Tatatatatat!
Graaaah!
Swish, Tatat!
I dashed between the Ice Troll screaming in rage and the Ice Ogre.
There was no need to defeat all the monsters in the mob zone.
The path to the Level 1 Named Boss Room splits into two.
One path is divided into three large areas.
The problem is that there’s a closed door blocking the way to the next area.
To open the door leading to the next area, I need to operate a lever located in the opposite area.
So, I need to pull the lever on the left path to open the door to the right area.
We need to split into a four-person party. With only one body, I’m at a major disadvantage.
But the important fact is that I don’t have to defeat all the monsters. If I just pull the lever, the door at the fork will open.
“Then.”
Quickly, I just touch the lever and slip away.
Chwaaaak!
Graaah—!
Having swiftly dealt with the two Ice Trolls standing on either side of the lever with a One Flash, I lightly flicked the lever with my sword and slipped out toward the entrance.
The door to Area 2 on the opposite fork should be open now. I’ll operate the lever there and return here.
Just two more times like this.
Taat.
I arrived in front of the Level 1 Named Enemy, the ‘Thunder Lance Soldier’.
Standing on the opposite edge of the cliff was the ‘Earth Shield Soldier’.
This dual Named structure first appeared in the ancient temple.
In the ‘Ice Castle of the Frozen Land’, the first Named also has to face two bosses.
At first glance, the two rings separated by a massive cliff seem like independent combat zones.
Even if I defeat the Lance Soldier in front of me, it seems impossible to attack the Shield Soldier on the other side.
“This company really knows how to create patterns.”
I trusted my experience so far.
The Shield Soldier on the other side of the cliff.
If there’s only one person to attack him, he will definitely come over here.
Kyuam Jo Hyun-Soo’s party had provided me with a lot of information.
Including solutions for the ‘current stack’ and ‘rock stack’ immobilization phenomenon.
Swoosh.
I drew the ‘Astaroth’.
The simulation was already complete.
What remains is verification.
Screeek!
My body rushed quickly toward the ‘Thunder Lance Soldier’.
[Level 1 Named]
[Level 48 Thunder Lance Soldier]
[HP 15,000,000 / 15,000,000 (100%)]
[Level 1 Named]
[Level 48 Earth Shield Soldier]
[HP 15,000,000 / 15,000,000 (100%)]
Bang, bang, bang!
From beneath my legs, stone spikes shot up repeatedly.
As expected, when an opponent is absent on their ring, there’s a long-range pattern that targets the user on the opposite side.
Taat, Taat, Taat.
I jumped sideways to avoid the rock spikes belonging to the ‘Earth Shield Soldier’, twisting my body to evade the thrust from the ‘Thunder Lance Soldier’.
Clang!
Soon, the four consecutive rock attacks ceased. I blocked the Lance Soldier’s attack and subtly shifted my gaze to the Shield Soldier across the cliff.
Thud, whoosh!
The Shield Soldier, comically falling over, soon jumped back up powerfully.
The expected landing spot was in my combat area against the ‘Thunder Lance Soldier’.
Without hesitation, I used a counterattack targeting the Lance Soldier.
Bang!
The Shield Soldier, who plunged down right where I stood, began swinging his shield toward me.
Both were now within range. From now on, I would have to face both the Lance and Shield Soldiers.
Dropping the lance, I grabbed the back of the Shield Soldier during his shield raise, executing one, two, three Starlight Slashes. As the Lance Soldier thrusts forward, the Shield Soldier also turned. Here, a One Flash. Swoosh! And slightly moving back, I gauged the distance of the One Flash.
There was a 7-meter gap between the Named enemies, and no long-range patterns were being activated, allowing me to guide their approaching patterns accurately. It resembled a dribbling position. However, I had no intention of sitting still until they reached me.
Snap, lowering my body, I gripped my sword in reverse.
[Starlight Swordsmanship]
[Cooldown 1 minute]
Fires five waves of starlight-infused sword strikes in a forward 15m x 3m area (500% multiplier of Starlight Slash four times, 2000% multiplier once).
Papapapat!
From my reverse-gripped sword, a blade of starlight burst forth. As the behemoths approached, they were left vulnerable to my blade.
Bang!!!
Then, I unleashed the final sword strike with great force. The recoil caused my body to slide back slightly.
Thud!
The bodies of the behemoths shook violently. While they were momentarily stunned, I swiftly approached to unleash more strikes onto the Shield Soldier.
Whooom…
The combat time had now surpassed one minute.
The two behemoths hunched down simultaneously, entering a timed special pattern.
A buff pattern that covers the entire ring. The type of buff that can’t be resisted with invincibility. Of course, evasion moves won’t work either. I continued my attacks.
Crackle! Bam!
Two types of buffs entered my body simultaneously.
[Current Stack Level 1 (1 minute 30 seconds)]
[Rock Stack Level 1 (1 minute 30 seconds)]
Each buff increases attack and defense.
But this sweet buff turns into venom once it reaches level 4 stacking.
So then.
I should take in only the sweet stuff and spit out the bitter.
Current Stack Level 2 (35 seconds)
Rock Stack Level 2 (35 seconds)
Papabat!
I fairly fed both behemoths some sword strikes while checking the buff status.
55 seconds had passed since the second buff was applied, and only 5 seconds remained until the third buff.
This is the important part.
Currently, I have only one ring on the left side and I’m fighting in a 2:1 scenario.
However, I can also utilize the combat area on the right across the cliff.
While I can’t directly cross over, I have ways to send the Named enemies over.
During Kyuam Jo Hyun-Soo’s strategy, he clearly mentioned that the ‘state anomaly link’ of the projection worked on normal patterns.
Originally, when the Shield Soldier lunged at me, I performed a maneuver. I dived low and then jumped powerfully.
By inflicting a ‘down’ status on the Named, I could induce a ‘jump’ pattern to cross over to the other ring.
The buff injection pattern cannot be cut off. However, I can break the pattern just before the buff infusion kicks in.
Whoosh!
Just before the third buff appeared, the Shield Soldier dramatically raised his shield.
Here, I lowered my posture, pushing down on the ground with an arm, then I raised my body while delivering a powerful strike to the Shield Soldier’s leg.
Whack, whack! Boom!
I looked down at the Shield Soldier sprawled on the ground and grinned.
“Hey, Shield Soldier, you really need to work on those leg exercises.”
Even my short legs could make him topple.
Swish, Crash!
Of course, my time for teabagging wouldn’t last long. I confirmed that the Shield Soldier was gaining momentum to jump and quickly used a counterattack against the thrusting Lance Soldier.
The Shield Soldier powerfully jumped up, easily crossing the massive cliff. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from my sight, landing on the opposite ring while hunching over.
At the same time, the Lance Soldier in front of me also hunched down.
The third buff infusion pattern.
In this position, the Shield Soldier’s ‘Rock Stack’ buff would only be applied to the opposite ring.
Crackle, Crash!
[Current Stack Level 3 (1 minute 30 seconds)]
[Rock Stack Level 2 (30 seconds)]
“This is it.”
I smiled at the battle scenario flowing just as I intended.
After the Lance Soldier performs his long-range pattern four times, he’ll jump back over here.
However, once the fourth Rock Stack pattern appears, the existing Rock Stack buff will disappear.
This solves the issue with Rock Stack.
Then, what’s the solution for the immobilization caused by the Current Stack at level 4?
The battle continued.
Again, after four long-range patterns from the Shield Soldier, he’d jump back. Boom!
It was soon time for the fourth Current Stack and Rock Stack patterns.
[Current Stack Level 3 (35 seconds)]
‘Rock Stack Level 2’ vanished with the passage of time.
Currently, I only had the ‘Current Stack Level 3’ buff.
I lowered my stance, gazing at the Lance Soldier.
This time, Lance Soldier, it’s your turn.
Whack, whack! Boom! Whoosh!
After bringing the Lance Soldier down, the one that crossed over applied his buff there, while the remaining Shield Soldier used his buff here.
[Current Stack Level 3 (30 seconds)]
[Rock Stack Level 1 (1 minute 30 seconds)]
With this, I established a rotation strategy that does not allow for 4-layer buffs.
What remains is repetition.
The starlight pouring forth from the end of Astaroth crashed into both the Lance and Shield Soldiers.
*
The GG Guild master, ‘Woo Gyeol’, couldn’t believe his eyes.
The streaming screen he was broadcasting was now filled with starlight and silver light.
Within it danced two behemoths, their bodies marked with deep scars, and a faint, new white flash.
The chat was eerily silent, with only sporadic analytical comments appearing.
[What we’re seeing is really ‘Astria Online’, right?]
[Looks like it.]
[So ‘4-person party recommended’ meant this? LOL]
[It’s just recommended for four; you mean solo play is possible?]
[But it’s too fast. Can’t see anything.]
[We’ll have to record this and analyze it at 0.25 speed.]
[It’s not about stats. It’s mostly him clearing it with skills.]
[But I’m a swordsman. I don’t even know what skills the white guy is using?]
[He said the 4-layer buff makes you immobilized, but he’s not immobilized!]
[He just downed them and seems to be getting buffs from the other ring?]
[The dynamics are so different from party play… I can’t fathom how he’s doing this.]
[Is it actually possible to solo clear in this game?]
[Rather, isn’t that swordsman a bug?]
[It must be a new skill from the Ice Castle.]
[As much as the white guy is strong, I didn’t think he’d be breaking it today, so there’s no doubt he must’ve cleared the Ice Castle too.]
The GG Guild’s raiding party, including Woo Gyeol, did not re-enter the Named combat area after their second try resurrection.
[Onmyoji ‘Chris’]
– Woo Gyeol, you’re streaming right now, right? The ‘Noname’ party’s Elite Dungeon strategy is being broadcast live by my kid, Rain. Want to use it as content for your show today?
The message from Chris, the master of the Hong Baek guild, changed the content of Woo Gyeol’s stream.
However.
“Is… is this even possible?”
“I’m witnessing something incredible here.”
Even Woo Gyeol couldn’t help but agree with the murmuring voice of the GG Guild swordsman.
The GG Guild is strong in PVP wars, but there aren’t that many players focused on PVE. Learning strategies tends to be more beneficial than endlessly trying.
Woo Gyeol, seeing this as a good way to promote the GG Guild and learn strategies, got Chris’s permission to broadcast Rain’s stream.
[Woo Gyeol… If you get in touch with the white guy, please open the chat for us…]
[Is super chat not possible? Looks like it’s an account with only live streaming permissions.]
[Looks like we’ll have to relay this one! LOL]
[It seems purely for video streaming… White guy, please stream it!]
[Let’s communicate, Rain!]
Flash!
Crack!
The bodies of the behemoths were swept by a silver flash. The Starlight Swordsmanship ravaged their bodies.
Finally, their bodies were cut in half and fell.
Woo Gyeol let out a groan.
“Clear!”
“Solo play…!”
At the same time, the chat exploded.
[OMG, did he really clear it?]
[Is he soloing?]
[This can’t be right! Other four-person parties are struggling to death!]
[Today’s common sense in Astria Online has collapsed.]
[White guy! White guy!]
[Rain! Rain!]
[I want to quit being a swordsman… Can’t even learn anything.]
[It’s not about the swordsman… it’s just that user!]
[Is he the daughter of Hana Games? How does that character move like that?]
[‘Try to imitate it’ LOL]
[Is elite dungeon solo play possible…?]
[In reality, after farming the new dungeon, lower dungeons can be soloed.]
[But that’s only possible for the top 0.001% of players.]
[Is he the fastest right now? What about news from Chris’s party?]
[Is there just one white guy in the ‘Noname’ party?]
[Only at Level 1 Named right now, but he is definitely solo clearing!]
[Did he keep soloing to this point?]
[That’s the only explanation.]
[I heard rumors that the white guy solo cleared the temple…]
[I thought he just got a legendary weapon! LOL]
[Hana Games should release legendary weapons! Even temporarily!]
[Give us period items! Period items!]
[How thankful it is to be destined to disappear!]
[Do you seriously think you can do something with legendary weapons?]
[It’s not about damage….]
[Host, aren’t you doing strategy analysis content?]
“How are we supposed to analyze this?”
Woo Gyeol wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
It’s one thing to not be able to replicate his physical skills, but the sense is another matter entirely.
To down the Shield Soldier just before his 3-layer buff activation. And while dealing with the returning Shield Soldier, to down the Lance Soldier’s 4-layer buff from the opposite side.
It was as if he had a timer set in his head. While facing the two Named enemies, he was also calculating the remaining duration of the buffs. Even with the status visualization mode, it’s nearly impossible to check the time down to the second amid the chaotic responses to the Named enemies’ patterns.
It was utterly impossible for an ordinary user to perform simultaneously. Did she have two or three brains in her head?
Woo Gyeol shook his head slowly.
“I have no confidence in being able to analyze Rain’s gameplay with my skills.”
“Um, I thought I was decent at playing swordsman too, but I can only think similarly to the viewers. I can only hope the swordsman class doesn’t get backlash.”
Astonishment, the shattering of common sense.
The streaming screen was now reflecting Rain’s back as he headed towards the area of the Level 2 Named.
While we’ve only seen the combat against the Level 1 Named, one thing became clear.
Rain, she lived in a different world than ordinary players.
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