When the plot-skips players into the game world

After Aiwass recalled the identity of the Evil Bartender, he completely remembered the details of this instance:

The first elite enemy, "Evil Bartender", was a level 15 demon. The main mechanic was that after charging up, he would launch a powerful attack that could be dodged but not blocked, which was capable of knocking back players, and it did not completely abide by aggro. This mechanic revolved around roughly a fifteen-second cycle. If players were knocked back, they would easily hit tables, walls, and other players, causing secondary damage and stunning them.

Moreover, if a player was close enough to him—within a meter, they would immediately be hit by the attack, regardless of aggro. Thus, if the front line was knocked back, it would easily expose the back line.

When his health was first reduced below 30%, he would enter a demonized state. His attack speed, movement speed, and the frequency of using his first ability would all double.

Beyond that, there were no other mechanics. The mechanics could be countered by skills that prevent knockback or by dodging. Melee damage dealers could also approach him from behind just as the mechanic was about to be triggered, take the hit, and then continue as the tank pulled the aggro back. In this way, it would become a simple tank-and-spank boss.

The second boss of the instance was a Demon Dog named "Evil Hound" Shell, created by a high-ranking Demon Scholar. Its trait was high-frequency attacks, with additional burn, armor piercing, and poison effects. Moreover, every time its health dropped by 10%, it would reset its aggro, though it was basically easy to handle with just a little attention.

Of course, if this were in reality, the boss would definitely not come out one by one like Scourge saving grandpa. If the Bartender and Evil Hound appeared simultaneously, it would become difficult to fight.

…But now, this Evil Hound had disappeared.

The moment Aiwass saw the bald woman's face, he immediately realized.

The creator of this "Evil Hound" must have been the bald man he had counter-killed that night!

—Because this woman, was none other than the "apprentice" Aiwass had met that night!

Many fragments immediately reassembled in his mind, forming a new thread of events:

According to the original history, players were supposed to suddenly appear, startling both individuals, and rescue Aiwass, who was already on the sacrificial altar, preventing the arrival of the Shadow Demon. Afterwards, the man would leave, creating "Evil Hound" to guard this secret base.

And the "Pelican Bar" was supposed to be related to The Association of Noble Red.

Or rather, this was simply an outpost of their organization in Avalon.

The reason it's called an outpost...

Is because even Aiwass, who didn't remember the plot well, knew that the mysterious association known as Noble Red was actually a front for the spies of the Star Antimony Kingdom among the populace!

The higher-ups of this association were all secret agents of Star Antimony Kingdom—they supported the suppressed Demonologists within Avalon by distributing demonological tomes and forbidden ritual materials.

Of course, these two individuals who came to find Aiwass likely did not have the rank to know such secrets.

He also immediately remembered why this event could involve a certain minister of Avalon.

Now, because he had killed that man at that time, the Evil Hound was no longer at the bar.

—Although it wasn't very significant, history had indeed been changed by a small part by him!

And the apprentice who escaped that day was the Evil Sorcerer Veronica. A level 19 Demon Scholar, just one step away from reaching the third energy level.

Players affectionately called her Da Zi or Baldy.

Since she was the lowest-level boss with a Red robe drop, Da Zi was farmed quite frequently. Although the Red robe wasn't particularly stylish or had any attributes, it enabled the event line of The Association of Noble Red to be started.

In that event line, one could obtain four books and a decent staff. The books granted a good amount of skill experience, so players who chose the Demonologist class would have to do it sooner or later.

Compared to the first two bosses that Aiwass had forgotten, Veronica's mechanics were much harder.

—Just like now, she made her entrance directly manipulating a sphere.

Fifteen seconds after the start, she would directly target the player with the highest aggro, releasing a fast-moving, weakly tracking "Cursed Infant." If you can't dodge this skill, you're dead on the spot.

This massive damage, at a level without any damage reduction or invincibility skills, is impossible to withstand. Only a tank class above level thirty could take this hit without dying after breaking the limit. So the only option was to dodge.

Players killed by her in battle would be immediately sacrificed to summon lesser demons. The lesser demons aren't difficult to deal with, just a matter of concentrated fire over three rounds. But a sacrificed corpse meant no chance of revival and reinforcement during the fight.

This was a four-player dungeon, and failing to dodge the opening mechanics meant immediately being down one-quarter of your combatants—likely losing a tank with high probability.

The subsequent battle wasn't tough, just a matter of releasing a group damage skill that got more painful over time. The more stacks you had, the slower your movement and attack speed, until a player died and the stacks of the others would reset to zero.

If no one died in the first round of mechanics, it was basically a rush to out-damage the boss; otherwise, the healer would have to sacrifice themselves when they couldn't heal through the damage, to clear the stacks for the other teammates. If you didn't make it through then, then it was impossible to beat.

Different from the first two bosses. The first two didn't require any research, and flailing around could still get you through. If Veronica went in blind, she'd likely wipe on the first encounter.

All you could say was this boss knew how to play.

Before even appearing, she was already using rituals in secret to prepare a big move, aiming to reduce the team by one as soon as the battle began. Unlike other game bosses who would hold off their ultimate moves until they were nearly defeated—this boss's attack pattern was very similar to a player's, delivering a burst of damage right at the start.

As a healer class, Aiwass definitely needed to study the mechanics.

If a tank or DPS didn't handle the mechanics well at the start, he would have to die deliberately. With more experience came increased proficiency.

—But after all, as the boss of the initial dungeon, players would inevitably get lazier with more attempts.

So the players also worked out a way to 'skip classes' with Veronica.

And to be honest, it was extremely simple.

Aiwass's earlier preparations were for this very moment—

His left hand, hidden beneath his cloak, opened slightly, and the Power of Shadows silently converged in the gaps between his fingers. The "Enchantment Card: Blade of Shadows," which he had created the night before, materialized in the twisted void. He held it between his index and middle fingers.

To divert Veronica's attention, Aiwass spoke calmly at this point, "The number of openings you've left is simply too many—to the point of being innumerable.

"It even took me a moment longer than it should have to uncover the truth. I believe, if it were that famous Mr. Sherlock, he would have guessed right away."

As he spoke, the gun in his right hand drew closer to the "Moon" Tarot card in his left hand.

The moment the gun touched the Tarot card, which had been rewritten to be "Enchantment Card: Blade of Shadows."

Aiwass's thought triggered, and the Enchantment Card he was holding in his left hand instantly transformed into a shadowy mass, seeping into the lady's gun in his right hand.

Then, he raised the gun overtly and aimed at the Evil Sorcerer Veronica.

The woman in the red robe recognized Aiwass's identity at that moment.

She had originally wanted to ask Aiwass how exactly he survived that night—on seeing the Shadow Demon lose control and kill her mentor in an instant, she didn't hesitate to turn tail and run. She didn't know that Aiwass had taken control of the Shadow Demon, thinking instead that the mentor's contract had failed.

But seeing Aiwass's ridiculous gesture, her doubt and wariness were overshadowed by disdain.

She couldn't help but snort in laughter, even too lazy to dodge, "You don't think such a thing would be useful against me, do you?

"Elf-made, Grip of the Lady, with a capacity of five rounds—am I right? Do you think it will be useful against me?

"I'm too lazy to even dodge. How about I just stand here and let you shoot me once?"