Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 167

Chris’s party had attempted to defend multiple times, but each time, they were interrupted by the giant Lamias. The red and blue Lamias, the Red Lamia and Blue Lamia, moved independently, targeting isolated party members defending the Divine Marks. Even when Chris arrived to assist a party member, the Lamias would immediately retreat to a different mark, displaying an almost cunning sense of strategy.

Each defense point was locked in a one-on-one standoff, preventing any chance of 2-on-1 encounters. Chris had no choice but to dash across the Heavenly Basin, chasing the Lamias as they slipped from one mark to another.

Eventually, the whole party regrouped at the dungeon entrance to reorganize.

"The defense itself is challenging, and these unique entities keep appearing with reflection shields."

"Any mana-infused attack is absorbed and reflected. Physical strikes or indirect techniques work, but wearing down those HP bars with only minor skills? It’ll take forever, and every time they disappear and reappear, their HP resets. I just can’t see a way to bring them down."

"Maybe it’s designed to make them uncatchable in the first place?"

Chris pondered the situation, noting the party’s struggles. Reflecting shields that couldn’t be broken with typical strategies... and the Lamias kept reappearing and disappearing.

“Should we just try tossing a Divine Mark at them?”

“You idiot! We’re defending to raise the purification progress on those Divine Marks. Pulling one out defeats the purpose!”

“Hey, it was just a suggestion!”

As Cherni and Beimerung bickered, Chris fell into thought.

The difficulty of the defense itself was already extreme. This was not a normal situation where everyone had to fend off a named-level monster. Surely, there had to be a way.

**[Southeast Divine Mark Activation: 0/1]**

**[Southwest Divine Mark Activation: 0/1]**

**[North Divine Mark Activation: 0/1]**

**[???]**

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**[Overall Progress in Heavenly Basin: 0/1]**

Chris glanced at the question mark in the dungeon’s progress interface.

“...a hidden condition.”

“Hm?”

“That question mark in the dungeon progress interface, doesn’t it indicate a hidden condition?”

“Now that you mention it, usually we’d see a condition that triggers after activating all the Divine Marks and achieving the first purification.”

“Let’s assume we don’t need to proceed in strict order. If that’s the case, what does this hidden condition suggest?”

“No way.”

Deathmaster’s eyes widened in realization, and Chris nodded in agreement.

“Right. What if we can actually take out the two giant Lamias in their lair or nest? Somewhere within the Heavenly Basin?”

“Their nest could be somewhere in this area?”

Chris looked around and quickly spotted a massive hole in a secluded corner, as if it had been there all along.

“...The Lamias don’t just spawn at the Divine Mark defense points.”

“Hey, that hole! It’s about the same size as the one the Red Lamia came out of earlier!”

“So they’re moving around through tunnels all over the Heavenly Basin!”

These unique entities, the giant Lamias, weren’t confined to a single area like most named monsters.

“The whole Heavenly Basin is their territory.”

“If we can find their lair...”

“We could treat it like any other named fight, making the defense much easier afterward.”

“In that case, shouldn’t we look for their lair right now?!”

“No need.”

“What?”

Everyone, except Chris, looked at her in confusion.

“All those rounds of running around weren’t for nothing. I’ve noticed a pattern in their spawn locations and timing.”

“It wasn’t random?”

“No. Imagine the north position as 12 o’clock. If Red spawns here first, Blue will appear at 5 o’clock one minute later. Then, if we move toward Blue, Red will reappear at 7 o’clock after another minute.”

Chris’s explanation made her party members’ eyes widen with understanding.

“The fact that they retreat whenever there’s more than one person at a location helped reveal their pattern. So...”

Chris gave a confident smile.

“The defense strategy is simple. The rest of you just need to hold your positions until the first purification is complete, while I keep circling clockwise without hesitation.”

“That’s brilliant...!”

“Of course, even with the pattern, it won’t be easy. Holding out alone won’t be a walk in the park. If I’m even slightly delayed reaching the next spot, the reappearance timing will be messed up. But while I was running around, I identified shortcuts between the rocks for the most efficient routes.”

“You’re amazing, Chris!” Beimerung beamed, her eyes shining as Chris ruffled her hair.

“So, we don’t have to defeat the giant Lamias. We just need to hold out until the purification is complete. I’ll move quickly to give everyone breathing room. I’m confident we can do this because I trust in all of you.”

Chris’s eyes burned with determination.

Rain would have identified the Lamias’ lair right from the start. Her extraordinary abilities were mostly grounded in her vast experience. If Chris’s party tried to find the lair now, they’d still fall far behind Rain in the race for the first clear.

‘Noname’ and ‘Chris’s Raid.’

Even though Rain had become a beloved younger sister, their rivalry for the first clear was still alive.

“We’ll do it our way.”

And beat Rain.

---

**[Southeast Divine Mark Activation: 1/1]**

**[Southwest Divine Mark Activation: 1/1]**

**[North Divine Mark Activation: 1/1]**

*(All Divine Marks Activated)*

*(First Purification Progress: 96%)*

**[???]**

**[Overall Progress in Heavenly Basin: 0/1]**

*Tat-tat-tat!*

Chris, surrounded by charms whirling around her thanks to her Yin-Yang Master’s speed-boosting skill, moved quickly through the rocky terrain of the Heavenly Basin, taking only the shortest, most efficient routes to each defense spot.

Using the Yin-Yang Master’s reinforcement skills purely for movement was enough. If they had a Ranger with advanced mobility, they could’ve taken over this role, but—

“For our party setup, I’m the best fit for the job.”

*Whoosh!*

Chris skidded to a stop, scattering sand beneath her feet.

She arrived at the north, the 12 o’clock point, where—

*Boom! Crash!*

Deathmaster was fighting furiously against the Blue Lamia’s massive snake body.

He glanced at Chris, a faint grin on his face.

“You’re late.”

“I’m early, actually.”

*Hum!*

Chris’s orbs floated around her, as if animated by willpower, and began pounding the Blue Lamia.

The direct physical strikes bypassed the energy reflection gimmick. Although it didn’t deal significant damage, it was enough to push the creature back.

*Wham!*

*Hisss!*

The Blue Lamia grimaced, her threatening hiss filling the air as she backed off.

Then—

*Rumble!*

Widening the hole she had emerged from, she slithered back into the ground.

“99% on the purification; we don’t need to move to the next spot anymore.”

“So this defense strategy was actually possible.”

“It’s thanks to everyone holding their positions. If even one of us hadn’t held out, we would’ve failed.”

*Flash!*

Chris smiled, watching the Divine Mark at her location emit a blinding light.

*(First Purification Progress: 100%)*

*Ding!*

**[Hidden Condition Unlocked]**

**[Defeat the Pair of Giant Lamias]**

---

“So, it all came down to the sequence.”

“Yeah. We could either find and eliminate their lair or complete the first purification to lure them out.”

In the path leading to the central open area surrounded by massive rocks in the Heavenly Basin, the Red and Blue Lamias now stood, blocking the way with menacing expressions.

During the defense process, the reflection shields protecting the giant Lamias had dissipated, dispersed by the holy energy permeating the Heavenly Basin.

“With the first purification complete, the Lamias are weakened. We don’t have to worry about the reflection gimmick anymore.”

“Let’s take them down quickly and move on to the final boss!”

Chris drew her talismans.

Beimerung began casting *Arcane Burst*.

Cherni’s Undine spirit surged forward with incredible speed.

Deathmaster lunged toward the Lamias.

*Hissssss!*

*Screeech!*

---

**[Hidden Named]**

- **Level 55 Red Lamia**

- **HP: 70,000,000 / 70,000,000 (100%)**

**[Hidden Named]**

- **Level 55 Blue Lamia**

- **HP: 70,000,000 / 70,000,000 (100%)**