kscans

Chapter 856 - Stability-Seeking / Runaway Express

As a rule, the enemies that appear within the Key Tree—whether they're the trash mobs in the labyrinthine paths or the bosses enthroned in the deepest parts of each floor—do not drop any items.

The exceptions are currencies like `Luna` and `PARLs`.

The former are dropped by mobs, the latter by bosses… but still, materials and other such goods never find their way into the players' hands.

So, what exactly is the "reward" for conquering the Key Tree Maze? In other words, what does this "Concept Device that Sells Dreams," this gacha machine, actually dispense?

The answer is simple. It's something that players who brave a high-difficulty dungeon with such restrictions would absolutely rejoice over—that is to say,

Powerful armaments.

And to add to that,

They're items with variations in appearance and performance even among similar types, possessing all the trappings of a hack-and-slash swamp.

"Alright, alright… the 'rate' is just as I heard."

After unlocking my skill, I muttered to myself while checking the catalog that unfolded from the monolith.

Ever since the first floor, the currency I'd been rewarded with after every boss defeat—the PARLs charged to my [PARLs]—had this as their primary, though apparently not sole, purpose.

One pull on the gacha costs exactly 100 PARLs. In other words, with my entire fortune of 12,500 PARLs saved up by the tenth floor, I could indulge in a dream-filled session of one hundred and twenty-five pulls.

However, there's no such thing as a lottery where every ticket is a winner.

The jackpot for the Key Tree Maze gacha is an armament based on the conquered floor… for example, if I pull from the monolith on the tenth floor, items originating from the bosses of floors one through ten will appear.

And the odds of winning one are, according to a rough two-week player survey, well under one percent. Meaning there's absolutely no guarantee I'd get one even if I pulled a hundred times.

But, as expected of Arcadia.

They were kind enough to provide a choice that's gentle on the player's stomach… so with that, I'm sorry, but I may look like this, but I'm the stability-seeking type. I intend to choose my battles.

"Yep, only one choice."

I did indeed pick a fight with gambling, but that was only because my victory was one hundred percent guaranteed. There might be hits and misses within my range of preference… but that's that.

My Acrobat avatar is blessed with the [Naraka Gandharva], which connects to all weapon proficiency trees. So, no matter what I pull, it's a matter of course.

There's no "losing" with this 10,000-PARL-per-pull gacha that guarantees a Key Tree-exclusive armament.

"Ooh…"

When I unhesitatingly replied 'YES' to the confirmation dialog, the monolith began to glow. Bathed in the solemn green light filling the space, with the knightly gentleman beside me letting out a sound of some unknown emotion….

Phosphorescence gathered in my hands as I awaited the result. And what manifested was a single card.

"…Hmm, I see. This is… well, I guess you could call it a win?"

Inscribed on the incredibly stylish, intricately designed card was a single name: [One-Off Desire (Beheaded Nether Fang Sword)]. And depicted on it was a single, misshapen dagger wreathed in flame.

◇◆◇◆◇

◇Talk Room◇

【Haru】: Hey Sora-san
【Haru】: You got a sec? There's something I want to ask

【Sora】: Good evening
【Haru】: Hey, good evening. Are you free now?

【Sora】: I am. What is it?
【Haru】: I want to know your current location
【Haru】: In terms of floor level

【Sora】: We cleared up to floor thirty-four today.
【Haru】: As expected. Still at it?
【Sora】: No,
【Sora】: We just took a quick look at the thirty-fifth floor and then disbanded for the day.
【Haru】: I see. Okay, got it
【Haru】: Thanks. Also, sorry, but I'm gonna be grinding hard so I can't meet up today
【Haru】: Let's meet tomorrow night. I'll message you again then

【Sora】: Understood. Please do your best.
【Haru】: I'll do my super best. With my cute partner cheering me on, my energy is a hundred times stronger
【Haru】: 'Kay then, good work today. Goodnight, Sora
【Sora】: Yes
【Sora】: Good night.

【Sora】: Haru

【Haru】: Hm?
【Sora】: I'm sorry about yesterday. I wasn't angry at you, it's just that
【Haru】: Woah woah stop stop hold on hold on alright that's enough!
【Sora】: I w-
【Sora】: Y-yes…

【Haru】: Anyway, there's just one thing I want to say
【Sora】: Wh-what is it?

【Haru】: A pouting Sora-san is super-duper cute, alright goodnight!
【Sora】: n

【Sora】:
【Sora】: Tomorrow, please… give me a hug.

【Sora】: Good night.

◇◆◇◆◇

—And so, that's that.

If you think you can stop me with my engine at full throttle, then bring it on, you rabble!

Charging alone through a labyrinth now slightly more lavish than before, my avatar, scattering crimson phosphorescence, unleashed a hailstorm of unreasonable violence along the path.

The main enemy that appeared from the eleventh floor, the short, muscular [Orc Demil (Gluttonous Pig Phantom)], was joined by Goblins and Kobolds continuing from the lower floors, making for a lineup mostly composed of humanoids.

Driven by the singular instinct to beat down any human who sets foot in their territory, they showcased a savage coordination mixing wildness and intelligence, making them rather formidable foes….

"—There, yah!"

But it's a real shame, because they're no match for me, now that I have my weapon back.

My empty right hand swung toward the group of two Orcs, three Goblins, and two Kobolds standing in my way, filling the narrow passage—and from the drawn line erupted a volley of "fist" pebbles.

A ranged shot of fist bullets. That is to say, the power of a skill that I can now call one of my mainstays. Each and every one of the small pebbles scattered like buckshot had its power reduced by nearly half compared to the pre-evolution [Frezon Revolver], but….

"""—, tch!"""

Well, there's no way small fry could withstand a hundred shots fired in a single breath.

GOBA!—With a sound that's hard to describe, the remains of the demi-human group were blown away. Without waiting for them to scatter into green phosphorescence, I dashed through the now-open passage.

I'd already used the weapon-seal-release item I got from clearing the tenth floor, the [Verdant Gem of Covenant], on my [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart] without a second thought. So, I pushed my barely unlocked 'Desperate Crimson' skill to slightly boost my agility while mowing down enemies. Dash, dash.

If it was a small group I could ignore, I ignored it. And if I encountered a group large enough to block the passage, like the last one…—

"Get out of my way!"

I wiped them out with a swing of my right arm, unleashing a storm of fist bullets that filled the passage.

[Volcanate]—this skill, evolved from the divine six-shot revolver, is one of the most broken skills I've ever acquired, rivaling the top one or two.

To describe its performance in one phrase: it's a gatling gun that can fire in bursts or all at once, as I please.

Its ammo capacity is three hundred rounds for each fist, for a total of six hundred. As I mentioned, each shot is small and less powerful, but with a hundred times the number of bullets, the total firepower is on a whole other level.

Moreover, despite being called fist bullets, the motion isn't restricted to punches. It's so flexible that even just waving my arm or flicking my finger can satisfy the activation condition.

The only drawback is that, unlike its pre-evolution form, reloading is manual, not automatic. And once I enter a reload, the reloading arm becomes unusable for exactly three hundred seconds… but honestly, the core performance is so insane that the demerit feels sorely lacking.

Even that can be postponed by waiting to reload after using up all the bullets, so if handled well, I don't even need to worry about the restriction during combat.

And besides, being unable to use one arm is something I'm used to….

"—'Hundred'!"

So, reloading itself isn't much of a debuff.

With that, a flash of my right arm. A hundred, a hundred, a hundred—a rough burst of three hundred shots. Once again, the demi-human party that had been blocking the passage was annihilated, and my right arm, having exhausted its ammunition, glowed with a bright red aura and radiated heat like an overheated gun barrel.

And what's more, there are advantages to being in this state, but… well, it's not something I need to use on trash mobs.

"Alright, 'Reload'!"

I clenched my fist and thrust my elbow back. By performing the ultra-cool designated motion, like winding up for an exaggerated punch, the reload began.

As I ran nonstop while doing all this, the next encounter was just ahead. Naturally—in place of my steam-venting right arm, it was now my left's turn.

And so, after a few minutes of dashing while literally tearing through the ranks of obstacles,

"Alright, arrived. —Let's make this quick, Lord Kendy."

I arrived at a large hall.

Until now I was alone, but with that call, we became a pair. Appearing next to me with the unique effect of space tearing open was a blond, blue-eyed knight… who was, well, how to put it.

"…………………………Y-yes. …………………………Yes…?"

He stared blankly, mouth agape.

The boss was a giant over three meters tall. A Great Orc Ogre carrying a deadly-looking great cleaver. Seeing its凶惡極まる—fiendishly vicious in every sense of the word—face, he pushed past his confusion and raised his shield.