The Raid Alliance Crumbles
"Enough! I'm done with this crap!"
"Quitting?"
"You wanna call it quits?"
"You're all just gunning for the last hit anyway—what's the point? We should each just grab our own kills!"
"Haha, Munchkin, calm down and let's talk this out…"
"Piss off!"
Whoosh!
In the central continent's vast plains, at the entrance to the Ogre Den, a massive red tent had been pitched. Inside, the five raid leaders sat around a round table, deep in discussion.
The one who'd just stormed out was Munchkin. Her group had suffered the heaviest losses across all five attempts so far. They'd burned through expensive consumables like there was no tomorrow, and her players had died multiple times. The other raids had taken hits too, but Munchkin's crew had been at the front, tanking the Ogre Lord, so their damage was the worst.
With her gone, the remaining four leaders exchanged glances. Failure after failure, and now a defector.
"No way forward."
"That's why I said we should do it right from the start. Husk."
"Suinjoa, you were holding back your ultimate too—what's with the bullshit?"
"I fought hard at least. See? My claws are busted."
"Just chug a potion and it'll heal. Big deal."
"You guys wouldn't know about hard work."
Hmph. Suinjoa, the man in the form of a blue-gray wolf beastkin, shook his head.
"I never expected real cooperation anyway. But we had a deal before, right?"
"Stick together till 10% HP?"
"Yeah! So why the hell did you spam your AoE at 30%?"
Bam!
Suinjoa slammed his fist on the table, cracking it with a sharp split. It was a menacing strike, but the other three didn't even blink.
"That's what wiped my raid!"
"Who told you to hold your ultimate? If you'd bursted it down sooner, no problem."
"What?!"
"Hahaha… why's everyone getting so heated? Come on, have some water and cool off…"
"Streamer, go stream or something. You're not still on, are you?"
"Off now, but should I kill the feed?"
"Shut it. Yeoje! You're part of the problem too."
"Me?"
"Cheon-sang always pulls that crap, that's why we can't progress! All you do is lock down the hunting grounds, tanking our rep!"
"...That was Cheon-sang's will."
"God, the roleplayer schtick is insane."
Suinjoa hammered the table again in frustration, but Yeoje, Cheon-sang's vice-guild leader with her long pale purple hair and deep purple eyes, just sipped her tea calmly. She flashed a light smile like it was nothing, and Suinjoa shot up from his seat.
"Whatever. We're out too. No point continuing."
"Who holds the line if you bail?"
"Let the mages."
Whoosh!
Following Munchkin, Suinjoa stormed out, leaving the already sparse table looking utterly empty.
Screech.
Yeoje rose gracefully, smiling as if dancing. "Cheon-sang needs to regroup first, so I'll head out."
"What's your plan going forward?"
"Hmm… I'll try convincing the other leaders first. If not, we'll do it with just our strength."
"Understood. What do you think, Husk?"
"...What is there to think."
Husk watched it all unfold and reached one conclusion.
We're screwed.
Screwed big time. All those efforts chasing the last hit, and it fell apart. Sure, last hit or not, rewards still came—but the finisher got the first clear bonus, plus a unique title and rewards. Hidden prizes essential for surging ahead.
Can't let it slip.
But without genuine teamwork, taking down the ogre was impossible. Husk smirked casually.
"Regroup at the right time for another push. Two bailed, but… spec up a bit, and three should be enough, right?"
"Yes! Sounds good!"
"Looking forward to it."
The three leaders spat vague promises and exited the tent. Husk turned toward his raid's outpost, greeted warmly by his vice-leader.
"How'd it go?"
"Fucked. What else. Damn, we almost snagged the last hit."
"Told you to save the ultimate."
"If not for those Cheon-sang bastards."
Sigh… Husk slumped onto his usual rock and began mana circulation training. The boss raid would take time, so spec-up first. Right now, all five raids cooperating was needed for the Ogre Lord—but stronger?
We could solo it.
Fewer mouths to feed was best for Husk.
"That Hajin guy's a problem too…"
"He wasn't chasing last hits?"
"That's what makes him gross. Builds goodwill everywhere, then swoops for the finisher."
"Really? Seemed nice on stream."
"All show."
Husk clicked his tongue, shaking his head.
No progress as is.
He'd sunk 8 hours daily into forging a mana core, to no avail. Tried condensing mana around his heart—fail after fail. Quantity wasn't the issue; no hint of potential at all.
If I get a mana core, it'll work out somehow…
For a mage like him, it meant casting spells several times more efficiently. Chronic mana shortage solved—essential.
"Scout hunting spots. Look for hidden pieces or quests for quick growth."
"Got it."
"Time game. One side surges and clears, chaos."
"Oh yeah, that dragon thing."
"Pass."
Hah… That mana method looked like nothing special anyway. Even if superior, no point switching from his familiar one without massive effort.
Unless it flips the board.
"Some girl there made a star?"
"...What?"
Star?
Husk's eyes widened behind his skull mask.
"Mana core?"
"Yeah."
"Sure?"
"Community buzz, but legit. Short vid, but cast speed and power triple mine."
"Show me."
Husk watched the post's video his vice sent. Ten seconds, but even a rank-7 archmage like him gawked. A no-name newbie at that speed and destruction. Post said she'd trained just 10 days.
10 days for that efficiency?
Must have it. Even stealing their spot.
"Where's Rivent now."
＊
"It's a star!"
"Good job. But took a bit."
"Psh, 10 days is solid. Mhm."
Ten days since the heroes started Bahamut Style Mana Circulation. A blink for me, long for them—and the first star was born.
That hero was…
"Haring!"
"Eek!"
"...not. Sadly."
Haring shook her head sadly and stepped back. Peeking from behind was a girl.
"Hehehe… thank you!"
It was NyaNya. She stood proudly with her wooden staff, a single star orbiting near her heart. Like planets around the sun, mana core circling her heart. Now she could hold far more mana, with steep gains in efficiency and cast speed.
Still miles off, though.
"Guess we can call you a mage now."
"Weren't you before?"
"Nope."
No core, no mage. Not even an apprentice. Just someone dreaming of magic. Hidni, diligently training, muttered.
"Part-time mage?"
"?"
"N-nothing."
"Still 1 Star, so same level. Anyway, NyaNya."
"Yep!"
"Come here."
I patted the head of NyaNya, who'd toddled over, bowing it down.
Pet pet.
She beamed happily under the pets. Haring and Yugi eyed her enviously.
"Good girl."
"Thanks for the praise!"
"First success, so… one-time use ticket for you."
"Really?!"
"Yeah."
One's fine. NyaNya pumped her fist in joy. Haring approached gravely, asking if only first-timers got it—I said yes.
Can't hand 'em all out.
Not some volunteer dragon. These were my hard-hoarded treasures. Haring wailed like the world ended. After sobbing forever, wiping tears, she gave NyaNya serious advice. No idea what, but NyaNya entered the treasury and emerged with a bluish staff.
"Nice pick."
Too heavy for her yet.
＊
Five days after NyaNya got her staff. Nest entrance.
"Hey."
"?"
"You the girl who got a mana core?"
A stranger in a skull mask appeared before NyaNya.