LS 129

The 150% defense reduction was immediately noticeable. The boss’s HP bar, once at 30 lines, was dropping fast. The DPS players went wild, spamming their skills like crazy. When Dohee glanced to the side, he saw Moonhyuk – already dead – watching him with an earnest expression.

“We can clear this.”

The words were aimed at the raid team, but also at Moonhyuk. Moonhyuk gave a small nod.

― Ah, we’re really gonna clear it this time, right?

Yeojin’s giddy voice sent laughter through the comms.

[Raid] SoftRiceCake: There’s no way there’s a hidden-hidden map, rightㅋㅋㅋ

[Raid] PrettyHealerHyung: Hidden-hidden mapㅋㅋㅋㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

“Quit the nonsense. Use that time to land even one more hit,” Dohee scolded, sharp and to the point.

― Wow, that 150% defense drop is insane. I just hit for 800 million. That’s nuts.

Noodle muttered in disbelief. Eight hundred million in one strike, numbers even AssaGo’s couldn’t touch. Dohee shot back playfully.

“Guess they need to nerf Strikers for real.”

― No, damn it, nerf Supports instead.

And just like that, joking around while dealing serious damage, the raid team steadily chipped away at the Demon Hunter’s remaining HP. Everyone’s fingers were pressing hard on their keys now. The tension was real. The clear was just within reach. It wasn’t even 11 PM yet. If they pulled this off, it would be both a First Clear and the fastest clear time ever recorded.

Dohee’s heart was pounding like it might burst out of his chest, but he forced himself to appear calm, after all, this was all being streamed.

berryveryStrikerberry: Holy crap are they actually gonna clear it;;;

jooRyu: the devs are actual psychos lol what kinda masochist puts a map like this in a raid

ulalaHulala: Calling it, Demon Hunter’s having a meltdown disguised as a hidden phase

countrysidePrettyBoy: I thought they cleared it earlier and posted on the forums, ffsㅋㅋㅋ

softandswaying: Bro you weren’t the only oneㅋㅋㅋ

vICTory01: People posted “Human raid got the FC!!!” and then the next page is all “oh wait nvm…” lmfao

backakSkankang: Who the hell thought of adding this hidden phase

cutierabbit: Dev team deserves a medal for this one lol

skyBig: Did y’all see GoSupp’s face earlier? He was straight up emotional for like 0.1 seconds before getting hit with that twistㅋㅋ

flexTheMoney: Bet the dev who added the hidden map is cackling right now “You thought it was over? Think again~”

roseyPastaExtraShrimp: “Think again~” ugh I wanna slap them so bad

LOmilkVE: Not gonna lie, I got chills when Demon Hunter stood back up, almost spit my water

squishysquishybean: ?? Thought it was over, chugged the last of my beer, now I’m sitting here drinking water… all I have left is the chicken fml

sumidongIronFist: Are they really gonna clear this? Our poor newbie’s down ㅠ

superColorPowerBeam: Like, yeah he’s down, but Oreckthat dying three times in a row is legend-tier… Mom, that’s a top-ranked Dragoon right there…

[IsThisABug? donated ₩10,000!] For real this time, “actual” first clear, have some chestnuts~!!!!!

[DIGITALLOVER donated ₩7,000!] now I’m craving some

[HaeundaeBowMaster donated ₩30,000!] Preemptive congrats to the Human raid on their first clear!

The chat was blazing. People were talking about a real first clear this time, donations were pouring in with preemptive celebrations, and the excitement was through the roof. Dohee drew on the last of his focus and pushed the DPS harder.

“Keep the damage coming. Less than five bars left.”

― I’m pulling strength from my baby days.

Yeohoo’s joke got a jab from Yeojin.

― You were on baby food, not formula.

Dohee couldn’t help but laugh. The DPS had chugged every possible buff potion and were now glued to the boss, unloading every last ounce of damage.

Five bars. Four. Three. Two… and finally, the last one.

― Shit, did we clear it!?

“Is it done?”

― YAAAAAAAA!! We did it!? DID WE!?

Once again, the HP bar hit zero. The boss froze mid-motion. A new cutscene started. The black aura around the Demon Hunter’s body dispersed, and the boss began to petrify like a statue. Then, with a loud cracking noise, the petrified body shattered into pieces. The shimmering heat over the map faded, and clear water began to flow from the oasis.

[Reawakened Demon Hunter] Is this… how meaningless it all was…

[Reawakened Demon Hunter] Where is the right path…

[Reawakened Demon Hunter] Humans, do not trust even yourselves…

[Reawakened Demon Hunter] I… still…

[Reawakened Demon Hunter] have strength left…

The Demon Hunter’s voice gradually faded, then vanished entirely. In the space where the boss had disappeared, a round jade-colored orb and a small glowing chest lay on the ground. With trembling hands, Dohee moved his character forward. When he picked up the orb and the chest, a system message popped up.

[System] ‘Reawakened Demon Hunter’ has been vanquished.

[System] ‘Mirage Oasis’ cleared!

[System] You have acquired the second divine relic of Goddess Kelatru: ‘Bante’.

[System] You have acquired the jade-colored orb imbued with Jubite’s soul.

[System] The ‘Jade Orb’ continues the ‘Tears of the Demon Hunter’ quest. This quest is shared across the raid group.

Reawakened Demon Hunter

Defeat Reawakened Demon Hunter (Normal) 1/1

Clear ‘Mirage Oasis’ (Hidden) 1/1

Acquire the second divine relic ‘Bante’ 1/1

A chime sounded from somewhere –ding – and a series of system alerts followed, announcing newly acquired items.

[System] You have acquired 3 ‘Orbs of Corruption’.

[System] You have acquired 1 ‘Radiant Tear’.

[System] You have received 15,000 gold as a clear reward.

[System] Title acquired: ‘One Who Walks Through Hardship’ (Demon Hunter clear).

The loot and gold confirmed it, this raid was really over. Dohee murmured in a daze.

“We did it…”

Voices from the raid filled his headset, a chorus of cheers and disbelief.

― HOOOLY SHIIIT! WE CLEARED IT!

― No need to yell, we all know it. Great job, everyone.

― YOO! Fuck yeah, we did it! Human raid team did it!

― That was so fucking hard! AAAAAH! We’re the real ones, you bastards!

The raid chat window flooded.

[Raid] PrettyHealerHyung: [crying emoji] ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Raid] PrettyHealerHyung: Great job everyone!!!!!

[Raid] PrettyHealerHyung: We finally did itㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Raid] SoftRiceCake: What the fuck

[Raid] SoftRiceCake: Why the fuck am I crying for real;;;ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Raid] 4EvilPrettyGirl: Great work, all of you

[Raid] 4EvilPrettyGirl: Feels like a ten-year weight just lifted

[Raid] PrettyHealerHyung: Weㅠㅠ did itㅠㅠㅠ

[Raid] Oreckthat: Oreckthat may have died on the floor

[Raid] Oreckthat: But still, good job everyone!!! ｡ﾟ( ﾟஇ‸இﾟ+)ﾟ｡

Dohee felt like all the strength had drained from his body. He didn’t have the energy to read the chat, or even to cheer. Not a single word of congratulations made it to his lips. All he could do was sit there and soak in the moment. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were starting to sting. He clenched his teeth. He wasn’t about to cry like some kid.

It was just a game. Why did it feel like he was about to cry like he’d staked his life on this? He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Something kept rising in his throat, threatening to spill out. He couldn’t open his mouth to speak. A warm, slightly damp hand rested over his closed eyelids, Moonhyuk’s hand.

“Good… job.”

“…Yeah. You too, hyung.”

Memories flashed through his mind like a montage. Arguing with Yapdeuk after clearing Corrupted Hana, switching from support to AssaGo to chase revenge clears on the Snow Witch, swearing off Demon Hunter and the game altogether, until Moonhyuk appeared, and he decided to help. Bringing Moonhyuk into the guild when he didn’t even know the basics. The first day they used game chat together. Running quests for couple avatars. Making the decision to take on the Demon Hunter. Promising himself he’d raise Moonhyuk to fight it with him.

It hadn’t even been that long ago, really. But so much had happened. And in that moment, Dohee was glad they’d come here together.

He reached up and gently lowered Moonhyuk’s hand from his face. The fading warmth was hard to let go of. But there was still work to be done.

He had to distribute loot as the raid leader. There was a new quest shared by the whole raid to check. The stream needed wrapping up too.

When he opened his eyes, the Mirage Oasis map came back into view. Only now did it really sink in, they had cleared the Demon Hunter.

“Alright, everyone…”

Just as Dohee began speaking to organize things.

― What the hell?

“Huh?”

― What the fuck is this. GoSupp, check your stream chat.

“What is it?”

Yeojin, clearly agitated, was urging him to look at chat. Just a moment ago, everyone had been celebrating. But now, something had shifted. The mood had cooled.

Dohee slowly started to read the stream chat. And then, in his ear, came Yeohu’s weak voice:

― The first clear… apparently it’s not us.