Chapter 5: Nine's Own Goal

The Drunken Dragon tavern shimmered into existence, its rough-hewn walls materialising pixel by pixel. The usual hustle and bustle of NPCs was conspicuously absent, their chat bubbles and quest markers nowhere to be seen. Instead, an eerie silence permeated the virtual space, broken only by the soft crackle of a fireplace that cast flickering shadows across the room.

Suzuki Satoru's skeletal avatar stood motionless in a shadowy corner, red pinpricks of light scanning the empty pub. His bony fingers tapped an impatient rhythm against his recently-procured staff, the gentle clinking of bone on metal barely audible. He had arrived early, as always, to ensure the security of their meeting place.

A flash of light announced the arrival of another player. Peroroncino's avian form took shape, feathers ruffling as he oriented himself. His golden plumage seemed to glow in the tavern's dim light, and his sharp beak clicked in amusement as he spotted Momonga.

"Yo, bone-daddy!" Peroroncino's voice came through the voice chat, a mix of excitement and feigned nonchalance. "Skulking in the shadows again? Do you want to put Nishikienrai out of a job? You're gonna give someone a heart attack one of these days."

Momonga chuckled, the sound echoing from his skeletal jaw. "Better a heart attack than walking into a trap, my friend. How goes the hunt?"

Peroroncino strutted over, his bird-like gait somehow managing to look both ridiculous and cool at the same time. "Eh, same old, same old. Trying to farm those damn Phoenix Feathers for my new bow. Drop rates are killing me, I swear."

Before Momonga could reply, more flashes of light filled the tavern. Players materialised in rapid succession: Warrior Takemikazuchi's imposing samurai, his armour a blend of traditional Japanese style and fantasy elements; Punitto Moe's priest-inspired appearance, covered head to toe in Death Vines; Tabula Smaragdina's writhing mass of tentacles, each one adorned with arcane symbols; and Bukubukuchagama's gelatinous form, a shimmering pink slime that somehow managed to convey expressions despite lacking facial features.

No one spoke as they gathered around a large table in the back. Eyes darted to the windows and doors, checking for any sign of uninvited guests.

Finally, Touch Me's knight avatar strode in, his silver armour gleaming even in the dim light. The future World Champion made a show of checking the area before giving a sharp nod. "We're clear. Ulbert's keeping watch outside."

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the group. Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone took a seat, the table groaning under Warrior Takemikazuchi's considerable weight.

Momonga leaned forward, his bony fingers interlaced on the table. "Thank you all for coming. Flatfoot, Ancient One, and others couldn't make it, so when you see them, be sure to update them on our discussions today. I know these… unofficial gatherings can be risky."

The guild's designated strategist, Punitto Moe, was the first to chime in. "Risky, but necessary. The climate out there is getting worse by the day."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group. Bukubukuchagama's slime form quivered, her voice bubbling with frustration. "Tell me about it. I can't farm for five minutes without some human or demi-human guild trying to gank me. It's like they've got nothing better to do than hunt heteromorphs!"

"It's not just the player-killers," Tabula Smaragdina interjected, his tentacles curling thoughtfully around his drink. The eldritch horror somehow managed to look contemplative despite his alien features. "Have you seen the new cash shop items? It's getting ridiculous. Every week there's some new 'must-have' item that promises to revolutionise gameplay."

Peroroncino snorted, his beak clicking in annoyance. "Yeah, 'limited time offer' my feathered behind. More like 'empty your wallet or fall behind.' I swear, it's getting harder and harder to keep up without breaking the bank."

A heavy silence fell over the table. These were concerns they'd all been grappling with, but rarely voiced aloud. The creeping influence of real-world money on their virtual sanctuary was a topic that filled them all with unease.

"We can't change the game's monetisation strategy," Momonga said, his voice soft but firm. "But perhaps we can find ways to level the playing field. If we pool our resources and information, we might find advantages that don't require emptying our wallets."

Touch Me nodded, his helmet dipping in agreement. "Well said, Momonga-san. That's why these meetings are so crucial. Together, we can overcome challenges that would be insurmountable alone."

Momonga's eye-lights flickered, a gesture that had become his equivalent of a smile. "Indeed. Which brings us to our first order of business—the upcoming anniversary. Has anyone heard any concrete details?"

The table buzzed with excitement at the mention of the event. Yggdrasil's anniversary had been the topic of speculation for weeks, with rumors ranging from new realms to the introduction of game-changing mechanics.

Punitto Moe's vine-covered form rustled as he leaned forward, his voice low and precise. "I've been analyzing data from the official forums and some... alternative sources. While there's an abundance of speculation, verifiable information is scarce. The prevailing theories suggest either the unveiling of a new area or the implementation of a server-wide raid event."

Yamaiko, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. Her golem-like form shifted, stone grinding against stone as she leaned forward. "A new area could be interesting. Depending on the environment, it might give us heteromorphs a new safe haven to explore."

Peroroncino perked up at this, his feathers ruffling with excitement. "Oh man, imagine if it's like, an undead realm or something. Momonga would be right at home!"

The group chuckled, but Tabula Smaragdina's tentacles writhed thoughtfully. "We shouldn't get our hopes up. Remember the Alfheim region update? It was supposed to add a neutral territory, but it quickly became just another hunting ground for human and demi-human players."

A somber mood settled over the tavern as the clan members recalled past persecution. As heteromorphic players, they had often been targeted by other groups, hunted as a means to unlock class-specific requirements or for simple fun. It was this shared struggle that had brought them together in the first place, a struggle that, even now, brought new members in to fill in the swelling ranks of Nine's Own Goal.

Momonga nodded, his skeletal features somehow managing to convey determination. "You're right, Tabula. We need to be prepared for any eventuality. If it is a new area, we should have a plan to secure a foothold quickly. If it's a raid event, we'll need to coordinate our efforts with all our members to maximise our gains."

Touch Me's armor clinked as he shifted in his seat. "Whatever the event turns out to be, we should be ready to act quickly. The first few days will be crucial."

As the group began to discuss potential strategies for the anniversary event, Bukubukuchagama's slime form rippled, her voice taking on a serious tone. "Speaking of being under-prepared, I had a run-in with that Crimson Demon player everyone's been talking about."

Instant silence fell over the tavern. All eyes turned to the slime. The Crimson Demon had become something of a legend in recent months, a player whose exploits seemed to defy the game's established meta.

"You encountered the Crimson Demon?" Momonga leaned forward, "What happened?"

Bukubukuchagama's avatar shifted uncomfortably, her gelatinous form rippling with the memory. "It was... intense. I was farming for pyroclastic shards in Múspellsheim, minding my own business, when suddenly—BOOM!" Her form quivered violently for emphasis. "This massive explosion comes out of nowhere. I'm talking screen-shaking, ear-ringing kaboom. Next thing I know, I'm respawning at my rest point, five levels down."

"So the rumours are true. They really do just blow up everything in sight."

"That's not even the craziest part," Bukubukuchagama continued, her voice filled with a mix of awe and frustration. "As I'm picking myself up, I see this message pop up in the region chat. It's them, going on this long rant about the 'glorious path of explosions' and how 'true power knows no restraint' or something like that. I swear, it was like reading the script of some over-the-top anime villain."

Peroroncino cackled, slapping the table with a wing. "Sounds like someone's taking their role-playing seriously. But wait, how did they one-shot you? You're not exactly a low-level newbie."

The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Bukubukuchagama was known for her tanky builds, capable of soaking up massive amounts of damage. The idea that someone could take her out in a single hit was... unsettling.

"Oh, it gets better," Bukubukuchagama's form rippled with indignation. "After their little speech, they dropped their signature line everyone's been quoting lately. You know the one—'If a punishment for a PK is a fine, it's a punishment meant only for the free-to-play!'"

A chorus of groans and chuckles echoed around the table. The phrase had become somewhat infamous in Yggdrasil in the weeks leading up to the anniversary, a point of contention that divided the player base.

"You've got to admit, they've got a point," the slime continued, "the penalty system is a joke if you've got the cash to burn."

"That doesn't make it right," Touch Me countered, his armour clinking as he shifted uncomfortably. "It's an exploit, plain and simple."

Momonga held up a bony hand, silencing the argument before it had time to brew. "The Crimson Demon's methods aside, we can't deny the impact they've had. That phrase has become a rallying cry for players frustrated with the game's monetisation."

Punitto Moe nodded, "It's a double-edged sword. On one hand, they're exploiting the system in the worst way. On the other, they've forced the devs to, at least, acknowledge the problem. Without such a blatant example of unfair advantage, who knows if anything would change?"

"Change?" Peroroncino scoffed. "The only thing that's changed is that now the big spenders have a catchy slogan to throw around when they're griefing newbies."

Yamaiko's stony features creased with concern. "But I've also heard of free-to-play guilds adopting the phrase too. It's become a sort of... protest. A way to call out the unfairness."

The table fell silent as they contemplated this. The Crimson Demon had become a paradox—a villain to some, a twisted kind of hero to others, and a headache for the developers caught in between.

"Perhaps that's the most intriguing part of all this. I wonder if the Crimson Demon deliberately left their quote vague, as to bring attention to the state of the game," Tabula Smaragdina said.

"Intended or not," Bukubukuchagama grumbled. "Actions speak louder than words. I doubt they care about game balance when they're blowing up half the server on-sight."

Punitto Moe's eyes narrowed, his strategic mind already whirring. "That brings us back to the real question, doesn't it? How exactly are they pulling off these one-shot kills? I've been analysing data from player encounters with this Crimson Demon posted online, and the results are... interesting. From what I can tell, their build is completely unique."

The strategist's form seemed to expand, the greenery clinging to his avatar bristling with life. "They've specc'ed purely into fire magic, specifically high burst, area-of-effect spells. But here's where it gets interesting—they're stacking resistance shredding effects to an unprecedented degree."

Warrior Takemikazuchi sent a frown emote to the group. "Fire magic in Múspellsheim? Even with stacking, everything there has high fire resistance. How is that effective?"

Punitto Moe replied with a laughing bubble emoji. "That's the brilliance of it. Most guides recommend a universal element shred of around 10%—that's the sweet spot. Everyone knows that if you go over that, you see diminishing returns on investment."

A round of nods came from those gathered.

"But here's what I think Crimson discovered: if you're crazy enough to fully invest, you can clear that hurdle and essentially turn even the highest level resistances into nothing. It's a glass cannon build taken to the extreme."

The table erupted in a chorus of surprised exclamations and thoughtful murmurs. Yamaiko leaned forward. "A single resistance shred item is rare. God knows how many hours we've collectively spent trying to get the right substats on those drops. How could they possibly stack enough?"

"That," Punitto Moe said, raising a finger dramatically, "is where things get... controversial. From what I've been able to piece together, they're using a combination of legacy items from old events that newer players can no longer obtain, obscure skill combinations, and... well, probably some cash shop purchases to get them that extra oomf."

The spectre of pay-to-win mechanics, always lurking in the background of their discussions, had reared its ugly head once again.

"Cash shop. Of course. It always comes down to who's willing to open their wallet the widest, doesn't it?" Peroroncio said. "Our No Cash Item Alliance will always be at a disadvantage then, plain and simple. Right, Momonga? And they get to be a one-shot nuke? What a sick joke."

Touch Me held up a hand, his armour clinking softly. "Let's not be hasty. While it's true that cash shop items can provide an advantage, the base build would have still taken planning and dedication to pull off. We shouldn't discount this player's ingenuity simply because they might have spent money on the game."

"Touch Me-san is right," Momonga nodded. His calm voice cut through the rising tension. "Whether we like it or not, this is a reality of Yggdrasil. I am proud to call you my fellow Alliance member, Peroroncino. Same to Ulbert. Let us not give into temptation just yet—what matters is how we use the tools at our disposal."

The conversation lulled for a moment as the clan members contemplated this. Tabula was the first to break the silence. "Perhaps we should look at this as an opportunity to learn. If this Crimson Demon has found a way to make a seemingly suboptimal build work, maybe there are other strategies we've been overlooking."

Peroroncino perked up, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ooh, like my idea for an all-poison ranger build! I'm telling you guys, it could work!"

His sister's slime form wobbled in what could only be described as an eye-roll. "We've been over this, bird-brain. A mono-poison build is even worse than what that Crimson Demon is doing. Half the mobs in this game have complete immunity."

As the siblings bickered, Punitto Moe cleared his throat. "If I may, I think we should at least consider how to counter this strategy. Even if we don't intend to run into this player specifically, it's only a matter of time before other players could start adopting similar tactics—even if their effectiveness may be half that of Crimson."

The strategist's words sobered the group. They had worked hard to carve out a place for themselves in Yggdrasil, and the thought of losing their edge was concerning.

"What do you propose?" Momonga asked, his skeletal features unreadable.

Punitto Moe's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I've been working on some theories. The key is to understand that this Crimson Demon's build is a one-trick pony. All offense, no defense. If we can somehow survive the initial burst..."

He trailed off as the tavern door creaked open. The conversation died instantly, hands moving to weapons. A tense moment passed before Ulbert's demonic form slipped inside.

"Sorry to interrupt," he growled, his voice low and urgent. "But we've got company. A human guild is sniffing around outside. They haven't spotted us yet, but it's only a matter of time."

Touch Me stood, his armour clinking softly. "Then our time is up. We should disperse before we draw attention."

Momonga nodded, his red eye-lights sweeping over the group. "Agreed. Thank you all for coming this week. Remember, share what we've discussed only with those you trust completely. And keep an eye out for that Crimson Demon—there might be more we can learn from them."

As the players prepared to log out, Warrior Takemikazuchi's deep voice rumbled once more. "Next time, my friends, we should meet somewhere less... conventional. I know a spot in Niflheim that might suit our needs."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group. One by one, they vanished in flashes of light, leaving the Drunken Dragon tavern empty once more.

Momonga was the last to go. He stood for a moment, skeletal fingers tracing patterns on the worn table. Despite the risks, these clandestine meetings filled him with a sense of purpose, of belonging. In a world increasingly divided between those who played in massive guilds and solo players, their little group was finding a third path. It felt like a nice balance.

With a final glance around the tavern, Momonga logged out. The Drunken Dragon faded away, replaced by the familiar confines of his air-conditioned apartment. He removed his VR headset with a sigh, the weight of the real world settling back onto his shoulders.

For a long moment, he sat in silence, mind racing with thoughts of explosive mages, anniversary events, and the precarious balance between skill and spending. Then, with a determined nod, he reached for his phone.

In the game and out, the struggle continued. But they would face it together, a group of heteromorphs united by their love for Yggdrasil and their determination to carve out their own place within it.

As Suzuki Satoru's fingers tapped his phone's keyboard, coordinating with his friends via encrypted messages, he couldn't help but smile. Whatever challenges Yggdrasil might throw at them—be it overpowered players, game-breaking builds, or the ever-present threat of corporate greed—he knew that with his companions at his side, they would find a way to persevere.