Chapter 1: Information - (1)
Section 01
Celberion.
Undisputedly the most formidable boss monster in the Season Off Fantasy universe, an impregnable entity that, over the past eight years, has never once been defeated.
Across eight winters, thousands—tens of thousands—of players have challenged Celberion, yet not a single one has managed to vanquish her and clear the End of the World stage.
Players have repeatedly fallen to their knees before the snowflake-haired girl, overwhelmed by her swirling snowstorms, waves of ice, and relentless chains, always vowing to try again the following December.
To be honest, I had never personally participated in a Celberion raid, so I couldn’t fully grasp just how powerful she was.
But having fought in her body, I realized her strength far surpassed anything I had imagined.
C-grade monsters were obliterated by the mere shockwave of a missed basic attack, and even A+ grade monsters were dispatched as effortlessly as eating rice cake while lying down—a strength on an entirely different level.
And that wasn’t all—she still possessed skills yet to be revealed to the world. No player, no monster, could hope to defeat me, Celberion, in my current state.
…And, naturally, I was the only one who had transformed into Celberion. In this unprecedented crisis, I still don’t know why I alone became a boss monster instead of a playable character. Everyone else underwent the transformation process normally, becoming the in-game characters they had cultivated.
In other words, unlike me—who, as Celberion, could easily defeat any monster—others were, just as in the game, engaged in grueling battles, fighting monsters on equal footing, their blood spilling in fierce combat even at this very moment.
[Breaking News: Incheon Jung-gu… Scientist Rank 28 ‘HyeinILoveYou’ Fails Direct Rift Bombardment…]
"Ah…"
After defeating the trolls and the Dark Wyvern and returning to my studio apartment, the first thing to greet me was news far more tragic than I’d expected.
Bathed in the fading light of the sunset, I clicked on the community post that had garnered the most upvotes.
[Author: Anonymous (224.53)]
[Situation Explained: Someone theorized that bombing the rift’s interior directly could wipe out monsters before they emerge and close the rift. ‘HyeinILoveYou,’ a renowned Scientist artisan, teamed up with the air force to put it into action… But the result… Just watch. Sigh… (Video)]
"…"
Someone had proposed, “Since monsters are coming from the rifts, why not just fire missiles directly into them?” It seemed like a plausible idea. ‘HyeinILoveYou,’ a celebrated Scientist-class player, decided to test it with the cooperation of the South Korean Air Force.
But the post didn’t elaborate on the operation’s outcome, merely attaching a video to convey the rest.
"Hmm…"
I slowly pressed the play button. After a brief loading period, the video began. It was filmed on an old phone model, so the quality wasn’t great.
— The mothership’s launched!
— Whoa, it’s huge…
The opening scene showed a massive space battleship summoned by the Scientist’s highest-level ultimate skill, Mothership Summon, escorted by four South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighters.
The fighters shot down wyverns and other flying monsters charging the battleship, ensuring it reached the largest rift unscathed.
— System: Charging of the Aurora Cannon ‘Aurora Cannon’ is complete.
Next came a female robotic voice announcing the completion of the battleship’s ultimate weapon, the devastatingly powerful Aurora Cannon.
Rainbow-colored energy gathered at the T-shaped bow of the battleship, and soon, an energy beam of immense size and power fired toward the rift’s interior.
"…"
In terms of raw firepower, the Scientist’s Aurora Cannon was likely the strongest among Season Off Fantasy’s 24 classes. Everyone was certain it could annihilate all monsters inside the rift and close it in one strike.
Even I, watching the footage, believed it.
…But what unfolded next was a scene no one could have predicted—a truly shocking spectacle.
— BOOM!!
"…"
The Aurora Cannon, surging forward with unstoppable force, was abruptly halted just before entering the rift by a translucent barrier that appeared out of nowhere.
"…A shield?"
As if refusing to let such a trick close it, the rift generated a protective barrier that enveloped itself, successfully blocking the Aurora Cannon.
The barrier’s strength, capable of withstanding the cannon’s immense power, was remarkable, but an even bigger problem emerged.
— Uh…?!
— Wait, is it reflecting the Aurora Cannon…?!
Not only did the barrier block the cannon, but it also reflected the energy beam back toward ‘HyeinILoveYou’ and their battleship.
The Scientist’s battleship, powerful but sluggish, had no chance of dodging a reflected cannon at point-blank range. The very Aurora Cannon it fired pierced through the ship, causing a catastrophic explosion.
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, the battleship split in two, its wreckage plummeting into the West Sea below the rift in Incheon.
— My God…
The video ended with that stunned exclamation.
…The Scientist, ranked 28, and their battleship, so futilely destroyed by the rift’s mysterious barrier.
The sole gain—learning that rifts had a reflective barrier—was far too costly for such a devastating loss.
"…What a shame."
Shaking my head, I scrolled down to the post’s comment section.
— ??? So, what, are they dead??
ㄴ Yeah, they sank with the battleship, so basically dead…
ㄴ They’re listed as missing, but anyone can see…
ㄴ Oh no… May they rest in peace…
— Sigh… They were such a skilled Scientist…
ㄴ Skilled, sure (until they pulled that stunt and self-destructed).
ㄴ Get lost, troll.
ㄴ Are you even human? Where are the stage bosses? Why aren’t they dealing with jerks like this?
— This just proves there’s still so much we don’t know. We can’t let our guard down.
ㄴ It hasn’t even been 24 hours, so of course. We need to stay calm and gather info.
ㄴ For real, I heard the top 4 Korean guilds are holding a video conference at midnight to share info.
ㄴ Seriously? Don’t they hate each other’s guts?
ㄴ Who cares about that right now…
"…"
The comment section was a whirlwind of opinions. Some mourned the Scientist’s fate, while others mocked their failure.
"Hmm…"
As is typical for community posts, much of it was noise to be filtered, but I wholeheartedly agreed with the final comment.
"…Yeah, we still know too little."
Less than 24 hours had passed—a chaotic early stage of this crisis. With the boundary between reality and virtuality collapsing, nothing was certain, and information was woefully scarce.
No one could have predicted that rifts would have barriers capable of withstanding and reflecting the Aurora Cannon’s power.
"The Top 4 guilds…"
Another noteworthy comment mentioned that tonight, at midnight, the top four Korean server guilds would hold a video conference to share information.
…The Top 4 guilds of the Korean server.
From Destiny, led by the Dark Phantom who took down a wyvern in Asan, Chungnam;
to Ace, boasting an unrivaled number of stage boss clears;
to Vajra, renowned for its PVP prowess;
and finally, Legend, currently the strongest guild on the Korean server.
For years, guild wars on the Korean server had been dominated by these four, trading the top spot among themselves.
Known for their fierce rivalry, their relationships were notoriously strained, but in an unprecedented crisis like this, cooperation was inevitable.
With their vast memberships, the information shared after tonight’s meeting would undoubtedly reveal much that was previously unknown.
"Hmm…"
Sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor, I sank into thought. The unheated floor was as cold as ice, but as Celberion, the embodiment of frost, I felt no discomfort.
"Will they talk about me…?"
If the top guilds were meeting, they’d surely discuss stage bosses, including Celberion. Each stage boss in Season Off Fantasy was a force to be reckoned with, so they couldn’t be ignored.
As the one who had become Celberion, I was intensely curious about what they thought of stage bosses and what strategies they’d devise.
"Phew…"
With a short sigh, I adjusted my posture.
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Season Off Fantasy’s stage bosses were not known for their gentleness but for their ferocity and cruelty. And among them, Celberion stood at the pinnacle.
If the highly aggressive Celberion were left unchecked, an ice age in Korea would be a foregone conclusion. If she appeared, every player in the country would unite to take her down.
But there was one problem: I wasn’t the savage Celberion from the game.
Though some unknown transformation had given me Celberion’s appearance, my mind remained that of a 21st-century South Korean citizen, a Season Off Fantasy player like any other.
I was rational, spoke Korean, and loved rice.
"Hmm…"
So, if such a situation arose—or if I chose to reveal my identity—I planned to propose dialogue first.
Dialogue was a civilized act. History showed that most conflicts could be resolved with compromise, concessions, and a few words.
…But if players, driven mad by their long-standing desire to “conquer Celberion,” recklessly turned their blades on me, or worse, tried to exploit me, things would get very interesting.
"…It’ll be fun."
A chuckle escaped me.
Five years ago, a friend’s betrayal ruined my business, plunging me into a gutter life.
Disillusioned with society, I had no desire to return to being the “underdog.”
I loathed the powerless me who, in moments of crisis, could do nothing, protect nothing.
But now, everything was different.
As the boundary between virtual and real collapsed, the world was in upheaval, and I had gained power—the strength to protect what was mine and to act.
So, if someone made an enemy of me first, or if sinister schemes like those from five years ago tried to engulf me again…
"I’ll make them live up to their expectations."
…I’d gladly ensure they faced the consequences of their choices.
"Alright."
With that quiet resolve, I gripped my phone tightly and threw myself onto my worn-out bed.
"…I’m curious about the meeting."
I could only hope that those meeting tonight—and players across Korea and the world—wouldn’t make foolish decisions.
Section 02
"Phew…"
Asan, Chungcheongnam-do.
After defeating a wyvern that suddenly appeared in the sky and spending half a day dealing with an endless stream of monsters, Jung Hyun-joon, guild master of Destiny, one of the top four Korean server guilds, and known by his nickname Dark Phantom, finally found a moment to rest.
But even that wasn’t true rest. Five minutes from now, at midnight, he was scheduled for a video conference with the guild masters of the other top four guilds to share information.
"So annoying…"
Just chatting with them was irritating enough, but a face-to-face video call? Hyun-joon let out sigh after sigh.
Yet, in a crisis where the nation’s survival was at stake, personal grudges had to be set aside.
The priority was sharing each guild’s status and information to address the situation.
"Phew…"
With a deep sigh, Hyun-joon, or rather Dark Phantom, guild master of Destiny, turned on his computer and logged into the video chat program.
Two guild masters were already connected.
— Oh, Phantom’s here. Long time no see!
As Dark Phantom joined, a cheerful female voice greeted him first. A woman with cat ears and a tail, her character customized as a beastman, welcomed him with a welcomed him with a bright smile.
— I saw the wyvern takedown news. Taking down that ‘completely ordinary wyvern with no special abilities’? That’s incredible!
Her praise, dripping with insincerity and a hint of mockery, came from none other than Solsol, guild master of Ace, a guild specializing in raids.
Under Solsol’s leadership, Ace had cleared every stage boss six times, making it a world-class elite guild in boss raids.
However, they had never once cleared Celberion, the December boss, making her defeat a long-standing goal for Solsol and Ace.
Solsol’s lively raid videos consistently surpassed a million views, making Ace arguably the most famous of the top four guilds.
"…Oh, thank you. You’re too kind."
Dark Phantom, Jung Hyun-joon, responded to Solsol’s praise with equal detachment.
For top-tier guilds like theirs, an A-grade ordinary wyvern was trivial. Her exaggerated praise was closer to sarcasm, if not outright mockery.
Sigh…
Even accounting for their usual bad blood, her immediate jab upon his arrival made Dark Phantom sigh inwardly.
— Sol, stop being snarky. It’s annoying.
Another guild master, already connected, frowned and snapped at Solsol.
A burly, muscular man draped in tiger pelts, he was TyphoonMan, Kim Duk-soo, guild master of Vajra.
— Do you have to act like that even in this situation? Besides, Phantom’s older than you. Back in my day, I’d bow so low to my seniors my head would hit the ground.
Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan, was the oldest among the top four guild masters, with a wife and children. A berserker artisan, he founded Vajra, a guild notorious for its PVP specialists.
— Yes, yes, sorry.
At TyphoonMan’s scolding, Solsol shrugged and offered a reluctant apology, though her expression still brimmed with mischief.
Sigh.
Dark Phantom shook his head again at her attitude. She reminded him of his spirited younger sister back home.
"…By the way," he continued, noting the time, "where’s Legend? Did something happen?"
The top-ranked guild, Legend, had surpassed Destiny, Ace, and Vajra to claim the number one spot. Yet, past the agreed midnight start, their guild master hadn’t joined. Dark Phantom tilted his head in confusion.
— Good question. The one who called this meeting is late, tsk tsk…
Kim Duk-soo nodded in agreement. As the meeting’s organizer, Legend’s guild master being tardy irked Duk-soo, who valued propriety.
— What’s new? That unnie’s always late. Get used to it.
Only Solsol yawned, unbothered.
"Ugh…"
Dark Phantom lowered his head with a deep sigh.
As Solsol said, Legend’s guild master was often late, but for such a critical meeting—far beyond the game’s stakes—it was exasperating.
— Ah, sorry for being late.
"…!!"
Five minutes later, the final screen lit up, revealing a beautiful woman with fiery red hair.
She was none other than the one who had elevated Legend from obscurity to its current dominance, a world-ranked third powerhouse in Season Off Fantasy.
…The second guild master of Legend, flame mage Yeonhwa.
— Looks like everyone’s here…
As if the protagonist always arrives last, Yeonhwa, who had convened the top four guild masters, spoke naturally, unfazed by her tardiness.
Sweeping her vibrant red hair behind her ear, she addressed the other three guild masters.
— …Let’s begin the video conference on this ‘virtual-reality boundary collapse phenomenon.’
Chapter 2: Information - (2)
Section 01
— …First, let’s go over the current situation.
As the meeting’s convener, Legend’s guild master, Yeonhwa, took the role of facilitator, leading the discussion. She seemed prepared, flipping through a stack of papers as she spoke.
— As of 4 a.m. today, people have transformed into Season Off Fantasy playable characters, and monsters from the game have begun emerging from rifts in the sky—a scientifically inexplicable supernatural phenomenon.
"…"
— This phenomenon isn’t limited to Korea but is occurring globally—in the U.S., Japan, China, Europe, and beyond—causing unprecedented damage worldwide.
…An unparalleled catastrophe where people became game characters and monsters poured from light rifts in the sky. This merging of reality and virtuality was happening simultaneously across the globe, not just in Korea.
— As a result, Korea and the world are in chaos. But I assume you’re all aware of this already.
Yeonhwa looked directly at the faces of the other three guild masters on her screen. Dark Phantom, Jung Hyun-joon, and the others nodded slowly in agreement.
In the 21st century, with SNS and the internet buzzing, such information was readily accessible with a few smartphone taps, as Yeonhwa noted.
Her expression remained stoic, her voice’s pitch barely fluctuating, making it hard for Dark Phantom to discern her emotions.
— …You’re likely also aware that, aside from asymmetric warfare, modern weaponry cannot kill C-grade or higher monsters, as officially confirmed.
— Hmm…
— What? They can’t even kill C-grade?
Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan, and Solsol, Ace’s guild master, exclaimed in surprise, as if hearing this for the first time. Yeonhwa nodded slowly at their disappointed expressions.
— Yes, the government has confirmed that rifle bullets cannot penetrate the hides of C-grade or higher monsters like kobolds or trolls. Artillery shells and missiles are effective, but bombing cities at this stage is impractical, so the front lines are gradually being pushed back.
Only high-explosive weapons like tank shells or missiles could harm C-grade or higher monsters, she explained. But with citizens sheltering in their homes, indiscriminate bombing was impossible, making the retreat of the front lines inevitable.
— Thus, excluding asymmetric warfare, the only ones capable of facing monsters on equal terms are Season Off Fantasy players who’ve undergone the transformation.
Players…
Dark Phantom mulled over the word “players” as it left Yeonhwa’s lips.
Her words suggested that players could decisively overcome this disaster, but the reality was far less optimistic.
Investigations revealed that closing a Light Rift required defeating an A-grade or higher monster. However, not all players were strong enough to tackle such foes.
Most transformed players didn’t exceed level 1500, the benchmark for seasoned players, and half were either newbies or inactive “ghost” accounts.
Without VR’s auto-aim or pain reduction, even C- to B-grade monsters would overwhelm them. In the worst case, players could be pushed back alongside the military.
Thus, the future war would likely be led by a few elite players and large guilds, with a small minority carrying the majority—a precarious setup.
But even those large guilds would take time to mobilize, meaning significant bloodshed and chaos were unavoidable for now.
Arrogant thinking, underestimating the monsters.
The idea that awakened players could dominate and save the world was a naive fantasy fit for novels or comics.
— …So,
Meanwhile, Yeonhwa flipped through another stack of papers, pulling out a neatly organized sheet.
It was a document familiar to Hyun-joon.
— …The government, recognizing the limits of the military alone, sent me a formal request about an hour ago. I believe you all received it as well…
— Got it.
— Received!
"…Received."
The three guild masters responded in unison. Like Yeonhwa, they had received the government’s fax an hour earlier.
Yeonhwa nodded and continued addressing the group.
— Yes, this was sent to the top 5,000 Season Off Fantasy Korean server players. It requests cooperation to establish a specialized department to effectively address the current situation.
…The request was directed at top-tier players.
Realizing that Korea’s forces alone couldn’t handle the crisis, the government was seeking cooperation from the only ones capable of fighting monsters: players.
If players agreed, the government promised to form a dedicated department to tackle the disaster efficiently.
— Hmm, cooperating with the government would expand our operational control and secure support, so it’s not a bad deal for us.
Solsol, scanning the document, nodded in satisfaction. Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan, echoed her sentiment.
— Ahem, government support makes a world of difference. I’d send a reply agreeing to cooperate right now if I could.
"…Same here."
Dark Phantom felt the same. In a likely protracted conflict, government supplies would make battles far easier.
Moreover, if roles were divided—military handling civilian protection and evacuation, players focusing on monster extermination—it would conserve stamina significantly.
Yeonhwa, guild master of the top-ranked Legend, nodded quietly in agreement.
— I share that view. Cooperation with the government is essential for efficiently resolving this situation. They’ve also promised corresponding compensation, so we stand to lose nothing.
— Ooh, compensation! Cash? Or gold?
— I don’t know that much.
— Hmm, gold would be preferable…
— …I’ll suggest it.
…!!
At the word “compensation,” Dark Phantom’s body twitched.
Compensation…
Was nothing in this world free? It seemed obvious, but seeing the other guild masters prioritize their interests even in such a dire moment filled Dark Phantom with an inexplicable disillusionment.
— Regardless, with government cooperation nearly confirmed, your roles have become even more critical.
Unaware of Dark Phantom’s wry smile, Yeonhwa pressed on.
Her reddish-brown eyes scanned everyone on the screen.
— You may have noticed, but the four guilds here share one thing in common.
— Common ground…? Us? With Legend? Vajra? Destiny? Hmm, I don’t know…
— I’d say we’re too different to have anything in common…
"…Agreed."
Years of rivalry had made them wary and resentful of each other. The mere sight of one another sparked PVP urges. Common ground? They bristled at the idea.
— No, there is.
Yeonhwa continued, her voice devoid of emotional fluctuation. Her reddish-brown eyes glinted on the screen.
— …The common trait is that we’re the only guilds in Korea capable of independently raiding Stage Bosses.
— …!!
— Stage Bosses…!
"Ah…"
Her words froze everyone.
Indeed, preoccupied with relatively easier monsters, they’d forgotten about those ultimate beasts.
Stage Bosses…
The twelve stage bosses of Season Off Fantasy were in a league of their own.
While A- to S-grade mid-bosses could be soloed with skill, stage bosses were so formidable that the developers recommended at least three guilds ally for a raid.
Each one boasted extreme difficulty.
Yet, some guilds were powerful enough to raid without alliances—the top four guilds in this meeting.
— …No sightings have been reported yet, but considering it’s been less than 24 hours, they could appear as early as tomorrow.
— Hmm…
— If that happens, that’d be some rotten luck.
Solsol shook her head at Yeonhwa’s words.
As she said, if one of the mere twelve stage bosses appeared in tiny Korea, defying astronomical odds, it could only be described as abysmal luck.
— But we can’t rule out any possibility. If a stage boss appears in Korea, only Legend, Destiny, Vajra, and Ace can handle it, making our responsibility immense.
Yeonhwa murmured, closing her eyes.
Other guilds could attempt raids under alliances, but with everyone scrambling to mobilize their own members, forming and coordinating alliances would take time.
As the red-haired mage on the screen stated, only Legend, Destiny, Vajra, and Ace could feasibly tackle stage bosses immediately.
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The responsibility was truly monumental.
— …Thus, to prepare for a stage boss’s appearance, I’d like to divide regional responsibilities among the guilds. Where are most of your guild members located?
Legend’s guild master proposed assigning regions to prepare efficiently. The first to respond was Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan.
— Most of Vajra’s members are inława Gyeongsang-do. We’ll likely all gather by tomorrow night, so we’ll handle monsters and stage bosses in Gwandong and Yeongnam.
Vajra often held social events, and residence was a mandatory interview question for recruitment, ensuring all members lived in Gyeongsang-do. The eastern region could be entrusted to them.
— …Understood. Vajra will take the eastern region. What about Destiny?
Hearing TyphoonMan’s response, Yeonhwa turned to Dark Phantom. Wetting his dry lips, he answered calmly.
"While not all, over half of our members live in Chungcheong-do. We can cover the central region sufficiently."
Destiny was founded by Dark Phantom and his high school friends. As a guild rooted in local ties, most members lived in their hometown, Chungcheong-do.
Yeonhwa nodded at his response.
— Good. Destiny will handle the central region. …Lastly, what’s Ace’s situation?
— Us? We’re spread nationwide, but most are in Seoul! Our leadership can assemble by tomorrow morning, so Ace will take the capital region!
As the most popular and historic of the top four, Ace had the largest membership. While they could cover any region, with Solsol and key leaders in Seoul, they opted for the capital.
— Understood. Ace will take the capital, and Legend will handle Jeju and the southern regions.
— Huh? Jeju? Unnie, you’re from Jeju?
— Yes, believe it or not, Legend started seven years ago as a small Jeju club. Our core members are all Jeju natives. We’ll secure the island quickly and move to support the mainland.
— …Hmm, neatly done.
Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan, nodded in satisfaction at the unexpectedly clean division of regions. Avoiding conflict and aligning opinions was welcome. Dark Phantom smiled, equally pleased.
Even Yeonhwa, typically reserved, faintly raised the corners of her mouth, preparing to close the meeting.
— Share new information via chat immediately. One final announcement: the government is deeply concerned about player conflicts and civilian looting, beyond just monsters.
"Looting…!"
Dark Phantom’s eyes widened.
Indeed, even in zombie movies, the greatest threat was often human. Not all players would use their newfound powers for good.
Some would exploit the chaos and their abilities, preying on the weak, stealing, and flaunting their “player” strength.
They could be more dangerous than monsters.
— …So, though it’s burdensome, our guilds should also act as vigilantes. Regular police and military can’t subdue players with force.
Even low-level or newbie players, as game characters, had strength and agility far beyond normal humans. Ordinary law enforcement couldn’t handle them.
Only players could restrain players.
With government cooperation nearly confirmed, they had a duty to handle what others couldn’t.
— Also, obviously, ensure your guild members don’t act recklessly out of pride in belonging to a top four guild.
— No worries there.
"Duk-soo hyung’s right. Don’t worry about that."
— …Understood. Especially Ace, with your overwhelming numbers, I’d appreciate it if Solsol could manage them carefully.
— What? My guild members wouldn’t do that! Don’t worry, unnie.
In any large group—school, company, or society—management grows harder with size. Yeonhwa’s request for diligent oversight was met with Solsol’s bright smile and a faint one from Yeonhwa in return.
The meeting was nearing its end.
— We’ve covered everything necessary. One last thing.
Yeonhwa, the meeting’s facilitator, looked at the camera with her most serious expression yet.
Her voice carried a heavy weight.
— I said to handle stage bosses in your regions at your discretion if they appear, but…
Dark Phantom noticed her pupils tremble, a bead of sweat trailing down her face. Her next words explained her unease.
— …The December stage boss, Celberion, is an exception.
"Celberion…!!"
— That, that God of Destruction?!
…The boss guarding the End of the World stage in December.
The Frost of Destruction, the God of Destruction Celberion.
Even with fifteen guilds allied and 3,000 players raiding simultaneously, she remained undefeated—a being on another plane among stage bosses, unbowed for eight years.
Legend, Vajra, Destiny, and Ace had challenged her countless times, only to fall before her frost and chains.
Celberion.
The undisputed strongest entity in Season Off Fantasy.
Her name alone froze Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan, and Jung Hyun-joon, Dark Phantom, in their seats.
Yeonhwa, recalling her own defeat, spoke with unconcealed tension.
— If you encounter Celberion, never provoke or attack her first. Focus on stalling her advance until all four of our guilds can assemble. That’s the goal.
Even with all four guilds allied, defeat was likely. Solo raiding would be suicide.
Thus, Yeonhwa urged a defensive approach, holding out until Korea’s top elites could unite.
Only then could they even attempt to oppose Celberion.
She went further, sharing a hypothesis she’d considered since the crisis began.
— Also, it’s been reported that some monsters, like Forest Sprites or Fairies, have developed distinct egos. Unlike in the game, they don’t attack humans and even try to communicate.
"…"
— Similarly, Celberion and other stage bosses may have developed egos and might not be inherently hostile. So, never—especially with Celberion—provoke them first. Respond only after confirming their hostility or preemptive attack.
…Winning without fighting is the greatest victory.
If Celberion and other stage bosses had gained benign egos like Forest Sprites or Fairies upon entering reality, they might not be eager to slaughter humans.
Thus, Yeonhwa emphatically urged against preemptive strikes, especially against Celberion.
They could never defeat her.
She had always brought them to their knees in humiliating defeat.
The Frost of Destruction, Celberion.
— …Got it. As you say. Celberion’s appearance is that of a girl, so she might have gained a ‘girl’s heart’ in reality.
"Besides that, as Yeonhwa-nim said, if she shows no hostility, there’s no need to attack first. At least not with Celberion."
Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan, and Jung Hyun-joon, Dark Phantom, nodded vigorously, finding her logic sound.
The reality of everything, coupled with their deep-seated fear of Celberion—now magnified twofold or threefold—played a role.
— What…? What’s that…?!
But one voice, tinged with irritation and devoid of fear or tension, cut through. It was Solsol, Ace’s guild master.
— Leave stage bosses, Celberion of all things, alone…? Why should we…?
Her beastman-customized character, with cat ears and tail, stared into the camera, lips pursed, as if their words were incomprehensible.
— Leave her be because she might be docile? That’s nonsense. You think that ice-cream witch, pure evil incarnate, could have a ‘girl’s heart’…?
Solsol scoffed, alternating glares between Kim Duk-soo and Hyun-joon. Her usual playful tone was gone, replaced by sharp venom.
— Even if we don’t strike first, it’s probably a ploy to make us lower our guard. That’s the Celberion I know. That cunning witch would do exactly that.
"…"
— Wait until everyone’s assembled? Ridiculous. The best defense is offense. By the time we’re all together, Seoul will be an ice age. How can we just stand by?!
"Sol…"
Dark Phantom looked at her with pity.
He knew why Solsol was so obsessed with raiding Celberion, why her name alone provoked such a visceral reaction.
Celberion was an Achilles’ heel for her and Ace.
Ace had cleared every stage boss six or more times, earning global top-tier status in raids.
But their failure to defeat Celberion, the one stage boss they couldn’t conquer, denied them the titles of perfection, first, or best.
No matter their achievements, a single flaw invites criticism. Some mocked Ace solely for failing Celberion, calling them “useless for the info people need most,” “Celberion’s doormat,” or “irrelevant.”
This drove Solsol and Ace to challenge her every year, only to face defeat. The crueler the mockery grew, the deeper Solsol’s hatred for the God of Destruction became.
Imagine nearing a mountain’s peak, only for someone to block the flag’s planting—eight times. Frustration was inevitable.
Thus, in this reality-virtual collapse, Solsol desperately wanted to defeat her, even if it meant forcing justification for an inevitable raid.
…Hyun-joon sighed deeply, trying to reason with her.
"Sol-nim, I understand your feelings, but you know Ace can’t handle Celberion alone, right?"
— Phantom’s right. Attacking first will only get you killed. Raiding her is only feasible once we confirm her hostility and all four guilds are united.
Kim Duk-soo, TyphoonMan, agreed. Yeonhwa added, looking at Solsol.
— Sol, even the world’s top guild, Nighthead, couldn’t beat Celberion. Ace doesn’t have a clear way to win either, does it?
— Tch…
— This isn’t a game with revives. Death here is final. Avoiding avoidable fights is wise, so please set aside petty desires.
— Ugh…!!
Solsol’s face flushed red as a tomato, her pride stung by the three guild masters’ words.
Finally, she exploded, shouting at them.
— I can win! I’ve already analyzed her patterns! You cowards!!
"Sol…"
— Don’t come begging for my strategy later. Just wait. Ace will sweep every stage boss, Celberion included!
Click.
With that, Solsol’s screen went dark, her rage leading her to quit the call. Kim Duk-soo sighed deeply.
— Still so young. I hope she doesn’t make foolish choices…
— …Agreed. If Celberion misinterprets Ace’s unilateral actions as representing all of Korea or humanity, we’re in trouble.
Yeonhwa shook her head, wary of Solsol and Ace’s unpredictability. Only Jung Hyun-joon, Dark Phantom, gave a wry smile, wondering if they’d been too harsh, and tried to reassure the others.
"It’s probably unnecessary worry."
— Huh…?
"In this vast world, what are the odds Celberion appears in Korea, let alone Seoul, where Ace is responsible?"
The virtual-reality collapse was global. The chance of a stage boss, especially Celberion, appearing in Korea’s capital seemed near zero.
"So, don’t worry too much."
…At least, that’s what Hyun-joon thought.
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