Chapter 67 - The Field Boss (Part 3)

 

*Cap, cap, cap*

The black rain made my skin ache from the mere touch. I knew what it was: [Rain of Despair], the passive aura skill of the Chaos Lord Riakis.

[You continue to take chaos-type damage over time, your Magic Resistance is greatly reduced].

[Warning: When constantly affected by Chaos type damage, there is a chance of inflicting an anomalous state [Disarray]].

This skill dealt a lot of damage in a large area, as well as turning rain-stricken terrain into an erosion zone and negating all kinds of field effects.

Bloody hell...

I hoped it wouldn't happen, but he did come.

"I... He's here! The monster is here!

"Hey!" What are you all doing! Go and stop them!

Panic broke out among the researchers on the 3rd floor, who had paid for their protection. Their eyes were fixed on one point.

"You don't think you're going to leave us, are you?"

"You even took our equipment as a payment!" Take responsibility!

Emotional screams came from dozens of people. The leader, who had declared himself a representative in front of the crowd several times, sighed heavily with a bitter smile.

— ... So that's how it happens.

It's not that I couldn't understand his feelings. As long as they received payment, their only choice was to resist the Lord of the Floor with all their might.

"This expedition will suffer a lot of damage.

Surprisingly, there was only calmness on the leader's face, and no signs of anxiety or impatience. Then he gathered his breath and shouted:

"Lord of Chaos Riakis has arrived!" Take out everything you have cooked!

The order sounded loud. At the same time, those who had the emblem of the Dzarvi clan embroidered on their chests moved in unison.

"Each team should take their positions!"

Mages, priests, and rangers went to the center, melee explorers to the outskirts. They didn't hesitate to start using all kinds of consumables.

[You used the Advanced Scroll of Enhanced Stamina].

[You used the Advanced Energy Regeneration Scroll].

[You used the numbered item "Flag of the Sun Lord", the weapon is imbued with the light of Ersium].

Various enhancement magic scrolls, consumable numbered items, and even various types of auxiliary consumables for equipment; In less than a minute, consumables worth at least 10 million stones disappeared into particles of light.

"There are enough supplies, so don't spare them!" We will return with at least one living person!

I began to think that I had underestimated them. Now I thought it wasn't that they lacked intelligence. They were already planning for the worst-case scenario and were fully prepared behind the scenes.

However, they received a fee for protection because...

They literally built their bets on this, because it was a little more likely not to meet the Lord. I don't know why it made me laugh.

Seriously, there are too many efficiency freaks in this world.

I should be more humble, too. These people also took numerous risks to become explorers and get to where they are now. They couldn't get here just by luck.

"To think that they always carry so many supplies with them... This is a really large clan!

It was more correct to be vigilant to them than to despise them. It would be more effective to find something to learn from them than to be jealous.

"Bjorn, what should we do now?" Mike asked.

"What can we do here?" First we have to see how things will develop.

That was my plan from the beginning. As long as we were facing the Floor Lord, just getting out of this place was a big risk. If the situation became hopeless, we would have to leave immediately.

But this should be enough to at least hold out.

As if to confirm this, a fire barrier in the form of a circle formed around us.

It wasn't an essence skill, but a magic spell.

[The Spirit of Chaos has been destroyed, and this place will be eroded].

As soon as the rain began, the Spirits of Chaos that swept in like a tidal wave were destroyed before they could break through the fire barrier.

*Oooh!*

Moreover, the massive barrier that formed above our heads stopped even the torrential rain.

Well, that's the only thing that can stop the fire barrier.

"Bjorn, look over there!"

From where Mike was pointing, a huge shadow gradually loomed, and a deep rumble was heard in the ground.

*Boom! Boom!*

Horns sprouted from the top of his head in the rough and heavy black skin, and a sinister aura hovered above it.

— Gooo

As the fire barrier was easily breached, a monster the size of a movie monster appeared, large enough to make you lose all sense of distance.

"This...

"V-Lord of Chaos, Riakis!

The crowd was frightened at the sight and stepped back, but the clan members remained calm.

"Hold your ground!" Don't let him go to the rear!

As if fighting large monsters was their daily routine, the warriors silently defended their positions. This guy didn't like it.

*Bam!*

As soon as Riakis stomped his front foot, the battle officially began.

***

What did a real raid look like in the game? The answer to this age-old question was actually quite simple.

"Don't make any effort to stop him. Avoid at all costs! Got it?

Even in close combat, tanks and damage inflictors avoided head-on collisions, dodging sweeping tail or claw strikes with surprising dexterity. This was logical, as they were probably well aware that no matter how strong their bodies were and no matter how high their strength levels were, there was no way they could compete with such a monster.

Is this how a battle with the Lord of the Floor usually goes? This is interesting.

Perhaps because I would ever have to play this role, my focus was on melee explorers rather than mages or damage dealers. There was something to see and learn. There were also several close clashes.

*Boom!*

No matter how hard they tried to avoid it, injuries were inevitable in a fight with such high-ranking monsters. Usually, if you got hit like that, you died instantly, not injured.

"Are they still alive after that?"

— ... It's really incredible.

With their stats drastically increased due to the numerous essences and the help of strengthening scrolls, priests, and auxiliary type researchers, these people were already a complete weapon each.

"Ah!"

"Damn, I almost died!"

Wounded soldiers were patched up and sent back to the front line. Of course, not everyone was like that.

"Damn it, that son of a bitch shouldn't have died like that..."

- Focus on the battle at hand and stay focused on it!

As the battle dragged on, casualties appeared. The melee warrior was instantly killed by the monster's leg, and the three ranged warriors were vaporized by his breath. However, if we look objectively at the current situation...

At the moment, it is stable.

"Already 4 deaths... Isn't it too dangerous?

No matter what the reaction of the 3rd floor researchers was, the warriors were still holding on to the front line. The magic of the mages was strong enough to oust Riakis from the middle as well.

It seems that they also know about the dark realms.

"Let's just keep watching for now!" They're still the famous Zarvi Clan! I'm sure they'll find a way.

A black sphere rose from the blurred earth and headed towards Riakis.

[Chaos Lord Riakis attracts the power of origin].

What I was most worried about was also blown up by the rangers before it could be swallowed up by Riakis.

"Don't shoot!"

"That bastard shouldn't feel threatened anymore!"

In addition, seeing how they stopped firing from time to time to maintain the viability of the monster, I was sure that these guys knew the strategy for destroying it.

That's why they only hold him back. Moving to Phase 2 without a specific item means the end of the game.

"Why did they stop attacking?" Are they stupid? As long as they have momentum, they need...

In a way, it made sense. To think that I was the only person who knew everything about this world was just arrogant. An expert who has been playing Dungeon & Stone for 10 years and knew everything there was to know about the game? So what? Labyrinths have existed for thousands of years.

It wasn't like a gaming universe, it was a reality for people. They had to enter it to earn money for survival, and they probably went through a lot of trial and error. This will be passed on to future generations as a record.

Although only a few have a monopoly on real, valuable knowledge.

I wasn't too worried. Hidden elements that were particularly hard to find in the game seem to be hard to recognize, even by people here. Knowledge as a professional would still be my main weapon in survival here.

*Click*

I opened the watch and checked the time. It was [22:37]. More than three hours had passed. Despite the protracted battle, the clan members conscientiously performed their roles without losing concentration.

After using so many consumers, it doesn't matter how much money they made on defense.

I suddenly understood why these big clans didn't hunt the Floor Lords despite knowing the strategy. The reward for submission was not exactly small, but it included a huge amount of goods. There was a possibility that an elite clan member might die. In addition, there was a high probability that you would not return to the city, even if the attempt failed.

This is not a profitable business.

*Boom!*

While I was thinking so, Riakis ignored the warriors for some reason and rushed to the center, crushing five truckers in an instant. A similar situation could definitely have happened during the raid.

Fortunately, the warriors stood up, rushed to Riakis, and turned him back, but two melee damage dealers were instantly killed in the process.

Nevertheless, they will be able to hold out until the end.

I analyzed the military situation again. So far, a total of 11 people have died.

Although this was equivalent to 20% of their total capacity, the remaining staff continued their work without panic. There may have been some gaps now, but definitely not enough to lead to a fatal outcome. The problem was that there were a lot of bastards around who couldn't even make such a simple judgment.

"Wrong!" Those incompetent bastards!

"Do you know how many people died?!"

They didn't even have time to set foot in the erosion zone and fall into the state of [Confusion] when another wave of panic swept through the crowd. It was not difficult to understand where they came from. 11 deaths are only clan members. Countless explorers who paid for protection died every time Riakis wreaked havoc.

Is it possible that their minds are clouded now that they feel that their lives are threatened?

From my point of view, these idiots themselves are to blame for not paying attention to what is passing very close to them by the raid. But they wouldn't listen to me if I said that.

"Bjorn, the atmosphere is getting serious.

"I know," I said to Mike.

"We have to do something...

"Just wait. I think.

I looked around as much of the area as I could. The clan didn't seem to be able to detect it yet, as they were only focusing on Riakis. Meanwhile, one man's loud voice ignited chaos.

"We can't just keep watching, let's all work together to survive!" "It was Jack Fletcher, who was the first to take off his equipment and pay for protection. - Do you know how many people have already died? They cannot protect us. We must defend ourselves!

"That's right!" someone shouted.

Another exclaimed:

"But I don't have any equipment, because...

"He must be returned!" After all, did these guys deliver on their promises?

On his initiative, the corps that had turned away from him the previous time added its strength, and the scales got out of control.

I muttered quietly:

"Misha, get ready.

— What should we prepare for?

"We're leaving this place right now.

It was already a losing cause.

***

As soon as we quickly grabbed our backpacks, as if a riot had begun, many researchers rushed to the center, where there were stocks of collected equipment and materials.

"Everybody, calm down!" It will put everyone at risk...

Only then did the clan realize the situation, but it was already too late.

"Don't make me laugh!"

"Give me back my gear!"

Soon after, the clan's mages and archers were pushed aside, and the greedy-eyed explorers began to gather whatever they could lay their hands on.

"Give it to me!" That's mine!

- Who cares about this situation!?

"Get out immediately!" If you don't, I'll attack!

"It doesn't matter where I die, here or there, it's the same thing!"

"Why are you delaying?" One of the clan members shouted. "From now on, they are marauders!" Destroy them all!

At some point, seeing the figures full of confusion and madness, I wiped away even my last remnants of regret.

"Bjorn...

"Stop watching, let's go."

"Good!"

I led Mike in the opposite direction from Riakis. Soon a wall of fire blocked our way.

"What are we going to do now?!" Mike shouted.

"What do you mean?" We will pass through it.

I'm going to use this body like a barbarian. There will be some burns, but I can soothe them with saliva.

"Are you serious?!"

Oh, I guess not for you.

"Oh!" Kyaa!

Picking up Misha with both hands, I lifted her high up, as if in a hurry.

In this state, I quickly overcame the fire barrier 5 meters thick.

*Chzzzz!*

I heard the faint smell of roasting meat. My skin burned slightly, even thanks to the Pain Resistance.

"Misha, are you okay?"

—... Thanks to you, I'm fine. Look ahead!

Not long after I lowered Misha and looked in front of me, I saw the Spirits of Chaos swarming around. We didn't have time to get rid of every single one of them.

"Run."

"Huh?" Through them?

— Is there any other way?

The spirits had already discovered us and were slowly approaching. I quickly made my way through them so as not to incur the aggro, as I did not know how the battle was progressing.

Deuce.

After running for about 5 minutes, it suddenly got dark around. It was so dark that it was difficult to see even an inch ahead.

"Bjorn, are you here?!"

"I'm here."

Fortunately, I could still hear.

"What's going on?"

Instead of answering, I sighed heavily. No analysis was required. The situation was clear.

[Chaos Lord Riakis has managed to absorb the power of origin. The field effect of [Abyss of Evil] is cast within a radius of 5 kilometers].

Riakis's weapon of instant death and destruction, [Abyss of Evil].

The son of a bitch had finally swallowed all those damn balls.