The pressure mounted as the city''s defenders relentlessly assaulted the monster, but something was wrong—the beast''s health wasn''t decreasing. No matter how many arrows struck its hide or how many swords clanged against its scales, the monster seemed invulnerable.


    Members of the Bright Resonance Guild exchanged worried glances. "What''s going on?" one archer muttered, noticing their efforts weren''t having any effect.


    "Keep attacking!" their leader commanded, though concern crept into their voice. "There must be a weak point!"


    Despite their best efforts, the monster''s health bar remained stubbornly high. Its roars grew louder, its attacks more violent, as if mocking their futile attempts. The city''s defenders were fighting with all their might, but the creature seemed to be regenerating or resisting their attacks completely.


    "Something’s wrong," said a melee fighter as they dodged a powerful strike. "It''s like we’re not even hurting it..."


    The air was thick with dread as the realization began to settle in—no matter how fiercely they fought, the monster''s health remained untouched. The Bright Resonance Guild, usually a force known as its confidence, now found themselves shaken.


    An eerie silence crept over the battlefield as the players exchanged nervous glances. Arrows that once flew with precision now wavered. Blades, which had once slashed with determination, slowed as doubt clouded their minds. It was as if the monster was toying with them, its eyes gleaming with malevolent amusement, knowing their efforts were in vain.


    "Why isn''t it going down?" one of the archers whispered, voice shook.


    "It’s hopeless," another fighter muttered under their breath, barely dodging one of the monster''s devastating blows.


    The creature’s roars seemed to mock them, growing fiercer with each passing seconds. The ground trembled under its feet, yet the players’ attacks did nothing to weaken it. Despite the flurry of weapons and magic, the beast''s massive health bar remained stubbornly full, untouched by their efforts.


    A chilling feel of futility washed over the players.


    "It’s like nothing we do matters," a warrior groaned, exhaustion evident in their voice.


    The realization hit them like a tidal wave—those who had left the battlefield early had been the smart ones. Most of the remaining players now regretted staying, their earlier confidence crumbling into despair. They had believed in their strength, in the power of the Bright Resonance Guild, that they could bring down the monster despite the ominous level marker: (?).


    But that question mark, they now understood, it wasn''t just a mystery, it might actually be a very red flag itself. A grim, silent omen that the creature''s power was far beyond their comprehension.


    "We should have left when we had the chance," muttered one rogue, his voice filled with regret as he narrowly avoided a crushing blow from a flying boulder. His hands trembled, not from exhaustion, but from fear. "Why did we think we could handle this?"


    Many of the fighters shared the same thought. They had been so sure they could outsmart the monster with their strategy, relying on sheer numbers and persistence. They had seen bosses fall before, but this one… this one was different.


    At least for their level…


    The monster’s health hadn’t dropped, not even by a fraction. Every strike against its hide felt pointless, as though they were attacking an indestructible force. And as their numbers dwindled and their stamina wore thin, regret weighed heavily on them.


    The battlefield, once filled with the sounds of battle cries and hope, was now dominated by the oppressive roars of the monster. The defenders'' determination had given way to dread, and most of them now wished they''d had the sense to flee when the others did.


    Death on this battlefield would come at a heavy cost. The players knew the penalties all too well. Being killed by this monster wouldn''t just mean a respawn. It would mean losing hard-earned experience, dropping valuable items, and possibly even de-leveling. For some, the risk of losing a rare weapon or an entire level far outweighed any reward.


    The thought of losing a rare piece of gear or dropping precious items made every step feel heavier. The possibility of de-leveling after weeks, maybe even months, of grinding was unbearable. Yet here they were, standing before an unstoppable force, their efforts betraying and the threat of death looming closer with every second.


    But now, retreat seemed impossible. They were already too deep in the fight, surrounded by chaos, with the beast advancing and no clear way out. Every strike, every spell, seemed to inch them closer to the penalties they so desperately feared. The monster loomed, seemingly indifferent to their desperation, as if it knew their downfall was inevitable.


    “Don’t lose hope! It might be just for a few minutes!”Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    A shout came out from Starday as he unleashed a skill toward the monster, which still deal no damage toward it.


    "We''ll lure it away from the city," their leader Starday commanded. "Rangers, pepper it with your magz! Use the city walls for now as cover…"


    The archers followed the guild''s orders, their arrows flying towards the monster in a steady stream.


    Fwooosh Fyuuushh Baanng


    The beast roared in anger, its fireball missing its mark as it was distracted by the barrage. Seeing this, the Bright Resonance Guild signaled for the melee fighters to advance.


    The clang of swords against the monster''s scaly hide echoed through the air. The defenders fought valiantly, even if some were skeptical about this endeavor. However, the monster was strong, its movements swift and unpredictable.


    “Good! At the very least we can deny its attack!”


    At the forefront of the battle, members of the Bright Resonance Guild once again stood seemingly like a picture of ferocity. Their weapons moved in a blur, barraging the monster with precision. The guild''s strategy seemed to be working, the monster was slowly being lured away from the city.


    Meanwhile, Verment, the seasoned looking level 60 swordsman, stood at the edge of the battlefield, his expression darkening as he watched the chaos unfold. His grip tightened on his sword hilt as he observed the other players and guilds throwing themselves recklessly at the monster, seemingly driven more by desperation and rush than by any through strategy.


    He frowned, seeing how even the once-organized Bright Resonance Guild had unintentionally stirred this frenzy. The monster’s health was still untouched, and yet the players kept charging in, blindly hoping to make a difference or protect their reputations. It was reckless—no, it was foolish.


    "This is very risky," Verment muttered under his breath.


    He had been one of the few to hold back initially, recognizing the threat for what it was. This creature wasn’t like the usual bosses that could be brought down by brute force. Something else was at play here, something that these players, blinded by fear and greed, weren’t seeing.


    Verment shook his head, frustration gnawing at him. "We’re going to get ourselves killed. And for what? To get a small slice of a pie?"


    He considered running away right off the bat before, but for now, he waited, observing, his sharp mind working through the chaos. If there was even a solution, it wouldn’t come from nothing. It would require precision, strategy, and a deeper understanding of the situation. And until someone figured that out, this battle was nothing more than a disaster waiting to happen.


    “Dang it, another one of us died!” A shout resounded from the area where his allies grouped.


    Verment’s frown deepened as his gaze shifted to his allies, including a player named Goover, who were locked in a desperate struggle just to survive. The monster’s fireball, unleashed with terrifying force from its massive jaws, tore through the battlefield. Flames erupted, engulfing everything in their path. Players scrambled for cover, but the sheer size and speed of the attack made escape nearly impossible.


    Goover, a skilled healer, was barely keeping his distance, his agility saving him from the worst of the fireball’s destructive power. But even he was beginning to falter, stamina kept getting drained out from his stat as he dodged another searing blast. His once-precise shots now went wide, the heat and pressure getting to him. He wasn’t alone—other players nearby were either falling back in panic or being consumed by the flames.


    "This is insane!" Goover shouted between breaths, diving behind a crumbling piece of debris to shield himself. His mana was about to be empty, and his hands were shaking. "How are we supposed to deal with this?"


    Verment watched grimly as the fireball continued its onslaught, leaving scorched earth and defeated players in its wake. The monster was not just powerful; it was relentless. For every step they took forward, the beast seemed to push them two steps back, and with the fireball constantly raining down from above, survival was becoming a battle in itself.


    "Goover!" Verment called out, his voice sharp. "Fall back! We''re not going to last at this rate..."


    But Goover, along with the others, was too deep into the fight, too wrapped up in the chaotic momentum that had gripped the battlefield. Despite Verment’s warning, Goover pressed on, launching spells in the monster''s direction even as the flames licked closer.


    Verment cursed under his breath. His allies were struggling, barely hanging on, and the monster wasn’t even showing signs of weakening. As Goover narrowly dodged another fiery explosion, it was clear they were on the verge of being overwhelmed. If they didn’t find a way to counter the monster’s attacks soon, there wouldn’t be anyone left standing to even attempt it.


    It was true that some of the monster’s attacks were able to be deflected or denied, but the others were furling left and right toward them.


    Verment surveyed the battlefield once more, his eyes darting between the relentless fireballs and the rapidly weakening players. The monster''s health bar was still full, a glaring reminder of how futile their attacks had been. Despite all the effort and sacrifice, they had made little to no progress. The situation was dire.


    He glanced at Goover, who was barely standing, his mana nearly drained, and the other players who were on the verge of collapse. Verment knew that if they continued like this, they wouldn''t just lose the battle—they would losetheir progress. The penalties for death were severe, and the monster showed no signs of slowing down.


    With a deep breath, Verment made his decision. "Yeah, this isn''t worth it," he muttered in a frim tone. He had calculated enough to know when a fight was unwinnable, and this was one of those times.


    Dashh


    He moved swiftly toward Goover, helping him to his feet. "We’re retreating," Verment said firmly, his voice brooking no argument. "Gather the others. We can’t stay here any longer."


    Goover looked up at him, exhaustion and a bit of relief mingling in his eyes. "But what about the others? The rest of the guilds?"


    Verment shook his head. "They can keep fighting if they want, but we''re pulling back. There’s no point in staying here if we’re all going to get wiped out. The monster’s barely taken any damage, and we’re running on fumes. We’ll regroup, come up with a better plan, and come back stronger if there is the chance."


    He quickly rallied the remaining members of his team, shouting orders to gather together. "Everyone, fall back! We’re retreating!" Verment called, his voice cutting through the noise of the battlefield.