Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Clearing the Heavenly Basin
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[Named]
[Level 55 Nightmare Fusion]
[HP 79,944,112 / 100,000,000 (80%)]
A black golem. The final named monster.
A special pattern that was, in a way, simple—it just crushed down with its massive body.
But if there was no space to dodge, it was a nightmare incarnate.
"You've got to be kidding me...!"
Chris was horrified.
*CRASH, CRASH, CRAAASH!*
The party protection skills available to Chris's Attack Squad were all expended in three jumps.
*THUD!*
The golem stomped its foot again.
A prelude to the fourth jump.
Chris, Beimerung, and Cherni were all ranged classes.
Unlike the Swordsman's and Fighter's counterattacks or Flowing Step, they each possessed a standing invincibility skill that could be used even without a target.
However, in the process of gathering in this narrow space, they had all used up their invincibility skills. They weren't off cooldown yet. It was their first time seeing the pattern, so they hadn't had the presence of mind to save them.
How many more jumps would there be? The fourth was imminent. As it stood, they had no way to deal with it. Death of Death, the Fighter, could use Flowing Step, but it was impossible since he couldn't target the golem while it was in the air.
"Hk."
*WHOOSH!*
The golem leaped into the air once more.
In about 0.5 seconds, it would slam back down into this confined space.
"Just backstep for now...!"
*Tat!*
But they were surrounded by waves of miasma.
The only viable combat area was a narrow, 8-meter-diameter circle where a pillar of sacred light descended.
The distance covered by each class's backstep was also 8 meters.
For Chris's party members, gathered in the center, the distance of their backstep far exceeded the radius of the viable circular area.
"Ah, oh no!"
*Gurgle.*
The swamp of miasma swallowed Chris whole as she used her backstep.
Death of Death also used his backstep, but he too was devoured by the miasma after leaving the protection of the sacred energy.
[Party member 'Chris' has died.]
[Party member 'Death of Death' has died.]
*Splat.*
*Thud.*
Cherni was flattened by the golem's heavy body, and Beimerung, who had tried to evade to the edge, was knocked back.
[Party member 'Cherni' has...
"Kukukuk, Lee Jae-wook is hilarious. He got flattened like a pancake."
"Why was I the only one who got squashed!?"
While Beimerung cackled and Cherni complained, Chris and Death of Death analyzed the named monster.
"We've more or less learned its normal patterns, but the special pattern is tough."
"A sticky black fluid fills the combat area, restricting it to an 8-meter-diameter circle. Just getting all four party members together is a challenge in itself."
"What do you think determines where the safe zone appears?"
"Hmm... is it fixed for each phase? The first safe zone was around the 7 o'clock position, assuming north is 12 o'clock, right? The special phase occurred at 80% HP, so if it's every 20%, we'll see it four times in total. Or maybe it's just at 80% first, then 50%, and 20%—three times."
"Either way, that's at least three times. Phew, this won't be easy."
"We still have to do it. We've finally made it this far. Since the first clear message hasn't appeared, Rain isn't done yet either. Even if she dealt with the snake women before us, the process of activating the three Divine Marks alone must have inevitably slowed her down."
Chris grinned.
"This is a real chance for us, who've only been chasing Rain's shadow, to get a first clear after a very long time."
Beimerung snickered.
"Kukuk, so four people are trying their best to beat one person in a dungeon that's extremely disadvantageous for solo players?"
"If we're going to beat her, it has to be now. When else will we get a chance to win against Rain?"
Chris looked around at her party members' faces.
The Hero, who once had companions.
Now, she walked alone.
Chris had some inkling of what Rain must be feeling.
This was the world where Rain had lived.
A sense of duty that no one else could understand.
Even Chris, as close as she was to Rain, was only just beginning to glimpse that past.
But in the future, there would be many more mountains that Rain would have to climb alone.
They had to show her the strength of reliable friends, so the lonely Hero could have someone to lean on.
Chris's eyes gleamed as she laid out the plan for their next attempt.
"Alright, let's decide the order for using our protection and invincibility skills."
[Named]
[Level 55 Nightmare Fusion]
[HP 19,445,007 / 100,000,000 (19%)]
*Fwa, fwa, fwa!*
A rain of light began to fall in the central clearing of the Heavenly Basin.
*Ooooooh—!!*
The Nightmare Fusion let out a bizarre cry from its entire body, continuously spewing forth a swamp of miasma.
But it was different from before. This time, it couldn't cover the entire clearing with the swamp. The incessant rain of sacred light was punching holes all over the black mire.
"Next, 12 o'clock! The path is open!"
*Tat!*
The golem, having entered its miasma generation pattern in the center, wouldn't be jumping for a while. Chris's party members moved back and forth through the holes that had started to appear in the black swamp, approaching the Nightmare Fusion.
*Ooooooh—!*
Rocks burst forth from the trembling body of the Nightmare Fusion. The black rocks that formed the golem's body began to float into the air one by one, then rained down all around.
*CRASH, CRASH, CRAAASH!*
"Frenzy pattern! Watch the impact range of the falling rocks! We're burning all its remaining HP right here!"
[Divine Descent]
[Cooldown: 5 minutes]
[Greatly increases the stats, attack power, critical hit chance, and critical hit damage of all party members (Duration: 30 seconds)]
The Yin-Yang Master's party buff cast by Chris, 'Divine Descent', activated.
*FWOOSH!*
A blue light enveloped the party members' bodies.
"I've been holding this in for a long time!"
*KWAAAAA—!*
Death of Death's body took the form of a dragon and slammed into the fusion's abdomen. The Fighter's ultimate skill, 'Dragon's Coil', had struck.
*BOOM!*
*Ooooh—!?*
The fusion staggered back from the impact, roaring as it raised an arm riddled with holes, but it was forced to stop mid-motion.
Cherni, holding his wand aloft, giggled.
"It's uncomfortable when you can't move, isn't it? The CC is finally working."
The Undine's 'Aqua Prison', a skill belonging to the Spirit Master, had halted the fusion's movements. This was because Chris's 'Sealing Talisman' skill, which had been placed around the area, had weakened the fusion's crowd control immunity.
*BAM, BAM, BOOM!*
Death of Death moved with incredible speed, continuously striking the fusion's body. Chris's talismans exploded all over its form.
The fusion, a being formed from a collection of black nightmares, was about to meet its end right here.
"Finally, a chance to use my ultimate!"
*Wooooong!!*
At the tip of Beimerung's staff, which had just finished a long 10-second cast, a blue energy blazed.
The Mage's ultimate skill, 'Arcane Burst'.
*FLASH!*
*KWAKWAKWAKWA!!*
Amidst the rain of white sacred light, the flash of light tore through the clearing of the Heavenly Basin.
*Tiring.*
[The party 'Chris's Attack Squad' has successfully achieved the first clear of the elite dungeon, 'Heavenly Basin'!]
*
The final boss battle was over.
The 'Nightmare Fusion', felled by my sword, had returned to being a simple pile of rocks.
*Twinkle, twinkle.* A beautiful rain fell upon the clearing.
The rain of sacred energy fell upon the rocky remains of what was once the Nightmare Fusion.
The stones, once stained black, slowly began to return to their original color.
"Oh."
I picked up a piece of stone that had begun to emit a faint glow and let out a sound of admiration.
[Divine Stone]
[Enhancement Item]
Mithril that had been exposed to corrupting energy for a long time, its properties changed over the long years.
Purified by sacred energy, the mithril had become a substance with an overwhelmingly superior ability to absorb all kinds of power.
Its absorption capacity was greater than even a high-grade magic crystal.
Of course, the power it currently held was merely the faint sacred energy created by the Divine Mark's holy magic circle.
I should first enhance Astaroth, my beloved sword that will continue to be with me.
*Woooong.*
As I placed the Divine Stone on Astaroth, it was quickly absorbed with a brilliant flash of light.
[Astaroth]
[Magic Crystal Enhancement MAX (Attack Power +100)]
[Divine Stone Enhancement 1/10 (Divine Attack Power +10)]
[Legendary Grade]
[Attack Power: 500]
[Anti-Personnel Attack Power: 500, Additional Anti-Personnel Damage: 30%]
[All Skill Damage +60%]
[Socket 1: High-Grade Red Echostone (Lifesteal +300)]
[Socket 2: High-Grade Green Echostone (Agility +50)]
...
"Hmm, good."
A new stat, 'Divine Attack Power', had been added.
This stat would be a great help in the battles against the demonic beings I would face in the future.
So, the item to farm here is the Divine Stone.
I'll have to run this place many times to apply it to all my accessories.
I gazed at my newly strengthened Astaroth with satisfaction before heading towards the dungeon's exit portal.
*Woong.*
The area in front of the newly opened elite dungeon was bustling with all sorts of people. Many parties were currently attempting the dungeon inside, but the entrance was also crowded with those forming parties to challenge it, or those who had come out to take a breather from the brutal difficulty.
Many people were gathered in front of this elite dungeon, the Heavenly Basin, as well.
*Stomp, stomp.*
I walked confidently through their midst.
It's a bit strange to say it myself, but I'm something of a celebrity.
Quite a few people recognized me and struck up a conversation.
"Oh, it's Rain."
"Whitey! You're cute today too!"
"Did you clear the new dungeon?"
"Ah, um, yes."
"Aah! It's my first time talking to Rain! Her voice is so pretty!"
I answered timidly. The female players around me squealed.
I gave an awkward smile and took a small step back.
I no longer avoid people outright. But conversations with strangers were still a bit difficult.
Among the players gathered around me, I could see some familiar faces I'd met while running dungeons for others, but since there were so many players, most were strangers.
Right, being in a large crowd is overwhelming.
I wonder if Chris is still in the middle of her attempt.
*Stomp, stomp.*
Just then, someone began to push through the crowd gathered around me, approaching with ragged breaths.
"Grrrrrr!"