The Titan of Ashen Bark clashed its fists together, the sound like trees snapping in half. Splinters of bark rained down as its massive frame twisted, preparing another skill.

As the crowd braced, ready to move into formation if shits go south, I stood at the sideline looking at my wristwatch.

The time? 01:00:02

It would be the perfect time for that burying skill, where the ground open up in a rectangle-like mouth shape and bury everyone, needing either help or great strength stat to crawl out of.

Lo and behold… It did just that, the ground opened up. The titan opened up a yawning pit at its feet, sucking in half the frontline like gnats into a vacuum cleaner.

People screamed, idiots scrambled, healers panicked trying to get Line of Sight for healing by approaching the hole. But within a few seconds, the formations corrected themselves, the swallowed players clawed their way back out or pulled out, and the fight went on.

Not what I would have done, but it worked, I guess, heh, noobs.

Eirlys still hadn't patched the exploitable RNG, but I digress, as per mentioned, rebuilding and applying a new number system in your gacha would take a whole day's work, then there's run tests and whatnot… Sounds like a hassle.

So now, I'll be watching the seconds tick by like an executioner's pendulum. So while everyone else tensed and yelled commands, I simply adjusted my grip and waited.

Tick… Tock.

01:00:11 was when the next skill was casted.

It should be… The AoE debuff, yeah, time to move ahead.

I wove between the chaos at the titan's ankles, longsword flashing in quick arcs towards its bark. Nothing flashy, not trying to prove myself or micromanage anyone this time... Half the reason I'm online was to contain myself from getting horny after witnessing Tanya and Eirlys… And ugh, WHY THE FUCKKKK AM I MENTIONING THAT NOW.

Alright, back to the boss.

Slash

A speedy swordsman, a very easy and simple build for a half-tank half-physical damage class like Squire.

I found myself running, striking around the boss, making sure to deal damage every second, but my arm can not swing that fast without rest, so my output wasn't exactly 75 Damage Per Second, more like 75 Damage Per 1.3 second… If that makes sense.

Don't tell the moderators this, but occasionally… Absolutely not on purpose, I found myself shoulder-bumping into certain players.

And somehow, miraculously without any intent, I always bump into the female players, totally per chance, totally accidental.

You'll be happy to know I didn't get handsy, officer.

One mage gave me an annoyed glance, another archer stumbled, muttered something sharp in an Asian language, then went back to firing, a healer tried to slap me but was too slow, another one was confused and started talking in party chat to ask who this hot player was among their ranks…

I kept my face blank, absolutely focus, because I didn't do it on purpose.

Good thing I have 2 different hoods on to cover myself.

At the same time, I made damn sure to steer clear and moved the opposite direction whenever I heard the word "bastard" get screamed across the clearing.

That was Olga's war cry, and I didn't need to catch any stray swears, or her attention. Being in her radius was like standing next to a thunderstorm: exhilarating in theory, terrifying in practice, the pain's mostly around your ears being busted.

The battle thundered on, and I checked my trusty wristwatch again… Something I've already bonded to and would not be returning to back to LyraBell, take that as life saving tax.

And then… What time is it again?

…

…

"Fuck."

My blood ran cold.

The second hand slid into one of the five forbidden number, one I'd been dreading all night… Annoying god damn skill.

The Titan of Ashen Bark raised its arms. Bark cracked, roots split the ground, and then…

The dome appeared, enveloping half the raid.

A translucent barrier erupted, snapping into place with a deafening boom. Around eighty players were caught inside this indestructable realm where the only way to get out was to have the ones inside attack the Titan until its shield shatters, myself included.

The people outside can't help, which was the worst part.

The Titan roared, its health bar shimmering as numbers appeared above its frame: +500 SHIELD (x80).

80 players were inside the dome.

I didn't need to do much of the math at this point.

Forty thousand shield.

"Ughhh…" I groaned aloud, dragging my sword through the dirt as I start smashing the guy with little to no enthusiasm at 1AM

My Attack stat was seventy-five, probably the highest among these scrubs who's screaming and smashing their entire body weight into the titan, but still, at this rate we'd still be hacking at that shield when the sun burns out.

Then.

"...You're one speedy bastard, aren'tcha?"

That's when I felt a presence behind me, holding my shoulders down.

Boots scuffing dirt, a shadow crossing mine, a voice drawled, sharp with a Russian edge spoke

"I've noticed you running around, interesting lad."

I froze.

Olga.

Since when did we have beef? Was it that time I called her a stupid hoe 3 years ago? Does… Does she even recognize me as CJS69? No way… No way.

But, even though I sounded worried, and I was, panicking like a doe caught in bear trap, the panic stemmed from something different than meeting an old friend.

The panic came from her hands. Her big, firm hand on my shoulder, which made me wet (figuretively) immediately.

I swear every neuron in my brain suddenly turned into wet spaghetti, flopping around uselessly. I could feel the heat of it, the weight pinning me… Not with the intent to restraint, but worse, something primal, conditioned after years of craving human touch and being touch by humans who shouldn't be around touching people… Something in me that just shuts down whenever a woman touches me, especially one with such… Toughness.

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