The Fourth Apostil is the Swamp Boar Nemorrino. It is a huge boar with a body covered in moss, lichens, and magical runes of swamp light. Only Zikei and our group, Elk, Aka-32, and I, knew about the trigger for its activation.
You can fight this monster by accepting the "Unique Offer": "The Song of the Lost Friendship with the Pig" To trigger this quest, you need to visit the "Underground Floor of the Ant Hill," which turns out to be a real place, not a myth. If you haven't already guessed, the entrance is located under the eggs in the [Egg Zone], but be careful. If you step on a real egg, the [Swarm] event will activate, and you'll be in trouble.
In fact, everything was obvious, the fake yato was on the side, you didn't even need to go to the center. Then, a passage opens underground where there will be a mini area with a mossy oak, there you need to listen to how the little girl NPC "Maraina - Daughter of the Abandoned Laboratories" sings and listen to her story.
To meet a unique monster, you need to be prepared in everything: equipment, strategy, allies.
Mistakes are not forgiven here.
I watched old battle recordings from the forums several times, read comments from other players who were trying to find weaknesses in powerful mobs, and every time I saw the same thing at the end of the video:
"Defeat. The team has been destroyed."
So I decided to play it safe.
Late in the evening, sitting in front of the computer and warming my hands on a mug of tea, I still opened a private communication channel and dialed a number.
—Katzu.
The screen lit up with a familiar silhouette of a guy with slightly messy hair and a kind-hearted look.
—Oh, little sister? You haven't called for a long time. Is something wrong?
I hesitated for a moment, but then decided to go ahead.
—I'm going on a group raid in three weeks. On a Unique Monster.
—On a Unique? Are you serious?
Katzu even raised himself, as if he couldn't believe his ears.
—I want you to help me prepare. Just... be there online, calculate the build, help with the raid simulation.
Katzu was silent for a long time. His face didn't show judgment, but rather a kind of tired respect. He knew what it was like when someone decided to do the impossible.
—You know, no one has ever defeated a Unique Monster. Not a single guild, not a single solo player. They all make it to the first phase, and then... everything falls apart.
And if you think it's going to be easier for you, you're wrong.
His voice became serious.
—Unique bosses are not just bosses. They don't test your level or strength, but your willingness to play. If you don't prepare well, the game will punish you.
—I'm going anyway, I have to see it with my own eyes.
Katzu was silent for a long time before he answered. On the screen, you could see him rubbing the bridge of his nose thoughtfully, as if he was choosing his words carefully so as not to offend his sister.
—Viytka… I won't be able to appear in the game with you. I don't have time right now, I'm busy preparing for another tournament. So I won't be able to help you in a real battle.
He paused for a moment, then added with a gentle smile:
—But you know… I can still be there for you. I can give you advice on what to do. In your ear, like when you first entered the game.
My heart suddenly ached, as if these words had brought me back one month. A memory flashed before my eyes: the old battle against the Blood Blossoming Guardian.
He calmly guided her step by step, telling her when to dodge, when to block, and when to use her skills. Despite the chaos and the red rain of petals and thorns, I emerged victorious that day.
Now, I suddenly felt the same sense of confidence.
—So, by voice, like before?
—Yes, I'll be on the line with you, if you don't mind. I'll tell you when to back off and when to take a chance.
—Okay, then in three weeks... stay in touch.
Katzu spoke calmly, but there was a strange, muted excitement in his voice that was rarely characteristic of him.
I listened carefully, trying not to interrupt, my brother was rarely wrong, especially in such matters.
—Listen carefully, there is something that many people don't know. You can't go with NPCs with the Swamp Boar Nemorrino.
—Why? They are still under the control of the system.
—Exactly. This boss... he doesn't perceive them as opponents. All attacks, all damage, even spells, seem to pass through him.
—So they're useless?
—More than useless. If an NPC dies in battle, something unexpected might happen.
He paused, as if remembering.
—I've read reports on the forums. One guy lost his NPC companion, and after that, he couldn't have anyone at all. Another guy's character crashed the game, and he couldn't log in again, as if the server had removed his name from the user list.
—But that's just a rumor, isn't it?
Katzu looked away.
—Maybe. Or maybe not. No one really knows how the Unique Monster mechanics work. Everything related to them seems to have been written by another team, or by someone who likes unbeatable scenarios.
He sighed and continued:
—So forget about assistants. No mercenaries, no pets, no NPCs. Just players, live reactions.
—Got it!
Katzu added, a little quieter:
—And one more thing. Try not to level up.
—What? But... I'm level 20! If I don't level up, I'll die on the first hit!
—No, on the contrary, Unique Monsters, especially this one, attack those who are stronger first. It's their internal logic, the higher your level, the more aggressive they become.
He chuckled, but there was no lightness in his gaze.
—For the first time in this game, weakness can become your advantage.
His brother wasn't joking, and there was more than just knowledge of mechanics behind his words; it was personal experience. Katzu had always been the one who learned more than the developers allowed.
If he said "don't take the NPCs" and "don't level up," then there must be something hidden somewhere in the depths of this game that shouldn't exist.
—Okay, no NPCs. And no higher than level 20, but I'll still take the restoration potions!
—Good girl, then maybe you can actually survive.
It was the only chance I've had in a long time.
It's not just a test, but an opportunity to prove to myself that I'm on the right path, that all the deaths, mistakes, and defeats in "Log Apofis" made sense.
Katzu said that Nemorrino's Swamp Boar doesn't immediately pay attention to weak players. The first few minutes of combat are like a blind spot, a moment when he chooses his true target. If you act wisely, you can take advantage of this window.
It's a precious few minutes to study his movements, tactics, and understand the logic of a monster designed not just to win, but to destroy.
It was good news, but it was also misleading.
Zikei said that Nemorrino was one of those who the system called the Fourth Apostle, which meant that he was not just a powerful enemy, but also a part of the game's hidden narrative.
He was a monster made of flesh and blood, and most importantly, the very structure of the poison.
It was said that his body was made of the petrified mud of the swamps, and his eyes glowed with a greenish-yellow light, like an animal that had spent too much time staring into the digital abyss.
I opened the wiki and carefully read through everything the player community had managed to gather about it.
[Swamp Boar Nemorrino ]
Type: Unique Monster (Apostil No. 4)
[ Danger Level: S+ ]
[ Phases: Three ]
[ Location: Unknown ]
Then the scary comments from the players began.
"He's slow, but he's a storm in close combat. One hit and your character just evaporates."
"He fights with huge axes covered in swamp poison. Even if you survive the hit, the poison will drain your health in seconds."
I remembered Zikei's words:
"He doesn't just fight, he learns. After the first phase, Nemorino becomes faster, and in the second phase, he begins to imitate the players' styles. But the worst part is the third phase."
According to the survivors' records, if you destroy his weapons during a battle, Nemorino loses his axes but transforms his claws into a poisonous weapon.
The poison doesn't just deal damage; it mutates. With each wound, the effects intensify: paralysis, tremors, and slowed reactions. When the player is unable to move, Nemorrino finishes them off with a slow, methodical approach that only non-human creatures possess.
"Not everything is measured by levels."
I quietly repeated Zikei's words, staring at the screen.
"Sometimes, only those who are not afraid to die can truly win."
I closed the browser and glanced at my calendar. There were nineteen days left. Every night, I dreamed of swampy mists, where I could hear the monster's heavy breathing.