Alphadisco Excavation: A Total Breeze

Low-level dungeons like this one could be cleared with a single button press if you knew what you were doing. True to its reputation as a dime-a-dozen beginner dungeon, the Alphadisco Excavation Site only had two bosses.

That made sense—this place was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠basically a tutorial. Players would naturally wander the open world, clear quests, and eventually stumble upon it. Those eager to progress would gather at the entrance, form parties, and clear it together. In the process, they'd pick up the basics of tank-DPS-healer dynamics and the thrill of looting items. These days, even kids knew the drill, but the design taught it seamlessly.

Anyway, as a ridiculously easy dungeon, there were no strategies to memorize. Even now, our party's DPS were charging in wildly, smashing trash mobs left and right—no issues there.

...Not entirely issue-free, huh.

Before the tank could even pull aggro, the overeager DPS dove in—and true to form, their HP chunks vanished. It was the kind of thing you'd see everywhere back in my old world; no point getting mad. Lowbie dungeon anyway.

Unlike the infamy on the forums where people ragged on it as "hard," the Alphadisco Excavation Site had a super simple layout. A tunnel with some trash mobs leading to a big room with the first boss. Then a straight path that tricked you into thinking it spiraled, ending in a trash-filled room with the second boss.

On the way to the first boss, about four Moonwatchers were growing. Definitely worth picking.

The Gunner Mage, who'd been jumping in protest, immediately started gathering. Handy how this version let multiple people harvest one node—unlike the original, where fights broke out over it.

With the Moonwatchers done, we breezed into the first boss room without a hitch.

The first boss was a human dude wielding twin scrap-metal shields. Your standard no-gimmick trash boss.

No surprise—they all looked skeptical. I'd grabbed these three randos with CP around 85-90. Other parties demanded 100+, so they probably joined my ragtag crew out of desperation, like hopping on a wonky cart to get to town.

Ssangmundong Unbreakable Shield charged... wait, no Charge skill yet. Anyway, she waddled up and started whacking the boss.

The fight was predictable. What lowbie dungeon had real mechanics? Click the tank, spam a heal or two—done.

"Filthy bugs! I'll turn you to mush!"

Of course, the boss wasn't idle. At 100 mana, he'd slam his shield down on our tank's head. And, predictably, she ate it without proper defense.

But she didn't die. No death, no problem. A few small heals kept her kicking...

"Aigoo, what're you doing?"

Our tank, doubting my heals, frantically pulled bandages from her bag and wrapped up. Sure, pain calls for bandages—but don't those cancel on hit?

"Argh! Gahk...!!! You filthy bastards..."

A minor fumble at the end, but the first boss dropped in under a minute. No wipes, no screaming DPS.

Did our tank even realize I'd saved her? Amid the cheers, I looted the boss corpse.

'Cause you're a Gunner.

You could equip shop junk, sure...

Gunners used ranged weapons like bows or guns by default.

You're a mage!

In Lost of Fantasy, without special settings, loot went by dice roll. Priority to whoever could equip it immediately. No one could? Everyone rolls.

99? She snatched it with a 99.

Ssangmundong Unbreakable Shield bounced around joyfully before equipping it on the spot.

She'd grumbled about it being too hard on entry!

Anyway, relieved it matched my memories—no pointless relief needed. If it was just Lost of Fantasy in name only, a CP-one-trick trashfest clearable by five DPS, I'd have been disappointed.

Jeong Hana had no idea, but her actions rippled outward. Like tossing a stone in a still pond, one casual party clear shifted the community flow. No, it went beyond that—most Lost of Fantasy players started thinking differently.

"Whoa, Min-seo was right?"

"Masters are different, bro."

"Didn't get what Rice said last time, but this is it~!"

From level 15 to 20, 20 to 25—leveling steadily, Kang Min-seo hit various dungeons. No more carries; she partied happily with fellow streamers, all DPS who needed her rare tank build.

"Heh heh heh, see guys? I watched Rice's vid too! From this level on~! Proper tank-DPS-heal clears dungeons!"

"Nice... Wanna keep partying like this?"

"Min-seo tanking? Stick with it. Healer can be a carry."

Rare praise made her grin.

"Min-seo tanks like a pro. Tanked all that pain earlier."

"Dude, Min-seo's no mere tank. Her balanced comp shifted the meta. Meta."

"Ugh, all the hype... Last time they whined about low DPS with her."

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Chat's the same~ Started mocking my Shield Warrior, now...

Recognition as hoped. Tank felt cooler than support—more heroic.

"Sweet! Party up and roll together?"

"Hell yeah. Manlevel hit, then raids? Supposedly doable."

"Bros forever? You said Lost of Fantasy long-term."

Bonds deepened with occasional tourney teammates.

Viewers flipped exactly as she wanted.

"We're only four though. Know any healers?"

One streamer’s words made her think of Jeong Hana. But no—civilian, not a streamer.

GutRipper was nuts... Knew loot tricks too.

Thanks to her casual Moonwatcher tip, no repeat runs. Clip went viral as community meme, then YouTube Shorts as "LoF Pro Tip.txt."

"Duh, yeah. Know Sonia?"

"Sonia? Hye-ji? Darkwatch 2 Bor..."

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Ignoring the noise, she propped her chin, musing on Hana.

"...Other healers suck at healing though..."

Took time to realize it was her own poor defense use, not them.

"...Itches."

Level 29. Solid enough for community flex before the next zone. She stood.

"Ugh, driving me nuts. Won't... stay on?"

Five days as Jeong Hana. Womanhood? No biggie. Woke up, existential crisis walk, ordered chicken once phone worked, dove into PC gaming. Bathroom? Easy. Shower, hair? Fine.

"...Sigh."

But the itch nagged. No bra forever? Might scratch mid-game.

Hana apparently skipped them, but these huge tits bugged my guy-brain—needed something.

"Out first. Go."

Grabbed a random windbreaker, stuck out her tongue at the mirror.

Overdoing delivery too. Fixed bank balance, no income—inefficient.

Market run? Nearby mart would help...

—Ding-dong! Bang bang bang!

"Wha, Mom?!"

Door open to leave—sudden pounding.

"Hana-ya? Hana? Aigoo! Hana! You're alive, right? Aigoo, why no answer. Hana-ya?"

Folksy auntie voice, warm and rustic—but no relaxing.

"Um... who is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it?"

Late evening visitor? Obvious if obvious. But her purpose? Unthought-of.