“Hmm.” It’s an appreciative sort ofhmm. I’m feeling good about it.
“We ending here or finishing out?” Healz asks.
“I’m good to finish it out,” Ash says.
“Yeah, let’s finish,” I say. “If you’re cool with it, Zoo? We can get some gear and mats to stick in clan storage.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Zoo says. “Let’s get going. Last room.”
The final dream space is home to the main boss: Chimera, Nightmare Amalgam. Chimera, like its entire name suggests, is a mash-up of the other four bosses. Eye’s petrifying ability, Claw’s speed, Tail’s turtling and offspring, and Fang’s teleportation. There are no tricks here, just knowledge, strategy, and the ability to adjust on the fly. One person takes point, calling out which phase we’re in, which attributes Chimera is using. I imagine it’s a bit like being a conductor.
About halfway through the fight, I realize I have taken this responsibility. I’m the one calling the shots, and the other three are listening to me. There’s a natural flow to the fight; at a point, I no longer feel like I’m narrating what is happening. Instead, I’m calling out what’s about to happen, reading the future like an oracle, maneuvering Zoo and Ash and Healz into position before Chimera acts.
When Chimera finally falls, though I have watched its health bar emptying the whole time, it comes almost abruptly. I could have kept going forever, fighting in that loop.
“Good work, everyone,” Zoo says as we collect our rewards. “That was a clean run. Well deserved drop on the neckpiece too, Raven.”
“Thanks,” I say.
Zoo ports out of the dungeon and leaves the group and the voice chat. Just like that, it’s over.
“Good group. Want to run another?” Healz asks.
“Gimme like ten minutes,” Ash says. “I have to go talk to someone.”
“Cool. Message when you’re ready.” Healz leaves the voice channel too.
“Talking to someone?” I ask. I had seen that Ash had muted his microphone a few times during the dungeon, like someone had come into his room and he didn’t want what they said to interrupt us.
“My mom,” he says. “She wanted to talk to me about something.” He sounds exasperated. “Probably trying to convince me to apologize to Pastor Mitchell again. I’ll be back.”
“Okay.”
We both leave voice chat. I port back to Fenhallow Academy and do some tasks while I wait for the others. Sell the junk I got from the dungeon, put useful items in the clan bank so others can use them, repair my gear. There’s something so soothing about doing even these menial tasks in the game. I wish I could get this satisfaction from doing chores in real life, but it’s not thesame. What am I building toward when I put the dishes away, or sweep the floor? What will I get in exchange for going to track practice or running well at a meet? Nothing that feels worth the effort.
I’m working on cooking more stat food for the next dungeon when a notification pops up in the Discord. Zoo has posted in the Raids thread.
Zookini posted today at 8:43 p.m.
VDGTower Raid Party. If you see your name in this list, you’ve been selected to take part in the Dreambreaker raid next week. Reply to this message to confirm you’re in. Raid party meeting schedule will be posted closer to the expansion release date, when they announce the first raid day.
If you cannot participate on raid day, let me know ASAP so your spot can be filled by someone who can.
We are going for world first. If you are not dedicated to getting world first, let me know ASAP so your spot can be filled by someone who is.
Raiding Party
Zookini
Leelea
Redderfedder
lumberjacked
Healzzzorz
Faustus
