Chapter 355 - The Clamor in the Snow
Based on all the information and personal experience I’d gathered so far, Arcadia wasn't designed with the simple logic that outside the city equals a lawless zone teeming with enemies. Monsters have their own territories and habitats; to go 'field grinding' in this game, you have to identify their home turf and travel there yourself.
I’ve thought this countless times, but this world really isn't much of an MMORPG. People call it a VRMMO because there's no better name for it, but it might be better to think of it as a different, albeit similar, genre altogether—
Anyway, despite all that, the moment you set foot in one of those 'territories,' the majestic and profoundly serene Garden of Divine Creation can transform in the blink of an eye.
In other words, what I'm trying to say is…
"Gyaaaaaaah! Whoa, whoa, wait, this is scary, scary—time out!"
…if you stumble into a nasty enough place, you can still get that authentic chaotic festival—the very MMO-like experience of being relentlessly chased by an endless swarm of enemies.
Letting out a pathetic, genuine scream, I kicked up snow in a dead sprint. How long has it been since this chase scene started?
This is the fury of the [Eternal Ice Peaks of Extreme White], which bared its fangs the moment I started my climb. It seems it has no intention of letting an intruder go once it has a target.
So, what exactly is scary?
That would obviously be the countless, vicious-looking pursuers closing in from behind me like a tidal wave.
—Exhibit A, an enemy inhabiting this ice mountain: the Kristel Wolves, also known as the transparent wolves.
True to their name, their pure white coats let them blend into the blizzard and vanish, launching sneak attacks from all directions. They’re more than a nuisance; they're absolute bastards.
What's truly awful is their sheer numbers—'pack' is too mild a word. It seems the packs themselves coordinate with other packs, because the moment I think I've shaken one group, I'm immediately surrounded by another up ahead.
I suspect the only way to get a moment's peace is to stand my ground and annihilate an entire group. Honestly, if it were just them, they wouldn't be much of a threat, but…
Exhibit B: the Nostra Yetis, also known as snowmen.
Again, true to their name, they are giant ape-men standing over three meters tall. Their long arms reach the ground even when standing upright, and their bodies are protected by thick, white fur.
They appear out of nowhere in response to the wolves' howls—their way of coordinating with allies—and once they target a player, they're stubborn bastards who will chase you to the ends of the earth.
They’re pure physical power fighters, boasting ridiculous durability that can withstand a direct hit from my [Gravidon] on their fur-covered torsos, and possessing brutish strength to match their appearance.
You'd think they'd be slow, but they're surprisingly agile, easily outpacing the wolves. They have no trouble keeping up with me, even with my feet getting caught in the snow and my aerial mobility restricted.
And for another infuriating trait, when their HP gets low, they have the aggressive and soul-crushing habit of devouring the Kristel Wolves skittering around to recover their health.
Oh, and they always appear in a pair, a large one and a small one—I don't know if they're a couple or parent and child.
So while one is recovering health, the other plays bodyguard, showing off their perfect and considerate combination of skills. Are you guys mini-bosses or something?
Also, their design is just plain terrifying. Being chased up a snowy mountain by yetis trying to kill you is straight out of a horror movie. Their faces are way too scary; couldn't they have stylized them a little?
And we're not done yet. Exhibit C: the Liepis-Aisia, mysterious balls of light.
These things appear rarely and suddenly, fire off a single, massive, 'indiscriminate icicle drop' type of area-of-effect spell, and then leave. They’re just ridiculously annoying, mysterious mystery-enemies.
Pure trash. Next.
Exhibit D: the Frosty Blesshorns.
I can't tell if they're frozen or made entirely of ice, but these white-spotted deer have a single horn like a giant icicle. They're a bundle of indirect murderous intent disguised as victims.
Since the yetis and wolves actively hunt them on sight, I assume they fall into the 'prey' category, but their survival instincts also turn against players.
Specifically, they let out this strangely unsettling, high-pitched cry, and their prized horn glows, unleashing an indiscriminate wave that causes an area-wide stun.
Since I usually encounter them while fleeing, I'm at the forefront of the chaos, meaning I'm the first one to get hit.
Which means, of course, that the moment I'm stopped in my tracks, my pursuers—who were conveniently outside the debuff's range—close the distance with a furious rush. Cut it out! Seriously, please stop!
—And with that, let me state my feelings, or rather, my conclusion.
"This is no place to come solo!"
A 'deer' bastard appeared in my path yet again. I sliced its neck with my crimson rabbit dagger and, without slowing down, kept running for my life.
My top priority, the yetis, were too difficult to take down. There were too many other enemies in the way, I had no time to chip away at their tough HP, and preventing them from healing was next to impossible, so I gave up.
As for the wolves, I tried thinning them out with thrown [Bullets] when I had an opening, but even if I killed a few, I'd just run into another pack immediately. It was completely pointless.
On top of that, those wolves are mixed attackers, firing high-speed, homing ice projectiles. Jumping carelessly just gives them more targets—I'm seriously starting to think I'm screwed.
I'm seriously debating whether I should use [Meltraction (Door of Bonds)] to summon Sora… No, not yet. It's not over yet. I haven't lost!
The ice projectiles are extremely hard to see in the blizzard, and I can't rule out the possibility of a stray hit. Losing health in this situation is incredibly risky, but… if I can't break through without taking a gamble, then I have no other choice.
Using water magic for fine control in this environment would be suicide. In that case, let's go all out!
"[Rocket]!"
Thanks to focusing on evasion, my HP was still nearly full. After confirming it, I turned off the assist from my [Maristake Boots] and leaped straight up with one hundred percent, unmitigated power.
My HP, which should have been completely depleted by the self-inflicted damage of [Rocket], stopped at ten percent thanks to the authority of my unique title, 'Acrobat'.
Furthermore, the insane instantaneous acceleration put a strain on my avatar that exceeded my stats, but that last sliver of health that should have vanished was replenished by a massive cheat—or rather, it was made to have never been lost.
The [Crimson Rabbit Hairpin] behind my neck shattered, activating its special effect: [Desperate Crimson].
I soared high into the sky in a single leap, and for a brief moment, there was a standoff between me and my pursuers below… The stalemate lasted only an instant—it was me or them. The curtain rose on a bullet-hell showdown.
Activating Flip Stroke, let's fly!
"[Parabellum Bullet]!"
The crown and crimson light enveloped me as I unleashed a wild volley of red daggers.
Aided by the skill, a rain of small daggers flew from my fingertips, clashing with the ice projectiles being fired up at me and annihilating the pack of Kristel Wolves.
Their stealth is probably some kind of magic. When they shoot the ice projectiles, their camouflage falters, making them just barely visible. That's the only mercy here.
No, wait, for a solo player, this isn't merciful at all! Just go extinct, you bastards!
While firing off daggers as I fell, I also used the [Shield of Revolution] summoned to my right hand to casually shoot down any ice projectiles that slipped through the barrage.
The homing type is annoying when you're being chased, but when you're facing them head-on, their trajectory is easy to read. Dealing with them is manageable—not easy, but doable with enough grit.
Compared to my partner's magic sword, your speed and numbers are lacking! And that's the last one!
Once I confirmed all the wolves were wiped out, my next target was, of course, the Nostra Yetis, now deprived of their 'food'.
I took aim at the bigger, more conspicuous one, used [Hare Real] to strike the empty air and adjust my falling trajectory—and as the ape-man predictably raised its massive arm to counter, I activated [Reflect Explode].
The effect of this skill, evolved from Reflect Blower, is exactly as the name implies. In other words… reactive armor is a man's romance!
Its powerful arm, whipping forward like a lash, made contact with the [Shield of Revolution], which was wrapped in a light effect that made it look red-hot—and a crimson shockwave, like a bursting flame, blew back the incoming strike with an even greater counter.
The massive damage, incomparable to the skill's previous form, made the yeti let out a deep, pained scream… Gotcha. You left yourself open.
No matter how tough you are, a shot to the brain has to hurt, right?
"[Whirlwind]."
A wind enchant, followed by a merciless shield-and-fist combination straight to the face—and then!
"[Shot]!"
Responding to my call, the [Everquartz, the Sky-Soaring White Crystal Sword] delivered a point-blank pile bunker to its face. And it's dead… Hey, you bastard, what're you doing here now, you mysterious spirit? Piss off.
Despite their spirit-like appearance, they aren't immune to physical attacks. As long as I have the leeway to deal with them, the Liepis-Aisia, who leave themselves wide open while casting their big spells, are easy to handle.
I popped the cap off a high potion from my coat pocket with my thumb and, with my other hand, threw a dagger to pierce its core of light, disposing of it carelessly.
As the last remaining yeti watched me put on this deliberately casual display of composure, it took a comical step back, flustered—
"Alright… now I'm 'it'. I'll count to three for you. Go on, run."
Three seconds later, just as promised.
The jade blade of my drawn [Samidorizuki] sliced the ape-man's vicious face to ribbons… and the monster panic on the snowy mountain came to a temporary close.
—Can I just say one thing?
"This is way too much effort for a trash mob fight…"
This mountain is more brutal than I ever imagined.