December 25, 2022. 11:41 AM – Rovia, Floor 4

  Silver materialized in Rovia's plaza. He still had some time before meeting up with the party, so he wandered the city without aim. Midday bustle carried him to the inn they'd been using as a base. The rest of the team was already there, gathered out front.

  His instincts flagged trouble at once, though he couldn't say why.

  —Silver! —Miwa squealed, skipping toward him in little hops that made her look like a mischievous kid. The moment she reached him, she looped her arm through his as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  —Hey, —he answered, trying to keep his cool.

  —Have I told you how handsome you are?

  —...What?

  Silver's whole body tensed, ready to dodge a blindside attack from HappyGoose. Safe zones didn't allow real damage, but he'd heard getting slugged in one was far from pleasant. He flicked a glance at Goose, bracing for the usual jealous glare—and found something else entirely: a shadowed, stormy look that sent a chill up his spine.

  —What the hell is going on? —he asked Ryuho.

  —Beats me, —Ryuho said with a shrug—. She's been off since last night.

  —She told me I was handsome too, —Veget added, wearing a grimace that wanted to be a smile.

  Silver looked more closely at Miwa. She was smiling with an innocence that didn't match her usual self-assurance. She let go of his arm, and he asked what was going on. She tilted her head, as if she didn't understand the words.

  —Did something happen yesterday on Floor One? —Ryuho asked, voice going flat.

  —We ran into an event boss and it almost literally killed me, —Silver said with a sheepish scratch of his neck.

  —I meant: did something happen to her?

  —Nothing special. She asked me to leave her alone with Goose for the nigh— AAGH!

  He didn't finish. A sharp blow landed under his ribs, accompanied by a purple [IMMORTAL OBJECT] flash. Miwa's dagger skittered against an invisible barrier like she meant to force it through. Silver looked at her face and met the most chilling smile he'd ever seen.

  —Hey, Miwa... —Ryuho's voice reeled him back, but she ignored it. She grabbed Silver by the arm and started dragging him off with surprising strength.

  —Let's go. We have a LOT to talk about.

  The smile didn't leave her face. Silver, rattled, let himself be hauled away.

  The others watched them go. Veget sighed and called out:

  —Be back in an hour! We need to go over tomorrow's raid.

  Meanwhile, Ryuho's voice went ice-cold as he pinned HappyGoose in place.

  —You're going to tell me exactly what happened with my sister last night.

  Goose reached for a quick joke and found Ryuho's iron grip wouldn't let him wriggle free. He exhaled hard, tried to line up his thoughts. He'd have to say it sooner or later, but the timing couldn't be worse.

  —When we got back to town after saving the kid, Silver's friend wouldn't let him walk her home. So Miwa-chan told the girl she wanted time alone with me—so Silver would go with her. Then we grabbed dinner before heading back.

  Ryuho studied him, then let out a weary laugh. That sounded very much like his sister.

  —But it doesn't explain why she's like this today. Is there something you're not telling me?

  HappyGoose swallowed, rubbed his arm, and forced the words out.

  —Look... I thought it was a good moment to tell her how I feel. I said, "I know I'm not the most attractive in the group, but my feelings are real." And that ticked her off.

  Ryuho went quiet, weighing it. He knew his sister. In school she'd been swarmed by vain, self-impressed guys who thought their looks were enough to win her over. Goose was probably the first to say the opposite, and that must have upset her. Even so, her behavior today didn't fully track. Was she punishing Goose? Trying to make him jealous? He looked more scared than jealous.

  At last, Ryuho set a hand on his shoulder.

  —Maybe... just maybe, you've got a shot.

  Miwa frog-marched Silver down Rovia's side streets until they were well away from the others. When she stopped, she let go of his arm—and her expression finally slid back to normal.

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  —Well? —she asked, wearing her trademark mischievous grin.

  —Well what? —he said, baffled.

  —How'd it go with Yu-chan?

  —Good, —Silver said, scratching his neck in that tell of his.

  Miwa studied him in silence with that gaze of hers that seemed to read past words. She watched for an off-beat blink, a twitch of the hands, any telltale seam. Nothing. So she jumped anyway.

  —What aren't you telling me? —she asked, so sure and sudden it knocked the breath from him.

  The tiny jolt in his eyes was all she needed. She smiled, folded her arms.

  —Go on. Spill it. We've got time.

  He looked at her with resignation and a plea in equal parts. Miwa didn't budge. Finally he sighed and began.

  He told her everything: the talk before reaching the cathedral; Yuiha's fear when the potions wouldn't work against Blitzen's aftermath; the way he blurted out, without thinking, that he'd rather fall than watch her die; how she asked him not to say things like that—because it could be misleading.

  He told her about breakfast with the kids, the laughter, the presents, how Yuiha glowed among them like a lantern in that digital prison.

  And about the awkward moment when the kids cornered them with questions and Sasha had to step in.

  At last, he told her the end: how Yuiha reminded him of his promise to help upgrade her gear and asked him to come back alive from the raid. And how he answered, again without thinking, that as long as she waited, he'd always return.

  When he finished, the silence stretched. Miwa's face was unreadable—until her lips curved into a sly smile.

  —That was a very romantic confession.

  —What? —Silver stumbled back, nearly tripping on a stone.

  —Oh, please, —she teased—. The fact you like her is so obvious even an NPC would notice.

  Silver looked aside, heat rising in his face.

  —That obvious, huh? —he muttered.

  —Obvious enough that she probably knows, —Miwa said, tipping her head, impish.

  He didn't answer. For a beat, she just watched him. There was something about him that disarmed her a little—how clumsy he was with feelings, how honestly he said things without realizing their weight.

  —Just make sure you don't break her heart, —she said at last, softer.

  He glanced up, surprised by the change in tone—but Miwa was already back to grinning, wicked as ever.

  —Because if you do, don't bother coming back from the boss. I'll personally punt you down to Floor One.

  Silver barked a laugh, and for the first time since returning from the cathedral, that weight on his chest felt a little lighter.

  December 25, 2022. 1:03 PM – Rovia, Floor 4

  The party sat around a table in the inn, reviewing the updated boss intel.

  [Boss Name]

  Brakados, the Rusted Mantle Sovereign

  Location: Coral Mantle Cavern

  Estimated Level: 27

  HP: 98,500

  Type: Colossal Crustacean

  Battlefield

  — Circular arena, partially flooded.

  — Water level shifts during the fight, affecting mobility.

  — Dry zones are limited; controlling them is key.

  — Coral formations along the walls partially block line of sight.

  ?? Attack Patterns

  Wave Impact

  — Slams the ground with both claws.

  — AoE physical damage + knockdown.

  — Tip: Jump on impact or use heavy shields.

  Armor Slam

  — Vertical strike with the main claw.

  — Creates fissures and alters terrain (reduces mobility).

  — Tip: Back off after each slam to avoid getting trapped.

  Clamp Crush

  — Grabs a nearby player.

  — Applies DoT and immobilization.

  — Only releases after focused damage (≈ 3% of boss HP).

  — Tip: Always assign a breaker to free the target.

  Shell Guard

  — Retreats into its shell, reducing frontal damage.

  — Temporary weak point: left thoracic joint.

  — Tip: Attack from the flanks during this phase.

  Toxic Seep (final phase)

  — From 40% HP, secretes toxic fluid.

  — Contaminated water inflicts light poison (15 HP/s).

  — Tip: Stay on dry zones or keep moving constantly.

  General Strategy

  — Maintain a wide formation.

  — Don't let more than two players line up in front of the claws.

  — Assign a main tank and an interrupter for Clamp Crush.

  — Prioritize the weak point during Shell Guard.

  — Watch terrain: rising water guts visibility and mobility.

  Veget shared the notes and walked through them point by point.

  —We'll stick to our usual formation. Silver and I up front. Ryuho and Goose on damage. Miwa, you can jump in to attack if you want, but your primary job is handling potions and crystals.

  Miwa nodded, serious. At first, Ryuho had "assigned" her a support role as an excuse to keep her safe, and she'd grumbled that she could fight, too. Over time, her support had become vital to the party's survival—especially Veget and Silver's. More than once they'd lived thanks to her fast hands. Now the team fought trusting she would appear at their side the instant they needed her.

  —Memorize this as reference, but don't get cocky, —Veget finished, voice all leader—. We've already seen at least one beta pattern change in every boss fight. We can try to bail out a player in trouble, but never forget our own safety comes first. Tomorrow at midday, we rendezvous with the rest at the boss antechamber.