Chapter 77: Starlight World (10)

The end of the first week of ‘Starlight World’s’ opening.

The server was rapidly entering a stabilization phase, and the initial content was being steadily consumed by the streamers.

In particular, the ‘Twilight Gem Brooch’ that Yoon Sol had discovered in the ‘Spider Cave’ was a hot topic among the members.

An artifact-grade item.

Even a profound description.

It was clear to anyone that it was an important clue related to a hidden job.

However, even after acquiring the brooch, no clear next step appeared.

Yoon Sol tried wearing the brooch and talking to various NPCs in the village, and she even wandered around specific places at specific times searching for the ‘twilight boundary’ mentioned in the description, but there was no particular reaction or change.

[I guess it’s not time yet. Seeing as the item description says ‘chosen one,’ I think there might be other conditions needed. Like level, or maybe another special quest.]

After discussing with the members, Yoon Sol decided to cherish the brooch for now and focus on leveling up and progressing with other quests.

She held onto the hope that the brooch would open a new path when the conditions were met someday.

I, too, was watching this situation with great interest.

‘It wouldn’t be fun if it were too easy. The value of a hidden job comes from the difficulty of the process.’

I had deliberately set the conditions for the next step to be a bit tricky.

It was out of a desire for players to explore sufficiently, grow, and find the answers themselves.

In the midst of this, a new movement that captured the attention of the entire server was detected.

The growth rate of the top-tier streamers surpassed expectations, and they were now starting to crave greater stimulation.

[Breaking News) Kang Taepung’s alliance is going for the first field boss raid tonight at 8 PM ㄷㄷ]

[Giant Horned Slime King (Estimated)]

[Participating members: Kang Taepung, Baek Eunho, Rinne, Riley, and many other top-tier streamers included]

A single post on the Ggizzik Gallery focused the attention of the entire server.

‘The Giant Horned Slime King, huh.’

It was the weakest among the ‘Starry Plains’ field bosses, but at the current players’ level, it was by no means an opponent to be taken lightly.

The development team had assigned it the role of the ‘early-game wall of despair.’

I skimmed through related posts with interest.

All sorts of speculations, expectations, and concerns were already pouring out.

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• The raid is finally happening LOLOLOL

• Horned Slime King? The name sounds f*cking weak LOLOLOL

• But since it’s the first boss, it should be easy, right??

• But is Rinne the tank? Can she hold up?

• The DPS line-up is solid, but the tank and healer are a bit 불안하긴 함 (TL: worrisome/unstable)

• Popcorn time LOLOLOL

• Rinne’s gonna troll and cry

---

‘Popcorn, huh.’

That wasn’t a bad idea.

I immediately ordered popcorn using room service.

I also took out a bottle of suitably vintage wine from the wine cellar.

Perfect viewing preparation.

When I returned to the monitor, the promised 8 PM was approaching.

Near the ancient ruins north of ‘Starry Plains,’ dozens of streamers had already gathered.

The mixed atmosphere of tension and anticipation seemed to transmit even through the screen.

Among them, the one who stood out the most was, of course, the leader of our group, Rinne.

No, right now, she was ‘Starlight World’s’ valiant warrior, Jungyeon.

[“Alright, everyone ready? We’re going to make some trouble today, right?”]

Kang Taepung shouted in his characteristically boisterous voice, livening up the atmosphere.

Jungyeon, beside him, silently checked her equipment, her resolve firm.

Her usual easygoing demeanor was gone, replaced by a rather grim determination.

I filled my wine glass and picked up some popcorn.

It was time for today’s main event to begin.

8 PM sharp.

The raid began with Kang Taepung’s signal.

[“Everyone, charge!”]

Streamers shouted and rushed towards the ‘Giant Horned Slime King’ all at once.

As its name suggested, the creature boasted a massive body, incomparable to ordinary horned slimes.

Sharp horns, like a crown, jutted menacingly from its head, glinting ominously.

[Krooooar!]

The Slime King roared, its body swelling greatly, then scattered sticky slime in all directions.

Streamers scattered haphazardly to avoid the slime that rained down like a torrent.

[“Maintain formation! Tanks to the front! Dealers, maintain distance and deal damage!”]

Kang Taepung shouted urgently, but the formation had already slightly broken from the start.

[“I’ll try to block it!”]

Jungyeon was the first to charge at the Slime King, shield raised.

Following her, other tanks also took their positions.

[“Now! Full DPS!”]

The dealers began to unleash their skills all at once.

With flashy effects, the Slime King’s health slowly chipped away.

However, the creature didn’t flinch and instead counterattacked even more fiercely.

Body slams using its massive frame, slime projectiles, and its most threatening attack, the horn charge.

Jungyeon was taking all these attacks head-on at the very front line.

She blocked with her shield, dodged, and sometimes used skills to deflect attacks.

She was quite good.

It showed she had practiced hunting with the other members.

Yoon Sol and Ajung were also doing their best in their respective positions.

Yoon Sol frantically healed, responsible for the tanks’ lifelines, while Ajung, with her sharp daggers, aimed for the Slime King’s weak spots whenever an opening appeared.

Other streamers also fought hard according to their roles.

However, the raid was not as easy as they thought.

When the Slime King’s health dropped below half, its attack patterns became even more violent and unpredictable.

It was ‘Phase 2.’

[Krooooooooar!]

When the ‘Giant Horned Slime King’ roared, the surrounding atmosphere vibrated.

It was a much more ominous aura than before.

A dark red aura rose from its body, and its eyes became bloodshot.

Suddenly, it opened its mouth wide and spewed a disgusting black slime over a large area.

It was a slime on a different level from before, much stickier and more ominous-looking.

Characters hit by the slime were afflicted with a powerful damage-over-time debuff called ‘Corrosive Slime.’

Health bars began to melt at a frightening speed.

[“Heal! Heal! Quickly!”]

[“Purify! Use Purify! Potions aren’t working on this!”]

Healers urgently cast heals and purifications, but the debuff wasn’t easily removed.

The entire party instantly fell into chaos.

[“Focus on the tanks! Maintain formation!”]

Kang Taepung shouted, but the formation was already collapsing.

Streamers were disoriented due to the pain of the debuff and the slime obscuring their vision.

To make matters worse, the Slime King plunged its giant horns into the ground and began to charge.

Its speed and destructive power were incomparable to before.

[“Rinne-nim, dodge! Get to the left!”]

The sub-tanks hurriedly tried to help Jungyeon, but it was too late.

The Slime King’s target from the beginning was the main tank, Jungyeon, and only her.

-Kwang!

Jungyeon tried to block it with her shield, but she couldn’t withstand the massive charge and was sent flying.

With a crashing sound, her character flew through the air and tumbled wretchedly onto the ground.

Her health bar plummeted to the bottom in an instant.

[“Unni!”]

[“Rinne unni!”]

Yoon Sol and Ajung screamed.

The main tank’s futile death.

It meant the raid’s failure.

Once the tank was gone, the Slime King’s ruthless attacks turned towards the dealers and healers.

Already battered by the debuff, they fell helplessly.

A few tried to resist, but they couldn’t overcome the overwhelming difference in power.

The screen filled with characters turning gray and the anguished voices of streamers.

In the end, the first field boss raid concluded with a devastating wipe.

The chat window was covered with ‘LOLOLOL’ and ‘ㅠㅠㅠ’ (crying emoticons), along with all sorts of analysis and blame-shifting.

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• LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

• Ah, this is so f*cking funny LOLOLOLOLOL

• Seriously, what kind of pattern is that for Phase 2? LOLOLOLOL

• Rinne flying off is hilarious LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

• The tank melted too fast ㅠㅠ But Rinne held out well

• Honestly, it’s the healer’s fault, they were f*cking clueless

• Is the dealer the problem or is that b*stard the problem? The damage is barely registering

• It was just a total sh*tshow LOL Maybe next time, now that we know the patterns, it’ll be doable?

• Rinne trying to hold on until the very end was cool though ㅠㅠ

• That Slime King bstard is so dmn strong LOLOLOLOL

I tossed a handful of savory popcorn into my mouth with a satisfied smile.

The wine tasted excellent too.

This is the fun of RPGs – failing, getting frustrated, and then growing.

It’s no fun if you clear it too easily.

Especially seeing Jungyeon’s character standing there blankly with a dejected expression after resurrecting in town made me chuckle.

She must be incredibly frustrated right now.

Her pride must have taken a hit too.

It was the perfect timing to tease her.

I tapped on my keyboard and sent a whisper to Jungyeon.

[Whisper] Zelnaga : Kya, our dependable Starlight leader! A bit disappointing today, huh? For a tank, you were so squishy, I thought you brought tofu instead of a shield? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

A moment later, Jungyeon’s character flinched.

She seemed to be checking the chat window.

[Whisper] Rinne : CEO-nim? Are you teasing me again right now?

I couldn’t hear her voice, but I could sense her bewilderment and slight annoyance.

[Whisper] Zelnaga : If you had dodged that charge earlier, it would have been a clear ㅋㅋ You took it so head-on, though? Honestly, I think Rinne-nim was the culprit this time LOLOLOL

I threw in another playful jab.

[Whisper] Rinne : No, that was! I couldn’t dodge it! I didn’t know it would charge that fast all of a sudden! And I couldn’t see because of the debuff!

As expected, she’s taking the bait.

She’s so cute.

This is why I tease her.

[Whisper] Zelnaga : Hmm.. Is that so? Next time, maybe bring a pot lid instead of a shield. It might be sturdier? Or a frying pan would be good too. It would probably be more beneficial for you to just cook rice in the back and buff your party members LOLOLOL

I really got under her skin.

[Whisper] Rinne : Ah, seriously!! Are you going to keep teasing me, CEO-nim? I’m really upset right now, you know? As a CEO! You should be protecting your affiliated streamers!

She finally exploded.

I could almost hear her fuming breaths through the screen.

[Whisper] Zelnaga : Ah, is that so.. Are you okay? You did well.. I believe in Rinne-nim.. It was just bad luck this time, so don’t be too down ㅠㅠㅠ

I pretended to console her moderately.

But Jungyeon was seeing red.

[Whisper] Rinne : ㅋㅋ This is ridiculous. Don’t whisper to me. Before I come over there and punch you.

Her tone was still sharp as if her anger hadn’t subsided, but she seemed to have regained some spirit compared to before.

Ajung’s and Yoon Sol’s characters, who had been watching Jungyeon from the side, cautiously approached.

Perhaps the viewers had told them I was talking to her.

[“Unni, are you okay? Did the CEO tease you again?”]

Yoon Sol asked worriedly.

[“Our CEO is so mischievous. Still, Unni, you were really cool earlier! Holding up your shield until the very end! Kya!”]

Ajung gave a thumbs-up, comforting Jungyeon.

[“……Let’s definitely succeed. Let’s succeed and… that guy, really, just… just hit him once.”]

Jungyeon clenched her fists and composed herself.

Seeing that, Ajung and Yoon Sol looked at each other and giggled.

‘This is fun.’

I finished the remaining popcorn and leisurely scanned the monitor screens once more.

The wine was also almost empty.

The raid had failed, but the streamers’ passion had not cooled.

If anything, analysis and discussions for the next challenge were becoming even more active.