Chapter 545: Tome of Truth "The Heavenly Sovereign"
Author's Preface
Kept you waiting.
The appropriate number of players to conquer Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign is...............
............
......
Correction complete.
Under the special arbitration conditions of this instance, the appropriate number of players for the Decisive Battle Phase against Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign and the Four Color Dragons is "a minimum of five hundred".
The class composition of the party members does not matter, but the ratio of Tank and Production classes is of critical importance.
Because Siegwurm's Unique Scenario EX is locked to World Story Stage 3, the moment the World Story reaches Stage 3, all players who have reached the New Continent will satisfy the trigger conditions.
Originally, the clear condition is either "Defeat Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign" or "Subjugate all Color Dragons", but because all the Color Dragons and Siegwurm have gathered in a single location this time, their respective parameters have been enhanced.
Strategy Guide for Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign
At the start of the battle, Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign deploys Dragon Law 【Malignant Amplification Gravity Sphere】 over a certain area. This special field persists until Siegwurm finishes combat, checking the roleplay actions of players to inflict the special state "B.I.G.".
This special state possesses both positive and negative evaluations, and if a player dies while leaning heavily toward one extreme, a special effect corresponding to their evaluation will activate upon respawn. The main effects include:
・Fluctuations in respawn timer.
・Changes to respawn location.
・Increase or decrease of death penalties.
・Status ailments applied upon respawning.
Among others.
The vast majority of Siegwurm's abilities and their activation/control originate from his "Horns", and destroying them restricts his special actions.
・「Dragon Law 【Malignant Amplification Gravity Sphere】」
The First Trial Against Humanity: a golden gravity well imposed by the Dragon King who worries for the future, testing the will of the human race. Its effects are as detailed above, but by accumulating positive evaluations beyond a certain threshold, the limiter is lifted, and the scale of the B.I.G. effect expands in both directions.
"Law" is the power to interfere with the world; "Rule" is the power to interfere with individuals, both oneself and others. Therefore, this power—which imposes a localized rewrite of the world's natural order to bless and curse humanity—is both Law and Rule, hence the 'Dragon's Law and Regulation' (Notorious).
・「Shining Dragon King」
An Anti-Genesis function that nullifies everything defined as "Magic" by obstructing the external interference of mana particles.
The activation condition requires at least one horn on both the left and right sides of Siegwurm's head to remain intact; if a matching left-right pair cannot be established, activation becomes impossible.
One of the fragments of Divine Age wisdom that makes Siegwurm the Dragon King. By circulating high-output mana particles across his body's surface, he nullifies external mana particle interference, as if painting over them with a thicker, darker coat of paint.
・「Frenzied Domain」
An Anti-Genesis function that nullifies everything defined as "Skills" by obstructing the internal activation of mana particles.
The activation condition requires at least two horns to be present on the same side of his head; if the necessary number is lacking, activation becomes impossible.
One of the fragments of Divine Age wisdom that makes Siegwurm the Dragon King. He deploys a barrier made of mana particles exhibiting abnormal behavior due to special vibrations, completely throwing the internal mana particles of any entity within range into disarray.
・「Scorching Ruin Breath」
An Anti-Genesis function: a breath attack laden with Anti-Mana particles that actively erase mana particles themselves. The mutual annihilation of mana particles is visualized in the form of incineration.
It pierces through the effects of all skills and magic, shaving away not just HP, but MP as well.
The true worth of Siegwurm, the answer and trump card reached by the human race who rebelled against the Genesis. However, those flames were far too meager to burn down the entire world.
・「Dragon King Engine」
An Anti-Genesis Decisive Battle function that forms a number of clones corresponding to the number of remaining horns. The formed clones vanish after taking a certain amount of damage or if the corresponding horn on the main body is destroyed.
Siegwurm's trump card. By intentionally overflowing his own core, he exponentially boosts his power output. However, no matter how he was designed, it is not without risk; the excessive mass-production of mana particles rapidly shortens Siegwurm's "lifespan".
・「The Shatterer of Harmony」
The Final Trial Against Humanity. A form of self-destruction that generates an unparalleled, anomalous destructive force by focusing the entirety of his mana particles—fitting for one risking body and soul—into a single point.
Unlike the self-destruction mechanism detailed later, this is a straightforward wide-area destruction attack. Because Siegwurm abandons all control other than maintaining a vague physical shape, the energy leaks out as it expands, scattering indiscriminately into the surrounding area.
Since all the discharged magical power would simply return into Siegwurm's body if he isn't constantly replenishing mana particles, the only way to overcome this trial is to pierce his Reverse Scale—the sole gap in Siegwurm's magical control—and forcibly halt the flow of magical power.
・「Experimental Reconstruction Function」
Siegwurm's other trump card: a respawn system implemented on an experimental basis, using the "Alice Report" as a reference.
However, unlike the subjects in Project No. 1, Project No. 2, or the Alice Report, the process of reconstructing Siegwurm—who harbors an anomalous volume of mana particles—is fraught with unstable elements. Furthermore, because it is a hastily constructed system that hasn't even been properly verified, it is unknown whether it will actually succeed.
But, perhaps, just maybe.
・「Wide-Area Pollution Crossbreeding Function」
The Final Anti-Genesis Resistance function: the ultimate resort of converting all the mana particles generated within his body into highly toxic, polluted particles, utilizing his own self-destruction to contaminate mana particles across a vast area.
This is Siegwurm's true self-destruction mechanism. In an Anti-Genesis combat scenario where Siegwurm is rendered inoperable, it is activated following a request from Siegwurm himself and subsequent authorization from the human command.
However, the Divine Age ended long ago, and there is no one left to hear Siegwurm's voice. Thus, the defeated Dragon independently modified this function, repurposing it into his final trial.
Special Actions of Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign
Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign is equipped with a separate Attention parameter distinct from standard aggro mechanics. Siegwurm tends to focus his attention on players who momentarily spike their B.I.G. positive evaluations, and depending on their subsequent responses, this attention can override standard aggro priority.
Furthermore, Siegwurm alters his behavior based on the total accumulated value of B.I.G.
When the accumulated B.I.G. value is low, Siegwurm displays a tendency to remain in locations where attacks cannot easily reach him. However, if players demonstrate results such as defeating one of the Color Dragons, Siegwurm will descend to the ground.
After descending, he continues to manage the aforementioned separate aggro parameter while unlocking breath attacks and other moves he withheld while airborne. From then on, his combat progression is determined by checking B.I.G. aggro, remaining HP, and the number of surviving horns.
When his health drops below a designated threshold, he activates Dragon x Driver. After that, while still tracking the aforementioned aggro, he will trigger his final trial the moment his remaining health reaches 5%.
The battle concludes either when his Reverse Scale is pierced or the moment 「The Shatterer of Harmony」 activates.
Special Element: "Color Dragon Calamity"
During the Decisive Battle phase, as a special arbitration, the Color Dragons gathered on the field also function as a part of the Unique Scenario EX.
・Black Dragon Noirlind
Because a certain level of affinity was maintained in this scenario, he participates as an assist for the player faction. So long as players do not draw aggro by actively attacking or excessively provoking him, he will fundamentally not target them. Status: Survived.
・White Dragon Bryreinyego
Because it identified the frontline base as its new migration target in this scenario, it participates as a gimmick boss. It continues to spawn clones with the victory conditions being a kill score equal to [Number of Participating Players x 100] and the total annihilation of all NPCs. Status: Defeated.
・Green Dragon Brockentried
Because its objective in this scenario was the elimination of a specific player, it participates as a gimmick boss. It fights by consuming the mana accumulated in the field, with its victory condition being the kill of its designated target player. Status: Survived.
・Red Dragon Dreadhowl
Because its objective in this scenario was the elimination of the other Color Dragons and Siegwurm, it participates as a gimmick boss. While prioritizing its own survival, it actively attacks as many players, NPCs, and Mobs as possible, with its victory condition being the defeat of the Color Dragons and Siegwurm. Status: Defeated.
・Blue Dragon Eldranza
Because it was defeated prior to the start of the Decisive Battle phase, it did not participate.
The Lore Background of Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign
Long, long ago, in the Divine Age, to counteract the Genesis Kin (or Genesis Race)... or perhaps as a breakwater until the execution of the "6.6.6. Project," the sole successful creation of the "Anti-Beast Project"—an entity built to defy the gods—is the true identity of Siegwurm.
At the time, there was a fatal issue: the human race as a whole could not provide a fundamental solution regarding mana particles. To resolve this, the Anti-Beast Project, established with technological support from Alice Frontier, aimed primarily to develop a new organism dedicated to the control of mana particles, based on the experimental results of the "Frontier Report".
The result of these efforts, Siegwurm, was constructed with a physical body composed of a massive quantity of mana particles itself. Utilizing a biological program stream based on Frontier Report II, they succeeded in achieving the simultaneous separation of cognitive ability and mana control.
This allowed Siegwurm to alter his own properties into states such as "Regeneration," "Duplication," and "Incineration," granting him the capability to seize the initiative over mana particles and thus gain an advantage against the Genesis Kin/Race.
However, the failure of ABCED-α. The subsequent countermeasures required upon the birth of "──Requires 'Immortality Chapter' Unlocking──". The resulting collapse of various frontlines that were maintained under the assumption of Siegwurm's fire support... The forceful, desperate execution of the 6.6.6. Project, and its subsequent failure.
───Ultimately, by the time the Q.E.D. Project was proposed, Siegwurm's only remaining duty was to act as the rearguard for the Divine Age humanity fleeing into ruin, protecting B-2 "Leviathan" and B-3 "Behemoth".
Through the completion of the revised 6.6.6. Project and the stabilization of the Q.E.D. Project... With the death of Sieg Lindwurm—the final Divine Age human holding command authority over Siegwurm, and the parent who created him—the Golden Breakwater was reduced to nothing more than an abandoned, defeated soldier.
His creator never authorized the use of Siegwurm's wide-area pollution self-destruction function, right up until the very end. Having gained an unwanted freedom, Siegwurm remained at a loss for a very, very long time. Eventually, as time passed, the new humans who newly filled the earth encountered an entity identifying itself as "Siegwurm of the Anti-Beast Project."
By associating Siegwurm with the numerous dragons that began appearing after that point, the Golden Dragon King, one of the Seven Supreme Species dominating the heavens—"Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign"—was born.
His desire is singular: to secretly eradicate the Genesis Kin/Race that still squirms in the shadows until the day the new humans—whom his creators defined as the ultimate "Victory" despite their own defeat—fully obtain the power to fight for themselves. And when they do, he will stand before those empowered new humans as a trial, offering his entire being.
In other words, Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign is the guardian of the new humanity, and the trial that stands in their path as they leave the nest.
As a side note, the reason Siegwurm's speech and behavior are so incredibly grandiose is due to the heroic epics Sieg Lindwurm used to tell him while he was undergoing adjustments before actual combat deployment. Originally, this was education meant to foster a firm self-awareness as a "Dragon," but over a vast span of time, establishing his self-identity as a "Dragon" serving as a trial ultimately led him to become the Siegwurm he is today.
Siegwurm, having experienced ruin and death, will not resurrect.
But whether it was born from a cold, calculating agenda unwilling to let the weapon known as Siegwurm be a one-time-use disposable, or from a warm, compassionate pity mourning the idea of the entity Siegwurm vanishing after a single generation.
───The gold revolves. Transcending the finality of death, spanning an eternity of time, he will surely receive new life and be reborn.
For that was the final function bestowed upon him by Sieg Lindwurm.
Author's Afterword
Q. Why the hell did it take you so long to write the Heavenly Sovereign chapter, you octopus?
A. You can tell just by looking at it, right? It's because I was brainstorming a massive amount of new lore.
To add a bit of a supplement, or rather, to loosen my lips slightly:
The ABCED Project.
The 6.6.6. Project.
The Q.E.D. Project.
These three hold extremely significant meaning in the Divine Age.
Specifically, the 6.6.6. Project was already advancing in secret even before the execution of the ABCED Project.
Right around this time, the Anti-Beast Project began.
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Due to Secchan's death, the fatal flaw in the ABCED Project went unnoticed and unaddressed, resulting in the ABCED-α Incident. The leaders then decided to forcibly push through the 6.6.6. Project.
↓
B-1: "I don't think doing stuff like that is a good idea."
The 6.6.6. Project was suspended and frozen. With a change in leadership, the Q.E.D. Project was drafted and initiated.
↓
Midway through, young Edward realized the truth and defected. The Q.E.D. Project was blatantly delayed—or rather, it ground to a halt on the level of a temporary freeze. Even looking like that, he really was a genius.
Young Edward died from a Snot Inferno. Despite humanity's numbers dipping below the minimum sustainable threshold for survival, the Q.E.D. Project was completed.
↓
Julius reached the same conclusion as Edward from the research logs Edward left behind, and initiated a rushed, stopgap improvement of the 6.6.6. Project... Or so he thought. Alice Frontier, who didn't want to be the one to pull the trigger, had secretly modified it on her own.
↓
While the survivors met their respective ends in their own ways, Alice Frontier hid herself inside Behemoth. And Julius Shangri-La, along with Leviathan, executed the 6.6.6. Project, and then.........
Now, the only ones who know what happened next are "Ivory", "Isana", and the immortal Supreme Species.
Translator's Notes
- Notorious B.I.G. ➔ The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls). The skill itself inflicts the "B.I.G." status effect.
- Tupac Amaru ➔ 2Pac. 2Pac's birth name was Tupac Amaru Shakur (named after the Incan revolutionary Túpac Amaru II).
- Jazzy-Zone ➔ DJ Jazzy Jeff (of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince fame) or Jay-Z.
- Breath of Bane ➔ A Japanese phonetic pun on House of Pain.
- Dragon x Driver ➔ Abbreviated as Dr. Dr., a direct nod to Dr. Dre.
- Buster Peace ➔ Busta Rhymes (Busta ➔ Buster).
- Immortal Tech ➔ Immortal Technique, the famous underground political hip-hop artist.
- Ol' Dirty Bastard (ODB), the legendary founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan.
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