Chapter 111: Run, With Impatience as Fuel

It was a card I didn't really want to play, but I have to reach Fifticia by tomorrow no matter what.

To do that, I have to traverse the Ruins of Past Glory, and the Barren Darkruin extending from Eleventar beyond that, as quickly as possible.

Even I understand how difficult it is to do that solo. In that case, reinforcements are necessary. And specifically, a helper who won't question my haste excessively.

"That person is scary though... Well, I can't be choosy about methods."

I feel slightly sorry for using them almost like a tool, but as Pencilgon says, I should use whatever I can. Whether I dispose of them or give them bait depending on the results... no matter how I think about it, this feels like a villain's mindset, but I can't afford to be choosy right now.

Besides, since I originally had to head to Fifticia by tomorrow, a helper was essential.

"Meeting place is Eleventar... Alright, let's go."

I left Emul in Rabituza. I entrusted her with the important mission of reporting to me the moment the player named "Akitsu Akane" logs in, and if possible, stalling them until I meet "Akitsu Akane."

It's safe to say the watershed moment for whether the trump card "Epic of Vorpal Bunny" functions as a trump card depends on her.

"Akitsu Akane"... I don't know what they did to raise the flag for the Unique Scenario "Invitation from the Rabbit Country," but there's no doubt they are a player with considerable skill.

How to impose a gag order on such an opponent regarding the Unique Scenario... or rather, the NPC "Vysache."

Honestly, I'm starting to lose track of why I'm so desperate to hide Rabituza's information myself. Either way, the difficulty of triggering "Invitation from the Rabbit Country" is stupidly high, so even if it's exposed, I doubt players will flock to the Rabbit Palace easily.

But right now, I'm holding troublesome landmines related to players. If it's revealed here that "There is a Unique Monster related to Vorpal Bunnies," players will surely mob me even more than now.

"Lure with items... No, difficult. How about making them one of us?"

In the first place, I am not a complete solo player. As long as the clan "Wolfgang"... me, OiKatzo, and Pencilgon... form one community, it's not exactly One for All, All for One, but it's fine if "Wolfgang" ultimately achieves a great victory.

In that case, if I drag the aforementioned "Akitsu Akane" into "Wolfgang," the monopoly on the Unique Scenario EX "Epic of Vorpal Bunny" practically won't collapse. I don't think I can clear the Unique Scenario EX alone anyway; it was something I had to reveal eventually.

However, before Akitsu Akane-shi, I intended to recommend Rust & Mold to Those Two Villains (Them) to join "Wolfgang." Even deducting the fact that they lost in a match and further lost to temptation, I judged Rust and Mold would be valuable assets.

From what I heard, those two, having reached Fifticia, possess considerable strength even in Shangri-La Frontier. If I recall, Rust is Lv.85 and Mold is Lv.87.

"Ah, right."

Speaking of levels, what is my level right now? Having caused massive numbers of Crystal Scorpions to fall and defeated the Goldy Scorpion, I should have obtained a colossal amount of experience points. Suddenly recalling that, I open my status screen right in the middle of the Ruins of Past Glory... and am speechless.

"Wait, you........................"

Name: Sunraku
Level: 99 Extend (150)
Job: Mercenary (Dual Wielder)
Money: 62,000 Mani
HP: 40
MP: 50
STM: 100
STR: 70
DEX: 70
AGI: 90
TEC: 65
VIT: 2
LUC: 104

Skills:

• Beast Slaughtering Infinite Slash -> Selectable
• Growing Pierce -> Selectable
• Infight Lv.MAX
• Drift Step -> Selectable
• Momentary Sight -> Selectable
• Hand of Fortune Lv.MAX
• Great of Climb -> Selectable
• Climax Boost Lv.MAX
• Eight-Boat Jump -> Possessed by Yoshitsune (Shanaou-tsuki)
• Ricochet Step Lv.MAX
• Hate Trample Lv.MAX
• Skywalker -> Selectable
• Lone Wolf [Transient] -> Pride of the Moon Wolf [Managarmr Pride]
• Off-Road Lv.MAX
• Vorpal Blade Arts [Water Mirror Moon] Ninth Form -> Vorpal Secret Art [Fading Mirror]
• Ignition Lv.MAX
• Overheat Lv.MAX
• Nitrogain Lv.MAX
• Duelism -> Bloodshedism (Kessen Shugi)
• Impact Fist Lv.MAX
• Ten Counter -> Lethe Vanisher
• Power Slash Lv.MAX
• Single Stroke Bisection -> Blade-Breaking Demon Chaos (Kaitou Ranma)
• Vorpal Sword Arts [Half-Moon Slash] Third Form
• Reckless Fighting Spirit Lv.1
• Sword Dance [Spinning Blade]
• Persistand
• Acrobat Lv.1
• Melostic Foot

Equipment:

• Right: Togetsu [Waxing]
• Left: Togetsu [Waning]
• Head: Gazing Bird Mask (VIT+2)
• Torso: Lycaon's Curse
• Waist: None
• Legs: Lycaon's Curse
• Accessories: Inventory Key: Inventoria

Come to think of it, I've forgotten to equip waist gear for a long time... Or considering I kept activating skills for hours, most skills other than newly learned ones are at Lv.MAX or have the next stage selectable... Various thoughts cross my mind, but what draws my eye most is the word Extend added after the current maximum reachable level "99."

I know the level cap was released in an update performed right in the middle of fighting Wethermon. In that case, is it reasonable to think this "Extend" meaning extension is the stage before level cap release?

No, more importantly, 99. Level 99. I don't think I'd gain 20 levels just from the Goldy Scorpion, even if it was a solo kill. In that case, the massive number of Crystal Scorpions that fell to their deaths did indeed bring me experience points. Isn't this bad?

Effectively, if you have Inventoria, it's easy leveling. It's so ridiculous I shouldn't be fishing for eels or lobsters. Damn, if I had noticed before leaving Rabituza, I would have stopped by Elke's place............ Or rather, doesn't this mean I can't learn new skills or strengthen skills unless I unlock the level cap?

Does this mean that the Existence (Avatar) Me (Sunraku), having reached the limit and even Extended, must break through the limit called Level to aim for further heights? Once things settle down, let's investigate the level cap.

"Out of my way!"

No time to deal with trash mobs. Temporarily cutting off the status screen check, I sprint full speed to escape from the golem... it is a golem, right? A golem that looks like nothing more or less than a wooden horse torture device clad in evil aura approaching me.

Although there's a need to verify and organize stats and skills, having reached Level 99, the full sprint to Fifticia should be easier now.

Without glancing at the trash mobs around, given the nature of the area, it's self-evident that if the entrance is on the giant skeleton's head side, the exit is on the tail side. The simplicity of just needing to go straight is a huge help for me right now.

From what I hear, the areas blocking the other two routes, "Fivelle Route" and "Sixenveldt Route," besides the "Fourfolkshire Route" proceeding straight from Fourfolkshire to Fifticia, are all areas that aren't straight lines to the exit. If I had chosen those, the time consumed to reach Fifticia would have been much greater.

Running while making my stamina gauge fluctuate wildly as if saying even time swinging a weapon is wasteful, I organize my jumbled thoughts and prioritize what needs to be done.

First, the sudden important matter... for convenience, the "Akitsu Akane Problem." I'll postpone this for now. Since I can't control Akitsu Akane-shi's appearance, I can only wait for Emul's report.

Next, arriving at Fivelle... for convenience, "Fivelle Arrival RTA." First, the plan is to break through the Ruins of Past Glory alone. Then, as soon as I meet up with a certain person I promised to meet this evening, conquer the final barrier blocking access to Fifticia... Barren Darkruin.

Originally, I should have cleared the fetch quest imposed by the Unique Scenario EX "Epic of Vorpal Bunny" in this area, but unfortunately, just for today, I decided to postpone it to the very end.

If asked why I'm rushing so much, it's because I have to meet Rust & Mold in Fifticia by 8 AM tomorrow.

After all, having promised to "lend the Powered Suit" to Rust, I must persuade OiKatzo and Pencilgon. As a souvenir for that, preparing information on the Unique Monster "Ctarrnid of the Abyss"... is fine, but according to Rust and the others, the Unique Scenario "Pierce the Apostle of the Abyss" that might lead to Ctarrnid of the Abyss must be accepted in Fifticia.

Although we got along, my relationship with Rust and the others is "total strangers." We aren't friends in ShanFro, nor do we have a relationship close enough to exchange email addresses. In other words, it's a verbal promise to meet on site. I regret not doing SNS-like things at times like this.

In short. Even if it's a verbal promise, if I don't go to "Ruffian Street" in Fifticia by 7 AM tomorrow, there's a risk the clue leading to Ctarrnid of the Abyss might disappear if things go poorly.

"Being fast isn't everything!"

Leeway in time, this is important.

If I could punch my past self to stop his thoughtless rushing... While performing the action "regretting the past," a privilege only the future self can do... suddenly, a shadow covers me.

"Wha........."

"DNA Scan... Mismatch. Code Scan... Not Possessed, Registration Not Applicable. Final Decision, INTRUDER, DETECTED."

Looking up and seeing It, I hurriedly change my running legs to a backstep and enter a combat stance.

And it lands right in front of me, turning its inorganic single eye toward me. Although creaking slightly, its combat power unclouded, It—looking like several boxes attached roughly into a human shape with mechanical arthropod legs like a crab or spider attached—declares extremely simply what it will do to me from now on.

"ELIMINATE."

Author's Afterword
Level Cap
In Shangri-La Frontier, the level cap was 99 until the large summer update.
However, with the completion of the super-large New Continent survey ship "Torvante Discoverie" by the Kingdom of Einwurf, completed by the hands of players, the route to the New Continent was opened. And in the waiting unknown, Pioneers will obtain new strength———
Based on this setting, the player level cap was released. That said, it's not an unconditional release; first, as a prerequisite, one must achieve the condition of "Defeating a monster Level 100 or above" to enter the Level 99 Extend state.
And by achieving specific conditions on the New Continent, the level cap increases from 99 to 150.
Whether the screams of joy from players who had been putting in tearful efforts like intentionally lowering their levels to strengthen skills until the level cap release echoed or not is another story.
By the way, players with unlocked level caps are already increasing one after another; specifically, the Professor's wife and such.