Chapter 74

■ Duel City Gideon Central Square

In front of the entrance to the central arena, there is an open space known as the Central Square. During normal times, it buzzes with food stalls and street performers, making it one of Gideon's landmarks along with the arena itself. However, despite being the night of one of Gideon's top events, the current Central Square is empty of stalls and devoid of any street performers. This is only natural.

Gideon is in chaos due to the game started by Franklin. The people who were in this Central Square have fled from the center of the commotion, the arena, like scattered spiders. However, there are others who have gathered here.

These are about forty Masters and the Tamed Monsters and slaves they have brought with them. They are all uniformly prepared for battle, guarding and surrounding the entrance to the arena. They are not guarding against the monsters rampaging inside the arena coming out into the city. Rather, they are preparing to eliminate the Masters who are trying to quell the chaos surrounding Gideon.

They are one of Franklin's pawns, the sponsors—Prime Minister Vigoma referred to them as the "defectors" in a phone call. As the name suggests, they were once Masters of the kingdom but now wish to defect to the empire. The reason is simple: for profit. When the war restarts and ends, the benefits of being in the victorious country are vastly different from being in the defeated country. Therefore, as the situation in the kingdom worsens, the number of Masters trying to defect to other countries is endless. Among them, there are those who say, "I will establish a merit for Dryfe before defecting and then move."

They are like that, not wanting to be the losing dog but to ride the winning horse.

These Masters were lured into Franklin's plan with the promise of a favorable defection, and among them are the kingdom's PKs and PK hopefuls.

"Huh, it seems they've realized they can escape if they're low level."

While observing the lobby of the arena from the entrance, a defector wearing dragon leather armor spoke.

"Oh, I thought we could get away without doing anything, but it looks like we have a role to play."

The one who responded was a woman in priestly robes.

"Hyah-hah! It's a bucket strike!"

It was a man with bright red mohawk hair, wearing sunglasses and dressed like a magician. They are three of the highest-level defectors gathered in this Central Square.

【Steel Swordsman】 Rizaak.

【Bishop】 Myanna.

【Crimson Sorcerer】 Mohican Red.

The levels of the other defectors are over 100, but these three have a combined level exceeding 300. Additionally, as they were old acquaintances, they act as the leaders of this group. However, they are not the strongest among the defectors. There are different types of defector Masters.

Those with excellent combat power.

Or those who are mediocre but wish to defect.

Among them, the former are assigned to defeat the high-level forces that have been eliminated from the arena. The latter, who are inferior in combat power, are assigned to clean up the low-level rookies who will come out of the arena. In other words, the fact that they are gathered in this square means that their combat power is not highly evaluated by Franklin.

"Well, it's time to get to work."

Despite their dissatisfaction with the evaluation, they still considered themselves lucky. Because, compared to the other tasks, this one was easy. High-level jobs are clearly stronger than low-level jobs, and upper-level Embryos are stronger than lower-level Embryos. So, facing only lower-level opponents, anyone would think this job is easy.

"Hyah-hah, they're coming out!"

The defectors judged that the preparations of the rookies in the lobby were complete. Their number was about twenty.

(I've won.)

Rizaak smiled inwardly. Without a doubt, in terms of individual combat power and numbers, they had a nearly two-to-one advantage. Rizaak thought they couldn't lose.

"Red, when they come out, hit them with a wide-area spell."

"Hyah-hah! Disinfect the filth!"

Mohican Red began chanting a spell. In about twenty seconds, he would be ready to unleash a spell that low-level jobs couldn't withstand.

(They might be somewhat enhanced by support spells, but that won't close the gap between low-level and high-level.)

Thus, what was about to begin was a one-sided massacre, not even a real battle. Rizaak thought so—until his thoughts were shattered.

"What?"

The rookies, who were expected to rush out recklessly, did not leave the barrier. Instead, one of them extended only his right hand outside the barrier. Then,

"《Hell Miasma》, full blast."

From the gauntlet on the rookie's right hand, a black-purple smoke spewed out violently. The smoke, blocked by the barrier, did not enter the arena but spread across the Central Square—causing nearly forty percent of the defectors to lose their footing.

"What, this is..."

Rizaak's simplified status showed the abnormal condition 【Intoxication】. Checking the status of his party members, some were also affected by 【Poison】 and 【Weakness】.

"So, it's a triple-status poison gas...!?"

Rizaak was flustered. Fortunately, thanks to the accessories he wore, he was not affected by 【Poison】 and 【Weakness】. But that wasn't the problem.

"Why do they have such equipment... that a low-level rookie can use!?"

It was a valid question. Equipment has level restrictions. Moreover, an item that can inflict three status conditions simultaneously is a skill equivalent to a high-level curse, which should not be usable by a low-level. Even for Rizaak and his level, it would be challenging.

However, there is an exception. If the equipment is an MVP bonus, its performance depends on the original UBM, and it can be used without restriction by the MVP. Normally, it's impossible to become an MVP at a low level.

"Ugh..."

"Hey! Use the 【Universal Healing Elixir】!"

"Huh, but it's a waste..."

"Idiot! In this state, you'll get a death penalty even against low-levels!?"

The defectors' formation was in disarray. They were a collection of PKs and PK hopefuls, so coordination was impossible, and the unexpected turn of events was already causing them to crumble. Many used the 【Universal Healing Elixir】 on themselves but hesitated to use it on their monsters and slaves due to the cost, often reverting to their 【Jewel】 form, reducing their combat power.

"Damn!"

However, the three high-level defectors, with their longer experience in <Infinite Dendrogram>, made quick judgments and promptly used the 【Universal Healing Elixir】 to recover.

(They got us. They must have been provided with 【Universal Healing Elixirs】 by the high-levels inside the arena. They must have been fully prepared with buffs to take us down while we were suffering from status conditions!)

But Rizaak turned to Mohican Red, thinking it wouldn't be that easy.

(Alright, this time we'll cripple their advance!)

In the black-purple smoke, something moved at the entrance to the arena. It was the many who were about to leave the barrier. Rizaak thought the rookies were moving and prepared to counter them... but he soon realized something else was moving as well.

(What, it's huge!?)

Breaking through the black-purple smoke, what appeared was a dragon-like creature, heavy as a tank.

【Triple Horn Subdragon】.

A monster of the subdragon class, it has particularly high stats in exchange for lacking special abilities. Rizaak had defeated one of this species before...

"Why do they have something like this!?"

Its appearance was unexpected. Perhaps it was lent by the high-levels inside the arena, but while Rizaak was thinking this,

"VAMOOOOOOOO!!"

The 【Triple Horn Subdragon】 roared and charged forward. In its path were the defector Masters who had not yet recovered from their status conditions.

"Red!"

"《Crimson Sphere》"

In response to Rizaak's command, Mohican Red, a 【Crimson Sorcerer】, was about to cast his ultimate spell at the subdragon. But,

"《Interrupt》"

A cool voice and a sound like snapping fingers came from the "back of the subdragon." At that moment, the powerful spell Mohican Red had finished casting, the 【Crimson Sphere】, vanished as if it had never existed. Immediately, the subdragon trampled the Masters, who were unable to counterattack due to 【Intoxication】 and 【Weakness】.

"Red!"

"It's not me! Someone just canceled my spell..."

The subdragon continued to rampage, and a large bird of the subdragon class appeared, spewing flames from the sky. As the confusion deepened, the smoke cleared, and the rookies finally attacked the defectors.

(I underestimated their strength and let them take the initiative. But it's not over. We still have the upper hand in terms of overall strength!)

Rizaak's judgment was correct. Despite the unexpected equipment and high-level monsters, the overall strength difference was clear. Comparing the total levels of the combatants present, the defectors had a two-to-one or even three-to-one advantage. They could win. With this strength difference, they could definitely win. Rizaak's judgment was... entirely correct.

"Low-level <Masters> are here!"

"Let's do it!!"

A male defector in full armor and a female defector in hunter's clothing prepared to intercept the approaching rookies with their weapons—

"Huh?"

"What?"

Their weapons struck each other's vital points.

The male's axe cleaved the female in a diagonal slash, and the female's arrow pierced the male's throat. They both fell to their knees, heavily wounded, and were quickly dispatched by the following rookies.

"What's happening... Ah!?"

Rizaak immediately realized what was happening.

The status display of his party members showed the addition of 【Charm】.

【Charm】. It makes the charmed person help the enemy and attack their allies. One of the worst mental status conditions. Since it is a mental condition, not a virus, even drinking the 【Universal Healing Elixir】 wouldn't help. On this battlefield, not only the two who fell but also many of Rizaak's party members, other Masters, their tamed monsters, and slaves were gradually being charmed. More than half of the defectors, who were supposed to be allies, had turned into