kscans

Chapter 535 - The Shadow-Infested Arena

The [Shadow-Infested Arena]—also known as Endless Sparring, The Forced Underdog Massacre, The Reverse-RTA Execution Grounds, The Hopeless Kind of Shitty Game, The Personification of Malice, and so on and so forth.

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 'unclearable.'

Its structure is exceedingly simple.

Head east from the Safe Area, go on for a very, very, very, very, very long way, and you'll find a black hole floating in the barren plateau that spreads out before you. Dive into that ominous entrance, and you'll find a dungeon with no paths to follow.

There are no puzzle gimmicks, either. There are only two things there… the 'arena' that serves as the stage for battle, and the 'enemy' that has continued to pile up the corpses of countless challengers.

In a way, the reason it's unbeatable is similar to the [Spiral Crimson Tower]. In short, the one and only enemy that exists is such a complete bastard that no one can find a way to defeat it.

Enemy name: [Replica-Nobody]—a fiendish boss that has earned the name 'Unbeatable,' and the master of the [Shadow-Infested Arena] who changes its form according to the challenger.

'Changes its form' refers to two things. Both the arena itself and the boss change to a form that is 'suited' for the player challenging the dungeon.

Now, what does 'suited' mean? You might think it means it's on the player's side, but an 'Unconquered Dungeon' would never be so merciful. It's the opposite.

In other words, the [Shadow-Infested Arena] is an execution ground that forces you into a brawl with a 'natural enemy' that has been thoroughly optimized to counter the challenger entering its domain—a place that embodies the very concept of absurdity.

No matter how desperately you prepare beforehand, it doesn't matter. 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 master of shadows will surpass the player's best efforts the moment they face off.

For a brain-dead 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 counter-type warrior with enough durability to withstand light attacks.'

For a long-range mage, it takes the 'form of a light warrior that closes the distance too fast to allow for casting.'

And for others, like a melee-type mage—or a debuff-specialist mage who relies on trickery—or a magic knight who fights a battle of attrition with self-buffs and healing—or a purely offensive magic knight with both physical and magical attacks—or even a master of all trades, a jack-of-all-trades—…et cetera, et cetera.

What I've heard are only examples. Even just for a STR-based melee warrior, the 'optimal solution' the dungeon prepares seems to vary wildly. Even if the same person challenges it, a completely different pattern can appear on a whim.

Truly, it's an unmanageable mess.

You can't even prepare countermeasures, and even if you try to strengthen yourself and challenge it again, your opponent will also provide its best self in accordance with your improvements, resulting in an infinite loop of being countered and then trampled.

It doesn't matter how strong the challenger is; it is truly unbeatable.

Therefore, players eventually stopped seriously challenging the [Shadow-Infested Arena]… and some began to use the unbeatable boss, [Replica-Nobody], as a 'tool to accurately identify their own weaknesses.'

It was a practice partner you could challenge for free as many times as you wanted… which is where the name 'Endless Sparring' comes from.

Two and a half years since its discovery, this is the true nature of the still-unconquered arena.

And now, one more victim has arrived at this impossible game for a certain reason.

I was planning on dying a few dozen times in quick succession anyway, so there was no need for mental preparation or reviewing intel—the moment I spotted the ominous, pitch-black hole from above, just as I'd heard, I bailed from Sapphire without a moment's hesitation. Ten seconds later.

"Seriously, the visibility."

There was no grand entrance. Before the shadow doll that stood there as if it belonged, looking right at me, I threw out a complaint right from the start.

I mean, come on… it's really black.

Fortunately, the 'stage' isn't also solid black with no light source, which would have been a demonic setting with perfect camouflage. But it's not a dazzling pure white either, and the creature standing in the dim colosseum is simply a nightmare for visibility. If it's a high-speed type, I'm confident I'd lose sight of it in a second.

Stardust Beasts are also all black, but unlike them, with their glittering stars, that thing's body is truly just one solid color. 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's prepared is hard to make out… but for now, the first words that come to mind are—

"…A nine-tailed lady???"

Well, I mean, there's no other way to describe it.

She's tall, about the same height as me or slightly taller. Her slender, curvaceous body is clearly female, and she's clad in what looks like a black kimono.

The nine thick, rounded tails swaying behind her are those of a fox. Combined with the characteristic pointed ears pricked up on her head, it's safe to say that's what she is.

In terms of silhouette, she's kind of like Kagura-san plus Sora-san in her clad form, but….

Even those two, who could be called monsters as players, don't exude an pressure as truly monstrous as this.

I see, I see…—the rumors are true. Even though she's just standing there, motionless, the pressure is enough to make my skin tingle.

"—"

"…"

And so, about a minute has passed since we started our staring contest. It seems this is an [Angalta]-type boss that leaves the start of the battle up to me.

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, right?"

Again, a festival of game overs is a given. In fact, this first assault right after getting home is just a scouting mission for the real thing.

Let's take it easy, nice and easy.

That being said—

"Alright, let's dance—and of course, I'm going all out!"

As a challenger, the bare minimum of my mindset is to aim for conquest.

A full-throttle scouting mission. As I roared my challenge, I summoned the crimson blades of my Rabbit Knives to both hands and began my attack with a true, all-out dash.

And, ten minutes later.

After suffering countless deaths in just six hundred seconds, too many to bother counting, the victim was spat out of the black hole entrance back onto the field like a piece of trash—

"Totally impossible. Retreat."

Splayed out on the barren plateau, face scraping the dirt, I lay there, unable to move a muscle, muttering a declaration of complete and utter surrender to myself.