C24 Dark Crystal

The Dark Crystal was first discovered by a squad led by a player known as "Reduced to 180 Pounds." Their team consisted of five members, and perhaps it was sheer luck that after mowing down several waves of monsters in a straight line, the vanguard, Reduced to 180 Pounds, spotted something unusual in the distance.

In the clearing ahead, there were at least a dozen Kobolds. Among them towered a super Kobold standing over three meters tall, with arms thicker than the waists of its Kobold brethren. Its head resembled that of a wolf more than a dog, with razor-sharp teeth that could easily be longer than a human finger. Reduced to 180 Pounds had no doubt that this creature could snap someone in half with a single bite.

Unlike the zombies and skeletons that roamed nearby, these Kobolds stood still, not seeking out players. With keen eyes, Reduced to 180 Pounds noticed a peculiar object at the feet of the massive Kobold. It resembled a crystal but emitted a dark aura.

The giant Kobold absorbed half of this dark aura, while the rest wafted into the air, gradually coalescing into a zombie. Upon its emergence, the zombie shambled off in a daze.

"Holy crap, that's the thing!" The sight galvanized the team led by Reduced to 180 Pounds. Cautious not to alert the formidable creature, they retreated over a hundred meters before frantically reaching out to nearby players. The message spread rapidly, and soon all the teams were converging on this location.

In contrast to the fortune of Reduced to 180 Pounds and his team, other squads weren't as lucky, encountering hordes of monsters that thinned their ranks. Even the commander, Shadow of Wind, previously injured, had to bow out while searching for the dark source.

Stepping in as the interim commander was Zhuge Bayun, exuding confidence despite his grim expression. After sizing up the monster's arm, which was thicker than his own body, both he and his second-in-command knew that the players were outmatched.

"Shadow of Wind was right," they acknowledged. "The longer this mission drags on, the more monsters appear. Worse yet, that monster could become even more formidable."

"No, I think we've been too slow. This monster has grown beyond our capability to handle. Had we been quicker, it wouldn't have become this powerful."

After a brief exchange, he spoke with undeniable confidence, "We're short on time, so I'll skip the small talk. I have a proposal that might just be our best option right now."

"That monster is clearly out of our league, and the crystal it's guarding is definitely our target. We don't know how much 'health' the crystal has, but if the mission is to destroy it, then it must be breakable."

"I suggest we split into two teams. One will act as a diversion, sacrificing themselves to distract the beast, while the other focuses on attacking the crystal. Let's not worry about anything else."

"Of course, those on the suicide mission should pass their weapons to the assault team. We'll discuss compensation for the fallen after we complete the mission. We're not just players; we're a team, and we can't let each other down. If you agree, I'm ready to be the first to join the suicide squad!"

With no objections, the players understood the gravity of their unity. They had come too far to splinter now. One by one, they volunteered their ideas.

"Let the injured join the suicide squad. Handing over our weapons isn't really a loss."

"Exactly, we get a free revival every day without any experience loss."

"The only real downside for the suicide squad is potentially missing the mission's completion. Those who make it, make sure to capture this moment!"

The group of seventy quickly distributed weapons and reformed their ranks. Led by the fearless charge of their confident comrade, they surged forward like warriors of old.

The thirty in the vanguard were weaponless, charging past the ordinary Kobolds to confront the colossal one. The players behind, each wielding dual weapons, overwhelmed the enemy with sheer numbers. In less than half a minute, the ordinary Kobolds were vanquished.

But when they faced the massive Kobold, it swung its mighty claw, cleaving a player in two. Even as he was bisected, the player struggled to shout before dissolving into a white light, "This boss is insanely tough!"

The rest of the daredevil squad didn't hesitate either. They swarmed in, some grabbing legs, others arms, clinging to the Kobold like koalas. A couple even scaled the creature's waist, while a few circled to its back and leaped up to jab at its rear, leaving the other players dumbfounded.

This tactic certainly did the trick, infuriating the massive Kobold. It snatched up a player from its waist, brought him to its mouth, and chomped down viciously, nearly severing the poor soul in two. Yet, that player, undeterred, stretched out his arms and jabbed his fingers into the Kobold's eyes.

Caught off guard by such a desperate counterattack, the giant Kobold howled in pain, blood trickling from its closed eyes.

"Great job! Hold it off! Full assault, now!"

At Zhuge Bayun's command, the weapon-wielding players charged and struck at the Dark Crystal, their weapons clanging against it. The players at the forefront, managing to hit the crystal, cried out, "It's incredibly tough!"

"My hands are tingling! Can we actually shatter this?"

One player, his face set with determination, still clutched the Kobold's thigh. Overhearing the doubts, he shouted, "Keep at it! We can definitely break it. Otherwise, the mission wouldn't tell us to destroy it!"

Zhuge Bayun scrutinized the Dark Crystal, his eyes brightening. "Push harder, everyone. This can be shattered, just look!"

Indeed, with each weapon strike, a faint scratch would appear on the crystal's surface, suggesting it was only a matter of time before they could break it.

Meanwhile, the blind Kobold descended into a frenzy, wildly swinging its arms, grabbing anything within reach to stuff into its mouth, even leaping and rolling on the ground in a fit. Within half a minute, it had shaken off all the players clinging to it. Thankfully, nearly twenty members of the daredevil squad were still in the fray.

"Taunt it with words and gestures, don't cling to it anymore. This creature's lost its mind. If you can draw it away, all the better!" Amidst the turmoil, Zhuge Bayun found a moment to advise those braving the front lines.

Given the limited size of the crystal, once a group of players encircled it and commenced their assault, the rest were left to stand their ground, weapons at the ready. With each strike, strands of black mist swiftly spiraled out from the Dark Crystal, coalescing into grotesque creatures upon the earth. Yet the players, having anticipated this, showed no fear and surged forward, slashing away. These solitary monsters were nothing more than experience points delivered on a platter.

Suddenly, a sharp crack pierced the air, halting everyone in their tracks. The frenzied Kobold, massive in stature, froze mid-rampage.