Nie Fan decided that it was probably too difficult for him to fight a Level 26 Boss alone.
Still, he then thought of Dancing Phoenix and Warsong—with their help, he could take down the Swordtooth Nymph… although item distribution might prove to be a problem.
“Are you interested in killing that Swordtooth Nymph?” Nie Fan messaged both Dancing Phoenix and Warsong.
“Swordtooth Nymph? What level is it?” Dancing Phoenix was taken aback. Although she too could see the massive nymph up front which stood out amongst the goblins, she didn’t know what it was called or its level.
“Level 26 Boss.”
“Level 26 Boss? Might be a little difficult.” Dancing Phoenix said. Most Boss beasts were tough—when she ran into a Level 7 Boss before, she had formed a group of thirty players between Level 6 and 7, but eventually had to give up after attacking it for an hour.
In the end, they were all too powerful, either possessing strong defense, bulky HP or shocking attacking power.
“If you’re coming, ask for more people to join you and send me their IDs. I’ll compose the groups—any item drops would be auctioned off within the party.” Nie Fan added. Auctioning within the party meant that any item drops would be purchased at a certain price, and the money earned would be divided amongst the party.
On the other hand, Warsong agreed right away when he received Nie Fan’s message without asking any questions. “I see it. I’ll leave the groups to you, then.”
“Call for more people to join you, the more the better—but they have to be above level twenty-two. Send me their IDs.” Nie Fan had been able to tell that although Warsong was a little rough on the edges, he was a pleasant person and someone worth befriending. “Any item drops would be auctioned off within the party.”
Warsong disbanded his party and sent some names to Nie Fan. They were Warsong’s twelve elites, and Nie fan pulled all of them into his party.
[System: Warsong has joined your party.]
[System: Warhammer has joined your party.]
***
“How sure are you about this?” Dancing Phoenix asked.
She was not really acquainted with Nie Fan, but knew from various channels that he was formidable, and probably wouldn’t do something he wasn’t sure about.
“Sixty percent. It is a Rare monster after all.”
“Rare monster? Well, guess we could try.” Dancing Phoenix’s eyes brightened and she weighed it for a while before deciding to give it a try. Disbanding her party, she then sent Nie Fan a list of names.
[System: Dancing Phoenix has joined your party.]
[System: Dust has joined your party.]
***
“Whatever your differences before, put it aside for the day,” Nie Fan spoke into the party channel before getting started, since it was hard to not clash when people from two different gaming studios were gathered.
“We’ve just met. No differences yet, although that might not be the case later,” Dancing Phoenix said calmly, a little surprised that Nie Fan could draft the twelve players from Bloodbath Studios.
“No problem on my end either.” Dancing Phoenix was not the only one surprised—Warsong was caught off guard too. He had heard of Dancing Phoenix a long time before, and while they were competitors, conflict was unnecessary at the moment.
A glance at the party bar showed that there were now 28 people in that party. Nie Fan had not formed a party before, but he had some understanding of how to command one with the information his father left him.
Warsong and Dancing Phoenix did not know each other, and Nie Fan therefore had to mediate between them or neither would cooperate with one another. In fact, he did not expect that such a party could be formed so quickly, and he was a little nervous about that. Moreover, both Warsong and Dancing Phoenix were top players who made it into leaderboards for professional gamers, and Nie Fan was going to be belittled if he made even the slightest mistake.
Still, now that he was in that position, he should give it a try!
“Warsong, your group of twelve should clear off the Fire Goblins on the right flank. Dancing Phoenix, you and I will draw the Swordtooth Nymph here. Don’t attack it, just clear a path for it and make sure that none of the NPC militia and Elite Guards notice it at all cost, or we are going to suffer a major loss if NPCs get it.” Nie Fan instructed in the party channel.
The gamers from both studios were trained well, and everyone soon assumed positions.
Nie Fan was not Morphed at the moment. Escorted by two Warriors from Phoenix Down, he advanced for a bit.
Mini Fireball!
He fired a single spell at the Swordtooth Nymph, and it blew up over the beast’s body.
Taunted by Nie Fan, the Swordtooth Nymph began to move towards him ever so slowly.
At the same time, Dancing Phoenix and other members of her studio carefully cleared a path. They have to draw the Swordtooth Nymph away from the NPCs of Tajit Village, or they would not have a piece of the action if the NPCs attacked it.
In no time at all, the Swordtooth Nymph was drawn to their designated zone under the luring of Nie Fan and the others.
To the rear, Holy Knights were shielding Dancing Phoenix, whereas Clerics and Druids buffed her stats.
But suddenly, the Swordtooth Nymph swung its log heavily and struck Dancing Phoenix with a loud bang. A damage value above a hundred and seventy popped up over head, losing her a chunk of her HP immediately
Still, as a Level 27 Warrior, Dancing Phoenix’s HP was almost five hundred.
“Its attack isn’t exactly high.” Dancing Phoenix said into the party channel, while the top Cleric from Phoenix Down Studios immediately healed her and restored her HP.
“We’re just getting started.” Nie Fan said and issued the order to attack.
To the rear, Mages unleashed barrages of spells at the Swordtooth Nymph. Most were casting fire-type spells since it was general knowledge that nymphs were afraid of fire.
Damage numbering up to just twelve appeared over the Swordtooth Nymph’s head. There was a total of six Mages and three Druids, and one barrage only cut off just a hundred HP.
“This won’t do. Our damage is too low! Its regeneration is very high as well, and it’s going to take at least two hours!” Dancing Phoenix grumbled. It was the same situation when her party encountered that Boss monster before, with everything ending vaguely after an hour.
However, Dancing Phoenix had just spoken when a pile of dark grease splashed down over the Swordtooth Nymph’s head. Then, with an audible bang, towering flames arose, with damage up to forty popping up above the beast—and five times at that!
Nonetheless, Nie Fan was frowning unhappily. Someone else had ignited his Black Oil, and that damage was a lot less than what he intended.
Still, everyone was dumbfounded and leveled mystified looks at Nie Fan.
Such serious damage! What skill was that?!
They did not manage to see him cast Black Oil, only that the Swordtooth Nymph was suddenly covered in flames.
“What skill is that?” Warsong asked after staring blankly for a moment.
“Black Oil.” Nie Fan replied since there was nothing to hide.
Black Oil? Black Oil and Mini Fireball actually had such great effect?
“Warflame, have you learned Black Oil yet?” Warsong promptly yelled into his party’s channel.
“Nope.” Warflame smiled bitterly and shook his head. No one would learn such a worthless Plant-type skill under most circumstances, and he neither majored nor minored in Plant-type!
The other two Druids of Phoenix Down Studios did not learn it either.
Nie Fan showed a pained smile then. Did they believe that a normal Black Oil could deal such devastating damage on the Swordtooth Nymph? His Black Oil only had such effect because it was now skill Level 5 with the Ring of Fate’s buffing as well as his majoring in Plant-type.
“I’ll take care of output. Phoenix Down, Warsong, keep an eye on positions. The rest of you, clear out the Fire Goblins nearby.” Nie Fan said, as it was much better for him to be the main attacker instead of having the other Mages and Druids do it! Moreover, there really were too many Fire Goblins nearby, in turn exerting much pressure on the mob-clearing Warriors. As such, it was much ideal to have the Mages and Druids support the Warriors.