Vampire Princess Guide in Progress - Volume 1 Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Celebration for All Players

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Second floor, Withered Forest Area (Lv.8~Lv.10)

“W-what on earth is that!!!”

In the forest about two kilometers away from the BOSS dungeon, Cross and the group of players who had rushed behind her all witnessed the spectacular moment when that massive red lightning bolt descended from the opened vortex of dark clouds. The entire night was illuminated by the flashing red beam.

That dazzling red light also reflected on Cross’s fair little face.

She stared at this celestial anomaly in shock, her steps frozen in place, her small mouth slightly open in surprise.

“What a terrifying red lightning, is it some BOSS skill effect?”

“But this is too exaggerated, it’s like watching some AAA game CGI. Hey, is this really not just CGI, did such a red lightning actually strike down? Is it real!?”

The astonished players traveling together seemed to forget that they were currently in an immersive game world.

That wasn’t CGI or animation at all. The reason it was so spectacular and dramatic was because this world itself was a fantasy world of swords and magic, and the trembling ground beneath their feet confirmed this point.

That red heavenly lightning, falling like divine punishment, continued straight for more than ten seconds before gradually contracting into a thread of light connecting heaven and earth.

What exactly happened? What other things beyond comprehension existed in this world?

“Nolan…” Cross softly uttered this name.

For some reason, she had a strange premonition that the descent of this shocking red lightning was related to Nolan.

Just as the lightning ended and Cross’s party was about to continue forward, a player in the team suddenly exclaimed loudly: “Hey, look at this! It just popped up. Wait, does everyone have it?”

“What?” Cross was about to move closer when she saw a special notification box with golden borders suddenly appear before her.

— 【Grand Celebration for All Players! The second floor BOSS 「Minorius」 has been successfully defeated! The third floor transfer passage is now open】

— 【BOSS Raid Team: Anonymous】

First floor, Pure White Holy City Area (Lv.0)

In the quiet city district that was only lit by street lamps in the deep night, almost all players were suddenly awakened by the sound of fireworks continuously rising into the sky. At the moment of waking, they all saw the golden notification box that appeared for the first time since the game began.

In the fountain area of the main city, colorful musical fountains rose up, and lights in countless houses gradually lit up.

As if predetermined at the start of the game, countless fireworks bloomed brilliantly in the night sky one after another, coloring the entire sky.

“What’s going on, what suddenly happened?”

“Didn’t you see that notification pushed to all players? A raid team has finally defeated the second floor BOSS!!!”

“You must be joking… Wasn’t it said that even the Iris Knights couldn’t… Wait, someone really succeeded in the raid!?”

The players in the city passed on this news to each other in disbelief, and as more and more lights came on in inn rooms, people gradually came out from their rooms, looking at the main city square and streets filled with blooming fireworks with expressions of both confusion and shock.

In a dark room at the inn.

A blonde girl sat on the floor against the bed, hugging her knees and burying her head between them.

This wasn’t her first sleepless night. Since coming to this game world with its death rules, she hadn’t been able to sleep peacefully for a single day, spending each day in fear and anxiety, staying in the safe zone without daring to step out.

Especially after the news came from the front line about the guild’s defeat and the sacrifice of members, it made her feel completely hopeless.

After all, whether fighting or hiding, everyone was doomed…

But at this moment, the sudden sound from outside and a golden notification box glowing before her eyes finally made her slowly lift her face from her knees. The moment she saw the BOSS raid celebration, her pupils trembled violently.

Second floor… BOSS, cleared…

“…!” She hurriedly stood up supporting herself on the edge of the bed, and leaned against the window of the room, urgently looking outside at the fireworks and the increasingly dense crowd in the city, as if seeking verification of the news’s authenticity.

And not just in this city, fireworks were rising in all towns that served as safe zones.

Looking down at the ground from high above the first floor, one could see bloom after bloom of colorful flowers blossoming across the vast plains. Even players who were grinding levels in the wild late at night stopped in their tracks and looked down at the notification box that appeared before them.

“W-what’s happening, all towns are… The second floor has been cleared!!!?”

“Is it the Iris Knights? Did they challenge the BOSS again!? What did I tell you, I knew those guys wouldn’t give up, they’re everyone’s last hope! We’re all counting on them to get us out alive!”

“No, it’s not! It’s not the Iris Knights. The raid team is… Anonymous?”

Meanwhile, in the forest of the second floor.

A solitary closed beta player wearing a cloak was moving through the trees in the forest.

The moment the message box popped up, the light sound of metal chains from the hem of the cloak suddenly stopped. A few strands of iron-gray hair fell from the edge of the hood as Raven, holding a dagger that had just slaughtered several beasts, paused on a tree branch.

“Hm? What, the floor BOSS has actually been cleared?”

“Anonymous team? Hehe… damn, at a time like this, if someone could defeat it, they’d want the whole world to know, right?”

To think there’s such a thing as an anonymous raid… Wait, could it be that kid?

The moment this thought occurred.

Raven almost instinctively opened his friends list, and in the column for the player Nolan, it currently showed 【Online】 status. Although he thought it impossible, he still suspected for several seconds.

To be honest, apart from Nolan who was a closed beta player and still had hope for raiding the BOSS, there wouldn’t be anyone else trying to clear it. Closed beta players like Raven would only use their accumulated experience to act alone and protect themselves, never considering raiding a BOSS.

But just then, Raven saw that Nolan’s approximate location displayed in the friends list had changed — 【Third Floor】.

Raven’s pupils contracted instantly.

“This kid!? Did he actually do it…!? What kind of background does he have!!?”

Finally, all perspectives converged on the Iris Knights guild building.

Guildmaster Calen stood alone on the balcony, looking at the brilliant fireworks in the distant sky. A subordinate who had come in after knocking was about to inform him of this news, but was gently waved off, indicating he already knew, as he continued gazing at the starry sky.

A young Chief Knight wearing mithril armor and a red cloak jumped from the eaves onto the balcony, standing beside him.

“I never expected that such a powerful team would clear the second floor before we could fully regroup.”

“No, Cavis,” Calen slowly shook his head. “You’re mistaken. This isn’t about being faster, it’s that we didn’t have enough ability to defeat Minorius. We failed.”

“But! Guildmaster. The latest intelligence was exchanged for the lives of Lockias and the sacrificed members. That team which cleared the BOSS must have succeeded only after seeing our publicly released information…”

“In this game now, as long as someone can defeat the BOSS… information should fulfill its intended value.”

However, standing on the balcony and looking into the distance, Calen couldn’t help but ponder one thing, the anonymity of the raid team. Or rather, what he was thinking was: was it really a team that cleared the BOSS?

Because similarly choosing anonymous announcements after clearing a BOSS had happened during the closed beta as well. Although they chose to remain anonymous, most players actually knew who it was. Only she could possess the skill and technique to fight a floor BOSS alone.

That incomparable gaming talent…

That woman… is she really in this game too?