Chapter 57

I've completed the achievements for Bio Re3 using a lot of Rokelan, so I'm going to restart the updates!

I won't forgive Inferno Nikolai! (One defeat)

In the strategy board of the blurry game, there are characters who, due to their excessively favored abilities, have come to be called the "Four Cheats" without anyone noticing.

The first is the super popular character, the "Prince of Light, Ein," who can be considered the face of the blurry game.

Due to his excessive favoritism, he is known as the "Cheat of Cheats," possessing the highest base stats among all characters in the game, an overwhelmingly powerful unique class, a plethora of events, and being the handsome first prince of a great nation, making him a perfect cheat.

His abilities are not just versatile but truly all-around, and in a sense, he can be considered a complete upper-level version of Rex.

The second is the leader of the "Cult of Eternal Darkness," the "Prince of Darkness."

The "Cult of Eternal Darkness" has the malicious trait of becoming stronger the better the player progresses in the game, so the strength of the "Prince of Darkness" varies. However, when he is strong, he is truly terrifying.

With a full-party attack at the first encounter, he nearly destroyed my party, and he is one of the reasons I gave up on a complete playthrough on my third cycle.

The third is the female leader of the Norm Kingdom, the "Queen of White, Heart."

While she has high levels and stats, her initial abilities do not have the same impact as the other two.

However, as a priestess of the "Water God," her stats skyrocket after completing the god's awakening event, suddenly making her one of the strongest.

Especially her mental stats grow incredibly, and if I were to say who is the top healer in the blurry game, it would be her.

These three are all "broken in their own way because they cannot be companions," each possessing strength that no one else can match in their respective fields.

However, in one-on-one combat, their power is probably a step below another.

That "strongest in one-on-one" is the fourth of the Four Cheats.

The undefeated champion of the arena, the "Sword Saint, Nerva."

---

(Why is he here?!)

With a sense of despair like stepping into a bottomless swamp, I look at the Sword Saint's stats.

---

Nerva

LV 70

HP 2120

MP 385

Strength 975 (SS)

Vitality 975 (SS)

Magic 300 (B)

Mental 450 (A-)

Agility 825 (S+)

Concentration 525 (A+)

---

No matter how many times I look, it doesn't change.

The overwhelmingly powerful stats I've seen many times in the game.

As for my stats...

---

Rex

LV 50

HP 530

MP 265

Strength 200 (C+)

Vitality 200 (C+)

Magic 200 (C+)

Mental 200 (C+)

Agility 200 (C+)

Concentration 200 (C+)

---

It's almost disrespectful to compare.

Even with some boosts from equipment enchants, the difference is so vast that it's like a drop in the bucket.

No matter how things are turned around, there's no way I can win.

(Damn! Still got that cheat-like stats!)

When I look at Nerva's stats, the first thing that stands out is his level 70, which is absurdly high, but that's not the core of his strength.

For example, even if Rad, who has a similar stat trend, grows to level 70, he would never reach that level.

The current Rad is quite strong compared to a regular adventurer.

This is because the stat increase per level is significant.

For example, a typical third-class adventurer has an average base stat of 18 and a class correction of 12.

They generally gain 30 points per level.

In contrast, Rad has a base stat of 22, which is significantly higher than average, and by mastering the Brave Sword through training, he secured a class correction of 15 early on.

With an additional 3 points from equipment, he gains 40 points per level.

The 10-point difference between 30 and 40 is the result of Rad's efforts and his greatest strength.

With each level up, Rad pulls away from a typical adventurer by 10 points.

--- But Nerva easily surpasses this.

His base stats are 26, surpassing even the protagonist's 25.

Additionally, the "Sword Saint," the strongest melee class, has a correction of 24, and his fixed unique equipment adds another 4, making the total a staggering 54.

With each level up, Rad falls behind Nerva by 14 points.

What's truly cheat-like is that Nerva is literally a "born Sword Saint."

Usually, the stronger the class, the stricter the job change conditions, so it's typical to progress to higher classes as you grow.

For example, the protagonist, who starts as a "city boy who dreams of being an adventurer," has a correction of only 2, while Rad starts as a first-class melee job, the "Fighter," and gradually progresses to higher classes like "Swordsman" or "Imperial Sword."

Classes with high corrections, like "Ninja" or "Sword Saint," have the highest job change difficulty and require not only fourth-class equivalent stats but also special conditions.

However, unique characters like Nerva and Ein are different.

Their jobs are fixed, and they start with unique classes without any job change conditions.

Before Rad became a "Brave Leo" with a correction of 6, Nerva was born as a "Sword Saint" with a correction of 24 and has been growing at 54 points per level since level 1.

Past, present, and future.

He is the strongest in all of them.

--- That is what the "Sword Saint Nerva" is.

---

"…Rex?"

Guided by Prana and Mana's gazes, Nerva slowly turned and caught me in his sight.

The pressure from his gaze makes me want to take a step back, even though he hasn't done anything.

(Calm down. Calm down.)

I try to calm my racing heart and muster my mental strength to keep Nerva in my sight.

(This is the city. No matter how strong he is, he can't do anything reckless.)

In the blurry game, individual power is very strong, and high-level adventurers can easily overpower regular people.

However, society functions because there are NPC-only jobs called "Judgment" that can deal with criminals.

Criminals cannot damage Judgment, and Judgment's skills can penetrate any defense, dealing damage and permanent debuffs to criminals based on the severity of their crimes.

Acting lawlessly, even if you are strong, is suicidal in a city like Freelea, where many Judgments patrol.

(So, it's okay. It should be.)

Still, the oppressive feeling of facing someone who could kill me with one strike doesn't go away.

Seeing my hesitation, Nerva snorts and looks back at Prana and Mana, seemingly losing interest.

"Don't come any closer!"

Prana's warning is ignored as she approaches.

Mana looks at me for help.

I can't ignore that.

With a reckless heart, I step between Nerva and Prana.

"Wait. What do you intend to do?"

I'm not sure if my voice is steady.

Still, Nerva's attention is drawn away.

"Move. My business is only with that woman."

The pressure from Nerva makes me want to flinch.

I am the fearless A-rank adventurer, Rex.

I remind myself of this and stare Nerva down.

"Sorry, but those two are my apprentices."

My words, filled with as much bravado as I can muster, are

"Ridiculous."

dismissed in a single word.

"That's not ridiculous! Rex is a fine…"

It's not me but Prana and Mana who react to those words.

I silence them with a gesture.

To be honest, I'm irritated.

As someone who once harbored the desire to surpass this guy, I understand the feeling.

However, the fact that Nerva is overwhelmingly stronger is undeniable, and I have no chance of winning right now.

I need to defuse this situation...

"First, calling them apprentices is laughable. You, who are so weak, are the joke."

The follow-up words and the Sword Saint's piercing gaze make me flinch.

"You should understand, as a swordsman. The gap in strength between us."

"That... is..."

I can't refute it.

I understand the gap in strength between Nerva and me better than anyone.

I can visualize stats and know Nerva's specs from the game, so I understand the gap better than anyone.

But...

"People have talent, and that determines their rank. And from you, I sense no talent, let alone swordsmanship. I will say it plainly."

The Sword Saint looks down at me and declares,

"--- You will never, in this or any future, match me."

The shock is like being hit in the head.

I stagger, and my vision turns black.

Nerva looks at me as if I were a pebble on the road and takes another step.

But...

"…Wait."

I stand in his path again.

"What are you doing? I told you, I have no business with the weak."

"True, I am weak now. But not in the future. I will definitely surpass you."

However, my words don't resonate with the Sword Saint.

"You can say anything with your mouth. Such..."

"Then, I'll prove it."

So, I interrupt Nerva's words and declare the decisive challenge.

The part of me that shouts to stop and the part that shouts to go forward clash, and the latter wins.

I take a glove from my inventory and throw it at Nerva,

"A 'Soul Duel.' ...You won't run away, will you, Sword Saint?"

I declare the irrevocable challenge.