New Game Plus: I crave challenges

"That's not what I meant, dummy! I wondered if we got the first clear?"

Cyclone's question lingered in the air, leaving Liam with an odd expression.

Suddenly laughter broke out, loud and free. It was a mix of relief, delight, and amusement.

Liam also shook his head with a smile.

But the party suddenly shut up as the announcement they longed for finally appeared before their eyes.

[Congratulations on achieving the first clear of a level 5-10 dungeon. >Achieved in: Reylar's Curse<]

[Your accomplishment is worthy of being remembered.]

[You can choose to name your team or stay anonymous.]

[Congratulations on achieving the first clear of Reylar's Curse.]

[Your accomplishment is worthy of being remembered.]

"We did it!"

With confirmation in front of them, the party cheered.

Cyclone and Balm jumped around excitedly. Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge spoke gibberish. Watchful Eye nodded stoically. Liam, Quickstep and Silent Acacia smiled faintly. Fortune cheered before commenting form the side.

Only Silver Blade stood in place, her body trembling, close to tears. The faces of her parents flashed before her mind.

This is it! My first step! I have taken the lead in the fight for succession!

Suddenly the young woman snapped out of it as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced to the side, meeting Liam's eyes.

"Liam… thank you! Truly!"

"Don't mention it. You hired us, after all.", answered Liam with a wink.

Not far away Balm and Cyclone stopped jumping as their eyes fell on the duo. They stuck their heads together, whispering:

"Did you hear this?"

"Yeah…"

"Who is Liam?"

"I don't know. Silver Blade is your friend! It will be your mission to find out!"

"What do you think? Is the expert some rich second generation?"

Fortunately, Liam didn't notice the two girls gossiping as he was occupied with the announcement.

"So I will name the team Colville Construction, just as previously discussed. Alright?"

"Yes, please."

"Great. Should we make the announcement now?"

"Is there any advantage in delaying?"

"Not really. Only if you need to make some real world preparations.

Or you want to wait for Star Gazer to clear the dungeon and look at his face when he doesn't get the first clear notice."

"Wouldn't this be too mean?", asked Silver Blade with a frown. But Liam only answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

Such a move could be considered tame compared to what he has watched rivaling gamers pull off.

"I think it is alright to make the announcement now."

"You heard her C."

[…]

[Server Announcement:]

[Please congratulate team Colville Constructions on being the first to achieve the first clear of a level 5-10 dungeon. >Achieved in: Reylar's Curse<]

Simultaneously two other notifications appeared before all the party members.

[Accomplished achievement: First step on a long path.]

[Received title: Forerunner]

[Effect: Gain one extra life.]

[You have cleared a dungeon before all others. No time to rest.]

[Accomplished achievement: Reylar's retribution]

[Received title: Cursebreaker]

[Effect: Gain an extra 5% defense against dark magic.]

[Refresnim will remember you.]

Meanwhile the outside world was suddenly thrown in chaos. TV and radio stations interrupted their shows to play the breaking news.

Even people who had no time to watch got to know what happened per word of mouth.

Suddenly only a single topic was discussed on the street and the web. Some lavish people even called their friends on other planets, comparing Falva Star's progress to the rest of the federation.

 "I can't believe it, they were so fast!"

"Didn't Star Gazer say he needed five days?"

"Do you think Star Gazer got the first clear?"

"The team is called Colville Constructions, of course it was Star Gazer's doing!"

"But doesn't Colville Constructions belong to his uncle or something?"

"Tzz. What do you know? It's said they have long tried to get their hands on the company. Maybe they succeeded."

"Hiss. Are you suicidal? Airing the Colville Family's dirty laundry in public?!"

Will some people were speculating, the business world focused on something else.

"Damn, Colville pulled a brilliant move!"

"Yeah, look at all the advertisement! It's on every channel!"

"That's worth millions, insane!"

"My employees advised me to advertise in games, but I never took it seriously before."

"Wow, you missed out!"

"No, I agreed. Brb, requesting some reports!"

"Hahaha, guess someone is working overtime today!"

"I can feel a massive shift incoming."

"Yeah guys, invest early."

However, the party didn't know yet that they dominated the conversations throughout Falva Star and beyond. They were gradually stopping their celebrations, turning their gazes towards Reylar.

Cyclone rubbed her hands as she approached the skinny corpse.

A few moments later she had a blue shimmer in hand, but her face was puzzled.

"Why is it level 10?"

"Reylar will only drop level 10 items. But don't worry, after getting out of here we will level up."

Liam's explanation doused the blond woman's enthusiasm. She stuffed all the loot in her inventory, planning to distribute it later.

"Are we leaving now?", asked Silver Blade with a look at Bleary Mirage.

"I still have a small surprise prepared for you."

"Really? What is it?"

If you want, we can fight a hidden boss."

Liam's words grabbed everyone's attention. A hidden boss usually meant a lot of rare loot.

"Let's go!"

"Sure."

With a laugh, the veteran turned around and approached the wall formerly hidden by the devil's face.

Only now did the other party members notice that a door made from thick metal bars had been revealed there. In the dim light a single display could be seen behind, with a small gem on top of it.

Liam pulled out the black key he received in the hidden prayer room, putting it into the lock.

With a click the door sprang open.

Cyclone brushed past Liam, quickly taking the gem with a grin.

[Refresnim's panacea

Category: Legendary

Effect: Heals all curses in the world

Refresnim, greatest of all devils, nearly almighty, created this gem for the case of Reylar's success. You are seeing right, mortal! There is not a single lie in these words!

What do you mean you don't believe me?]

At first Cyclone's couldn't believe her eyes, her breath turning hot, fingers trembling.

But after reading the item's description she felt skeptical, eyeing Bleary Mirage.

"Expert? What's up with this thing?"

"It's naturally Refresnim's deception. But we can pretend not to have seen it. Let's go, we should save the holy nephilim outside."

"So mean… count me in!"

The party joked around, no one blaming Liam. Clearly the game wanted them to act like this.

Soon, they gathered in front of the statue outside, looking at a clear indention at the man's chest.

"This fight isn't difficult. Just keep up your attacks. Everyone ready?"

"Sure."

"Of course!"

"Good. Ranged fighters, you can stand behind his back. Tanks, fight from the front. Let's do this."

The party members scattered quickly, looking at Liam with expectant eyes. The latter nodded before placing the gem on the nephilim's chest.

A holy light traveled form the statue's outstretched palm to its feet. But it was only a flash, a fleeting brilliance.

Right after, a cold laughter breezed through the air. Cracks appeared on the statue, a deep unsettling black.

Chucks of stone fell off, turning to dust before reaching the ground.

The holy nephilim's face was freed first.

"What have you done?"

Before he could speak anything else the nephilim was devoured by a black color, his face contorted in pain and struggle.

A few moments later the stone had disappeared, leaving a tall nephilim with long blond hair, white wings and a slender sword.

[Phanret the righteous (possessed)

Rank: ???

Level: ???

HP: ???]

"You shall pay!"

The man growled strangely as he flourished his sword. Radiant Shield realized that the battle had started, quickly blocking the first attack.

[Stance -10]

The rest of the party was ready to fight, but Liam hastily stopped them.

"Wait a few seconds. We can only attack when his wings are mostly black!"

The others were just about to reluctantly lower their weapons when the nephilim's wings suddenly darkened. Instantly attacks rained down on him.

"Little pests!"

Despite talking to the people behind his back, the nephilim couldn't turn around. He held his arm before his body.

Liam watched closely. Seeing a light flicker on the sword's tip he hastily warned the tanks.

"Don't block! Jump back diagonally!"

Unfortunately, the warning was a bit too sudden, causing the two tanks to choose directions poorly.

With a swing of the nephilim's sword, three waves of holy light shoot out in a cone shape, one of them hitting Radiant Shield.

[-98!]

"Huh, less serious than I thought."

"Yeah, because of our race's resistance to holy damage."

"Makes sense."

Silver Blade and Radiant Shield assessed the damage while approaching the holy nephilim again, crashing their shields into him.

Suddenly his wings changed again, turning half-black, half-white.

Liam realized what was about to come, ordering the two tanks to distance themselves from the opponent.

"Feel my…"

"Shut up!"