024. Pride (1)
Dust is flying, and clouds of war hang around.
Argon’s attack happened in an instant. It was lightning fast. No one in Ackerman’s party reacted.
“Po, Ponte!”
Fonte was hit. It was only after he flew away and crashed into the wreckage that Ackerman and the others noticed.
Hoya ran and checked the condition.
“Gwa, it’s okay! There is a breath. Aww! scared!”
Hoya trembled and said.
“Keugh.”
Ackerman raised his sword.
Let’s focus, if you don’t wake up, you’ll get hit. And then, he stepped out to the front of the group. Indeed, it is the courage and sacrifice spirit worthy of the protagonist.
“Saraaam… … Wolf dear… … aaa.”
Argon screams. Only the words man and wolf are repeated.
“What the hell… … ? Who are you?”
Cain chewed his lips and said.
Cain doesn’t know who Argon is. Because it wasn’t in the Magical Fauna.
Cyana put her hands on her chest. Her slender hands were trembling.
hijacker.
The existence that tried to kidnap me was such a monster… … ! It’s an incredible sight.
“Everyone beware!”
“Professor Deiane!?”
“Gijijijiji Now that’s not important, ah!”
–!
Once more. Argon’s left arm grotesquely twisted and flew in.
Ackerman and Cain stood in front and began blocking the offensive.
“Hoya! Attack from behind!”
“Ah, ah, I get it!”
Hoya pulled out the bow with a trembling hand. It’s scary, but at least when he draws the bowstring, his heart gets terribly cold.
Hoya’s arrowhead turned into an ice pick.
“I will fight too!”
The genius magical girl shouted bravely. Siana’s red eyes glowed, and a number of magic spells floated behind her.
Argon writhing in pain.
Ackerman and the others try to stop him.
Originally, the opponent they would be fighting with was Deiane.
The first phase of the slightly twisted Act 1 boss fight has begun.
* * *
what.
After erasing my existence around the shadows, I approached a little more.
… … !
I barely held back the fact that I was about to scream.
When I arrived at full speed to see how the boss fight was going, it was a mess.
It’s because it’s a little different from the story I know.
No, isn’t it a bit?
First of all, the boss of Act 1 is Deianne, who was eroded by the fragments of Hiven.
But what was screaming over there was something else.
That guy is definitely Argon who tried to kidnap Cyana!
It’s a shame that there is another person in that position, but why does that guy look like he’s being eaten by the pieces of the hyven?
This alone is confusing, but what’s even more absurd is the fact that Ponte has collapsed.
Originally, Hoya was the character who fell away from the beginning of the boss fight in Act 1.
The guy who must have been distracted by Deianne’s enchantment skill was shooting ice arrows in front of him.
Deianne was gone, and Argon became the boss. It seems to be twisted properly.
I sent a shadow to the unconscious Fonte first.
Name: Ponte Christo
Gender: male
Age: 20
Character: ???
specialty: ???
Stats: [Strength: 19] [Agility: 16] [Stamina: 14] [Luck: 4]
Power: [10/16]
thank god.
When I saw the status window pop up, I didn’t die. It just means you’re unconscious.
stroked my chest
I hoped nothing would happen, but the variable worked like this.
In this state, not even Ackerman can be sure what will happen.
I was angry. If it’s like this, can’t I rest?
Honestly, to the extreme, I don’t care if Ackerman dies.
If it’s the knowledge and experience I know, it’s Ackerman and Nabal, and it’s enough to become strong and cut the demon king’s head.
but that’s too annoying
What I want is not to defeat the demon lord, but to rest forever.
There’s a main character, so why are you bothering to risk your life to fight?
Leave the troublesome and laborious work to Ackerman.
For that to happen, the story must flow as it should. A story that only Ackerman could handle.
I undo what went wrong. There is no time to think deeply. Let’s make a quick and bold decision.
For now, I had no choice but to follow my long playing experience and intuition.
No matter how much I thought about it, Deiane couldn’t live.
It’s because you can’t imagine how much more twisted the story would be if she, who became a worshiper of Diamon, runs away from here and plans for the future.
skills or ideas. Deianne is much more dangerous than Argon. Argon will be easier for Ackerman to deal with.
After much deliberation, I made a decision.
Find and kill Deiane and save Argon.
“Hey, look over there!”
The moment I made up my mind, the empty space distorted. Within it, arms and legs appeared as if passing through a barrier one by one.
Deianne’s delicate body was covered with smooth, reptile skin. Thanks to that, the need to visit was reduced, but the problem is the problem.
‘… … Why so early!’
It wasn’t enough that she appeared earlier than expected, and honestly, her appearance was hard to believe. No, it came from cursing.
Because she was pretty stable.
According to the story of the game, Deiane couldn’t be like that.
She is in pain from the start of the boss fight and has to struggle to avoid being encroached on by Hyven. You must be sweating profusely, in pain, and vomiting blood.
Deianne’s appearance was more intact than ever. Rather, it is overflowing with magic and vitality.
But you wouldn’t know it just by looking at it. I calmly checked her status window. And I was relieved.
Also··… .
The magical power level rises rapidly and then falls repeatedly. It means that although it looks fine on the outside, it is in a very unstable state.
It was confirmed that he was still unable to completely control the power of the hiven. collapse sooner or later
great. There doesn’t seem to be any problem clearing it.
Reality is not a game. There was no time to pause and recall the strategy, the story progressed.
“Oh my, my my. students? What are you doing here? He was playing well with my toys.”
Deianne smiled slyly and said.
‘toy? Are you talking about argon?’
Ackerman and his colleagues were shocked and said nothing.
The normal magic professor appeared as a reptile monster with the power of demons!
“Are the final exams over? Wow, there was also a cute Miss Shiana. Are you surprised, our Siana?”
“School, professor.”
Cyana took a step back.
Deianne’s voice mixed with the voice of the demons makes my heart tremble even now when I hear it.
Deianne makes strange noises while floating in the air. Unless you’re an idiot, you’d have noticed.
That’s not Deiane.
“What the hell are you!”
As expected, Ackerman, the main character, bravely stepped forward and shouted first.
“Hehe… … Have the students ever heard of the Demons?”
Deianne, like a villain, kindly began to explain what had happened. Ackerman and the others kept quiet in the Hiven… … No, listen to Diamon’s resurrection plan.
The conversation flow is just like the game.
What can be grasped here is the fact that Deiane is always the main villain, and Argon is a simple helper.
Although the order of appearance is reversed and Deianne is unexpectedly quite stable, the big picture has not changed yet.
This fact was good news.
The goal has also become clearer.
‘Nothing has changed. Kill Deiane and save Argon.’
A story I know.
It’s safest to jump on board with the story of Ackerman defeating the demon king.
The conversation between Ackerman and Deianne comes to an end.
Deianne announced the resurrection of ‘Ma’.
A heavy silence covers the battlefield.
“I won’t let you do that!”
Ackerman uttered lines worthy of a protagonist.
“Ahahaha! Are you going to stop me? be cute Ackerman student, can you stop it? But, in order to do that, I’ll have to defeat my test subject first, right? He said he would do anything if he cured the disease, so I used it… … aaah.
Terrible screams were mixed with Deianne’s last words. In an instant, the magic power fluctuated.
jjeook-
Wings sprouted from Deiane’s back. It was a form between a bat and a dragon.
“Ahahaha!”
Deianne leaped into the air. Phase 2 started faster than expected.
“stop!”
Ackerman ran in pursuit.
Argon’s claws flying at that moment!
–!
When Ackerman crouched down because he couldn’t avoid it, someone blocked his way.
“go!”
It was Cain.
“… … !”
“Huhhhhh! what!”
close by. There was a roar as her blade and Argon’s claws engaged.
“Cain!”
“Because I will defeat that monster, you professors… … Chase that monster!”
“What? What are you talking about!”
“Ka, Cain. It’s too reckless, that’s it!”
“No time! Go quickly!”
Ackerman tried to stop it, but Cain’s will was too firm. Ackerman immediately understood her heart.
“But, Cain… … .”
Cyana tried again, but Cain didn’t even budge.
“eww… … I’m fine, hurry up!”
Cain struggled to shake off Argon’s arm. He even took a stand right away. I really wanted to face the monster alone.
There is no time. Deianne was already running away.
“I’ll leave it to you, Cain! Guys, let’s go!”
Ackerman judged quickly and ran.
Pursuing Deianne is the urgent priority.
“Cain, Cain! You have to be careful.”
“yes.”
Seeing Cain’s back, Cyana hesitated for a moment before beginning to cast a spell.
It is leap magic.
It is a high-level magic that calculates coordinates and instantly moves matter, so few wizards can use it.
Siana does it as naturally as breathing. It was a magic she learned when she was only 7 years old.
I quickly sent a shadow to Hoya. The shadow whirled away and permeated beneath Hoya’s feet.
Now I can locate Ackerman’s party at any time.
–!
Flashes of light flashed.
Ackerman and Hoya ran frantically and were sucked in by Cyana’s jumping magic.
As scheduled, the members were torn apart.
I’m worried because it’s Deianne who looks stronger than before, but I’m relieved because Ackerman and Cyana are there.
She would buy time somehow.
Ackerman is a trustworthy enough guy.
It’s because he’s the ‘protagonist’ of this world, not anyone else.
I decided to solve the Cain side first.
* * *
Ackerman, Shiana and Hoya have left.
Cain and Argon are glaring at each other in the half-destroyed Professor Building.
aaa!
“Saaaram… … ! Wolf!”
As if the argon was painful, he kept scratching the ground, scratching his skin, and tearing his hair.
Originally, it was supposed to be Ponte and Cain to deal with Deianne’s allies, but now Cain is alone.
In addition, he is more anxious because he has gained the power of a hiven, not a normal ally.
Although Cain is strong, it is impossible to handle him alone. There must be a fonte.
What’s more, she hadn’t yet recovered all the strength she had put in during the sparring with Ackerman.
Cain is overdoing it now.
‘I can understand the heart.’
Defeated twice by Ackerman.
Cain was more confident in his sword than anyone else and had a high level of pride. The fact that she lost twice to the same opponent came painfully.
The burden of not being able to live up to her family’s expectations must be weighing down on her with an enormous weight.
So, I’m trying to confirm my existence by defeating that monster alone. Only then can you be sure that you are not wrong.
“haha… … .”
From the sound of his breathing, he could sense that Cain was greatly agitated.
It is not her orderly breathing that she has been listening to while training since dawn. She is deeply angry. This is proof that you can’t keep your composure.
One’s own incompetence, collapsing confidence, and worries about the sword. Everything is intertwined and it bothers her.
‘Can I leave it as it is?’
You don’t know what kind of accident you’ll get if you leave it to fight alone.
My heart is so anxious, it’s impossible for me to fully develop my skills.
Sure enough, her rush was blocked from the start.
“Ouch!”
Cain stabbed his sword sharply into it, but it bounced without even getting close enough.
It was partly because of his unstable psychological state, and partly because of the ability of the hiven.
‘Hyven’s barrier.’
The king of arrogance, Haiven, boasts the most powerful shield, that barrier.
Hyven knows that she will not be attacked by any attack thanks to her powerful barrier ability.
That’s why they are confident, smug, boastful and cocky. It is literally pride.
Of course, only within the ‘barrier’.
Attacking the hiven becomes easier if you break the barrier.
Aagh!
Judging by Argon’s condition, the barrier doesn’t seem to last long. But can Cain last until then?
Chaeng Chaeng Chaeng Chaeng!
Cain unleashed his sword strikes with great speed. The barrier sounded, but it was not enough for Cain, who lacked physical strength, to launch an attack strong enough to break through the barrier.
In the first place, it is difficult to break through the barrier with a frontal attack. Because the weak point of the barrier is somewhere else.
aaa with him!
—!
In an instant, Argon’s arm stretched out and swept the front. Cain was unable to react to the rapidly increased range of the creature.
blood shot!
Blood gushed from Cain’s shoulder like a fountain. The killing power of the nails was enormous.
I can’t.
Cain will die if I just watch him here.
In the end, I decided to take Fonte’s place. It’s a fight that the two of you have to clear in the first place.
Unlocked the shadows.
The remaining mana is 16.
Save it as much as possible and prepare for the fight against Deianne.
I walked like a casual passer-by.
“… … ?”
Cain was conscious of me and turned around.
A look of surprise is evident.
“… … you. Why are you here!”
“I heard a noise as I passed by.”
I made up a rough excuse and raised my sword. From now on, go electric. You have to get it done quickly.
“Cain, take care of my words from now on… … .”
“You are missing!”
Cain intercepted my words. Then he stood in front of me. It seemed that Cain was protecting me.
uh?
“I’m going to kill this guy, so you run away quickly!”
Cain was worried about me, but strongly expressed his will to catch it ‘alone’.
I couldn’t see Cain’s face, but he must be nervous.
is it.
If you find out that you can’t do anything by yourself until now… … Even if the target to receive help is me, if it is the black fire that he was wary of, then the current Cain will not be able to withstand it.
your heart will break
That’s why she is desperate.
He firmly believes that he must defeat that monster alone to prove his skills.
In fact, it’s like grabbing a straw.
If you fail here, Cain will collapse like a sand castle.
I do not know all about Cain’s circumstances.
However, if I recall the story of the second act, the pressure she must be under now is beyond my imagination.
As a matter of fact… … .
It’s okay to let it collapse like that.
Even for the second act.
Here, you have to realize your own wall more desperately.
Only then will it become black, and the story of Act 2 will proceed.
I checked the time.
The duration of Phase 2 is 7 minutes. I only need to get to the Ackerman side before moving on to the final phase.
Okay. There is still time. Cain breaks down before then. Seven minutes is enough time for Cain to collapse and for me to repel Argon.
I decided to leave it to her will.
If it’s your true wish to fight alone.
“Either way.”
That’s what I said when Cain first spoke to me. either way
“… … .”
Cain put on a bewildered expression, then ran towards Argon.
And, it was defeated.