Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Solo Play
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Chris was having a very difficult day, mentally. It was a miracle she hadn't bitten her tongue off.
The sight of Rain lying on the bed, her white form a tempting allure as she peered through half-lidded eyes, demanded a superhuman level of patience from Chris.
Every time Rain let out a moan in her songbird-like voice, Chris's heart was mercilessly assaulted by a sharp and powerful flash of a sword.
Truly a magnificent swordsman, that Rain; she had inflicted tremendous damage on Chris.
Once again, Chris couldn't help but feel her heart had been stolen.
As Chris touched Rain's soft, tender body, she was simultaneously fighting a fierce, invisible battle with herself.
Rain was a child with a disability. Even if she was unknowingly making a gesture that screamed ‘come and get me,’ Chris couldn't just say, “Oh, thank you,” and pounce.
"Hah."
As Chris sighed in front of the 'Berbeia Ancient Temple', she saw Rain appear from the direction of the mine shaft.
*Thump, thump.*
With the sound of confident footsteps entering the cavern where the ancient temple entrance was located, Rain came into Chris's view.
*Flinch.*
But upon noticing the people gathered at the dungeon entrance, Rain cautiously began to move toward a corner.
Chris chuckled and walked over to her.
"I had a feeling, but I can't believe you were really going to solo."
Chris entered the 'Berbeia Ancient Temple' with Rain. An instance dungeon for just the two of them.
Even though they were now living together in the real world, Rain was still a child of unfathomable depth.
"Got it? Today, Employer Chris is getting a carry from Employee Rain. You are not allowed to join the fight."
"Alright, I understand."
Chris nodded, looking into Rain's determined eyes.
*Woooong.*
As they stepped into the first cube-shaped room, a foothold puzzle materialized before them. It was a puzzle mechanic room.
Rain took a confident step forward, then hesitated, stepping back to grab Chris's sleeve.
"......?"
Rain looked up at Chris with a pitiful gaze.
"Chris, this puzzle... can you solve it for me?"
"Pfft, hahaha."
Chris clutched her stomach, laughing as she solved the puzzle mechanic.
For Chris, today was a day full of mental shocks.
She had believed she understood the structure of the game 'Astria Online,' that she had mastered most of it and knew how to use it to her advantage.
But Rain was a child who shattered all common sense.
Solo play? It wasn't that Chris hadn't run simulations. There was certainly a possibility of soloing every elite dungeon. Many high-level players had already attempted it after finishing their farming, and a few had succeeded, even uploading videos.
However, the elite dungeons they had managed to solo were at least two tiers below the latest one. They tended to brute-force difficult mechanics with sheer stats.
Rain, on the other hand, had achieved the first clear of a brand-new elite dungeon, solo. It was an achievement that was utterly unbelievable without seeing it with one's own eyes.
And now, Chris was witnessing the answer right before her.
*Flash!*
*Rooooar—!*
*Thud.*
With a single slash from Rain that descended from the air like a beam of light, the Minotaur's massive body collapsed to the ground.
The skills of 'Astria Online'.
When used, they triggered a corresponding motion, and damage was dealt based on stats and attack power. This was true for a Fighter's skills, as well as a Swordsman's skills like Moonlight Slash, Starlight Slash, and Flash.
However, Rain's sword moved with a fluid grace, unbound by any set path. She wasn't constrained by the concept of 'skills'; she simply moved her sword, borrowing their power.
Using Flash in mid-air?
Chris shook her head. It was an unheard-of application.
If it were any other Swordsman player, would they even be able to maintain their balance while airborne?
The shell-game mechanic with the moving walls posed no problem for Rain. It didn't seem like she had memorized the patterns on the walls. She simply followed them with her eyes, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and pinpointed the correct one.
The timed berserk pattern that had wiped out Chris's attack squad was no threat at all. No matter how fast or strong the Minotaur's attacks became, they were nothing but empty swings if they couldn't land on Rain.
*Pitter-patter.*
The being who had just displayed such a divine level of combat prowess now approached Chris with light, delicate steps.
Her adorable appearance was a far cry from the sharp-eyed swordsman of moments ago.
Chris forced a smile and patted the head of Rain, who had come to her as if seeking praise.
"What? And here I was told soloing the second named boss was absolutely impossible."
Chris grumbled lightly.
Even Death of Death's bold proclamation was no match for Rain.
Rain dealt with the attacks from the second boss, Akan, and his three golem minions as easily as breathing. She handled the charging mechanic by herself, blocked and deflected all ranged projectiles, and never once let up her assault on Akan.
*Flash!*
And now, the battle unfolding before her eyes against the third named boss, the Archangel and the Fallen Angel, was no different.
The Sword of Light and Sword of Dark patterns, which Chris's attack squad had struggled to neutralize, were easily baited and nullified by Rain's swift movements.
*Twirl.*
Amidst the relentless storm of the Fallen Angel's dark blades and the Archangel's light blades, Rain's body danced gracefully, trailing starlight and moonlight.
Chris, standing in the hallway at the entrance of the boss room, briefly lifted her hand and stared at her palm.
That was the delicate body she had held in her arms today. A frail body that couldn't even support itself without a wheelchair.
Chris found it difficult to accept that Rain's soft, muscle-less body was capable of the movements she was witnessing right now.
In Astria Online, a user's agility stat certainly allowed them to move faster than in the real world.
However, it was an agility value that even Death of Death, with his amateur boxing experience, couldn't fully utilize. It was like being in a high-speed race car; no matter how fast it was, a person who couldn't adapt to the speed couldn't handle it properly.
And adaptation to that speed was systematically blocked by the synchronization rate. Instead, Astria Online had invincibility frames and counters to assist with it.
Of course, Rain didn't dodge every pattern with pure physical ability alone. She actively utilized invincibility frames and counters. But when it was time to go on the offensive, she boldly weaved through patterns with movement alone.
As if handling this speed was perfectly natural.
As if she had been fighting with such swift movements her entire life, just like breathing.
Chris had even considered the possibility of a hidden mechanic that could only be used in solo play. But that guess was soundly proven wrong. There was no such mechanic.
Rain was conquering the dungeon alone with pure, unadulterated physical skill.
*Rooooar—!*
*Rumble.*
*Swoosh.*
The Archangel, left alone, fell after letting out a final, desperate roar, unleashing beams of light that swept across the combat area several times. Rain flicked her sword once, as if shaking off starlight, then sheathed it.
Chris approached the shyly fidgeting Rain with a smile.
"Rain, I... I don't know what to think."
Rain's eyes colored with puzzlement.
Chris patted her head, lost in thought for a moment.
Setting aside the question of how Rain could so naturally control such rapid movements, one thing had become certain.
She had been skeptical when they were getting carried through dungeons together, but seeing her solo with her own eyes confirmed it.
Rain's synchronization rate was abnormally high.
It had long surpassed 'Astria Online's' system limit of around 20%.
Was it around 60%? It definitely wasn't below 50%.
There were rare cases where a capsule user's mental state could slightly increase their synchronization rate. But it never, ever went far beyond the system's limit.
If the existence of such a problem became public knowledge, the game would be shut down. The immense pain a user's brain experienced would undoubtedly have a significant impact on their physical body.
This was a combat game where users could die. What would happen if one experienced an agonizing death multiple times?
The reason Rain had collapsed before. The doctor said it was likely due to past mental trauma and her current malnutrition, but her synchronization rate must have played a part.
At that time, Rain had been severely injured in the game. Her condition had worsened to the point that the capsule's protection system had forcibly ejected her.
What should she do?
Logically, she should make Rain stop playing immediately and take measures regarding her synchronization rate, but...
"The Yin-Yang Orb for you didn't drop... Ah, ooh...! It's a sexy outfit...! This time it's black!"
*Hop, hop.*
Rain's face flushed red as she checked the dungeon clear rewards, bouncing on her feet.
Chris watched her with a faint smile.
Rain loved this world.
She was enjoying the heart-pounding adventures and challenges.
She was healing her past wounds on this continent.
Chris remembered her visiting a rocky mountain, a pleasant smile on her face as she felt the strong winds blow.
She remembered their time by a stream, how Rain had been overjoyed, almost jumping, at the sensation of water on her feet—a feeling she couldn't experience in reality.
Here, she was moving her legs freely, legs that were immobile in the real world.
Even if it was for Rain's own well-being, did Chris have the right to take this reality away from her?
Wasn't there a way to protect her body without taking away her happiness?
Chris simply couldn't bring herself to stop Rain from finding joy, from taking these steps to heal her heart.
"Chris, want to try this on? Eek...! Is it a matching outfit with me? I-It's a little embarrassing, but if it's in front of you... I have the white one, you know? Let's wear them as a set and take a screenshot!"
Chris took the 'Fallen Angel Valiel's Outfit' and, unable to refuse Rain's persistence, put it on.
The black angel outfit was indeed revealing. While Chris often wore clothes that showed some skin in the game, the pieces of fabric on this one were far too small.
Chris looked toward Rain and carefully began to speak.
"Rain, if you ever feel a lot of pain while playing, or... Huh...!"
At that moment, Chris's eyes widened as if they would pop out of her head.
Rain had already changed into a pure white angel dress that perfectly matched her silver hair.
It precariously covered her small chest, and between the scraps of white cloth that only concealed the most critical spots, Rain's pale thighs were on full display.
In that state, Rain was sending a shy smile toward Chris.
"I-It's so revealing, right? How could anyone wear something like this? Le-Let's just take a quick screenshot and take it off. Let's take one together."
Rain pressed herself right up against Chris.
Rain's thigh touched her own.
The sensation of her bare skin was soft and pliable.
Chris could only let out a groan, her expression dazed.
"Ah... Aah..."
Chris decided to stop thinking.