Language Unification and the Serpent in the Han River
Around the time a girl who had become a budding, scheming World Boss was setting her guild's name, the world was thrown into chaos by a storm of updates. And it was all because of the utterly shocking patch notes.
The languages of the World Server have been unified.
New jobs and items have been added. Check the patch notes yourself.
Unemployed gamer dropout with no way to earn gold, but got a job selection screen and picked Farmer. Now I have a small farm! Virtual farm or something like that.
Various alchemy and crafting recipes were added, along with some real-world items turned into game items. Features fusing Austria Online's system with reality were implemented.
And then came the Season 2 monster update everyone had dreaded. Tension among citizens spiked once more.
She's the Season 1 World Boss, right? Why so quiet? By lore, she's brutal enough to half-destroy another dimension. Only this one's missing from the Season 1 bosses.
That Sertina World Boss? Is it really that scary? Half the community talks about her. Awakened players look no joke in fights—can't top players just overwhelm her with firepower?
With monsters popping up left and right, nations scrambled. Organized players and militaries responded swiftly.
Season 2 monsters showed a marked difference from Season 1. The silver lining: During the update downtime when monsters vanished, they'd secured capitals and key strongholds.
Korea followed suit, designating survivor zones and clearing monsters around them to expand safe areas.
Sertina, who'd claimed her entire apartment complex as Eterna Guild HQ, stockpiled supplies and fortified defenses. Everything proceeded smoothly. Two days passed without issue.
On the third day, an ominous ripple stirred in the Han River.
"What is it?"
Sensing the presence, I turned toward the Han River. A low, dark aura—like a massive serpent slithering. Too far to make out the shape clearly, but something was definitely there.
"Sertina, what's wrong?"
Tier tilted her head at Sertina, who stood frozen with narrowed eyes.
"Something's in the Han River."
"Huh?"
"I'll check it out. Might be dangerous—everyone shelter in the guild HQ."
"Got it!"
Tier hurriedly pulled out her smartphone to alert the guild members.
Meanwhile, I strolled toward the riverbank, hood pulled low, keenly scanning the sensed area.
A massive, dark form writhes like an eel beneath the splitting waters of the Han River.
The Han River parted with a deep rumble, the shadowy figure undulating past Seongsu Bridge, past Eterna Guild HQ, leisurely toward Yeongdong Bridge—an unidentified creature.
"Pretty strong one."
I crossed my arms, gazing down boredly. A league above the last raid boss, but fighting it wouldn't change the outcome much. No thrill.
No need for me to handle it.
I looked up at the sky. An inverted triangular airship hovered above Yeongdong Bridge. Its glossy dark alloy hull and faint blue anti-grav engines screamed advanced tech—beyond this era.
Oh right, there's that job. Fighters who battle with self-made weapons.
Techno Master, was it?
Whatever. I ducked behind a tree trunk to observe.
Right then—
— unidentified beast rises —
A massive spray erupted as a shattering roar swallowed the sky. The air trembled. Water cascaded off as a gigantic maw surged toward Yeongdong Bridge like it would devour it.
A water dragon-type monster?
Raid boss-sized bulk. Eastern blue imoogi-like form. Just the rising shockwave made the sturdy bridge sway.
"Combat start!"
Players countered. Crimson magic circles bloomed like flowers, tracing five rings in the sky, unleashing a barrage of fireballs. Simultaneously, the triangular ship emitted a strange hum and fired energy cannons.
BOOM—!
Blinding flames warped the air. Scorching winds rushed in.
"Not bad."
I muttered, impressed. Especially the airship pilot's firepower.
— KYAAACK! —
The imoogi slammed its massive body into Yeongdong Bridge. But waiting tanks' defense skills prevented major damage, sending it crashing back.
"Now! All-out barrage!"
A booming male voice rang out, unleashing a storm of skills from below the bridge.
After watching briefly and gauging it, I nodded and turned away.
They'll win handily.
A fight they couldn't lose. As I took a few steps back to Eterna HQ—
BOOM—!
A bone-rattling explosion rocked the airship, flames bursting from it. Eyes widening, I whipped around.
The imoogi leaped, ramming the ship before plummeting into the Han. The powerless vessel followed it under Yeongdong Bridge.
"Huh...?"
I couldn't help but stare in disbelief.
A fight they couldn't lose.
To normal eyes, just a mistake. But with my honed senses, I saw it all.
"Those guys... just now, they maneuvered to let an ally die?"