Chapter 667: The Two Golden Ones Facing Off With Their Backs to the Wall
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At this point, I would like to say a few words about the Golden Scorpion "Golden Age".
Its appearance is truly that of a Golden Emperor. While it may not match the Elder Crystal Scorpion—which is said to be a walking landmass—its size sets it apart from all other entities, and it moves that frame with a completely non-standard output of physical capability that likewise sets it apart from the rest.
Its innate physical body repels iron, ruins steel, and crushes sheer force.
Its front limbs, the "sword-claws," exhibit an ever-changing fluidity, moving sometimes like a master warrior, and at other times like a terrifying reaper of death.
And above all, the divine majesty of the "Holy Sword" on its tail doesn't fall short in the slightest even when compared to the original, authentic Holy Sword Excalibur that serves as the basis for the term... However,
───Such trivial details are completely unimportant when discussing the Emperor of these scorpions.
Its true essence lies in the fact that the "Golden Age" species is a "Golden Scorpion."
Golden Scorpion.
A sub-species of the Crystal Scorpion; unlike the standard variant, it is a type of picky eater that can only sustain itself by predating on its own kind.
Its greatest characteristic lies in an ecology heavily specialized for nocturnal activity, and the astonishing ability to regenerate its wounded body by basking in "moonlight."
So, does the "Golden Age" also possess regenerative abilities...? The answer is no, but in a certain sense, it could also be considered a yes.
The Golden Scorpion's regenerative ability functions by "stimulating its own regenerative capabilities using magical energy absorbed from moonlight." Strictly speaking, the magical energy from the moon is not the actual principle of recovery itself. Its true essence lies entirely in the "reception" of moonlight mana.
The "Golden Age" is born with a power that takes this "reception" characteristic one step further. Thus, from the moment it gains life in this world, feeding on the body of an Elder that acts as both its cradle and its throne, reigning proudly as a king, through the thousands and tens of thousands of nights that pass until it eventually decays and dies... that scorpion receives and hoards the magical energy of the moonlight.
It never uses that magic for regeneration......... The reason being, if it ever faced an enemy that forced it to use regeneration, it would not have the luxury to waste magical energy on an act like regenerating.
Ordinarily, it takes long years to compress and permeate the moonlight mana stockpiled within its body, steadily reinforcing the absolute power of the Emperor......... but what if the Emperor were to find its life in critical danger?
For example... yes, for example, what if a part of its own body—the "Holy Sword," a symbol of the "Golden Age" even greater than its physical form—were to be somehow destroyed?
Like unplugging a balloon, or unbarring a gate.
Using the magical energy it had stockpiled from the moment of its birth until the present, the Emperor of Scorpions would challenge its foe to a battle to the death. Against the nemesis who destroyed its limiter, the "Holy Sword," it would wage a final, desperate battle staking its very life. Naturally, it cannot simply stop halfway through at its convenience. Whether it claims victory or suffers defeat, the only thing waiting for the "Golden Age" after exhausting all the magical energy within its body is death.
But perhaps that is precisely the pride of the unique entity known as the "Golden Age."
Noblesse oblige—those of high birth must fulfill their corresponding obligations. If there comes a time when the "Golden Age" must risk its life for the sake of the subjects who exhaust themselves to the point of occasionally offering themselves up to the Emperor,
Surely, that time is now.
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I fucked up.
I intuitively realized it. Part of it was being blinded by greed, but it was also a fact that it never crossed my mind it would be this kind of enemy.
A specific action triggering in response to a specific condition, a so-called landmine mechanic... like, say, an instant-death attack flying your way if you don't deal a certain amount of damage within a time limit, or if you don't defeat multiple bosses simultaneously, the living one resurrects the dead one.
And the "Golden Age"'s "landmine" was apparently the destruction of its tail. It's what people commonly call an enrage mode.
"Warning: Obvious critical danger state."
"Yeah, it's pretty damn furious."
The moment its tail was severed, the "Golden Age" didn't writhe in agony; it simply stopped moving completely. That alone gave me an incredibly bad feeling, but I still didn't expect it to go this dramatically berserk.
To describe the current "Golden Age," there probably isn't an expression more fitting than "absolutely unhinged." The moment the tail was destroyed, its sword-claws suddenly bursting apart from the inside was completely beyond my expectations... but seeing a massive amount of light flood out from its wounds—including the tail—and form the shape of swords, the mysterious self-destruction finally made sense.
The current enemy has output massive, scorching laser swords—two replacing its front limbs, one from the tail, and several from parts of its back—that I can tell are lethal without even having to test them. It's projecting an overwhelming presence, incomparable to anything before, directed entirely at Saina and me.
"No matter how you look at it, those reek of defense-penetration that'll just kill you outright if you try to block."
It's not a matter of defense stats; it's a simple, unreasonable aura that screams, 'If you take a direct hit from that laser, you die.' I've never been wrong about this kind of premonition, so I don't even feel like testing it.
"So they're fighting desperately too."
The light-claws have stopped making the ever-changing, fluid movements they did earlier, but in exchange, their reach is twice as long as they were in sword mode. And the same goes for the tail... You're telling me it's gonna swing around ultra-high-firepower or instant-death attacks with double the range using those specs? You've got to be kidding me.
But it doesn't seem like the other side is completely risk-free either. There is obvious exhaustion, and furthermore, unnatural flickering in the light-claws and light-stinger... Could there be a time limit? How incredibly merciful. We could just run around and win.
"Saina, stand by."
"...What does the Contractor intend to do?"
"Hmm? Well, you see, that guy and I have moved past the realm of being close friends and have reached the point of being true friends, you know?"
If I rejoiced over running away until it finally died like a coward, I might just get banned from Rabituza.
Watching Emul's attitude lately, I can't shake the feeling that their requirements for my Vorpal Soul are getting stricter. Not the maximum value, but the minimum threshold.
It's like they're naturally directing gazes at me that say, "You're not going to wimp out over something like this, right?"... Is it my daily conduct? Is my daily conduct the problem?
"When a true friend challenges you to the greatest battle of their life! A man loses his worth if he doesn't answer!!"
"Question: True intentions."
"A choice without regrets! The resolve not to run! People find courage in the sight of someone challenging hardship!!"
"Question: True intentions"
"After coming all this way, do you really think tomorrow's breakfast will taste good if I win in such a lame way!!"
I predict tomorrow's breakfast will probably be raw egg over rice topped with salmon flakes. Now come on, Imperial Majesty, by some strange twist of fate, I will face you using a sword forged from the very ores of this land. And you too, Aspiring Blades of the Hero, left behind by your partner, it is time for your emergence.
Dawn is approaching... Oh my true friend, the time for revolution has come!!
Author's Afterword
Golden Age: "I don't remember ever becoming friends with you."
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