A Raid

The sprawling, virtual world of New World Online pulsed with life. Within it, three major guilds stood poised on the precipice of a monumental achievement. Chronos Dominion, a guild created by Lin Feng and Yuriel spearheaded the operation. Alongside them was the guild Summit and Lunar Isle. Together, these three powerhouses comprised a formidable 100-players raid party. They were slit into team of ten, and their objective was the boss of this dungeon, the Lesser Ancient Golem.

Though its massive frame was encrusted with moss and rust, giving it an appearance of profound age, the Golem's movements and attacks were anything but sluggish. "It's preparing the laser beam!" As the boss entered its second phase. Lin Feng's voice, amplified by the raid communication system, roared with urgent command.

"Run to the safe zone! Tanks, put your defenses up! Spiritualist, link all our health together! Healers, ready your AoE heals and cast them when we all reach half health!"

Lin Feng was intimately familiar with the boss's patterns, yet even with his future knowledge, this 100-player raid party had failed countless times before.

An unavoidable static field rippled across the battlefield, damaging everyone for an insignificant amount, but its true threat lay in the paralysis effect. Fortunately, this was largely mitigated by the pre-cast status resistance buffs, potions, and food buffs they had all consumed priors.

The group of tanks huddled together. They activated their various aura buffs, increasing their collective defense immensely. Then came their main defensive abilities: layer upon layer of temporary health, heal-on-damage effects, and bulwarks, each unique depending on the specific sub-jobs they had chosen. They collectively taunted the Golem, focusing its devastating laser attack squarely on them, preventing it from sweeping across the field and annihilating the rest of the raid.

Healers from both the tank group and the DPS contingent stood ready, poised to unleash their restorative spells. Melee and ranged DPS players alike unleashed their long-range attacks, dealing as much damage as possible to the Golem during this critical phase.

Then, the core of the boss's chest burst forth, unleashing a concentrated beam of brilliant blue laser. The entire raid team watched their health bars plummeting rapidly, only to burst back up again, the linked health pools and constant healing caused their health bars to fluctuate wildly. Eventually, they outlasted the Golem's relentless assault.

As the laser beam finally ceased, the boss froze, entering a vulnerable recharge state. The melee DPS immediately surged forward, rushing its massive body and unleashing their most powerful close-quarters attacks. Lin Feng summoned all of his undead minions, sending them swarming over the Golem while his twin daggers stabbed repeatedly into its metallic armor, leaving noticeable scratches. Yuriel, wielding a colossal greatsword, charged up a slash that left a deep dent in the boss's body, before immediately charging up for another powerful strike.

Lin Feng then activated Corpse Explosion, sacrificing all of his summoned creatures in a massive blast that dealt immense damage. Through their combined, relentless onslaught, the Lesser Ancient Golem finally crumbled, collapsing into a heap of ancient metal and stone.

"We did it!" Cheers erupted across the raid channel.

"I can't believe it! Whoever came up with that strategy must be a genius!"

"Please drop something, please drop something good!"

Each member received a random individual reward for completing the dungeon, usually just junk common drops. However, the true prize was the shared loot from defeating the boss itself.

As the leader of this raid, Lin Feng approached the large, ornate chest that materialized where the Golem had fallen and slowly opened it. There were only two items: a staff and a pair of gauntlets. The staff had an ancient tech appearance with a crimson gem embedded at its tip. The pair of heavy gauntlets, however, were merely normal mob drops, nothing notable in terms of stats or rarity. In terms of immediate value, they were an uncommon drop, but far from the highly anticipated legendary items.

They would have to repeat this dungeon a few more times, a grim reality given the notoriously horrible drop rates of this game. However, by the off chance they obtained the prized drops, they would be able to auction them off for an immense amount of money.

Some magicians immediately began to roll for the staff, while warriors contested the gauntlets. But aside from the potential for rare loot, the main prize got their achievement was fame. They were the first party to conquer this dungeon, marking their names in the annals of New World Online. The raid party, comprised of all three guilds, had left their indelible mark on the leaderboard slab. All three guild names—Chronos Dominion, Summit, and Lunar Isle—were emblazoned prominently below the familiar name of Exorcist Fox Blade.

The raid party collectively celebrated, taking a triumphant group picture standing in front of the illuminated leaderboard. Their victory immediately caused a sensation on the New World Online forums.

"I can't believe you guys were able to achieve a first conquest of another dungeon! Congratulations!"

"We are willing to buy your strategy for this dungeon, name your price!"

"Can I join your guild?! I'm willing to have your baby!"

And other outlandish comments flooded in alongside the genuine congratulations. Lin Feng and Yuriel exchanged a quiet fist bump, a shared look of understanding passing between only the two of them.

 ________________________________________

The restaurant in Promere, the City of the First Light within New World Online, buzzed with the cheerful chatter of players and the soft hum of ambient music. Around a large ornate table sat Tamamo, Maria, Durandal, Kaito and a player with long flowing white hair clad in the simple clothing of a novice adventure. Elnor999, or Eleanor had joined them in Nee World Online after they had returned to Japan and been introduced to everyone in the mansion.

Eleanor looked around the vibrant virtual space with a visible sense of awe. "I still can't believe it," she said. "The Association is actually behind New World Inc. The VR technology they've produced is light-years ahead of every other tech company out there. Including my own family, I saw countless investors and tech companies scrambling over each other in a desperate attempt to work with this perviously unknown corporation."

Maria, taking a sip of her drink, smiled gently. "Oh, I completely understand. I was quite surprised that they managed to create this world when I first entered."

Eleanor turned her head slightly. "You must be Durandal, Kaito's partner," she stated in respect. "I'm pleased to finnaly meet you in such a tangible form."

"Likewise." Durandal replied.

"So, human," Tamamo piped up, directing her gaze at Kaito. "What did you find at the Religious Sect? Any interesting secrets unearthed?"

Kaito sighed with a subtle movement of his shoulders. "We didn't find anything, Tamamo. Nothing at all."

"Nothing? That doesn't seem right," Tamomo replied in disbelief.

"Even I, in my long existence, have heard of that Religious Sect immense influence when I was alive. Even if they were to try and conceal themselves, their sheer reputation and historical impact would make it impossible to hide completely. I once heard a rumor that they even managed to fight back against a Major Apocalypse Beast and successfully imprisoned it somewhere in the Abyss!"

"Kaito didn't deceive you, Tamamo," Durandal interjected. "We truly didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Be it in term of lingering holy energy or hidden secret realm."

"How... particular," Tamamo murmured, a thoughtful frown on her face. It was clear she was genuinely perplexed.

Maria chimed in, her expression equally surprised. "I also find it quite astonishing, actually. My old organization, for all its power and reach, would actively steer clear of any relic or personnel even loosely related to the Catholic Church. They viewed them as an untouchable force, a power whose depths were best left unprobed."

"Do you think the Vatican isn't actually their true headquarters then? Perhaps it's just a decoy, and the real enter of the Church's power is hiiden somewhere else entirely." Eleanor pondered.

Tamamo scoffed, "Don't be foolish, human. Why would such a powerful Religious Sect need to hide where they are? That would be a sign of weakness, something completely outlandish given the immense power they possess."

Kaito, however, found Eleanor's theory intriguing. "Then, do the Church have any enemies strong enough that they would feel the need to hide?"

"Plenty, but to hide? No, never. Their zealous actions over the ages have led them to acquire a multitude of enemies. Most creatures of the dark absolutely despise them—be they Lycans, Bloodkin, Demons, or the followers of various Evil Gods." Durandal answered.

"I have read up on the history that led up to the current world, and the Witch Hunts they started undoubtedly angered a few Primordial Witches. The Templar Order was likely linked to the Order of the Ashen Saint, and Joan of Arc may even have been linked to an angel who was lingering on Earth. There are probably still many more vile deeds that may not be recorded, actions that would create lasting grievances with powerful entities."

Eleanor considered this. "So, could the Church have lost its power due to a massive conspiracy to overthrow them, then?"

"I doubt that possibility, Eleanor," Durandal conceded, after a moment's thought. "However, given the current circumstances we've observed and the knowledge I now possess of them, I won't entirely rule it out."

Tamamo shook her head. "Trickery and plots have brought down many great powers throughout history. I wouldn't put it past humanity's ambition to ultimately destroy themselves, even if it means tearing down something as vast as that Religious Sect."

"Yeah," Kaito agreed, "that does sound like a plausible scenario, unfortunately."

Eleanor, perhaps sensing the conversation turning too grim, gracefully moved the topic. "Now that I've formally joined the Association, what exactly are my tasks? The High Priestess merely ran some tests on my abilities and didn't say anything else about my role."

Kaito shrugged, making a casual gesture. "Well, nothing much, usually. I just go about my daily life until I'm asked to do something specific. It's quite laid-back, actually."

Maria nodded in agreement. "I joined the Japanese Supernatural Task Force and became a high-ranking member there, but aside from that, the Association has never really demanded much from me."

Tamamo, on the other hand, puffed out her chest with mock self-importance. "The Association is my servant, naturally. They simply provide me with all that I need at my beckoning call."

Kaito rolled his eyes. "She's just a freeloader, Eleanor. Don't mind her."

Tamamo sighed dramatically, shaking her head in theatrical disappointment. "It truly disappoints me that my humble servants have yet to become fully aware of their true, inherent role."

"Anyway, Eleanor," Kaito interjected, bringing the conversation back on track, "you have a few options. You could attend Sakura Academy with Maria and me in a disguise, if you'd like. Aside from that, you're welcome to train your abilities in the underground training rooms at the mansion, or you could help Yumi test New World Online with us whenever a new update rolls out. We're always looking for more beta testers."

"Oh, I also want to see what his education institute is all about!" Tamamo declared. "I'm getting bored of this era's entertainment already. This might be just the novelty I need."

Kaito listened to Tamamo's sudden proclamation, a familiar sense of exasperation bubbling up within him. Sakura Academy is certainly not the kind of "entertainment" Tamamo was expecting. He could already picture the chaos. Yet, he knew he couldn't stop Tamamo either way and resigned to his fate.