Calling today a bad day is an understatement for the guildmaster of , .

He got called into a dubious meeting, lost a full party worth of members, suffered a humiliating defeat in public, and just now, received news about a KS attempt on the boss he had been working on for weeks. All in the span of a few hours.

There should be a limit on how many misfortunes that can happen in a day!

_ Vladina: That's the face of someone preparing to commit a crime…

_ Torenis: You be quiet! I haven't dealt with you for making a clown out of me in front of everyone!!!

His "friend", , is definitely not helping the situation one bit!

_ Vladina: That? Do you want to let people think we were outdated, or do you want all of us to lose horribly and remove all doubts? I was doing you a favor, you crazy delusional power tripping sicko.

_ Torenis: Why you little…!!!

has to pull the intellectual-looking man back since he was about to use [Summon Stone] as a blunt weapon against a little girl (in appearance).

_ Maximus: I don't give a flying flip if you want to kill each other, but do you want to get there quickly or not?

There are many things that irritate the min-maxing player, and screwing around in emergencies is on top of the list. After all, these scrubs asked for his help in the first place!

_ Tippe: I honestly thought you were trolling him back then.

_ Vladina: If we had waged total war, my lolis and also the ones in would have been put in danger!

_ Olkan: Yup, that's alright.

With the main camp destroyed before the guards could even deliver a warning through guild chat, there was no way for and co to use [Mass Recall] to reinforce. To avoid wasting even more time trying to locate a standing building in the area, they used a watch tower from further away and walked on foot instead.

…

When they arrive at the scene, quite some time has passed.

Apart from the corpses gossiping to kill time while waiting for the reinforcement, there is no player, or boss, in front of the building-sized entrance. They cannot decide whether that is good or bad news.

_ Torenis: Where's the KSer?

_ Corpse #1: As if we would tell you anyth…! Oh, it's just guildmaster.

_ Corpse #2: We have been expecting you. Are you streaming right now?

_ Torenis: What does this have to do with streaming?!

_ Corpse #2: And they went into the cave, with the boss.

_ Torenis: …What?

There are so many things the young leader wanted to retort with, but decided not to because it felt like an overly obvious bait.

_ Maximus: Oi, , put down a [Construction] and call the rest of your guild here.

Meanwhile, , professional killer, destroyer of nubs, is having a bad feeling. The calm before the storm kind of feeling, to be exact.

Whether this nonsensical conversation can be considered "calm" is up for debate, but he is not the type to mind the useless details on the job.

_ Torenis: Right.

_ Olkan: Don't forget to make it public.

_ Torenis: I know. Stop nagging me.

From a small makeshift tent in the middle of a grove, dozens of players start appearing. The inside is completely filled with players after two parties, so the newcomers are dropped outside to avoid physic-breaking shenanigans.

Because an army pouring out of a tent like a strategy game's barrack is breaking immersion, more tents are set up to provide additional [Recall] coordinates, despite 's protests.

The immersion is important!

_ Revived player #1 (Guild): This is Sacrifice 1. We are navigating in the cavern. Nothing out of the ordinary except for the background music, over.

While the rest of the army is gearing up, a party of forward scouts, also known as sacrificial pawns, is exploring the cavern to locate the boss. Because it is known to attack players near the entrance, the survival chance leaves much to be desired.

_ Revived player #2 (Guild): This is Sacrifice 2. Streaming is on, just to let you know, over.

_ Torenis (Guild): You shut up!

Due to the lack of actions, everyone somewhat loosens up. It is definitely the atmosphere one would expect before the last boss swoops in and ruins their day.

_ Vladina: We need food buffs. Just [Alchemy] and skills put us at severe disadvantage against prepared enemies.

_ Olkan: *Sighs* I'll contact my (former) bartenders.

_ Torenis: We don't need traitors.

_ Maximus: Drop the whining. You can't fight with just pride and hono…

*BOOM*

His lecture was cut short by a deafening explosion from inside the cave, which is accompanied by the screams of the sacrif… scouts.

_ Dead player #1 (Guild): The boss! It…

_ Dead player #2 (Guild): It evolved!!!

_ Torenis: Damn! Everyone, prepare for combat!

As the smoke at the entrance dissipates, a large silhouette emerges from the other side.

_ Vladina: [Inspect]!

_ Olkan: Do not attack! We don't know if it…

*WHOMP*

The massive spikes erupting from the ground crashes through the lines of the alliance, removing all doubts, and the lives of the unfortunate players in the way as a bonus.

_ Maximus: Tanks, surround it and follow 's orders! Rest of you scrubs, spread out!

---

[Character Information]

[Name]: Schennul

[Race]: Magnus Bestia (Destroyer Beast)

[Level]: 50

[Status]:

- HP: ========== (6666666/6666666) (6666666+0)

- MP: =========. (8290000/8300000) (8300000+0)

- PAT: 22000 (22000+0)

- PSP: 600 (600+0)

- PDF: 40000 (40000+0)

- MAT: 15000 (15000+0)

- MSP: 550 (550+0)

- MDF: 42000 (42000+0)

- SPD: 2000 (2000+0)

[Attributes]:

- STR: 7000 (7000+0)

- DEX: 3500 (3500+0)

- CON: 8000 (8000+0)

- LDR: 500 (500+0)

- FOC: 1000 (1000+0)

- WIT: 1500 (1500+0)

- MEN: 7500 (7500+0)

- LUC: 0 (0+0)

[Equipment]:

- Head:

+ Soul Contract Lantern of the Sprout

[History]:

- The great beast guarding the grove since primordial time. Once a weak and blind creature, it asked the fireflies to lend it light. The fireflies agreed, asking for the beast's protection in return. Both sides have been keeping their promises against many adversaries ever since.

- …

- However, the fireflies were harmed while the beast was recovering from the great disaster. Disappointed in its own failure and helplessness, it entrusted the light to the saviors, finally ending the contract defining its very existence.

- Having lost everything, the once great beast resigned to its fate. The saviors offered a new light in exchange for its soul. Out of desperations and tempted by whispers of darkness, it accepted.

- For one last time, it charges. To take on the world that has shown nothing but cruelty, to have one last laugh against its nemeses, and to proudly fulfill its contract to the bitter end. Lit by the dark green flame, the destroyer beast's soul burns brighter than ever before.

[Meta]:

- A formidable opponent with extremely high defense, but weak against attrition.

- Once taunted, it will seek to destroy the civilization that wronged it.

- Including enemies that have been killed.

---

For whatever reason, a lot of new information has appeared, and that's not counting its new attributes/status which got a nasty upgrade and the full heal. The [Magnus Bestia (Protector Beast)] race changed into [Magnus Bestia (Destroyer Beast)]. An unknown item appeared in the equipment list, presumably the lantern hanging at its neck like an amulet.

And worst of all, the [Meta] part is giving warnings.

Something about its aggressiveness being so high, Sateri-chan has to split it into two parts to emphasize it.

Even for the players who doesn't have [Inspect], it was clear that the Magnus Bestia has gotten stronger. The stony scales are loosely wrapped by leafy vines, giving it an "abandoned rustic stone wall" feeling. If it weren't for the emerald-like antlers and glowing flowers blooming on the eye sockets, some might think they were looking at an old house in the suburbs instead of a boss. Not that old houses can move per se…

The gigantic beast also kindly demonstrates its hospitality by snuggling a rogue player at ramming speed, sending her to the horizon.

_ Dead rogue: WHY MEEEEeeeee…!!!

_ Ignar: Everyone, use [Pierce]!

With a thunderous battle cry, the melee fighters encircling Schennul simultaneously pile on it. Their weapons clash loudly against its thick skin, and most deflect almost harmlessly.

Even before the transform, there was no way for players to get through its high PDF and MDF. Therefore, defense-ignoring attacks have been their only source of damage.

As if to response in kind, the great beast, defying all physics, lifts its front legs up and jumps into the air. The law of universal gravitation has always been more of a guideline in this game, but what the boss did there has to be one of the worst violations ever witnessed.

_ Ignar: [Fort]!

*WHAM*

The ground looks like it is melting as Schennul lands with its multi-ton total weight. Rock spikes covered in vines shoot up to form a barrier around it. Said "barrier" has the bonus effect of launching everyone in range into space though.

*CRACK* *WHAM*

Another layer of rock spikes emerges, dealing fatal damage to the (un)lucky players outside the initial attack.

*WHAM*

And another layer. The encirclement was completely vaporized in a total of three seconds by an unknown attack. Having served their purpose, the spikes shatter into fragments, just like the boss's known spike line eruption.

_ Tippe: , you alive?!

_ Ignar: Thanks to your [Shared Fate] I still am!

Somehow, a player managed to survive the warm greetings from the great beast.

*WHOMP*

Just to get crushed under its hoof before he can be healed by allies.

_ Ignar: Buhwa!

_ Tippe: Ouch.

If the raid is wiped and that's that, there would be no reason for the [Meta] information.

_ Mage: It's heading this way! RUN!

_ Maximus: Flanking parties, fire! And res the dead ones, healer scrubs!

Schennul would aim at "civilization", rather than just "enemies"…

_ Olkan: Welp. That's another party down. , I don't see any KSers here. Mind if we call this off to avoid unnecessary deaths?

_ Torenis: Etena, [Charge]! They might be hiding in the cavern. Someone go around and check!

_ Maximus: Did you not see that AoE attack?! No one is getting past that thing alive!

_ Olkan: *Sighs* , anything we should know?

After all, there's only one "civilization" that all players belong to.

_ Vladina: K…

_ Olkan: K?

____________

_ Hessenria: Su, asked me to upload a video to the board. Could you use your account to do it?

At the new tavern, the owners are having an end-of-the-day meeting, mostly to transfer works for the next shift's players. It is the first time to have all four food shops to do it together since release, however.

_ Sulien: *Sniffles* Is this bragging? You do it with and now you want to publish it for the world to see?!

_ Hessenria: Drop that crocodile's tears act! I don't even know the content. She wanted to send it to another player, but forgot to get their names…

_ Sulien: Ah, is that so~? Very well, I shall oblige. Do you mind if I "moderate" its content beforehand~?

If there is top-secret game-breaking information in there, , as an information broker, wants to get her hands on it first and foremost.

_ Hessenria: It's public, do as you wish. Just don't forget about it.

_ Sulien: Understood~

_ Miel: I still have the footage of my first time doing "that" with . Do you want it?

_ Sulien: Gunununu, now this woman is bragging!!! *Coughs blood*

_ Hessenria: Sateri-chan should make you lose HP every time you pull that off…

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel: My~ That is a cute scream~ Did finally get caught by a lolicon?

_ Sulien: She does have a cute DFC and all so~

_ Hessenria: Who in their right mind would even…

_ Olkan (PM): , please help us!

_ Hessenria: Uwa… is caught in it as well.

_ Miel: I demand brain bleach for that image, leader.

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel: Su~ please stop decorating the floor with blood~

____________

Using [Mass Recall], a party of three arrived at the battlefield.

Players are getting thrown around left and right every time the big elk makes a move. Thanks to the coalition being three out of four big guilds, they can reinforce faster than the enemy can kill, but that is still a messy fight with everyone fending for themselves once the boss turns to them.

_ Hessenria: Let me get this straight, that thing will go to Tyrel if raid is wiped?

_ Vladina: If you can point me to a different interpretation of [Meta]'s words, I'm listening.

_ Olkan: Please help us kill it! We are merchants, not fighters!

Looking at the begging guildmasters and the ongoing battle, can't help but sigh.

_ Hessenria: Sorry, I don't think it's possible.

_ Olkan: WHY?!

_ Vladina: Is it because of ?! We will make him apol…

_ Hessenria: *Shakes head* Not that. It's morning. You have to logout soon as well, don't you?

_ Everyone: Ah.

Real life schedules, the most powerful adversary in all boss raids.

_ Hessenria: Mera, Su, please handle the negotiation. I am going back to the shop to wrap up.

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel: Take care~

_ Sulien: Leave it to us~

_ Olkan: Wait!!!

Crushing a [Recall] orb in her hand, the head waitress disappears in a flashing light, ignoring the cries from the guildmasters of and .

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel: Now then~

_ Vladina: Hiiii!!!

Out of all people in the cafeteria, should have been the last person to be called, due to the way treated her. However, that very situation gave these two degenerate leaders leverages against her. An unpaid mortgage and the honorable personality, to be specific.

And most importantly…

_ Sulien: Shall we begin the negotiation~?

is sane.

_ Olkan: GAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

____________

Half a day later…

sighs in relief as he logs in to find the boss still rampaging in the grove.

Despite the rough start and bad timing, the raid parties managed to stabilized. It was the combination of numerical superiority, massive logistics undertaking, and mechanic abuses that pulled of this feat.

There were a few close calls when the damage dealers got wiped and the boss headed towards Tyrel, but they somehow dragged it back to the main camp with the help from minor guilds and unaligned players.

Who could have thought a bonus boss knocking on your front door would be such a motivating rally cause…?

_ Tippe: Logging early, aren't we?

_ Ignar: Being self-employed has that benefit. And you were even earlier!

_ Tippe: Homework is for da weak!

As logged in and the party met up with the guildmasters, the real raid is about to begin.

_ Vladina: Ready?

_ Maximus: Always.

_ Tippe: No problem!

_ Ignar: I'm a bit nervous but… here goes.

_ Olkan: Very well! Begin assault!

_ Players: HURAAAAAHHHH!!!

Flaring up their newly-equipped runes, leads the charge to do the unthinkable: Fighting the boss toe-to-toe.

_ Ignar: [Pierce]!

*Clang*

A dark mist starts forming around the elk, indicating the debuff of [Night] taking effect.

_ Vladina: Now! [Elemental Barrage]!

_ Tippe: [Fire Barrage]!

_ Maximus: [Piercing Arrow]!

There is a rule of thumb among players: Don't bother if your attack is less than half the target's defense. Damage won't get through even with the best RNG. Debuffs will never land. Skills and titles may help, but they rarely turn things around, unfortunately.

To get past the 40k PDF, and co would need more than 20k PAT. Even now, with [Cooking], [Alchemy] and skill buffs, his attack is not even 7k. And that is already among the highest damage possible thanks to his [Artifact] sword.

It is a bit disappointing that even their strongest weapon still pales against the boss. However, [ Blade of Unification]'s main strength isn't just raw damage.

_ Ignar: [Rapid Assault]!

Striking his target relentlessly, has fully debuffed the great beast, even if his attacks dealt zero damage. This guy has such a cheating weapon, and he was leaving it to gather dust in his house! What's next, dismantle it into raw materials to craft an engagement ring and propose to his girlfriend?!

He also grabbed the big boss's attention. How did he know? Massive antlers coming at him, that's how.

_ Ignar: [Fort]!!!

*WHAM*

Thanks to the knockback immunity granted by [Fort], he doesn't get tossed into the air. His HP is almost gone though.

_ Ignar: Gah!

_ BB Conglomerate manager: OUCH!

_ Vladina: Keep healing!

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel: [Minor Heal]~

The fact that he still has more than one HP is already nothing short of a miracle. Or not, considering he has 13k HP, defense bonus from [Fort] and damage reduced by [Night]'s debuff and [Shared Fate]. The poor manager at the other end of [Shared Fate] is not amused though.

Two full parties are assigned to buffing and keeping alive. By staggering heals, they worked around the delay between HP regeneration ticks which got him killed yesterday. The sadistic waitress is not included, but is welcomed by the degenerates anyway.

Of all people, has to stay alive. has dealt a good chunk of damage using Etena, but because it dies repeatedly, the aggro doesn't stick. They had to wait for someone who is tanky enough to reliably survive, but also deal high damage, and maybe some debuffs, to be prioritized by the boss.

When it stays in one place, the thousands of players around can begin their assault.

_ Ignar: [Taunt]! [Pierce]!

*WHOMP*

The majority of the melee players fighting the boss got wiped by the triple-rock-layer attack. Survivors, having died way too many times until this moment, continue their attacks as if it was just a flesh wound.

Regardless, casualties are no longer an issue. As night sets in and the player count reached critical mass, they no longer had to use 20-something parties to kite around the boss just to keep it from wiping everyone and run to town. The difference between prime time and off-peak player count is just too great.

_ Torenis: Begin all-out assault!

_ Players: HURAAAAAHHHHH!!!

Gigantic bosses are intimidating, but they are also ranged-attack magnets. With Schennul pinned in place by and other brave souls, their allies can freely lob arrows, spells and other nasty stuff at it without fear of friendly fire.

It is like a firework show at festivals, just more deadly, and there's a building in the way.

_ Cinrald: Hi guys, miss me?

Along with the many players still continuing to pour out of the fully immersive makeshift tents, a brunette made her appearance.

_ Maximus: Way too late. Party's already started.

_ Cinrald: You guys are just too early. ?

_ Olkan: Yes yes, here you go, you maniac.

With a few gestures, pulls out a brand new bow from nothingness, and runic tattoos shine brightly all around her body.

_ Cinrald: This will do.

She leaks out a smile that freaks out most people unlucky enough to look in her general direction. Beautiful as her character is, people run away rather than admire more often than not.

_ Cinrald: Well then, guys. We. Are. CHARGING!!!

_ Muscular idiots: URAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

The muscle-brains crowd accompanying her is definitely not helping her popularity.

Chanting loudly and diving through the engaging players, the battle maniacs charge into melee with little regard to their own lives, including the supposedly-ranged guildmaster!

_ Warrior: Are they… going to be alright?

_ Olkan: If could not participate for some reason, that gal would be the main tank… Wait, , are you sure it's fine to let both of them fight?!

_ Torenis: Why don't you stop her if you think it was possible?!

Somehow, the boss is now swaying back and forth between the stubborn knight with unending debuffs on one side, and the maniac archer who bashes her bow as much as shooting it.

, being an expert ranged fighter himself, can probably compete with that damage. He would need to chug potions in ridiculous amount however. Reluctantly, he decided that his friend's healers need them more, so for now he's sitting back and rain arrows on the target at his leisure.

A few accidents involving missed projectiles landing on wrong targets happened, but all in all the raid is going well. Because and her muscle-obsessed maniacs are here, there's no worry about slip-ups breaking the tank encirclement anymore.

Ranged weapons are powerful because they scale up linearly, unlike melee. One damage per player translates to thousands of damage per volley. Schennul's weakness of having no HP regeneration that allowed to whittle it down by attrition doesn't even matter at this point. Its days, or hours, rather, are numbered.

When its HP reached 20%, the great elk became visibly weakened. It still one-hit most players, and its defense is still too high to deal non-piercing damage. Worst of all, it stopped using normal stomping and ramming attacks. Now it's blasting players with rock spikes continuously.

_ Torenis: It won't last much longer! Keep shooting!

Casualties just keep racking up, but there is simply no way it can kill faster than the reinforcement rate. If only it had a multi-hit AoE skill that has bigger blast radius…

Even in the last moments, Schennul continued to devastate nearby enemies. There are just two maniacs that refuse to die, however.

_ Cinrald: [Piercing Arrow]!

*Clang*

Watching them, the players can only admire and wonder…

Why the hell is [Shared Fate] not nerfed yet?

_ Vladina: Just a few more! CHARGE!!!

_ Players: URAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

And so, after a very, very long day…

_ Ignar: [Pierce]!

*Crack*

The fiery menace that is Magnus Bestia Schennul finally burns out. The scales crack and shatter, then the boss itself unleashes an explosion engulfing everyone in the grove.

For the short moment before being blinded, the melee players can see the body of the great beast falling on top of them, like a collapsing building.

____________

It is the familiar white scenery the players are standing on.

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel: At last, we are finally freed of all worldly de…

_ Torenis: This is the loot area, not heaven! And why the hell are you here?!

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel: To collect our payment~

_ Torenis: Dammit !

_ Olkan: It couldn't be helped!!!

To begin with, the top three parties will be teleported to the loot room. was in party with and , so she will be here whether wants it or not.

_ Vladina: Here it is. The drop.

The guildmaster of was completely ignoring the bickering of her colleagues while looking at the big elk in front of them.

It has the same appearance as the first time she used [Inspect] as per 's request. She never thought that she would be relieved to see the giant bunker-in-beast-form. At least it was a peaceful gentle giant back then.

Just like the Nox in closed beta, it starts fading away as if it was a ghost. It will leave behind a single material item that is known as the "unique drop" by players. Because it is not put in treasure boxes, there is a wild conspiracy that there are obscure conditions to increase the loots.

No one has been able to confirm that however. These bosses are way too rare to begin with!

Just before the elk disappears, a dark green flame bursts out from beneath and consumes it whole. Due to its towering size, the startled players was even more surprised at how they don't feel any heat from the inferno that is just a few meters away.

They have realism pretty high on their priority list.

_ Maximus: What the -censored- was that?!

The flame snuffs out abruptly after a few seconds. Behind the thin veil of smoke remaining, a small rhombus-shaped stone tablet floats in the air.

_ Vladina: That was flashier than good old Nox. All yours, .

_ Torenis: You don't have to remind me.

To avoid the fustering cluck that is the civil war at the end of closed beta, the leadership in the big guilds have decided beforehand on how to distribute the loots. In that, will get the unique drop, due to 's contribution in both phases of the boss raid.

Minor guilds would never have enough firepower to have a party in here, so they weren't included. and co are old friends, so they are an exception.

The moment the guildmaster reaches out to the tablet…

*CRACK*

It snaps into two pieces of similar size.

Then, as if not to leave a moment for him to take in the situation, a figure manifests behind the tablet. It also has the same color as the suspicious flame earlier.

_ Torenis: You are…

Without saying a word, it grabs the tablet pieces and puts them into the metallic lantern in its left hand. The seemingly normal lantern is now lit up as the pieces emit an intense but undoubtedly the very same glow as the unidentified silhouette with a distinctive shape on top of its head.

_ Vladina: Crap! Stop her!

In a blink of an eye, it dissipates into the air.

_ Torenis: Eh? Wait, NO!!!

There was no way for the players to intervene in such a short amount of time. Even the closest person couldn't get into touch range before it is gone, and with it, what's left of the stone tablet.

Also, the treasure boxes appeared.