Chapter 30

This time, it's quite long.

(Different! Even though this is 1,000 years after the Creon world, it's not a game world—it's a solid reality!)

That's right. The world I'm in now has already changed from a game to reality.

The living beings here are not NPCs but entities with genuine emotions.

This is clearly proven by the memories of Zeros that I have.

(If that's the case, do monsters also have emotions like humans? Is that why they can take actions that exploit our thoughts?)

I feel like I'm getting close to the answer.

But, it's still not enough.

If monsters really have emotions and intelligence, why didn't I notice it in the previous dungeons?

What's the difference between here, the [Necropolis of the Underworld], and the others—

(—That's it, it's a hidden dungeon.)

—At that moment, the answer fell into place in my mind.

With certainty, I organized the information.

First, it's clear that monsters have intelligence that is not AI like humans.

However, due to the dungeon system, the memories of newly spawned individuals are reset.

That's why I didn't notice the change in the previous dungeons.

But this is a hidden dungeon. For 1,000 years, no one has challenged it, and no one has defeated the monsters.

Furthermore, the Dark Sorcerer is an undead and doesn't die of old age.

If he has been here for 1,000 years, continuously using his wisdom—

(The Dark Sorcerer is originally an entity with great intellect. It's not surprising that he found a way to grow on his own!)

By reaching this conclusion, I also understand the source of the discomfort I felt earlier.

During the battle with the lead skeleton, one of them fell into a depression and tried to climb out using other individuals as a stepping stone.

I overlooked it, but that's an action I never saw in the game.

(That's right. That action was probably something learned over the long years spent in this dungeon.)

Now, I can finally grasp the entire situation.

(But, even if I understand this, it doesn't really mean anything...)

Unfortunately, this fact didn't improve the situation.

On the contrary, it only revealed that the current Dark Sorcerer acts on his own thoughts, and any tricks that exploit system vulnerabilities won't work.

Since I can't move, I will be killed without any way to fight back.

The moment I recognized this reality, time started moving again.

Her voice echoed immediately after.

"Zeros! Are you okay!?"

Shuna ran to me, shouting.

Facing her, I strained to speak.

"Sorry, Shuna, it's my mistake. I didn't anticipate that he would have a hidden status change or that he would switch his attack target from me to you."

"That's not important now! What's more important is that you got into this situation while protecting me..."

Shuna, overwhelmed by guilt.

Facing her, I rechecked my condition.

(The restraint won't be off for a little while longer...)

The binding effect from the Dark Lock Shadow Ball hasn't worn off yet.

The only option left for me is one.

(At this point, I have to let Shuna escape...!)

In the game, I often faced similar situations.

After a new boss was implemented, I would challenge it with high hopes but be defeated easily by its new skills.

In such cases, the important thing was to accept defeat as quickly as possible and minimize the damage.

Currently, if things continue, both Shuna and I will die.

If that's the case, the best option is for Shuna, who can still move and was dragged into this by my judgment, to survive.

Fortunately, the boss room of the [Necropolis of the Underworld] is not a sealed room, so it's possible to escape even after the battle starts.

With her level, she should be able to survive the monsters on the way.

The sooner I make the decision, the better.

'Kera kera kera kera kera'

The Dark Sorcerer, emitting an eerie laugh, summoned the Dark Lock Shadow Ball.

While keeping him in my sight, I said to Shuna.

"Anyway, Shuna, please escape."

"...What do you mean?"

"Exactly as I said. If we stay, we'll both be killed. If that's the case, it's better for Shuna to survive—"

"Don't be ridiculous!"

Shuna shouted, drowning out my words.

"...Shuna?"

"We're a party, right? How can I leave you behind and escape alone? If you're in trouble, it's my turn to help you! So—"

A dazzling light ball appeared at the tip of Shuna's staff.

Her gaze was fixed on the Dark Lock Shadow Ball controlled by the Dark Sorcerer.

'Kiki ki!'

With a shrill sound, the Dark Sorcerer released the Dark Lock Shadow Ball.

Perhaps wary of our response, he moved the dark magic bullets erratically in the air before launching them at us.

"I can also... like Zeros..."

But Shuna continued to track the movement of the magic bullets with a serious look.

It reminded me of how I focused on timing when using Parry.

(Could it be...?)

In front of my bewildered self, Shuna finally shouted.

"—Sacred Missile!!!"

'?!'

A dazzling giant light ball was released.

It collided perfectly with the magic bullet mid-air, and immediately, a fierce explosion blew through.

The deafening explosion and the intense shockwave spread throughout the dungeon.

A few seconds later, when the dust cleared—both the light ball and the magic bullet had disappeared, and neither of us had taken any damage.

Faced with this result, I couldn't help but open my eyes wide.

(...I'm surprised. I didn't think she could shoot down a magic bullet with magic.)

In itself, it's a common countermeasure in Creon.

The timing is critical, but it's less difficult than parrying magic with a sword, and most top players with experience could replicate it.

However, Shuna's courage to succeed in this, with little combat experience and the fear of death, was truly astonishing.

"Haa, haa"

Perhaps relieved from the tension, Shuna, panting, extended her right hand to me.

"So—so, we have to return together! Let's both survive and return from here, Zeros!"

"..."

Since my reincarnation until now, I felt like I was in a dream.

But it's different. Seeing her now, I finally understood.

Even though I understood it intellectually, I probably didn't realize it deep down.

This is not a game but reality.

Monsters and humans alike live with clear intentions.

The Dark Sorcerer, who mocked us.

Shuna, who shouted that she couldn't abandon me and mustered her courage to face him.

And no one else—

I myself am just a human living in this world.

"—!"

The moment I realized this.

The scenery before my eyes seemed to suddenly come to life.

Not just my vision. My sense of smell, hearing, and touch—all my senses became vivid.

As if to prove to myself that this is not the world of 'Creon' but reality.

(That's right... I guess I subconsciously thought this was just an extension of Creon. But that was wrong.)

The moment I realized this, my restrained state was also released.

I looked up at Shuna.

"...Thank you, Shuna."

I grabbed Shuna's extended right hand and slowly stood up.

She's right.

This is reality. There's no value in losing a companion.

"...! Yeah, Zeros!"

Perhaps she sensed my change.

Shuna smiled in relief and nodded happily.

However, unfortunately, this doesn't mean a happy ending.

The battle is not over yet.

'Kiki iiiii!'

The Dark Sorcerer's roar cut through the calm atmosphere between us.

He's probably going to launch another Dark Lock Shadow Ball.

Shuna and I readied our sword and staff, focusing on the Dark Sorcerer.

"Thanks to the potion, I can cast one more spell. At least, I'll buy us some time to escape..."

Shuna's words trailed off.

The hopeless scene before us was inevitable.

Before the status change, the Dark Sorcerer used no more than two Dark Lock Shadow Balls at a time.

But now, nine magic bullets floated around him.

He must have decided to use this method, thinking that launching them in small quantities wouldn't work.

This over-the-limit use would certainly come with a cost.

"No! We can't block all of them with Sacred Missile..."

Shuna's face was filled with despair.

But unlike her, I wasn't confused.

"Shuna, you don't need to block the enemy's magic. Save your last spell to destroy his Dark Lock."

"Huh? Do you mean—"

I readied my sword, facing the Dark Sorcerer who had resorted to his final means.

I had a certain conviction, and I had already made one decision.

The situation is hopeless, but there is one way to counter it.

A method that is almost impossible even for Zeronity, who was once the top-ranked player in the original world.

But now, with the understanding that this world is reality, I have the confidence to make it possible.

Until now, I had been trying to surpass my former self without much thought.

But that's not enough.

I smiled lightly at Shuna and conveyed my resolve to change this situation.

"Yes, just as you imagined."

That's right. This means—

"—I will cut down all of his magic."

—This moment, the resolve to surpass the former strongest.

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