MM - Chapter 114 - SPEARHEAD OF ORTHRUS

Instead of waiting to be surrounded, Rocky leaned low to the ground and dashed at the rightmost rahk glahm. It was furthest from its oversized allies, marking it a prime target. From his perch on the demon's shoulder, Raine used the leaning of its torso to power a Leap that sent him zipping toward a nemaghaap recovering from its blindness. 

He crashed into it weapon first, turning its wing into a twisted wreck. Outraged, it grabbed at him with clawed hands but the force projection of Raine’s Connection made him slippery as a wet fish. He let himself fall a meter, then snagged one of the monster’s legs. Swinging beneath and around, he landed feet-first on its back before jumping toward the next closest nemaghaap.

Rocky's crunching steps killed enough elites that Raine maxed out his staff mastery at record speed. Mid-air, he tried to swap weapons but ended up with the staff again. Grumbling at the pain lancing through his muscles with nothing to show for it, he activated the roulette again, and a flash of light coalesced into his heaviest weapon.

[Immaculate Damascus 2-H Mace: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +78) (Attack Speed -.25) (Defense +22) (PTC +14) (PHY +16) (CNC +15) (Durability 200/200)]

Over thirty flyers were between Raine and Rocky’s target, so he jumped from one to the next, pounding their wings into oblivion. Occasionally, he was forced to rely on Lunge to evade their Powered Blasts. He only took two hits, distracted when Rocky slid across the ground feet first to sweep the legs out from under his opponent.

He sent Rocky into a backward roll to quickly regain its feet. A short hop had it once more slamming feet first into the rahk glahm. Only halfway to a stand, the sudden explosion of force on its back sent it sprawling face-first into two dozen demons. Rocky pinned its legs, making sure it stayed down this time. Meanwhile, repeated punches into its lower back had its health plunging at a ridiculous rate.

Even in the past, Raine was never part of a raid that dismantled a noble so effortlessly. The hierarch far above quivered with fury at its champions turned against one another. The eye glowed briefly, controlling its flying demons to intervene. Raine raced to intervene as they congregated around Rocky, thousands of skills charging to tear into his pet's exposed back. Debilitating Crush made Raine's mace glow, blinding the interloping demons.

The second champion died pitifully, unable to land a single blow. It also marked the end of Raine's free meals; the remaining six were lumbering their way in trios, one group right behind the next. 

With less than two hundred Discipline remaining, Raine wondered if it was finally time for the moochers to play their part. Their levels had increased by three each. While they weren’t used to their attributes yet, they could at least try to distract some regular demons. 

He noticed they had calmed enough to send messages back and forth in the chat. Glad they weren’t panicking, he spoke aloud, triggering the raid leader setting that allowed his voice to reach them from anywhere in line of sight, “Get ready, your turns coming up.”

Raine’s voice abruptly tumbled into TwistedReligion's ear, which caused him to flinch and his Stealth to vanish. Demons who were previously flowing around the column of rock and avoiding them caught sight of the vulnerable human and charged.

The rest of the group, now about to be trampled thanks to their jumpy friend, launched into action with desperate warcries that promised Twisted torture, pain, and agony until he never slept soundly again. Since most of the demons were focused on Raine, the swarm was thin around them. Additionally, they were still in the shadow of the Elemental Finger, so the boss’s full bloodlust didn’t reach them. This was the perfect time for them to either prove they belonged there or learn what they lacked the painful way.

Raine’s allotted time for distractions came to an end. He and Rocky launched themselves at the first trio of approaching champions. The lead monstrosity opened with a wild haymaker that was smoothly redirected by the back of Rocky’s hand. Raine had it stick out a foot, which took advantage of the rahk’s forward momentum to send it to the ground in a horrific crash that would have leveled multiple city blocks.

The next tried to hit Rocky with a powerful forward thrust kick powered by a skill that had its foot glowing bright red and gushing magma. A weaving sidestep simultaneously dodged and allowed Rocky to hook an arm beneath its knee. A slight lift upended the rahk glahm right into the third champion behind it, sending them both to the ground. Watching the numerous demons below, unable to retain their footing amidst the quaking ground, was equally amusing and frustrating. Raine stayed on his mount’s shoulder, wishing he had time to take advantage of the many fallen enemies.

The next trio of champions arrived, just as immune to the shaking terrain as Rocky. It took all Raine's focus to send two of them to the ground without letting Rocky take a hit. The first three were already close to recovering and still at full health. Rocky slid beneath an explosive punch from the last standing champion. Raine was nearly blasted from his perch by the devastating force of the missed blow. Had it hit, he would have lost a majority of his health in an instant. With one hand braced on the ground, Rocky's leg flashed out in a flawlessly executed tripod sidekick that sent the demon hurtling into its allies. All four of them collapsed in a mountainous heap. 

Raine dove into the downed champions, bashing off chunks of sediment. Rocky used several martial maneuvers to throw the last two into the pile, sending the whole herd of glahms tumbling back to the ground. With all six struggling to rise, the duo went to work whittling them down with heavy mace, fist, and martial skill.

Rupture and Debilitating Crush comboed perfectly, degrading their usually formidable Defense to twenty percent of its original. Between Rocky and him, they only lasted a few minutes each. Another twelve point four million Superiority went into Last Chance’s Gambit, then Raine killed all but the last two rahks (not counting the lovable Rocky.)

Utilizing their hefty ten percent health regeneration, Rocky kept them on the ground. At the same time, Raine meticulously chipped away at one’s arms and legs. Once it was reduced to a helpless head and torso, Rocky swiftly finished off the other.

Raine didn’t need to have completed this exact invasion in the past to know what would happen when only one of the champions was left alive. The Gaze of Malefaction released its version of a roar, bathing the realm in strobing shades of scarlet frustration. It vanished from the sky, and the crippled rahk glahm underwent an intense transformation. Its stone exterior rippled, turning several shades darker. Vast chunks of its missing body were restored, and a burning third eye opened on its forehead. The killing intent that once shone down like a sun's rays transferred to the last living champion.

Rocky was already in position above the helpless torso. Its fist crunched into the boss’s face, only for its stony fingers to promptly shatter into rubble.

[Greater Rahk Glahm of Malefaction (Raid Hierarch): Level 30 (HP 521,870/1,210,000) A naturally born commander of the forces of Bahael Ghaap that has fused with its champion. A demon containing insidious intelligence, formidable defenses, and devastating strength]

Despite Rocky sacrificing a hand, the blow had been worth it. A beam of cursed demonic energy lanced from its third eye. If not for the force of Rocky’s punch turning its head toward the ground, the beam would have speared right through Raine. Finally the owner of a mouth, the boss roared, releasing an explosive sphere of bloodlust two kilometers wide. The sound was so intense the distant tower protecting the group shattered. Landslides of tumbling stone fell from Rocky’s body as its health was reduced to less than a quarter in one go.

Even if Raine hadn’t been hiding behind Rocky’s neck, he wouldn’t have died. It was well-established fact that monsters dealt significantly more damage to each other than players. The same rule held true for players killing each other rather than monsters. After all, ZionLine sought to capture the stakes one experiences when fighting on the martial stage, where a single blow often determines who wins or dies.

The moment Raine swung around Rocky’s neck, back onto its shoulder, his bloodlust faltered again. Gritting his teeth, Raine clung with tooth and nail to his killing intent, barely holding the field of mental energy on his skin steady. Leaning forward, he angled down and jumped toward the boss. Rupture and Debilitating Crush led the way, shattering a plate of hardened stone over its heart.

Rocky raised two arms high, bringing a fist and stub down on the boss’s head with bone-shattering force. Significantly weakened, the boss was lifted into the air and would have died if the Gaze of Malefaction hadn’t restored half of its host's health when possessing it. Lacking ways to fight back without limbs, it vainly buffed all the demons under its command. It wasn’t enough.

A curb stomp from Rocky blasted open its chest at the expense of a foot. A flaming heart buried deep within was revealed. Raine swapped back to Fraction of Solidity, reveling in the dual physical boosts. An air Lunge brought him into the fresh cavity, and his mace crushed its heart with impunity.

Pure liquid malice gushed forth from the devastated organ. Under the protection of Unassailable Aegis, Raine was immune to whatever adverse effects or damage he might have taken from the foul blood. Only having five seconds, he was quick to jump out of the rapidly crumbling boss, once more alighting on Rocky’s shoulder.

While his pet went to work swatting the remaining flyers, Raine watched the boss fall to pieces. The first message that popped up in his HUD answered why the difficulty of the raid hadn’t met his expectations.

[Due to hindrance from a higher power, all loot and achievement rewards +2]

Triple rewards?! So the invasion heart has three times more Demonic Power than it should? And that's being multiplied by eight... No wonder.

[Obtained 1,032,000 Raid Superiority (10,750% bonus for defeating a raid hierarch 8 levels above you)]

[Obtained 430% Raid Attunement (10,750% bonus for defeating a raid hierarch 8 levels above you)]

[Level up! +20 free attributes points]

[Potency: +3]

[Finesse: +3]

[Acuity: +3]

[Physique: +3]

[Connection: +4]

[Regional System announcement: Congratulations Alaric’s raid for being the first to clear a nightmare difficulty hierarch raid boss!]

[World System announcement: Congratulations Alaric’s raid for being the first to clear a nightmare difficulty hierarch raid boss!]

[World first achievement for first raid party to clear a nightmare difficulty hierarch raid boss: Acquired Title - Spearhead of Orthrus]

[Spearhead of Orthrus: (Title) (Maximum grade) Grants three additional title slots]

“Three?!” Raine choked, eyes bugging out of his skull. 

Whatever higher power keeps fucking with me: Thank you so much! My guardian angel who keeps giving! Can’t wait to hug you to death when we finally meet, you glorious asshole.

With trembling fingers, Raine accessed his interface and clicked his tongue when he was denied the request to swap titles until managing to exit combat. The remaining several hundred demons couldn’t die fast enough. He ran his killing-intent-soaked gaze over the interlopers, and they trembled in response.

Just then, an explosion of loot bubbles fountained from the boss and the crumbled corpses of its subordinates. They showered the ground in shades of black, gold, and blue. Raine forgot all about the demons that needed to die. He Lunged at the nearest item while Rocky cleaned up the boring details.

Besides the fifty-three gold, the lowest quality was Lustrous Blue, of which there were scant few. The rest were Marvelous Gold, and there were even three Chaotic Golds. Raine wiped the drool from his chin, but it stubbornly returned. With his companions still fighting, he didn’t stop long enough to inspect any of the drops.

After grabbing the last piece, Raine returned to his throne atop Rocky's shoulder. Together, they stomped over to the party. To his great relief and pride, his people were holding their own remarkably well. They had taken several nasty hits while under the effects of the boss’s debilitating bloodlust. Since then, they recovered thanks to Mel and Richtor bottoming out their Celestial Power.

Fizgore was the most impressive by a large margin. The speed and strength behind his movements made it obvious he passed all five attribute thresholds. Like the specimen of tanking supremacy he was, Fizgore held the attention of six demons, not allowing a single attack to graze him. 

Meanwhile, Celeste released an unending barrage of rocky spikes. Raine had instructed her to raise her other attributes now that her grasp of Connection had evolved. The sturdiness of her stance as she flung each weighty projectile showcased that she took his advice. Celeste danced, and her staff spun, releasing three spikes that all hit the same spot, cracking a demon's hard skin. The follow-up bullets of ice and fire gouged out chunks of soft innards before she smoothly changed targets again.

Richtor’s group backed up Talerra, the six of them taking down one solo demon after another with rapidly-growing efficiency. Meanwhile, Rhino and Mel bounced between both groups wherever needed, showcasing impressive battlefield awareness.

Their overall use of attributes was still severely lacking in Raine's eyes. He knew exactly what tips to give each to bring them to the next level. 

To a man, their hackles were raised at Rocky’s approach. Raine's tone let them know he had no intention of bailing them out, “The rest of the little ones are on you. Finish up in the next thirty minutes.” 

Miraculously, there wasn't a single complaint. Their gazes hardened, and they redoubled their efforts. Pleasantly surprised, Raine leaned against Rocky's neck. For the first time in what felt like hours, he relaxed his bloodlust, and the soft putty between his ears cried out in appreciation. He breathed a sigh of sincere relief, then dove into his shiny new acquisitions. 

Of the Lustrous Blues, there was only one piece of equipment. The rest were crafting materials from the champions. As a nightmare raid drop, its basic attributes were 25% above the norm. Only the finest crafted pieces would be a match. Since player crafters were nowhere near that level yet, each piece of new equipment in Raine's inventory was unrivaled in the current ZionLine.

[Voidheart Necklace: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 25) (Elemental Power +95) (Celestial Power +95) (Demonic Power +95) (CNC +47)]

[Summoning Scroll (Greater Rahk Glahm): (Lustrous Blue) Summons a level 30 Greater Rahk Glahm to fight under your command for 1 hour]

[7 x Rahk Glahm Heart Powder: (Lustrous Blue) Potent demonic crafting material that may be used in place of any powder to boost Defense and Durability of final product]

[Demonic Soul Vial: (Lustrous Blue) Pour on any equal or lesser tier craft to grant a random minor demonic property]

All four were excellent in their own way. Celeste already had a decent necklace thanks to Damian, so it would either go to Mel, or Raine could use it as a carrot to motivate TwistedReligion to overcome his fears. The crafting materials were rare types that could improve an already good item, making it into a top-notch piece of equipment at any level. If used in conjunction with more of their type, truly powerful creations could be born.

The most valuable was the summoning scroll, which the past referred to as a war asset. Any guild that sought to engage in open warfare would inevitably be forced to spend hundreds of thousands of gold to match their enemy's war assets. Often, the guild with a superior quantity or quality of these valuable assets came out on top, regardless of player count.

The second most significant asset of any guild was its bank account. The first was, of course, any players who overcame the nigh-insurmountable wall that was the fourth class change quest at level 120. A lone fourth-tier powerhouse could overcome dozens of war assets without any backup, becoming strategic weapons in their own right.

Raine pulled his head from the clouds. He hadn’t even finished the quest to create a guild and was already dreaming of nurturing his friends into powerhouses. He couldn’t blame himself for the thought. Looking down from on high, he carefully examined Fizgore, Celeste, and Rhino. In the past, the three proved they had what it took, and with his guidance, they would definitely exceed their old selves.

At that exact moment, Mel weaved through a dozen lashing limbs to gently tap Rhino on the back, bringing him back to full health. She was out of danger just as smoothly, not a bead of sweat on her forehead. Considering she just broke through her Potency threshold, the display of agility was jaw-dropping.

Make that four. She won't lose out to any of them by the time I'm done with her.

Mel glanced up as if sensing his gaze. When she saw him looking back, a shit-eating grin stretched her lips wide. Respecting his stony response, Mel waved cheerfully and dove back into the fighting. Raine snorted with affectionate amusement, then returned his attention to the first of many Marvelous Gold raid drops.