Day 4.

“Well, this is new.”

Today, there was a new quest archetype. A group of people would band together to accomplish a great challenge.

It’s a Raid! We can fight Raid Bosses now!!

In the quest obelisk, there were a few of such raid quests, for black and white holders alike. It garnered people's attention because other than higher-than-normal spark shards reward there was also an additional benefit.

Most raid quests offered a blue colloid upon completion which was a very juicy temptation especially to those below the rank 150.

Viers made up his mind to join a raid. It would make for one hell of an experience.

What followed, however, was a messy group division. People want to join in the fun but who was to say they got what it takes? What if the stranger they barely knew dragged them down? To make matters worse, the black spark top-dogs, installed themself as the judges.

It didn't cause many problems for Viers though.

“I want to join in the support position,” Viers said to one of the black spark groups organizing a raid party.

“Aaahhh? What ranking are you?” The haughty youth said.

“37th, last I checked.”

“Among the top 50, hm? Fine, you can come. With you, we have six people. I’ll tell you this beforehand though, incompetence won't be tolerated.”

“That is only natural, Airmaster.”

The haughty youth was Airmaster, the top rank position was contested by five people, constantly changing places. Airmaster was one of them.

Expert Difficulty Quest: Infiltrate the palace with your party and steal the King’s crown. Escape the pursuers and the city with the crown in tow to finish the quest. Members that died, did not escape the city, caught by the guards shall be marked as having failed the quest.

6/8 Members.

Recommended Members: Fighters: 4/4. Casters: 1/2. Supporters: 1/2.

Time Limit: 16 Hours.

Reward: 300 spark shards and a vial of blue colloid for all participants that succeeded.

Hehe. I wouldn't say no to more Victa. All raids are on expert difficulty, truly fitting for end-game content. This won't be a walk in the park.

In a few minutes, the party was taking shape. Airmaster and two of his cronies, another high ranker called the Green Scorpion and his female partner, and Backlasher who he didn't expect to meet once again. With Tanael, that was seven slots. Seven high rankers. Even Viers admitted they seemed to have good odds. Only the last support position was open.

“I want to take up the slot,” a young woman approached the group.

“What rank are you?” Airmaster.

“...306th.”

“No, you’re out. Bother someone else,” Airmaster rejected heartlessly.

“Airmaster, I vouch for her ability.”

“Tanael?”

“She’s a good support. She can pull off her own weight.”

Airmaster took a moment to think. “Fine, but only because supports are rare. If this goes south because of you two, then it's also on your head, Tanael. Let's not waste time and begin soon. First, an introduction on your abilities and roles, your strong and weak points. I’ll begin. My forte is air manipulation, and I’m a caster by trade-”

While the group was discussing, Viers whispered to the newest member.

“You won't disappoint me, will you?”

“I won't,” Black Cat replied in a heartbeat.

“Then I look forward to it, fellow supporter.”

“Next, Tanael.” Airmaster hollered like a drill sergeant.

“Yessir. My name and alias are the same, Tanael. My elemental affinity is wind. My support consists of extreme scouting via sight and hearing. I can see through enchanted walls if the enchantment is below the Level 3 category. Illusions won’t trouble us if you have me. Other than that, I have many consumables suitable for support such as healing potions, buff potions, debuff items, and protective talismans. Since we’re going to steal a crown in a castle, stealth should play a major part. I’ll point out the guards’ locations and provide the best route to the objective. I’m not a really good fighter up close so I’ll throw explosive beads from the backline. Pleased to meet you all.”

“...Hmph. Let’s hope your scouting is as good as you say. And there’s no ‘wind’ elemental affinity. It's air! Lastly, you.”

“Black Cat. I’m an array master with fire affinity. In this mission, I’m a lock breaker. Other than that, I can-”

After clarifying their roles and the final check, the eight invoked the quest and got transported to another space.

The eight appeared in the middle of a square inside a walled city. There were people but they didn't react to Viers and the others sprouting out from thin air. The dark shape of the tall and grand palace could be seen looming on them despite it being nighttime.

“All right people. Let’s get started.“

***

“A few hours of scouting? I can get it done in one.”

“How did I get in, you asked? I just stole the guard’s uniform and sneaked in from the front door. The power of clothes is amazing, isn't it? My 47th brother’s favorite trick.”

“The upper floor is filled with enchantments so I think that’s where they keep the crown.”

“From here, there are two points of entry, both guarded. A fight is unavoidable but the east side has fewer men than the other.”

“Stop! This harmless empty hallway is actually filled with poison. We can take a detour but… Ah yes. Airmaster can just clear the air for us. Me? My humble talent lies more in hearing whispers in the wind… or air as you put it.”

“Wait. Black Cat, run a check on this wall. Is it a secret compartment like I saw it is? Of course it is. Surprise! Nice extra loot, right guys?”

“There’s a strong guy waiting for us in the big room behind this door. Looks like a knight. Much stronger than the 2 mini-bosses earlier. Might be the final boss, so get ready for a tough fight. The room after that has the strongest enchantment in the entire palace. I bet that’s where the crown is.”

That was where Viers passed the baton to the hammers to hit the nail. The fight went as expected. Airmaster, Scorpion, and Backlasher became the main combatants because they were a cut above the rest in terms of battle strength. The other five including Viers and Izabella did what they could to support them.

I always prefer to play carry rather than support but to think I ended up so comfortable as the support position in this fantasy world. Such is life, Viers mused about the irony.

“Tanael, the Chief Knight is calling more minions!” Backlasher said, dodging the boss’ great ax.

“Already on it. I’ll handle it just like before. Keep hammering the big guy, buddy. I trust you!” Viers said with fake passion. He was feeling almost languid inside.

Viers kited the knight that spawned -which came in from the side door- away from the boss. The rest of the supports also helped in dealing damage to the minor knight until he was dead.

All in all, the battle was going well. Viers didn't even sweat. Mainly thanks to the party being filled with strong people, especially the main three.

Viers observed the players. More data would mean greater advantages for him in the future. The virtual simulation in the Grid would play a major role in the devious schemes Viers concocted.

Stealthily, Black Cat passed him a small object. An earring of some kind. Holding it in his hand seemed to be enough for it to work.

“Things are going well in this quest it seems,” Izabella’s voice resounded in his mind.

“We have a strong party.”

While talking, they both peppered the boss with minor damage or helped the combatants, reapplying their buffs or giving them fresh shields.

“Your scouting ability is extraordinary… If we had you at the Tomb, we might have been able to unseal the Demon King before the Silver Legion was able to prevent it.” Iz’s fire bats that she summoned from a magic circle attacked the Chief Knight from above.

“Who can say?” Viers tossed a bead that exploded at the boss’ feet. “And why would I help you guys in the first place?”

“...I’m sorry for all the wrongs I have caused you.”

“...I, huh? You’re a bit similar to another cultist I know. You're not a fanatic. Your loyalty is not to the cult,” Viers said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Iz didn't understand.

“That means you can still be saved,” Viers spoke plainly. And I can make use of you. “Your apology, I accept. Let’s work cordially to achieve both of our goals, starting with getting the top spots in this trial.”

Izabella took a glance at the man with four names she had known so far. The man whose real name might be or might not be Viers spoke words that carried no hostility or unpleasantness but the more she interacted with him, the more she felt this man was a pit.

A pit with an unseeable bottom but there were eyes gazing at her from the darkness, accompanied by the hisses of snakes.

During the time she was traveling with him as Chacha, she had never seen the man’s true capabilities -even now he didn't show his water or soul abilities- but she didn't doubt she had chosen to ally herself with an extremely dangerous individual.

He is a pit that swallowed Alan. If I don't take extreme care, he will swallow me too. I must not give him a single reason to.

While Iz was struggling with her inner dilemma, the boss had fallen under the combined effort of the party. For Viers, the raid boss fight was somewhat a disappointment; he didn't even get hit by the boss’ attacks. Unfortunately, the Chief Knight didn't drop any loot. The corpse disappeared.

“Black Cat, your turn. Open the door to the next room,” Airmaster commanded. None of the top three were heavily wounded although they looked tired.

Iz moved her fingers like an artist, unraveling the geometrical seal that barred the metal gate to the next room. Viers opted to serve as a lookout at the boss room’s entrance. How the hour-long battle didn't make the whole guards swarm to this place, Viers didn't know. He blamed the quest mechanic.

Airmaster, definitely wind 5 affinity, must fight close if possible and don't give him time to cast big Artes. Green Scorpion, a fast and strong earth user with incredible defense, gives the enemy ticking damage… poison? Backlasher, a melee fighter that uses strange techniques to interrupt enemy actions, leaving them open for attack.

Black Cat told them it would take about 40 minutes to open. While Viers was analyzing the data he gained, the party took this chance to rest. Fortunately, no enemies spawned to interrupt them. They were in a safe area.

After some time, the sound of the seal breaking indicated Black Cat had succeeded and the group gathered.

For a raid with a 16-hour time limit, Viers’ group reached this point in less than 4 hours.

“The enchantments are weird. It is designed to become weaker the more time passes by. When I think about the time limit… My estimate is it should become breakable by an ordinary punch at around the 14th hour,” Black Cat said.

“You mean we should be grateful for your existence, are you?” Green Scorpion chided.

“There are deadly traps embedded with the seal. Can you even touch the door without dying, smartass?” Black Cat replied.

Airmaster didn't pay them any mind and pushed open the door. The crown was there, on top of a pedestal in the middle of a room.

“I thought it would be inside a treasure room or something. Not in an empty room such as this,” Green Scorpion’s partner complained.

“What’s left is escaping the city with this crown,” Airmaster took the crown and put it in his spatial ring.

“Won't be that easy guys, look.”

Tanael was eyeing past the window. They were on a high floor in the palace and the palace itself was built on top of a hill with the city built around it. From the vantage point, Viers could see the knights had been amassing. They had locked down the city and had surrounded the palace. Fortunately, the encirclement was still thin.

“See how they keep pouring in from a distance? I think the longer we spend inside the palace, the more numerous our enemies will become,” Tanael said.

“Then we should depart immediately. Everyone, be on your guard,” Airmaster said.

***

12 hours and 24 minutes.

That was the time of the raid quest completion.

All eight of them returned to the Quantum Main Hub with a bright abjuration of light. It was a new mechanic. The more difficult the completed quest, the grander the return became.

All were looking worse for wear, except three: Airmaster, Green Scorpion, and Backlasher. Although in Viers’ case it was only for show.

The escape from the palace became their greatest challenge yet. Turns out, the Chief Knight wasn't the final boss, and afterward, the pursuers were tenacious. They spent a lot of time being hunted down.

Hehehe, how fun.

Less than ten seconds after his return, Tanael was jumped upon by seven people. All flying at high speed. After the initial surprise, he wanted to blast them in the face but he couldn't use Victa. He could only fly but the seven blocked his route of escape.

The seven piled up upon him, burying him with their body, preventing his movement.

“You guys-” Viers was quite helpless in a power-play without his Victa.

One of the seven took out a quest card and burned it with his spark. Viers felt a familiar sensation immediately. The sensation of being teleported.

Ah, I was wondering when the radicals would blow the powder keg. What are the odds that it would start right under my feet? Oh well, Viers smiled in a way that most would have called nasty as the light of teleportation engulfed him. They’ve drawn the extreme opposite of the jackpot. I must give them suitable gifts.

The seven plus Viers were gone by the next second, transported to the killing ground. But a killing ground for who? Seven picked an answer and one picked a different answer.