The vast open lot behind the seven-story villa that served as Eclipse’s hideout.
On ordinary days it was used by Eclipse members as a training ground, but right now, hundreds of coalition members were packed in, seated close together. The area wasn’t quite large enough for everyone to sit, so some were watching from the individual windows of the villa.
Heo Yunji stepped up onto a small platform that had been prepared in advance. Behind her followed the young man who had earlier guided the coalition applicants to the interview room.
Standing on the platform in the open lot, Yunji glanced briefly up at the villa above.
A cute baby dragon reminiscent of a white rice cake and a large black dragon with a hulking build were circling lazily through the sky in play. The occasional cries of “Kyao!” and “Krrr!” had become familiar enough by now that a fond smile tugged at the corner of Yunji’s lips.
Ahem — she cleared her throat briefly and composed her expression, then raised a silver rod-shaped item equipped with a voice amplification function to her lips.
“There are currently ten monster movement routes in total.”
The young man standing beside her gathered his mana and extended a hand into the air. A bluish light seeped from his palm and traced an opaque map formation in midair. On a holographic map that looked as though all of Zone 2 had been shrunk down and transposed, ten red dots blinked in a wide, circular spread — and clustered tightly at a point somewhere inside them were a collection of blue dots.
Tactical Mapping Skill.
An ability that set a virtual map at a desired location and visualized the coordinates of enemies and allies as red and blue dots respectively.
The dots on the map weren’t fixed markers. The red and blue dots, synced with an Eclipse member’s multi-detection skill, updated their movement routes in real time, blinking ceaselessly as though alive.
The young man gave a light gesture, and the positions of the red dots enlarged so they were easier to see. The precision with which the surrounding terrain and buildings zoomed in drew one exclamation after another from the coalition members.
“The monsters near each point are not moving independently — they are converging and advancing as one.”
Yunji pulled out a collapsible pointer and extended it to full length, then used it to indicate the red dots.
“Each monster group has a leader individual commanding it, and the direction of advance has remained consistent with no changes so far.”
Then the tip of the pointer came to rest on the center of Zone 2 — the tree-shaped landmark that no Player could ever forget. At the same moment, a red dot far larger than the others appeared over the tree shape.
“The destination is the Great Tree, where the Minotaur Lord is waiting.”
Like a splash of cold water, the atmosphere all around froze over in an instant. Some swallowed involuntarily, and others dropped their gazes to the ground with tense faces.
The system had used the word “advent” when referring to the Minotaur Lord — implying that this entity was on a different level entirely from an ordinary boss monster.
Everyone present remembered the time, not so long ago, when a monster bearing that same descriptor had appeared at the head of its own army and massacred thousands of Players across Zone 2.
The tension and unease that naturally swelled within them cast a deep shadow over the faces of most Players.
Yunji looked out across the assembled crowd, steadily reading the mood. And then, once more, words poured from her lips that set everyone even further on edge.
“The current number of monsters advancing toward the Great Tree is approximately 1,500. And around the Great Tree, roughly 500 monsters — including the Minotaur Lord — have already gathered.”
The coalition members reacted with expressions of open shock at the monster count, which was far higher than expected. It was a number that vastly exceeded the number of monsters that had swarmed in during any previous raid boss advent.
“The level of the individuals gathered at the Great Tree has been confirmed to be at minimum Level 40. The advancing monster groups are also varied in distribution, ranging from Level 10 to Level 30.”
Her voice, amplified through the item, had dropped a full tone lower than before.
“The moment the advancing monsters join up with the Minotaur Lord’s forces, they will no longer be a simple pack of monsters — they will become a functional army, with countless platoon commanders at the helm.”
No one raised any objection to that. Even those who had never witnessed it firsthand knew the rumors — that the raid bosses who had descended before possessed the ability to exercise absolute control over monsters.
The tension and anxiety that welled up naturally cast a deep shadow over the faces of the majority.
“The total number of coalition members who have joined us is 682. They will be dispersed in team units across the ten points to eliminate the advancing monsters one by one. Reducing the number of monsters reaching the Great Tree as much as possible is the top priority — but if that proves difficult, simply slowing their advance is sufficient enough……”
“Hold on — you’re telling 682 people to take on more than double that, 1,500 monsters?! Among those 682, there are plenty of non-combat personnel too?!”
An impatient male coalition member cut off Yunji’s words and spoke out loudly.
Half of the man’s team was non-combat personnel. Other coalition members who had likewise brought along non-combat members or low-level Players without distinction let out low sighs and groans.
And they weren’t the only ones displeased.
For those who had banded together as capable combatants and joined the coalition with confidence in their own abilities, learning that the number of monsters to face was greater than anticipated was no small burden. On top of that, the thought that they might end up having to babysit non-combat members crept in, and open dissatisfaction spread plainly across their faces.
“You don’t need to worry about that. There’s a reason we waited until today even knowing the monsters would be moving to converge.”
Yunji was well aware of what the coalition members were concerned about. And so she addressed one thing first.
“Everyone remembers, yes? The massive explosion from a week ago.”
It was an incident no one in Zone 2 could have missed. Hardly anyone knew what had caused the explosion — but in its aftermath, a warning message about it had appeared simultaneously for every Player in Zone 2, which meant no one could be unaware of it.
Yunji glanced briefly over at Euijin. He was still on the villa rooftop, looking down at the open lot with that same impassive gaze.
On his jacket, the traces of where the flames had melted and scorched it during that very explosion were still visible.
“As a result of that massive explosion, every monster in Zone 2 had a ‘Fire Attribute Immunity’ buff in effect — up through yesterday.”
Through yesterday.
In other words, starting today, not a single monster in Zone 2 was fire-immune.
Moreover, in the case of a temporary immunity — rather than a permanent one — the afflicted target would take double damage from that same attribute for twenty-four hours after the effect wore off. Like stepping out into harsh sunlight after being in a cool place, and feeling the heat as unbearably scorching.
“Now that the buff has been lifted, firearms, explosive traps, large-scale fire magic, and weapons enhanced with fire attributes to boost attack power should all be fully effective.”
Yunji flashed a grin at the assembled crowd.
“For non-combat personnel or low-level combat Players, Eclipse will be distributing the various firearms and traps we’ve gathered. Those individuals will also be responsible for serving as support troops to assist the combat personnel, so everyone will need to keep moving.”
At that, low exclamations finally broke out from various spots around the crowd. The number of people nodding their heads visibly increased.
Whether non-combat personnel or low-level Players, everyone gathered here had firmly committed to participating in this field raid. As the understanding spread that every single one of them could carry their weight — rather than being a hindrance or an obstacle — the mood of the gathering shifted rapidly.
“Additionally, magic-type Players with fire magic skills will be assigned to each team without exception. Beyond that, we’ll also be supplying magic items we’ve collected, purification potions, and recovery potions — so you don’t need to worry about supplies either.”
With the assurance that no form of support would be spared, the coalition members’ spirits brightened all at once.
In the middle of the crowd, a man in his forties raised his hand.
“Why is Eclipse excluded from this?”
Barely concealed displeasure crept across the man’s face alongside a sneer.
Come to think of it, Yunji had walked through the explanation by referring to the 682 coalition members who had joined them — as if the original members, the Eclipse members themselves, had some entirely separate plan.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to use us like consumables first and only act after.”
The bright atmosphere froze over in an instant. Even the people who had been murmuring nonstop until just moments before fell silent, waiting for Yunji’s answer.
Yunji opened her mouth without hesitation, her expression making it clear she had no intention of hiding anything.
“Eclipse will be dealing with the roughly 500 monsters surrounding the Great Tree.”
“Just Eclipse on its own?”
“Yes.”
The sneer on the confrontational man’s lips deepened.
“Do you think that’s actually possible? Even Eclipse wouldn’t be able to push through easily if a raid boss like the Minotaur Lord is personally commanding them.”
From what was known, Eclipse had approximately 120 members.
Subtract the non-combat personnel from that, and the number would drop by around thirty percent — meaning they’d have to fight monsters outnumbering them more than fivefold on their own.
On top of that, unlike the monsters the other coalition members would be facing, the creatures gathered at the Great Tree were at minimum Level 40.
The idea of seventy or eighty people taking on a coordinated army of 500 under the direct command of the Minotaur Lord — the difference in difficulty was simply incomparable.
Even so, Yunji responded without missing a beat.
“As you said, the reason the monsters near the Great Tree are dangerous isn’t just their level — it’s largely because the Minotaur Lord is personally commanding them.”
Monsters under the control of a raid boss, unlike ordinary individuals, did not factor in fear, injury, or loss. They would willingly throw themselves forward as living shields or sacrificial offerings — their thoughts and instincts long since devoured by the Minotaur Lord.
But a raid boss’s range of control and dominion wasn’t infinitely limitless.
“So what we’ll do is separate the Minotaur Lord from the monsters surrounding the Great Tree.”
No matter how absolute a boss monster’s control might be, it surely couldn’t hold every individual perfectly in its grasp at beyond a certain distance.
Even the most commanding control only shines when paired with appropriate on-site direction.
An army running wild without a commander was nothing more than an undisciplined rabble with a decent-looking exterior.
“Is that even possible? Once the battle breaks out, the Minotaur Lord will charge in alongside the surrounding monsters.”
As the man said — ordinarily, once a battle broke out at the gathering point, a raid boss would move together with its pack.
So ordinarily, it wouldn’t be possible.
Ordinarily.
“It’s possible.”
With a confident smile, Yunji looked toward one of the third-floor windows of the villa. Her gaze met that of a slender-looking young man who had been watching through the window the entire time.
“Isn’t that right, Monster Tamer?”
Even with the eyes of the hundreds gathered in the open lot all converging on him at once, the Monster Tamer young man nodded without so much as a flicker of discomfort.
