Chapter 111: Run, With Impatience as Fuel
It's a card I'd rather not play, but I absolutely must reach Fifticia by tomorrow. To do that, I have to rapidly break through the Ruins of Past Glories—and beyond that, the Ancient Castle Ruins of Fruitless Falling Radiance that stretches onward from Eleventar. Even I can grasp how difficult it is to pull that off solo. That means I need reinforcements—specifically, backup who won't grill me excessively about why I'm in such a hurry.
Sunraku: "That person's terrifying, though... Well, can't be picky about methods."
I feel a little bad, using her almost like a tool. But as Pencilgon says, you should use whatever you can. Whether you discard it afterward or feed it based on results depends on the outcome... No matter how I look at it, this feels like villainous thinking, but right now I can't afford to be choosy. Besides, I was already going to need backup to reach Fifticia by tomorrow anyway.
Sunraku: "Rendezvous point: Eleventar... Alright, let's go."
I've left Emul in Rabituza. I've entrusted her with a critical mission: report to me the moment the player known as "Akitsu Akane" logs in, and if possible, stall them until I can meet them. Whether my trump card—"Vorpal Epic"—continues to function as a trump card hinges on her. "Akitsu Akane"... I don't know what the hell they did to raise the flag for the Unique Scenario "Invitation from Rabituza," but there's no doubt they're a player with considerable skill. How exactly do I impose a gag order regarding a Unique Scenario—or rather, the NPC known as "Vysache"—on someone like that? Honestly, I'm starting to lose track of why I'm so desperate to hide information about Rabituza in the first place. The difficulty of triggering "Invitation from Rabituza" is absurdly high anyway. And even if it got out, I doubt the Rabbit Palace would suddenly be flooded with players. But right now, I'm sitting on a troublesome landmine involving other players. If it came to light that there's "a Unique Monster related to the Vorpal Bunnies" here, even more players than now would come swarming after me.
Sunraku: "Bribe them with items... no, that's tricky. Maybe I should just make them one of us?"
I'm not a purely solo player to begin with. The clan "Wolfgang"—as long as the three of us, me, Oikatzo, and Pencilgon, form a single community, it's not exactly "one for all, all for one." But in the end, Wolfgang coming out on top in a big way is what matters. If I pull this "Akitsu Akane" person into Wolfgang, the effective monopoly on the Unique Scenario EX "Vorpal Epic" doesn't collapse. I never thought I'd clear a Unique Scenario EX alone anyway. It was something I'd have to reveal eventually. Though, even before Akitsu Akane, I'd been planning to recommend Rust and Mold to those two scumbags for recruitment into Wolfgang. Even setting aside the fact that I lost our match and then got tempted on top of that, I judged that Rust and Mold would be combat assets. From what I hear, those two made it all the way to Fifticia, so they're apparently quite strong in SLF too. Rust is level 85, Mold level 87, if I recall.
Sunraku: "Ah, that's right."
Speaking of levels—what's my level at now? After dropping a massive number of Crystal Scorpions and defeating the Golden Scorpion, I should have earned an enormous amount of experience. Suddenly remembering this, I open my status screen... right in the middle of the Ruins of Past Glories... and words fail me.
Sunraku: "Wh-What the..."
—————————————————————————————————
PN: Sunraku
LV: 99 Extend (150)
JOB: Mercenary (Dual Blade User)
62,000 Mani
HP (Health): 40
MP (Magic): 50
STM (Stamina): 100
STR (Strength): 70
DEX (Dexterity): 70
AGI (Agility): 90
TEC (Technique): 65
VIT (Vitality): 2
LUC (Luck): 104
Skills:
· Beast-Slaughtering Endless Chain → Selectable
· Glowing Pierce → Selectable
· Infight Lv.MAX
· Drift Step → Selectable
· Setsuna's Parry → Selectable
· Hand of Fortune Lv.MAX
· Great Climb → Selectable
· Climax Boost Lv.MAX
· Eight-Fold Jump → Possessed by the Great Asura King
· Ricochet Step Lv.MAX
· Hate Trample Lv.MAX
· Sky Walker → Selectable
· Transient Lone Wolf → Mánagarmr Pride
· Off-Road Lv.MAX
· Lethal Blade Art: Water Mirror Moon, Ninth Form → Lethal Secret Art: Mirror of Fading
· Ignition Lv.MAX
· Overheat Lv.MAX
· Nitro Gain Lv.MAX
· Duelism → Bloody Ideology
· Shock Fist Strike Lv.MAX
· Ten Counter → Lethe Vanisher
· Power Slash Lv.MAX
· Single Stroke Bisection → Sword Breaker's Havoc
· Lethal Blade Art: Half-Moon Cleave, Third Form
· Martial Reliance Fighting Spirit Lv.1
· Sword Dance: Spinning Blade
· Persistence
· Acrobat Lv.1
· Melostic Foot
Equipment:
R: Togetsu [Waxing]
L: Togetsu [Waning]
Head: Staring Bird Mask (VIT+2)
Body: Lycagon's Curse
Waist: None
Legs: Lycagon's Curse
Accessory: Inventoria Key
—————————————————————————————————
Various thoughts flash through my mind. I'd completely forgotten to equip a waist piece all this time. And since I spent hours just continuously activating skills, almost everything besides the newly learned ones is either max level or ready to select its next stage. But the thing that grabs my attention most is the word added after "99"—the maximum level achievable under normal circumstances: "Extend." I know the level cap was unlocked in an update that happened right in the middle of my fight with Wethermon. If that's the case, then it's reasonable to assume this "Extend"—signifying an extension—is the stage right before the level cap release. No, more importantly—99. Level 99. I can't believe the Golden Scorpion alone raised my level by 20. Even with a solo takedown. That must mean the massive number of Crystal Scorpions that fell to their deaths did grant me experience. This is bad, isn't it? With Inventoria, this is basically effortless leveling. It's so stupid it makes the eel and lobster fishing look like a joke. Damn it. If I'd noticed before leaving Rabituza, I would've stopped by Elke's place... Wait—does this mean I can't learn new skills or strengthen existing ones unless I unlock the level cap? My avatar—Sunraku—having reached the limit and even extended it—must shatter the boundary called "level" to aim for even greater heights. Once things settle down, I'll look into the level cap.
Sunraku: "Out of my way!"
I don't have time to deal with small fry. I finish checking my status screen and sprint away at full speed from the golem that's approached me. ...It is a golem, right? It looks like nothing more or less than a triangular wooden horse, somehow radiating a sinister aura. I need to verify and organize my status and skills, but having reached level 99, my full-speed dash to Fifticia just got a whole lot easier. I won't even glance at the small fry. Given the nature of this area—if the entrance is at the neck of the giant skeleton, then by obvious logic, the exit is at the tail end. The simplicity of "just run straight" is a massive help right now. From what I've heard, besides the straight "Fourfossier Route" from Fourfossier, the two other routes—the "Fivelle Route" and the "Sixburg Route"—are blocked by areas that aren't straight shots to the exit. If I'd chosen one of those, the time spent reaching Fifticia would've been far greater.
As if begrudging even the time it takes to swing a weapon, I run—my stamina gauge spiking and plummeting wildly. While running, I sort through my jumbled thoughts and put what I need to do in order. First: the suddenly arising critical matter. For convenience, let's call it the "Akitsu Akane Problem." I'll put this on the back burner for now. Since I can't control when Akitsu Akane appears, I have no choice but to wait for Emul's report. Next: arriving at Fivelle. For convenience, let's call it the "Fivelle Arrival RTA." The initial plan: break through the Ruins of Past Glories solo. Then, as soon as I rendezvous with a certain person I've promised to meet this evening, we'll clear the final barrier standing between us and Fifticia... the Ancient Castle Ruins of Fruitless Falling Radiance. Originally, I was supposed to clear the errand quest imposed by the Unique Scenario EX "Vorpal Epic" in this area. But unfortunately, just for today, I've decided to push that to the very back of the line. If you ask why I'm in such a hurry in the first place—it's because I have to meet Rust and Mold in Fifticia by 8 AM tomorrow. After all, having promised Rust I'd "lend her the powered suit," I have to convince Oikatzo and Pencilgon. To do that, I'll prepare intel on the Unique Monster "Ctarnidd of the Abyss" as a bargaining chip... which is fine, but according to Rust, the Unique Scenario that might connect to Ctarnidd of the Abyss—"Strike the Apostle of the Abyss"—has to be accepted in Fifticia. We may have gotten friendly, but my relationship with Rust and her partner is still "complete strangers." We're not friends in SLF, nor do we have the kind of relationship where we exchange email addresses. It's a verbal promise to meet at the location. Times like this, I regret not having any social media presence. In short: if I don't show up at "Deadbeat Alley" in Fifticia by 7 AM tomorrow—verbal promise or not—there's a real risk that the clue leading to Ctarnidd of the Abyss could vanish.
Sunraku: "Sooner isn't always better!"
Leave yourself plenty of time—this is crucial. If only I could punch my past self for rushing in without thinking... As I'm performing the action of "regretting the past"—a privilege reserved exclusively for one's future self—a shadow suddenly falls over me.
Sunraku: "Wha—"
???: "DNA scan... mismatch. Code scan... not in possession. Registration... not applicable. Final decision: intruder... identified."
I look up. I see it. Immediately, my running feet switch to a backstep, and I shift into combat stance. It lands before me, its inorganic mono-eye trained on my position. Slightly creaky, but its combat capability undimmed—a thing of multiple boxy units stuck together into a rough human shape, fitted with mechanical, articulated legs like those of a crab or spider. With utter simplicity, it declares what it's about to do to me.
???: "ELIMINATING."