Today, trainer Shadyna will teach her apprentice the super final ultimate technique!

Or at least, I hope I can invent one. I taught her the previous one during our first meeting and didn't think I would need another!

In my defense, people usually don't need more killing techniques after learning to use seven weapons at the same time and demolishing bonus bosses with said weapons. Not until they are defeated in some dramatic duel to buy time for the main hero, or something as ridiculous.

_ Shadyna: In the end, the gist of it is that has no means of attacking before or the pets decimate everything, isn't it…?

_ Elix: I stand by what I said. Ya gonna need speed or range to fix that.

Indeed, as she doesn't lack damage. Removing the damage limit may change that, but I don't think Sateri will appreciate the gesture…

_ Shadyna: Probably~ Does anyone have an idea on how to do it, exactly?

My bodyguards returned with shortly after my absolutely inspiring and helpful consulting session. He is quite chill for someone who just underwent horrendous unspeakable services. I was honestly surprised at his fortitude, even if I had no idea what was going on in that warehouse.

Then I saw his legs quaking the whole walk back to us. Such bravery!

The first one to say anything about that loses, so I'll keep silent, un.

_ Thelia: Speed or range huh… , how do you usually deal with enemies at range?

_ Helen: Me~? Let's see~ [Fire Spear]? But see~ I wouldn't mind playing tag with cute kittens either.

_ Thelia: *Turns to * Don't become like her, okay?

_ Poltea: U-un.

_ Helen: Eh~~~

I have to agree with there. This darn womanizer~!

_ Poltea: E-excuse me, but aren't you a melee fighter, ? You can actually use spells?

_ Helen: Anyone can~ It usually won't be effective because their damage depends on FOC instead of STR, and FOC is really hard to grind if you only use melee attacks.

In other words, she's a magic knight. Or if we want to say it in game terms, a hybrid build.

Jack of all trades, master of none, a waste of money, can't do anything proper, stop fooling around and play seriously, you trash! The general populace's view on players who strive to diversify their toolbox is less than kind, but the appeal of a prodigy excelling at both physical and magical attacks never seems to subside. The busty lady in front of me is no exception, evidently.

Well, due to the way each attribute increases multiple stats in this game, everyone is already using a hybrid build technically. Although we still ended up with min-maxers like , they are nowhere near unbeatable.

_ Thelia: And you have almost no HP in exchange. Seriously, I am an archer. Why do I have to tank when I play with you?

_ Helen: But ~ You grind physical attributes so that's a given!

_ Poltea: Eh? Eh? is actually a tank?

Looking at my apprentice's expression, I wonder how many villains have gone through the same experience as they intentionally focused on the squishy-looking ranged attacker, just for her to shrug it off with a "Is that all you got?" smirk while the ignored spearwoman shoved her pointy stick up their flanked butts…

As expected of the otome protagonist and her main heroine, these girls know how to ruin a bad guy's day!

_ Thelia: Uh, not really. I only tank when there's literally no other option. Neither or I have the defense to… What's with that look, owner?

_ Shadyna: Nothing~! I just think you two make a good couple.

_ Helen: I know right~?

_ Thelia: What are you blabbering about, owner…? Wait, what are you doing?! Are you trying to kill me with those bombs you lecherous womaniz… Omph! Nhghnn!!!

Death by hopes and dreams suffocation achievement, GET! For , that is~!

____________

On an uneven rocky landscape, sits a slumbering ancient spider. Surrounding it is a big gathering of players on high alert, silently watching its every movement.

…No, this is not a spider-worshipping cult, even if it looks like one. To begin with, the resemblances to a spider end at a vaguely insectoid body and lots of legs (ten, to be exact). This "creature" is probably not even biological with its smooth deep blue shell. That, and how it has a chimney-like organ on the back that randomly spits out lightning balls as idle animation.

All in all, it gives off the air of an automaton guarding a high tech ancient ruins rather than some overgrown insect making itself at home. Not that this game has any high tech ancient ruin, especially when it can have a catboy arriving at the site using magic.

_ Elix: Yo.

_ Manager: What took you so long? We were considering whether to start without you.

_ Elix: Sorry, got into some stuff. You guys ready?

_ Manager: Ayup. Ready when you are.

_ Elix: Alright then… We are not fighting it today.

_ Manager: Sure, let's g… Wait, what?!

Not just the manager, but everyone within earshot turns to him with various expressions ranging from "What da heck?" confusion to outright "You made us come all the way here and said WHAT?!" rage.

And it's not an overreaction. Field bosses, despite the buffs to their stats as deterrence, are still a source of wealth and power that normal mobs or variants cannot provide. In order to have a chance at their rare drops nowadays, the raiding guild(s) need to setup a perimeter in advance to guard the boss itself before they can pile on it. Depending on the values of the potential loot, the amount of gold coins spent on fighting the actual boss might as well be small changes compared to the cost of the fortifications built around it.

That goes double for high level bosses with good drops like this particular spider. They are considered strategic resources requiring a permanent garrison for exploitation. The powerful skill scrolls and equipment series are simply too profitable, and big guilds will literally kill others (in game) to have a monopoly on the market.

Realizing that he stepped on a landmine topic, frantically explains himself before the angry allies tear him a new one.

_ Elix: Wait! Let me explain! We will still kill it! Just that we don't have to fight it ourselves!

_ Manager: …How are we going to kill a boss without fighting it?

The catboy points his thumb to the four girls arriving behind him.

_ Elix: They will fight it.

____________

Because was having a hard time understanding how a squishy tank was supposed to work, and are fighting a level 30 boss to demonstrate!

…For the record, I had nothing to do with this, okay? There are few creatures that can survive my guild members for an extended period of time, and the edge of the world is a tad too chaotic for children to observe and learn. That leaves the high level bosses who can put up a proper fight as long as the duo deactivate [Accelerate Bonus] and [Alpha Strike Bonus] beforehand. To our surprise, jumped into the discussion and recommended this boss to us.

Of course he can't let us have the it for free, considering how farming this spider is part of his guild's income. We settled with keeping only the coins. Our members have enough money to buy whatever skill or armor the boss drops anyway. I will also help out with [Dismantling], so there is no way will lose money from this.

Having a positive win-win deal is vital for long term business, un!

_ Poltea: So you can tank by evading too… Ah, isn't this how you fight as well, ?

As expected of a diligent girl, is working hard at analyzing the fight. I am sitting this one out by the way. Not even in the party since my LDR bonus will just make the battle end faster.

_ Shadyna: Un… Kind of but not really. I like staying on the move, and evasion is part of that playstyle. Pay attention to 's footwork. See how she's barely moving from one spot?

Slide to the right, one step back, sidestep slightly, skip forward. A beautiful ballerina telling a tragic story to the audience using her own body… is what I would say, if she wasn't a delivery girl shooting a massive spider point-blank with a crossbow.

_ Poltea: She really is staying close to that spot… is doing the same on the other side too. Why are they doing that?

Not just attacking from opposite directions, but they are also balancing aggro so that the boss switches target every now and then. The one having aggro can focus on evasion, and the other has the leisure to unleash their most powerful techniques from behind. A basic form of kiting, but very effective nevertheless.

Yup, it's a story about psychopathic beauties murdering the beast in cold blood! Tragic, I know~

_ Shadyna: It's true that you have a wider range of evasion if you are running, so they have a reason to hold position. I am not certain but it's probably…

_ Elix: To maintain formation.

_ Shadyna: Yup.

_ Poltea: Formation…?

_ Elix: She who holds aggro, controls the enemy's movements. The more players there are in a battle, the harder it is for everyone to move around and fight. The easiest way to solve that is to stand in place and take the hits. Those two do not have the HP and defense to withstand too many hits, so that's how they stay alive while still fulfilling a tank's duty.

_ Manager: It's like herding cats. Can you imagine organizing a raid party when your leader keeps jumping into the line of fire and dying as a result?

_ Elix: Huh, that does sound familia… Wait, are you talking about me?!

Even though is not saying anything to the bickering pair, she does have an understanding look towards the manager. Guess that can't be helped, her first tamed beast is the result of a similar incident after all~

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

_ Poltea: So evasion is possible while moving very little. But will be exposed to danger if I avoid attacks…

_ Shadyna: You don't need to dodge every single one of them. Melee attacks, for instance, won't reach the backline even if you avoid it. You can also stack some shields behind another to reduce your hitbox until you encounter AoE, since shields won't trigger defense bonus on small attacks that cannot hit them.

To be fair, she needs not any of those. My equipment's base PDF and MDF are enough to tank anything short of a bonus boss anyway. It will help hone her player skills still, and I am not going to deny her that after she explicitly asked for it.

_ Poltea: U-un. Evade whatever I can and put shields away unless needed, is it? I'll do my best to practice those skills!

What a hardworking girl~

I'm glad that she's willing to learn, though the biggest question remains unanswered.

What should we do about her offensive capability?

____________

Hesitant as they are to admit it, the alliance is struggling against the edge of the world.

_ Torenis: They are respawning!

A high level boss, no problem. A single unique boss, they can handle. A unique boss escorted by two dozen level capped bosses whose respawn time is a few minutes… What kind of sadistic designer thought that was a good idea?!

The guildmaster of redirects his flame bird towards the newly arrived boss to relieve the frontline. Tanking against this many bosses is nigh impossible regardless of the accompanying mobs, so it is necessary to take them out asap to maintain anything resembling a formation.

Knowing that is one thing. Being able to do something about it is another. Even if all nukes in the vicinity focus fire, they are still unable to kill escort bosses fast enough before they respawn. Moreover, the closer the alliance is to the gigantic Nox, the faster it is for respawned bosses to walk back to the battle.

On the other end of the battlefield, the leader of seems to be in a similar situation.

_ Cinrald: This is as far as we can get, . We can burn through consumables to creep a bit further, but we are not reaching the boss with just us.

It is still further than most of their attempts thus far. In a desperate move defying common sense, the numerically inferior players decided to widen their lines. Spreading out into two parallel fronts, they can fight on two separate fronts and effectively halve the number of bosses anyone has to face at a single time. The middle area becoming a (relatively) safer zone for buffers and healers is an unexpected but welcomed bonus.

That strategy also requires a higher number of players to maintain formation however. A number that both and do not have.

_ Torenis: Alright. Everyone! We will be farming here until others arrive! Setup defensive structures and make sure no monster gets through!

_ Players: OOOOHHH!!!

Who needs Raid Breaker service when they are pretty much doing Raid Breaker every day! This was pretty much how the top guilds avoided getting toppled by upstarts suddenly getting access to endgame power grinding.

On the other hand, it doesn't mean the big guilds can keep failing to kill the Nox. Although the loots increase the overall power of a guild, they do so by providing stronger equipment to weaker players. The guildmasters and best players can only grind their attributes, for their equipment, level and main skills reached the limit a long time ago. The money and less-trained skills are in no way insignificant, but they are not how a top beta player can single-handedly take on multiple level-capped players at the same time.

To maintain the status quo, this massive tumor of a boss needs to die, ideally before the materials dropped here become worthless for the players picking it up.

____________

_ Elix: It's entering second phase! Step back everyone!

It took 15 minutes for and to wear down the first phase. Not sure how fast 's group usually does it, but I think that is pretty fast for just two players without OP damage multipliers. That's 15 minutes of everyone here not fighting still, so I made some low-level [Sand Cream Puff] to share.

The overall feedback is positive. Materialism is looking forward to its next tribute~

I wanted to pull out a table and have a tea party too, but had to refrain due to the environment damage.

Yes, this is one of the zone with environmental damage. Lightning type, to be specific.

Similar to Sand Circles area, this place is partitioned into "rooms" marked by metallic thorny vines. The dividing vines of each room join together at the top, forming a frame similar to that of a tribal hut or conical hats, but at the size of an apartment building. The environmental damage comes from the convergence at the top.

Zzzt! BLAM!

In the form of random lightning strikes. Yup, welcome to the Thunder Huts, because Thunder Stick Frames doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Because it can hit absolutely everywhere and everyone within the arena, placing static furniture is out the question. I'm not going to drink electrically charged tea even if I can shrug off the damage, thank you very much. Saying that it will make my heart skip a beat is NOT helping.

Even more impressive than us evading lightning strikes while eating sweets is the two players doing the same while fighting a boss. just had to choose an extreme zone to demonstrate evasion builds, didn't he…?

_ Thelia: Switch to long range assault!

_ Helen: Roger~

Seeing the boss charging up with an electric ball covering its body, the two dash in opposite directions at max speed. "Second phase" here is not a real second form like the bonus bosses, but rather a change in skillsets or behavior of the same creature. This boss in particular will use AoE lightning spells when its HP gets low, it looks like.

_ Thelia: Spirits of magic, heed my call! Eliminate my enemy! [Earth Blast Bomb]! [Wind Strike]!

_ Helen: A nice glass, good alcohol, some cold ice~ [Weapon Throw]! [Fire Spear]~

Spell chants are all over the place, as per usual~

The moment I see the wind-imbued arrow and flying spear smacking into the boss, something clicks.

_ Elix & Shadyna: That's it!

_ Poltea: W-what is?

____________

After a long and painful grind which borderlines self-inflicted torment, finally gets the reinforcements he was waiting for: Unity of Mankind and Blue Blood Federation.

_ Xierro: Hah! You're still alive? Worry not, your victory is guaranteed now that I am here!

_ Torenis: Your continued presence still hasn't earned us that victory in case that wasn't obvious enough! Get your members to the left. , to the right. Guard our flanks when we push forward. We need to maintain this corridor in the middle for our nukes and healers.

_ Xierro: You heard the tactician. Move! Move!

For some incomprehensible reasons, the multi-shield wielder and Black Mantis can be seen amidst the scrambling newcomers moving to their positions. The genius strategist is quite certain that those two weren't in the alliance, which was formed to combat a particular girl's very influence by the way, and it will be very concerning if he somehow called them here without realizing it.

Because he was not informed of their visit and there are better things to worry about, things that he can actually deal with no less, the great strategist of has decided to pretend he didn't see nothing!

_ Cinrald: Oh hi there, . And you too, . I don't think you had that bandolier the last time we saw each other?

Until a maniac who can't read the mood calls out to them!

_ Poltea: H-hello, Miss . Yes, just made this bandolier for me. It is for the new… potions?

Why is that a question…? Thinks the sane man in , but he once again does his best to focus on keeping the now-neglected front from collapsing.

_ Cinrald: Potions? Ah, a quickslot equipment.

_ Shadyna: Yup! I made her some new rechargeable… potions? So I crafted this bandolier for her to access them easily!

Quickslot equipment is what one would expect from its name: A piece of wearable equipment that can be used to pull out consumables without opening the inventory UI. It is not strictly necessary though, as there is a quickslot UI which has the exact same functionality. This equipment is mostly used by roleplayers for the immersion value, or maniacs who needs more quickslots than the UI can provide.

The leather bandolier in question is a shoulder strap type, worn over 's right shoulder to her hip, hooking into her belt. Rather than several sockets containing the energy or glass orbs which are the standard appearance for potions in this game, hers houses several smaller pockets with metallic rods the size of a shotgun shell. Each has colored runic marks all over their surface, even though the user herself won't be able to see much of those until she actually pulls the thing out.

_ Elix: Didn't we agree to call them skill charges?

_ Shadyna: I figured it would just cause more confusions because no one here was in our discussion~

_ Cinrald: Heh~ Skill charge, is it? I guess it's why you are here?

_ Shadyna: Un! We worked out the theories. Just need a good place for a practical test!

_ Elix: They won't get in the way so don't mind them. If you need something dead though, point them in that direction.

Based on his enthusiasm, must have been involved as well. That darn traitor! He was supposed to contain these menaces, not join them!

Not that could say that out loud. The new strategy is in no way a guarantee to victory, so the pragmatic guildmaster decides to accept the help without objection, this time.

_ Cinrald: In that case, would you be so kind to help us suppress the generic bosses? We can handle the Nox and its mobs, but as expected, this many bosses are a high hurdle.

_ Poltea: I-I'll do my best!

While both guildmasters are dying to know what new stunt the girls are going to pull, they have a job to do. Hoping that the recording streamers would have the full footage later, the most powerful parties of the alliance begin charging towards the massive tumor latching to the dark barrier.

_ Torenis: Forward!!!

_ Players: OOOOOHHHH!!!

As the motivated adventurer army smashes into the horde of darkness with little regard to themselves, pulls out the first vial.

_ Poltea: [Throw Charge].

The runes on her vial glow brightly in response.

was looking at the ostrich boss standing in his guild's way when it happened.

He almost missed it due to the darkness, and altitude. It's not every day that someone would overtake him by simply jumping over his party from behind, without even using [Leap].

_ Torenis: Wha…

_ Cinrald: ?!

It's not easy to identify someone in the darkness, but the amount of shields spinning around the person in question is a dead giveaway. That, and having enough DEX to jump that far. Even DEX min-maxing players will be hard-pressed to do so.

_ Poltea: [Leap Charge]!

Another rune flares up, sending its user upwards once more because she's too young to understand physics.

A few seconds later, reaches peak height and begins to descends. It then becomes clear that she is aiming at the same boss had his eyes on. Not quite in melee range yet, but she will still land close enough for mid-range combat.

…Wait, does this girl even use ranged attacks?

_ Poltea: [Lightning Bomb]!

It was, in reality, not a bomb.

Well, technically it is still an [Alchemy] bomb, only in the shape of a big, sparking capsule. More importantly, it was thrown along with all seven shields the girl had on her. Rather than the bomb, the shield throwing was the main attack, and she didn't even call it!

*WHOMP* *BOOM*

The poor creature was completely vaporized and then some by the six-digit damage. Not as much as when her partner is with her obviously, but that is still more than enough to kill most stuff a few times over.

As for the mobs around it, they were decimated by the bomb's blast. It hit the boss as the same time as the shields and had its damage multiplied as part of the alpha strike as a result, even though the shields themselves did not have any AoE.

Before any witnessing player can register the massacre in front of their eyes, the little girl disappears in a [Recall] flash, back to her pet golem behind the lines.

_ Torenis: Like… What? How?!

_ Shadyna: That's because unlike magic skills, physical attack skills tend to be invoked on the next attack! If you add such skills as an [Enchant] effect in a healing potion, it will behave the same way as if you cast the skill yourself, activating only when the conditions are fulfilled!

_ Torenis: Uh… What?

_ Elix: And because her main damage source is a collection of melee weapons, the best way for her to do ranged attacks without compromising damage is [Weapon Throw]! Kind of obvious now that we think about it!

_ Shadyna: Therefore, we shall name it!

_ Elix & Shadyna: "Fortress Drop maneuver"!

Being bombarded by "explanations" by two excited maniacs, can only orz on the ground.

It's no good. He can understand every single word, and somehow has no idea what in the world they are talking about at all!

____________

Today is one of those rare relatively slow days for the cafeteria crew. Relatively because it merely means they are not over capacity. The waitresses working the counter are still going to use this chance for a small break however.

_ Hessenria: It's been a while since we had a chance to sit down like this, didn't we?

_ Inerin: It really has. And outing too.

_ Hessenria: We should have one soon, lest our player skills rust. Any noteworthy change in the meta lately?

_ Inerin: You know meta-changing skills don't just randomly appear like that… Ah, your use of [Slam] and [Leap] bombs might be considered meta for evasion these days. We'll need to update our tactics accordingly.

_ Hessenria: Indeed. Heard the patrons talking about it more frequently. Do we have a name for it yet?

The archer waitress pauses for a good moment, then speaks with a "Well, whatever" expression.

_ Inerin: Pretty sure the players are calling it " maneuver" on the board.

_ Hessenria: …WHY?!?!

--- Topic: Fishing new meta? ---

…

## GoldBar9999

The food market! The food market!!! (TOT)

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## Newbie Charisma build

@GoldBar9999 broke. RIP.

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## OP alchemist

So did the market prices. Suddenly getting a massive increase in supply while demand remains the same tends to have that outcome.

Brb gonna bulk buy cheap materials for crafting ($_$)

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## Maximus Archery

If a market can collapse because of fish, it deserves a collapse LOLOL

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## CuteIsJustice

You are NOT helping! (^_^;)

##

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--- Topic: Nox Terminus 2 battle ---

## Deeply Intelligent

We are streaming our battle against the second Nox.

- Left flank streams - [Links]: Phoenix Ashes and Blue Blood Federation

- Right flank streams - [Links]: Pathwrecker and Unity of Mankind

- Central streams - [Links]: Guildmasters and our special guests

##

## Serious Mage

Weren't you guys fighting it this entire time? Did something change?

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## Deeply Intelligent

Nothing changed. We absolutely did not get any heavy firepower support and expect it to die before dawn at all. (・・)

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## Flame knight of Darkness

About time. You sure took your sweet time with it (￣ー￣)

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## Serious Mage

They have failed every single raid attempt so far. I don't think some additional support stands a chanc…

( ﾟдﾟ)

Oh. Ooooohhh

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## Bountiful Hunter

Level 40 cap here we go!

EDIT: Saw the special guest. What. The. HECK!!! Σ(ﾟДﾟ)

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## Mage of Sin

Aspiring Heroes has also been called in ヽ(´▽`)/

Let’s do this!

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## Manly Warrior

Forget about the end of the day. It's going to be dead in the next hour!

And please give some announcement beforehand if you guys were going to do something this big! I almost missed it! ( つ Д ｀)

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