Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 85

A raid party emerged, challenging the 65-level Raid Dungeon [Plague City Fest] less than a week after the new expansion pack was updated. It seemed people’s farming speed was quicker than expected.

As everyone awaited their raid results, the first day passed without any news.

Of course, they likely didn’t clear it. I didn’t know how many Named Monsters they’d faced, but there hadn’t been any server messages announcing their achievements.

On the second day.

Our squishy soft raid party was also gearing up to set off.

With the new expansion pack, the raid group experienced some changes. New users were pulled in, leaving behind those who had become inactive.

Three of the existing wizard players left the raid.

In their places were Yerin, a Snow Mage, and another Sub Tank user named Citrus.

I was a bit anxious about the PVP-specialized Snow Mage, but she confidently used her rank reset ticket without hesitation to wipe her entire job slate.

After that, she re-emerged as a frost magic wizard specialized for raids.

Yerin.

Formerly the guild master of “Zing Zing,” and an ex-VRS pro.

She was a frontline dealer, choosing the [Sword Master] class in the warrior category.

Citrus.

He was a tank user.

I had met him while leveling Princess Yeo.

“Don’t forget your antidotes, everyone.”

I reminded the party members while checking the auction house.

The most critical aspect of this raid was the healers’ cure skills and the antidotes that could be crafted with top-tier alchemy.

After a brief maintenance period, I walked past the party members toward the dungeon entrance.

I was ready to do a jump I had gotten familiar with.

“Looks like the party leader’s gonna jump.”

“I’ve never seen that before…!”

Is my hop into the dungeon that amazing?

It was still an incomprehensible reaction.

But since the party members enjoyed it, as the party leader, it was something I was obliged to do.

“Let’s go!”

With all my might, I kicked off the ground and soared into the dungeon.

Following my lead, the others jumped in as well.

When 40 members jumped in unison, it created quite a commotion.

[Plague City Fest]

Before the plague struck, the city known as Full Skalan no longer existed.

It was thanks to the rat known as Pest that took root in the disease-ridden city.

Honestly, I wasn’t too interested in the raid’s lore.

Those curious could easily find it on YouTube.

“Let’s take it slow.”

We began advancing through the dungeon with the two tanks leading the way.

Villagers struck by the plague wandered around in horrific undead forms.

Even the knights who were supposed to protect the villagers weren’t in great shape.

The Death Knights, resurrected by the plague, guarded the city with their ghastly appearances.

They hadn’t forgotten their roles, even in death.

Clearing the path wasn’t particularly difficult.

However, the poisonous miasma bursting from the ground at times, along with the giant plague rats popping up everywhere, hindered our speed.

Squeak- squeak squeak-!

It was the moment I killed a suddenly appearing plague rat.

With a brief introductory video, the first Named Monster appeared.

[Fanatic Jack Hilo]

The gloomy-looking Jack Hilo, clad in a black robe, was praying in front of a massive rat statue.

Green poison symbolizing the plague swirled around his body.

There were no revealed patterns yet, as the early raid party hadn’t leaked any information.

I knew what patterns he possessed and how best to tackle him.

Of course, if it didn’t differ from the previous raids.

“I’m going in.”

At Dogrik’s words, I nodded. He pulled out his shield and charged at the boss.

“Graaah!”

Seeing Dogrik, the main tank, firmly grab the aggro, each dealer began using their skills.

I couldn’t fall behind either.

“Awakening!!!”

Boom!

In the moment lightning struck down from the sky, I quickly donned my wing costume.

Once I saw the massive wings sprouting from my back, I burst forth faster than anyone.

As I chipped Jack Hilo’s health down to 90%, the miasma swirling around him slowly shifted.

The miasma shifted toward the ranged dealers.

It would follow a random user for about 30 seconds before switching directions again.

It was a pattern that kept ranged dealers on the move.

“Dodge the poison!”

Avoiding the approaching green miasma wasn’t too difficult.

It was approaching rather slowly.

Since Jack Hilo was a humanoid boss, his defense was weak.

Health quickly dwindled down to 70%.

[Plague… My God.]

Jack Hilo’s next pattern emerged.

As he offered a brief prayer toward the statue, massive plague rats poured out from all directions.

The plague rats weren’t strong monsters. They were weak enough that a typical warrior user could take them down with a basic attack.

But what made them frightening was the various status ailments inflicting diseases upon them.

When a plague rat died, Corrupted Blood would spew out.

It was hard for melee dealers to get close. The ranged dealers had to take care of them.

At that moment, a large clock-like effect burst beneath the feet of the ranged line.

Helena had cast Time Acceleration skill on the entire raid party.

Helena’s skill didn’t stop there.

Once again, she slammed her huge staff down, causing the colossal clock shape to spread throughout the boss room.

The movements of the plague rats, which had been spreading everywhere, suddenly halted.

Helena’s [Time Stop] skill activated.

The giant rats became immobile targets.

In that moment, Hwarang’s gun blazed with fire.

The ranged dealers, benefitting from Time Acceleration, managed to deal with all the rats before they started moving again.

As dozens of giant rats fell at once, Corrupted Blood began to ooze out all over the ground.

The pattern was sorted.

Dealers started hammering Jack Hilo again.

As Jack Hilo’s health was whittled down to 40%, he lifted his arms high and began chanting an undecipherable spell.

A bad premonition struck. To my recollection, this was all Jack Hilo’s patterns.

He summoned rats and shifted the plague. Sure, he occasionally shot plague arrows at the ranged dealers, but there was no pattern for chanting such an unusual spell.

The wizards’ spell interruption skills would be useless.

Jack Hilo ultimately completed all his spells.

[Reveal yourself!]

Rumbling-!

As soon as Jack Hilo finished speaking, two Patchwork Giants rose from the ground.

The awkwardly stitched being of men, bears, and rats let out a colossal roar and began stomping around.

But it was fine. With the main tank plus two sub-tanks, things were secure.

The two sub-tanks recklessly ran toward the Patchwork Giant, even without me needing to tell them, while hammering away at the boss.

Just when I thought the raid had stabilized, Jack Hilo’s patterns were not yet finished.

When he extended his hand forward, the miasma that was keeping the ranged dealers moving split into three and accelerated.

The poison moved quickly. Our ranged dealers were mostly Warlocks and Wizards. They had to pause momentarily to cast skills. But with the quickly moving miasma, they struggled to find the time to execute their skills.

Except for the times Helena sped up casting with her Time Acceleration skill, no spells flew toward the boss.

The only one who had freedom was Hwarang.

He could shoot his gun while in motion.

But the damage was tepid. The healers’ mana dwindled quickly.

The sub-tanks, also needing to take hits from the Patchwork Giant’s attacks, required purification skills and heals.

I had to make a decision.

“We’re taking down the Patchwork Giant first!”

I stopped hitting the boss and charged toward the Patchwork Giant.

The hideous creature had eyes on its back.

As all available attacks from the skill-ready dealers poured onto the Patchwork Giant, it fell rapidly.

But in that moment, the Patchwork Giant’s corpse on the ground began to move toward the remaining giant, leading them to fuse together.

[Kuwoooah!]

The fused Patchwork Giant moved with an impossibly faster attack speed than before and crushed the sub-tank.

With its massive fists pounding on the shield, it burst even before the healers could focus on it.

The sub-tank was down.

Naturally, the Patchwork Giant’s aggro turned toward the healers.

Thud thud thud thud!

It moved with a speed that didn’t fit its hefty build.

I immediately activated my flight skill and followed behind the Patchwork Giant.

I had to use Charge to keep up due to the lack of movement distance.

Ignoring me slashing at its back, the Patchwork Giant began slaughtering the healers.

The healers started to fall helplessly.

I bit my lip and rushed toward the Patchwork Giant.

I had to take its punch head-on.

If I could hold out, we could clear it. Jack Hilo’s health was also running low.

If I could just save the healers, then we would be able to clear the first Named Monster.

Thud!

But the Patchwork Giant’s massive fist was incredibly powerful.

I couldn’t take it. I lacked the strength stat.

The moment the attack hit, my legs buckled and I collapsed onto the ground.

“Ugh!”

In a single blow, my health dropped to 50%, and the Patchwork Giant’s fist came crashing down on me once again.

Bang!

A brief agony coursed through my body, naturally causing my brows to furrow.

My health plummeted to zero, triggering [Undying].

It was a bad judgment call. I should’ve dodged instead of taking the hit.

But it was too late for regrets.

I could hold the Patchwork Giant for three seconds, but died as soon as Undying’s effect expired.

Another sub-tank arrived late and managed to grab its attention, but the healers had already succumbed.

With the healers gone, there wasn’t enough mana to pour into the main tank, and the sub-tank didn’t last long.

With the target of its fury lost, the Patchwork Giant began rampaging.

The rampaging Patchwork Giant obliterated all the healers without sparing a single one.

The demise of the healers meant the end for the party.

Retry.

Again!