Chapter 86

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 86

Chapter Title: Fallen Hero

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Craaaaaawr!

The Corrupted Collibor, a massive beast no different from the gatekeeper of the 【B-2】 difficulty dungeon "Night Citadel," began collapsing slowly amid its screams.

GGW's dealers, who had beaten the now almost cute-looking brute to a pulp like stray dogs on a sweltering summer day, gathered their mana with relieved expressions.

"Phew! That was a blast swinging away."

"As expected, this guy's got the best hand feel. No need to worry about positioning—just lay on the damage nice and easy."

Those were Sojeong and Yerin's words. Aside from its filthy burp attack masquerading as a breath weapon and the occasional flying chunks of meat from inside the citadel, they didn't need to budge an inch. They could just unleash their mana explosions right from their spots and hammer away.

The healers were the only ones sweating it out—this was free lunch for the dealers.

"Jeong Yerin, hero. What's your contribution rating?"

"S-. What about you, Kim Sojeong, hero?"

"Ah, I'm S- too. Wanna compare our detailed stats?"

Watching their DPS—second-by-second damage tallied on the Hero Records—soar high enough to pierce the heavens always filled them with a thrill, the kind that promised even higher output in the next raid. For dealers, peak DPS was their worth, their pride.

That said, Yuna—who shared the same dealer role—couldn't quite join their chat. Her contribution was a middling B-. She'd been too busy sniffing out rotten meat chunks to land proper damage.

"Alright, on to the next one."

Minguk, having dispatched Collibor with ease, led the team in clearing the Night Citadel's boss-grade monsters one by one, then two by two. These were foes they'd already tackled through trial and error multiple times, so their clear speed was incomparably faster than before.

After felling even the sub-boss "Incubus - Raham," Minguk and the group came face-to-face with the dungeon's final boss: "Succubus Queen - Ludia," lounging seductively on her throne.

"Hmm. She's a succubus, alright... but not quite what I pictured. I thought the strategy videos were just low-res..."

Minguk let out a low groan upon seeing Ludia.

[She possesses skin so flawless and breathtakingly beautiful that it could make one faint, jet-black hair, and two horns sprouting from either side of her head—proof that these are demons.

Her eyes are perpetually dyed a seductive crimson, and massive bat wings flap from her back, tempting the heroes.]

This was the info Minguk had dug up online about succubi in this world. Naturally, he'd assumed Succubus Queen Ludia would be sleek and stunning, just as described. And succubi were fantasy's ultimate sex symbols, weren't they?

Even if she was a monster, guys from his old world harboring succubus fantasies would've thrown their lives away to lead with their lower halves. But the succubi here looked a bit different.

"Kinda ambiguous, huh. Guess a monster's still a monster?"

Her voluptuous figure was eye-catchingly alluring, no doubt. But it was... oddly pretty in a vague way. Pretty, sure—but like a monster's brand of beauty. Miles from Minguk's tastes.

'Fuckable if I had to, I suppose...'

Her body promised it'd hold up just fine. But no real urge stirred. Not when he had women around him who put her to shame.

"Tch. Anyway, time for the briefing."

Minguk smacked his lips, hiding his disappointment as he eyed the Succubus Queen, then turned away like he'd shaken off any lingering thoughts. The four women in his sight were each a hundred times more beautiful than the one before him.

The team wore complicated expressions after hearing Minguk's concise briefing.

Facing a brand-new monster they'd never tangled with before felt like popping a cheat-sheet quiz back at Hero Academy. They'd studied up, but no guarantees of passing.

"Tougher than expected."

"I get the Tail Bind counter... but to attack Ludia while watching Hyun-ah's moves, do we poke with sword tips only?"

"I'll stick closer for attacks."

They'd rewatched raid videos of other teams tackling her countless times, but doubts lingered on pulling it off themselves. Minguk spoke up to reassure them.

"It's not hard. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Keep it simple. If an ally gets bound, dealers smash Ludia's binding mana ASAP. Non-tanks stay farther from Ludia than the tank. If Temptation Arrow flies, break away from allies. That's it—burn it into your heads."

There were a few more minor points, but as the one handling raid survival, he'd cover them. Worst case, brute-force heals through a wipe, then feedback the issues.

'With a solid healer line, strategies always emerge.'

Master the attack patterns, counter them—that's a clear raid.

"Don't get any closer than that!"

The opening strike naturally fell to tank Hyun-ah. Mana gleamed sharply on her sword and shield.

The Succubus Queen on her throne spread her bat-like membranous wings wide at the intruders' arrival and swooped in, slashing her claws as if to shred Hyun-ah. But Hyun-ah's response was lightning-quick.

Claaaang!

Raising her massive kite shield, Hyun-ah blocked Ludia's assault—thanks to her high Gear Score gear, only a thin scratch marred the surface despite the head-on hit.

Claaaang! Clang!!!

But Hyun-ah's counter was just the opener; Ludia unleashed a one-sided barrage after. Still, Hyun-ah blocked every blow. Skin tore here and there, but no solid hits landed.

Watching their duel, Minguk gripped his wand to channel recovery spells. The other dealers hustled to their pre-assigned spots.

Shiiiiiiaaaaa...

Before long, black mist blanketed the battlefield, crawling up the heroes' ankles. Every mana use or movement brought stinging pain.

"Aggro's on!"

Sojeong, eyes on her Hero Pad, hoisted her greatsword and charged Ludia. Yerin chanted spells, Yuna loosed arrows. No orders needed—they checked aggro and struck on their own.

Unlike bulkier foes, Ludia's frame was compact, so ranged dealers focused harder than usual. One misaim could friendly-fire disaster.

While tank and dealers played their parts, Minguk ceaselessly poured out his mana. Healing flowed through his wand to Hyun-ah and the team nonstop.

All the while, he tracked Ludia's moves and field changes, directing the team without pause.

Mid-clash, Ludia—still facing the tank—casually swung an arm toward Yerin's position without a glance. A fly-swatting flick.

'That movement's...'

But Minguk caught the unnatural motion instantly.

"Jeong Yerin! Dodge the arrow!!!"

"Got it—ack?! Kyaaaack!"

Despite the warning, Yerin hadn't anticipated the strike. Her shoulder took the hit full-on. Over 50% HP vanished in a chunk amid her scream.

Darkness of Temptation then leeched her life like a parasite. Good thing dealers were spread out—no one else caught the arrow's AoE.

"Oh Hyun-ah!!!"

Minguk called her name, and Hyun-ah activated her 【Guardian Knight】 unique: Hope Shield (B) on Yerin, splitting incoming damage 50/50 for a duration. Spot on. She followed with Heavy Defense (B) to brace for Ludia's next.

Buying time, Minguk rapidly topped Yerin's HP, issuing warnings all the while.

"Temptation Arrow comes as a sneak attack—stay sharp! Watch Ludia's arm swings! Especially Kim Sojeong, hero—you're close, don't slack!"

"Got it!!!"

A heal shower restored Yerin, who'd been inches from death after Ludia's fake-out shot. Minguk finally exhaled. That casual toss packed way more punch than expected.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But Ludia's patterns weren't done.

Suddenly, her long black tail splayed wide like a carnivorous plant and snapped up Sojeong, hurling her far away. Minguk's feet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠instinctively followed to the landing spot.

"Tail Bind! Dealers, switch targets!!! Fast as you can!!!"

"Heavy Shot!"

"Hiyaaaaap!!!"

Before Minguk finished, Yuna's massive arrow pierced Ludia's binding mana on Sojeong. Yerin's lightning magic then hammered the web-like succubus power.

How long did they pour it on? Sojeong broke free, crashing to the ground and slumping. No rest—minguk's healing already enveloped her.

Confirming Sojeong rising, Minguk checked his Hero Pad.

'32 seconds.'

Time to shatter the Tail Bind completely.

Not bad, considering the 1-minute line. And with Yuna's damage being the raid's weakest? They'd free faster if she got bound.

'The big worry's handled easier than thought.'

Darkness Bind was Ludia's crux. Nail that, and she'd fall easy—or so Minguk figured. But the real snag wasn't the key point he'd pegged.

A momentary lapse—Sojeong too close to Hyun-ah—sent reflect damage crumpling her face. Already draining from Darkness of Temptation, it hit harder.

"...Gahk!"

Then a sneaky Temptation Arrow bulged her eyes wide. Sojeong perished all too pointlessly. Minguk's healing wrapped her instantly, but the light had already fled her eyes.

"Damn it!"

One second? No, half a second too late to save his teammate. Minguk bit his lip hard. Just like that, team members crumpled to Ludia's casual swings.