[3rd Named]
[Level 33 Outpost Commander Zarkan]
[HP 989,004/3,300,000]
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
“Bae Merong, Ice Prison!”
“Yes!”
As Bae Merong cast Ice Prison, the bodies of the party members froze.
This could block the initial concentric explosion.
And for the second explosion returning from the edges.
Thud!
Chris’s Raid Party all used backward evasion at the exact same timing.
Once again, they avoided taking damage through the ‘Invincible during casting’ judgment.
“The third explosion is coming soon!”
“Look at the floor! The floor!”
The third explosion was a cross explosion.
Fortunately, there were safe zones in the gimmick. Chris’s Raid Party moved to the safe zones to avoid the attack.
“Everyone survived? We got through it well this time! We just need to do the same from now on!”
“Kuaaargh!”
A sudden miserable scream was heard.
Chris hurriedly turned her head.
Deathly Death, who had been dealing with two giant hunting dog chimeras, was pinned down under the chimeras’ bodies, unable to move to the safe zone in time.
Chris cried out.
“Aaah! Death, what are you doing!”
‘Chris’s Raid Party’ had to wait for the next try due to Deathly Death’s retirement, who had been tanking the two chimeras.
“I have no excuse.”
“It’s okay. You can avoid it next time, right?”
“Ahem. I’ll try my best, but it’s no easy task to avoid the area-of-effect pattern while dealing with two chimeras.”
“If you can’t do it, no one can. You absolutely have to do it.”
Chris sighed.
Still, they made a lot of progress this time. Just getting past the additional special pattern that appears below 40% HP was a huge improvement.
“By the way, a boss that avoids attacks?”
“Still, increasing agility does help to land hits. Oh, cheap magic stones are on sale again.”
“I expected something like this might come up. That’s why I told you to prepare extra accessories.”
Chris’s Raid Party started additional equipment maintenance during the break time.
They were reinforcing their agility stats through ‘refined magic stones’, which could be used to enhance weapon attack power and add additional stats to accessories.
“From now on, we need to pay attention to stats other than the main stat for each class.”
“It seems no party has reached the 3rd named yet. The price of refined magic stones hasn’t risen further.”
Deathly Death nodded.
“The difficulty of the 2nd named was quite high too. Dribbling the mine spheres wasn’t easy, and if you parked them in the wrong position, you had to retry right away.”
“Ugh… If they’re spread out in the center from the start, it’s truly hell. Bae Merong had such a hard time laying them out.”
“Still, it’s fortunate we discovered the ranged tanking method for the 3rd named. Chris senior’s method of entering first, securing aggro, and then having other DPS start dealing damage was effective.”
“The ranged demonic energy bullet pattern isn’t very threatening. After 4 shots, approach to reset the pattern and induce the ranged pattern again.”
“I think Bae Merong can do it too with practice!”
“Originally, you with your strong firepower should have done it.”
Among ranged classes, Mage had the strongest pure DPS ability. However, Chris’s pattern response ability was more excellent, so she had to take on the ranged tanking of ‘Zarkan’.
“And the two giant chimeras that additionally appear below 50% HP.”
“Both of their HPs are too high. It’s impossible to take them down while dealing with the boss, so having me keep them occupied like now seems to be the best option.”
“The Fighter of the 3rd named is not the main tank but an add tank. Since I’m handling the boss’s ranged tanking as the Yin-Yang Master, Death needs to take responsibility for walking the dogs.”
After reminding her party members of the strategy once more, Chris stood up and clapped her hands.
“Anyway, with this, all preparations are complete. We’ve gotten past the pattern below 40% once, and we’ve reinforced agility additionally…”
“All that’s left is to clear it!”
Just as the party members were renewing their determination.
[‘Noname’ party has succeeded in the first clear of the elite dungeon, ‘Demon King’s Army Outpost’!]
“What!?”
“First clear? Already?”
A single message that appeared in the regional announcement window.
Chris’s Raid Party members were dumbfounded at the meaning contained in it.
Chris’s Raid Party had traversed all areas in a short time.
They had to endure all monster waves in the 1st area inevitably, but from the 2nd area, they found shortcuts to move. They also defeated the 2nd named after only a few tries thanks to Bae Merong’s excellent sphere dribbling skills.
Yet, a party that cleared it before them had appeared.
“…The party name is, Noname?”
“Jaewook, you idiot! It’s No Name!”
“Don’t call me by my real name!”
Cherni and Bae Merong started bickering.
Instead of them who had started fighting, Deathly Death expressed his doubt.
“What does it mean?”
“It’s one of two things. Either they didn’t enter a party name when creating the party, or…”
Chris paused for a moment, then continued.
“…In case of solo play without creating a party.”
“Solo play? First clear with solo play? No way!”
“Yeah. That can’t be. The most likely possibility is a party that doesn’t want to reveal their name.”
“…I don’t understand. Almost all parties aiming for first clear are motivated by honor and a sense of achievement. Of course, there might also be the purpose of securing the weapon market through quick clearing.”
“All five top parties I know have party names. It’s not any of them.”
Memories of clearing the level 15 and 25 elite dungeons flashed through Chris’s mind.
Chris’s Raid Party achieving first clear.
And simultaneously, the existence of unknown weapons that were listed on the auction house.
“…No Name party.”
* * *
“Whew, that was tough.”
To think there would be additional patterns.
I glared at the disappearing corpse of the 3rd named, ‘Commander Zarkan’ while lying on the floor of the training ground.
He was a nasty guy.
Claiming to be a martial arts faction commander pursuing strength, but when things got unfavorable for him, he called two giant hunting dog chimeras.
On top of that, one more explosion was added from 40% HP and below. I had to use every approach skill, including backward evasion and counterattack, to avoid it.
Fortunately, the experience from the ‘Statue of the Family Head’ helped. I focused solely on Zarkan while being chased by the chimeras.
And, splendid clear!
I puffed out my chest.
It was more difficult than any dungeon so far, but this time I cleared it without dying.
Can I proudly say ‘The hero has arrived!’ now?
After savoring the joy of clearing for a moment with clenched fists.
“Ah, the reward.”
It’s time for the most important clear reward opening.
I calmed my pounding heart and looted the box.
[Zarkan’s Sword]
[Elite Grade]
[Attack Power 200]
[‘Moonlight Slash’ skill damage increased by 30%]
[Socket1: EMPTY]
(Bound on equip)
“Attack power 200, Swordsman weapon…!”
Thump thump, thump thump!
I couldn’t control my racing heart.
The previous elite dungeon weapon, ‘Sealed Demon’s Sword’, had a limit of 150 attack power even with additional reinforcement through refined magic stones.
But now 200 without even applying magic stone reinforcement!
The skill multiplier was the same as the previous elite dungeon weapon, but the condition ‘on successful block’ was gone.
The Swordsman’s main skill, ‘Starlight Slash,’ which follows the damage multiplier of ‘Moonlight Slash,’ had become powerful without conditions.
Jump jump!
I expressed the joy of acquiring a self-weapon with my whole body. I felt like I could fly.
“…There’s something else?”
The looted item wasn’t just the weapon.
[Red Echostone]
[Weapon Socket Item]
[HP 100 lifesteal]
(Bound on equip)
“Wah…!”
It was a socket item with lifesteal damage.
I checked the weapon again.
Indeed, from this dungeon’s weapon, there was a socket.
If I put this in the weapon, I can cover a certain amount of minor damage taken with lifesteal.
There’s also a small expected value of lifesteal damage. I can even save on potion costs.
Truly, the item I need most right now!
But.
“The, the first socket item must be really expensive.”
It would be at least comparable to the weapon price.
I looked at the weapon and Red Echostone alternately with a tearful expression.
Health status? Still okay. I can make up for it by running more today.
To run faster? I need to raise my specs.
I closed my eyes tightly and equipped the echostone in the weapon socket.
[Zarkan’s Sword]
[Elite Grade]
[Attack Power 200]
[‘Moonlight Slash’ skill damage increased by 30%]
[Socket1: Red Echostone (HP lifesteal 100)]
(Bound item)
“Huaaah….”
I let out a deep sigh.
There’s no going back now.
The weapon and Red Echostone are entirely my items now.
The urgency was greater than the joy of spec increase.
I need to run this dungeon as much as possible from now on.
Ah, I need to do magic stone reinforcement too.
Clang clang.
Only after finishing maintenance on the newly acquired weapon and accessory could I leave the dungeon.
Woong.
As the strange floating sensation of area movement disappeared, I arrived in the rocky mountain area. I had returned to where I first entered.
“Looking for party! Swordsman available! Confident in tanking well!”
“Ranger here! Anyone want to take a Ranger!”
The surroundings were full of users looking for parties. It seems late-comer users are starting to form parties too.
I smiled slightly.
It seems I cleared it quite fast as part of the advance party this time too, so I need to suck all the honey out of this dungeon.
As I was about to jump into the dungeon entrance while looking at it.
“…Rain?”
“Eek!?”
I almost fell over in surprise.
With my awkward posture just before jumping into the dungeon, I slowly turned my head to check where my name was called from.
The person there was.
“…Chris unnie?”