kscans

Chapter 902 - The Two of Them Now

Nearly a month had passed since the Key Tree—implemented, or rather, having “germinated”—manifested in the virtual world, and players began to challenge the labyrinthine tree road within. Its true height was impossible to grasp, whether you looked up or walked its path.

While it was possible that powerful players who kept their names hidden had stepped inside, as far as anyone knew, only the rankers had reached the fiftieth floor and ventured beyond.

Correction: the rankers, plus a handful of exceptions who were their equals.

In any case, those who had broken through the thirtieth floor in such a short time and reached the “upper floors” were currently the pinnacle of the general player base. And the reality was that even this elite group was struggling, their progress slowed to a crawl by the hellish, wide-open spaces and infinite enemy tsunamis that began on the thirty-first floor.

In other words, the reason Floor 31 and above were called the “upper floors” was simply because the public had yet to obtain information about what lay beyond. The moment we confidently stepped onto the fifty-first floor, we understood the true upper region of the Key Tree.

A great labyrinth composed of vast passageways on an absurd scale. Hordes of diverse and formidable enemies swarming to fill every inch of those ridiculously spacious corridors.

And occasionally, a familiar face from the past—a Key Tree boss, now demoted to a common mob.

Honestly, I don't even need to go into detail. It was insane in so many ways.

The sheer volume and quality of the opposition was a form of violence that made a constant run-and-gun strategy seem like the only viable option. It didn't feel designed for a straightforward, head-on assault. We couldn't help but suspect that we players were currently lacking a key piece of the puzzle needed to reach the summit of the Key Tree.

The difficulty was beyond hellish; it was the kind of thing people call an unreasonable game. Up to the fiftieth floor, it had been within the realm of challenge for top-tier players like the Four Pillar War participants. But for this? “There’s no way a single party of six can do this,” we all instantly agreed.

And so. Here we are, a little under ten hours after we began our spirited assault.

If you're wondering where we—the non-standard players—are now…

"Haaa—!"

"—Nngh, RAH!"

Not a synchronized shout, but voices spun from sheer fighting spirit.

And so, four hands gripped a single sword. On a long hilt befitting a blade well over three meters, our strengths converged. A greatsword of dust, imbued with its master's authority, her status, and the status of her other half, flashed—and the space itself trembled with the impact and roar.

ROOOOAAAR! The enemy shone with glossy, gunmetal scales—a dragonkin. Not the lizardman “Dragon Warrior” we fought on the sixth floor, but a genuine draconian humanoid.

A long neck, powerful limbs that were thick yet moved with fluid grace, and a massive, lengthy tail. Its thorny face, complete with vicious horns, framed sharp, vertically slit pupils.

Key Tree Maze, fifty-ninth floor boss enemy: [Elvad, the Supreme Dragon]. A being that embodied the very concept of an “insanely strong boss.” Its colossal frame, towering over five meters, was a deadly weapon that no mere mortal could hope to match, and yet it skillfully wielded a greatsword even larger than itself.

And we, who crossed blades with such an entity, were, of course—

"Ghh, ugh…!"

"—ORRRAAAAAAAAA!"

—not about to lose, were we?

GRR—! The moment the draconian's eyes, which held an undeniable intelligence, narrowed. As if asking what does it matter if our bodies and minds are separate? our combined strength shattered the stalemate.

The stats of two people, plus the physical might from [Hypothesis: The Wedge-Armor that Sings of the Royal Road (An=Ru Galta)], plus the propulsive force of all my skills and techniques at full power, plus the propulsive force of my partner's skills and techniques at full power—and to top it all off, the blessing of the Scales, which grants strength (STR) to my avatar.

Stacking every single thing we have? At this point, it's a piece of cake.

Though currently, it was just before our dinner break… but let’s set that dumb thought aside.

"—"

No words were needed. I just had to move forward. If I did…

"—!"

See? My partner is right beside me.

And the Scales are right here with me.

As the greatsword was knocked from its powerful grasp and Elvad staggered back with a ground-shaking thud, I dove into its opening… External Output: ‘Kai’—critical convergence, release.

Furthermore, full sixty-shot salvo from both arms’ Volcanate, combined with [Rocket] and [Ignition] layered into a full-power [Matoi]—Fourth Form One-Sword, Experimental Unarmed Technique.

"[Tsuzumi]!"

The impact landed square on the dragon's gut. A super-chain-penetrating strike that would have staggered not just any normal boss, but even a low-tier raid boss, pierced through its massive body… and without pause.

"[Rocket]."

A single step to reignite, heading for the ceiling.

"[Elden Kreis]."

The Scales tipped.

"[Terraverme Riesig]!"

What manifested was a colossal sword of blazing sand. Like compacted lava, it radiated a savage heat and light—a demonic blade that could be mistaken for a tower. Its destination was… obvious.

The life of the enemy my master had marked for death.

And so, that blade, part-matter and part-magic, with the lawless ability to pierce through physical substance, passed right through [Elvad, the Supreme Dragon]—and a moment later came…

Guh… GO—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH! The full might of the blazing sand sword, which it held within. With no way to defend, the draconian, its entire body seared by the attack, let out a pathetic scream, one step away from death.

And then, the Scales tipped.

"—Then the royal authority rests with me, and none need bow their heads."

My magic power, having leaped by thirty levels, filled my avatar. As I continued the chant I had somehow kept at the edge of my thoughts, a greatsword of calamitous water shimmered in my hand.

This was the advanced mage skill, [Stock]… or rather, the stage just before learning it.

Using the intermediate skill [Rest] as a bridge, I activated [Laevateinn]. And from there…

"Manifest, Release."

Wedge-Armor Mastery, Laevateinn version.

"[Angalta]!"

From the ceiling, I swung down the spirit sword of brilliant water. A rain of slashing concepts, like a waterfall, poured down.

Infused with the authority of my Terror Armament, [Laevateinn] became a “cage of slashes” that, upon instant impact, targeted and relentlessly pursued its mark.

— Within that cage, the dragon's eyes, facing imminent death, shone with a fierce light.

In that instant…

The Scales tipped.

"[Erde Kreis]."

The pressure of information swelled. From deep within the jaws of the grievously wounded draconian, an ember flickered to life.

Any gamer would anticipate a final threat. In a situation where one should cautiously take a step back and brace for whatever was coming—

My partner, running beside me, didn't retreat a single step from the dragon's maw.

"[Grandierde Tausend]."

She serenely offered the flowers of ice swords that attended her, a final tribute to the supreme dragon.

◇ You have defeated [Elvad, the Supreme Dragon]. ◇

◇ Conquest of the 59th Floor confirmed. ◇

---

Yes, just an appetizer.

What? The others were standing at the edge of the boss room with exasperated looks on their faces. The Saintess, however, was all smiles, getting to see a certain someone's heroic figure in person.