>>5498788“Though I’d like to see how we’d fare in a PVP situation. I think our teamwork still needs a bit more work. Let’s take the untouched path.” You say.
Skyfrost grunts in approval. “Not a bad suggestion at all. Let’s skip the first few packs in this tunnel as well.”
Just like before, your party executes Skyfrost’s prior strategy, borrowing a cloak of mist to sneak past the initial monsters. It’s carried out fluidly, with none of the awkwardness and hesitation at the beginning of the raid. However, this time, there is no convenient crack in the wall to take cover in, forcing your group to engage the nearest patrol after emerging from the fog. With no need for Skyfrost to direct, you and Yellow-Hawk quickly take up position at the front while LK begins channelling his crowd-control spells. The monsters are quickly taken care of without much trouble.
The roar of spells and steel in the distance become ever more audible as you clear further and further ahead. And after a while, a deafening howl, distorted and filled with defiance, suddenly echoes through these volcanic caverns.
“Huyan the Loyal Guardian (忠守者乎炎) has been slain.” Yellow-Hawk mentions. This is one of the bosses of the Igneous Domain, a colossal Igneous Hound. It’s one of the easier encounters in this raid. Thankfully, you have no need for any of its loot. Your only goal is the final boss which has not yet been downed as evident from the official JSQ boss respawn timers (for select bosses) and the lack of any kill notifications. For all end-game raids of this calibre, slaying the final boss will trigger a server-wide announcement.
You reach another large chamber, from which multiple other entrances lead into. On both sides, it stretches beyond your render distance, the sheer scale of the entire place leaving you somewhat awestruck. What’s immediately striking are the piles and piles of bodies scattered around the room, some freshly slain. There’s no doubt about it. You’ve reached the inner ring.
“Yellow-Hawk, are you familiar with this part of the raid?” Skyfrost asks. “It’s been a while since my last run of the Igneous Domain, heh.”
“If I’m not mistaken, we’re not too far from Huyan’s boss room.” Yellow-Hawk points to the left.
“If we rush, we might very well bump into the group that just slew him.” Autumn-Moon adds. “From the sounds of it, it looks like they’re currently fighting another party.”
A string of death notifications suddenly fill your chatbox.
[Superdog (超狗) has been slain by Grass-Mud-Horse (草泥马)!]
[Blue-Formation (蓝阵) has been slain by Death-Head (死亡头仔)!]
.
.
.
Yellow-Hawk’s voice suddenly turns jittery. “Hold on! Superdog and Blue-Formation are Steelport players. The group ahead belongs to Steelport! We need to help them!”
What do you say?
>”Yes, I agree. Let’s make haste and offer them some assistance.” >”Don’t be so hasty. By the time we get there, the battle might already be over.”>Write in. 