kscans

Chapter 854 - The Tenth Layer

There's an element in Arcadia's content that makes anyone who's familiar with virtual worlds, directly or indirectly, tilt their head and go, "Huh?"

What is it? The names.

Not just the names of living things like NPCs, animals, or enemies, but also items ranging from tiny pebbles to towering buildings…

Even place names and area names. While not true for everything, the nomenclature in this game is generally a chaotic, disorderly mess of the 'if you think too hard about the meaning, your head will explode and you will die' variety.

I'm one to talk, given that I name my partner's techniques based solely on feeling, rhythm, and pure excitement, but the patterns where the kanji and the readings are so ridiculously divorced from each other that they're just phonetic stand-ins are the more benign cases.

The real problem is stuff like the [Trial Spheres of Partition], where you can't help but think, Please, just give us the reading. The pronunciation is a complete mystery, and it goes without saying that fruitless debates rage on about it all over the world every day.

To top it all off, you occasionally get things with names that seem completely wrong, as if the meaning was totally misunderstood… and that's another source of trouble.

It's no wonder that the countless Arcadia apologists around the world cry out, "No, there must be some deep meaning!" In fact, the game is such an otherworldly existence that even their blind counterarguments gain a strange persuasiveness.

—Not that I'm some hardcore lore enthusiast. I'm basically in the camp that just observes the chaos from the sidelines… or rather, doesn't even do that and just passively accepts everything.

So, even when I encounter a name that makes me tilt my head and go, "Huh?" I've generally just ignored it and enjoyed my virtual world life.

But still, those kinds of things tend to stick with you.

Especially a recent encounter. It's only natural, then, that the comeback I muttered to myself that day—Cerberus??? Shouldn't it be Orthrus???—is still crystal clear in my mind.

In other words, what I'm trying to say is…

"—I see, so this is the 'Three-Headed Guard Dog (Cerberus)'!"

The theory that even seemingly mismatched names have some deep meaning… yeah, considering this is Arcadia, a form of entertainment that transcends the modern era, maybe there's something to it after all.

The beast charged through the roaring flames it had just spewed across the ground without a hint of hesitation. That, combined with the copious amounts of drool it was flinging everywhere, seemed to be its way of saying, I have no reason left.

After instinctively backing away from its magnificent breath attack, I found myself pursued by none other than the [Cerberus Dolphang, Twin-Headed Guard Dog] I had faced on the seventh layer. And so, naturally…

"HnnngggghhhNUAAAAH!"

Cutting off the targeting of a damage dealer is the perfect job for a reliable tank. In turn, it's up to me, the protected damage dealer, to repay my ally in one way.

"So… RAAAAH!"

An instantaneous switch, followed by a single counterattack.

And the result was…

"Ggh—You bastard…!"

"A splendid effort, even from an enemy!"

A full-power strike, yet it resulted in a resounding zero damage.

Forced off course by a powerful shield charge from the side, the mutt staggered past me. My sword slash, which should have perfectly pierced its torso, was met not with the satisfying sound of a critical hit, but with a fierce red shower of sparks that filled the boss room instead of the phosphorescence of spilled blood.

On top of the dog… was a dog.

What sent both me and my [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword] flying was the thunderous blow from a massive battle axe, wielded with skillful fury by a single-headed guard dog mounted on the twin-headed Dolphang.

[Cerberus Gilfang, Single-Headed Guard Spirit Dog]—the boss of the Key Tree Maze's ninth layer, the very kobold warrior Kendy-dono and I had fought so desperately to defeat last night. In other words…

"Three-headed (Cerberus)" was probably a title.

Now united as one, not man and horse but dog and dog, this form—[Cerberus Gil-Dolphang, Three-Headed Twin-Conflict Underworld Dog]—was their true power and their true name.

I have only two things to say.

One is the trivial matter that "Gil-Dolphang" is a bit of a mouthful…

"Are you serious?! This on the tenth layer…?! I don't even want to think about the hundredth layer's boss!"

"The thought of yet-unseen foes makes my heart dance, sir!"

And the other is that this thing is ridiculously, stupidly strong. Is this game insane?

—! `

—! `

It stumbled for only a moment; my command to stabilize brought it back instantly. As if they were one mind and body, without reins or saddle, the kobold let out a bark and the Orthrus roared in response, executing a sudden stop and a sharp turn.

Then, it reared up its forelegs and its two arms.

Which meant that in the next instant, what would come crashing down was—

"Do'araaai!"

"Sir Paragon!"

A deadly collaboration, perfectly synchronized: paws armed with absurdly vicious claws and a great battle axe shaped for nothing but terror, destruction, and death.

I could track both attacks with my eyes… but sadly, my stats, currently equivalent to a mere Lv. 10, were sorely lacking.

Thus, my evasion was nothing but a clumsy, desperate scramble for my life, and…

"Damn it, no choice…!"

But I'll show you—an Acrobat doesn't go down for nothing!

—, —!? `

High above my head. After a desperate face-slide to dodge the swiping paw and swinging axe, I slipped under the belly of the twin-headed dog. My Stella was no longer in my hand, and a pained cry from the kobold reached my ears.

See that, you mutt?! If you're "three," then so are we! Have you had enough—ah, ah, hey, get back here, partner, my MP is melting away in seconds!!!

"Alright, welcome back, and—"

And so, my [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword], which had apparently dealt a painful blow to the rider with its autonomous movement, returned to my right hand as a ring. In that same instant, my arm was already moving, having built up as much speed as it could.

I swung without holding it, materializing it at the moment of impact. It's a rather nostalgic technique, but unfortunately for my enemies, I don't forget a single thing, be it instinct or otherwise!

"Shot!"

Combined with the speed of a punch, the white blade, manifested anew, sank its fangs into the dark fur that filled my vision. And this time, finally…

Ggh—, —…!!! `

An all-out effort, combined with a desperate acrobatic feat, yielded results.

Plus…

"—DOSEIIIIIIIIIIIIYAAAAAH!"

A follow-up. Just as the twin-headed Dolphang staggered back, its belly—which I suspected was a critical point like its neck—impaled by my sword, a roar that drowned out its cry echoed as a shield slammed into it.

It was a full-force charge into a faltering, flinching, airborne target. BOGOAAN! The horrifying sound of the impact suggested immense power, but more than that, it was the result of perfect timing from a warrior who didn't miss his chance.

The comparatively small knight sent the towering beast flying in a magnificent, satisfying arc.

"Are you unharmed—"

"I'm fine, not a scratch, too close, too close…!"

And so came a moment's pause.

I spent only a second on the floor, feeling the vibrations from the staggering boss through my entire body. I leaped up without a moment to rest, sword at the ready in my right hand, while my left grabbed Kendy-dono's face as he approached from the side to stop him… and looked ahead.

"…Haha, still full of energy, I see…"

The mount—or rather, the dog—and its rider were both still standing.

A little under ten minutes since the battle began. By putting forth our absolute best effort, we had finally managed to chip away the first of its six HP bars…

"Well then… Kendy-dono?"

"Let us do this, sir! With you by my side, no matter how powerful the f—"

"Yes, yes, you're full of energy too, that's great. In that case, well…"

If you do it, it will be done; if you don't, it won't… or rather, my motto is that if something can be done, then it can be done, so you just have to believe you can and try.

"One-hour course. Let's make it quick."

First and foremost, we had to slay it fast.

I'm keeping my partner waiting. Prepare yourselves, you mutts.

And so, an hour and a half later.

◇ [Cerberus Gil-Dolphang, Three-Headed Twin-Conflict Underworld Dog] has been defeated ◇

◇ Conquest of the Tenth Layer confirmed ◇

"You don't expect them to actually fuse into a three-headed dog for the second phase…"

"A nightmarish rampage, it was indeed, sir…"

After defeating a hyper-ultra boss—one that seemed designed for a full party of six—with just the two of us, our meager stats, and a bloody life-or-death struggle, we…

"Let's… take a break. Five minutes. Just five."

"A wise decision, sir… As expected of the Paragon."

…spent the next ten minutes lying on the floor together.

All the while, I pretended not to notice my partner, Stella, in her ring form, tugging at my right hand as if to say, Let's go, on to the next one, quickly.

---

Cute.