NoveLight ™
It’s no secret that mob psychology is incredibly powerful.
Even in areas of little personal interest, people often find themselves swept up by the enthusiasm of those around them, raising their voices without a second thought.
Once a spark is lit, whether for fun, boredom, or some other reason, it ignites into a roaring celebration.
The community was no exception—if anything, it was the perfect breeding ground for such chaos.
Community Chat:
Posts ranging from outright troll content to bait flooded the forums. Clicking on a seemingly normal title would open to grotesque images, sparking retaliatory posts full of equally cursed content.
It was pure chaos.
Anyone who logged into the community, even for a moment, would immediately notice the madness unfolding.
"Ugh…"
Selena, the Succubus Queen, overworked in her research lab, sighed as she scrolled through the mayhem.
Keisha Winsler, struggling to manage fortress operations amidst numerous crises, groaned at the additional burden the chaos had created.
Birder, enduring brutal training under Maxien, gritted her teeth in frustration as the notifications trickled through.
Even if they weren’t directly involved, it was impossible for anyone connected to the community to ignore the ruckus.
Eventually, the uproar reached the ears of someone who could act.
"Keep this up. I’ll be stepping out for a moment."
"...Understood."
With a whisper of wind, the figure disappeared, leaving only a faint trace behind.
***
Boom!
The massive dragon’s body was hurled backward.
"Ugh! What the hell is this thing?!"
"You’re lucky it’s you holding up this well! Stay sharp!"
"Tch!"
Clank—
Yongyong’s chest compartment opened, revealing a particle accelerator within.
"Die, you bastard!"
Flash!
Twin beams of light, rivaling the intensity of a dragon’s breath, shot from Yongyong’s chest toward the enemy.
Zzzzt—
The particle weapon, deemed too embarrassing for broadcast, was now fully unleashed.
Screeeeech!
A hulking, 10-meter-tall creature clad in crimson metal flinched, unable to advance under the searing beams.
The monster, with two heads, four arms, and two legs, screeched again as the beams halted its charge but failed to deliver a critical blow.
"A tank, huh?"
Despite the frustration, the effect was clear.
This beast, which had shrugged off countless attacks before, was now stopped in its tracks.
"Let’s see how long you can hold out!"
Yongyong’s taunt elicited a single step forward from the creature before the beams pushed it back again.
"Hahaha."
Though Yongyong laughed, he wasn’t as confident as he appeared.
"This isn’t an ordinary monster."
Unlike the countless others he had obliterated, this one was fundamentally different.
Wham—
Suddenly, the creature vanished from sight, reappearing behind him.
"What the—? Speed too?!"
What kind of monster was this?
Even a combat power of one million wasn’t enough!
"Is this the kind of enemy the admin’s been fighting all along?"
Boom!
"Argh!"
Yongyong was flung through the air but managed to right himself mid-flight, ascending quickly.
Thoom!
The ground where he’d stood collapsed into rubble.
From the smoke, the crimson beast emerged unscathed.
"Unbelievable!"
Yongyong’s eyes filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
"I signed up to be a damage dealer, not a tank!"
"Hang in there, Yongyong! You’re the only one who can hold it off!"
"Blow them all up! Blow them to bits!"
Spiritist Baron was using his fusion cannon, imbued with elemental spirits, to fend off the horde, while Perfe rampaged in the middle of the monster army, her greatsword tearing through mid-tier foes like paper.
"Ahhhhh!"
Thud!
Thanks to his stellarium-reinforced frame, Yongyong withstood the crimson monster’s relentless attacks.
Though his external armor was battered, he refused to back down.
Simultaneously, his long-range weaponry rained destruction upon the monstrous horde.
Crackle—Boom—Boom!
Monsters disintegrated under his bombardment.
But none of this solved the real problem.
"What about the barrier?!"
"I’m barely managing to keep this thing at bay!"
"Perfe seems to have completely lost her mind. I’ll take over here—you focus on analyzing the barrier!"
"No need! This Full Metal War Dragon will handle everything!"
Never underestimate a dragon!
He blocked the crimson monster’s attacks, bombarded the horde with long-range weapons, and investigated the barrier with his magic.
"Ugh!"
Before arriving in the World, he had dabbled in dimensional magic, but even that knowledge was being pushed to its limits now.
"If Baron tried to handle this thing, he’d be torn in two in seconds."
This monster was unlike any he had faced before.
"Damn it!!!"
Yongyong roared, mustering every ounce of strength and focus to hold the line, knowing full well that defeat was not an option.
***
The battle was raging within the barrier as Yongyong, Baron, and Perfe struggled to hold their ground against overwhelming odds. Outside, however, the Sephiroth clan observed the spectacle with a mix of intrigue and disdain.
[Sephiroth Observers’ Discussion:]
They continued to comment, their sharp gazes fixed on the figures battling within the shimmering barrier.
As their musings continued, their expressions turned increasingly grim.
They were beginning to realize that the beings they once dismissed as "lesser lifeforms" were now facing challenges even their clan found daunting.
[Then it happened:]
A calm yet unfamiliar voice cut through the air, disrupting their solemn contemplation.
"Plenty of samples here. Kalshu will be pleased. Hmm, what should I ask for as a reward?"
The Sephiroth onlookers froze, their eyes widening in disbelief.
[What?]
[What is she talking about?]
[W-who?!]
Standing among them was a radiant woman who had appeared without a sound.
Her hair shimmered like starlight as she idly inspected a glowing orb floating in her hand.
"What’s this? How does it work? Does it connect to that over there?"
Her voice was casual, almost bored, as if she were inspecting a toy.
[T-that’s…!]
[Why is that here?!]
[Who are you? Identify yourself!]
The Sephiroth began shouting, their composure unraveling.
"Hmm. I’ll make sure to take this back with me. It might come in handy."
She tossed the orb into the air and caught it with ease, her movements effortless and precise.
[Put that down at once!]
[Do you know what you’re holding?!]
[Impudent wretch!]
The woman, her expression unreadable, cast her gaze over them.
It wasn’t anger or disdain—it was something far colder, far more unnerving.
Her eyes regarded them as if they were insects pinned to a board.
"Annoying little pests, aren’t you? Of course, we specially crafted this to deal with you. It’s part of our research project, and I need samples."
For the first time, she smiled—a soft, chilling smile.
In that moment, every Sephiroth present felt a wave of dread wash over them.
And then, their consciousnesses faded into nothingness.
As the chaos subsided, the woman glanced toward the barrier.
"Hmm. What are they doing over there?"
Her calm voice hung in the air as she observed the struggle unfolding inside the shimmering field.
***
“Baron! Handle the red monster for a moment! It seems like there’s an opening!”
“Understood. Leave it to me! I’ll do my best to hold it off.”
“No, wait! Lure it towards Perfe! She can handle it for a short while!”
“…I never thought I’d come to understand the helplessness of the weak like this. Alright, I trust you.”
Yongyong inhaled deeply, charging up his Ether Breath in his metallic dragon form.
“Get lost, you annoying bastard!”
Hwaaaah—
Though he couldn’t fully charge it for a more devastating blow, the sheer force of the blast was enough to knock the creature back. Even the beast that had withstood a fully charged Ether Breath couldn’t resist being shoved backward.
‘Damn it, I never thought I’d be using my Ether Breath as a knockback tool.’
The absurdity of the World struck him again. It was a place beyond comprehension.
But anyway, this is my chance!
Yongyong extended his tail, letting it come into contact with the barrier as he frantically began analyzing it. His tail split into four segments, each equipped with intricate devices that whirred and clicked into action.
Numerical data and magical formulas flickered across Yongyong’s vision as he worked.
“All barriers consist of ports, rooms, and firewalls!”
He had caught a fleeting moment earlier—a slight opening during the battle.
“Hahaha! Once this great me gets my claws into it, a barrier like this is nothing!”
Yongyong closed his eyes, pouring all his focus into deciphering and dismantling the barrier.
“Wait… huh?”
...Why did it feel like the barrier was unraveling on its own? No, it wasn’t being undone—it was being outright shattered.
“What?”
Something… something was…
“What the—”
The once-imposing barrier suddenly felt paper-thin, like it was being torn apart by an external force. Yongyong’s metallic scales bristled instinctively, his entire form trembling.
“Damn it! Shit! What’s happening now?!”
He activated the ether drives in his wings, forming a propulsion shield and shooting off at full speed.
I need to get out of here!
“Baron! Perfe!”
Baron, quick on his feet, used the Ether Wave Device Yongyong had given him earlier to snap Perfe out of her berserk state and scooped her up in his arms.
“Yoong—Yoong!”
In the fraction of a second that seemed to stretch endlessly, Baron reached out desperately.
“Run!!!”
Yongyong swooped in, snatching both Baron and Perfe, wrapping them in dozens of protective shields before curling up his body to shield them from the oncoming devastation.
The red monster lunged at them, but Yongyong had no time to worry about that.
“Duck!!!”
Following Yongyong’s panicked shout:
CRAAACK—
...
CRRRRRACK—
The world inverted, color and sound dissolving into an oppressive, deafening silence.
!!
A shattering heartbeat resounded in the void.
CRACK—
The only discernible sensation was that something was breaking.
‘Ugh!’
This is insane!
That sensation… he had felt it before.
Not to this extent, but enough to know what it was.
The last time the boss went all out.
“Arghhh!”
The space itself fractured.
CRRRACK—
Reality twisted and warped, a nauseating, terrifying blend of broken perceptions. Even without physical contact, Yongyong felt his very senses being shredded.
And then—
BOOM—
“!!”
“Agh!”
“Kyahhh!”
“Are you alright?”
A colossal shockwave sent Yongyong’s massive form hurtling through the air.
The devastating slash had obliterated everything within the barrier, reducing it to ruins. It was as if the entire space had been carved out of existence.
“Cough!”
As he confirmed that the others in his arms were safe, Yongyong finally allowed himself to relax—just slightly.
‘Damn…!’
Even in his Full Metal Wardragon form, he couldn’t stop a stream of expletives from escaping his thoughts.
‘I survived because I wasn’t hit directly… No, it’s more like we weren’t even the target to begin with.’
From the remnants of the barrier, she emerged.
The Starlight Woman.
Yongyong’s scales instinctively curled inward, his tail wrapping protectively around him.
‘T-that’s…!’
He knew her. Everyone knew her.
“M-Maxien Astoria.”
“Hmm?”
The figure who had established herself as the undisputed strongest upon entering the World.
Her gaze fell on Yongyong, who couldn’t help but shrink under the weight of it.
So this is 12 million combat power…?
[Community’s Reaction]
Suddenly, a notification popped up in his interface.
Yongyong stared blankly at the influx of messages.
These maniacs…
He groaned inwardly, fighting the urge to rip out his circuits.
“I’m going to lose my mind…”
Nice