What’s a Dungeon Boss to Do When Players Want to Solo Them?

Ye Du was a great demon who could destroy the world. One day, he transmigrated and became a dungeon boss in a high-freedom VR game.

Ye Du: Since I'm here, I might as well have some fun.

Ye Du's dungeon mechanics were extraordinarily complex, and the demands on players were impossibly high, but the loot was better than anything they'd ever seen.

As a result, players both loved and hated him. When the dungeon first opened, the entire chat was abuzz

Combat-focused Player 1: This new dungeon boss is way too hard, right? Looking for high-DPS veterans, one billion runs and we'll clear it, totally guaranteed.

Shipper Player 2: The boss is stunningly beautiful. If I can't beat him, I'll just fall in love with him. I've made fanworks and added emotes, type 1 if you want them~

Player 3, oblivious to everything: Got rare farm produce at home. Anyone want to trade for soil? DM me!

Ye Du happily watched the chat while crushing players who came to challenge him.

Sometimes, when he was in a good mood, he'd randomly give a player a piece of dungeon gear, and the next moment he'd hear their delighted squeals and the whole party's resentful groans.

Day after day, it was pure bliss.

Until one day, a timid figure knocked on the door of the palace where he lived.

A timid player, with the Newbie title and thirty days of playtime above his head, muttered to himself, "H-hello. I came to run the dungeon."

The newbie player's ID was "BaaBaaBaaBaa."

A dedicated fashion collector and shipper, every day he logged in to grind for outfits or grab people from his friends list to cuddle and snuggle.

He never ran dungeons, until he saw the action, clothing, and accessories dropped by Ye Du in the preview screen, and started drooling with longing.

BaaBaa: I can't even imagine how happy I'd be with that chained-up action, the little heart-shaped tail, and that outfit.

But the dungeon boss was just way too hard!

He started the dungeon. Ye Du raised a hand, and he died.

He tried to dodge. Ye Du took one step, and he died again.

He hid in a corner, failed a mechanic, and the party wiped.

After dozens of attempts, BaaBaa was nearly at his breaking point and decided to try again another time. Just then, he heard a ding.

Dungeon boss Ye Du has sent you a friend request.

BaaBaa: ?!

As players grew stronger, the dungeon got easier and easier.

Ye Du's favorite pastime shifted from watching players wail to watching BaaBaa cry out in pain. After every party wipe, he would send BaaBaa some advice.

"You picked the wrong skill. Switch it out. Nobody's going to carry you while you beg for loot from the boss."

"You're too squishy. Get the healer to keep an eye on you."

"Your score's too low. Even a bot couldn't carry you."

Under Ye Du's guidance (and exploitation), BaaBaa finally cleared the dungeon. In tears, he looked toward Ye Du during the results screen.

The man seated on the throne raised an eyebrow and waved a hand. An announcement appeared in the world chat.

"Congratulations to player 'BaaBaaBaaBaa' for obtaining the rarest gear, the Demon King's Robe (final boss version), imbued with Ye Du's blessing, as well as rare clothing, accessories, and an uncommon emote. Congratulations on becoming this server's luckiest player!"

"Additionally, the dungeon is now permanently closed because the boss self-destructed along with his ultimate gear!"

The chat exploded. Amid his excitement, BaaBaa took one wistful look at the palace doors as they closed.

He thought he would never see Ye Du again, until one day the hardest dungeon appeared out of nowhere. The familiar boss was once again seated on his throne, smiling at the players who approached.

"Long time no see."

At the same time, the friend icon that had been dark for ages lit up. Ye Du sent him the new dungeon's loot list.

Message: Want to date online? I'll give you the loot~

BaaBaaBaaBaa: Shocked

#What do I do if the dungeon boss wants to flirt with me# #Cuddles and loot too# #He used the new emote on me, I'm so happy# #Wait, can I meet up with a boss in real life?!#

A. Inspired by several online games. Mainly everyday romance, with a lighthearted slice-of-life feel.

B. Top-focused story, with the top doting on the bottom.

Theme: Love.