386. Raid (5)

The raid boss is learning.

Just like we learn how to use the warlock’s magic as we fight, the raid boss is also learning about our combat style.

It’s intentionally using vision-obstructing magic on the tanks, debuff magic on the dealers, and magic with strong attack power on the healers.

,Kyaak!”

In the end, Pinku-ssi, who allowed an attack due to the warlock’s continuous attacks, died, and the entire party wiped.

The problem was what came next.

Chi-jik.

,Ha, you goddamn cockroaches. You turned back time. It’s the same ending anyway, so give up!”

Even though the raid boss had restarted, it retained the memories of the previous try.

,Wow… This is fucking bullshit, isn’t it?”

It wasn’t going back to the beginning, but starting from the middle.

It was difficult to adapt to a try where both we and the warlock started with the same memories.

No matter how irregular and unconventional it was, the magic the warlock used was ultimately limited.

The warlock continued to adapt to us as we adapted.

,This is quite the quirky boss you’ve created, huh?”

We wiped again and took a short break.

While being held in Deopgae-ssi’s arms, I looked at the warlock, who was stopped outside the boss field, and said.

,I wonder how Reina-eonni is doing with this.”

,I know, it seems like it would be incredibly difficult with the methods Reina-ssi has used so far.”

Reina-ssi is someone who calculates casting times and moves in 0.1-second increments based on fixed gimmicks and fixed patterns.

Reina-ssi is playing a Sorceress, which has the highest DPS in LORE but the longest casting time.

Sorceresses, who usually have a severe DPS variance in raids, are not often employed, but Reina-ssi’s overwhelming strategy deciphering, understanding, and judgment are so good that she made the Mead party the best party.

But this raid doesn’t emphasize brainpower. It’s a raid where physical skill is quite important.

Gimmicks or patterns don’t exist, and you have to judge, move, and counter every moment.

,It’s not that there’s no guide, but if you make a guide, the guide length will be more than 10 times longer than other raids. And the guides will be incredibly diverse, so.”

As Deopgae-ssi said, it’s ambiguous to even make a guide for this.

It seems like the warlock has used over 30 kinds of magic so far, and you have to memorize all 30 kinds of magic and look at the magic circle that briefly appears on the arms attached to the back of the warlock and recall one of those 30 kinds of magic?

It’s almost impossible.

It’s clear that it will take a considerable amount of time to become familiar with all that magic.

,No, what the hell are they thinking, making the first of the four bosses like this?”

,I know. I don’t think I’ve ever run this much while playing LORE.”

,Ah, Eonni!”

Pinku-ssi took me out of Deopgae-ssi’s arms and hugged me instead.

,You’ve been holding me the whole time, why are you so greedy?”

,Hing.”

,You’re almost 30 and you’re making ‘hing’ sounds.”

,Tch. You do know that Eonni will turn 30 before me, right?”

,Ahem.”

Pinku-ssi smacked the top of my head.

==

,AoooOOOOOO!”

I wiped once again and was about to throw my sword on the floor, but I held back.

That guy really has no conscience.

Even if we try something like this, the warlock ends up deciphering it and exploiting the weaknesses in that strategy.

In the end, that strategy became useless.

At this point, it means there’s something we don’t know.

Usually, the very first boss out of the four bosses in a raid is a boss that comes out in the format of, ‘This is the feeling of this raid’s concept~.’

Usually, the first floor boss is made so that you can clear it in 1-2 days, no matter how long it takes.

From the 2nd floor, um…, on the 3rd floor, oh…, on the 4th floor, eugh! You have to go with that kind of feeling, but this raid makes you involuntarily scream eugh! from the 1st floor.

My impression of the 1st floor so far is just, ‘Is LORE really trying to go all-in on physical skill?’

,Huh. The Ensidara party and then the Mead party cleared the 1st floor?”

,Huh!?”

I was startled as soon as I heard those words.

Ensidara and Mead parties are both good parties.

Ensidara is a party that is always second to the Mead party. But compared to the Mead party, they have better physical skills.

It was only because of the existence of Reina-ssi in the Mead party that the gimmick deciphering was delayed, and they were always second.

I know that both are good parties.

But.

,No matter how I think about it, their physical skills are worse than mine…?’

I’m quite close to the Ensidara party, so I know.

The Ensidara party leader, Zakku-gun, is even on my friend list.

I naturally became friends with the Ensidara party because we bickered so much when I was active as a field boss.

Even though the party leader Zakku-gun is hot-tempered, if you exclude me, you can’t find a user with better physical skills than him.

I was also curious about him being a Greatswordsman, a tank, instead of a dealer with those physical skills.

That Zakku-ajusshi said that he was doing Greatswordsman for the romance of heavy armor and greatsword. He’s an ajusshi who pursues physical skill, the fun of the game, and romance.

I think highly of that ajusshi, but his physical skills are still lower than mine.

Even if you look at the entire party, it’s not that we’re lacking, but rather that our overall physical skills are higher.

Of course, Pinku-ssi is a bit lacking, but that’s even including Pinku-ssi.

But they cleared the 1st floor before us?

I understand clearing it before Ensidara.

I think the concept of the 1st floor itself is not about brainpower to decipher gimmicks or patterns, but about physical skill.

In that situation, Ensidara cleared the 1st floor first, and then Mead cleared it?

,There’s something else.”

There’s no other answer than that.

To be honest, it’s a bit arrogant, but I’m more confident in my physical skills than anyone else, at least in the virtual world.

My special situation and blessed environment combine to make me the strongest in the virtual world.

Even though I’m overwhelming the warlock with my physical skills, I’m still trying because the healer’s mana and safety are lacking.

Our healer’s mana is running out before the warlock’s health.

Even though I’m putting on such a show, I can’t clear it, but another party cleared it?

This clearly means that there is another condition for clearing this boss.

==

While Arang-ssi’s party was struggling on the 1st floor, other parties began to clear it one by one.

LORE’s first clear event attracts a considerable number of viewers worldwide.

Roughly, the total number of viewers is over 10 million.

Therefore, each party gets sponsors or advertisements, and the parties flow based on that.

In particular, parties in the TOP 10 earn money that is no less enviable than a major company.

And not only do parties broadcast, but the LORE company itself also broadcasts commentary on the raid progress of parties that have received separate attention.

They relay which party has made what progress, deciphered gimmicks or patterns, or various incidents and accidents.

In this LORE first clear run, the most notable party is, of course, the Munchkin Cat party.

You can’t help but pay attention.

She’s the youngest daughter of Marsble and the most famous person in LORE, Arang-ssi.

Pretty? There are many pretty people in LORE.

Cute? There are also many cute people in LORE.

But that child with such looks is only 16 years old, and with such looks, such age, and such a body, her physical skills are beyond compare.

Arang-ssi, who has the physical skill to fight even users who are showing overwhelming power in the LORE PVP World Championship.

Of course, she used a trick, but since she fought in a battle royale in the first place, there was nothing particularly wrong with that act. Before doing that act, she fought with him for several minutes without backing down.

The Munchkin Cat party, which Arang-ssi is running, has achieved many achievements so far.

She unfortunately missed the first clear last time, but everyone knows that Arang-ssi has been preparing with determination this time, so attention has been focused on this first clear run.

But the Munchkin Cat party was currently ranked 8th in progress.

The 1st to 7th place parties had gone up to the 2nd floor, and the 8th place Munchkin Cat party was still on the 1st floor.

In the end, the Munchkin Cat party failed to clear the 1st floor on the first day.

Arang-ssi knows that it’s later than other parties, but in the end, stamina distribution is very important in raids.

It’s not just a matter of doing it for a day or two and ending it, but it can take up to a month if it’s late, so she thinks rest is more important than anyone else.

Because if the body is not comfortable, the mind will also stiffen.

Moreover, since it is a virtual world where you have to move your body directly, both your body and mind must be in good condition.

Arang-ssi had no choice but to leave the raid dungeon with everyone.

As soon as they came out of the raid dungeon, there were many users. It’s a natural thing.

There are users who gather parties and challenge, and there are users who watch.

The first clear run is such a big event in LORE that they even display screens relaying the parties in the center of the town inside the LORE game.

And unlike users who simply watch or challenge, there are also reporters.

One of those reporters suddenly approached Arang-ssi, who was about to return to the guild house to rest, and shouted, holding out a microphone and camera.

,Arang-ssi user! The party is currently in 8th place and hasn’t even cleared the 1st floor! Was that part due to the PinkuBerry-ssi user’s problem!? Many users are wondering why you are still bringing the PinkuBerry-ssi user from the outside!!!”

Arang-ssi, who was just going to ignore it and return to the guild house, turned towards the reporter who mentioned PinkuBerry-ssi at that moment.

And raised her hand to the reporter.