The Raid Selection
In Yuu's Room
Yuu was completely immersed in his game, entirely disconnected from the real world.
Once again, he was playing his favorite MMORPG—Black Diablo Online.
His fingers danced across the keyboard, a blur of motion as he dodged and weaved through the virtual battlefield. His eyes, glued to the monitor, reflected the flashing lights and explosive effects of the game.
A half-eaten bowl of instant noodles sat forgotten on his desk. The aroma had long since faded, and its warmth was nothing more than a memory.
The only sounds in the room were the click-clack of the keyboard and the occasional burst of in-game sound effects.
The screen zoomed in, focusing on the figure of his character—Pentakiller, a cute female cleric.
She was equipped with a cross-like wand, clad in a shimmering red dress-like armor, and adorned with a legendary wing accessory.
Her weapon, armor, and accessories emitted a brilliant red glow, a clear sign that they were max enchanted.
Then, the world around Yuu shifted, pulling him even deeper into the game.
Pentakiller's Party Enters the Undead Cathedral
Pentakiller had just entered a massive cathedral-like structure, its vast space lined with towering pillars. At the far end, a colossal figure sat motionless on an ornate throne, awaiting challengers.
Yuu's fingers flickered across the keyboard as he typed.
Pentakiller (Yuu):
"Is this the new boss they were talking about? The new update is really cool."
QueenHeart20:
"I've never been this excited for an update! Aside from new content, they finally added new costumes!"
Ryoji:
"Yeah, it's pretty obvious. Looks like you already bought one."
Pentakiller (Yuu):
"Yup. Kind of a waste, though—it doesn't even add any extra stats."
QueenHeart20:
"But my character looks extra beautiful! ❤️❤️❤️"
Suddenly, the figure on the throne began to move.
With a slow, ominous motion, it rose to its feet, towering over the players. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the cathedral as the boss reached behind its back, unsheathing a massive sword, its blade engraved with cursed runes, glowing a sinister purple hue.
[Undead Demon King has Spawned!]
Ryoji:
"The boss has finally spawned!"
Pentakiller (Yuu):
"Alright, let's get this started then!"
Yuu has form a party with his friends in-game, preparing to take on the newly added boss.
As they readied themselves for battle
QueenHeart20, a female archer character, drew her bow, loading an arrow. She wielded a fancy, intricately designed bow and was dressed in a stylish summer bikini outfit, clearly an exclusive cash shop costume.
Ryoji, a male knight character, stood beside them, clad in heavy armor. His longsword, glowing with a red aura, signified that it was also max-enhanced.
The Undead Demon King let out a roar, shaking the entire cathedral as it raised its enormous blade, ready to strike.
The Undead Demon King was a towering skeleton monster, clad in heavy armor and wielding an enormous blade.
As it swung its sword in a circular motion, a magic circle formed in midair. Then, with a powerful downward stab into the ground, the magic activated—stone pillars erupted from the ground, surging toward them.
Seeing the attack coming, the party swiftly dodged.
Pentakiller raised a wand, casting Fortitude, granting a protective shield to all allies.
Ryoji immediately charged forward, slamming into the Undead Demon King with a shield bash, stunning it for a few seconds.
QueenHeart20 took the opportunity to unleash Rapid Shots, firing a flurry of arrows. Seizing the opening, Pentakiller cast Divine Might, striking the boss with holy magic that dealt massive damage.
Pentakiller: "Let's keep this up!"
QueenHeart20: "No problem! My attack speed is super high!"
Ryoji: "Just leave the tanking to me!"
Pentakiller: "Alright, I'll keep healing you!"
The battle raged on—Ryoji absorbed the Undead Demon King's attacks while QueenHeart20 and Pentakiller continued their ranged assault, dealing damage and healing.
Suddenly, the Undead Demon King let out a deep, resonating growl, its eye sockets glowing with eerie purple flames. It raised its massive blade, pointing it toward the party.
Undead Demon King: "Your souls... shall be devoured!"
A dark mist spread across the battlefield.
Pentakiller: "Watch out! It's using another skill!"
The Undead Demon King stabbed its sword into the ground again, but this time, black chains shot out from the magic circle beneath it, aiming at the party.
Ryoji: "Damn! It's a binding spell!"
The chains wrapped around Ryoji, restricting his movement. The same chains shot toward QueenHeart20, but she swiftly leaped back, narrowly avoiding them.
Pentakiller: "Hang on, I'll cleanse it!"
With a flick of his wand, he cast Purify, breaking the dark chains around Ryoji.
Ryoji: "Thanks! Now it's payback time!"
He charged forward, his sword glowing red-hot with power. With a mighty swing, he executed Flame Cleave, a burning slash that struck the Undead Demon King, causing fire damage over time.
QueenHeart20: "Take this!"
She fired Piercing Shot, an arrow of pure energy that drilled into the Undead Demon King's armor, breaking one of its shoulder plates.
The Undead Demon King staggered but then suddenly roared, causing the ground to tremble.
Pentakiller: "It's enraged!"
The boss's attack speed doubled, and it began swinging its sword wildly. Ryoji barely managed to block a strike, sliding backward from the sheer force.
Then, the Undead Demon King raised its sword above its head and activated a new skill—
"Soul Reaper Slash!"
A massive wave of dark energy surged forward.
Pentakiller: "Dodge it!"
They barely leaped out of the way, but the sheer force sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.
Seeing an opening, QueenHeart20 activated Freezing Shots, firing arrows coated in frost magic, slowing the boss down.
Pentakiller followed up with Radiance, blasting the boss with holy energy.
The Undead Demon King let out a guttural snarl, its life bar dropping rapidly. It was now down to 1/4 HP.
But as the boss's health dropped to one-fourth, it smashed the ground with its sword. A dark energy pulsed outward, summoning waves of undead monsters while the Undead Demon King itself began healing rapidly.
Pentakiller: "We're almost there!"
QueenHeart20: "Come on! It just summoned more monsters!"
Ryoji: "And it's healing! This is bad—it seems unstoppable!"
Pentakiller: "I think we need to clear the monster waves first!"
Ryoji: "Yeah, that's the best move! Let's clean this up quickly!"
Ryoji activated Taunt, drawing all the monsters toward him, then used Sweeping Strike, spinning like a whirlwind and slashing through the enemies.
QueenHeart20 rained down Arrow Shower, followed by a barrage of Rapid Shots, Freezing Shots, and Piercing Shots, keeping her distance while continuously firing.
Pentakiller cast Divine Circle, creating a holy aura that healed allies and damaged enemies. He followed up with Purify and Radiance, burning the undead with divine energy before finishing with Judgment, a powerful spell that both healed him and damaged enemies.
After an intense battle, they cleared the undead monsters, preventing the Undead Demon King from fully regenerating. Weakened, the boss staggered, now stunned for a few more seconds.
Pentakiller: "This is our chance! Keep up the pressure!"
Ryoji: "Yeah! Let's go!"
QueenHeart20: "Alright, I'm all in!"
They unleashed a relentless assault, spamming their strongest attacks. The Undead Demon King's health dropped rapidly, until it finally reached 1 HP. Its skeleton body cracked, breaking apart into scattered bones.
But just when they thought it was over, the boss's sword began glowing ominously, emitting a dark aura—a final desperate cry echoed through the battlefield.
Pentakiller: "Wait… the sword has its own HP?!"
QueenHeart20: "The skeleton pieces… are they reforming?!"
Ryoji: "What the—?! How is this not over yet?!"
Pentakiller: "Ah! I get it! The sword must be the real source of its power! We need to destroy it!"
Ryoji: "Oh! You're right!"
QueenHeart20: "Wow, you're really smart!"
Pentakiller: "Save the compliments for later—let's end this now!"
Ryoji & QueenHeart20: "Agreed! Let's finish it!"
The three focused all their attacks on the sword, unleashing their ultimate skills:
Pentakiller: "Judgment!" – A massive pillar of holy light crashed down.
QueenHeart20: "Arrow Volley!" – A rain of arrows descended, striking the cursed weapon.
Ryoji: "Guillotine Slash!" – A devastating sword strike cut through the dark aura.
BOOM!
With a final explosion of energy, the Undead Demon King's sword shattered, and the remaining bones collapsed into dust.
[Undead Demon King has been slain!]
A golden treasure chest materialized before them.
Pentakiller: "Alright! We did it!"
Ryoji: "Whoa! Let's check our rewards!"
QueenHeart20: "Woohoo! I leveled up again!"
---
Back in the Real World
Yuu, completely immersed in the game, finally snapped back to reality. He stretched his arms, his joints cracking as he loosened up. Tilting his head from side to side, more cracks echoed through his room.
"Whew… That was intense! I didn't expect them to add that mechanic! I thought we had already finished off the Undead Demon King, but the sword was actually the real source of its power!" Yuu said, grinning.
As he leaned back in his chair, his excitement still surging, he muttered to himself:
"That was awesome. I want to run another raid!"
Ding dong!
Yuu perked up at the sound of the doorbell.
"Oh? Is that Ryo? Wait… no, he said he couldn't join me playing today. I wonder what he's up to?"
Then, a thought struck him.
"Wait… since Ryo isn't coming, then could it be—"
"Delivery!!!"
Realizing who it was, Yuu rushed out of his room in excitement. In his haste, he tripped over himself, stumbling forward. As if that weren't enough, he accidentally slammed his pinky toe against the corner of his doorframe.
BANG!
A jolt of electrifying pain shot through his body.
"Aw—aw—aw!" he yelped, hopping on one foot while clutching the injured toe.
Despite the pain, he hobbled his way to the door and flung it open, still hopping in agony.
The delivery guy blinked at him, slightly puzzled.
"Uh… hello. I'm here for a delivery for Hoshino Yuu."
"Aw… aw… that's me!" Yuu winced, still bouncing on one leg.
"I see. Can you just sign here?" the delivery guy said, holding out a clipboard.
Yuu grabbed the document and attempted to sign, but his hand trembled from the lingering pain, making his signature a mess.
The delivery guy then handed him the parcel—a large box that made him wonder what was inside. However, he simply smiled and said, "I've never seen someone this happy to receive a package."
Clearly, he had mistaken Yuu's pain-induced hopping for pure excitement.
Yuu let out an awkward laugh.
"Ha ha ha… W-well, this is actually a must-have item! I really needed this! Hehe..."
The delivery guy chuckled. "Oh, really? Well, I'm happy to deliver it—"
BANG!
Before he could finish, Yuu slammed the door shut in his face.
Outside, the delivery guy stood in silence before muttering, "Tch… Not even a single 'thank you'? Damn brat."
Meanwhile, inside the apartment—
Yuu's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he clutched the box tightly, practically on the verge of tears.
"It's finally here!!!"
He hurried to his living room, placed the package carefully on the table, and, with trembling hands, began slowly opening the parcel.
To Yuu, the moment the box opened, its contents seemed to radiate a dazzling light, as if blinding him with divine brilliance.
"This is it!!"
At the Guild Association Office, the chairman sat in his chair, facing the window, gazing down at the city. He was lost in thought, his hand resting on his chin, supported by the armrest. The faint hum of the city below filled the silence of the room.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Miss Aoyama, his secretary, entered, carrying a tray with a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
"Here's your coffee, Chairman," she said, placing the cup on his desk.
Without turning, he nodded slightly. "Thank you, Aoyama-san."
She observed him for a moment before speaking. "You seem troubled, Chairman."
He let out a small sigh, finally shifting his gaze away from the window. "Yeah… I'm still uncertain about our strategy for the upcoming raid."
After a brief pause, he continued, "By the way, how's the excavation team selection going? Has everything proceeded as requested?"
"Yes, it has been carried out exactly as per your instructions," Aoyama responded.
Then, as if remembering something, she added, "But… Yuki stopped by the site just now."
The chairman's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.
"Yuki? You mean Kagemura Yuki?" he asked, finally turning his chair to face her.
"Yes, Chairman. S-Rank Number 7, Kagemura Yuki of Purple Cerberus."
He took a slow sip of his coffee, his expression unreadable.
"What are you trying to do…?" he wondered to himself.
After a moment, the chairman placed his coffee down, straightened his posture, and reached for his suit jacket draped over the coat rack in the corner.
"Let's pay a visit to the selection site, Aoyama-san," he said as he pulled on his jacket and adjusted the cuffs.
Aoyama simply nodded, following as he strode toward the door.
At the reception area of the Guild Association, a long line of Players stretched across the hall, all eager to apply for the excavation team in the upcoming raid. The number of applicants seemed never-ending, with the line barely thinning despite the ongoing registrations.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, accompanied by his secretary, Aoyama, stood to the side, quietly observing the selection process.
His gaze soon locked onto Yuki, who was actively assisting a group of Players, guiding them through the selection process—a task that was not supposed to be part of his responsibilities.
The Chairman frowned, unable to comprehend Yuki's behavior.
"What are you trying to do?" he thought to himself.
Determined to get answers, he headed toward him.
Yuki, noticing the Chairman approaching, smirked slightly.
"Hmm… I didn't expect this old fart to pay a visit."
Still wearing his uncanny smile, Yuki bowed respectfully.
"Oh, good to see you, Chairman. I didn't expect you to come here."
The Chairman narrowed his eyes. "Good to see you too, but I should be the one saying that. I didn't expect to see you around here."
His voice grew firm. "From what we discussed, you were not supposed to be involved in my selection of the excavation team. What made you come here and break our arrangement?"
Yuki, still smiling, shrugged. "Oh, don't get the wrong idea, Chairman. As you can see, I'm just helping out some hopeless newbie Players."
The Chairman crossed his arms. "Really? That's quite new—hearing you do such a thing. It seems you're working hard to change your reputation, aren't you?"
Yuki let out a soft chuckle. "Come on, Chairman, I'd be too sad if you saw me that way. I've also been fighting to save humanity, you know. As an S-Rank Player and the leader of Purple Cerberus, I have a responsibility."
The Chairman's gaze darkened. "Oh, I'm sorry if I made you sad, but I can't help but be cautious around you. I know your history, Yuki. So let me warn you—if you try any tricks this time, I won't let you off so easily."
Yuki's smile twitched for a brief moment, though he quickly masked his irritation.
"You old fart… how dare you threaten me?" he thought.
But he maintained his composed demeanor. "Of course, Chairman. Why would I do anything to harm others? It just so happened that our situation back then was a bit… complicated."
The Chairman sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, that's right… I suppose I should apologize for that. But you know, I'm just a little stressed out. This is another S-Rank dungeon, and we can't afford to lose. We can't risk our Players."
Yuki nodded. "I fully understand your concern, Chairman. But don't worry—this time, things are different."
Just then, a commotion broke out at the other side of the reception area.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we only accept Players as part of the excavation team," a receptionist explained.
A young man in front of her protested. "Can't you make an exception? I'm actually an A-Rank Player, and I believe I could be of great help to the raid team."
The receptionist hesitated but ultimately shook her head. "I'm really sorry, but the raid team has already been decided. Only S-Rank Players are allowed to join."
The Chairman, noticing the scene, turned to his secretary.
"What's happening over there?" he asked.
Aoyama glanced in the direction of the commotion. "It seems someone is trying to join the raid team, Chairman."
The Chairman's expression shifted with intrigue.
"I see… Who is this courageous Player?"
With that, he began walking toward the scene.
"What is this commotion about?" the Chairman asked, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs in the reception area.
The receptionist, noticing the towering figure before her, stiffened. The man had an intimidating presence, his gray-streaked hair adding to his commanding aura. He was dressed in a dark suit, exuding both power and authority.
Realizing who it was, she immediately bowed and spoke nervously.
"Good afternoon, Chairman! I'm sorry, I didn't notice you right away."
As the other receptionists became aware of the Chairman's presence, they, too, bowed in respect.
The Chairman gave a reassuring smile. "Ah, it's fine. Just continue your work." Then, his gaze shifted toward the situation at hand. "So, what exactly is going on here?"
His calm demeanor put the receptionist at ease, though other Players nearby couldn't help but be awed by the way he effortlessly balanced intimidation and leadership.
"Waa! It's the Chairman of the Guild Association!"
"It's Chairman Hayashi!"
"Wow, he really looks strong!"
The receptionist took a deep breath before explaining.
"It's nothing too serious, Chairman. But this Player here is requesting to participate in the raid as part of the raid team."
The Chairman raised an eyebrow. "And who is this Player?"
A young man stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.
"I'm Takeda Ryo, and I wish to be part of the raid team."
The Chairman chuckled.
"Hahaha… You seem quite confident, requesting to join the raid team for an S-Rank Dungeon. Tell me, what rank are you?"
"I'm an A-Rank Player," Ryo answered firmly.
The Chairman nodded in acknowledgment. "An A-Rank Player? That means you must be strong as well."
The receptionist quickly added, "Actually, Chairman, Ryo is currently at max points for A-Rank. However, as per the rules you've set, only S-Rank Players are allowed to participate in the raid team."
The Chairman's expression shifted slightly.
"A max-point A-Rank? That means you're essentially already an S-Rank if you request to rank up. Let's discuss this in my office—you might just become the 13th S-Rank Player in Japan's history."
However, Ryo shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I wish to remain as an A-Rank for now."
The Chairman looked puzzled. "What do you mean by that? Becoming an S-Rank comes with many privileges."
"I didn't become a Player for privileges," Ryo said without hesitation.
Aoyama, the Chairman's secretary, frowned. "Hey, kid. Watch your words—you're talking to the Chairman."
The Chairman raised a hand, stopping her. "It's fine." He then turned back to Ryo, curiosity in his eyes. "Then tell me, young man, why did you become a Player?"
Ryo's eyes burned with determination as he answered.
"I want to save humanity and free this world from dungeons and those monsters."
—And so 12ONE can continue their idol work, and I can finally see them perform again and enjoy my fanboy life.—
Though his mission was to save the world, his true goal was to make sure the world was safe for his idols.
The Chairman chuckled, clearly entertained.
"Hahaha… I've never seen someone this determined." He then gave a firm nod. "So, you wish to join the raid team? Very well, I'll allow it."
The receptionist and Aoyama were visibly surprised.
"Chairman? Are you sure about this?" Aoyama asked.
Even the receptionist looked shocked.
Meanwhile, Ryo's friends—Oto, Hina, Greg, and Rowan—silently cheered for him on the side.
Ryo's face lit up. "Really? Thank you! I'll give my best in the raid!"
The Chairman then gestured for Ryo to follow him.
"Come. I want to introduce you to someone."
The chairman then headed to the other side of the selection process for the raid, where Yuki was.
"So, you're still here, Leader Yuki?"
the chairman said.
"Yes, I wish to keep being useful to you, Chairman," Yuki replied, wearing his uncanny smile.
"I heard that your raid team consists of only you and two other members from your guild, correct?"
the chairman asked.
"You heard it right. I'm ensuring that only my top, strongest members participate to guarantee our victory," Yuki said.
"But a team with only three members for a raid is quite small, isn't it?"
the chairman remarked.
"I have someone here to join your team. You wouldn't mind if I let him join, right?"
"Actually, there's no need, Chairman. Our team is more than enough to secure vict—"
before Yuki could finish, the chairman interrupted.
"I insist. This young man is a lot like you—he also has a strong determination to save humanity,"
the chairman said, pushing Ryo into the conversation.
Yuki's smile faded slightly as he tried to suppress his annoyance.
"Who is this guy?"
Yuki asked, though his smile returned as he tried to act friendly.
"I'm Takeda Ryo, an A-rank Player,"
Ryo introduced himself.
"An A-rank Player? How could an A-rank join my team? I doubt he'll do anything but slow us down, Chairman."
Yuki said.
"I doubt that. This guy is basically an S-rank Player,"
the chairman responded.
"What? I clearly heard he said he was an A-rank, but now he's an S-rank? That sounds like nonsense, Chairman. Perhaps you need some rest before we talk further."
Yuki said, subtly mocking him.
"No, you heard him right. He is A-rank—a max-points A-rank who has chosen to remain in that rank. Isn't that interesting? Someone choosing to stay A-rank despite the many privileges that come with being S-rank,"
the chairman said.
"Really? So he could be the 13th S-rank player in Japan if he wanted to? That's amusing,"
Yuki said, his eyes glinting with intrigue.
"So, I want him to join your team,"
the chairman stated firmly, placing his hand on Yuki's shoulder.
"You'll let him join, right?"
The chairman's aura shifted, pressing down on Yuki like an invisible weight.
A chill ran down Yuki's spine.
"Are you looking down on me?"
he thought.
Yuki's smile faded completely, and his own intimidating aura flared up in response.
"I'm going to kill you!"
Yuki thought, his anger barely contained.
The air around them became heavy as their auras clashed, filling the room with intense pressure.
Then Yuki collected his thoughts, forcing himself to remain calm.
"Not this time,"
he thought.
His uncanny smile returned.
"Of course, Chairman. As you wish,"
Yuki finally said. He then turned to Ryo.
"Ryo, right? Welcome to my team."
With that, Ryo secured a spot on the raid team for the upcoming mission.
Meanwhile, one of the players that Yuki had assigned to the excavation team was watching the chairman and Yuki from a distance.
He wore a hooded jacket, his posture relaxed, exuding a laid-back persona. A smirk formed on his lips as he observed them.
Then, as someone passed by him, he suddenly disappeared from sight.