Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Baek Eun Takes Command
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‘Iron Mask Man declared he’d catch it himself!’
‘Then there’s really a chance, right?’
The crowd stirred.
Users began sizing each other up one by one.
This was a raid field that wouldn’t end unless one side was wiped out.
There had been no choice from the start.
And now, Iron Mask Man—who’d shone the brightest so far—had stepped up first, declaring he’d take on the boss.
How could their hearts not follow?
Besides, weren’t the two rookies already backing him?
‘Sitting tight just means a dog’s death anyway...’
‘In that case...!’
A sliver of hope.
They clung to it.
With those thoughts, the users slowly edged forward.
The darkness-corrupted Drauder.
To raid it.
One by one, they took positions suited to their classes—but as an improvised group, problems cropped up.
The biggest issues were two.
No priests.
And no designated leader.
Of course, there was the holy knight Baek Eun in place of priests, but as a pure hybrid tank-healer, her output was inevitably low.
Meaning they’d have to tough it out with their own healing items for now.
And after that?
Simple.
Gulp!
Die or kill.
One or the other.
Users’ faces darkened rapidly at the realization.
To at least delay that moment, they needed a solid raid leader.
“Leader... no, who’s taking raid command?”
Raid leader.
The commander of the attack squad.
Especially crucial for a ragtag pickup group like this.
Naturally, eyes turned to Iron Mask Man at the front.
But his gaze was fixed on another user.
Rookie rank 3.
The holy knight Baek Eun.
“Baek Eun’s raid leader.”
“M-Me?”
“You’ve got the most raid experience here, right?”
“Well, yeah, but still—you’re the strongest, so shouldn’t you...”
“You don’t mean that seriously, do you?”
“......”
Exactly.
The raid leader’s role wasn’t about personal skill.
Quick judgment.
Leadership to guide others.
Tactical knowledge.
Experience commanding from the center.
Those were the real keys.
Baek Eun, knowing this better than anyone, fell silent at Iron Mask Man’s words.
“......Understood. I’ll give it a shot.”
Her usual bright smile gave way to a grim nod.
“It’s decided.”
Baek Eun was appointed raid leader.
Formation fell into place quickly.
Frontline, midguard, rear.
Baek Eun assigned roles perfectly.
-Groooar!
“Block it! Block!”
While others held Drauder at bay, Baek Eun pulled Luke and Roxy aside.
“Our first priority is analyzing Drauder’s patterns.”
As expected.
True to her raid experience, Baek Eun zeroed in on the essentials.
‘Yeah, that’s experienced player territory.’
Luke knew his limits well.
Infinite talent for PK.
A second-year gamer’s battle sense.
But zero gift for leading or commanding users.
He’d be better than total newbies, sure—but no need when Baek Eun, with multiple raid lead runs under her belt, was available.
“No HP bar visible. Blind DPS is suicide. We scout patterns and deal windows first—keep probing.”
“Buy time, then.”
“Yes. With the soldiers helping, less pressure... but...”
Baek Eun glanced back.
Soldiers frozen since Drauder mutated. Couldn’t even move.
Even knights trembling in terror.
Effectively out of the fight.
Users only, then.
Hence, to ease frontline burden, she slotted Luke and Roxy as flank mids.
To split Drauder’s gaze.
“Drauder's slow. No clue how long, but exploit it till it changes.”
“Aggro splitters.”
“Yes. Toughest role, but I trust you two.”
“Hm.”
“So we’ll focus heals and buffs on you...”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“Pointless trickle on us. Prioritize frontline as planned.”
“But...”
Baek Eun eyed them worriedly.
Luke ignored it, glancing at Roxy.
“You good?”
“......Yes!”
She nodded sharply.
Eyes ablaze.
Determination clear.
‘Can’t be the only one hurting.’
Unaware of Luke’s inner thoughts.
“......”
A puzzled scene.
But soon Baek Eun smiled faintly and nodded back.
“Then I’m counting on you.”
She returned to formation, facing the approaching Drauder.
-Groooaaar!
Boom!
Guardian wall shattered before their eyes.
Drauder's massive arm slammed the ground.
Rumble!
Worried the cavern might collapse, but raid field held—the floor intact.
Baek Eun cast buffs without hesitation.
Holy light enveloped the frontline.
Melee users’ max HP and defense boosted.
No more room to retreat.
No space to dodge big AoE.
No repeated scatter-and-strike.
‘Some sacrifices inevitable.’
Baek Eun surely sensed it.
Thus, she raised her shield first against the next rush.
Clanggg!
Face grimacing hard.
Pushed back four steps.
But survived the hit.
That mattered most now.
Shaking red eyes.
Drauder's gaze locked on Baek Eun.
Confirming it, she shouted.
“Aggro secured! Maintain distance—tank up!”
The real raid began.
“Left flank, incoming!”
The grotesquely mutated eight arms.
Third from left swept wide.
Or nearly did.
Clang!
Tanks pre-positioned per Baek Eun’s call saved the frontline from wipe.
“Front!”
Next.
“Front again... down smash this time!”
Then.
“Right grab! Edge warriors, fall back!”
Again.
Baek Eun’s commands flowed nonstop.
Patterns growing familiar amid endless combat.
Unseen attacks predicted via sharp observation and experience.
And responses? Spotless.
“Sogo, switch with Innyang!”
Constant frontline HP checks.
“Good—damage low, but stuns landing!”
“Focus right arm!”
“Cease DPS! It’s backing off—window, now...!”
Tracking Drauder’s reactions, issuing perfect orders.
‘Incredible.’
Rear archer Partlam couldn’t hide his awe.
He’d only heard about rookies secondhand—never grasped their prowess.
Now he did.
Why they were hyped as rookies.
-Groooar...
“Don’t chase—charge pattern! Frontline, scatter left-right!”
Draudar retreating—Baek Eun called it.
It lunged straight ahead.
Into empty space.
Partlam gaped.
Short skirmish.
No veteran masters patterns from one sight.
Yet Baek Eun reacted instinctively to nearly all.
Stance, position, timing—nothing missed, all internalized.
“Tanks, fall back!”
One commander couldn’t hold forever against this beast.
Frontliners hitting limits—tanks rotating out.
No worries, though.
Bang! Boom!
Whoosh!
Iron Mask Man and Roxy on the flanks.
-Groooaaar!
Draudar flailing wildly.
Slow attacks should’ve landed sometime—yet never did.
Laughably evaded with flashy moves.
Inflicting minor wounds, chaining stuns.
Breather for weary frontline.
Iron Mask Man especially? Beyond rating.
‘Videos don’t compare.’
Sometimes light.
Sometimes heavy.
Self-timed, thoroughly binding Drauder’s feet.
Jaw-dropping.
His fame felt understated.
“They’re really facing that monster.”
“Not scared at all?”
“Hired adventurers like that... and us...”
Late murmurs.
Soldiers stared wide-eyed, dazed.
Brave adventurers defying terror.
Stimulated? Some clenched fists, trembling.
Fear, yes—but more rage at their inaction.
“......”
Knights too.
‘NPCs might join if we...’
Partlam nocked an arrow, pondering.
‘Hm?’
Then.
-Gr... groooaaar!
Draudar clutched its head, writhing in agony.
Unseen pattern.
Flankers Iron Mask Man and Roxy sensed wrongness, retreated sharply.
What now?
All watched warily.
Something burst from its palm.
Phase 2 had begun.