Chapter 662: The Radiant Emperor Desires a Grand Duel
What is courage!? The answer is simple: it's using your right as the underdog to challenge the strong without hesitation!!!
What is courage!? The answer is simple: it's boldly advancing straight down the path created by lined-up Crystal Scorpions!!!
What is courage!? The answer is simple: honestly, I just wanted to challenge the "Golden Age" anyway, so it's making up random excuses to convince myself!!!
In the end, what is courage? It's the name of the club you swing with all your might so you don't have any regrets when you look back.
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Being a top-tier character essentially requires never losing your cool in a pinch as an absolute baseline. If that's the case, it seems the king of the scorpions will boldly welcome even a rat that chewed through his communication cables and neutralized every single one of his aides. I see? Given the nature of Crystal Scorpions, I figured fighting an Exordinary would turn into a massive chaotic brawl no matter what I did... but I guess it really lives up to having the name of Golden Scorpion. To think it would welcome us like this.
"Abnormal behavior. This type of action from a Crystal Scorpion is..."
"Those top-tier kings just love their duel styles......... If anything, this feels more like a crowd surrounding an underground brawl, or maybe a steel-cage deathmatch?"
Usually, after Crystal Scorpions go on a rampage, every last bit of crystal on the ground gets pulverized into something resembling a gravel athletic field. But even so, this is abnormal. Clearly......... No, wait, are you serious? Is this on top of the Elder's corpse!? Did they level the surface of that massive body to make it completely flat? Trying to figure out why the corpse hasn't vanished at this point would be tasteless; it's practically an object-like monster whether it's dead or alive anyway, so I'm just grateful it isn't moving.
And the massive swarm of Crystal Scorpions surrounding Big Grandpa's corpse in a circle act as both the audience and the walls enclosing this colosseum. The moment Saina and I stepped into the circle, the single open gap was sealed shut by the Crystal Scorpions... Part of me wants to test what would happen if I tried jumping over them, but I can't possibly commit such disrespect in front of His Imperial Majesty.
『Monster: Unprecedented Discovery!』
『Subjugation Target: Golden Scorpion "Golden Age"』
『Combat with an Exordinary Monster will now begin.』
"So that's the 'Golden Age'......... I see, you've got pretty good taste."
Because the Crystal Scorpions aren't moving a muscle, my voice echoes unnervingly......... and the sound of that scorpion—boasting a frame smaller than an Elder but larger than a standard Golden Scorpion—crunching and munching away at the jewel tower as it rapidly chips down can be heard perfectly clearly even from dozens of meters away. Wait, wasn't the lore that the tower was made of ore items the scorpions here couldn't eat? It's eating it like it's a snack... as expected of His Imperial Majesty, but just how much do you think that single chocolate bar is worth?
"What do you think, Saina? I'm getting an intense sense of deja vu from the color reinforcing its tail and claws."
"Speculation: It is likely a metal that should be called a natural alloy, synthesized from multiple ores within its body."
Hmm......... Who knew 'alloy to a scorpion' was a synonym for 'iron club to an oni'? I'm weak against it when I'm presented with actual examples; makes it hard to play the straight man.
That said, now that its 'guests' have arrived, it doesn't seem like the "Golden Age" has any intention of leisurely enjoying its snack either. It tossed aside the jewel tower—now gnawed down to about a third of its size—that it had been dexterously holding with uniquely shaped "claws," and deployed them......... Rather than claws, they look more like praying mantis scythes. No, wait, if they can deploy a full 180 degrees like that, they're magnificent curved swords.
"Golden 'swords' forged from countless ores... I feel a strange sense of sympathy for it."
With its tail thrust forward in a Seigan stance... pointing a 'sword' toward us that is far too thick and well-forged to be called a stinger, the "Golden Age" stands there as if telling us to come at it whenever we're ready. Am I really allowed to give the starting signal? This is the first time a scorpion has ever shown me this much mercy. We could definitely be best friends.
"Saina, don't you think someone capable of taking down a monster like that could easily land a counter elbow against their dad's heartless words?"
"Question: Why are you assuming violent means of resolution?"
"Because clenching your five fingers and landing a solid hit is way faster than trying to think of a hundred words!!"
If you're just going to pick a fight, then swing your fists instead of your tongue! Combat start! If you're gonna give me the first move, I'll slam you right from the get-go! Your turn, STING, show 'em the power of artificial aquaculture scorpions!!
Javelin Mode. Refining and loading a warhead specialized purely in single-strike penetration power...... and fire. It's already within range. Time for a little acupuncture right between the eyes.
But the action the "Golden Age" took was simple. All it did was use the "sword" on its tail as a shield to block the Spear Warhead... That was it. But with just that, STING's maximum piercing power was effortlessly deflected. No damage, huh? Not even a single scratch.
"Here it comes, Saina! While praying it won't use its subordinates when it's in a pinch, combat start!!"
"Report: Seventy percent damage."
"Ah, yeah, yeah, I completely forgot to hand you some recovery potions!!"
Yahoo, a mountain of treasure is physically trying to murder us!! Accelerating the terrifyingly skittering movements unique to crustacean-type monsters to an even greater speed, the "Golden Age" closed the distance, its sword-claws sweeping through the space Saina and I had just occupied. Standard entities can't even compare to this. The attack attribute is slashing instead of blunt, meaning even getting clipped could result in a fatal wound. No matter how dull a blade is, if you swing it with the propulsive force of a car, it can tear through steel plating... And His Imperial Majesty's sword-claws look like they have an incredibly sharp edge!!
"Rotate to support, Saina! I'll cross swords with it."
"Acknowledged:"
I said that, but crossing swords with this thing is impossible. Even if I land a critical hit with the Aspiring Blades of the Hero, I'll probably just get snapped in half by sheer physical strength. Like thiiiiiis!!?
GAZUN!!!! A sword fell from directly above... I need to differentiate it from the sword-claws or it's going to get confusing. Since it looks like the Excalibur that Rei's sister, Psyger-100, was using, let's call it a Holy Sword... Yeah, "Holy Sword." I'll recognize it as a Holy Sword.
The "Golden Age"'s Holy Sword plunged directly into former Grandpa, current ground. Its sharpness is outstanding; the Elder's surface is supposed to be ridiculously hard.
"Might as well try, snap in half already!!"
An attack with both the Aspiring Blades of the Hero and the Final Blade of Aspiration's End With the Hero! Naturally, reinforced with skills......! And effortlessly repelled!! Hard, it's way too damn hard!!
This isn't supposed to be turn-based, but the next to move was the "Golden Age". Using the "Holy Sword" planted into the ground, it tried to violently drag its tail backward, carving right through the earth to pull me into the grind. Evading it is easy enough, but this guy has three swords. Even if I dodge one, there are still two left. Whoa there, fully deploying your sword-claws to give me a hug, huh...!! But right before it could grapple me, a rain of bullets showered it from the side, causing the "Golden Age"'s movements to halt for a fraction of a second.
"Effectiveness: Almost none......... Is this not mere foolhardiness?"
"That just means it's Wild Brave! Sounds strong, doesn't it!!"
"Correction: In the Divine Age Human language, that is called foolhardiness."
Author's Afterword
There is a monster in ShanFro called the Recklessness Raider-Leg-Rex.
I lied. I just made that up, it doesn't exist.
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