Soloing the Harpy Queen
Carpe arrived at Harpy Valley and looked around.
"It's pretty empty here. This has gotta be the most spacious hunting ground I've seen so far."
-It's the least popular spot near Ruana, after all.
"Why's that? Bad EXP or drops?"
-Nah, nothing like that. It's on par with other grounds for your level.
The lack of popularity stemmed from a different reason entirely.
The hunting difficulty was overwhelmingly higher than other monsters of the same level.
-Forget everything else—they fly. The second those things take to the air, most melee classes are left sucking their thumbs.
Harpies had to be approached to fight, but if their HP dropped, they could flee to the sky at any moment.
Once recovered, they'd either swoop back in or fly off elsewhere entirely. For players, it was a total waste of time and effort—hence the ghost town.
"Hmm. Guess I need some ranged options. A bow or magic, maybe."
-Yeah. And even that's no picnic.
As flying monsters, harpies were fast with high evasion.
Without dumping serious stats into dexterity, even archers or mages struggled to land hits.
-And despite all that, they're cunning enough to prioritize ranged DPS or healers over tanks. Real pain in the ass all around.
In short, they had every annoying pattern in the book.
"Yeah, no wonder it's deserted."
-Even if you bust your ass catching 'em, the rewards ain't special. Better to hunt easier mobs in crowded spots.
But that didn't mean zero players.
"Incoming! Get ready!"
"Got it. Skills primed."
Harpies were tough, but not unbeatable.
Parties with counters thrived in the emptiness.
"Here it comes! Now!"
"Gotcha! Entangle!"
Entangle
Whoosh!
Vines burst from the ground, binding the harpy in seconds.
"Now! Beat it down!"
"Die!"
With the mage's Entangle locked in, the party unleashed a merciless barrage.
"Kieek-!"
Low defense from its evasion focus left the harpy a cold corpse, vanishing in gray light.
"Phew. Clean kill again."
"All thanks to Swan's binding skill! You're a lifesaver."
"Not many pick up binding skills... Makes this a breeze."
"Aw, no. You guys carried it."
"Man, random parties rarely sync this well. Add us as friends? We're probably the fastest growers in this bracket."
The group laughed, patting backs after their tidy kill.
-Binding skills turn this hellhole into honey. Though you don't need one...
Then—
"Kieek-!"
A patrolling harpy spotted Carpe and dove in fast.
Rending screech, talons raking for his face.
Whoosh.
Carpe just turned his head, dodging effortlessly.
His fist followed, slamming the harpy's gut.
-One-shot
Boom!
Like a drum burst, the harpy rocketed back, smashing a boulder and fading to gray.
Perfect one-hit kill.
-...Hit 'em before they fly. Easy peasy.
"Totally. Piece of cake."
Carpe eyed the spot where it'd vanished, some painter uncle vibe in his tone.
No items.
"Mobs are just cleanup. Boss only. FB Radar says... Ah, over there."
He activated FB Radar and headed for the boss.
The party watched the whole thing.
"......"
"......Second-fastest growers in the bracket, right?"
"Y-yeah! Second place is still good!"
Carpe unintentionally crushed their morale again.
"There it is."
Unlike white-winged regulars, this one had jet-black wings.
Harpy Queen, boss monster, lurked near the valley entrance.
No visible differences beyond wings. At least on the surface.
-Not much difference really. Tougher, faster. Oh, and minor magic.
"Sounds like a big gap..."
-Same end: you pounding it unilaterally.
"We'll see. No players even around a field boss?"
Even field bosses drew raid attempts, but not this one.
Proof of its nightmare status.
-Bosses shrug off basic bindings. Needs 7-star or better.
High attack, evasion too. Mediocre rewards? Ignored.
One of RaSe's least popular bosses, period.
"Suits me fine."
No interruptions.
Carpe extended a hand toward the soaring queen.
"Fire Arrow."
Fire Arrow
A fiery arrow streaked toward her.
But it never connected.
She spotted it, twisted away effortlessly.
She eyed Carpe with interest.
Unlike lesser harpies' shrieks, she spoke human tongue. Proof of intelligence.
Instinct over intellect in her tone.
She charged like a bullet.
Raid on.
"Striking, Haste."
Physical and magic attack power increased. Attack and movement speed increased.
The buffs hit as she lunged.
Talons for his skull.
But—
"Hah!"
No dodge—Carpe punched forward. Gauntlet met talon dead-on.
Bang!
Field boss vs. solo player basic attack clash.
Anyone else? Obliterated.
Opposite result.
Carpe stood firm.
She panicked from unforeseen pain, tried to retreat—but
"Not a chance!"
He seized both ankles.
Whoosh!
Full swing—smashed her into the ground!
Boom!
Ground cracked, dust flew. Head met earth squarely.
Powerful blow to vital spot. Harpy Queen stunned for 1 second.
Pow-pow-pow!
Six punches in that second.
+12 Fist Demon Carpe: Designated spell 'Wind Cutter' triggered.
Ignores 50% of target's magic and elemental defense.
Gauntlet's heat spell detonated—Wind Cutter ravaged her.
She couldn't think straight. Even groups never hurt this bad!
This human shattered her world.
Boss resilience kicked in. Post-stun, she cast.
7-star Fascination.
Charm locking out attacks.
Her queenly signature.
Unlock triggered.
Abnormal status 'Fascination' removed!
Wrong opponent. Carpe's ultimate status cleanse.
Shatter!
Her skill crumbled like glass.
"Just built different. Born lucky."
"Yup. Me too."
Pow-pow-pow!
One thought dominated: flee.
Not prey—this was the monster. Fly now.
Wings flared—but
"Permafrost!"
Permafrost
Crack!
Ice wave froze her legs solid.
Harpy Queen afflicted with 'Freeze' status.
7-star bindings? No sweat for bosses. But Permafrost? Top 9-star ice.
Plus Frozen Binding Ring's double duration on freeze/bind.
Far longer than 1-sec stun.
Carpe inhaled deep.
"Hah!"
Barrage unleashed.
Pow-pow-pow-pow!
+12 Fist Demon Carpe: Designated spell 'Wind Cutter' triggered.
Ignores 50% of target's magic and elemental defense.
Wind Cutter triggered...
Heal triggered on self.
Hit spells chained with punches. DoT from Permafrost piled on—no screams left.
Dragon's Eye HP plunged.
HP 80%... 65%... 45%... 24%... 18%
Death.
She'd die like this. Must act.
Terror drove the unthinkable:
Sharp wings sliced—severed her own frozen legs.
Snap! Freed, desperate wingbeats.
She rose.
Glanced down: monster human gawking.
Alive.
Legs gone? Better than life.
Relief flooded. Fly far—
Weight on right wing.
She looked—
"Kyuu?"
Black squirrel perched primly.
Utter confusion.
What? Why there? When?
Questions flashed—but no time.
Squirrel gone—human clung instead!
Castling: user-pet position swap.
"Gonna eat me? Where you going?"
Crack!
Wing snapped mid-cling.
No flight—both plummeted.
Thud!
She cushioned his perfect landing.
Field boss 'Harpy Queen' defeated.
Another solo raid cleared.