Chapter 185 – The Battle for Dignity (Part 2)

After finalizing the soccer match arrangements, Fang Zheng and Mount Tai cautiously revived the rest of the team. The caution was necessary because the Perfect Storm hadn’t returned to the 23rd Crossing but had respawned right where it sank. Within a five-meter radius of this brand-new warship was also an 80%-new boss.

Fortunately, the boss was considerate, staying mostly submerged in the water and quietly observing the scene.

Scholar Lu: “What do we do now?”

White Dragon Horse: “Redraw our battle plan, of course.”

ice Iceborn: “We still haven’t figured out the boss’s attack pattern. Any plan we make now would just be theoretical.”

Fang Zheng: “The boss’s pattern is pretty obvious.”

March: “Oh? You figured it out?”

Fang Zheng: “It just keeps spamming AoE attacks until we’re all dead.”

March: “…”

Flame of the Gods: “Ghost Server Legion Leader, the harmonious society is what’s saving you right now.”

White Dragon Horse: “Don’t just leave the discussion to a few of us. The Perfect Storm is everyone’s responsibility. Come on, let’s all share our thoughts.”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “I don’t think even a harmonious society can save him~”

White Dragon Horse: “Not discussing this =_=”

Dragon Wonton: “Um, if the boss wipes us all out again next time, does that mean we’re really done for?”

Lantern Granny: “Of course. If the ship doesn’t return to the 23rd Crossing, we won’t encounter the Water Ghosts again, which means no more revives. Can you say something constructive?”

Dragon Wonton: “Then what if we form a unified team, fight the boss again, get wiped again, return to the 23rd Crossing again, farm the Water Ghosts again—wouldn’t that give everyone two lives?!”

Rock N Roll Will Never Die: “Huh? You know what, your reverse thinking isn’t half bad. That might actually work…”

Grave Sweeping Scroll: “And then lose another 50 points, get broadcasted again, get mocked by the entire server again—God, why did you have to pair me with these guys as teammates!!!”

“Comrades, I have an idea!” Fang Zheng suddenly felt struck by a bolt of inspiration. “I’ll leave the team, hide somewhere far from the boss’s attack range, and stay quiet the whole time—no attacking, no healing, just being a pretty boy. That way, even if the boss spams AoE, it won’t hit me. Even if all of you die, I won’t have any aggro, so the boss will dive back into the water, and I can revive you all! What do you think?”

Everyone: “…”

Though completely shameless… the sheer practicality of it left them speechless. TAT

Time was slipping away. The Perfect Storm, still on its waterway journey, had to race against the clock. So, after settling on the “Leave One Healer” strategy, everyone immediately launched their second assault on the boss.

This time, they stuck to the old tactic of using Blood Warriors to tank while the other classes stayed on the periphery. The boss, ever cooperative, kept spamming AoE attacks without pause. Within five minutes, another wipe.

Luckily, with Fang Zheng as the lone survivor, the team didn’t lose any points, and the Perfect Storm didn’t sink.

But avoiding a wipe was just a tiny flicker of hope, nowhere near enough to light the way forward.

Snow Drifter: “I’m so tired. Please tell me I’m not the only one.”

Mouse of the Gods: “Both times, it just AoE’d us to death without ever using a single-target attack. With this setup, even a god-tier team couldn’t win.”

Though the Perfect Storm hadn’t sunk, the chat fell silent. Because Mouse of the Gods was absolutely right. Based on the data from both attempts, the boss showed no signs of stopping its AoE spam. And as long as it kept this up, whether the Blood Warriors could hold aggro became irrelevant. They could have just the Blood Warriors surround the boss while the others stayed at a safe distance, but that would mean only the Blood Warriors could deal damage while everyone else just watched. As for the healers? Either keep healing the tanks (which meant staying in the AoE range and dying) or stay back with the others (which meant the tanks would run out of heals). Even if the tanks could somehow survive long enough to whittle the boss down, lasting a full minute without heals would be a miracle.

In short, it seemed like an unwinnable scenario.

But not everyone thought so—

Polly: “There’s no such thing as an unbeatable boss. There must be a way to counter its AoE spam—or just stop it from using AoE altogether.”

Before he could finish, Angel of the Gods snorted dismissively: “It’s a boss, not a pet. Like it’ll listen to you. Ridiculous.”

Birdy fell silent, torn between “snarking back to shut her up” and “just ignoring her and continuing.”

“King of the Gods?” Don’t Stop the Meds suddenly spoke up, his tone shifting from his usual abstract style to something unusually serious, as if the Legion Commander who once ruled Holy Light Sanctuary had returned.

The Outer Flame Legion Leader, caught off guard: “Huh?”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Can you mute your dumb girlfriend? She’s giving me a headache.”

Good thing he used “as if” earlier! =_=

Angel of the Gods: “Who the hell are you calling dumb, Yao?! I—ah, Legion Leader, what are you—”

The crowd waited, but the rest of her sentence never came. Instead, King of the Gods explained: “I unplugged her mic. Zombie, continue.”

In moments of extreme frustration, people have very low tolerance for noise—especially negative noise. So, the team fully supported King of the Gods’ decision. After all, it wasn’t them who’d be kneeling on a keyboard later.

Meng Chudong took a sip of water and continued: “I’ve been thinking. Both times, we started by having all our Blood Warriors rush in to build aggro, and the boss responded by spamming AoE from the get-go. Could there be a connection? Could this be what triggers its AoE?”

X: “So?”

Meng Chudong: “So, I suggest we try using just one Blood Warrior this time.”

“I’ll do it.” Liaodong Iron Cavalry volunteered.

Fourth attempt—action!

Everyone held their breath as Liaodong Iron Cavalry charged forward with a Taunt!

The boss roared, bursting from the water and spewing a jet of flames straight at him!

No healers intervened—the Blood Warrior followed the plan and chugged an HP potion, then kept Taunting!

Enraged, the boss bared its fangs and unleashed a barrage of fireballs!

Ice on Fire, who had been waiting on standby, immediately healed his teammate. At the same time, Liaodong Iron Cavalry activated a double combo—Taunt + Provoke!

The boss swooped down, its massive wings slamming into Liaodong Iron Cavalry, leaving him nearly dead! Ice on Fire instantly cast an Insta Heal, but the boss’s next attack came almost immediately!

This time, it was an AoE!

Both Ice on Fire and Liaodong Iron Cavalry were left with barely any HP! But Ice on Fire’s APM wasn’t just for show—he followed up with Ten Thousand Blossoms, restoring most of their health!

And then the boss’s fifth attack arrived!

Hearts in their throats, the team watched as the light effects faded—this time, it was a single-target attack!

They could’ve cried. The boss had finally gone back to normal. TAT

Silence spoke louder than words. The team surged forward, each fulfilling their roles, and the battle began!!

…

Twenty minutes later

Divine Strategist: “My hands are sore. I don’t think I can type anymore…”

17 Moon Street: “The hell is this, a boss or a damage sponge?”

Big H: “I’m so bored I’m falling asleep…”

Dragon Wonton: “Shh, don’t say that. The boss might hear!”

Scholar Lu: “Hahaha, and then what? It’ll go Berserk?”

[System] Guardian Baggins: Tremble and perish in the flames, lowly creatures who dare trespass into my domain!

Little Willow: “Scholar. Lu!!!”

Scholar Lu: “I didn’t know it could understand Chinese!!! TAT”

The boss didn’t give the team time for “bonding.” As soon as the system message appeared, fireballs rained down on the deck, exploding and releasing countless tiny fire dragons!

Now, the boss didn’t even need to spam AoE—its minions swarmed the battlefield in overwhelming numbers!

March: “Berserkers, use AoE! Everyone else, focus on the ones near you!”

Iceborn: “Relax, we’re all Legion Leaders and Deputies here. We know what to—”

Grave Sweeping Scroll: “Whose Bloody Sandstorm just hit me again?! Can you even aim?!”

White Dragon Horse: “Dammit! My AoE has a target limit too! Get out of the way and stop stealing my slots, dude!!!”

Amid the chaos of battle, the ice melted, and the buds of friendship quietly sprouted. ╮(╯_╰)╭

But since this was their first time reaching the latter half of the fight, every unexpected twist was a fresh challenge—especially when they came one after another. The team scrambled, their formation collapsing, until the boss wiped them all out with another AoE.

Well, almost. Though the boss submerged again, the Perfect Storm didn’t sink—

[System] Milk is Mom used Resurrection.

[System] Milk is Mom used Resurrection.

[System] Milk is Mom used…

Everyone: “Why are you still alive?”

Fang Zheng: “Didn’t I leave the team earlier?”

Everyone: “…”

Fang Zheng: “And I was hiding in a safe spot the whole time.”

Everyone: “…”

Fang Zheng: “Fine, I’ve been hiding there since the start of the fight, didn’t use a single skill, and have zero aggro with the boss. So, do you want to be resurrected or not?! >_<"

Though another failure, they now had the boss’s skills and patterns down. It was only a matter of time before they took it down.

The gloom hanging over the Perfect Storm had long dissipated. Someone even started whistling cheerfully… Well, that someone was Big H.

“One last try,” Don’t Stop the Meds said, excitement barely concealed in his voice. “This time, we’ll clear it in one go.”

Fang Zheng was also fired up: “Yao Yao, I won’t hide this time. I’m joining the fight!”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “That’s the trust between comrades!”

Fang Zheng: “If we wipe again and lose another 50 points, I’m biting you to death.”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “…”

At this moment of high morale, Ever Bright’s hesitant voice cut in: “I have a suggestion. I’ve been considering it for a while but couldn’t find the right time to bring it up…”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Go ahead. We’re all brothers here. Speak freely~~”

Ever Bright: “Can we log off for a break and continue pushing at 7 PM?”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Alright, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Ever Bright: “Boss Yao—TAT”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Don’t call me that. I’m not your Legion Leader.”

Mocha: “You’re the one who tried to recruit him, and he refused.”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “No need for backstory =_=”

Mocha: “But Manman, isn’t your ‘break’ a bit too long?”

Ever Bright sighed: “I’d love to push now and finish the boss, but this fight takes at least 40 minutes.”

Mocha: “Then let’s do 40 minutes.”

Ever Bright: “But I have work…”

Mocha: “But the rising sun on the distant horizon means we’re about to succeed!”

Ever Bright: “All I know is the sun’s already high outside, and I’m about to be late for work! TAT”

Ever Bright’s reminder made everyone realize it was already 7:20 AM Beijing time!

But Don’t Stop the Meds remained unmoved—

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Work? How dare you bring up such a shameless request at this critical moment? Do you think the others don’t have work?!”

Insidious & One Night Resurrection & Silent Hill & Liaodong Iron Cavalry & Snow Drifter & Divine Strategist & Others: “Yeah, we all have work!”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “See?!”

Insidious & One Night Resurrection & Silent Hill & Liaodong Iron Cavalry & Snow Drifter & Divine Strategist & Others: “So can we continue at 7 PM?”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “…”

Even the wealthy Dutch Chamber of Commerce’s Legion Leader couldn’t pay everyone’s salaries. So, after some “friendly” negotiations, they compromised: those with work would go, and those without could do as they pleased, but they’d regroup at 12:30 PM to take down the boss during lunch break. That way, work wouldn’t be disrupted, and in-game teammates wouldn’t waste too much time waiting.

Five hours later, Beijing time 12:30 PM

All 50 members logged in on time.

Fang Zheng: “Ah, that was a good nap.”

Insidious: “Work was torture. My mind was elsewhere the whole time.”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Enough chatter. Pull!”

Ever Bright: “Yao, are you still mad at me? You hold grudges forever.”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Not about you.”

As the only player who hadn’t gone to work or slept, Don’t Stop the Meds had endured five straight hours of mockery from the Flagship players targeting Perfect Storm No. 1. =_=

Perhaps because everyone was fired up, or perhaps because the 1:30 PM deadline (or else wait until 7 PM) added pressure, the 50 players adopted a do-or-die mentality. For the first time, they formed a united team, no longer caring about DPS rankings or rewards. They had one goal—kill that bastard!

……

Beijing time 13:17

[Flagship] Perfect Storm No. 1 has successfully slain Guardian Baggins! Each crew member earns 280 points!

The entire Flagship was stunned by this announcement, while the Perfect Storm erupted in celebration!

Trick or Die: “Holy shit, 280 points! 280 points! Hahahaha!”

Big H: “That was brutal! Even 820 points wouldn’t make up for the trauma!”

Bells in the Rain: “I never thought we’d actually take it down. Gotta thank my Legion Leader, my teammates, all of you. TAT”

Summit of Mount Tai: “Uh, save the speeches for later and loot the corpse first? Let’s see what dropped.”

White Dragon Horse: “Holy shit, Mount Tai, you finally spoke! Since midnight, you’ve been silent—I thought you’d been kidnapped and your account was on auto-pilot!”

Summit of Mount Tai: “First, your imagination is way too active =_=. Second, it wasn’t auto-pilot—Drink Till You Drop was on my account for a few hours.”

White Dragon Horse: “…So I’ve been playing with Drink this whole time?! Then why didn’t he say anything?!”

Summit of Mount Tai: “Probably too busy fighting. Didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”

White Dragon Horse: “What a waste. Fought all night and didn’t even see the boss die, only for you to reap the rewards.”

Summit of Mount Tai: “That’s just the kind of selfless person our Legion Leader is.”

White Dragon Horse: “Did he say anything when he gave your account back? Like his thoughts on this expansion, or the people here?”

Summit of Mount Tai: “No, he seemed exhausted. Just said one thing and logged off.”

White Dragon Horse: “What’d he say?”

Summit of Mount Tai: “Eden is nice.”

White Dragon Horse: “…”

King of the Gods: “Haha, even Drink Till You Drop showed up! This is the pinnacle of Huaxia Online’s player base—who dares challenge us? Boss Yao, what do you think?”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Right now, I just want to exchange these 280 points for coins and throw them in those bastards’ faces. By the way, Polly, you’re the MVP. If not for your suggestion to change tactics and use just one Blood Warrior, we might’ve never cleared this. Don’t you have anything to say?”

Polly: “Too much to say. Don’t know where to start.”

Don’t Stop the Meds: “Just say what’s on your mind!”

Polly: “At least we’re not in the negatives anymore.”