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Chapter 42: Gripped

While Kieran never got Bastion's name, he had already met him twice. 

The first time was inside the Fanged Forest where Bastion unleashed a powerful Shield Tremor, while the second time was a brief encounter with his party when he reappeared from the Forest of Beasts dungeon.

As a result, he recognized his voice and appearance without knowing his name. Though, if Kieran was being honest, Bastion's current appearance was somewhat different.

Donned in thick plate armor, he looked no different from the paladins described in many of the ancient tales circulating throughout the world of Xenith. The only critique would be that he didn't seem as pristine or holy due to the dullness of his plate armor.

Additionally, Bastion lacked the holy poise and flawless inscriptions found on their pristine armor.

As Kieran laid his eyes upon Bastion, a question surfaced in his mind. 'Did he befriend the Knight Instructor like I did Scar? If he did… he may be taking the route of a Paladin. Though… that comes with its own share of weaknesses as well.'

While curious, Kieran didn't raise this question with Bastion. Instead, he responded to Bastion's offer. "If you're willing to make an enemy, then by all means."

"An enemy?" Bastion turned to look at both Despot and Horizon Break before emitting a burst of wheezing laughter. "These pieces of shit aren't worth being called an enemy! Ahaha!"

Bastion's blatant disregard and open mockery infuriated both of them, leading them to twitch in fury.

"What did this bastard just say?" Despot said through gnashed teeth.

"He's clearly asking for a beatdown. I think it's only right that our Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel deliver it," Horizon Break replied, his expression darkening.

'I quite like this guy,' Kieran thought, chuckling to himself as he watched Despot and Horizon Break mald as a result of Bastion's statement.

A few seconds later, Bastion pointed forward. "Alice, Cyr—give these guys some assistance."

Thanks to Kieran's guide, Bastion learned from his mistakes on their first run and went on to clear the Forest of Beasts a few times. 

Though the EXP experienced a precipitous drop, the items made the additional runs worth it to prepare for the Field Boss appearance mentioned in the announcements. 

"With pleasure." Cyr grinned maniacally before suddenly disappearing with a speed that rivaled Altair. From this display, it was clear that Cyr's allocation behavior aligned with Kieran's suspicions.

'A full-AGI build Thief. It's viable for now, but it must change later,' Kieran thought.

Meanwhile, Alice held up a staff made of white oak with a tiny gem nestled in the groove prepared for it. 

Sometime later, the gem reacted to Alice chanting a spell. As seen with the skills Aspaira unleashed, a Mage's fatal flaw was the requirement of chants.

However, the speed at which a Mage completed their chants was a symbol of talent.

Kieran's eyes sparkled briefly because the scene before him was like laying eyes upon a wonderland. 'This invocation rate… it's almost on par with a 1-circle Mage. They're truly exceptional.'

As Horizon Break watched Cyr and Altair utilize their high AGI to become menaces on the battlefield, he became so incensed he nearly pointed his finger through Despot's mouth. "This one is on you!" 

"On the contrary, you're to blame. Take responsibility for your actions, you greedy fuck. You could have declined, but you didn't. All we can do now is gather everyone and attack properly with vengeance," Despot said, ignoring Horizon Break's criticism.

"That's a given. Do they think we'll take this loss sitting down? Don't even dream about it!" Horizon Break scoffed in response. 

To try and avoid facing a severe penalty, they tried to log out. However, to their dismay, they found they couldn't log out in the middle of combat when deemed an Aggressor.

Except for physically fleeing the area or using special items outside the grasp of current players, running away was not an option within Zenith Online. 

The only viable option was to die. And in doing so, have one's combat status reset.

As the two despaired over the fact they couldn't pull a fast one, two abnormally-sized Mana Missiles zeroed in on their position, claiming both of their lives at once.

A decent number of coins dropped alongside equipment, which included Horizon Break's bow.

Once he realized this had happened, Horizon Break would undoubtedly be livid about this matter.

With the disappearance of Despot and Horizon Break, the actions of the two guilds fell into disarray. From this, the weakness of third-class guilds that couldn't afford to have proper Vice Guild Masters of adequate leading capabilities became prevalent for all to see. 

Once this disarray occurred, Kieran led the assault on all those unwilling to vacate the area. As a result, Kieran's Infamy Value very quickly neared the 3rd Degree threshold.

The only reason it didn't was because of the players that attacked him first in hopes of miraculously killing him. 

Unfortunately for them, there were now three healers on their side, who, by working together, healed Kieran and the others quickly.

Soon enough, all that remained was Kieran's party, Bastion's party, and the remaining tens of players that were quickly being killed off by the Colossal Scarlet Wolf.

Ignoring the Colossal Scarlet Wolf, for the time being, Kieran turned his attention to Bastion's party. 

Based on the skills exhibited by Bastion's party, he could tell they received the grace of the Knight, Priest, and Mage Instructors, which likely meant they obtained the Unique Starter Package for their respective class.

If this was true, having five people with unique advantages band together would be an unprecedented asset in trying to take down the Field Boss with limited numbers.

Therefore, Kieran looked at the others with a spirited gleam in his deep black eyes. "You down to raid this thing?"

"Like, right now?" Bastion answered with raised brows. 

Since they had just consumed a considerable amount of Stamina against those players, it wouldn't be ideal to fight against the Field Boss right away.

Kieran naturally understood these concerns and felt the same way, prompting him to shake his head. "We'll wait until they're all dead and we recover properly."

"Hoh? So, you don't want to help them at all?" Bastion questioned in return.

Truth be told, he had no qualms about helping or not helping. Bastion only showed up to gain a portion of the EXP and hit Lv.20 so he could attempt his Class Promotion.

"Nope. They're of no importance to me. They chose to attempt the Field Boss, so they're welcome to resolve or not resolve the situation alone," Kieran said with an indifferent coldness. 

Neither a martyr nor a saint, Kieran had no intentions of saving everyone. If they presented zero use to him, Kieran would simply let situations transpire as they should. 

"Understood." Bastion nodded, looking at Kieran with a peculiar glint in his eyes.

'This guy is… strange. At times, he feels unapproachable and extremely cold. At other times, he feels… whimsical. Nevertheless, one thing remains true in his actions—he is one to end a problem even if it wasn't instigated by his hand.'

Overall, Bastion's impression of Kieran was as such—a person with a chaotic yet neutral outlook: a free spirit who prioritized their benefit above all else.

As he waited for the other players to be killed off, Kieran momentarily checked on the stream to note their reaction to the events that transpired. 

┌───────────────────

«Stream Chat» -

«Ballbuster69» - Ngl, I may have busted his balls at first, but I kinda like this dude! RipBozo. Imagine PKing people only to turn around and get rolled. OmegaLul couldn't be me!

«GameStan» - Bwahahaha! They had no PASSION! They got shit on, and he gripped their shit! All that equipment down the damn drain. Git good you guys are butt and Aatrox is better! BETTER! :kekw: 

«AvidCritique» - Trash cans, absolute trash cans! The Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad are dog water! Pepegas. I can't even begin to fathom how much copium is required in the chat for them.

«CringeLord25» - Can we get an F in the chat for those bozos? Sadge. But hey, quick question. I heard this Aatrox guy is stacked in the face. Do you think a guy like this, who's already so good at the game, is maidenless? He must have no-lifed other VR titles! Damn, that's tuff dude.

└───────────────────

Unlike his first stream, many doubters no longer jeered Kieran. Instead, they supported him.

The community's harsh comments were now directed at those that opposed Kieran, which was understandable as it was typical behavior of people once they became fans.

They simply wouldn't tolerate any disrespect toward their idols or icons. 

After checking the stream, Kieran noticed the Colossal Scarlet Wolf had become less active due to it finishing off all the remaining players. With them taken care of, Kieran could now move on.

"How do you feel about disbanding your party and forming a team with me?' Kieran questioned.

While a party was limited to 5 people, a team could accommodate up to 20 players at once. 

So, it was ideal for people looking to raid things with uniform instructions. Just like with a party, there could only be one Team Leader recognized by Zenith Online's system.

It was a feature that few knew about because it had zero light shed upon it. 

Though, in essence, it allowed two or more independent parties to act as one. However, doing so required one individual to take the mantle as the Alliance Leader.

"Any scruples with me being the leader? I won't touch the loot distribution method. But we also can't take much time to decide," Kieran asked, bringing their situation to everyone's attention.

They still needed to account for their small-scale team going up against a Field Boss with a considerable amount of Health and high attributes.

"Nah, I don't mind. Besides, that frees me up from having to make the calls. I can just… tank," Bastion said, chuckling somewhat sheepishly after gazing at the Colossal Scarlet Wolf in the distance.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ApexPen ApexPen

Make sure to point out any spelling errors, grammar errors, or numbers/information that wasn't properly updated so I can immediately rectify those issues.

Thank you, guys!

P.S: A LOT of game terminology will appear in the novel, because well, I'm a gamer. :shrug:

Until May 15th:

Release Rate: 9 ch/week

50 Power Stones = +1 Ch

100 Power Stones = +2 Ch

250 Power Stones = +3 Ch

500 Powers Stones = +5 Ch

Chapter 43: Disbanded, Boss Raid Begins!

After disbanding both of their parties, Kieran's party of 5 quickly became a team of 9. Inside the Team Menu, Kieran noticed that everyone was given a role that matched the type of class they held.

However, Kieran pretty much ignored the roles provided by the conventional system. 

After all, he didn't need it to direct how he'd lead the team. Kieran already had a plan in mind to deal with the Field Boss, which naturally relied heavily on his ability to achieve unnaturally high burst damage thanks to the skills Scar provided him.

"Before we engage in combat, we'll make the roles clear," Kieran said. A moment later, his attention shifted to Cygnus and Sithik. "Cygnus, you'll be one of the two main healers tasked with supporting the tank uh-"

"Bastion," Bastion announced, finally revealing his name to Kieran.

"Right." Kieran nodded faintly. "You'll be alongside uh-"

"Sera," Bastion said, clarifying the naming issue for Kieran again. 

"I appreciate the assistance," Kieran said with a wry smile. 

He then returned to the matter at hand. "Cygnus, Sera, your priority will be to keep Bastion alive. As the off-healer, Sithik will render additional aid when needed, but you're to focus on anyone that requires healing."

"Alice and Aspaira, you two will naturally remain at range," Kieran directed. Since he heard Bastion call out the names of the Mage and Thief, he didn't require any help regarding their name.

Alice, the reserved Mage on Bastion's team, nodded faintly while shifting her gaze from Kieran to Aspaira, who waved at her. While she didn't say anything, Alice acknowledged her wave with a nod.

"Altair, Cyr, there's not much I need to say on your part. Simply avoid getting hit by both the Field Boss and the spells our Mages launch while keeping up the damage. We… are the close-range DPS, so we must be careful," Kieran advised.

Everyone nodded, indicating that they understood their role.

Upon giving it enough time to set in, Kieran turned his attention to the large wolf in the distance. He gripped his Novice Greatsword as the information on the monster appeared.

「 Lv.15 Colossal Scarlet Wolf (Rare Boss)

Field Boss

Beast Type, Fire Type

Health: 107,800/110,000 (98%) 」

Compared to when it first appeared, the Colossal Scarlet Wolf's Health was now roughly half of its initial value. Though, due to the time Kieran took to recuperate, plus the ineptitude of the earlier strike force, the Field Boss' Health was still essentially full.

A two percent difference was negligible against such a healthy Boss Monster.

After a deep exhale, Kieran focused up and uttered a single command. "Begin!"

Whoosh!

As the tank, Bastion was the first to move, rushing toward the monster with heavy steps. Though his movement speed was excruciatingly slow compared to everyone else, Kieran was surprised by how well he handled the clunkiness of his armor.

When he arrived before the Colossal Scarlet Wolf, Bastion activated a skill unique to his Knight Class.

"Shield Press!"

In an instant, a strange pressure bombarded the Field Boss as Bastion pressed his shield forward, limiting how the boss could react. This skill was meant to generate aggro against a monster by aggravating it.

Bastion accomplished this beautifully, even leading to the Colossal Scarlet Wolf swiping at him.

Bang!

Although the Field Boss possessed shockingly high STR, Bastion was not thrown back by the attack, remaining affixed to the ground like a deeply rooted tree. 

Not only was the Knight Class innately resistant to the Knockback effect, but Bastion also possessed a specialized build centered around STR and END. So, while he lost Health, it was manageable.

'Roughly 8% or so from a normal attack. Considering the physique of our current characters, that's very good. It provides a decent window to heal and assist,' Kieran inwardly noted. 

After handling a few additional swipes from the Colossal Scarlet Wolf, Bastion activated a skill similar to crowd control, though it didn't have any restrictive effects. What it did have, however, was the ability to heighten his aggro-producing abilities. 

"Knight's Honor!"

"Provocation Smash!"

Bastion quickly coupled the skill with another attack to ensure his grasp of the boss's aggro was cemented. 

Bang!

Due to the way Provocation Smash worked, the Colossal Scarlet Wolf's head was smashed into the ground. 

-180

Despite his high STR, Bastion's attacks were not powerful at all. However, that was understandable since a Knight's role wasn't to deal damage. 

It was to defend the party and secure their safety.

Alternatively, Kieran looked at Bastion in a new light.

The way he linked his skills together represented a high understanding of his character's fluency. Furthermore, the way he held onto and established aggro denoted his abilities at tanking.

'A natural at tanking?' Kieran wondered.

This thought made Kieran sift through his memories to find any renowned figures named Bastion. Sadly, he couldn't put a title or face to such a player, meaning at the very least, he was not a Titled Ranker in Kieran's time.

Of course, that didn't mean Bastion wasn't skilled enough to be one. Based on the skills Kieran gathered from Bastion's action, a Titled Ranker was just the beginning for Bastion.

'What could it be…' Kieran wondered. 

"I've got it! You're all good to begin your assault now," Bastion called out.

Hearing that, Kieran immediately pushed his questions to the back of his mind before glancing at his character panel. 'It's a Field Boss, so the use is justified even if it's a marginal increase.'

〈System: Strength has risen from 85 to 90.〉

〈System: Agility has risen from 55 to 60.〉

As the blue embers of Warrior's Aura flickered off Kieran's body, he led the assault on the Colossal Scarlet Wolf. Not long after, Altair and Cyr quickly appeared by his sides as they dashed past Bastion.

The first to attack was Altair, unleashing a flurry of rapid dagger strikes while Cyr did the same, albeit at a much slower pace. 

Before Kieran initiated his attack, however, he looked at Alice and laid eyes upon her upcoming attack.

'That skill looks like it requires a lot of Mana. In that case, let me help her out.'

Kieran immediately took off at an angle that didn't interrupt Bastion's tanking, suddenly speeding up the activation of Charge by stomping his foot and shooting forth like a fired cannonball.

"Charge!

-382 «Stunned»

The period of this stun was minute in duration, but Kieran didn't mind that. What he wanted was to augment Alice's damage, which was why he timed it for his Charge to land now.

Sometime later, a large amount of Mana had finished congregating above Alice's staff. The appearance and size resembled an enormous Mana Missile, but Kieran felt that was incorrect.

Instead, what Alice was releasing was one of the advantages of obtaining the Unique Starter Package of her class. The large collection of Mana rippled violently before separating into four.

Four wasn't the maximum number of times the sphere could be split, but it was the extent of Alice's current capabilities. She required more time with the spell to become further acquainted with sectioning Mana.

"Mana Torrent!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each of the Mana Missiles landed upon the boss's body simultaneously. Since it originated from the same skill and landed simultaneously, the damage was treated as one entity.

-3,150! «Critical Hit»

"Phew." Altair whistled, taken aback by the raw damage Alice's skill achieved. Although only one of the attacks triggered a Critical Hit, it was still shocking, to say the least.

That was damage outclassing Kieran's critical in the best-case scenario, making Aspaira and Altair subconsciously look at him! 

However, Kieran felt no resentment for having his position as the most absurd damage dealer robbed from him.

That was simply an empty and childish notion. The most crucial matter was defeating the boss!

Besides, Kieran's vision and focus remained vested in the future. To him, the present that didn't contain the True Berserker Class he so desperately sought, was not present. 

'It all starts once I obtain that class. In the meantime…'

A large shockwave suddenly erupted from Kieran's body as the pendant around his neck released a subtle light. The shockwave came from the Bear King Pendant's Item Ability: Spirit of the Bear King.

〈Alert: Your foe, Field Boss «Colossal Scarlet Wolf», has entered a 5-second «Dazed» state.〉

As a Field Boss, the Colossal Scarlet Wolf possessed an increased resistance to debuffs and abnormal statuses. But in this case, the resistance existed as the ability to reduce the duration and not the intensity of the effect.

Nevertheless, this five-second window was incredibly useful when paired with Kieran's skills.

"Savage Break!"

Bang!

-702

Though Savage Break didn't obtain a Critical Hit, it dealt close to 1% of the boss's Health. 

〈Alert: «Colossal Scarlet Wolf»'s DEF has fallen by 25%.〉

With the precursors for dealing increased damage set, Kieran mustered an astronomical amount of force and unleashed his bread-and-butter damage skill.

"Force Slash!"

-1,979! «Critical Hit»

After unleashing their skills, everyone finally felt the pain of going up against a Field Boss without having access to a vast repertoire of skills. 

The use of basic attacks against a Field Boss resulted in negligible damage values.

When factoring in the Colossal Scarlet Wolf's regeneration rate, Kieran estimated that nearly half of their damage would be erased every minute. Luckily, Kieran was mentally prepared for this misfortune.

'Aspaira and Alice are the two most valuable players on the team, but Aspaira's individual worth is incomparable to Alice's. That Mana Torrent, despite having an undesirably long cooldown period, is truly destructive.'


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ApexPen ApexPen

Make sure to point out any spelling errors, grammar errors, or numbers/information that wasn't properly updated so I can immediately rectify those issues.

Thank you, guys!

P.S: A LOT of game terminology will appear in the novel, because well, I'm a gamer. :shrug:

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