Virtual Reality : Dystopian Tales Online

010.3 | The Five Grand Bosses of the 200th Floor

It has been a few days since the launch of the sixth server's beta test. Though this did not actually affect the whole DTO, there is a difference within the VR players. After all, most of the beta test participants are mostly the guild officers, and some are the few members belonging to the elite.

The hustle and bustle inside the gaming world are at their peak during the night. It is not limited to DTO but to all platforms, like social media sites and broadcasting channels. Most people would scan their smartphones or browse something on the internet after a long day of toil before sleeping.

With the absence of their guild master, the members of the Beast's guild, Thunder Beasts, loosened their stance for a while. The nights before are commonly spent raiding old dungeons, reporting about new quests, and training to level up. Though these are undertaken voluntarily, nobody would dare to slack off before that straight-face incarnation of the devil.

The wrath and oppression Guild Master Jung carries is enough to deal with the naughty beasts.

The atmosphere within the guild is still reticent, but it wasn't as strained as before. Though, nobody dared to slack off. Even though Jung-55 is now doing some work on the beta-testing, the closing hours are earlier than VR, so the guild master appears to inspect before the maintenance takes place.

They don't want to hear any unlucky remarks.

Anyway, nine of the thirteen top representatives of the guild joined the Guild Master. The ones remaining are the vice guild leader and two others. These three people defaulted on their position as to not leave the guild empty. Other guilds also did the same thing.

The vice guild leader is of the chicken race, respectively, a red jungle fowl, while the other two are the typical dog breeds.

Strikingly flaming red feathers with sleek metallic green plumage are the first things players will spot when they enter the doorway. The fringes of the vice guild leader referred to as [Leigh-79] is exceedingly conspicuous that nobody could ignore deliberately. Their eyes will consistently follow the radiant colors, giving them a fiery vibe.

However, even though the red jungle fowl is a ferocious beast in battle, it is mainly peaceful. Leigh-79 also carries the same attitude. He is meticulous but milder compared to Jung. He is also receptive and thoroughly cordial to most of the members. Whenever someone needed to suggest something but is anxious to face Jung, they will ask Leigh to be their mediator.

Leigh is hovering around the counter to collect quest approvals and sign rewards. It is still early, so more people are requesting jobs than submitting materials. He has been flipping through some documents when someone knocked onto the counter. He did not need to look up to see the person.

"Looking for a job?" Leigh asked.

"No," the player, called [Owen-166], sought. He is one of the remaining individuals who was left behind to deal with the guild. "I am here to part some news."

"Oh," Leigh nonchalantly responded. "So, you're coming back to your previous profession as a gossiper?"

"No, I am not here to chatter!" Owen harrumphed. He opened his interface and adjusted the settings so Leigh could see it too. "There are updates about the beta server. Teal sent me a link."

Leigh stopped his recording. He peered at Owen with an inquiring glance. "What link?"

"Well, you see," Owen motioned Leigh to move closer. The red jungle fowl also followed, leaning closer, peaking his ears to listen. Owen glanced around to see if other people were listening to their conversation. "You know about the beta test..."

"Vice guild leader, there's a special event taking place to the beta test," a character with a husky breed announced very loudly.

The player went straight to the counter and saw the vice leader and Owen whispering to each other. The said player, called [Shaun-232], stared at them dumbly. Owen pursed his lips, then sharply glared at Shaun. How could this person just come in and announce it like that?

Leigh shifted his attention to Shaun. The silly appearance of a husky is reasonably visible to the player. Those white and blue hues in his eyes showed innocence and playfulness, like a dog ready to play. Shaun looked at the vice guild leader and at Owen. Are they sharing some secret?

"What is this special event you are talking about?" Leigh slowly articulated. He gave Owen a glimpse, then to Shaun. "Is it confidential?"

"Confidential?" Shaun scratched his head. "That's impossible, ah. The link is all over the server. The other guilds have first-hand information. I am here to distribute the message."

"Is that so?" Leigh swiftly slapped Owen's shoulders. "Why do you sound like you're telling me some state secret, ah?"

Owen exaggeratedly reacted, backing away while rubbing the slapped shoulders. He pressed some tears to come out. "Why did you slap me? That hurts, okay?"

Leigh ignored him as he motioned Shaun to elaborate. Shaun only gave Owen a woeful glance before spilling everything in the presence of the vice guild leader. It is all about clearing the 200th floor, with Clover as the lead. Leigh crossed his arms in reverie, judging by how they will able to clear the floor.

All of them are aware of the floor's danger. Even other players knowing this situation are suspicious about the process.

"What's wrong with them?" Shaun asked. "Isn't Clover the least person required to clear the dungeon? The first boss might be easy to overthrow, but the last incarnation... could they even realize that stage?"

"What did the other guild leaders say?" Leigh asked.

"I'm not certain. I've only reached the members of the Cassaianne guild on the way. They are the ones who showed me the link."

Shaun remembered the faces of those players when they are distributing the link. It is the first time their guild leader launches a subjugation notice, so most of the devoted members are enthusiastically spreading the news. They are even providing a public viewing for other non-guild members to watch.

"As for others, maybe we could contact them to inquire?"

"Just forget about it," Leigh rejected the thought. It wasn't serious, anyway. Their guild leader, Jung-55, did not issue any instructions too. "How about the link? Open it. Let's see what is taking place inside."

"Okay, here it is!" 

Leigh picked up the note and thought, where should he put it. He looked at the grand quest screen flashing in the midst of the lobby. This screen is like those in large basketball courts showing numbers and such. The difference is that this screen is just a tally of the guild's daily activity. 

"Let's view it over there," he marked to the screens. "It's better to see it on full screen."

Nobody complained about his proposal. Leigh, as the vice guild leader, readily arranged the full viewing. The players that are subconsciously looking at the red jungle fowl noticed his movements. Curious, they moved closer to inquire what the player is doing. That's when they found out about the live footage of a dungeon being cleared on the beta. 

The empty hall is then immediately crowded with players. They are either squatting on the floor or lying down in their mounts. Some even drew out a complete set of recliners, benches, and refreshments. Leigh finished the set-up that led them in a familiar-looking scenario. 

It is an aerial view. 

[The 200th floor]

The last boss of the Floor Terrare resides in a giant dome made from clay and marble. An unknown light source enters from the upper crown that seems to have a thinner clay structure that drops off a dull dim light. The primary source of light is the blue flame coming from the beacons and the outlines sculpted onto the surfaces. 

Shifting the spotlight to the ground lay five circular rings separating the floor into six sections. The exterior circle that has the widest circumference divides the neutral zone to the aggro grounds. This is the circle that Clover crossed over and the only ring that has been saturated with light. The other four rounds did not give off any blue light suggesting that the player is still challenging the first-stage boss. 

The system signaled the appearance of the player. As predicted, the ground shook a little before fog gradually permeated the field. The light moving from the background caused the fog to appear obscure. In a flicker, a shadow appeared within the mist that outlined the first boss. 

Clover watched the developments taking place without blinking an eye. There is no dread or nervousness shown on his face. The players watching the broadcast were overwhelmed. They could feel the coldness and trouble even though they are just looking at the broadcast. Yet, the person who is involved did not reveal any sense of trepidation.

The players coming from the second up to the fifth servers did not know about Clover's temper and solely associated his image on the expected attribute of a top gamer. They imagined him to have an appealing appearance, but a bit indifferent to worldly affairs. When facing danger, he would release a battle cry while rushing to the ends of life-

Every second the first-string players hear this, they have the inclination to choke blood. Who is Clover? They know him thoroughly. Do they genuinely assume that Clover is some protagonist of a shounen manga? Even if Clover was still a teenager when he started playing, they never once saw him do chuunibyou things!

It must have been a delusion of the youth!

On the other hand, Clover indeed did not feel any worry, but there is strangeness. He had been clearing dungeons alone, so this was the first time where he could obtain proper recognition. Other players are standing by on his rear, too, ready to receive his command. 

It really feels weird, he reflected. 

The system completed the preparation, and the boss fully integrated into the field. With a sharp slap of the gale, the fog is instantly dispersed on the stage, followed by the boss's raucous shriek. Clover simply lifted his head to appraise the first enemy that he will be fighting today.

It is a ten-foot centaur covered with silver armor. There is no visible flesh, but a dismal shadow can be perceived between spaces as if a ghost is inhabiting the armor. The knight carries a long lance with a pointed cylindrical cone on the tip extending from the mid-part of the weapon. 

The lower part of the body that should be a four-legged horse only appears with two bipedal legs highly resembling dinosaur limbs. Each foot possesses three toes tipped with sharp seven-inch-long metal talons. Seeing the luster coming from the claws is enough to tell that one clutch is enough to slay a player to pieces. 

There are a pair of wings on the sides of the horse-like frame. It is open, bearing a tiny area on the inside part. Giving a glance, everybody saw rows of five inches long thin needles that appear nonetheless sharper than the talons. Most of the players shivered while the others that have fear on it almost shrieked. 

The image of the boss is particularly daunting. Nobody dared to tell a quip to alleviate the mood. Anyway, players from the two first servers had suffered from this horrible boss, so they at least have a milder reaction. Still, the psychological fear the boss left made them feel a bit perturbed. 

Can they defeat the boss in this state?

The players that were dealing with the broadcast had the quickest reaction speed. They immediately assessed the boss and presented their discoveries to the masses. As is expected, the beta server carried over the additional level cap. So when they looked at the level of the boss, everyone was dumbstruck. 

[BOSS LVL 620: Chimeric Centaur]

Level 620???

The silent world channel is suddenly besieged with the same query. They are aware of Clover reaching the level cap of five hundred a while ago, but is it alright for the player to rise an entire one hundred levels? 

Not merely the regular players are shocked. Even the people inside the dungeon room are in awe. They have been speculating that Clover would at least have half a hundred after the level cap. Who would have known that he has already passed over the entire range!

Question: Can they still defeat the boss now?

The first boss can be finished off by Clover since the levels are mirrored. But what will happen to the third boss? On the fifth boss, it'll be over three thousand levels! Allen and Melon knelt on the spot. They suddenly wanted to go back in the past and smack their heads for having Clover finish the ultimate boss. 

There are many dungeons. Why do they have to choose this goddamn floor?

Rios and Jung were still calm, but both of them understood the danger. They are trained as soldiers so they can recognize the level of risk better than regular people. Though, instead of panicking, they are considering some ways on how to make it past this boss. 

They could withdraw the game or have the reserves outside the cave to enter but won't it make them look cowards? They are doing this for Clover, too, so the negative effect won't be forced on them but on the other player. 

"That's really overboard." Shin pointed to the boss.

"It is," Leon nodded. 

"What do you think? Can we manage it?" Shin glanced at Leon. "Any possibilities?"

"Stop making me guess about everything," Leon mumbled. "If you wish to know if we are gonna win or not, just follow Clover's plans. There is nothing for you to fret about."

"Leon is correct." Aries wrapped his hand around Shin and leaned on him. "Just trust our leader. Surely, we could finish this boss."

"I'm just worried, okay?" Shin muttered. "Look at the boss. There is no way that boss is weak."

"Then do you think Clover is weak?" 

Aries removed his arms and looked at the two players coldly. Leon and Shin flinched. Aries has always treated them warmly, so seeing such a stern look made them shiver. Shin immediately answered as he shook his head hastily. 

"N-no! There's no way we think Clover is weak. H-he is our guild leader, the t-top player of the game. Who would think that he is weak?" Shin elbowed Leon at his side. "Right?"

"Of course." Leon assisted him up. There is no way that he will oppose Shin's statement.

Aries gawked at them for a moment before the familiar, smiling expression turned up. He strode towards the twins that are only standing nearby, then rubbed their heads. The amiable expression is very genuine as if the icy atmosphere earlier did not appear. The twins glanced up at Aries without asking any questions.

"That's all right," Aries said. "Only ask questions when you don't know the answer."

Clover looked undisturbed, despite the trouble everyone is going through. He twirled the lance on his grip a few times as if balancing it, and then buckled his one leg forward. In a blink, the person standing above the fifth circle abruptly vanished.