kscans

Chapter 923 - Make Way, Demon, for the King's Majesty Cometh - Part 2

The full-force blow to its head sent a roar through the chamber as the giant’s massive frame buckled. The [Dao, Earth Demon]’s knees gave way, crushing its own maze and sending a tremor across the entire floor.

The impact felt solid. But just like the other demons I’d faced up to this point, as long as it maintained its gimmick-boss persona and looked down on me, no damage would get through.

However.

‘—, ————!’

What echoed was the roar of the earthen giant, now looking up at the human it had been looking down on.

Fire, water, and wind all clearly had their own personalities, but it seemed that among the demons governing the four basic elements, earth (this one) was the most short-tempered.

I probably still had some leeway before I stacked up enough wrong answers. But that aside, the body of the [Dao, Earth Demon] quivered again as it let out a roar of raw anger.

It was the precursor to a counter, a punishment for the scoundrel who had kicked its sacred trial—but I ignored it.

“Hmm… well, that’s a needless worry. Okay.”

I threw a sidelong glance with deadly seriousness.

At the edge of the boss room, my comrades were effortlessly dealing with the encroaching maze walls and stray homing projectiles with their swords, fists, and mirrors.

Then, a moment later.

Just like before, the retaliatory barrage of earthen warheads rushed me, only to shatter the instant they touched my armor.

No matter how many hit, the damage was zero. Of course it was no damage—after all, the truth was, not a single one had actually landed.

This was the first basic ability of [True Theory: An=Re Galta (Armor Singing of the King's Key)]—Reversal.

“[Rocket]!”

As promised, I didn’t even look. Ignoring the dozens of projectiles assailing me from all directions, I soared through the air, leaving a trail of useless, shattered dust in my wake.

Alright, the next shot is…!

“HRAAAGH!!!”

‘—!’

A high-speed, falling heel drop.

Once again, a one-sided critical hit to the face. A satisfying crash, a shockwave—

And so, the reason I could remain unscathed while pummeling this Earth Demon, despite being exposed to a storm of attacks that would normally have wiped out my HP dozens of times over, was singular.

“Hah, now this is—utterly BROKEN!”

It was thanks to the protection afforded by the passive ability that activated only during Full Armament, which overwrote an enemy’s attack judgment with my own hit judgment.

To put it simply,

“C’mon, c’mon, what’s wrong? Not working, is it?!”

When fully deployed, the armor of the Sword-King surrounding me would, against any and all threats that dared approach its master—without exception, automatically, and without the slightest opening—return a counter-attack judgment.

Thus followed another one-sided assault. Another massive tremor and a roar of fury.

The poor [Dao, Earth Demon] was being beaten senseless, its earnestly fired projectiles all nullified, leaving it unable to even begin the motion to redeploy its maze.

From this angle, it looked like a completely game-breaking scene… but well, this being Arcadia, where exceptions are allowed but perfection is never born, it wasn’t quite that.

The absurd constantly active ability of the Full Armament wasn’t invincible. As long as this thing didn’t continue to play around forever, it wasn't so law-defying that I could win a complete victory.

To point out a specific weakness,

“Tch—Hah, that was close!”

I reflexively activated [Rocket] to dodge, but retreating was impossible.

That would be against attacks like that massive, careless swing just now—in other words, large-scale, high-power attacks that I couldn't offset head-on with my own strength. I would be overpowered and take damage normally. The armor’s auto-intercept capability was dependent on its master’s (my) specs.

In other words, it was impossible to completely ignore a serious blow from a powerful boss enemy. The Reversal could only reliably shoot down small fry.

Still ultra-broken, though—but anyway.

I’d managed to draw out a new motion, but it seemed it was still far from truly enraged.

It showed signs of irritation, but it was still stubbornly trying to repeat the preparatory motions for its maze deployment. Looking at it… I felt a bit bad, but I wouldn’t be holding back.

It had been just under thirty seconds since the battle began. The armor was already draining a fair bit of my MP, so I couldn't afford to dally. Besides, I had already shown off this much.

Since I had smugly declared to my comrades that I would show them its ‘full power’…

“Okay. In that case…”

I had absolutely no intention of holding back.

“Come—”

I raised my left arm.

Bringing my empty hand to my neck, I swung it sharply outward.

“—[An=Re Galta (The Spiraling, Brilliant Spirit-Sword of the Wedge)]…!”

In the hand of my platinum-armored arm, extended out to my side, manifested a single, magnificent and ornate greatsword.

The weight was nostalgic. The form was new. As I called out that memorable, original name (Re-Galta), a brilliance appeared that was nothing like the bladeless iron slab of old.

A true platinum that shone even more brilliantly than the armor’s own. With beautiful gold and silver-blue filigree running down its blade, the artistic double-edged greatsword… was the very image of that King’s Sword.

This was the second basic ability of [True Theory: An=Re Galta]—Re-Galta.

“Alright… let’s wrap up this mud-slinging contest, shall we?!”

A knight’s armor in service of its master… No.

The loyal vassal of the Armored Knight that dwells within its master carries a sword in its soul.