Ch. 401I Predicted Your Prediction
Summary: “I Predicted Your Prediction”
Key Plot Points and Events
- The adventurers defeat the Frost Giant Earthshaker, the first boss of the Frost Dragon Lair. Although the boss has immense health and high defense, its stationary nature makes the fight manageable.
- Earthshaker drops eleven high-quality Epic items. Prince Aidan honors his promise to let the adventurers keep the loot, organizing an auction rather than claiming the equipment for himself. The items sell for thousands or tens of thousands of gold, which is then distributed among the group.
- After recovering, the party enters a grand corridor filled with Frost Dragonkin and Frost Whelps. The architecture resembles Sky City, reinforcing the idea that Borelius may have once been an Ancient Dragon.
- Varian takes command of the party’s advance. He organizes the melee fighters into a defensive line and coordinates ranged attacks, healing, and positioning. Under his leadership, the adventurers efficiently clear the corridor.
- Mo Fei acts as the party’s main offensive force, using Whirlwind, Thundercloud Avatar, and Thundercloud’s Wrath to tear through the Dragonkin. The group eventually reaches the second boss room, the Dragon Egg Hatchery.
- The second boss is Aexil, a level 80 White Dragon Lord and a Disaster Tier Rank Four boss. Unlike Earthshaker, Aexil has lower health but is expected to possess much greater offensive power.
- Mo Fei predicts that Aexil will summon dragon hatchlings during a second phase. He assigns Morgan Lisa to one spawn point and takes responsibility for the other. Varian will tank the dragon, while Phoenix assists him and other melee fighters contain any surviving adds.
- Aexil begins with a devastating full-area Frost Breath attack. Six overlapping Frost Protection Barriers are required to withstand it.
- Mo Fei and Varian skillfully evade Aexil’s claws, tail sweep, and charge attacks. Mo Fei repeatedly anticipates the dragon’s movements and calls out warnings, making the fight smoother than the previous boss battle.
- When Aexil reaches half health, it summons more than one hundred Frost Dragon hatchlings. Morgan Lisa uses Starshatter to annihilate one group, while Mo Fei uses Arandell’s Pure Flame to destroy the other.
- Aexil is stunned by the immediate failure of its reinforcements. Varian exploits the opening, impaling the dragon with Shalamayne and delivering the decisive blow.
- A world announcement records Varian and Aidan’s joint victory over Aexil in the Sky Annals.
Character Developments
- Mo Fei demonstrates generosity and leadership by honoring his promise to distribute the loot fairly, showing that he values the Dragon Heart more than personal wealth. In battle, he displays increasingly refined tactical awareness, predicting enemy attacks and coordinating the party while also serving as its primary damage dealer.
- Varian proves that his reputation as a future High King is deserved. His battlefield command is precise and effective, and he confidently assumes responsibility for tanking Aexil despite the dragon’s overwhelming power.
- Morgan Lisa establishes herself as a crucial damage-dealing specialist. Her Starshatter ability is powerful enough to eliminate an entire wave of dragon hatchlings.
- Mengmeng Dana, Phoenix, and Kaya reveal the limits and strengths of their abilities: Mengmeng is the party’s essential healer, Phoenix can assist with tanking, and Kaya provides useful but comparatively weaker area damage.
- Aexil is portrayed as proud and confident, but its arrogance collapses when its carefully prepared hatchling army is destroyed almost instantly.
Significant Themes
- Leadership and trust: Mo Fei delegates command to Varian, recognizing that effective leadership means relying on others’ strengths rather than controlling everything personally.
- Fairness and generosity: Aidan’s willingness to distribute the loot without taking a share builds trust and loyalty among the adventurers.
- Preparation versus adaptability: The party anticipates Aexil’s summoning mechanics and assigns specific roles beforehand, allowing them to neutralize the boss’s strategy.
- Teamwork and specialization: Victory depends on combining tanking, healing, barriers, crowd control, ranged damage, and tactical coordination.
- Prediction and counter-prediction: Mo Fei anticipates Aexil’s attacks, while Aexil anticipates the party’s strength in numbers and summons reinforcements. The adventurers succeed because they predict and counter the dragon’s plan more effectively.
- Heroic rivalry and camaraderie: Mo Fei and Varian fight side by side, combining Mo Fei’s tactical instincts and damage output with Varian’s leadership and durability.
Character Interactions
- Aidan reassures the adventurers by allowing them to distribute Earthshaker’s loot themselves.
- Varian asks to command the corridor assault, and Mo Fei willingly gives him control after recognizing his superior battlefield skills.
- Mo Fei and Varian cooperate closely during both boss battles, attacking from opposite sides and coordinating their movements.
- Before fighting Aexil, Mo Fei consults the other heroes about their area-of-effect abilities and assigns roles based on their individual strengths.
- During the battle, Mo Fei repeatedly warns Varian about Aexil’s attacks, while Varian helps hold the dragon’s attention.
- Morgan Lisa and Mo Fei independently destroy the two waves of summoned hatchlings, perfectly executing the strategy they had planned.
- Varian and Aidan receive joint credit in the world announcement, emphasizing their partnership in defeating Aexil.