Chapter 1156 - Tragedy, Comedy, or Carnage
"......"
Black short hair with noticeable curls, bangs long enough to half-hide both eyes, and black pupils peeking through the gaps. A female player she didn't recognize.
She was clad in travel gear that could be rated as 'decent' by general standards. However, the somewhat dowdy over-jacket... or rather, the practical functional wear (jumper) prioritized for ease of movement, and the tights and boots peeking out from underneath, didn't suggest any performance as combat raiment.
In all likelihood, she was a non-combat player.
How on earth did such a person end up screaming alone in a large-scale combat area (Raid Area)? Iris put a temporary pin in that question.
In the brief moment their eyes met as she glanced back, Iris processed her thoughts.
A woman... a girl? Although her character make-up was somewhat baby-faced, the reason she looked even younger than her features suggested was likely due to the 'expression' plastered on her face in response to the situation.
Namely, a face filled with terror and resignation.
"...If you're scared, keep your eyes closed."
The passing [Sword Queen] gave a smile that was a bit clumsy compared to a natural one.
"It's okay. It will be over soon."
Yet, with the achievements she continued to carve into the world, there was nothing 'clumsy' about those words. Thus, the moment the rightfully confident Iris spoke the obvious as a settled matter with a composed face—
Rather than just having its head slashed off, the Half-Raid Enemy [Dragon-Eating Worm of the Vortex (Goliath Ninerve)]... commonly known as the 'Immortal Worm,' had its head obliterated by an intervening flash. The entire nest in the center of the rocky mountain region, where only the cross-section of the body remained on the ground, vibrated violently as if howling.
Then, as if to say everything until then had been mere play, the abyssal quicksand that had been slowly drawing in its prey accelerated and intensified with the force of a whirlpool's current.
"Ngyah...!?"
The woman, who had been staring blankly, let out an unladylike scream as she was about to be swept away, but Iris's hand caught her by the scruff of the neck. Thus, while holding the sand-covered rescuee—
The 'Strongest,' who continued to stand in fixed space while ignoring the flow of the quicksand, looked ahead.
"───...!!!"
The giant worm, having torn through the earth to reveal its beautiful face (T/N: used sarcastically), scattered an indescribable roar.
◇◆◇◆◇
The term 'Raid' in Arcadia is not something provided by the system, but a classification term that players began to use after establishing a 'standard.'
An eighteen-person formation consisting of three linked six-person normal parties (Half-Raid). A thirty-six-person formation consisting of six linked parties (Full Raid).
And the unlimited linked formation with no upper limit (Over-Raid). While the divisions in numbers originate from the maximum simultaneous entry limits for special areas like dungeons, the term 'Raid' did not exist on the game side.
In other words, similar classifications were not originally prepared for enemies either, at least not explicitly. Judgments such as Half-Raid Boss, Raid Boss, or Over-Raid Boss are almost entirely a shared understanding established by the players themselves.
So, what are those judgment criteria?
It is extremely simple—whether or not it possesses abilities or gimmicks that cannot be handled by a small number of people. Or rather, it is a form where a clear ranking is made based on that intensity.
A popular one is regeneration.
A monstrous immortality that seems impossible to whittle down with the firepower of a single party. It's not just that it's tough and hard to defeat, but the quality of mercilessly nullifying effort is, in many cases, the factor that brands it as an entity impossible to clear with a small number (Raid Boss).
Yes, for example... like the [Dragon-Eating Worm of the Vortex (Goliath Ninerve)].
"Uu-wah, scary. Gross..."
"I-It's big, isn't it... wow..."
A little less than a minute after a certain someone dashed ahead at full speed, reminiscent of 'a certain someone else.' The duo who followed at a speed the craftsman (Nia)'s endurance could withstand had caught up.
The fairy carried by the angel and the angel carrying the fairy arrived simultaneously. Peering into the hollow inside the rocky mountain, they shuddered at the grotesque form of the 'Lord' that dominated the area.
Rather than a worm, it now looked more like a 'Serpent' or a 'Dragon.'
While no scales or shells could be seen, its sand-colored long torso did not look soft. Although it wasn't clear from only the parts exposed while moving between the underground and the surface... it was at least no less than fifty meters long. It was a giant frame whose total mass was completely unimaginable.
However, despite showing such a fleshy and powerful physique, the design of the head could only be described as an 'insect.' As if to say they took the 'Antlion,' already famous for its ferocious form design, and made it even more ferocious and more malicious—that thing was a hellish fusion with a 'Worm.'
It was completely the appearance of a fictional monster (Chimera) appearing in a monster panic horror movie.
...Yet, the point where it differed from a movie where agonizing cries were the standard was—
"So, Princess. Is she invincible?"
"She hasn't moved a single step..."
Needless to say. It was the majestic figure of the [Sword Queen], who kicked away fear with her 'Sword.'
The center of the quicksand trap, which expanded the more the [Dragon-Eating Worm of the Vortex (Goliath Ninerve)] rampaged. Iris, who composedly held her ground in the position where the Lord should have rightfully resided, wielding her 'Sword' to continuously slash, blow away, and obliterate the "heads" that attacked one after another... was expressionless.
There wasn't a shred of tension.
The proof was that Nia, witnessing the scene from the side, leaked a carefree comment like "gross," and Sora had the hesitant thought, Maybe I should help...
—That being said,
"Ah. It looked over here. ...Shall I go?"
"Ah, haha... I'm going."
Even the [Sword Queen] wouldn't lose, but there were situations where she could be held back indefinitely. That is the abnormality possessed by monsters labeled as 'Raid Bosses.'
Again, there was no tension. By now, even the sense of crisis had vanished.
However, putting Iris aside. The 'rescuee' still being held in her hand, whose face remained pale, undoubtedly desired peace as soon as possible.
"Ngh, <
A diving flash... or rather, a hundred flashes.
"<
A succession of giant dust towers rained down as the second wave of the monster's tragedy.
[Dragon-Eating Worm of the Vortex (Goliath Ninerve)]
Recommended Level: 100
Recommended Players: Half-Raid 12+ (18 recommended)
Recommended Composition: Frontline heavy (Even better if you can form offense/defense frontline pairs like 6 Shields and 6 DPS)
Weak Point: Main Body
Effective Attribute: Earth Attribute (Heavy mass physical type, terrain manipulation type*)
Special Notes: Magic resistance is high, and including backline players makes the difficulty of guarding them extremely high, turning the whole thing into crap, so participation by Mages is basically tough. Also, Warriors have it tough. Since there isn't any particular silver bullet solution, everyone just has to put their spirit into it and do their best at whack-a-mole.
A crap boss.
The [Dragon-Eating Worm's Core Gem] is excellent as an accessory material, so it's a good find if it drops. Note that it's a rare material, so it doesn't drop often. Be careful of the [Dragon-Eating Worm's Core Fragment], which is a dud and total garbage.
The meat tastes bad. Overall evaluation: Crap boss.
*Since the surrounding environment is 'rocky terrain,' the Soil attribute is difficult. Requires 'Earth' attribute.