Piercing the Reverse Scale
“What the fuck...!”
“What the hell was that asshole just doing?”
“Why the fuck would a crazy bastard pull a troll like that?!”
The players unleashed a torrent of abuse at Department Head Ihojung. He'd just wasted the precious time they needed to devise a strategy. Now that the Snow Drake had awakened, there was no room for any more leeway.
-We're fucked;
-Knew that prick would fuck everything up.
-Hilarious watching them get one-shotted. lol
-So what now?
-Expert term: we're screwed.
-But why isn't he moving?
Kruk-
The Snow Drake steadied its neck and turned its gaze toward the players. For some reason, though, it showed no particular signs of movement.
“Wh-what is this?”
“Can't it see us?”
“Looks like it just doesn't care?”
A few players cautiously shifted their positions to test the Snow Drake's reaction. Even after repeating this several times, there was still no response from the beast.
“No way...”
“As long as we don't touch that hammer, we're good?”
The tense group latched onto a single hypothesis. The Snow Drake had woken because someone tried to steal the hammer. Whatever the reason, avoiding that would mean no provocation.
“It's settled, then.”
The dagger-wielding vanguard male nodded. He turned to the other vanguards and said, “You're not planning to just charge in headfirst, right? Let's head back to the fortress entrance and come up with a strategy first. We can't take down a level 500 boss like it's nothing.”
“...Yeah, we can't just rush in blindly.”
“We have to solve this with our own power anyway, so let's sketch out the big picture.”
Over half the vanguards nodded at the man's persuasion. Even these seasoned vanguards, who'd faced all sorts of monsters, had no experience battling a level 500 boss.
“If we're cooperating, sort out the loot distribution first. We know you'll try to pull some shit.”
“That's rich coming from you guys? You snagged all the good stuff last dungeon clear.”
“Gathering intel is skill too. Blame your team for not having an eye for items.”
-UFC's starting. lol
-Vanguards cooperating? In your dreams.
-Bunch of backstabbers. lol
-But they might be reassuring right now...
-Fr, 20 people is a lot.
Despite their snarling at each other, they were the most significant fighting force here. And the highest-ranked vanguard among them spoke up.
“Don't move.”
Mars, shield thrust forward, boomed in his deep voice. Beside him, Blood fiddled with her bracelet, focusing intently on the Snow Drake.
“Mars, why would we listen to you?”
“You think this is an official raid?”
The vanguards bristled at his commanding tone. Sure, their rankings were lower than his 4,300th place, but vanguards symbolized absolute power. In this pure competition, they weren't the type to take orders from anyone.
“Simple reason. My commands hold more value than your dimwitted judgment.”
“What?”
“You done talking shit?”
A few vanguards sharpened their voices in outrage at Mars's scornful words. Others, however, seemed unfazed, as if used to it.
“Hey, whatever. That's just how he is.”
“Let's head to the entrance already.”
-Arrogant prick. lol
-His tone is thick as hell;
-Authoritarian living legend.
-Last person you'd want as a boss.
-Lucky Rainzer.
The vanguards who gave up on talking focused solely on their original plan. Pull away from the Snow Drake first, then devise a detailed strategy for the subjugation. That was the most rational choice.
“Last warning. Don't move.”
Mars stubbornly repeated his caution. But over half the vanguards were already preparing to retreat.
“Hatsuken, your team take the left map on the way back. We'll handle the right.”
“We'll check behind the boss.”
“There might be mechanics. I'll scout that side.”
With decisions made, the vanguards quickly divided roles. Even while moving, they intended to gather as much intel as possible.
“......”
Mars, whose two warnings had been ignored, silently clamped his mouth shut. His expression showed no anger or anything else.
“Alright, let's do it that way.”
The players finished organizing and split into teams, ready to go. And the moment they kicked off—
The Snow Drake's eyes flashed.
Kwaduduk-!
Dozens of ice spears materialized in the sky above. Crystals of pure cold forged by the beast itself.
“What the...!”
“Shit! Run!”
Tat-!
In the sudden crisis, players scattered in all directions. At the same instant, the ice spears shot forth, scattering frigid mist.
Shiiik-!
The magic hurtled toward the fleeing players at tremendous speed. They tried to hide behind cover scattered around, but it was futile.
Kwagwagwa-!
The spears pierced cover effortlessly, maintaining full power as they pressed on. By the time the fleeing players realized, it was too late.
Pung-!
Pung-!
Explosions boomed one after another inside the fortress. The sound of those struck by ice spears bursting into oblivion.
Just 3 seconds. That's how long it took for the retreating vanguards and players to die.
-Wtf no way
-People just exploded; ;
-Vanguards one-shotted like that?
-A Drake that uses magic? How tf do we win?
-Mars was right.
-Too late now, dumbasses.
“This is insane...”
“Did they all just die?”
“There were over 10 vanguards!”
The players who'd watched frozen in shock raised their voices in alarm. Seeing vanguards die so pathetically was that shocking.
“Feels like a real fight now, huh?”
Riwei grinned as if amused. Not a hint of intimidation from the Snow Drake's overwhelming power.
“Didn't I say your judgment was dimwitted?”
Mars sighed at the predictable outcome. Pitiful fools who'd ignored his warning and met their end. He could almost hear the vanguards' prestige and reputation crumbling.
Kruk-
Then, the Snow Drake that had halved the players shifted its gaze straight ahead. Its four legs still fixed to the ground, but it didn't need to move. Ice spears alone packed that much punch.
“It's toying with us.”
Blood, who'd quietly observed, analyzed the enemy's nature. Despite its power, it wasn't going all-out to kill intruders. The sadistic trait seen in some monsters.
Now, fighting was the only option.
“Uncle, open it up.”
Blood said to Mars, decision made. The light from her bracelet had turned to black mist, creeping from wrist to arm.
“Just for a moment.”
“I know.”
After their brief exchange, Mars raised his shield a bit higher. Golden radiance erupted.
Pat-!
The light was blinding, obstructing others' vision. As it gathered on the shield's face, Mars kicked off.
Tat-!
His massive frame leaped straight at the Snow Drake. Field debuffs were mitigated by items as much as possible, but not fully. Now was the time to focus every nerve and unleash his spirit.
Mars thrust his firmly gripped shield hard at the beast's head.
Kwang-!
A thunderous boom like hitting a solid wall. The Snow Drake casually blocked with a foreleg.
But Mars's plan didn't end there.
Pat-!
Golden light enveloped the shield again. Eyes flashing, Mars raised his fist and slammed it down on the shield.
Kwang-!
Light exploded like a bomb. Spotting a tiny crack in the foreleg's scales, Mars bellowed.
“Now!”
Tat-!
Blood shot forward at insane speed despite lingering debuffs. Closing in instantly, she reached out.
Srulk-
The black mist on her arm slithered like a living thing onto the Drake's foreleg. Then, change occurred.
Chwaak-!
A spurt of red blood sprayed into the air. Blood swiftly manipulated her hand, drawing it in.
Sususu-
The blood gathered in her palm, gradually taking shape. When it formed a massive scythe, Blood smirked.
“Hard to get blood this good.”
Her hidden skill Blood Harvest varied wildly in power depending on whose blood it used. Vanguard Blood's specs plus the colossal Snow Drake's blood. The synergy was beyond prediction.
“Let's see who dies first!”
Tat-!
Blood boldly charged again at the Snow Drake.
Kruk-!
Visibly annoyed now, it raised its foreleg to swing. But Blood's skill activated first.
Srulk-!
Blood droplets from the scythe sharpened into lines, enlarging the weapon. Spinning her body, she infused speed and power, slashing down.
Kwadud-!
The blade lodged in scales, spraying blood as it dug deeper. The unexpected hit provoked retaliation.
Whoosh-!
The beast nimbly twisted, whipping its tail. Just before it crushed Blood, shield-bearing Mars appeared.
Ppaak-!
With a colossal impact, the massive man was flung aside.
Kwang-!
Kwang-!
His body smashed through several icebergs, embedding in the fortress outskirts. All from a single tail swing.
-Insanely strong. lol
-What do we do?
-Blood's dealing damage tho, right?
-Like 0.001% HP scraped? Maybe.
Blood's promising attack was overshadowed by the tail's impact. The Snow Drake was a monster beyond specs.
Thud-
Mars, not dead, rose quickly and charged back with ferocious momentum.
“We'll support too.”
“Gotta chip away at openings.”
“Pour firepower into the gap those two made.”
Other vanguards and players joined the fray. They knew attack was their only choice now.
“...Shouldn't we not be here?”
“We'd die if it even brushes us.”
Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde sighed watching the fierce battle. It was a situation where death could come anytime, but it didn't disrupt their plans.
Suk-
Hanbit pulled two red cards etched with hourglass patterns from his inventory and handed them over. Teleport cards gifted by Avant-garde.
“Jaeha hyung, Avant-garde—take Gorik and fall back behind over there. I'll message the plan.”
“You're... using these?”
Avant-garde asked puzzled. They were random teleport items, after all.
“I know what you're worried about, but it's handled.”
“...Pardon?”
“Now, hurry and move.”
Hanbit quickly sent the three to safety. Left were Riwei and Zenon—the ones to fight next.
“Zenon, you're good with a bow, right?”
“It's my main weapon, but... my power won't make a difference here.”
Zenon glanced at his bow and shook his head. Against such a boss, he'd naturally fall short—but not this time.
Hanbit whispered, “Dragon-type monsters have something called a reverse scale.”
“Reverse scale, you say?”
The inverted scale under a dragon's jaw. It enraged them and served as a weakness. Killing was impossible, but enough to shift the battlefield's mood.
“I'll shoot first, then keep targeting it once you see.”
“...Understood.”
The subtle misalignment under the Snow Drake's jaw. Hanbit locked on.
Juwook-
Pulling a supply bow, Hanbit drew the string.
Hwaruk-!
Attribute Manifestation ignited flames instantly. No need for much buildup—just one prod to awaken the Snow Drake's rage.
Kwang-!
Kwang-!
The fiercely battling target kept moving. Hanbit aimed without blinking.
After building heat amid preparations, the tail-whipping Snow Drake paused.
Ping-!
Releasing his fingers, the arrow flew, trailing flames.
Shiiik-!
Cleaving air, it reached the jaw in a flash.
And—
Pak-!
It finally struck the reverse scale.