Chapter 516

Chapter 516

White Night is a formidable opponent.

In the game, her specs are terrifying. Once she settles in and unleashes her firepower, even the walls of Crossroad melt away like a joke.

Naturally, the lives of those on the walls evaporate along with them.

But games are made to be conquered. No enemy is perfect. In other words, there's always a weakness to exploit.

White Night's weakness in the game was 'vulnerability to mental status attacks'.

Considering most mage class characters have strong mental defenses, this was quite surprising.

'Has her endurance worn thin from constant copying and pasting of her mind?'

Before this unexpected weakness became widely known, White Night was referred to as the 'Three-Year Wall of Lamentation'.

Once this information spread, the number of players who twisted and turned to exploit this weakness and successfully clear the stage increased.

Of course, being 'relatively' vulnerable to mental status ailments doesn't mean it's a decisive weakness. She can be affected by hindering status ailments like 'confusion' or 'frenzy', but not by a decisive one like 'mind control'.

'What kind of boss buff is this, deciding what affects it...'

When playing the game, it felt like a reasonable balance since high-level bosses shouldn't be easily taken down by one mind control attack, but facing it in reality, it feels more like convenience. Just let me use my mind control!

Anyway - that's why in the game, characters specializing in mental attacks were essential against White Night.

Characters like mental status-specialized mages or cursers who cast curses could continuously inflict mental ailments to weaken her before engaging.

However, to land the killing blow, a head-on confrontation is inevitable, and that comes with expected damage.

Even in a weakened state, White Night could summon her massive eye to use insta-kill moves every few turns, bombard with talismans for area damage, and spread darkness across the field, inflicting fear on any ally who approached this dark field.

Naturally, the strategy is tough, and the loss of life is enormous. Typically, more than 30% of Crossroad's total forces would be wiped out in the game's White Night battles.

If more are lost? Game over.

The damage threshold is 30%. In other words, this is a formidable foe where at least 30% casualty is always expected.

'So, we bypass it.'

Our side doesn't have mages or cursers who can inflict mental status ailments, but we do have the Gambler's Club, specialized in utility.

The problem with the Gambler's Club is that they are not combat characters.

They're versatile but practically useless in combat. Even the weakest mob requires a struggle to hunt down.

If deployed on the battlefield, they'd likely melt away before even attempting any tricks, either from indiscriminate magical barrages or eye beam shows by White Night.

'So, the top priority is ensuring the Gambler's Club safely approaches White Night!'

Long story short, that's why I came up with this method!

"This surprise party!"

1. The Gambler's Club can approach White Night without combat.

2. Lure White Night into the very center of our encirclement.

3. Even catch the enemy off-guard.

Operation Surprise Party is a strategy that is seemingly beneficial in all aspects!

"...But conversely speaking."

Lucas, standing quietly beside me, coldly countered.

"The Gambler's Club could be killed with just a flick of White Night's hand, and isn't it like allowing the enemy's monstrous corps commander to enter our headquarters without resistance? Moreover, will the enemy commander really be off-guard..."

Damn, that's a sharp rebuttal. I clicked my tongue bitterly and turned to look at him.

The Hotel Crossroad party hall, decorated as a banquet hall.

Lucas, smartly dressed in a crisp tan suit, and Evangeline, adorned in a fluttering pale yellow dress, stood by my side as if to escort me.

I whistled as I looked back and forth between them.

"Come to think of it, it's my first time seeing you dressed up like this, isn't it? You both look great."

"Hastily, I dug out this formal wear made a while ago for this sudden party... but it seems a bit tight. I must have grown taller."

Lucas, initially bashful at my compliment, quickly regained his composure.

"Ahem! Anyway, isn't this operation too much of a gamble, my lord?"

"We shoulder the risk. If the scam show using the Gambler's Club succeeds, the benefits are too great."

I replied calmly while surveying the well-decorated party hall.

Sure, a frontal assault would mean a reliable clear, but typically it results in losing about 30% of our allies.

Is it a fair price to kill the third-ranked legion commander at the cost of 30% of our own? Is that a rational expense?

...It might be. Moreover, the forces of the World Guardian Front will be augmented soon, so maybe the 30% we lose now will seem cheap in hindsight.

But if there's another way.

If there's a path that even slightly reduces the loss of our allies' lives. Even if that path is a bit outlandish, but holds enough possibility.

Wouldn't it be worth a try?

"A party, of all methods."

Evangeline in her fluttering pale yellow dress looked like a chick. She grew taller, but did her mental age stay the same? She still bounces around energetically.

"I always thought you were a smart person..."

Evangeline glanced at me while munching on snacks held in her arms.

"Can I be honest?"

And then, the Princess of the Lake Kingdom entered the party hall.

Click. Clack.

As she entered, making the sound of her heels, the sound of people swallowing their breaths echoed in the hall like dominoes.

I broke into a cold sweat at the unexpected sight. What is this?

Nameless, who was unrecognizable after being cleaned and polished in the past, was stunning, but this time, representing the Lake Kingdom... I had the maids dress her up.

'Is she even human?'

Her snow-white hair was neatly tied at the back, and her pale skin, which lacked exposure to light, had a healthy glow due to light makeup.

Her clear, teal eyes with neatly arranged long lashes. A straight nose with plump lips painted with a bright lipstick.

Dressed in a light blue dress with a hint of green, fitting for the representative of the Lake Kingdom, she wore a gold and red crown on her head, holding a long scepter made of jade in her hand.

'She looks like a porcelain doll...?'

She was so beautiful that it was like looking at a piece of art rather than a person.

Nameless, who entered wearing low-heeled shoes, seemed embarrassed by the mesmerized gazes of the people but soon properly greeted those around her and quickly made her way towards me.

With a slightly flushed face, Nameless asked me through gritted teeth.

"...Did you write that introduction, Ash?"

"Of course, I did."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Is there anything wrong?"

"...No, not at all."

As Nameless, shyly covering her face, the heroes who had fought together in dungeons rushed over from all directions, surprised.

"Wow...! Sister Nameless! You look amazing like this when you dress up! Please dress up more often!"

"Wait, Nameless, you're royalty?!"

"That too from the Lake Kingdom?! Why didn't you say anything before!"

"Well, that's..."

Nameless, surrounded by other heroes, struggled to respond.

Watching her with a sense of satisfaction, I gestured to Lucas with my eyes.

"How about it, my secret weapon, Nameless."

"Definitely a user of tremendous beauty... no, a user of formidable power."

Lucas, who had swallowed his saliva, looked back at me.

"...But my lord."

"Hmm?"

"If I'm not mistaken, you didn't call Nameless here just as insurance..."

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"Isn't the reason you organized this party... because of Nameless?"

"...Huh?"

I broke into a cold sweat.

This golden retriever guy, why is he sometimes so perceptive...?

That's when it happened.

"Please pay attention!"

The servant at the entrance of the party hall, unlike before, shouted in a trembling voice.

"The descendant of the lost Eastern Continent, the owner of the Lake Kingdom's Wizard Tower, the third-ranked commander of the Nightmare Legion, who has promised to form an alliance with humanity! The protagonist of this party!"

A cold silence descended on the party hall, which had been buzzing with the arrival of Nameless, as if on cue.

"Lady White Night is entering!"

And with that announcement, she entered the party hall.

The Jiangshi Grand Sorceress with blue skin, wearing a body-hugging Eastern-style dress that showcased her sensual figure.

Following her, ten other Jiangshi Liches in Eastern-style black uniforms, their muscular bodies clearly visible.

With the entrance of these 11 undead monstrosities, the atmosphere in the party hall turned icy.

As if enjoying the freezing air, White Night covered her mouth with a fan and laughed.

Beep.

I operated the tiny artifact - a communicator - attached to my ear.

"The mark has entered."

Among the heroes dressed in tense suits and dresses -

Five gamblers from the Gambler's Club, dressed as waiters and serving drinks and snacks, smoothly received my communication.

"Alright, players."

As the monstrosities began to enter the party hall, and our gazes met, I whispered softly.

"Let's start the show."