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A night passed after Crim’s rally, and soon, the final day of the event arrived.

After the intense battle the night before, Kou and her friends had managed to get a good night’s rest. They woke up earlier than usual, spending the morning in relative peace.

Kou’s parents seemed to be aware of everything that was going on. Though they said little, their silent presence spoke volumes as they watched over Kou and her friends. Amari took care of preparing breakfast for everyone, and once they had eaten their fill and replenished their energy, they logged back in—ready to face their battlefield on the first floor of the Submerged City of R’lyeh.

◇◇◇

“…So you’re here.”

Atop a raised platform, Sorleon stood beside Lulu, greeting Crim with a relaxed smile as she arrived.

“Everyone’s already here. More than I expected, actually. But they all came because of what you said last night. Your speech had quite the effect.”

Shao, standing a step behind, gestured for Crim to take her place beside Sorleon, mirroring Lulu on the other side.

Before them, the gathered players filled the entire plaza—an overwhelming sight. And this wasn’t even the full force. There were at least ten times more already in position, waiting for the battle to begin.

“Go on,” Sorleon urged. “They’re all here because of you. The least you can do is greet them.”

Crim hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, steeling herself before addressing the crowd.

“Everyone… I can’t thank you enough. It’s incredible to see so many gamers gathered here!”

Public speaking was never her strong suit, so she simply smiled brightly after that, then stepped back, leaving the spotlight to the one who truly mattered today.

“Umm… Nice to meet you, everyone.”

Encouraged by Crim, Lulu bowed politely.

Though she had cried her heart out the night before, now her expression was fresh and full of determination—a glimmer of new hope shining in her eyes. She was no longer resigned to her fate.

“…I believe in all of you, gamers. So let’s do our best and never give up!”

Clenching her fists, she flashed them her first true smile. Then, knowing she needed to prepare herself for what was coming, she stepped back.

The players who had been close enough to get a good look at her were visibly affected—some blushing, others staring blankly into the air as if entranced. But before things could get out of hand, Sorleon quickly raised his voice, snapping them back to reality.

“We’ll move into our positions as planned. Dispel support should be evenly distributed across the battlefield. If you’re unsure about your role, check with those nearby and adjust as needed!”

With practiced efficiency, Sorleon gave his orders, and the players, trusting him as their leader, quickly set to work.

According to the official raid information, they would be facing two primary enemies: the Great Old One, Cthulhu, and the countless tentacles that served him.

The number of tentacles would continue to increase over time, and once they reached a critical threshold, they would grant Cthulhu a powerful buff. To prevent that, they had to be cut down swiftly.

However, the tentacles were also linked to Cthulhu’s health pool—destroying them would chip away at his HP. Conversely, if their numbers fell too low, Cthulhu would instead receive a debuff that weakened his vitality.

For maximum damage output, their strategy was clear: focus on eliminating the tentacles first. But if they weren’t careful, the battle could spiral out of control.

For maximum damage output, their strategy was clear: focus on eliminating the tentacles first. But if they weren’t careful, the battle could spiral out of control.

Another complication was the periodic debuff that afflicted players depending on their proximity to Cthulhu’s main body. To counteract this, they had strategically stationed players capable of casting Sanctuary throughout the battlefield, ensuring they could cleanse debuffs as needed.

Because these players would play such a pivotal role, everyone had pooled their mana potions, carefully distributing them to ensure their sustain throughout the fight. Players who specialized in crafting also lent their skills to support the cause.

The challenge, however, was ensuring their safety, as they couldn’t be stationed in areas with heavy combat. A solution arrived in an unexpected way.

Crim’s rally from the night before had been recorded and uploaded to the forums, drawing in even more players—including many who hadn’t previously participated in the event. While these newcomers were unfamiliar with the dungeon’s terrain and mechanics, their sheer numbers allowed for the formation of dedicated guides and bodyguards to keep them safe.

The main force tasked with engaging the Great Old One, Cthulhu, was composed of Nord Glacier’s elite warriors, along with a few handpicked players of exceptional skill. However, staying too close to Cthulhu for extended periods would cause debuffs to stack. Instead of engaging in a prolonged fight, their role was to pull aggro and keep Cthulhu on the move—essentially leading him on a wild chase to prevent him from focusing on other players.

The true source of damage would come from Lan Canglong’s formidable spellcasters, who could strike from a safe distance.

Additionally, both Reinhard and Shao possessed the ability to cast Sanctuary, ensuring they could cleanse debuffs if their frontliners found themselves afflicted.

As for Crim and Lua Cheia…

“And… we’ll be the commando unit.”
“Exactly. All of you in Lua Cheia have exceptional mobility and damage potential, but more importantly, you serve as a massive morale booster for the other players. So just do what you do best—move freely and cause as much havoc as possible.”

Crim and her friends would traverse the battlefield, engaging enemies wherever they could while inspiring the players around them to fight harder. It was likely the most exhausting role in the raid, but considering that this entire movement had started because of her, she was in no position to complain.

Still… she couldn’t help but feel a little irked.

“Why… why do I feel like I’m being treated as some sort of idol…?”
“Haha, I can’t believe she’s so oblivious.”
“Well, it’s Crim we’re talking about.”
“And why am I suddenly the target of slander?!”

Despite the looming battle, Sorleon and Shao chuckled at her expense, their lighthearted banter easing some of the tension in the air. Crim pouted for a moment but quickly shook it off. Raising her fist, she steeled herself.

“Well then… We shall meet again at the battle’s climax. All to protect her smile.”
“Right— all to protect her smile.”
“Yes, all to protect her smile.”

Somehow, that phrase had become the rallying cry for the raid. With one final fist bump, the three went their separate ways.

At that very moment, the countdown on Cthulhu’s water cocoon reached zero.

From its depths, a colossal figure emerged—towering tens of meters high, its head an eerie mass of writhing tentacles, its arms ending in razor-sharp claws, and massive bat-like wings unfurling behind it. At the same time, countless tentacles surged across the battlefield, spreading throughout the first floor.

It was the very image of Cthulhu from cosmic horror—an entity of pure dread and madness.

We won’t let him take away her smile!!!

Yet the gathered players—hundreds, perhaps even thousands—refused to cower. Instead, they roared their war cries, brandishing their weapons and charging into battle, undaunted.

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