kscans

Chapter 846 - The Acrobat Gives Chase

Although my progress is undoubtedly smooth and swift compared to the average standard.

Still, the fact that the Key Tree Maze managed to halt the progress of a motivation-maniac bearing the crown of 'ranker,' the pinnacle of players, at the mere sixth floor—a beginner's tier—has a noteworthy reason.

It's not the vastness of the labyrinthine area, which can't be easily conquered even with the cheat-like, fully automated mapping function of my 'Memory' gift...

...but rather, following the treant-type enemies that were a first encounter for the general public, another category of enemy that was considered 'rare' in Arcadia frequently appears in the maze—that is...

...because fighting humanoid enemies is extremely troublesome.

"—Whoa, that was close!?"

As usual, I'm in my transfigured body.

While the body I've decided to mainly use for this tree-climbing endeavor is petite, avatars generally don't have performance differences based on physique, aside from hitbox size and reach.

Therefore, between players with identical stats, even my slender transfigured body could go head-to-head in a brawl with a muscular giant like Goldow—

...which means, the reason my body was sent flying like a ball when I instinctively blocked the 'attack' with my sword... is simply because my 'opponent's' stats are truly superhuman.

That's what makes it so tough.

To face a being shaped like a person, yet possessing a power that transcends humanity—in my experience, something like the [Black Stain That Slays All]—is...

...if I were to apply it to a player-versus-player scenario, it would be akin to a regular person challenging an exceptional one.

"—Damn you...!!"

I scattered the shock from my star-sword, which had been violently repelled along with my body, and forcefully brought myself to a halt by scraping its tip against the floor. Then, I pushed my still-meager stats to drive my body forward.

I twisted my body to narrowly dodge the flash of a talwar that closed in on me, and as if for dramatic effect, a few strands of my white hair, which don't even have a hitbox, were cut and danced in the air.

And then, the second one.

My 'enemy,' with its dexterous hands on both sides, just like a human, didn't stop. It wielded its dual blades with a grace that surpassed even my own, which I still struggle with. As I ducked under a horizontal slash, a second strike shot up from below at the shortest possible distance—

"Gah...!?"

A moment later, my body, which had reflexively blocked the upward slash with the [Iron Straight Sword] half-drawn from its scabbard, was once again sent flying like a ball.

Naturally, from bottom to top. In other words, I went flying high.

As the cry that escaped my lips due to the sheer impact scattered, my HP also scattered magnificently from the force and shock I couldn't fully mitigate. In the midst of the floating sensation, I glanced at the edge of my vision. The remaining health displayed... after a fierce twenty-minute battle, that single blow had plunged me into the critical red zone.

This is bad. This is seriously tough.

What is this? This isn't a boss you're supposed to fight at Lv.6. Are they insane? I've shot looks of disbelief at it time and time again. Below me, waiting for its prey to fall, is the figure of a powerful foe...

To put it simply, it's a 'demi-human.' It walks upright on two legs, wields weapons with its two dexterous hands, and possesses intelligence and reason, along with a strength and ferocity that humans cannot match.

Sixth-floor boss, [Dragon Warrior Famnilarra]—whether it's a species name or a title, it bears the name 'Dragon,' but in appearance, it's a blue-scaled lizardman over two meters tall.

The sharp fangs peeking from its large mouth, the blade-like claws on its five fingers—each one possesses a sharp, malevolent glint that humans do not have... but just as its main weapon is not its own body but 'armaments,' its greatest weapon is its thinking mind.

Naturally, it reminds me of the martial prowess of my nemesis, the armored knight [Angalta, God-Wedge Sword-King].

Well, it's certainly better than that, but my own specs are the big problem. My stats are pathetic, and with no skills to boost them...

"Now then, what to do... —Here goes!!"

...I have no choice but to fight back with my own skill and wits.

I drew and threw my sword. I threw the fully drawn straight sword with all the strength my still-unreliable STR would allow, and the enemy waiting below reacted instantly.

With absolute confidence, it casually swatted the sword away with a light swing of its right blade—

"`Recall.`"

『—』

At that very moment, a perfectly timed recall made the warrior's talwar slice through empty air.

And so, the second throw. A recall followed by an immediate summon, and I threw the [Iron Straight Sword] that returned to my hand while spinning in mid-air. Out of the corner of my spinning vision, I saw the reptile's face narrow its eyes.

Is its intelligence on par with a human's, or does it surpass it?

I have no way of knowing how much wisdom is packed into that head, which is larger than a human's, but if it possesses intelligence, then of course it would be surprised.

And when surprised, startled, and shocked, any living creature will reveal an opening.

『Hmph—...!』

Was that a cry of anger, or something else?

Letting out a mutter that sounded somewhat like an irritated voice, the boss swung its left sword with a motion that was slightly less fluid than before. From directly above it—

"Take this!!!"

...the third projectile fell—that is, my entire body, swinging my main weapon (Stella). Again and again, my stats and skills are meager, and my body is pathetically weak compared to usual, but...

...if the game placed an opponent that I couldn't damage at all, it would just be an impossible, unbeatable game. In other words, if a full-power strike lands directly, it'll work, just like this.

『Gah—...』

No matter how strong a demi-human it may be, it will cry out and hang its head.

A clean hit to the forehead. Its left and right weapons, which had been dealing with my feints, couldn't intercept the next shot in time, and the [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword] that broke through its guard scattered a brilliant red damage effect.

And then...

"Yo—it's been fun, Fam-boy!"

Just as my HP was stained red after the fierce battle, Famnilarra's last of its three HP bars was also stained a deep crimson.

Thus, it was only natural that the powerful blow to its critical point caused its remaining life to plummet to the brink of extinction. However, whether it was due to some ability or mere coincidence, its gutsy perseverance at the last millimeter is commendable, but I have no intention of being so foolish as to let it make a comeback at the eleventh hour.

In place of its two swords, which were now floating in the air, a third weapon came flying, cracking the air—the whip-like lash of its 'tail.' However, what struck the enemy's body first was—

...not its tail, but my kick, following in the wake of my sword strike.

The heel, carrying the momentum of spin after spin, caught the side of the enemy's head, producing a satisfyingly game-like hit sound and completely blowing away the tiny sliver that remained of the Dragon Warrior's HP bar.

And so, a beat later, the predetermined notice arrived. In other words...

◇You have defeated [Dragon Warrior Famnilarra]◇

◇Sixth Floor cleared.◇

The golden light of a level-up, and an impersonal system message.

"Huuuuuuuh—... Haaaaaaaah..."

As I stuck the landing after my final attack, I stood in the middle of the large hall, looking up at the ceiling and savoring the afterglow of victory. As I, who had single-handedly defeated a formidable foe, held one thought in my heart.

"Fighting with friends... party play... is a wonderful thing..."

I was once again reminded of the loneliness and hardship of solo play—and so, my thoughts, as someone who had been left behind by all my companions due to starting my conquest half a month late, naturally drifted towards...

"Hmm... maybe this is a good opportunity...?"

...the existence of a certain 'content' that was open to all players.


────────────────
◇Status / Trance / Restarted◇
Title：Acrobat
Name：Haru　 Lv：2⇒7
STR：10⇒30
AGI：10⇒30
DEX：0⇒10
VIT：0
MID：0
LUC：0

◇Skill◇
・[Naraka Gandharva]

・Active
──None Skill──

・Passive
《Trickster of Zenith》

《REJECT SENTENCE》

◇Arts◇
【Kesshiki Ittoryu】
　──────……
　────……
　──……
────────────────

Putting that aside,
What will become of the hardcore players who will soon be facing this solo on the sixth floor?