Zoe POV

            Today, a meeting between the strongest Party Leaders of Naut City would be held. After the sealing of all the Goblin Camps, the World Map we could access expanded further. The meeting’s agenda was the next Dungeon, the Ruins of the Ancient Goblin City: Goble, which was located east of Naut City. According to lore, Goblin Magic originated from Goble, which was why it was named so.

Ruins of the Ancient Goblin City

            Maximum Players: 50

            Ten Floors, Boss on the Final Floor

Warning: Once entered, no one can leave until the Boss is defeated.

The preceding message warned us when we attempted to enter the Dungeon, so we immediately returned to Naut City and informed everyone about the Dungeon.

            I sat at the restaurant frequented by top Players where we would meet. The meeting was at ten o’clock and it was fifteen minutes before then.

            “You’re early.” a voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked back and found Hawk there.

            “I have nothing to do. Three of my Players went to apply for the Swordmaster Tournament. Speaking of, are you and Dove joining as well?”

            Hawk sat down beside me and replied, “Yes.”

            “There’s Kin, Blitz, and Razor as well. Kotel’s victory is going to be difficult.”

            “You should trust your Party more.” said Hawk.

            “I’m being realistic. While defeating Razor or Dove is realistically plausible for Kotel, beating you, Blitz, or Kin will take a miracle. Even then, there’s no guarantee than he only fights one of you.”

            “It’s single elimination, so the random bracketing is a huge deal. I hope I don’t have to fight Dove.”

            “How do you think she’ll do?”

            “She’ll defeat Blitz if she faces him.”

            “Why do you think so highly of Dove?”

            “We knew each other in real life remember?”

            “Yes, and?”

            “From all my friends in the university, she was the only one I could never predict. She would always do things out of my expectations. The things she does are not noteworthy in anyway. They were normal things normal people do, yet I could not predict them.”

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            What Hawk said was probably true. Not only that, it was likely one of the reasons Hawk fell in love with Dove.

            Five minutes before the call time, everyone else had arrived: Swan, Purge, Blitz, and Kin.

            “Fifty Players are necessary for the raid. We need a list of all that will participate. All nine members of Cerulean Seas will participate.” I explained.

            We compiled the list of Players from our Parties and their Jobs.

Platina Knights: Swan(Lancer), Sheev(Hunter), Sadie(Alchemist), Sophie(Monk), Silva(Oracle)

Golden Warriors: Kin(Paladin), Gin(Lancer), Aka(Spell Blade), Ao(Wizard), Ki(Enchanter), Mido(Cleric), Mura(Archer)

Lime Breeze: Purge(Monk), Razor(Templar), Eye(Archer), Plas(Wizard), Link(Prophet), Rem(Swordsman), Vort(Shaman), Load(Morpher), Zip(Dancer)

Azure Rain Forces: Hawk(Spell Blade), Dove(Assassin), Canary(Sage)

Cerulean Seas: Zoe(Cleric), Kotel(Spell Blade), Fumes(Defender), Pyrion(Fighter), Lykha(Morpher),  Flax(Lancer), Aim(Hunter)

Crimson Swords: Blitz(Gladiator), Burst(Fighter), Block(Paladin), Break(Hunter), Bloom(Priest), Blow(Wizard), Bleed(Rouge), Born(Summoner), Bloat(Hermit)

            “They’ll fill out any remaining spaces. Currently, that’s forty Players in total. Should we fill out the rest with Crimson Swords sub-Parties?” I said.

            “No. I think we should spread the news to less-known Players and have them join. I’m sure there are a few who are better than Crimson Swords sub-Parties.” suggested Kin.

            “I agree with Kin, but their skill should be assessed first so they won’t be liabilities.” added Hawk.

            “I think so as well, but testing them one by one would be a hassle?” contributed Purge.

            “There’s a better way. I messaged Crow to come here. She knows more about the middle-tier Parties than we do.” said Hawk.

            “Crow?” I asked along with Purge.

            “A freelance Healer for middle-tier Parties that’s quite skilled.” explained Swan.

            After a few minutes, Hawk asked the person who sat nearby just now, “Do you recommend any middle-tier Players?”

            It was only then that I gave attention to the hooded person who sat on the same table as we did. For some reason, the girl, who I assume is Crow, held a presence too weak to be owned by a person. While I knew of people who did not attract attention, this was an extreme version of that.

            “The best Player not in from your Parties is Kiwi, a Metal Paladin solo-Player. Other than that, there are the twins Rise and Rize, a Water Wizard and a Fire Priest respectively; Med, a Wind Fighter; Stan, a Metal Swordsman; and Ave, an Earth Summoner.” enumerated Crow in a monotonous tone.

            “Including Crow, that would be forty-six Players. The remaining four slots will be filled with your sub-Parties. We’ll leave the choice to you, Blitz.”

    “Yes.” replied Blitz.

            “As for our strategy and formation, if no one minds, I’ll take care of it since I’m a healer.”

            Nobody objected. While the other Leaders were great strategists in their own right, they would be fighting in the frontlines. There’s no way they could actively command all fifty people whilst fighting.

            “So? When will the battle be?” asked Blitz.

            “Let’s have it before the Swordmaster Tournament to prevent sore losers from hijacking the raid.” said Hawk.

            “You sure are pessimistic, but there’s no harm in preventing that. Would June 27 be good?” said Purge.

            Once again, nobody objected. Our meeting ended with our spreading what was decided upon to our Party members and the other people joining.