Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: First Named Boss, Adjutant Kraksas (2)
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BOOM! KABOOM!
"Two elite soldiers over here!"
"Death! Go take them on! Beimerung, support him! Cherni and I will handle the monsters in the rear!"
"Uwooooh!"
Death of Death let out a war cry and charged forward. He countered the demonic energy blasts and closed in on the elite soldiers.
BOOM! BOOM!
Behind Death of Death, who effortlessly parried the two elite soldiers' attacks, the mage Beimerung launched ice arrows and fireballs, chipping away at their HP.
"The elite soldiers have too much HP!"
"This is supposed to be the trash mob section?"
Chris and Cherni, who were dealing with the dog-shaped chimera monsters and regular demonic soldiers, weren't having an easy time either.
Individually, they weren't much of a threat, but their numbers were overwhelming.
The number of monsters continuously pouring out of the barracks seemed endless, no matter how many they defeated.
But there was no way the vanguard players, who had fought together for so long, would fall in a mere regular monster section.
KABOOM!
"Kaaagh!"
Just as the last monster fell to Chris's Demonic Sealing Formation, the elite soldiers that Beimerung and Death of Death were fighting also ran out of HP and collapsed to the ground.
"Is it over?"
"This area, probably."
Having held off the rather long monster wave, Chris's Attack Squad finally had a moment to catch their breath.
"This really is a level 30 elite dungeon. The difficulty is on a whole different level from the ones we've done so far."
"To be honest, the level 15 and 25 elite dungeons felt more like tutorials."
"Mm. It definitely feels like the real deal starts here."
It was different from the kind dungeons up to now, which had taught the concepts of VR game dungeon play one by one.
An instance dungeon named 'Demon Army's Forward Base'.
Grand monster waves, as if to welcome the idiots who had brazenly charged head-on into the demon encampment.
The HP of the elite demonic soldiers, reminiscent of named monsters from previous dungeons.
It was, in short, a structure designed to kill players.
Chris grumbled as she looked around the barracks.
"The layout of these barracks is just malicious from the start. That large tent over there looks like the first named boss's combat area, but the path is designed to make you go all the way around."
"Hmm..."
Cherni, listening intently to Chris, was lost in thought.
"Um, excuse me. Do you think this game might have 'shortcuts'?"
"Huh? Shortcuts?"
"You know how it is. In classic Souls-like games, besides the main maze-like route, there are often shortcuts like crawl spaces or ropes that let you skip sections."
"Hoh."
Death nodded.
"A Souls-like game, you say. It's been a while since I've heard that term. I wonder if any of the vanguard players have tried looking for something like that?"
"Probably not. Nobody really plays Souls-like games anymore. There were some about twenty or thirty years ago, but the gamers who played them back then are practically grandfathers now, you know?"
"I heard that even after VR systems became mainstream, it was hard to commercialize Souls-like games. They require precise movements since even a single graze from an attack can be fatal. The synchronization rate was probably the biggest issue."
"In that respect, 'Astria Online,' which assists player movement with coordinate-based movement skills and protective abilities, was truly innovative."
Beimerung, who had been listening to Death of Death and Cherni's conversation, also chimed in.
"As soon as you enter the instance dungeon, the main gate is right in front of you. Who wouldn't just go straight through? The vanguard players are probably in a hurry, too."
"Or maybe a hero from a novel, one who moved like a special forces unit assassinating key figures of the Demon King's army, would have looked for a different route from the start."
After the brief, idle chat, Chris clapped her hands and encouraged her party members.
"Anyway, since we've already come this deep through the main path, we have no choice but to push forward. The first named boss's area is just a little further. Let's not worry about the other parties' progress and just go at our own pace."
*
Clang-clang-clang!
I continuously block the incoming demonic energy blasts and Kraksas's fists.
Even when using a skill to block, the precise angle of the sword is crucial. You can't just block consecutive attacks head-on.
You have to accurately grasp the direction of the attack and adjust your force accordingly.
Clang!
The impact from the demonic energy blast slightly angled my sword, naturally directing it into the path of Kraksas's roundhouse kick.
CLANG!
A powerful impact struck, and my body was pushed back slightly. I used that recoil to swing my sword and execute Moonlight Slash.
Swish!
"Kaagh!"
Thud.
With that, the third elite soldier fell.
One elite soldier remains.
Glance.
The last elite soldier, meeting my gaze, fired another demonic energy blast as if consumed by rage.
CLANG!
But I didn't go there. I just kept a close eye on the energy blast, focusing on parrying Kraksas's attacks.
For some reason, I felt a sense of inner kinship.
That last elite soldier—his life is my life.
I sent a glance his way and smiled faintly.
I need you. You can't die yet.
I can handle one elite soldier and Kraksas at the same time.
Swish-swish-swish-swoosh!
I effortlessly dodged the attacks, and during the long delay between his major attacks, I used Sword-Drawing Stance to land a Starlight Slash.
[First Named Boss]
[Level 33 Forward Base Adjutant Kraksas]
[HP 2,001,070/3,000,000]
One more hit, and he'll enter the special phase.
Swish!
The final Starlight Slash dropped Kraksas's HP below two-thirds, triggering the special phase.
Woooong.
"Kahahahaha!"
Letting out a manic laugh, Kraksas began to float into the air.
Clang!
Even then, my pet elite soldier sent his affections my way.
Rumble...
Immense demonic energy gathered in Kraksas's hand, soon forming a purple orb.
WHOOOOSH!
And soon, it shot towards me at high speed.
Tap-tap.
As I activated Retreat, I felt a sensation of my body being briefly separated from the world.
KABOOOOM!
A moment later, a massive explosion erupted where I had been standing, leaving a scar on the earth.
My body, having used Retreat, was completely unharmed.
And then came the follow-up attack.
Rumble...
Demonic energy began to gather in Kraksas's hand once more.
As expected, the problem is the second attack.
I have to dodge this one.
Retreat is still on cooldown for another 6 seconds.
My first Retreat had landed me near my pet elite soldier.
The elite soldier quickly swung his spear at me, but I easily blocked it and used Moonlight Slash to switch to Sword-Drawing Stance.
Then, I shifted my gaze to the sky.
A confident smile played on my lips.
All the preparations are complete.
The second wide-area demonic energy attack.
This time, I can dodge it.
Finally, Kraksas's hand pointed in my direction.
WHOOOOSH!
The massive orb of purple demonic energy that shot from his hand instantly filled my vision.
I tore my eyes away from it and looked at my pet elite soldier.
The 'opponent' I need is you.
I met his bewildered gaze head-on and activated the prepared skill.
[Counterattack (D)]
[Usable in 'Sword-Drawing Stance']
[Move to the opponent's rear (8-second cooldown)]
[(D-Rank) Invincible during casting]
Shhk.
KABOOOOM!
"Kaaaaagh—!"
The elite soldier, caught directly in the storm of demonic energy, let out a desperate scream as his shredded body fell to the ground.
My body, protected by the 'invincible during casting' effect of Counterattack, was completely unscathed.
"Ah, my dear elite soldier!"
I looked at the fallen pet elite soldier with a mournful expression.
Wow, if I'd taken that head-on, it would have been incredibly dangerous.
I couldn't use Retreat, but I'm glad I gritted my teeth and threw my body aside even a little.
So a named monster's attack can actually hit its own minions.
I thought even if the boss used a wide-area skill, the minions would survive due to game mechanics, so I assumed he would be fine too.
Tap.
Kraksas, who had landed on the ground at some point, glared at me and ground his teeth.
"You bastard, how dare you harm my subordinates!"
You killed one of them yourself, mister.
I wanted to say that, but he didn't even give me a chance to open my mouth, rushing at me with streams of purple light pouring from his eyes.
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
"Oh."
When the special pattern ended, four more elite demonic soldiers joined the fight, just like before.
It seems the minions still get replenished.
I responded to Kraksas's attacks while scouting for my next pet elite soldier.
Clang-clang! Clang!
This time, I could smile while blocking Kraksas's attacks.
Special pattern successfully cleared!
[First Named Boss]
[Level 33 Forward Base Adjutant Kraksas]
[HP 111,070/3,000,000]
"Th-This is impossible. To think that I would be beaten by a mere human brat!"
Under my relentless barrage of Starlight Slashes, sword wounds were carved into Kraksas's tough body.
Swish!
"Kuaaaack!!"
Kraksas screamed and turned his back. The power he exuded now was pathetic.
I plunged my sword into his back and spoke.
"Mister, you have to drop your items before you go."
"Keoheok, wh-what did you say!?"
To think my first conversation with an interactable named boss would be like this.
In any case, Kraksas could no longer speak to me.
Thud.
His body, having lost all its HP, lost its life and collapsed to the ground.
"Phew, that was tough."
I sheathed my sword and wiped the sweat from my brow.
Then I turned to the front and flashed a V-sign.
First named boss, defeated