Chapter 129: At the End of the Fierce Battle Lies a Separating Ocean

No, that's not it. That's not it, Lycaon. I didn't say anything complicated, did I? I just said "Lift the curse." I absolutely did not say "Update the curse." Furthermore, I didn't ask you to enrich the content, so why on earth did you add an equipment destruction effect with a time limit? Is this that? Do you have a thought circuit that isn't satisfied unless you attach a self-destruct function to your own home? Hahaha, wrap some dynamite around your stomach, you piece of trash.

"And it got worse, didn't it!?"

"Uumu, it is carved deeply as if it were carved into your body since birth-de gozaru na."

To my eyes, it looks like "Strong Enemy Attracting Function" and "Saint-chan Canceller Function" have been added on top of the conventional effects, but maybe it's a typo... What, no injustice? Shut up, what I'm asking for isn't injustice but correction, you idiot.

Aah, Lycaon you bastard, why are you drifting with an atmosphere like a craftsman who finished a job and trying to end the event, wait you prick... no wait!

"Nuwaaaaaaaaaaa! I'll never forgive that bastard!!"

I see, in terms of igniting the fighting spirit of me, the enemy, she is quite the strategist.

Satisfied with the scream filled with anger, lamentation, and fun equal to those two combined, the presence of Lycaon, who seemed genuinely amused, dispersed completely this time.

That means, from here on, I have to proceed with a Hard Mode restriction imposed.

"A two-stage trap is unfair... Why is there another vaulting box beyond the vaulting box... Humans can't double jump... Though in a game world they can............"

"Are you okay? If you run 200m, you'll generally feel better!"

"Running is running, but I'd prefer an RTA (Real Time Attack) if anything."

Depending on the game, 100% completion shaves away humanity, so please forgive me with Any%. I wonder if there's a Shangri-La Frontier TA. However, first, rather than what's ahead, I should be happy about the event that just ended.

"Anyway, thanks to Rei-shi. I only asked you to help with normal area conquest, but dragged you into a Lycaon fight too..."

"N-No, please do not mind... I'll accompany you for something like this anytime... Accompany, you...? Accompany... A-Acc, ac... wa."

The rusted greatsword is swung, wind gou blows across the grassland, and Rei-shi, turning the grass into a silent storm generator, transforms the area into a domain more dangerous than a sea of magma.

"Uwah, dangerous!"

"N-No no no no! We haven't defeated the Area Boss yet! Yes, yes! I will ac, acc, acco, accompany you, yes!"

The greatsword cutting the air with a roar; is this implying that "my blade is still thirsty for blood"? Isn't this person too militant? SF-Zoo were also high-level players specialized in party combat if you ignore various That points, and indeed, no matter the game, there are players who have mastered it.

Does that mean Clan "Black Wolf" is swarming with people of Rei-shi's class...? I heard there's a trio of idiots plotting evil against such a group? Surely it's a clan composed of innocent gamers pushed around by an ogre who can't even trigger a Unique on his own and a genuine Last Boss demon who manipulates human hearts.

"Yes, yes! I feel like I could defeat Siegwurm right now!"

"Siegwurm is very strong! Even I had my head munched on!"

What is this? It feels like watching gears that don't mesh at all spinning idly with tremendous momentum. I'm curious about the information on the new Unique Monster called Siegwurm, but right now, how should I put it... I'm tired. Let's not think about Unique Monsters for a while... Not, think...

"Wh-What time is it!?"

"Heh? It's about 4 o'clock! Wow, we stayed up really late...!"

Should I refrain from retorting that it's no longer staying up late but pulling an all-nighter? No, it's summer vacation season, so maybe sleeping now and waking up at noon won't be blamed.

No, more importantly, the meeting time is 9:00 AM. Although there is still leeway, item organization, weapon enhancement, logging out for rest, meal, bathroom, bath... Yes, neglecting real life will hinder the game. In the past, there was news about someone being rushed to the hospital for getting too absorbed in Full Dive, so real-life care is very important.

"Go to town now, secure landmark, return to Rabituza, ask Bilac to repair worn-out weapons while enhancing weapons, secure funds, verify the Scar, take a bath, eat..."

Yeah, no time. Especially with this game's weapon enhancement system, if I don't entrust the weapons to Bilac before 7 AM, I won't make it.

Three hours remaining. It looks like plenty of time, but considering the many steps of going to the boss area now, defeating the boss, arriving at Fifticia, parting with Rei-shi somehow, and returning to Rabituza, it doesn't seem like there's much leeway. In other words, swift action is necessary...

"Let's conquer the area quickly. What was it, Observer Dragon?"

"No it's not! I looked it up! If I recall, um... Right! Surfer Dragon!"

"Usurper Dragon, right..."

Well, whatever. With the members present here, it won't be an opponent we struggle against that much.

But we had forgotten. Because this is ultimately entertainment without danger to life, we had overlooked it.

That we, who had been fighting Lycaon with the momentum of releasing everything we had until just now, had used up most of our cards.

"Daaaah come down here you idiot!!"

"Sunraku-san, stop trying to throw me desu waaaaa!!"

"I see, Rabbit Cannonball!"

"Listen well, Akitsu Akane-dono... Rabbits cannot fly, you understand-de gozaru na?"

"We count one bird, two birds (counter for rabbits), so they can go!"

"Impossible! Impossible-de gozaru yo!"

"Evacuate!!"

Wah, we scatter to avoid the fireball attack fired from a height our attacks can't reach.

Barren Darkruin Area Boss "Usurper Dragon." Its characteristic of stealing the initiative of fired magic is indeed troublesome, but more than that, flying using the wings possessed as a dragon is too annoying.

Of all things, this temporary party lacks a physical long-range class. So we have no choice but to wait for the Usurper Dragon to come down, but perhaps because we are impatient, it feels like time is being bought more than the actual flight time. Emul's attacks are mostly stolen, Ceecrue and I lack attack range, and Akitsu Akane's attacks simply lack firepower. In that case, the lifeline is Rei-shi, but...

"I'm sorry, if I could move, we could defeat it faster..."

"You've become an honorary ornament, no need to feel guilty."

"That's right! Besides, even weakened, you're stronger than me!!"

If Gilta Brille imposes a heavy burden on the player and equipment itself along with a long cooldown as the price for firepower, Rei-shi's equipment was a more direct weakening.

Rei-shi's armor and greatsword, having lost both holy white and evil black, looking so shabby they appear more like lumps of dirt than metal. Currently, for about a day, Rei-shi has all stats halved and cannot use skills.

This is apparently the better demerit; in severe cases, this becomes permanent and equipment cannot be removed.

"If I could at least use skills..."

"Just knowing how to maneuver is contributing minimum... Whoops, it came down, damn lizard! All-out attack!!"

I ready my dual blades, and everyone leaps at the dragon with camouflage-colored scales that landed on the ground. Everyone's hand is empty anyway; simple is best in games with multiplayer elements. Crush it with the sure-kill tactic "Ganging Up," the best answer in any boss conquest!!

※Excerpt of audio only because it was too messy.

"Pyaaaaaa!? Being-eaten-desu-waaaaaaa!?"

"S-Sister!!"

"Wait you bastard! Or rather wait, don't fly with me on you! I'll die if I fall!"

"I'll save you now, Sunraku-san! Wait, aaah my dagger! I have no money so that's the only one I have! Give it back!!"

"A-Akitsu Akane-san, you can take it back next time it lands, so calm down..."

"I don't have unarmed skills! With no weapon to attack, all I can do is shuriken..."

"Sunraku-saaaan heeelp meeee desu waaaaa"

"Eeei, for now let go of Emul in your mouth... ah."

"Ah......... Byaaaaaaaaah!!"

"Emuuullllllll!!"

Leaking a faint death moan, the Usurper Dragon lays its body on the ground. I underestimated it thinking it would be easily defeated since it's weaker than Lycaon, but that was a huge mistake.

The area immediately before Fifticia, meaning a late-game boss among boss characters not involving Uniques... It was a strong enemy we finally managed to defeat by scraping together the concentration exhausted in the Lycaon fight.

"W-We did it..."

"This, monster... was such a struggling boss..."

"Next time I challenge it... I want to bring a Catapult..."

"Haha, ha..."

Emul almost fell to death, Akitsu Akane had her weapon stolen... Even though Rei-shi's stats plummeted, if she hadn't strengthened herself with magic and assisted at key points, the battle time would have extended further. Indeed, flying monsters are troublesome; a boss that made me strongly reaffirm that.

Breaking through the final barrier blocking the road to Fifticia, we advance toward Fifticia while watching the sky begin to brighten. Perhaps because we fought fierce battles against Lycaon and Usurper Dragon in succession, we three, who were almost strangers, had broken the ice enough to have idle chat.

"The players, remaining here now, are preparing, to board the next, survey ship. The reason we didn't see other players in Barren Darkruin is probably because of the time, but also because everyone is diving into that old castle..."

"Is that so? What kind of monsters appear in that castle?"

"How should I say... Wireframe Knights, perhaps?"

"???"

Ignoring Akitsu Akane floating massive question marks above her head and Rei-shi trying to explain more clearly, Emul and I, looking ahead, noticed its existence first.

"Ooh, is that..."

"...Yes, that was the last town players could reach before the update... and now, it is the town of departure to the New Continent."

The morning sun rises. Surprisingly, the sea, which I see for the first time in this game, receives the sunrise light and ripples with glittering shine.

Beyond that lies the unseen New World, and the fifteenth town that once existed as the end of adventure now exists as a town sending off Pioneers departing to the new world.

The terminus for Pioneers who departed from Firstia, and the starting point to head to the new world separated by the great ocean. The port town of Fifticia, the end and the beginning held by the only human kingdom on this continent, "Einwurf." We finally arrived.

Author's Afterword
Sorry Usurper Dragon-kun... I judged that any battle description after the Lycaon fight would just be redundant, so your battle is cut with a gag punchline............

I'll enter the epilogue of Chapter 2 in two or three chapters, and then I'll take a break for about a week. The main reason is to build up a stockpile, but I'm also considering creating a separate work packed with settings and such proposed in the comments section for some time. Character introductions might be moved there too.