As Luna Team's turn came, the team that had just failed the raid came down from the raid field, grumbling in frustration.
"Damn it. We couldn’t even last 10 minutes this time."
"Fucking windstorm...!!!"
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"Huff... is there no way to break through that?!"
Watching them lamenting as they descended, Seong couldn’t help but think that the opponent must be strong.
Even during the briefing, it had been mentioned that the raid would be difficult, but seeing those players so disheartened made it clear how tough the challenge was.
Unlike when they entered the raid field, their numbers had been reduced by more than half.
Perhaps, for the first time, they might lose.
‘It wouldn’t make sense to never lose.’
It was the third day since Seong had started playing Eternal World, and while he hadn’t died yet, there was no guarantee that would remain the case.
Seong wasn’t filled with arrogance; he understood the dangers ahead.
Just as he was mentally preparing himself, Luna stepped forward, followed by her team members. Seong took up the rear, and together, they headed toward the raid field.
"It's Rapid Guild’s turn."
"Hm, guess we should watch and see what happens."
"How far will Rapid Guild hold out this time?"
"Let’s see how much the new Demon King can show off..."
"Even so, I don’t think clearing it is possible."
"Maybe once they adapt, who knows?"
While Seong’s team didn’t react outwardly, they were having similar thoughts.
Seong was impressive, but it seemed difficult to clear it on his own.
‘He’s still not level 60; he’s at 58, they said.’
‘Once he’s in his mid-60s, maybe he can clear it alone?’
‘Hm~ but right now, it’s a stretch~’
‘If it gets too tough, we’ll have to step in and help him clear it.’
The honor tied to the name “Rapid” was more important, after all.
There was always the possibility that Seong could clear it alone in a future attempt, so they were okay with that.
Seong also shared a similar mindset.
The team was more important than himself, and the guild was more important than the team.
Thus, he thought the name of Rapid Guild should be upheld rather than focusing on his own record.
Even now, as they entered the area, people were talking and casting sidelong glances at Rapid Guild.
The weight of those at the front—was it the pressure of the crowd? The envious and critical gazes, mixed with admiration and jealousy, were all directed toward them.
Seong realized, perhaps for the first time, just how much attention they were attracting.
He stepped into the raid field, feeling the weight of the Rapid Guild name as he did.
Whoooosh.
As they crossed an invisible barrier, the world around them seemed to shimmer slightly.
It wasn’t as if the scenery around them was completely transforming, but the surroundings remained as they were.
They had reached the summit of a vast mountain range, barren and rocky, yet it didn’t resemble the sharp, jagged peaks one might expect. Instead, the area was mostly flat, with wide stretches of land.
There were large boulders scattered around, providing places to hide, but overall, it was an open field, perfect for combat.
That was probably why it was called the "raid field."
As Seong reflected on this, he noticed the growing tension in the air, shared by Luna and her teammates.
The feeling of apprehension swept over him as well.
Looking up, a huge shape blocked out the sun, casting a dark shadow over the ground.
Whoooosh—! Whoooosh——!
With a single flap of its wings, a gust of wind whipped up in all directions, pressing down on the ground with such force that it was hard to keep one's eyes open.
As Seong struggled to open his eyes, he looked up, and what he saw took his breath away.
A massive creature, its white body gleaming, glided majestically toward them.
Its shape was similar to a hawk, the king of the skies, but its long, sharp feathers flowed gracefully in the wind, and it commanded the air around it effortlessly.
Its pale white fur shimmered under the sun, reflecting light as it soared through the sky, casting a proud yellow-eyed gaze downward, as though it were the ruler of the world.
[The raid boss, "Wind’s Watcher, Anemore," has appeared.]
[The raid will begin soon.]
Seong’s first raid.
Surprisingly, he felt excited.
This beast, which boasted such overwhelming power, was nothing like what he'd seen in videos or heard about in stories.
It felt entirely different. The majesty of a true ruler was palpable.
Could he, too, make this creature one of his subordinates?
‘I’m curious now...’
As Seong’s curiosity began to stir, Luna Team prepared for battle.
Although Seong had planned to go alone, the appearance of Anemore had subconsciously triggered the battle-ready stance of every team member.
But then...
Tap Tap.
“Ah?”
“Huh?”
“Hm?”
“Huh?”
As they stood there, a calm Seong walked past them, stepping forward with determination.
He turned to them and said,
“I’ll go first.”
With that, Seong flashed a confident smile, and at the same time...
Snap!
He snapped his fingers.
At that moment, countless soldiers appeared.
From the Giant Killer Bees they had captured moments earlier to the Ghoul Undeads and Skeleton Mercenaries, along with the Goblin Undeads.
These were the soldiers Seong had summoned thus far.
But that wasn’t all.
From the portal of the underworld, appeared the lesser demon Kaishak and, behind him, the blood-red knight, Valtar.
And, leading them all, the commander of all death soldiers, Barfur.
Finally, Fiora, the one who shared Barfur’s form, but with an eerie and far more intimidating presence, stepped into view.
All of Seong’s forces stood in formation before him, bowing their heads in loyalty and swearing fealty.
Seong, now in control of his legion, gave a single command.
“Kill.”
At the short command, the army responded in unison.
““CHARGE!!!””
The ground seemed to shake with the intensity of the response. Luna Team, stunned, watched in awe as the scene unfolded before them.
Just moments before, they had assumed Seong could never command such a force.
It was, after all, the logical conclusion.
But now, seeing the vast army of death soldiers surrounding them, that thought was completely upended.
No, it was as if that very thought was obliterated.
The embodiment of death itself had appeared in the world.
‘Could it be...?’
‘Is he... going to win this alone?’
‘Oh, I didn’t realize he was holding back earlier~?’
‘I knew it...’
Luna Team watched in shock as the battlefield was transformed.
To fulfill Seong’s command, the Giant Killer Bees shot forward.
Anemore, clearly irritated by the persistent undead, spread its wings and created a violent windstorm to send the Giant Killer Bees flying.
The bees crashed into each other, but pain and fear did not deter them.
Without hesitation, the undead Giant Killer Bees charged forward once again, undeterred by the attacks.
Noticing something was off as they charged, Anemore attempted to come up with a new tactic, spreading its wings to release another windstorm.
Flutter!
But this time, the wings didn’t spread in the same way as before.
It was a familiar sign for Luna Team, one that they recognized from countless encounters with deadly skills.
Whoooooosh!
The wind cut through the air like blades.
Anemore had condensed the air to create sharp, deadly blades of wind.
These blades shot toward the undead Giant Killer Bees, who responded by swinging their sharp front legs, trying to counterattack with their own deadly strikes.
Dozens of wind blades and the scythe-like legs of the bees collided.
It was clear who would emerge victorious.
With a series of slash sounds, the front legs of the undead Giant Killer Bees were severed.
But even as twenty or more of them lunged, their attacks did nothing.
All the wind blades disappeared into thin air.
Perhaps angered by the failure of its skill, Anemore cried out.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
The piercing shriek of a raptor reverberated through the air, so sharp that it could drive anyone to madness if they didn’t block their ears.
Luna Team staggered, disoriented by the sheer intensity of the sound.
Yet Seong and his army of death soldiers remained unfazed.
For them, fear could not defeat death.
As if to prove this, they charged even more fiercely toward Anemore.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
The undead Giant Killer Bees pressed on relentlessly, undeterred by Anemore’s attack.
Realizing that the creatures were now a threat, Anemore curled its wings and condensed the surrounding wind into a defensive shield.
Anemore’s skill, Wind Shield, formed a barrier around it, protecting it from the attacks of the Giant Killer Bees.
Even as the bees launched stingers and swung their sharp front legs, nothing could penetrate the shield.
As the Giant Killer Bees finally exhausted themselves, Anemore saw its opportunity. It dropped the Wind Shield and, with a fierce flap, unleashed its wind blades again, this time targeting the bees.
But before it could complete the attack, a chilling presence from behind made Anemore halt.
Fiora and Valtar, appearing like specters of death, emerged behind Anemore.
With a roar, Valtar swung his massive sword, emanating blood-red energy as it cleaved through the air. Fiora, transforming her left arm into a colossal, sharp lance, joined the assault.
The red-hued sword released a glowing crescent of power, while Fiora’s arm, now glowing with a faint blue light, plunged downward.
In perfect unison, two devastating strikes landed.
Whoooosh!
The strikes tore through the air with a powerful force.
The final clash left Anemore reeling, its defense shattered in an instant.
[Critical Hit!] [The effect of 『One Strike!』 is triggered!] [Critical Hit!] [The effect of 『One Strike!』 is triggered!]
Along with the simultaneous flashes of text, Anemore’s wings were left with a long gash on the right side and a massive penetration wound on the left.
The first blow it allowed inflicted a fatal wound, and Anemore, unable to withstand the shock, plummeted to the ground.
Falling, with wings no less.
Anemore was no exception.
Ku——wuuuung.
The massive body of Anemore fell to the earth with a thunderous crash.
As Anemore fell, Valtar and Fiora leaped down from above, brandishing their swords and transformed arms to strike.
A deafening sound of impact echoed across the battlefield, and thick clouds of dust rose into the air.
Within the dust, there was no longer a ruler of the sky.
Only...
“Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii——!”
The pitiful beast, struggling to survive, remained.
Anemore attempted to roll away, flapping its wings and trying to use its skills to escape, but it was useless.
Every time it tried, the Giant Killer Bees appeared to shield the attack.
Along with the legion of Barfur, the lesser demon Kaishak’s army, the Skeleton Mercenaries, Goblin Undeads, and Ghoul armies, all rushed in to tear into Anemore’s body.
The battlefield was filled with the sounds of explosions and furious combat.
Yet, the thick dust never cleared; if anything, it only grew denser.
“...Wh-what is this...?”
“Are we really seeing this...?”
“Hhh... Am I dreaming...?”
“This is bad... really bad.”
While each member of Luna Team may have had different thoughts or reactions, one thing was certain.
This wasn’t a raid.
It was annihilation.
Like an ant being crushed by the lightest touch of a child’s hand, Anemore was being crushed underfoot.
Luna Team could see a message pop up in front of them, confirming the overwhelming domination they were witnessing.
“Piiiiiiiiii——!”
With a sharp roar, the message appeared.
[The raid boss 『Wind’s Watcher, Anemore』 is enraged.] [The raid boss 『Wind’s Watcher, Anemore』 has entered Phase 2.] Warning
“H-how long has it been since we entered?”
“...Five minutes and thirty seconds.”
“Insane.”
There had been many parties that fell in under five minutes, but no one had ever entered Phase 2 in just five minutes.
In fact, the second phase itself was an unprecedented event.
And to think that this feat was achieved not by a party, but by an individual.
Even Luna Team was left speechless, their jaws hanging in disbelief.
Amidst their astonishment, a mighty roar echoed as Anemore recovered from its wounds and, after a moment, broke free from Valtar and Fiora’s assault. It soared into the sky, now fully recovering and determined to fight again.
Anemore, once a figure of untouchable grandeur, now seemed... different.
For some reason, despite its previous imposing presence, as Seong looked up, he noticed something: the bright yellow eyes of Anemore, usually filled with dominance, were now filled with fear and trembling in terror.