit. This thing's way too light."

He'd braced for serious weight from what felt like steel bones, but it barely registered. There was a solid, equipped sensation, yet it felt as light as a feather—an otherworldly disconnect.

His wonder didn't last long.

"Time to run."

Once he'd adjusted roughly, Taejeong sprinted forward with all his might. His body sprang like a coiled spring, each step covering several meters. The speed was so intense his upper body struggled to keep up with his legs.

Yet the landing stability was unreal. No matter how his torso wobbled, his legs planted like roots, unmoving. He'd nearly thrown out his back from a bad landing, but the pain barely registered.

The skill's performance was so captivating it stole his breath away.

"This is it. With this, no wolf could catch me."

He could already tell just from that short test. At full speed, not even a wolf god could keep up.

No more cowering in the car like a scaredy-cat for hunts.

'Alright. Get the hang of it, then put it to use right away.'

After finishing his hunt, Taejeong headed straight to the market with his processed hides. Forty-one pieces this time—more than before—but the top price capped at 20 each, so his earnings matched yesterday's.

Instead of heading home, he found the potion shop inside the building. To use his skills smoothly, mana potions were now essential.

But the outrageous price made him doubt his eyes.

'Just 500 recovery for 500,000 won?'

He'd heard potions were pricey from his porter days, but this was absurd. 500 recovery meant only one use of Exoskeleton Robot Summon per bottle. And with the duration, he'd need one every three minutes.

And that was ignoring his mana-hungry guns. 500,000 won per bottle was insane.

But in this world, potions were rare treasures. Sourced only from mana stones—a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠special material—the price reflected raw costs. Plus, low-level hunters rarely used them anyway. Too inefficient compared to earnings and skills.

Still, Taejeong needed them.

"Um, any bulk discount?"

After agonizing, he asked. The clerk stepped forward politely.

"Depends on quantity. How many?"

"Uh... around twenty...?"

"Large size?"

"No, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smallest ones. Don't need big yet..."

The clerk, who'd perked up, chuckled and shook his head.

"Sorry, no discount at that amount. No margin."

"Ah, got it."

Half-expecting it, Taejeong bought twenty small potions anyway.

'Money's easy to make anyway. Efficiency be damned—levels first.'

Next morning.

"Heading out again?"

"Yeah. Probably my last day here."

Guard Jo, watching Taejeong for the third day, couldn't hide his puzzlement. No way this guy was just messing around here.

Solo hunting plus processing thirty-plus hides each time? His level clearly outstripped the field's. Sure, top-grade hides, but premium ones were everywhere. Even if pricier, it was a loss compared to his strength.

One rank up, and earnings multiply. Better to buy hides than hunt.

But Jo's questions stopped there. Weird, sure, but his choice.

"Take care."

Passing the outpost, Taejeong delved deeper into Bibongsan than before. No more skimming the entrance—he was going all in today.

Parking in a decent spot, he stepped out, half tense, half excited.

"Here goes."

Scanning surroundings, he activated dual summons. Light flashed, holograms forming on his hands—quickly solidifying into black pistols: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Beretta and Sting, gripped naturally.

"Alright. Now the real fun begins."

Boosting his confidence, he strode forward. Today's goal: experience over cash. Push to the limit, hit level 20 no matter what.

Soon, familiar wolves entered his view.

'Three on the left, two ahead, and behind obviously... Wait, when'd that one show?'

Including one from behind, six total. His max encounter before: three. Double now. No cover either.

'When push comes to shove, it's a bit scary.'

Fear surged, but he wouldn't run. Knew failure here meant no progress.

'Exoskeleton Robot Summon.'

Unfamiliar mechanical legs formed on his lower body. Downing a potion, he charged the front pair.

'Gotta close in and shoot.'

Wolves lunged as he calculated range. Spotting them, he pivoted to rear first—but too far, so front duo instead.

'You two first.'

About ten meters out, his pistols flashed.

Bang! Bang!

'Huh?'

Despite the crisp shots, his face twisted. Both missed clean hits. Not nerves—just forgot moving shots are twice as hard as stationary. No lead adjustment.

Dodging wolves leaped for his head.

'Not today.'

His front leg slammed back three meters as a wolf lunged. A ridiculous thought hit: 'Why dodge? Should've shot.'

Feet beat hands in panic. Meanwhile, three from left encircled; front pair leaped again for his throat.

Aiming to redeem, he raised his front gun—then chills from rear.

'Forgot the sixth.'

Legs propelled him airborne again. Right pistol fired; left arm swung back, unleashing on the rear wolf.

Bang! Bang-bang! Bang-bang!

Shots rang; ground trio targeted his legs. He leaped right, long evasion. Left gun locked on airborne wolf.

Bang!

Headshot clean. No time to check, he wheeled left, hosing the rest.

One unscathed wolf lunged, jaws wide.

"Fuck off."

Cursing, he leaped, stomping its skull.

Thud!

Kyaaak!?

Gun flashed at the tumbling wolf.

Bang!

Six notifications chimed, but Taejeong stayed vigilant. Eyes and head swiveling nonstop.

Only when no more appeared did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he exhale in relief.

"Phew. Tougher than I thought."

He'd run mental sims, prepped scenarios. But reality? Useless. Narrow kill radius, chances wasted on fear—legs over hands.

Classic lack of combat XP.

'Overestimated myself.'

Dreams of guns blazing, mowing wolves down? This fight shattered that delusion. Speed alone wasn't enough. Timing, instinct, skill—all converged for true power.

But this scrap would nourish future fights. Short as it was, he felt it: himself improving, bit by bit.

"Keep moving. Can't lose this feeling now."