Chapter 535 - The Shadow-Infested Arena
The [Shadow-Infested Arena]—also known as the Infinite Sparring Grounds, the Forced Stomping Ground of the Weak, the Reverse RTA Stage, the Hopeless Crap Game, the Embodiment of Malice, and so on.
It is one of the former three great unconquered dungeons, and even now that the [Spiral Crimson Tower] has been conquered, it remains one of the two that still holds the title of ‘unbeatable.’
Its structure is exceedingly simple.
Far, far, far, far to the east of the Safe Area, a black hole floats solitarily in the middle of a barren plateau. When you dive into that eerie entrance, there is no path forward in the dungeon that lies beyond.
Likewise, there are no puzzle gimmicks. All that exists there are two things... an ‘arena’ that serves as the stage for battle, and an ‘enemy’ that has continued to pile up the corpses of countless challengers.
In a way, the reason for its unbeatability is similar to that of the [Spiral Crimson Tower]. In short, the one and only enemy is so ridiculously brutal that no one can find a way to defeat it.
Enemy name: Repu-ra Noubadi, the Black Stain that Slays All—a wicked boss that has monopolized the title of ‘unbeatable,’ the master of the [Shadow-Infested Arena] who changes its form according to its challenger.
‘Changes its form’ refers to two things. That is, both the arena itself and the boss change into a form best suited to the player challenging the dungeon.
Now, what exactly does ‘best suited’ mean? If you’re wondering if it helps the player, there’s no way an ‘unconquered dungeon’ would be so merciful. It’s the opposite.
In other words, the [Shadow-Infested Arena] is an execution ground that demands a brawl with a ‘natural enemy’ who has been perfectly tailored to counter the challenger entering its domain—a place that embodies the very concept of unreasonable.
It doesn’t matter how desperately you prepare beforehand. The enemy is configured the moment you enter the dungeon... so no matter how many secret plans, insurance policies, or other measures you prepare, the shadow master will surpass the player’s best efforts and plans the moment they face off.
For a brute-force melee warrior, it takes the form of a mobile mage that surpasses them in agility.
For a high-mobility warrior, it takes the form of a durable counter-type warrior who cannot be pierced by a light blow.
For a long-range mage, it takes the form of a light warrior who closes the distance before they can finish chanting.
And for others, like a melee mage—or a status-effect specialist who relies on trickery—or a magic warrior who endures with self-buffs and healing—or a magic warrior who focuses solely on offense—or even a versatile type who has mastered many skills—et cetera, et cetera.
The examples I’ve heard are just that—examples. Even for a simple STR-based melee warrior, the ‘optimal solution’ the dungeon provides is said to be infinitely varied. Even if the same person challenges it, a completely different pattern can appear on a whim.
Truly, it’s an intractable mess.
There’s no way to devise a countermeasure, and even if you train hard and hope for a rematch, your opponent will also match your improvement and present its best self, leading to an infinite loop of being countered and trampled.
It doesn’t matter how strong the challenger is. It is, quite literally, unbeatable.
Thus, players eventually stopped seriously challenging the [Shadow-Infested Arena]... and some began to use the unbeatable boss, Repu-ra Noubadi, as a ‘tool to accurately identify their own weaknesses.’
A practice partner you can challenge for free as many times as you want... which is the origin of the name, Infinite Sparring Grounds.
This is the truth of the arena that has remained unconquered for two and a half years since its discovery.
And so, the next victim has arrived at this impossible venue for a certain reason.
I was planning on dying a few dozen times anyway, so there was no need for mental preparation or reviewing intel. The moment I spotted the pitch-black, eerie hole from above, just as I’d heard, I bailed from Sapphire without a moment's hesitation. Ten seconds later, after my grand entrance,
“Seriously, the visibility.”
There was no grand appearance or dramatic entrance. Facing the shadow doll that stood there as if it had always been there, I threw out my first complaint right from the start.
I mean, come on... it’s really black.
Fortunately, the ‘stage’ itself isn’t also pitch-black with no light source, which would have been a truly demonic setting with perfect camouflage. But it’s not exactly a dazzling white either. The figure standing in the dim colosseum is simply incredibly hard to see. If it turns out to be a high-speed type, I’m confident I’d lose sight of it in a second.
Speaking of all-black, the Stardust Beasts are too, but unlike them with their glittering stars, that thing’s body is truly just one shade of black. I think I can just barely make out a purplish outline, but as a buff to visibility, it’s a pittance.
Even the special anti-me form it so kindly prepared is a bit hard to make out, but... for now, the words that came to mind at first glance were—
“.........A nine-tailed... lady?”
Well, I mean, there was nothing else to call it.
She was tall, about the same height as me or slightly taller. Her slender and distinctly curved body, clearly female, was clad in what looked like a black kimono.
The nine thick, rounded tails swaying behind her were those of a fox. Combined with the characteristic triangular ears pointing upwards, it was safe to say that was a confirmation.
In terms of silhouette, she felt like a mix of Kagura-san and Sora in her armored form...
But even those two, who could be described as monsters among players, don't exude a pressure as genuinely monstrous as this.
I see, I see... so the reputation is well-deserved. Even though she's just standing there, not moving a muscle, the pressure is enough to make my skin tingle.
“—”
“.........”
And so, nearly a minute passed in our staring contest. It seems this boss is the type that leaves the opening move to me, like Angalta.
If neither of us moves, the fight won't begin—now, whether I can turn the time from here on into a ‘fight’ is uncertain, but...
“Well, it’s free to try.”
Again, I’m here on the premise of a festival of game overs. This first assault, right after coming home, is just a test run for the real thing anyway.
Let’s take it easy, real easy.
That being said—
“Let’s dance—at full power, of course!”
As a challenger, the least I can do is aim for victory.
A test run at full throttle. The moment I roared my challenge, I summoned the crimson blades of my Parabellum Bullets to both hands and, with a true all-out dash, triumphantly began my assault.
And then, ten minutes later.
Having died more times than I could be bothered to count in just six hundred seconds, the victim who was unceremoniously spat back out onto the field from the black hole entrance—
“Totally impossible. Retreat.”
—muttered a declaration of complete and utter surrender, his face scraping against the barren plateau, unable to move a single muscle.