Noh Ha-yoon recklessly charged in, long forgetting the emotions she felt when Yi-wol had beaten her up.
No, rather, she felt a sense of honor just from having exchanged hands with such a shadowy figure from the hidden world.
Why was such a being hanging out with Lee Yeon-hee? Wearing a summoned creature costume, no less?
“Damn it… Seriously, how can I join them? I launched a surprise attack and got an unexpected yield, but I can’t just keep attacking like this?!”
Chomp- Chomp-
In her anxious state, Ha-yoon unconsciously started biting her nails.
“···Yoon, Noh Ha-yoon!”
“Yes? What?!”
“No, I mean, let’s get out of here. What are you thinking about?”
“Ah? Ah? I shouldn’t be like this!”
As Noh Ha-yoon reacted bizarrely, Helen and Jin-kyeong whispered earnestly as if something serious was happening.
– Jin-kyeong, it’s bad. She seems completely broken. What should we do?
– No, I mean she must have been in bad shape even before coming to us, right? She’s not trying to pin some crazy stuff on us from the dimension, right? Should we lay low for a while? Or maybe ask Yeon-hee if she could hang out with us a bit longer?
“Please hurry up if you want to leave. They’re waiting behind you.”
The entrance staff urged with burning eyes, and only then did Noh Ha-yoon and Helen exit the dungeon. Yeon-hee, watching them, smiled sweetly and waved at me.
(I’ll see you later-)
Seeing Yeon-hee convey her thoughts with her small mouth made my cheekbones twitch.
It was as if Noh Ha-yoon, who was dragged out by Helen, belonged to another species altogether.
‘No way, I can’t let Noh Ha-yoon join us again.’
I resolved myself while facing Yeon-hee.
Voom-
Soon, I was sucked into the Dark Space with a familiar sensation and gazed at the now-closed massive door.
A space that seemed to erase the stars and moon that lit up the night sky.
Entering this space made me feel like I could have a fully solitary time, and these days I was beginning to enjoy it a bit.
Hmm-
I sat cross-legged at the door.
It was all to organize the myriad thoughts swirling in my head.
‘Yeon-hee is determined to continue her hunter lifestyle. I can feel how much she enjoys it herself. Moreover, the operation of the summoned creatures is already on track… Should I focus on myself now rather than caring for Yeon-hee?’
Going forward, artifacts can be shared efficiently, and for a while, I could farm in the Lizard Swamp, using the money I gather to match Yeon-hee’s orb, which should prevent any variables like ‘Teeth’ from causing us trouble in terms of survival in the same level range.
‘Let’s see- that’s actually just trivial details. The main event approaching is whether I can change my job again.’
If I run the Lizard Swamp for another 10 days, I should hit level 40. I wonder if there will be another change at that point.
Hunters typically underwent significant changes at every 20 levels. They might gain additional skills or traits, or, like Yeon-hee, achieve a second awakening and transform into an entirely different being. But since I’m a rarity, who knows? Maybe Bombardier is the end form…
‘No! I can’t have such a closed mindset…’
Alright, let’s think as if I do manage to change jobs. What direction should I take?
‘I’m satisfied with bombs. If another crisis like during the dungeon break happens, I feel secure knowing I have a last resort. Of course, the moment I was devoured was horrific… But luckily, being a blessed skeleton means there’s no physical pain involved.’
But the best scenario would be that I don’t die while dealing damage or at least create a means to retreat safely.
If I could enter this space, it would be fantastic if I could also bring Yeon-hee with me.
‘I can’t seem to catch on here. No matter how much I open and close the inventory… Have I ever felt so lost about a phenomenon before?’
Even though I’ve had a certain pride in my natural instincts, it seemed utterly insufficient to uncover the secrets of this space.
‘Wait, am I thinking too one-dimensionally? There aren’t only Jo Gi-man and others as enemies; I keep visualizing one-on-one situations?’
The blue-eyed Orc Legion Commander, and the Great Sorcerer who created ‘Teeth’—are they enemies too? I suppose I should treat them as such.
Jo Gi-man’s right-hand man, Jung Joo-in, that bastard; I need to give him a beatdown sometime.
Regardless, if I think about it, the enemies are plentiful.
Fine, let’s think back to that perilous time.
If the ‘Teeth’ monster hadn’t been gravely injured by my seven bombs, what would have happened? Would I have ended up foolishly watching as Yeon-hee died while getting chewed to death?
‘No, I can’t do that. I must first figure out a way to survive until the end.’
I need to prepare for the moments when the bombs fail. As time passes, I will desperately need other offensive options.
I unfolded the description of my job again.
Skeleton Bombardier
– Recognized as the most alien class within the melee combat-focused undead lineage, it leads the battle primarily with magic bombs. Extremely high attack power and positive augmentations to all abilities related to magic. However, there are restrictions on the increase of strength.
Special Trait: +30% damage on successful attacks against enemies.
‘The positive augmentation related to magic refers to recovery speed and damage. My capabilities have definitely upgraded several tiers since before the job change.’
Reading it slowly again, it didn’t quite align with my combat style. I do use bombs for decisive strikes, but usually prioritize melee combat.
So why was I doing this?
‘The Lizardmen, Orcs, and all other summoned creatures lack the intelligence to coordinate with me. Except for Ran, maybe.’
Initially, I chose the Bombardier with the thought of inflicting a powerful strike while having the summoned creatures take the frontline, but as I grew stronger, the limitations with my strength began to hurt.
‘If Noh Ha-yoon’s surprise attacks had been made with higher strength, it could have flowed more effectively.’
In the end, when situations arise outside of my expectations, the summoned creatures tend to respond sluggishly.
‘I have to block it. No matter what…’
In a way, meeting Noh Ha-yoon might be one of the greatest fortunes of my skeleton life, sparking such reflections at an early stage is encouraging.
‘Strength…’
The strength that influences the overall power and speed of the body. The current boost from the Rune of Giants had its limits.
The new goal that emerged was to completely protect Yeon-hee without relying on the summoned creatures.
‘As greedy as it sounds, I wish I could combine the strengths of Skeleton Vanguard and my current Skeleton Bombardier that I didn’t choose during my job change.’
… If I wish hard enough, will it come true?
‘I’ve never managed to strongly desire something and received it in life, so can’t I get a little help this time? Not asking for a miracle, just a choice that can fill the current gaps…’
I put myself in an unusually prayerful position and soon thumped my head.
“Tap-Tap!!”
Ugh… I should have been training instead of having such pointless expectations.
Vrrrr- Vmmmm-
When my head’s in a tangle, it’s best to use my body.
I swung the club mindlessly. I had neglected making bombs recently, but I had been consistently training since the initial summoning. Training, which merely involved swinging the club to match the images in my head.
I hadn’t had the chance to actively engage in combat during my life, but I vividly remembered the movements of the hunters I had teamed up with.
Kang Yeon-su and Jo Gi-man.
They deeply disliked each other, yet had a lot in common. Both were physical enhancement hunters. Hot-headed types. They pretended not to care but had a big attachment to the guild, among other things.
Among those, while each physical enhancement hunter had unique abilities, that was secondary.
They continuously researched and trained on how to move faster, evade attacks nimbly, and ensure powerful strikes hit efficiently.
Their ridiculous talent and relentless effort made them monsters capable of obliterating most major guilds in 20 minutes.
Human weapons.
Their movements had reached a level that my reaction time couldn’t keep up with even a trace of afterimages. But my keen senses were enough to enjoy the public and private actions of everything in range.
‘Recall it. And imitate it even if it’s just a tiny fraction!’
Vrrrr- Hwooo-
With a body that doesn’t need rest, my day density is different from that of the other hunters.
I focused all my nerves on a single swing, striking down and then sweeping sideways.
This absolutely still and dark space, which initially filled me with hatred, was now becoming an extraordinary training ground now that I had a bit of leeway.
I could focus solely on my movement.
And I felt very subtly that my skills were improving. That was genuinely astonishing.
‘Did I become different after just a few days of rest? My senses feel different…’
The sensation of growing in real-time sent a thrill of pleasure through my entire body.
Creepy-
I felt an illusion of goosebumps all over. There was something different about the sensation when I swung.
In the delightful immersion, I even hoped that Yeon-hee wouldn’t call for me until as late as possible today.
Hwooo-
Vrrrr-
How many times did I swing? I had long since given up on counting.
‘Snicker-‘
A chuckle escaped me. During my time as a guide, I had always admired hunters who fought with glamorous skills.
And yet, here I was, repetitively swinging despite having an abundance of skills—was there ever a more ridiculous situation than this?
‘I feel… too good…’
If I practiced cleaving endlessly for hundreds or thousands of years in this space, could I eventually create a picturesque arc like the leader of the Ilseom Guild, Hyeon Joong-gil?
‘There’s no way… But it’s nice just to imagine it…’
I know it’s improbable, but that doesn’t mean I should give up; at least not while I’m progressing.
As time passed, that feeling of my feet leaving the ground and floating began to consume me.
Yet, there wasn’t even a hint of instability in my swings.
A realm I’d never come close to in life.
The Dark Space fades away, and I step into a boundless expanse of pure white.
The overwhelming sense of space spun my head, yet my arms didn’t rest.
Swoosh-
Vrrrr-
“There are things you can only obtain by letting go. Remember that.”
‘Who was it that told me that…?’
The moment my scattered consciousness returned, it was wiped away with my continued swings.
Thus, my mind ventured toward that far-off place beyond its limits.
.
.
.
– Your swing has been granted [Penetration Lv.1].
‘Gasp! Huh… Huh… Huh… Huh… Phew!’
Why am I out of breath? What the hell had I just done to reach this state?
‘I don’t know. This is crazy… what even was that?’
Incredibly, I had even grasped a new trait I had never seen before.
Penetration Lv.1
– Your swing gains 1% penetration.
‘Penetration? What’s that?’
Is it like the defense-ignoring damage I used to see in games?
Getting 1% penetration on swings means it doesn’t apply to bombs, right?
It seems like a decent trait, but the number feels a bit weak.
‘Huh! Time! How much time has passed?’
It felt like waking up the day after a drinking binge, with memories in chunks missing.
In that instant, a cold sweat broke out. Has several years or even decades passed by?
Anxiously, I looked at the enormous door, and just then, light began to shine from it as if waiting for me.
‘Hoo…’
Creeeak.
The door opened slowly compared to usual, warmly embracing the skeleton as soon as it opened, and soon nothing was left in the space.
* * *
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