[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-black-online":3,"chapter-black-online-black-online-chapter-169":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Black Online",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1462762,1913,"Chapter 169: Arrival of the King - Part 2","black-online-chapter-169",169,"\u003Cp>\"We’re off!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joanne said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then left with Ira to scout the path ahead, and the rest of the party stayed behind at the double doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon took off his glove and exposed it to the cold air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was cold, but not unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It’s warmer than outside. We should be fine temperature-wise unless the temperature suddenly drops.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he opened his chat window and looked at the party chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Joanne and Ira encountered any trouble, they would send a message to the party chat, and they would head over immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ngh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary ripped the beef jerky with his teeth and then choked on a particularly tough piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else was also just keeping themselves warm, and they stayed quiet as they didn’t want to expose their presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap~ Tap, tap~ tap, tap~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joanne and Ira came running back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were away for about ten minutes—a normal amount—as they weren’t going to scout the entire tower for danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the nearby area first, and the path to the boss room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is something strange going on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joanne said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon asked with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are no monsters. The bosses this high in the tower should have minions and such, but we found nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ira said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We, however, found dry blood. I checked the blood, and without a doubt it is the monster blood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joanne said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Rangers’ special ability, they have an innate ability for tracking and anything hunting related. It was easy for them to tell the difference between player and monster blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They were killed recently?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The monsters usually respawn after a while, and from what we know, nobody has been here for a couple of weeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These monsters must’ve been killed very recently. It wasn’t done by players, from what we know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joanne said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A trap by the monsters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rae guessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These monsters aren’t intelligent enough to do a trap this complex. Maybe if we were above the 40th floor, but we’re nowhere close to that yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already a more difficult raid than others, as they didn’t know what to expect, but now they had to deal with this added challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shall we call it quits? The tower resets in a couple of weeks, and we might get a normal tower instead of whatever this is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ocon suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Run away before we even do anything? How can I show my face to the others after giving up so easily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It would be a wise move to leave right away and ignore my own pride, but I would hate myself if I did that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon thought angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I don’t pity him at all. What an impossible decision. I guess I was lucky in the end that I lost the team leader position.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary thought with a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone waited for him to make a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Shall I make it a vote? If this goes sideways, at least I can say that it was a mutual decision, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That is so cowardly! I am the team leader! The decision is mine and mine all alone. I shouldn’t be afraid of consequences!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon gritted his teeth, and then he turned to others, and with a firm voice, he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We will proceed as planned. We’ll start heading over to the boss room. Joanne and Ira will still act as scouts. They’ll walk 2 minutes ahead of us and report back any obstacles or enemies they encounter along the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone took a cold breath and nodded, and they then prepared themselves by taking out their weapons and double-checking their gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Joanne and Ira left first. A moment later, everyone else followed in their footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they walked down the icy hallways, they also came across the dried blood and strange scratch markings on the floors and walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious that there had been some kind of struggle among the monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have they said anything yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sam asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a quick glance, Fang Raon checked the chat window, and it was still empty with no word from the scouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, they kept walking down the same path, and after five minutes or so, they saw Joanne and Ira once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had arrived by the tall double doors and had been awaiting them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The boss room... We really encountered zero monsters!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luke cried out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Any idea what this is all about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon asked Machary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am sorry, but I am as clueless as you are. I don’t think that all those monsters would just vanish into thin air.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary shrugged his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you all ready?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, team leader.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all said with serious expressions on their faces, and none of them were in a joking mood—it was time for a battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Fang Raon pushed open the double doors, and they all ran inside with weapons in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They came to an instant stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUMP~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The double doors shut, and the timer started—it would reopen in an hour—which was almost an eternity inside the boss room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRUNCH~ CRUNCH~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, they saw a white-furred creature standing atop corpse mountains, munching on the corpses of the monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I guess we now know where the monsters are.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary said with a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rae shuddered at the sight and felt lightheaded—the crunching sound, the smell, and the sight of it were just too much for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that the boss? A boss that eats other monsters...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ira whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a quick sniff at the air, the creature turned its icy blue eyes towards the players and let out a deafening roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Frostmaw Beast]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[HP: 100%]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was huge. With white fur, crystal tusks, and glowing icy blue eyes. It looked like it had ice in its veins, and its breath froze the air around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is a beast creature, which means Tank’s aggro will work very well on it. Ocon, focus on garnering its aggro, away from the Helpers, if possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Luke, I want you to use only your fire magic. It works well against ice creatures such as this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ira and Joanne get on the high ground. Nico, why don’t you create a platform for them to stand on using the Earth Wall skill?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Niall, I want you to stay here to protect Rae and Sam. Meanwhile, I will attack with Machary from the front.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay, team leader!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his grimoire, Nico lifted Joanne and Ira using the Earth Wall skill—he stacked Earth Walls atop each other, raising them high above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had perfect vintage at the white-furred monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"FIRE!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joanne and Ira released arrows—they curved in the air, looking like an arch, and they stabbed into the beast’s hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ROAR!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frostmaw Beast roared angrily and started thrashing around in pain—the corpses of the monsters crushed under its massive paws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Ocon ran away from the rest of the party, and then he started banging his fist against the shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tank’s Taunt!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an angry gaze, Frostmaw Beast turned at him, and for some reason, it started to look very pissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost like it saw something it didn’t like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It suddenly jumped off the corpse mountain and started running straight towards the taunting Tank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If it attacks me like this, I’ll be crushed!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ocon thought with a frightened look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a van-sized beast was charging straight at him, and it was also running as fast as a slow minivan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would get run over!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Driving Sword!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary drove his sword straight into the side of the Frostmaw Beast, and it got lodged into the beast’s side, causing it to skid to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ROAR!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It started thrashing and swung the massive paw at Machary, but with barely any room to spare, he dodged out of the way just in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’My head almost got blown off!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machary thought, with cold sweat running down his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hard Slash!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon hacked his sword at Frostmaw Beast’s back, but it only left a shallow cut, as its back happened to be heavily armored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I didn’t notice this armored part because of the heavy fur!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought with an ugly expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frostmaw Beast suddenly swiped its claws at him, and Fang Raon dodge-rolled out of the way but still felt a strange sensation on his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I got hit?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a deep gash in his skin, blood trickling down his side. It was like he got slashed by a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I couldn’t dodge completely!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought with an ugly expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"LUKE!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the order given, Luke flipped through the pages of his grimoire and found the spell that he was looking for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flamethrower!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grimoire breathed out fire—as if it was the maw of a dragon—and the fire engulfed the white-furred monster creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ROAR!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy fur was very flammable, and Frostmaw Beast started to run around in a panic, trying to put out the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nico, cover him with a bubble!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat running down his forehead, Nico cast a spell and engulfed the creature in a thin-looking bubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the monster’s size, the bubble also had to be enormous, and it was draining his mana quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haaaaah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nico controlled the bubble and made it float towards the ceiling—Frostmaw Beast still inside—and it was also unable to put out the flames because of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Joanne and Ira!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Raon shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Rangers pulled their bows taut, aimed at the bubble, and rained arrows straight at it. The arrows went through the bubble and pierced the creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ROAR!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1633,"2026-06-06T02:35:08.438Z",1,"novelbin.me","0f34c0637d80ff6cf4fb4506361b053d6892618aa63e609f3473d9d867d906fd","black-online-chapter-170","black-online-chapter-168",270,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fblack-online-cover.jpg"]