The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 85 (Part 1)

Chapter 85: Mob Hunting (Part 1)

———

The definition of “trash mobs” can vary from person to person, but, in general, they refer to the relatively easy-to-defeat monsters.

For Ryu Min, the Centaur fell into the category of these “trash mobs.”

‘Though for others, it might be considered as elite-level foes.’

At the current stage, which is the early levels of 20, facing the Centaur posed a challenge.

However, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t handle it.

With a group of five, they were more than capable.

‘The issue here is that this creature is labeled as a ‘trash mob.”

Contrary to popular belief, the Centaur wasn’t a boss.

The real boss, lurking somewhere, was a Minotaur with a bull’s head.

“To take down the Minotaur, you’d need at least 20 people, all at Level 20.”

In other words, you’d require five parties to have a chance.

It’s a tough enemy, to say the least.

‘Of course, from my perspective, it’s merely a monster with a sturdy physique but somewhat sluggish movements.’

When players assembled their party, they probably thought this mission would be a walk in the park.

They might have even thought, ‘With five of us, we can be the first to kill the boss.’

‘But, even if it’s possible for the Centaur, tackling the Minotaur is out of the question with just five players in the early stages of Level 20.’

To stand a chance with a five-player party, you’d need to be well beyond Level 30.

In all honesty, even Level 30 seemed like a stretch.

‘Maybe if you’re at Level 40.’

This is precisely why the Angel had emphasized that tackling it solo was a no-go.

The Minotaur wasn’t the kind of monster you could take down on your own.

‘The trap in this round lies right here. They explained it in a way that indicates only a 5-person party could take down the boss.’

Of course, there hasn’t been any explicit mention that a 5-person party is guaranteed to defeat the boss…

‘You’d need at least 20 people to stand a chance, but the Angel acted as if she didn’t know.’

It seemed intentional that crucial information wasn’t shared.

‘Well, she’s probably just following orders from higher-ups.’

Yet, she had no reason to expose herself, inviting unwarranted suspicion.

It would only lead to unnecessary doubts.

‘We’ll just have to observe.’

Those who’ve faced the Minotaur would soon realize that a mere five-person team wouldn’t suffice.

To defeat the boss, extensive cooperation was the key.

‘After grasping this, parties will unite and assist each other.’

This was the strategy for Round 6.

Cooperation and kill-sharing were essential for survival.

‘Troubles might arise along the way, but ultimately, cooperation was the only way forward.’

Some might think, ‘Then there’s no point in defeating the Centaur.’

After all, it had nothing to do with the quest’s objectives.

‘But, if you’re smart enough, you’ll understand why there’s such a long time limit.’

Why else would they impose a 6-hour time limit?

‘The intention was clear—to defeat the Centaur within that timeframe and gain some levels through hunting.’

Dealing with the Minotaur could come later.

The ranking method didn’t prioritize who struck first.

It was all about how quick the party could eliminate the boss.

In essence, the order didn’t matter.

Achieving the quickest kill time meant securing the top spot.

That’s why Ryu Min and the rest of the team weren’t rushing into action.

Everyone was aware of the game plan.

‘The other members of the party knew this too, this is why they didn’t rush in.’

There were six pieces of information that Ryumin gave them as the prophet.

First: The main mission of Round 6 is to form a party of 5 players and defeat the boss.

Second: Centaurs are just mobs and Minotaurs are the real bosses.

Third: The boss requires four parties of five people to defeat, so cooperation between parties is necessary.

Fourth: The ranking measurement method is not based on the order in which party killed the boss first. The order will be determined by which party achieved the lesser time kill.

Fifth: The moment a party kills the boss, they will be immediately sealed by a pillar of light. In short, it is rather disadvantageous to defeat the boss quickly because you will spend the remaining time meaninglessly sitting there.

Sixth: It is best to defeat the centaurs within the time limit, level up, and then challenge the boss.

This was the key strategy for round 6.

Only Heo Taeseok, who did not hear the prophecy, does not know this.

‘Looking at the other team’s reactions, it looks like that monster isn’t the boss. The real boss is probably another monster.’

Ryu Min, who was silently observing the field, finally spoke to the party members.

“Let me lay out my plan for the moment.”

He was going to share the information with them once again, but this time as Black Scythe, who had just discovered it.

“Please, go ahead.”

“We’re going to put off tackling the boss for now and, instead, we’ll focus on taking down these Centaur-like creatures to level up. We’ll keep at it for at least 5 hours.”

“Why? What’s the reasoning behind this?”

“As you can see, players at Level 20 were struggling against these Centaurs. If such trash mobs are so troublesome, then the boss likely requires multiple teams to stand a chance against it. Rushing into the boss fight without knowing its true strength seems ill-advised. Plus, there might be other traps awaiting us.”

“Ah… I see now.”

“Also I’m thinking, what if, for instance, we defeat the boss early, like we did in the 1st round, and end up trapped in the Pillar of Light? We’d waste precious time without any gain. So, it seems wiser to hunt the mobs and assess the situation.”

“Ah… I understand. So, your plan is to prioritize leveling up first and leave the boss for later?”

“Exactly.”

“But what if we miss out on the top spot?”

“It doesn’t matter. Even if we miss out on the 1st place reward, we’ll have earned experience and gold from six hours of hunting. Perhaps the ranking method doesn’t give priority to who strikes first.”

“…”

An Sang-cheol found himself speechless.

‘Incredible. How did he figure it out like this? It’s exactly like the prophecy!’

It’s like finding your way out of a maze without making a single wrong turn.

————–