The moment I saw the clock hit this exact second hand, I didn't think much, I didn't have the pleasure to form thoughts.

I yelled and lunged forward, both hands tight on my brand-new sword, the weight of it singing through my bones like I'd been born to swing it.

The blade carved a pale arc through the smoke-choked air, striking into its bark-like flesh with a crackling shrrrkt.

The impact jarred my shoulders, but I grinned like a lunatic as I tightened my hand on this sharp baby that left such a clean cut that Irish people would be proud.

Behind me, Lion's Parade scrambled to catch up after hearing my command of all-hands-on-deck. Their tanks were sturdy enough, but it was painfully obvious that they weren't meant for this kind of close, hyper-aggressive push that were out of their training.

Shield were being used to bash against the boss, support pick up rocks in order not to damage their precious staves and wands. I caught myself laughing at the sight, the kind of laugh that hurt your throat but made your blood taste sweet.

The Titan of Ashen Bark's body pulsed bright, crimson veins streaking its wooden torso like lava through cracks as the effect started taking place, and the invisible timer started.

"I don't recognize this move… Seems new." Jack's voice, steady but laced with tension, came through the air.

He always sounded like he was narrating a sports game, calm and direct even when death was two steps away, but I swore, he was much more enthusiastic whenever it's about training and teamplay. Maybe he's that kind of selective introvert?

I kissed my teeth for a tch sound.

"That's because it is new."

"What?"

"You know how in the PC version of this game, Titan of Ashen Bark was just a normal dungeon boss with 6 moves? Yeah, this one in VR also got 6 moves, but the healing one got swapped with this thing." I swung my sword again, just to keep the thing's HP low enough, "The devs added in this little… Uh, fucking… Uh, Kamikaze? Mode, bomb vest."

"It will explode?" LyraBell squeaked.

"Explode, sacrificing a portion of its HP to damage, if we don't beat it fast enough, yeah!" I said, "So unless you wanna go home early, hit it harder! The skill will be nullified! Terrible game design for VR stuff to be honest when there's no visual indicator…"

Steel crashed against bark, fire spells streaked in blazing lines, radiant chants bloomed white.

The Titan shuddered, the crimson light dimming bit by bit, for a heartbeat I thought it was too late, but then, it exhaled, literally exhaled, like a bellows deflating.

The glow sank back into its chest, leaving only charred cracks across its torso.

Everyone was panting, but alive.

"Okay," Jack said. "We keep steady pressure..."

I cut him off because I didn't like what I saw in the treeline. My gut twisted, my eyes narrowed, and I was already moving.

I dashed across the moss, boots crunching on brittle roots, straight to where AquaHalo and PyroPuff—Support and Mage Ranged DPS—had set up shop.

And just as I arrived, there he was.

A shadow in a cloak, crouched in the brush, daggers ready.

He lunged, his blade aimed for PyroPuff's kidney.

I didn't hesitate, my sword went upwards, drive it from below his head and the sharp edge punched through the bottom of his chin, splitting the hood open with a wet splatter.

His face split like paper peeled by flame.

I got some XP from this player kill, but it seemed the two I saved didn't really appreciate it, as they started screaming.

"Y-you just…!" Aqua stammered.

"Saved you, idiota." I said flatly, wiping the blood off on my boot. "Remember this is a free-for-all zone. AoE magic doesn't hurt other people because it's a raid, sure, but stabbing and shits sure as hell do, some players out here are very problematic. But don't thank me yet, more are probably watching."

Before anyone could digest that, the Titan clapped again, another hollow thunder.

I quickly glanced at the clock, and I just sighed.

"Sooner than expected." I said.

"Cory?" Jack's voice cut in.

"South side!" I screamed, voice hoarse. "Everyone, get your asses to me, regroup with us three. NOW!"

The ground trembled, the forest itself began spitting copies out of the soil.

Small versions of the Titan, but still the size of a human being started appearing. What felt like at least a hundred, thousand? Or Million little nightmares, their eyes glowing with dim ember-light, their bark-skin thick enough to bounce casual strikes.

And for once, nobody argued. Nobody in this stupid team questioned, they came, all 8 of them gathered around with backs together like defending against a zombie hoard.

Shields slamming down, staves raised, bows drawn, swords and daggers scraping free. We formed a ragged circle, backs touching, breathing in unison, all facing outward against the incoming tide.

The forest had become a wall of snarling wooden soldiers.

"Jack!" I yelled, "I hope your team knows what they're doing, because right now I need them to be at least more capable than a 12 year old!"

"You can bet on that!" J97 replied.

It was chaos, perfect, beautiful chaos.

Jack (J97) led with precision, darting in with his sword, always striking at tendons, never wasting stamina. His calls were crisp, better than my call at least.

"Focus my left!" He was the kind of player who never tilted, who somehow made everyone believe they had more time than they actually did.

"Buster2k! Move over there!" I yelled, "Emberline! Turn around and shoot that one holding SolsticeRun! Lyra, stop healing Thornhand, he'll be fine!"

Buster2k, the first tank, slammed forward, shield like a wall, bracing two mini-Titans at once. Every time one raised a bark-fist, he shoved upward, redirecting the strike into the canopy, grunting in his teeth.

SolsticeRun, the quiet tank, anchored the west. He wasn't flashy, but he never, ever let a mob through. His shield was the kind of thing you could build a house behind.

Emberline's arrows burned like streaks of meteor ash, punching holes in the second wave before they reached us, her timing with PyroPuff's firebursts made it look like they rehearsed a fireworks show.

DaggerDan was sloppy, reckless, always overcommitting, very realistic name, I see. He was charging too far until I yelled: "Wait for the tank to shift left, NOW GO!" and suddenly his blade hit at the perfect angle, dropping two mobs in one dizzying spin.

He got potential, I'll tell you that.

Feral_Moon wasn't really damage or healing, she had some binding spells that weren't helpful with the raid boss but sure as hell was a miracle for these smaller pots. Roots rose to trip enemies, vines latched ankles, and hes buffs stretched everyone's stamina just a little further.

AquaHalo moved like a conductor, chaining his protective barriers between the circle, his blue shields glowing like stained glass. He hummed under his breath, calming herself, maybe, or maybe calming us. Quite literally a background character that no one noticed existed until he decided it matters.

Thornhand… The last tank was a monster. His aggro skills had no subtlety, he roared, bashed, dragged whole clusters of mini-Titans into one spot. He'd probably die early if not for Lyra's constant lifeline tethering him.

LyraBell did her job… Yeah, sorry, I didn't have much to say about healers… It's just so direct, maybe I should respect them for taking on the role that everyone needs but still underrating? But I couldn't find compliments for a healing.

And me? I was everything, everywhere, all at once, Lucy or Chinese lady type shit. Shouting orders like a field general with a cap, shifting left, redirecting them right, telling Lyra when to pulse now, telling Emberline to change targets (because honestly, she gets tunnel-vision from time to time).

The main problems of this team was Dan, Ember and Thorn… All of which was minimal, so I know that J97 had been training them right.

Well, I'm impressed, but not surprised, after all, he's the guild leader of the PC's #3 best guild, and was in the top 50 all time best players, after all, being nicknamed #49 – Pride Of Lions.

By the way, did you know that Lion's Parade, his guild name, was a play of words of how a group of lion is call a Pride? Get it? Pride Parade? Gay people? Yeah, I don't know why or how because Jack never mentioned if he's gay but… Okay, no kink shaming here.

I was laughing again.

Laughing, screaming, cutting through barks like it was paper, feeling the rush of authority.

It was ugly, it was glorious, but it was ours, mine specfically, I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would.

What felt like hours but was probably minutes went by. The last of the miniatures crumbled into ash, leaving only the forest floor littered with fading red system sparks.

My chest heaved, my sword dripped with imaginary sap.

"Four out of six…" I muttered, half to myself. The Titan loomed beyond the clearing, its body groaning, cracks glowing faintly again. "We've seen four of its damn tricks already."

I squinted, my throat dry. "So how much HP do you have left, huh?"

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