LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 117
Chris was creating a simulation video using a hologram in her workshop.
A simulation program replacing the PPT used in the past. It allows for a more visual presentation of information.
“5 o’clock, Yeon Mina; 7 o’clock, Dal Borom; 11 o’clock, Catcher Yi; 1 o’clock, Red Hot Chicken.”
As she organized the raid members’ positions for the 60% mark of the Level 1 Named Enemy, the ‘Black Dragon,’ entering the second special phase, Chris decided to take a breather.
She needed caffeine.
“…….”
While sipping coffee on the terrace, Chris suddenly checked the time.
It was currently 3 AM.
Everyone should be asleep.
Regardless of it being a weekday, the schedule of the formal raid aiming for the first clear is tight.
The Hong Baek raid starts at 8 PM and runs until 2 AM. If there’s a chance to clear, they may extend. On weekdays, they force a schedule of over 6 hours, while on weekends, it goes up to 12 hours or more.
It’s a schedule that can only be managed if you’re seriously committed to the game.
“Sigh.”
Chris exhaled deeply.
This is the first raid dungeon of ‘Astria Online.’
It’s not even on the same level as an elite dungeon. The damage dealt by named enemies is on a different dimension. Additionally, the time allocated for gimmick execution was tight.
Moreover, there were enhanced gimmicks that appear from the second phase.
Magical spears targeting the side’s ranged dealers. Ants imbued with magic constantly tormenting the melee dealers in the center of the combat area.
Not only must they deal with the named Black Dragon, but they also have to confront supporting monsters while executing the gimmicks, so progress could only be slow.
Since a special phase appeared at 90% and 60%, it would probably appear again at the 30% mark.
From the indicators of the special phase at 60%, there would likely be five ants and five magical circles at the 30% phase.
Indeed, the legendary dungeon, ‘Abyssal Tree.’
Even the Level 1 Named Enemy wasn’t easy.
“But.”
Chris had no intention of spending a month strategizing this raid.
The goal was to clear within at least a week.
Tomorrow, without fail, she would clear the Level 1 Named Enemy and establish a strategy for the Level 2 Named Enemy.
Otherwise…
Before returning to her room, Chris stopped by Rain’s den.
At the door, there was a note with pretty letters instead of a plaque indicating the curse of guests.
[Please do not enter. -Rain-]
“Snicker.”
Chris couldn’t help but chuckle.
So cute.
But at the same time, she felt anxious.
Even with a team of 12, this raid dungeon was tough, and Rain was attempting it alone.
The motivation likely stemmed from a sense of mission that she couldn’t understand.
If you believe even half of what Team Leader Han Yeoreum said…
Would he not suffer greatly due to the high synchronization rate?
If he seemed unwell, she could only hope he would promptly exit.
There were safety measures in place.
If a player’s psyche couldn’t endure the pain, the capsule would automatically eject them. At that moment, a signal would also be sent to Chris.
Then, she would kick the door open and drag Rain to the hospital.
“Still.”
If it’s Rain… maybe…
The difficulty set by the game, the hurdle of the 12-person requirement…
He might just transcend it alone.
—
[Level 1 Named Enemy]
[Level 53]
[Black Dragon]
[HP 200,000,000 / 200,000,000 (100%)]
Tap, tap.
I lightly kicked my feet in front of the Level 1 Named Enemy, ‘Black Dragon.’
It was quite late.
The early morning when everyone is asleep.
But I wasn’t tired yet. My body felt normal.
I summarized the information gathered so far.
HP was 200 million.
There would be a special pattern at 90%. At the same time, three outer magical circles. They needed to be stepped on in order to deactivate them.
The ants appearing during the special pattern would generate in the center and initiate attacks. They could be purified using the ‘Essence of the World Tree’ generated after stepping on the magical circles.
Although I hadn’t witnessed the 60% and 30% phases yet, they would undoubtedly be enhancement versions of the gimmicks.
The berserk time is 12 minutes after the battle begins.
After 12 minutes, the Black Dragon will forcibly enter the flight pattern. By then, there wouldn’t be any magical circles. It goes without saying that it would be impossible to clear.
The major issues I face while attempting to tackle this alone can be summed up in two.
The first is the damage.
The Black Dragon’s HP of 200 million is set for a party of 12.
I can inflict greater damage by attacking its weak spots between its scales with precise sword handling, but that alone is inadequate to match the damage output of a party of 12.
During the time spent establishing strategies for the special phase, my damage output was evaluated.
200 million alone for 12 minutes? That was far too lacking.
“But.”
[World Tree’s Belt]
[Elite]
[Power +50 Agility +50 Intelligence +50]
[Unique Ability: Blocks one lethal hit. However, HP is fixed at 1% until the battle ends (Cooldown 30 minutes)]
I fiddled with the belt given to me by Igrim.
‘HP fixed at 1%.’
I could cover the damage with this.
[One Flash]
[Cooldown 1 minute]
[Invincible while casting]
[Can use the True One Flash at HP below 1%]
[Starlight Swordsmanship]
[Cooldown 1 minute]
[Fires five streaks of starlight-infused sword energy in a range of 15m x 3m (500% multiplier for Starlight Slash four times, 2000% multiplier once)]
[Can use the True Sword Energy at HP below 1%]
If I can endure the pain just once, I can unleash my unique abilities freely during the combat.
There were several near-death experiences while confirming the patterns, but I elegantly escaped each time.
The reason I didn’t use this ability during the strategy establishment wasn’t out of fear of pain.
The issue lies in the number of lethal pains that Lee Seulbi’s body can endure.
I’m not entirely sure, but could she endure twenty? Would exceeding that push her body to its limits?
In a way, I possess a limited number of extra lives.
Extra lives refer to the number of lives a player has in shooting games and such.
How many lives does Lee Seulbi have?
Anyway, if I clear this today and take a break, I may be able to endure a bit longer.
“Preferably, I need to go all the way in one go.”
And the second issue: gimmick execution.
Special phase mechanics designed for a party of 12.
Melee dealers should pull aggro from the ants, while ranged dealers need to step on the magical circles to deactivate them.
Even if I dodge the ants’ attacks, the greatest hurdle is clearing all the magical circles generated at the edges of the vast combat area within the time limit.
In the end, it’s a matter of speed.
Even though I’m fast now, I need a speed that can overwhelmingly outpace regular users.
I think this can be resolved too.
The power surging within the sword energy activated at 1% HP.
“The mana I used during my hero days feels similar.”
Classes like swordsmen and fighters don’t have a concept of MP, but that’s the game’s matter.
I know how to utilize this power.
I can use it without fully expelling it, maybe by containing some within my body.
If that’s possible, it might temporarily amplify my physical abilities.
Snap!
I slapped my palm against my face to regain my focus.
Tap!
And I stood before the massive form of the ‘Black Dragon.’
I had spent a lot of time establishing strategies for this clear.
Hiding my nervous heart, I smiled.
“Now, it’s the real deal.”
—
[Level 1 Named Enemy]
[Level 53]
[Black Dragon]
[HP 198,641,059 / 200,000,000 (99%)]
Crash, crash!
The Black Dragon’s ominous front foot came crashing down toward me. In between those strikes, I danced precariously, swinging my sword repeatedly.
Crash!
Tap!
On the third stomp, I placed my hand on the giant dragon’s foot and spun around.
Spin.
Simultaneously, as my sword traced a semicircle above my head, it grazed the area near the Black Dragon’s neck.
Slash!
The damage landed well. The dragon’s scale defense wasn’t a problem for me.
Though it was still a dragon, it was smaller compared to the World Boss ‘Green Dragon.’ There was no need for reckless leaps to attack the weak points.
Kaaah!
The dragon let out a terrifying roar.
Woooong!
At that moment, magical spears began to appear around it.
There were twelve of them.
Would they each target one player if it were a 12-person raid?
But in solo play, all of them will come after me.
It was one of the most dangerous patterns among the regular ones.
Woooong!
Soon, twelve ominously glowing magical spears began their pursuit of me.
Tatakatat!
I immediately started running fast.
Like circling the dragon’s body.
Whoosh! The first spear flew through the air with a slicing sound. I ducked to avoid it. To the left for the second, I jumped for the third and fourth simultaneously. Fifth, sixth. They were targeting my flying form. As I evaded backward, Tatak! I landed swiftly.
Seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh.
I managed to successfully dodge a total of eleven spears.
Swish!
The last spear came flying straight at me.
I made no further evasive movements.
Approaching the spear that came within arm’s reach, I pondered for a moment.
The stat called HP seems really ambiguous.
Of course, in a raid dungeon, most attacks are lethal.
But if a limb like an arm or leg is severed, how much HP would decrease? If my HP is at 1%, would I fight with one arm or leg? Kick. Of course, if it were reality, severe shock could lead to death, so it would indeed be critical.
In any case, surviving awkwardly is of no use.
It must be one solid death.
Huff!
“Ugh.”
The spear, thrusting downward at an angle, pierced through my abdomen and embedded itself into the ground.
The horrific pain piercing my body forced a scream to escape my lips involuntarily.
Ah, I hate this sensation.
If it were real, which organs were torn? Either way, I would definitely die, right?
I cringed through it a few times, but it truly felt unpleasant.
I’m like a frog specimen in a lab.
Thud.
As the spear that had impaled me vanished, my body fell to the ground.
Fwoosh!
A green light filled my fading vision.
Snap!
Then, I suddenly rose.
Woooong!
From the hole in my abdomen flowed green light.
This was a gift from Igrim.
[Unique Ability: Blocks one lethal hit. However, HP is fixed at 1% until the battle ends (Cooldown 30 minutes)]
I quietly expressed my gratitude.
“Thank you, sister.”
Now, I can fight with all my power.
Step.
I steadied myself against the dragon’s oncoming foot.
Releasing a streak of sword energy.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Blood gushed from the Black Dragon’s foot as it was struck by the golden sword energy.
Kaaaah!
Thud, thud!
The dragon staggered back with a tortured roar.
Flash!
Chasing after it, my body transformed into a flash of light, brushing past the dragon’s massive form.
Boom, boom, boom!
The ensuing storm left significant wounds on the dragon’s body.
Kaa, Kaaah!
Could the dragon really show a confused expression?
It seemed to be in quite a disarray.
I turned to look back and grinned.
“How does that feel? Not as bad as before, huh?”
With this power, I could tear apart even a plump lizard all by myself.