We Shall Clear the Eternal Clouds, Pioneers of an Era
Pencil Speaks of the Eternal Gravekeeper
"Phew… what a day, but damn fulfilling…"
After conquering a special quest, Pepper logs out of Shangri-La Frontier. In reality, Azusa removes his VR gear, exhaling deeply.
Outside, dusk cloaks the world. The chilly spring breeze carries hints of summer's warmth, signaling the season's shift.
"What a wild ride…" Azusa mutters. Recognized by Siegverum and wielding the unique relic weapon Radiant Dragonius, Golden Dragon King Ascendant, he's gained gear that allows risk-free hovering, flight, and aerial movement. It bypasses ground-based field gimmicks and monsters, letting him beeline to destinations.
Aerial photography now enables scouting—mapping areas, pinpointing mining spots, enemy spawns, and optimal routes. Information's value fluctuates with context; game-changing intel fetches hefty rewards, often spurring espionage.
"Would the Library buy aerial shots? …No, they'd notice the Radiant series. I'm already sticking out too much. More attention, and my Shangri-La life's done for—I'd have to hide in Rabbits."
Recalling "curiosity killed the cat," Azusa chides his reckless thoughts. His smartphone chimes with an email. Checking it, he finds a message from Arthur Pencilgon (Towa) packed with top-secret details about Gravekeeper Wezaemon.
Subject: About Gravekeeper Wezaemon
From: Pencil
To: Pepper
Heya, Pepper-kun! Big sis Pencilgon here. Where you at? Wanna chat tons, but did you log out?
Anyway, let's get to it. Here's the rundown on tackling unique monster Gravekeeper Wezaemon.
First, issues with the fight:
At battle start, Wezaemon casts a skill capping players and NPCs at level 50. No buffs, items, skills, or magic can negate it. Wezaemon's level 200—confirmed by appraisal. That's a 150-level gap, forcing us to fight an already unfair unique monster at a massive disadvantage.
Wezaemon's moves. Me and another veteran compiled a list of techniques we've seen. Study it:
Tachikaze (Wind-Cutting): Guard-piercing, 1-frame iaido slash. Dodge outside blade range or parry by reading prep motion. Used often. Hit = death.
Raisho (Thunder Bell): 5-second wide-area lightning barrage. More fighters and spread-out aggro widen its range. No guard pierce, but still deadly. Without heavy stat/buff stacking, hit = death.
Nyudogumo (Monk Cloud): Creates a cloud arm with free hand, sweeping around. Safe zones: behind or above arm. Big prep motion, almost lenient. But paired with Raisho, it's brutal. Hit = death.
Kaisairyū (Pyroclastic Dragon): Used when 3+ players draw aggro. Stabs blade into ground, spawning a dragon-shaped fire pillar at a random player. Dodgeable, but pairs with Haifubuki for extra danger.
Haifubuki (Ash Blizzard): Post-Kaisairyū, gray dragons rain from lingering clouds onto fire-pillar spots. Causes suffocation. Devastating.
After 10 minutes, Wezaemon summons Tactical Cavalry Kirin, a massive mech-horse with dump-truck legs and monstrous power. It spams missiles and lasers, then merges with Wezaemon into a centaur-like form with super armor and mobility, guaranteeing our defeat.
Wezaemon's likely a time-based win condition monster. It's a one-shot fight. Split roles for Wezaemon and Kirin, and we'll pummel that stubborn jerk to make Set-chan sweat.
Also, about Sunraku from the ramen shop talk—he cleared FairKuso. Email confirms he'll start Shangri-La in early May. Katzo got the same. Got a free day? Let's meet in Thirdrema to talk.
"Talk? Definitely about Siegverum. Other players were there, so screenshots were likely…" Azusa grimaces, sensing trouble. He scans Wezaemon's moves.
"All instant-death, dodge-or-die attacks. Forcing a 150-level gap? No intention of a fair fight…"
Level gaps in games spell despair, crushing spirits like colonial empires dominating with overwhelming force.
"But… Raisho's lightning can be absorbed by Radiant Solraia's ability, converting it to flight energy. Nyudogumo and Haifubuki? Fly high to dodge. If I blast the clouds before Haifubuki triggers, maybe I can cancel it."
With Radiant Dragonius's flight and boost, plus Solraia's lightning absorption, he can shield allies and minimize damage. But using a unique relic in a unique monster fight? Pencilgon's "talk" looms.
She's dead serious about Wezaemon, preparing meticulously and assembling a team. Slacking would be disrespectful. Azusa's role: craft Madness Breaker or other unique weapons, commission Bilac for upgrades, and prep gear.
"Tachikaze's the issue—ultra-fast, guard-piercing. Gotta gauge blade and arm range in the fight…"
"Brain's fried. Reply to Towa, then break from Shangri-La. Time for dinner."
Azusa sends: "Not sure if it'll help, but I might craft a weapon effective against Kirin. Let me know if you want anything specific." Then, he starts cooking dinner.
A 150-Level Gap: The Pinnacle of Stat-Based Brutality