NOVEL NEXT Chapter 121
The full-scale strategy for the ‘Hong Baek Raid’ against the Level 2 Named Enemy has begun.
Today’s goal is to clear the Level 2 Named Enemy quickly and extract as many patterns from the last Named as possible.
However, “Death Knight Jacam” was anything but easy.
The Hong Baek Raid had to waste most of their trial time just minimizing death from normal patterns.
[Level 2 Named Enemy]
[Level 53]
[Death Knight Jacam]
[HP 474,007,911 / 500,000,000 (94%)]
KWAAAH!
“AHHH!!”
[Raid member ‘Catcher Yi’ has died!]
“Aaa~! What are you doing? Just go ahead! Hold on for 2 more minutes, we absolutely have to survive!”
Chris lamented the situation of the now 11-member raid while continuing the strategy.
As expected, the backthrust skill was the most threatening. But they couldn’t rely solely on party protection skills.
This was different from the Black Dragon’s spear patterns, which had projectile detection. The only way to avoid those was through invulnerability skills. While there is a method to rotate the party protection skills owned by the ranged dealers, if the person in charge fails, all the backline dealers would be wiped out. In the end, they had no choice but to rely on individual invulnerability skills for survival.
The special phase strategy for Jacam, relayed to Rain, was for a single target. The solution for a 12-person target was still shrouded in mystery. However, at this point, that was not a major problem.
Staying alive amidst the relentless normal patterns was the first hurdle.
“You can say that the normal patterns are the hardest for the Level 2 Named. 4 minutes, 4 minutes after the combat starts! I’ll find a strategy for the time-restricted special pattern no matter what. Don’t get greedy for damage, just focus on survival!”
The raid members proceeded with the strategy while taking Chris’s orders to protect themselves as much as possible.
Before the massive greatsword of Jacam, Tank Deathly Death kept his eyes wide open guarding the front. The melee dealers gradually began to get a sense of the range of the greatsword’s attacks. The ranged dealers also started reading the premonitory moves of the backthrust.
A kind of endurance.
Every 4 minutes.
In a 15-minute combat time, there would be 3 opportunities to pull off the gimmicks.
This way, they could chip off 60% of his HP.
Jacam had 500 million HP.
If they could reduce HP by 300 million through gimmicks, the HP that needed to be chipped away by the raid members would only be 200 million. They had plenty of strategy time even without extreme damage.
And finally, the nightmare that seemed to last forever passed the 4-minute mark.
Surviving members were 11.
KUUGUUU!
A powerful magic began to gather around Jacam, and a vibration swept through the entire Abyssal Tree.
“Entering special phase, magical infusion pattern!”
TA TA TA!
All raid members gathered in a narrow area.
The pattern that Rain had informed them about.
Jacam’s ‘Magical Infusion.’
After 12 stacks, it would switch to ‘Magical Rampage.’
The problem was that, in the case of 12 people, each would receive one hit.
Since this was a type of buff, resistance was impossible. It would penetrate invulnerability skills and would also grant a slight increase in attack power.
In the previous trial, only 4 people survived and faced this pattern, each receiving 3 hits.
After that came the total annihilation.
The magic injected into their bodies became shackles that bound their feet, lifting them into the air.
In a helpless state, they would all perish to Jacam’s area attack.
KUUGUUU!
In front of Jacam, who was gathering magic, Chris decided to try something.
“We must absolutely create ‘Magical Rampage.'”
Having individuals receive ‘Magical Infusion’ was meaningless.
They had to narrow the target down to 1 person to create ‘Magical Rampage.’
Could this method work?
As Chris’s thoughts developed, Jacam’s actions ended.
CHUK!
He reached his hand into the air.
PATAPATPAT!
Jacam’s hand released violet energy several times. It floated up and began to pour over all raid members.
12 magical infusion patterns dropping to the 12 individuals. Well, currently it would be 11 individuals, so one would receive two.
Chris’s order came down.
“Go Seung Woo, Seob Seop Yi! Area smoke bomb!”
‘Area smoke bomb.’
A skill from the ‘Ranger’ class that temporarily escapes from a Named’s target.
Normally used to draw aggro away or skillfully move through densely packed monsters, but…
PENG, PENG!
Everyone’s figures, except for the slightly distanced raid leader Chris, began to fade in the smoke bomb.
TUTUTUT!
The magic lost its target and wandered in the air, soon all shooting back toward Chris.
PATAPATPAT, WUUUUNG!
As the 12 magical infusions focused on Chris’s body, a gentle violet glow began to emanate from her.
Chris checked her buff window and smiled with satisfaction.
[Magical Rampage (1 minute 30 seconds)]
12 stacks of Magical Infusion, and the completion of Magical Rampage.
The magic released by the holder of Magical Rampage allowed them to remain grounded even during Jacam’s total annihilation skill.
“Gather around me!”
TA TA TA!
The raid members who had hidden in the smoke bomb rushed out and gathered around Chris.
– It’s done, nothing more to see. Die!
KUUGUUU!
A massive magic orb gathered above Jacam’s hand. A tremendous energy began to bind the bodies of the party members.
However, unlike the previous trial, this time everyone could act.
Simultaneously, Jacam’s magic orb emitted a strong light.
FLASH!
KWAAAAAA!
The protective magic force-infused directly by Jacam.
Because of that, all raid members could survive even amidst the magical explosion.
Joy lit up on everyone’s faces.
“It worked!”
“We did it!”
“There’s no time to celebrate! Everyone except the Tank, scatter!”
QUANG! BOOM!
Jacam returned to his normal patterns.
The raid members, except for Deathly Death, was startled and returned to their original positions.
TAT!
Chris also widened the distance and positioned behind Jacam.
She was still pouring out magic as she watched Jacam’s pattern.
“Now, we just need to feed this.”
[Magical Rampage (1 minute 15 seconds)]
The next minute of combat went by without significant changes.
SWISH!
“Ugh!”
[Raid member ‘Gandal’ has died!]
In the midst of it, the projectile Gandal was caught within Jacam’s blade range and perished.
Remaining individuals now numbered ten.
Chris felt a cold sweat form.
This boss could be taken down even with fewer members.
However, dealing damage amidst the relentless patterns was incredibly difficult. Even if they managed to chip away 60% of the HP through gimmicks, they still had to take down 200 million themselves.
How did Rain manage to deal damage?
Chris lightly complained while checking the remaining time for Magical Rampage.
[Magical Rampage (30 seconds)]
Once the duration ends, this magic would explode.
In Jacam’s second phase, an additional pattern of sucking in the furthest member into his grasp was added. Unless the other party members interrupted it with a status effect, all their strength would be drained and they would die.
Was it timed right before it bursts, that she would feed it to him?
How did Rain manage to escape from that grasp alone?
THUD!
In the meantime, the wizard Yeon Mina was sucked into Jacam’s grasp.
“Ugh!”
“Put her to sleep!”
PUUUPER PERK!
The raid members inflicted a status effect on Jacam, who had grabbed Yeon Mina.
– Ugh.
Jacam shook his head and threw Yeon Mina away.
TA TAT TA!
Upon confirming this, Chris immediately moved to the back.
The next absorption pattern coincided with the timing of when the Magical Rampage would explode.
They could feed it.
[Magical Rampage (5 seconds)]
Finally, Jacam’s grasp reached for Chris.
Held in that grasp, Chris shouted.
“Don’t cut me off yet! Cut me off when I tell you to!”
SUUUUUCK!
Life absorption pattern.
Chris could feel her life force moving toward Jacam instead of her own.
4 seconds, 3 seconds, 2 seconds.
The Magical Rampage buff faded. If left longer, it would consume her life force.
“Cut me now!”
PUUPER POK!
As the party members’ stun went off, Jacam released Chris and shook his head.
And at that moment.
PUUUH!
– Kugh!?
KU KUNG!
Jacam’s body shook violently, and his knees touched the ground.
Magical explosion, he’s groggy.
THUD!
Chris landed on the ground, her eyes shining as she held up the talisman.
WUUUUNG!
[Divine Descent]
[Cooldown 5 minutes]
[Dramatically increases the stats, attack power, critical hit chance, and critical damage of all party members (Duration 30 seconds)]
The new skill of the ‘Onmyoji’ class.
PAHAH!
A green aura surrounded the bodies of the raid members, and their frustrations began to concentrate into the groveling Jacam.
Complete destruction of the special pattern.
From here on out, it would be a repetition.
[Level 2 Named Enemy]
[Level 53]
[Death Knight Jacam]
[HP 4,941,159 / 500,000,000 (1%)]
Jacam’s HP was now nearing the bottom.
After three magical explosions, they faced the final phase.
– KRAAAAH! You fools, you fools!
FLASH, FLASH!
KWAAAAAA!
From Jacam’s greatsword, a terrifying blade wave spread in all directions.
Remaining members were only four.
Chris, Deathly Death, Hopkins, Bae Merong.
“I-If we can just hold on a bit longer…!”
“WOOOAAAH!”
QUANG!
Deathly Death’s ‘Dragon Strike’ detonated.
WUUUUNG!
Bae Merong shut her eyes tight and raised her hands. Gathering above her hands was the wizard’s ultimate skill, ‘Arcane Burst.’
“Blade wave, please don’t come this way!”
“I’ll guard you with the protection skill, just focus!”
Chris stood in front of Bae Merong.
Jacam had entered the rampaging pattern. The raid members had fallen to only four, triggering a time attack.
WHOOSH WHOOSH!
WUUUUNG!
Jacam’s greatsword sparkled with ominous violet light.
After this, the unrelenting blade wave would sweep all around.
Would Bae Merong’s Arcane Burst get off first? Or Jacam’s rampaging pattern?
FLASH!
As Jacam’s blade wave extended outwards.
KWAAAAAA!
Bae Merong’s Arcane Burst exploded.