[Named Enemy 2]
[Level 53]
[Death Knight Jacam]
[HP 477,755,143 / 500,000,000 (95%)]
BAM, KAAANG!
I blocked the massive sword coming down towards me. The clash of metal against metal reverberated powerfully. The heavy sword’s impact could have dug my legs into the ground, but surprisingly, no damage was taken thanks to the ‘Just Guard’ perfect defense.
If I were alone, I would have easily dodged and continued my attack, but solo and party play have different approaches.
Jacam’s four strikes were not a single pattern. If I moved to dodge, the second strike would follow me. In a party, it’s crucial for the tank to hold the Named Enemy’s attention.
The problem is, maintaining a block means it’s tough to deal damage between Jacam’s rapid attacks. Tanks like warriors or fighters affectively utilize a skill called ‘Threat Level.’ Normally, they would invest in threat to draw aggro with low damage.
Slice.
I lowered my stance and maintained my sword-drawing technique.
“By fixing the head, I can grab aggro through damage as well.”
KA-WHAM!
Flash!
With the second strike, I used “One Flash” to slash Jacam’s waist, maneuvering myself behind him. About 0.5 seconds later, Jacam would spin around and bring his sword down towards me. At the same time, the melee damage dealers behind him would also fall into the attack range.
However.
SWISH.
KWAANG!
Jacam’s sword came crashing down where my body had been, targeting not the back but the front. I had already turned back towards Jacam’s front. Naturally, I took no damage due to the invulnerability frames.
“Oh, look at that!”
I heard Park Jeong-kwon’s gasp from behind Jacam. He was the main tank of the Skada Raid, and it seemed he caught on to what I had done.
A trick I’d previously taught Deathly Death: Using movements or skills to grab the back while avoiding the Named Enemy’s patterns, then using a counterattack while still targeted, I could return to the original position. Since I approached from behind, I obviously ended up facing forward again. This technique allows me to use counterattacks while avoiding the enemy’s 180-degree turn movements.
And in party play, such tactics are possible.
“Next, backslash or forwards slash pattern, easy choice! Wizards, keep your eyes wide open and prepare Ice Prison!”
Chris’s order rang out.
Ah, I hadn’t mentioned this to my sister.
“Don’t prepare protection, just deal damage! We won’t be going back!”
I shouted to the raid members. Everyone looked puzzled. They must have been wondering how I intended to control the random pattern.
From behind, the startled voice of Skada, the raid leader, reached me.
“Are you saying you can control the direction of the slashes?”
It was definitely possible.
HUNG, HUNG!
The left-right slash pattern. I ducked under a strike, keeping a keen eye on Jacam’s legs.
The reclaimed sword rested at Jacam’s waist, and his legs shifted at a 45-degree angle to the left. A backslash. Without hesitation, I used a counterattack.
SWISH.
KWAAA-HA!
Jacam twisted his torso, unleashing a slash towards his rear. My counterattack led me back to where I had initially tanked. Naturally, there was no one there. I returned to my original position, directing the follow-up pattern forward.
This is comfortable.
Since the previous ‘Normalization Patch,’ warriors can now use two types of counterattacks: one to the right and one to the left. At this rate, I shouldn’t have issues with invulnerable frames in general patterns without resetting cooldowns—unless it’s Crow’s punitive strike or something.
“…What? How did you know? The forward and backward slashes should be random, right?”
With a confused expression, Park Jeong-kwon kept dealing damage from behind Jacam.
That guy sure has a lot of questions.
GRAAAAAAH! Commander Crow!
BOOM!
SHUUUU!
The armor of ‘Death Knight Jacam’ shattered, and a violet aura seeped through the wreckage, disappearing into the air.
I turned to Chris and shyly made a V-sign.
Pitter-patter.
“Even with a 2nd Named Enemy, it’s amazing for a 2-week-old alternate character team! The damage output is solid. Rain, great job!”
“Thanks, sis.”
Little Chris beamed and rushed over to grab my hand.
As we shared our joy, Skada team’s warrior, Park Jeong-kwon, approached me.
“Um, excuse me, Rain?”
“Yup?”
“Arrrr!”
“Sis, he’s a raid member…”
I looked up at him. Little Chris growled. I gently patted her head. He looked harmless enough with a friendly appearance.
“How did you predict the direction of the slashes?”
It seemed he’d come to satisfy his curiosity.
If one could anticipate the random patterns of the forward and backward slashes, casters or spirit summoners prepared for party protection could focus just on dealing damage. Park Jeong-kwon, being the main tank of the Skada team, wanted to learn.
“Well….”
It wasn’t hard to explain, but would he be able to use it in practice? Making mistakes could be dangerous.
I lowered my stance and sliced my sword left and right.
SWISH, SWISH.
“Jacam’s second-strike pattern appears, right? Afterward, he shifts his sword to his waist. You need to watch his feet.”
“Feet?”
Slice.
“Yup. If the left foot turns 45 degrees, it’ll be a backslash; if it doesn’t turn, it’s forward!”
“Oh.”
Park Jeong-kwon nodded in surprise and confusion simultaneously.
He scratched his head and returned to Skada.
“…Two strikes then directly a slash… and you look at his feet during that split second?”
While I watched his back, Little Chris was looting Jacam’s dropped items.
[Ring of the Abyss]
[Legendary Grade]
[Strength +80 Agility +80 Intelligence +80]
[Damage Taken Reduction +14%]
[Critical Damage Taken Reduction +31%]
[Unique Ability: Reduces all damage taken from NPCs by 10%]
(Upon acquisition, Bound)
The little Chris linked the item and flashed a smile at me.
“Is the damage reduction full up? Pretty good! I’ll put it up for auction.”
“100 gold.”
I raised my hand, placing the first bid, cautiously glancing around at the raid members.
While I got pretty close with the Hong Baek guild members during our last meetup, I still felt a bit awkward around the rest. Like Skada, the beautiful raid leader, and Park Jeong-kwon, the tank. They looked quite friendly with each other. Are they friends? Maybe they’ll compete against each other in the auction? But both Skada and Park Jeong-kwon just smiled as they watched me.
“Looks like no one else wants to bid? Rain, congratulations! With this, you’ve completed the set of the ring and earrings!”
“Oh.”
I checked the ‘Ring of the Abyss’ that had entered my inventory and smiled.
Then, I tilted my head as I glanced at the group of Skada members.
“Why aren’t you bidding?”
“Huh? Is there a problem?”
“Those guys didn’t bid on the Level 1 Named earrings either or this ring.”
“Aha.”
Chris wore a mischievous smile.
“Actually, it works out this way. Even if I didn’t tell ahead of time, it naturally unfolds.”
“?”
What does she mean?
“In this party, Rain is the only main character. You’re the strongest damage dealer.”
“Well… that’s true?”
“As I told you earlier, alternate characters can just pick up leftover accessories. Of course, some people want to quickly farm their alt characters, but having the strongest damage dealer gear up is more beneficial for the party overall.”
“Aha.”
I felt pleased.
While comfortably raiding as a party, I could farm all the accessories without competition.
Sister Chris has thought it all out.
“Thank you, sis.”
HUG.
With a heartfelt thanks, I pulled little Chris into an embrace.
“Ah, uh, Rain, wait a sec!”
The struggling little Chris quickly calmed down in my arms, beaming like a fool.
“Hehe.”
[Named Enemy 3]
[Level 53]
[Commander Crow]
[HP 1,107,239 / 300,000,000 (1%)]
Flash! KWA-KWA-KWANG!
KA-AAAAH!
BOOM.
I stared down at the vanishing remains of Commander Crow, receiving the last attack from the raid members with a heavy heart.
He was one of the demon race commanders targeting this world. From the start, Crow had introduced himself with the form of a massive raven.
This guy disappearing before my feet was merely a shell; Crow’s illusion. The real Crow was just a farming boss giving items to users.
Would the question of the existence behind them be solved through the next commander?
“As previously mentioned, I’ll craft and sell the weapons. I’ll send you the sales details and material costs via mail, so there’s no need to come pick them up.”
Little Chris gathered all of Crow’s drops into her inventory. The Hong Baek members, including the Skada team, nodded with satisfied expressions.
“Great job today.”
“We look forward to next week’s raid.”
After the second team dungeon was cleared, the members began to disappear one by one through the exit portal.
Skada nodded slightly before vanishing. Her last glance seemed a bit sharp. Was it competitiveness glowing within?
Everyone’s putting in their efforts. Am I an irregular disrupting the ecosystem? Still, I won’t hold back from uncovering the truth of this world.
As I pulled little Chris closer, petting her continuously, Chris asked softly,
“Why do you keep patting me today? Do you prefer little sis Rain? Should I just switch my character to the main one?”
“Huh? Uh…”
I pondered for a moment.
Big sister, little sister.
Which one would be better?
Both have their pros and cons.
It’s happy to pet little Sister Chris, and it’s also happy to be embraced by big Sister Chris. Both bring joy, but in slightly different ways.
Still, being embraced feels better.
“I think I like big sister more.”
Chris’s face lit up.
“Right, right? Hehe, we can’t shrink our bodies outside the game.”
“Sometimes little ones are nice too.”
“Oh, really? Once a week should be perfect, right?”
Giggle. “That sounds like a nice balance.”
Until I logged out today, I kept petting little Chris as much as I wanted.
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