Chapter 67: Field Boss (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67: Field Boss (3)
Tap, tap, tap.
Just touching the black rain made your skin burn. I knew what this was: the Rain of Despair, Lord of Chaos Riakis's passive aura skill.
[You are receiving continuous chaos-type damage. Your mana resistance is greatly reduced.]
[Warning: When continuously exposed to chaos-type damage, there is a chance that the status effect Confusion will come into effect.]
This skill did a lot of damage over a wide range, and it also turned the rain-affected terrain into an erosion zone, nullifying all kinds of field effects.
Damn it all...
I had hoped it wouldn't, but it had really come.
"I-It's here! The monster is here!"
"H-Hey! What are you all doing? Go stop them!"
A panic broke out among all the adventurers on the third floor who had paid the fee for their protection. Their eyes all turned to the same spot.
"You're not thinking of abandoning us, are you?!"
"You even took our equipment as payment! Take responsibility!"
The emotional shouts of dozens of people rang out. The clan executive in question, who had designated himself as their representative in front of the crowd several times, sighed heavily, a bitter smile on his face. "...So this is how it's going to go."
It wasn't that I couldn't understand how he felt. Now that they had taken people's payment, the only option they had was to give their all to face the Lord of the Floor.
"This quest is going to end in a lot of damage." Surprisingly, there was only a slight uneasiness on the executive's face, but no sign of anxiety or impatience. He took a deep breath. "The Lord of Chaos Riakis has arrived!" he shouted. "Take out everything you have prepared!"
The command rang through the forest. In response, those with the Dzarwi clan's emblem embroidered on their chests moved in unison.
"Each team to their positions!"
Wizards, priests, and long-range damage-dealers moved to the center, while close-combat warriors moved to the outskirts. They started using all kinds of consumables without hesitation.
[You have used an Advanced Endurance Auxiliary Scroll.]
[You have used an Energy Regeneration Auxiliary Scroll.]
[You have used the Numbered Item: Sun Lord's Flag. Your weapon is now infused with Ersium's light.]
Various magic doping scrolls, consumable numbered items, and even various types of secondary equipment consumables... In less than a minute, at least ten million stones' worth of consumables vanished into thin air.
"There are enough supplies, so don't try to conserve them! At least one person will return alive!"
I was beginning to think I had underestimated them. Now that I was reassessing, I could see that they didn't lack imagination—they had already planned for the worst-case scenario and had fully prepared for it behind the scenes.
Still, they took a protection fee because...
They had literally staked their lives on the fact that not encountering the Lord was slightly more likely. I don't know why that made me laugh.
Seriously, there are too many optimization freaks in this world.
I should have been humbler. These people had also taken an untold number of risks in order to become adventurers and get to where they were today. They couldn't have gotten here on luck alone.
"To think they always carry this many supplies... They really are a large-scale clan!" It was more becoming to watch them closely than to criticize them. It would also be more productive to find something to learn from them than be jealous.
"Bjorn, what arrre we going to do now?" Missha asked.
"What is there to do? We should watch how this unfolds first."
That had been my plan from the start. As long as the Lord of the Floor was in the area, it would be incredibly risky to get out. If things got hopeless, though, we'd have to leave immediately.
But this should be enough to at least survive.
As if to prove this, a wall of fire wrapped around us in the shape of a circle. This wasn't a skill granted by an essence, but a magic spell.
[The Elemental of Chaos has been destroyed. This location will now deteriorate.]
Once it started to rain, the Elemental of Chaos, which rushed in like a tidal wave, was destroyed before it could breach the fire wall.
Whooom!
Furthermore, a massive barrier appeared over our heads and stopped even the pouring rain.
That's the only thing a wall of fire will be able to stop, though.
"Bjorn, look over therrre!"
In the direction Missha was pointing, I could see a huge shadow gradually taking shape as a deep rumbling rolled through the ground.
Boom! Boom!
Horns of rough, heavy-looking black leather sprouted from the top of its head, and an ominous aura hovered around it.
"Guoooooo!"
Easily breaching the barrier of fire, a beast the size of a movie monster—large enough to make you lose all sense of scale—emerged.
"T-That's the..."
"L-Lord of Chaos, Riakis!"
The crowd, frightened by the sight, stepped back, but the clan members remained calm. "Stand your ground! Do not let it move to the back!"
As if battles with large monsters were their daily routine, the warriors silently held their positions. That didn't please this guy.
Bam!
Once Riakis slammed its front foot down, the battle officially began.
What did an actual raid look like inside the world of this game? The answer to this age-old question was actually quite simple.
"Make no effort to stop it. Avoid it at all costs! Understood?"
Even in close combat, the tanks and damage dealers avoided head-on encounters, dodging swishing tails or slashing claws with remarkable dexterity. That made sense since they were probably well aware that no matter how tough their bodies were or how high their strength stats, there was no way they could compete with a monster like that.
Is this how a battle with a Lord of the Floor usually goes? It's interesting.
Perhaps because it was a role I would have to play someday, my focus was definitely on the close-combat warriors rather than the wizards or damage dealers. There was a lot to watch and learn. There were also a few close calls.
Booom!
No matter how hard they tried to avoid it, injuries were inevitable against such a high-ranking monster. In fact, when you were hit by a blow like that, you'd die instantly rather than just suffering an injury.
"They're still alive after all that?"
"...It's truly incredible."
With their stats sky-high thanks to various essences and the assistance of scroll doping, priests, and support-type adventurers, each of these people was a weapon in themselves.
"Ahhh!"
"Fuck, I almost died!"
Wounded warriors were patched up and sent back to the front lines. Of course, not everyone was.
"Damn it, that son of a bitch shouldn't have died like that..."
"Concentrate on the fight at hand! Don't take your eyes off of it!"
The number of casualties rose as the battle dragged on. A close-combat warrior was instantaneously killed by the monster's foot, and three long-range damage dealers were vaporized by its breath. However, if I examined the current situation objectively...
Things are solid for the time being.
"F-Four deaths already... isn't this getting too dangerous?"
Whatever the reaction of the third-floor adventurers, the warriors were still holding up on the front lines. The magic of the wizards was strong enough to force Riakis out of the center as well.
They seem to be aware of the dark sphere attack pattern, too.
"Let's just keep watching for now! They're still the famed Dzarwi clan! I'm sure they'll figure out a way."
A black marble materialized from the eroded land and headed for Riakis.
[Lord of Chaos Riakis is drawing in the Power of Origin.]
The thing I had been most worried about got blown up by the long-range damage dealers before it could be absorbed by Riakis.
"Hold your fire!"
"You can't attack the bastard anymore!"
Plus, upon seeing the way they stopped firing from time to time to ensure the monster stayed alive, I grew certain these guys knew the strategy for taking it down.
Which is why they've just been biding their time. Jumping into Phase Two without that item would mean a game over.
"Why have they stopped attacking? Are they stupid? While they have the momentum, they need to—"
In a way, it made sense. It would be arrogant for me to assume that I was the only person who knew everything about this world. An expert who had played Dungeon and Stone for ten years and knew everything there was to know about the game? So what? Labyrinths had existed for thousands of years. This wasn't like a video game world; for the people here, this was reality. They had to enter the labyrinth in order to make money to survive, and had probably gone through much trial and error in the process. This information was then passed down to future generations through records.
Although only a few people have a monopoly on real, valuable knowledge.
I wasn't too worried. The hidden elements that had been particularly difficult to find in the game seemed hardly on the radar of even the people living here. The knowledge I had as a pro would still be my greatest weapon in surviving here.
Click.
I opened my watch and checked the time. It was 22:37. More than three hours had already passed. Despite the long battle, the clan members were still faithfully performing their respective roles without losing concentration.
After all the consumables they've used, the amount of money they earned from the protection fee doesn't even matter anymore.
I suddenly realized why these large clans didn't hunt the Lords of the Floor despite knowing the strategy for handling them. The rewards for taking them down were not exactly small, but a huge amount of supplies went into doing so. There was also the possibility that a powerful member of your clan could die. Furthermore, there was a high possibility that the monster would return if the attempt failed.
"They're still alive after all that?"
"...It's truly incredible."
With their stats sky-high thanks to various essences and the assistance of scroll doping, priests, and support-type adventurers, each of these people was a weapon in themselves.
"Ahhh!"
"Fuck, I almost died!"
Wounded warriors were patched up and sent back to the front lines. Of course, not everyone was.
"Damn it, that son of a bitch shouldn't have died like that..."
"Concentrate on the fight at hand! Don't take your eyes off of it!"
The number of casualties rose as the battle dragged on. A close-combat warrior was instantaneously killed by the monster's foot, and three long-range damage dealers were vaporized by its breath. However, if I examined the current situation objectively...
Things are solid for the time being.
"F-Four deaths already... isn't this getting too dangerous?"
Whatever the reaction of the third-floor adventurers, the warriors were still holding up on the front lines. The magic of the wizards was strong enough to force Riakis out of the center as well.
They seem to be aware of the dark sphere attack pattern, too.
"Let's just keep watching for now! They're still the famed Dzarwi clan! I'm sure they'll figure out a way."
A black marble materialized from the eroded land and headed for Riakis.
[Lord of Chaos Riakis is drawing in the Power of Origin.]
The thing I had been most worried about got blown up by the long-range damage dealers before it could be absorbed by Riakis.
"Hold your fire!"
"You can't attack the bastard anymore!"
Plus, upon seeing the way they stopped firing from time to time to ensure the monster stayed alive, I grew certain these guys knew the strategy for taking it down.
Which is why they've just been biding their time. Jumping into Phase Two without that item would mean a game over.
"Why have they stopped attacking? Are they stupid? While they have the momentum, they need to—"
In a way, it made sense. It would be arrogant for me to assume that I was the only person who knew everything about this world. An expert who had played Dungeon and Stone for ten years and knew everything there was to know about the game? So what? Labyrinths had existed for thousands of years. This wasn't like a video game world; for the people here, this was reality. They had to enter the labyrinth in order to make money to survive, and had probably gone through much trial and error in the process. This information was then passed down to future generations through records.
Although only a few people have a monopoly on real, valuable knowledge.
I wasn't too worried. The hidden elements that had been particularly difficult to find in the game seemed hardly on the radar of even the people living here. The knowledge I had as a pro would still be my greatest weapon in surviving here.
Click.
I opened my watch and checked the time. It was 22:37. More than three hours had already passed. Despite the long battle, the clan members were still faithfully performing their respective roles without losing concentration.
After all the consumables they've used, the amount of money they earned from the protection fee doesn't even matter anymore.
I suddenly realized why these large clans didn't hunt the Lords of the Floor despite knowing the strategy for handling them. The rewards for taking them down were not exactly small, but a huge amount of supplies went into doing so. There was also the possibility that a powerful member of your clan could die. Furthermore, there was a high possibility that the monster would return if the attempt failed.
It's not a profitable business.
Booom!
Just as I was thinking this, Riakis, for some reason, ignored the warriors and rushed to the center, crushing five long-range damage dealers in an instant. Stuff like that could definitely happen during a raid. Fortunately, the warriors got up, rushed to Riakis, and turned it back around, but two close-combat damage dealers died instantly in the process.
Still, they'll be able to hold on for the rest of the time.
I analyzed the state of the battle again. A total of eleven people had died so far. Although that was equivalent to 20 percent of their total manpower, the remaining personnel continued doing their jobs without panicking. There may have been some gaps in their formation now, but definitely not enough to lead to a catastrophe. The problem was that there were a lot of bastards around them who were incapable of coming to such a basic conclusion.
"Horrible! These incompetent bastards!"
"Do you realize how many people have died?!"
They hadn't even stepped on the erosion zone and fallen into a state of Confusion, but another wave of panic hit the crowd. It wasn't difficult to understand where they were coming from. Eleven deaths so far, and that was only counting the clan members. Countless adventurers who had paid the protection fee died every time Riakis wreaked havoc.
Has their sense of judgment become clouded now that they feel their lives are threatened?
The way I saw it, it was their own fault for watching a raid right next to the sidelines like idiots. But they wouldn't listen to me if I said that.
"Bjorn, the mood herrre is getting tense."
"I know," I told Missha.
"We have to do something—"
"Just wait. I'm thinking."
I scanned as wide an area as possible. The clan didn't seem to have noticed the unrest yet, as they were focused only on Riakis. In the meantime, one man's loud voice fanned the flames of chaos.
"We can't just keep watching like this, let's all work together to survive!" It was Jack Fletcher, who had been the first to take off his gear and pay for protection. "Do you know how many people have already died? They can't protect us. We must defend ourselves!"
"Right!" someone shouted.
"But I don't have my equipment," another called out, "so how—"
"Those guys need to return it! After all, did they keep their promises?"
At his instigation, the corps that had turned away from him earlier lent him their strength, and the scale of the uproar quickly grew out of control.
"Missha, get ready," I muttered quietly.
"Rrready for what?"
"We're leaving this place right now." This was already a lost cause.
***
As soon as we quickly grabbed our backpacks, like the beginning of a riot, a bunch of adventurers rushed to the center of the clan's formation, where the supplies were stocked.
"E-Everyone, calm down! This will put everyone at risk—"
Only then did the clan realize what was happening, but by then it was too late.
"Don't make me laugh!"
"Give me back my gear!"
Soon after, the clan's wizards and archers were pushed aside, and the adventurers began to take whatever they could get their hands on, greed in their eyes.
"Give it to me! That's mine!"
"W-Who cares about that in a situation like this!?"
"Get away right now! If you don't, I'll attack!"
"Whether I die here or over there, it's the same either way!"
"What are you hesitating for?" screamed a clan member. "From now on, they are looters! Destroy them all!"
At some point, the sight of all these people full of confusion and madness wiped even my last remaining regrets away.
"Bjorrrn..."
"Enough watching, let's go."
"O-Okay!"
I took Missha in the direction opposite Riakis. Before long, a wall of fire blocked our path.
"W-What are we going to do now?!" Missha screamed.
"What do you mean? We go over it."
I'm going to use this body like a barbarian would. I'll get some burns, but I can soothe them with a little spit.
"A-Are you serrrious?!"
Oh, I guess it's not the same for you.
"Ah! Kyaaa!"
Picking Missha up with both arms, I lifted her high as if cheering. Then, sprinting forward, I quickly crossed the five-yard-thick barrier of fire.
Czzz!
The faint smell of cooking meat sizzled in the air. Even through Pain Resistance, my skin stung a bit.
"Missha, are you okay?" I asked.
"...Thanks to you, I'm fine. Look ahead!"
After putting down Missha and looking in front of me, I saw that the area was teeming with elementals of chaos. We didn't have time to get rid of each one.
"Run."
"Eh? Thrrrough that?"
"Is there another way?"
The elementals had already noticed us and were slowly creeping in. I made my way through them quickly to avoid drawing any further aggro, since I didn't know how the battle was going.
Fuck.
After running for about five minutes, our surroundings suddenly went dark. It was so dark that it was difficult to see even an inch ahead.
"Bjorn, are you therrre?!"
"I'm here." Fortunately, I could still hear.
"W-What's happening?"
Instead of answering, I sighed heavily. There was no need to analyze anything. It was already clear what was happening.
[Lord of Chaos Riakis has succeeded in absorbing the Power of Origin. The field effect Evil Hiatus is now active within a three-mile radius.]
Riakis's instant death and annihilation weapon, Evil Hiatus. The son of a bitch had finally swallowed all those damned marbles.
It's not a profitable business.
Booom!
Just as I was thinking this, Riakis, for some reason, ignored the warriors and rushed to the center, crushing five long-range damage dealers in an instant. Stuff like that could definitely happen during a raid. Fortunately, the warriors got up, rushed to Riakis, and turned it back around, but two close-combat damage dealers died instantly in the process.
Still, they'll be able to hold on for the rest of the time.
I analyzed the state of the battle again. A total of eleven people had died so far. Although that was equivalent to 20 percent of their total manpower, the remaining personnel continued doing their jobs without panicking. There may have been some gaps in their formation now, but definitely not enough to lead to a catastrophe. The problem was that there were a lot of bastards around them who were incapable of coming to such a basic conclusion.
"Horrible! These incompetent bastards!"
"Do you realize how many people have died?!"
They hadn't even stepped on the erosion zone and fallen into a state of Confusion, but another wave of panic hit the crowd. It wasn't difficult to understand where they were coming from. Eleven deaths so far, and that was only counting the clan members. Countless adventurers who had paid the protection fee died every time Riakis wreaked havoc.
Has their sense of judgment become clouded now that they feel their lives are threatened?
The way I saw it, it was their own fault for watching a raid right next to the sidelines like idiots. But they wouldn't listen to me if I said that.
"Bjorn, the mood herrre is getting tense."
"I know," I told Missha.
"We have to do something—"
"Just wait. I'm thinking."
I scanned as wide an area as possible. The clan didn't seem to have noticed the unrest yet, as they were focused only on Riakis. In the meantime, one man's loud voice fanned the flames of chaos.
"We can't just keep watching like this, let's all work together to survive!" It was Jack Fletcher, who had been the first to take off his gear and pay for protection. "Do you know how many people have already died? They can't protect us. We must defend ourselves!"
"Right!" someone shouted.
"But I don't have my equipment," another called out, "so how—"
"Those guys need to return it! After all, did they keep their promises?"
At his instigation, the corps that had turned away from him earlier lent him their strength, and the scale of the uproar quickly grew out of control.
"Missha, get ready," I muttered quietly.
"Rrready for what?"
"We're leaving this place right now." This was already a lost cause.
***
As soon as we quickly grabbed our backpacks, like the beginning of a riot, a bunch of adventurers rushed to the center of the clan's formation, where the supplies were stocked.
"E-Everyone, calm down! This will put everyone at risk—"
Only then did the clan realize what was happening, but by then it was too late.
"Don't make me laugh!"
"Give me back my gear!"
Soon after, the clan's wizards and archers were pushed aside, and the adventurers began to take whatever they could get their hands on, greed in their eyes.
"Give it to me! That's mine!"
"W-Who cares about that in a situation like this!?"
"Get away right now! If you don't, I'll attack!"
"Whether I die here or over there, it's the same either way!"
"What are you hesitating for?" screamed a clan member. "From now on, they are looters! Destroy them all!"
At some point, the sight of all these people full of confusion and madness wiped even my last remaining regrets away.
"Bjorrrn..."
"Enough watching, let's go."
"O-Okay!"
I took Missha in the direction opposite Riakis. Before long, a wall of fire blocked our path.
"W-What are we going to do now?!" Missha screamed.
"What do you mean? We go over it."
I'm going to use this body like a barbarian would. I'll get some burns, but I can soothe them with a little spit.
"A-Are you serrrious?!"
Oh, I guess it's not the same for you.
"Ah! Kyaaa!"
Picking Missha up with both arms, I lifted her high as if cheering. Then, sprinting forward, I quickly crossed the five-yard-thick barrier of fire.
Czzz!
The faint smell of cooking meat sizzled in the air. Even through Pain Resistance, my skin stung a bit.
"Missha, are you okay?" I asked.
"...Thanks to you, I'm fine. Look ahead!"
After putting down Missha and looking in front of me, I saw that the area was teeming with elementals of chaos. We didn't have time to get rid of each one.
"Run."
"Eh? Thrrrough that?"
"Is there another way?"
The elementals had already noticed us and were slowly creeping in. I made my way through them quickly to avoid drawing any further aggro, since I didn't know how the battle was going.
Fuck.
After running for about five minutes, our surroundings suddenly went dark. It was so dark that it was difficult to see even an inch ahead.
"Bjorn, are you therrre?!"
"I'm here." Fortunately, I could still hear.
"W-What's happening?"
Instead of answering, I sighed heavily. There was no need to analyze anything. It was already clear what was happening.
[Lord of Chaos Riakis has succeeded in absorbing the Power of Origin. The field effect Evil Hiatus is now active within a three-mile radius.]
Riakis's instant death and annihilation weapon, Evil Hiatus. The son of a bitch had finally swallowed all those damned marbles.