kscans

Chapter 863 - Inside Out

The tenth floor boss, [Cerberus Dolphang]—a main rider and a three-headed guard dog.

The twentieth floor boss, [Azunt Elm Ogre]—a master of extreme cold, an ice-clad demon.

The thirtieth floor boss, [Tauros Resemble]—a robust and veteran red bull warrior.

In Arcadia, humanoid enemies like demi-humans and demons rarely exist. The Key Tree Maze, which grandly shattered this existing norm, features a rich variety of demi-humans such as goblins, kobolds, and orcs.

Furthermore, it's as if it's a rule for the bosses every ten floors, which boast a special level of difficulty. The fact that a powerful humanoid is placed there every time makes one feel that the maze itself has some kind of concept… well, it probably isn't just my imagination.

So naturally, for the upcoming fortieth floor as well—

"……………Can you really call that a ‘humanoid enemy’?"

"It's got the elements, at least, so I guess it's fine?"

"Those ‘elements’ disappeared ten seconds into the fight, though…"

As usual, we were in the great hall. In the domain of the floor master at the deepest part of the maze, the white and the black were exchanging words while watching the impact and sound of the fierce battle from afar.

That is, me (my real form) and Tetra, the two rear guards.

I swear we're not slacking. Next to my self-proclaimed junior, a.k.a. my senpai, I was in the middle of earnestly learning this and that about an unfamiliar position.

And so, where our gazes were directed.

"—Kanata-kun!"

"—Anytime you're ready!"

A momentary intersection, an artistic switch. Facing the giant that rampaged and thundered across the ground, they didn't back down an inch. The two figures who brilliantly served as the front line through their alternating coordination.

Gold and… —I wonder what Kanata's image color is? Well, anyway, it was the pair of Sora and Kanata. It seems their coordination had improved considerably while I was lagging behind, and they were showing off a level of combination that inspired no anxiety at all.

Good for them. In that case, I'll do my best too.

"‘Piercing water nail, restraining hook-wing.’"

I activated the water-attribute rapid restraint magic, Current Haken. Six water needles manifested and floated around me, the caster who had woven the incantation.

"Not yet."

"I know."

Timing was more important than accuracy.

To be blunt, those two didn't need any support, so if I were to lend a hand, it had to be a particularly exceptional move at the very least, or it would just be a hindrance.

This was proving to be difficult—

"Now."

"Got it!"

—See? The go-ahead came at a moment completely different from what my instincts told me.

However, I pride myself on my reaction speed. Without missing or spacing out on Tetra's curt instruction, I responded, and while surprised, I calmly unleashed the magical projectiles.

And so, after one second… —impact.

"—, ————"

"Hh…!"

What came to be was an ‘ideal picture’ that I only understood after the result appeared.

A tempo before their respective attacks ceased. That is, in the brief interval for them to catch their breath and move on to the next step. Before Sora and Kanata, who had seamlessly taken that momentary breath to launch their next move, the enemy—its rhythm broken by the entangling water chains—could not move.

While [Current Haken] could be a form of indirect finishing blow against players, it was a matter of course that against a monstrous enemy with power far surpassing a human's, the restraint would only last for an instant.

That's precisely why where you inserted that one instant was of utmost importance.

If that could be accomplished perfectly—

"«Wadatsumi no Harae»!"

"«Nel Wiedersch»!"

—the trivial water needles could be enough to guide an ally's power into a finishing blow.

Two flashes of torrential power. Blades of water and sand leaped up from the left and right, drawing a diagonal cross. The fatal blow was carved into the intersection point—the neck of the ‘dragon,’ which had been prevented from retreating and had stretched out in confusion.

◇You have defeated [Calivest Forgoblin]◇

◇40th Floor cleared◇ ・A reward has been granted—you have obtained [Verdant Gem of Covenant].

◇◆◇◆◇

"What was the point of the goblin rider…?"

"Flavor text, maybe?"

"Ah, haha…"

The ‘dragon’… or rather, an ultra-super-huge iguana-like monster over ten meters long, controlled by a goblin rider. I was fine with that design, but I couldn't accept the existence of the rider, who was unceremoniously scattered by Sora-san's magic sword snipe in the first shot of the battle.

While Tetra casually dismissed my question, and Sora and Kanata, who often laughed in a similar way, watched over us—

◇Progress of Tree Road conquest confirmed◇

◇Random skills will be unlocked◇

◇Skill «Mistlurade» has been activated◇ ◇Skill «Flood» has been activated◇ ◇Skill «Water Enchant» has been activated◇ ◇Skill «Assigns Fate» has been activated◇ ◇Skill «Talaria Record» has been activated◇ ◇Skill «Fatal Closer» has been activated◇

──────────────── ◇Status / Restarted◇ Title: Acrobat Name: Haru Lv: 40⇒41 STR (Strength): 0 AGI (Agility): 50⇒60 DEX (Dexterity): 0 VIT (Vitality): 0 MID (Mind): 300 (+180) LUC (Luck): 50

◇Skill◇ ・Naraka Gandharva «Mistlurade» «Volcanate» «Greed's Basket»

・Water Magic Aptitude «Aqua» «Flood» «Current Haken» «Maelstrom» «Laevateinn» «Water Enchant»

・Active «Reflect Explode» «Flash Traveler»

・Passive «White Dragon's Blessing» «Assigns Fate» «Attentive Limit» «Gigant Figure» «Goma Soten» «Talaria Record» «Trickster of Zenith» «Fatal Closer» «Kaisei Futo» «Dias Lunaria» «Master of Magic»

«Reject Sentence» «Shadow Clearer» «Four-Sided Blessing»

◇Arts◇ [Kesshiki Ittoryu] ──────…… ────…… ──…… ────────────────

I touched the monolith, and with that, my fourth random skill release was complete.

Well, it's gotten quite close to its original lineup. Considering the number of skills unlocked each time, I expect to be at full strength, skill-wise, after clearing the next floor, the fiftieth, just as planned.

By the way, [Assigns Fate] is a new skill I acquired after the Green Connect battle, and the other new name, [Fatal Closer], is an evolution of [Dangerous Light, Fast Recovery].

The former doesn't directly affect me, but is a constantly active AoE buff skill that increases the natural MP recovery rate of any ‘rankers’ I fight alongside.

The latter's condition has become slightly stricter, changing from ‘HP below 20%’ to ‘HP 10% or less,’ but in exchange, the automatic MP recovery speed has doubled from double to quadruple, making it a pure enhancement.

Ah, yes, a pure enhancement indeed. Since 10% HP is my default state.

"How was it?"

"So-so. I didn't get any blessings, but at least I've completed my magic skills."

"I see. …[Flood] is forbidden, okay?"

In response to my first junior, who touched the monolith in turn, came words and a deadpan stare that seemed to be a warning, whether or not she was recalling the past.

I know, I know, senpai. I won't get you involved in a gag death again.

"Man, being a rear guard is tough…"

"It's not that bad. I think you're doing fine."

We met up on the thirty-fifth floor, so it's been a total of six floors. I've finally returned to my real form, built a mage status, and am playing the support role, but it's not going very well.

Surprisingly… or not, Tetra says sweet things, but as expected, from my own perspective, my current self (rear guard) is pretty seriously a ‘burden.’ Just like in the previous battle, if I move without Tetra's instructions, I don't get satisfactory results.

Well, I'm aware that my standards are warped because of the people I'm with, but….

"Well, it's a good opportunity. Just rely on your junior and your partner."

"Yes, I will… fully…"

"I'll support you with all my might!!!"

"Ah, yeah. Thanks, Kanata."

So, while I'm struggling, I'm resolved to rely on my dependable—and this is no exaggeration, overly dependable—clan members and devote myself to improving.

I was just thinking it's about time I re-examined my own immature parts to step into the realm of a veteran in various senses, like how to step on the accelerator and how to read the battlefield….

By the way, the reason why I made my real form a mage build, unlike usual, is because…

"Something wrong, Sora-san?"

"N-No! It's nothing."

It's for none other than my partner, who is super eager to finally be able to genuinely ‘help me,’ though it feels weird for me to say it.

Well, you know. If I'm not mistaken—

"…Ehehe."

When we adventure together.

If I'm in my real form with my real face, Sora-san seems to be in a slightly better mood, or at least I think so.

"Something wrong, Sora-san???"

"I-It's really nothing…!"

Saturday today, early afternoon on a holiday.

Today, as always, my partner was invincibly cute.