Chapter 873: December 20th: Silently, Seeing Through
Author's Preface
Rumor has it there's someone writing right in the middle of a super massive tournament.
Well, that was quite a dangerous entrance for a Next Entry.
The player name is "Riot". If it were followed by "Blood", it would perfectly fit a rioter or something similar, but with just "Riot" on its own, it's a bit doubtful whether he actually belongs to that category.
"Hmm........."
"............"
It seems he is at least willing to abide by the rules here, as he didn't throw a knife in a surprise attack or anything... but looking at him again, there is a distinct "incomprehensibility" about him.
The black smoke enveloping his entire body maintains an opacity that completely hides his identity. I can tell what posture he's in, but his expression is entirely unreadable. Is it an identity-concealing accessory? For a game so strict on PKers, there sure are a lot of items geared toward PKs.........
I'm pretty sure he used a dagger to stab Justice-man in the back earlier. That would naturally lead one to assume he's a dagger user... but it doesn't seem like that's all there is to it. It wouldn't feel out of place if he suddenly charged at me with an assault spear. How should I put it... was it because he looked strangely natural when he had a sword pointed at Saina earlier?
"Saina, sorry, but please move to the designated position."
"Acknowledged:"
He looks every bit the assassin type. That being the case, there's a high probability he's specialized in one-hit kills, a different direction from high-firepower attackers. Especially since he's a PKer, I should consider the possibility that he uses the Destruction attribute. That thing is seriously strong as PvP equipment...
"Well then, neither of us probably likes long-winded speeches, right? There's only one rule to follow here. A 1v1 duel! That's it!!"
"Very well..."
"Saina!"
A gunshot, that is the signal for the battle to start. However, neither Riot nor I moved, and it is precisely for that reason that the sound of the gunshot melted into those few seconds of silence and faded away...
".........!"
The next moment, something the size of a palm that Riot had dropped at his feet violently burst.
"Self-destruction!?"
No, that's not it, smoke is coming out, but it's only smoke. There's no heat, flames, or impact, just smoke swallowing me up along with the wind and spreading throughout the barrier... A smokescreen!!
"He's playing it smart...!"
The color of the smoke is jet black. It's the same color as the smoke hiding Riot's identity, and even thicker. If he just wanted to obscure vision, white smoke would have sufficed, but because it's the same color, I can't find Riot himself.
Standing still is the worst possible move, but if I step forward thoughtlessly, I'd end up in Justice-man's second dance.
The resistance from the Scars hasn't activated, meaning it's not like the miasma that usually fills the Canyon of the Ancient Souls. But wait, does the effect of the Scars on my torso apply to my lungs as well?
"First, anticipate... the worst case!!"
The first step is not stepping forward, but planting firmly. A skill effect surges in my crouched legs, and power is released the moment I extend them. Jumping "up" in an instant, I pierce straight through the smokescreen, but... I've got a bit of a problem.
"The barrier is stopping the smoke from dispersing...!"
It will probably vanish as time passes. However, the smoke that remains until then isn't leaking outside the barrier. He's probably used a second and third smokescreen. An obviously abnormal amount of smoke is steadily filling the barrier. Hey, think about the stream, would you!
This is bad, he's completely taken the advantage. It is a matter of hindsight, but was landing a flying kick on the first move the correct answer?
"Tch!!"
The only reason I managed to knock down the throwing knife that flew out from the smoke was because I was already using Eye of Eternity... thought acceleration, as a precaution. He even politely painted the blade black so it wouldn't reflect light...!
What should I do? I can "jump," but I can't "fly." It's just a long hang time, so I have to land on the ground soon... what to do.
"......Alright!"
Might as well do what I can! Since he got the advantage first, I won't be able to turn the tables unless I force my way through with something reckless.
I use a mid-air jump to land in a different direction instead of straight down. That spot is the edge of the barrier that DeepSlo deployed, and while I can't forgive its inflexibility in not letting the smoke escape, right now, I'm going to have that inflexibility help me.
"Not with my back against the water, but against the wall, I suppose."
This way, at the very least, I won't be stabbed in the back.
Furthermore, I change my weapons. Type: Guacamole "Aerial PD" and FF-45! They're unreliable against monsters, but against players, they're guns that actually feel like guns. What I want most right now... is range.
"............"
An assassin build that doesn't rush in greedily is truly troublesome. Movements designed to maximize his own advantage while minimizing the possibility of the tables turning... His taciturn assassin roleplay isn't just an act, huh.
"............"
If I mess this up, won't he just keep resupplying the smoke? I suddenly think. I couldn't even visually confirm if he had Inventoria due to the smoke cloaking his body... I kind of want that too.
"Well then........."
Here is a haiku.
If you will not come, I will go to you instead...
"Mogami River!!"
Skill Eye of Destiny, activate!!
The two "Eyes" I use show me different things.
Eternity shows a world of thought faster than the flesh. And Destiny shows the correct path for my attacks!!
FF-45, the two Fs stand for forehead flick!
The bullets fired in full auto with a pleasant papapapan pierce through the smoke───
"What!?"
"What can mere darkness like this, ever hope to do to me?!"
Perfect concluding verse shot!!
True to its name, it only has the firepower of a flick to the forehead, but in exchange, the bullets of the FF-45 generate knockback if even one hits!
Where to shoot, that is to say, it means not knowing "where one should shoot for it to be the optimal attack." Therefore, Eye of Destiny, this skill that presents the optimal attack route corresponds to various weapons. If I have a gun equipped... what is shown is the line of fire! It's a laser sight aimed at a target only I can see.
With the FF-45's Burst Impact Warheads, the "moving optimal solution" reflected in the Eye of Destiny comes to a dead stop. Without missing that moment, I fire the Aerial PD!!
Loading the bitter memories of the Aerial Pile Driver (and the associated hard hit to my ass) flashing across my mind into the bullet, the twisting spiral bullet formed of magic is unleashed.
"Guh!!"
Now is the time to turn the tables!
"Time for a costume change...!!"
The Duelling-Grade Maid Outfit "Eternity." Despite being an outfit with astonishing resistance to slashing and piercing attacks, it's armor... or rather, an outfit that requires batteries. It maintains its power by replenishing energy from the four Cartridge Accessories, but naturally, it runs out of charge as time passes.
But Elysion Haute-Couture, that nice guy of maid outfits, didn't let it end there.
This was prepared as an emergency measure for a 'what if' scenario. "By imposing the restriction that it can only be activated when three Cartridge Accessories and 50% of the remaining one have been consumed, I successfully managed to install it into the equipment through pure craftsmanship!!" The only drawback is───
"Miniskirt Costume Change!!"
The fact that he made me yell something like that for the voice authentication.
Author's Afterword
If you will not come,
I will go to you instead
Mogami River
What can mere darkness like this
ever hope to do to me?
"Indeed, the voice authentication, meaning the actual pronunciation, is 'Ecology Mode.' However. However! The pronunciation of 'Ecology Mode' and its meaning do not necessarily have to be the same. Even if your mouth pronounces 'Ecology Mode,' I want you to always chant in your heart, 'Miniskirt Costume Change.' You know how they say, 'A focused mind can pierce even a rock'? If so, your feelings make the maid outfit stronger... and the maid outfit is the strongest. In other words, it makes it five times stronger. Hmm? What is it five times stronger than, you ask? Hahaha, than the usual you, of course. It's a bit strange for me to say, but you really ought to wear clothes."
Translator's Notes
- [1] : Sunraku's battle-cry poem is structured as a traditional Japanese tanka (5-7-5-7-7 syllables):
- The Upper Phrase (5-7-5): Ends with "Mogami River", a reference to a running gag in Nichijou, where Aioi Yuuko forcefully uses "Mogamigawa" to complete bad haiku
- The Lower Phrase (7-7): Known as the shimo-no-ku (concluding verse). In the traditional card game Karuta, players must slap the matching lower-phrase card as soon as they hear the upper phrase read. By timing his final lines precisely to his bullet's impact, Sunraku humorously calls his attack a "perfect concluding-verse shot."
Comments
Post a Comment