**[Second Named Boss]**
**[Level 53]**
**[Death Knight Zakham]**
**[HP: 477,755,143 / 500,000,000 (95%)]**
*Boom, clang!*
I blocked the massive greatsword aimed at me. The sound of metal clashing with metal rang loudly. Despite the impact of Zakham's heavy sword, which seemed strong enough to drive my legs into the ground, I didn’t take any damage. It was a perfect *Just Guard*, nullifying the damage completely.
If I had been alone, I would have easily dodged out of the attack range and continued my assault. But handling a *solo play* and a *party play* requires different approaches.
Zakham's four-swing greatsword combo isn’t just a simple pattern. If I dodge while moving positions, the second hit will chase me. In party play, it’s crucial for the tank to keep the boss's head fixed in one direction.
The problem is, maintaining a block like this makes it difficult to land hits between Zakham’s fast attacks.
For classes like swordsman or fighter, which can efficiently serve as tanks, there’s a skill known as *threat enhancement*. Normally, you’d activate it while blocking to maintain aggro with minimal damage output.
But...
*Shing.*
I lowered my stance, keeping my sword ready.
"I can maintain aggro just fine with my damage, while keeping his head locked."
*Boom!*
*Flash!*
On the second swing, I used *Instant Slash* from my lowered stance, slicing through Zakham’s waist and moving behind him. Now I was positioned at his back. In about 0.5 seconds, Zakham would turn and slam his greatsword down at me. At the same time, the melee DPS behind him, who had been safely dealing damage, would suddenly be within his attack range.
However...
*Swish.*
*Boom!*
Zakham's greatsword slammed into the ground, but not behind him—at his front. I had already moved back to Zakham’s front. Naturally, due to my invulnerability, I didn’t take any damage.
"Ooh, that move!"
I heard Park Jung-gwon, the main tank of the Skada Raid Team, exclaim from behind Zakham. It seemed he had realized what I’d done.
It was a trick I had shown to Death not long ago—using movement or skills to position yourself behind the boss, dodging its patterns, then using *Reverse Strike* to return to your original position while still being targeted. This technique allowed me to dodge patterns and control the boss’s positioning, keeping the attack patterns focused at the front.
In party play, you can pull off moves like this.
"Next, it’s either a rear or front sword energy pattern. Mages, keep your eyes wide open and get ready for *Frozen Prison*!"
Chris’s command echoed through the raid.
Ah, I hadn’t told Unni about this.
"Don’t bother preparing defense skills! Just focus on DPS! The sword energy won’t go to the rear!"
I shouted to the raid members. They all looked confused. How was I going to control a random pattern?
Skada, the raid leader of the Skada team, spoke up in surprise.
"Wait, you can control the direction of the sword energy?"
It was definitely possible.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Zakham's side slashes cut through the air as I ducked to avoid them. I kept a close eye on Zakham's legs.
As the greatsword returned to his waist, Zakham’s left greave twisted 45 degrees to the side. It was going to be a rear sword energy attack. Without hesitation, I used *Reverse Strike*.
New novel 𝓬hapters are published on freёwebnoѵel.com.
*Swish.*
*Boom!*
Zakham twisted his body, unleashing sword energy behind him—at the spot where I had originally been tanking. Naturally, there was no one there. I returned to my original position and made sure the follow-up attack would go forward.
This is so convenient.
After the recent *balance patch*, swordsmen gained the ability to choose between *Reverse Strike* turning to the right or to the left. With this, even without cooldown resets, I would never run out of invulnerability moves for regular patterns, as long as it wasn’t something like *Crow’s Punishment*.
"...Wait, how did you know? The front and back sword energy are random, right?"
Park Jung-gwon’s puzzled voice echoed from behind Zakham as he continued dealing damage.
That guy sure is curious about everything.
---
*Groooar! Crow!*
*Thud!*
*Shuuu.*
Zakham’s armor crumbled, and purple energy leaked from the broken pieces, dissipating into the air.
I turned to look at Chris and gave her a small victory sign.
*Trot.*
"Second named boss down in one try! This is a second-week alt team, and you guys are crushing it! Plenty of damage too. Rain, great job!"
"You too, Unni."
Little Chris smiled brightly and ran over to grab my hand.
As we were celebrating, Park Jung-gwon, the swordsman from Skada’s team, approached me.
"Um, Rain?"
"Yes?"
"Grrr!"
"Unni, he’s a raid member...."
I looked up at him as Little Chris growled. I patted her head to calm her down. Park Jung-gwon had a friendly face, so he didn’t seem like a bad person.
"How did you know the direction of the sword energy?"
Ah, so that’s what he came to ask.
If you can predict the direction of the sword energy—whether it’s going to the front or the back—you can help mages and spirit summoners focus on DPS instead of preparing defense spells. As the main tank of the Skada Raid Team, Park Jung-gwon was eager to learn.
"Well...."
I could explain it, but could he actually pull it off in practice? It’s risky if you make a mistake.
I lowered my stance and swung my sword left and right.
*Swish, swish.*
"When Zakham’s second attack comes out, he moves his sword to his waist, and at that moment, you need to watch his legs."
"His legs?"
*Clang.*
"Yes. If his left foot turns 45 degrees, it’s a rear sword energy attack. If it doesn’t, it’s a front sword energy attack."
"Ah."
Park Jung-gwon nodded, his expression a mix of understanding and confusion.
Scratching his head, he walked back to Skada.
"...He swings twice, and then half a second later, releases the sword energy. You’re supposed to check his legs in that tiny window?"
As I watched him walk away, Chris was busy looting Zakham’s drop items.
---
[Abyss Ring]
[Legendary Grade]
[Strength +80, Agility +80, Intelligence +80]
[Damage Taken Reduction +14%]
[Critical Damage Reduction +31%]
[Unique Ability: Reduces all damage taken from NPCs by 10%]
[Bound upon equip]
---
Little Chris linked the item in the raid chat and grinned at me.
"Full damage reduction stats? Not bad. Let’s auction it."
"100 gold."
I raised my hand for the initial bid and glanced shyly at the other raid members.
I had gotten pretty close to the Crimson-White Guild members through the last guild meetup, but interacting with others still felt a bit awkward. The raid leader, Skada, and their main tank, Park Jung-gwon, seemed pretty close. Were they friends? I wondered if they would outbid me, but they just smiled at me without making a move.
"No one else bidding? Rain, congrats! You’ve got the ring and earrings now, a full set!"
"Wow."
I smiled brightly as I checked the *Abyss Ring* in my inventory.
Then, I tilted my head as I looked toward the Skada team members.
"Why aren’t they bidding?"
"Huh? What’s the problem?"
"I noticed they didn’t bid on the first boss’s earrings either, and now the ring too."
"Ah."
Chris gave me a mischievous grin.
"That’s just how things work. Even if we don’t say it outright, this is how it’s supposed to go."
"Huh?"
What did she mean by that?
"In this party, you’re the only one using your main character, Rain. And you’re the strongest DPS."
"Well... yeah, I guess?"
"As I said before, alts just grab whatever leftover accessories there are. Some might want to farm their alts faster, but it’s better for the party if the strongest DPS gets the upgrades."
"Ah."
I felt good about that.
I could raid comfortably with the party and farm accessories without any bidding competition.
Chris Unni really had everything planned out.
"Thanks, Unni."
*Hug.*
I hugged Little Chris to show my gratitude.
"A-Ah! Rain, wait!"
Little Chris flailed around for a moment before settling down in my arms, then she giggled with a silly smile.
"Hehe."
---
**[Third Named Boss]**
**[Level 53]**
**[Legion Commander Crow]**
**[HP: 1,107,239 / 300,000,000 (1%)]**
*Flash! Boom!*
*Screeeech!*
*Thud.*
As the final attack from the raid members hit, Legion Commander Crow's form began to fade. I looked down at his disappearing body with calm eyes.
One of the demon legion commanders targeting this world. *Crow* was no longer able to communicate since our first clear. Today, Crow appeared before me right from the start, in the form of a massive crow.
The one fading away at my feet now was just an empty shell, a mere illusion of Crow. The current Crow had become nothing more than a farming boss, dropping loot for players.
The mystery behind their true masters, however, was something I might need to uncover through the next legion commander.
"As I mentioned earlier, I’ll craft the weapons and sell them. I’ll send you all the sales details and your share of the gold after deducting the material costs via mail, so there’s no need to come looking for me."
Little Chris had already looted all of Crow's drops into her inventory. The Crimson-White raid members, along with the Skada team members, all nodded in satisfaction.
"Great work today, everyone."
"Looking forward to next week."
As the second team’s raid concluded, members from both teams started disappearing through the exit portal one by one.
Skada gave me a slight nod before leaving. There was something intense in her final glance—was it competitiveness?
Everyone was giving it their best. As an irregular player, was I like a wrecking ball to the ecosystem? Still, I wasn’t planning to back down from uncovering the truth of this world.
While I held Little Chris close, stroking her head, she quietly asked me a question.
"You’ve been petting me a lot today... Rain, do you prefer the little me? Should I use this character as my main from now on?"
"Huh? Um..."
I hesitated for a moment.
Big Unni, Little Unni.
Which one was better?
Each had their own charm.
Petting Little Chris Unni made me happy, but being hugged by Big Chris Unni was also wonderful. Both were great, but the happiness they brought was a little different.
Still, I think I preferred being hugged more.
"I think I like Big Unni better."
Chris’s face lit up with joy.
"Right, right? Hehe, too bad I can’t shrink down like this outside the game."
"Sometimes being small is nice too."
"R-Really? Once a week, maybe? That sounds about right."
"Hehe. That sounds like a good balance."
Until I logged out that day, I spent the rest of my time petting Little Chris to my heart’s content.