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As I passed through the lobby, I overheard a conversation from an open chat on the other side.

“Oh no, now a Pluto Bear has joined the fray!”
“My HP is in the red. I need to die and revive first.”
“Hold on a second. If we leave now, other players will surely swoop in and steal the Ogre Bear kill. Its HP isn’t even close to the yellow zone yet; it would all be for nothing if we don’t maintain the attack.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? Two of us are already down. It’s unrealistic to think the three of us can win this.”
“We never stood a chance without our striker tank. What a way to dampen our first boss hunt.”

From what I could gather, a party of five players was currently tackling the «Ogre Bear», the boss of the «Scorching Labyrinth». Two members had already perished, leaving just three to face the formidable dungeon boss.

—It was only a matter of time before the entire party was wiped out.

I hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but their plight made me consider potential strategies to help them break the deadlock.

Among the known dungeons, «Scorching Labyrinth»—the 77th discovered dungeon with over 20 still undisclosed, according to the game developers—is a mid-level dungeon in «E.H.O» that any competent party could tackle with moderate difficulty.

The boss in this dungeon drops a coveted item, the «Demonic Stroke»—a neutral attribute weapon that enhances damage against demonic-type monsters. It’s highly effective at this level and remains useful in lower tiers as players progress. As a result, this dungeon often attracts parties from mid to advanced levels, and occasionally high-level solo players seeking quick profits. While frowned upon, this behavior isn’t penalized as it doesn’t violate any game rules, making it a lucky break for new players who stumble upon the boss.

Given their dire situation, it seemed inevitable that they would soon be wiped out. In an MMORPG where players vie for resources, it was unlikely anyone would leave a wounded boss unattended while the party respawned from their safe point.

In the mechanics of «E.H.O», item drops are awarded to the party or player who inflicts more than 50% damage to a boss’ HP, with additional benefits for landing the killing blow.

Their misfortune was compounded by the fact that the boss still had more than 50% of its HP—far from the critical yellow zone. For any party that succeeded them, it would be like finding a feast laid out on a silver platter, often resulting in rare drops that could further dismay the novice party.

Additionally, bosses often respawn. Even if the party managed to reduce the boss’ HP significantly, they’d face a rejuvenated Ogre Bear upon their return from resurrection. Typically, other players would defeat the weakened boss for efficiency, even without the promise of a reward, and then wait for the next respawn.

A typical player might simply watch as they were defeated, seeing it as a harsh lesson in the realities of the game. In the worst-case scenario, another player might attempt a ‘kill steal’—swooping in to defeat the boss while it was already engaged. Such actions, akin to ‘Boss Camping,’ were generally frowned upon. It would be wise for them to exit quickly to avoid further complications.

(Still, one wonders how many players are watching this unfold. Should I really intervene?)

I sighed as I stared at my player avatar on the screen, an eye-catching figure that left me with mixed feelings.

I had crafted a persona of a ‘gentle, mild-mannered, reliable senior’—partly to gain some shallow appreciation from newcomers in the VR game, and partly to distract from my real-life status as a NEET and shut-in. That façade of deception was why I felt compelled to see the game through to the end.

Navigating my avatar, I emerged from a grotto-like corner of the dungeon, crossed a bridge over a lava river, and reached a vast open space comparable to an elementary school gym. There, the formidable Ogre Bear loomed large, nearly the size of a two-story building, with icicle-like spikes protruding from its back, accompanied by five or six minions. Across the way, I spotted three players valiantly battling the bear, struggling to fend off its relentless attacks.

Nearby, two players lay defeated, the label ‘Dead’ ominously floating above them. I had stealthily entered from the room’s far side, unnoticed by the Ogre Bear facing away from me. From my vantage point, I shouted to the remaining players.

“Hey there, need a hand with this?”

My unexpected offer was met with a stunned silence. After a brief pause, the Party Leader, a swordsman bracing for the worst, finally responded.

“Please, if you could handle the smaller minions around the boss!”
“Actually, I’ll take on the boss for now. Use this opportunity to recover.”

With instructions given, I unsheathed my trusty sword breaker, hoisted my heater shield, and charged towards the boss.

While the Ogre Bear was still focused on the party, I maneuvered behind it and unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes against its back.

My assault quickly reduced its HP into the yellow zone. Sensing the new threat, the Ogre Bear pivoted, targeting me with its massive claws, swinging them like ponderous machinery.

I braced myself and absorbed the blow with my heater shield.