Chapter 77

■???

Let's talk about a man.

The man was a composer.

And he was one of the most talented in his generation.

Even people who had no interest in music often saw his name in the staff rolls of movies and games.

He had one dream.

He wanted to write an opera.

Ever since he saw an opera as a boy, he had harbored this dream.

What he wanted to depict was the life of a hero.

A fictional hero, not found in existing legends, and he wanted to tell the story of the hero's entire life.

To depict human joy, anger, tragedy, and the meaning of life through a series of songs and stories.

That was his ideal.

But it would never come true.

With his achievements, it was possible for him to compose, write the script, and direct an opera.

But it would never come true.

If he expressed his desire to create an opera, there would be many sponsors willing to support him.

But it would never come true.

Because he himself could not give form to his own dream, his own ideal.

The ideal was within him.

But it was terribly vague, and when he tried to give it a definite shape, it would vanish like a dream.

He agonized at his desk.

--- Why?

--- Why can't I create it?

Despite composing countless masterpieces, he stagnated when it came to realizing his own dream.

In the two years of his struggle, he came to understand the reason.

--- I see.

--- It's because I lack it within myself that I can't depict it.

The reason his ideal story could not take shape was that he himself did not know heroes or battles.

Therefore, no matter how much he tried to depict his ideal, it would turn into a fake and disappear the moment it took form.

At least, that was his conclusion.

--- Ah, but what should I do?

--- How can I come to know heroes and battles?

He was too old to go to the battlefield.

And if he died there, it would be meaningless.

Furthermore, the world today does not have the kind of heroic stories he sought.

--- Why wasn't I born in the age of knights?

--- Why wasn't I born in the age of myths?

These were experiences that could never be realized or obtained in this world.

With despair, he considered giving up on his unattainable wish and leaving behind a compromised work.

It was then that he heard these words:

--- "Infinite Dendrogram offers you a new world and possibilities."

What was this new world?

Upon further investigation, it turned out to be a game's promotional slogan.

He had composed music for games before but rarely played them.

However, he was strangely drawn to "Infinite Dendrogram."

Thus, he obtained the game, which was hard to come by at the time, through his connections and entered the world of "Infinite Dendrogram."

And he encountered it.

A world that was extremely close to his ideal, a world where he could experience the reality he sought.

◇◆

□■ Duel City Gideon, Ninth Street

Gideon Ninth Street.

Unlike Third Street, which deals with relatively ordinary items, this district is home to many black markets.

It is usually a rather seedy area, second only to Eighth Street, which houses the headquarters of the procurer and thief guilds, but tonight it was somewhat cleaner.

This was due to the fewer people and the reduction in the number of buildings.

Countless explosions and pulverizations.

Centered around two moving shadows, the buildings on Ninth Street were collapsing one after another.

One of the shadows was Marie Adler, known as the "Absolute Shadow" and a PK (Player Killer).

The other was Beldorber and the three <Embryos> he commanded.

Beldorber, as an assassin prepared by Franklin, had already taken down many powerful <Masters> on the kingdom's side in tonight's battle.

As a super-class job and a sixth-form <Advanced Embryo>, he was among the top-tier combatants in "Infinite Dendrogram," excluding the super-class.

Therefore, the aftermath of their battle resembled a disaster, causing significant damage to the surroundings.

However, upon closer inspection, it was clear that the damage was caused by one of the two parties.

Yes, all the damage, such as the collapse of buildings, was caused by Beldorber.

However, this was not because Marie was considering the collateral damage.

"Hmm..."

Marie let out a slight tongue click while setting all her Alcanshelle's ammunition to "Explosive Red" and continuously firing pure explosive bullet creatures.

These could easily kill lower-class enemies with a single hit and deal damage that even higher-class enemies could not ignore.

If they hit, they would likely blow away one or two buildings along with Beldorber.

However, that was not happening.

The explosive bullet creatures were all shattered a hundred or so meters in front of Beldorber, only managing to create a burst of flames in the air.

(Ah, already... no matter how many I fire, they don't reach him.)

This was due to the ability of Beldorber's <Embryos>.

A full-range attack that could both defend and attack by crushing objects within a few hundred meters and reducing them to dust.

Marie was already certain of its nature from the initial clash, a few attacks, and the information she had obtained the previous day.

(Sound...)

The nature of Beldorber's attack was undoubtedly sound waves transmitted through the air.

However, the way it shattered surrounding objects was far too intense to be just sound.

(Just as my stealth type is a derivative of ninjas, musicians also have several derivatives, such as singing and playing instruments. Among them, that "Conductor" is likely... a conductor type.)

The conductor type is equivalent to an orchestra conductor, a job specialized in enhancing the effects of music-related skills of party members.

Musicians themselves are non-combat jobs, and when they participate in battles, they mostly focus on party buffs and debuffs.

Therefore, the conductor type, derived from this, was a job that supported support roles...

(I've never seen this type in combat before.)

Beldorber's destructive power, with whom she was currently engaged, was among the top, excluding the super-class.

It was far from being a simple support role.

(The <Embryos> must possess music-related skills that can be used for attacks. Their power is amplified several times by the "Conductor" skills, leading to this devastation.)

Marie also assumed that there was a skill to reduce MP consumption.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to continuously use such a powerful attack, equivalent to a critical skill, from the start of the battle without interruption.

(That sound attack is probably not based on resonant frequencies to collapse objects but rather a pure high-output vibration wave... a shock wave that shatters things.)

Therefore, while the bullet creatures could hold up for a moment when they entered the attack range, they were ultimately destroyed before reaching Beldorber.

"I don't want to say it, but we have a bad match-up..."

Marie's statement was true.

The bullet creatures fired by her Alcanshelle, while capable of changing ammunition types, were all biological.

If they entered the vibration barrier, they would take significant damage.

The same applied to Marie, making it impossible to use her other main combat method, "silent close-range ambush."

Beldorber would not stop the vibration barrier until he had securely taken down Marie.

(Well, how should I deal with this?)

Marie, known as the "Super-class Killer," had sunk many <Masters> into a sea of blood.

Among them were certainly those who were not well-matched with her or were more powerful.

She had overcome them, which is why she was the "Super-class Killer."

(There's also the matter of Eri... should I take a chance and use "Daisy" or "White Princess"?)

Marie also had a trump card.

It was something that all <Masters> who had reached a certain level possessed.

A critical skill.

Using one of Alcanshelle's critical skills could potentially break this situation.

(The problem is the drawback. If I use it here, I'll be at a disadvantage for the Franklin battle.)

Alcanshelle's critical skills were powerful, but the risk of using them was high.

Using them would undoubtedly reduce Marie's combat power.

It was impossible to face a super-class opponent at less than full strength.

Especially since Franklin, as it stood, was not even using a fraction of his true power.

Since the initial ambush failed to take him down, it would be a brutal battle from now on.

(And...)

The same applied to Beldorber, who had not shown his full strength.

Beldorber's <Embryos> had more than just the vibration barrier.

At least two other types of attacks were mixed in.

(My mental status effect resistance passive has been reacting... is it a hypnotic sound wave?)

The stealth type, to which Marie belonged, had high resistance to mental status effects.

As a super-class job, and with accessories that increased resistance, she was able to nullify the effects.

However, it was clear that Beldorber was using a mental status effect attack with a longer range than the vibration barrier.

(One more...)

Following the warning from her <Danger Sense>, she instinctively jumped to the right.

Something invisible passed through the spot where she had been just a moment ago.

The <Danger Sense> activated again, and this time she kicked up debris to avoid it.

The flying debris were instantly bisected, with abnormally smooth and sharp cross-sections.

(If "sound" is used for "cutting"... it must be an ultrasonic scalpel, right?)

Marie thought of an old movie monster that used "ultrasonic waves to cut distant objects" as a weapon, not as a surgical tool.

Of course, such a feat was impossible with normal physics, but this was not Earth. This was "Infinite Dendrogram," where magic existed.

(A magic-leaning skill, perhaps... but despite focusing on sound, it has a wide variety of attacks.)

Super-vibration waves.

Hypnotic sound waves.

Ultrasonic scalpel.

Marie deduced that each of the three <Embryos> serving Beldorber was using different skills.

(The <Embryo> patterns are generally two types: increasing the number to the extreme or using different skill patterns for each individual. Beldorber's <Embryos> are a typical example of the latter.)

While the ability of each <Embryo> would decrease if it were spread out, Beldorber's support skills as the "Conductor" were likely enhancing them even more.

Marie, a seasoned veteran, felt pressure equivalent to or greater than facing three Gardner <Embryos> in their sixth form due to her experience.

"Tricky, really..."

Marie understood this because she herself was like that.

The combination of a super-class job and a sixth-form <Embryo> put one on the threshold of the super-class.

Especially if the <Embryo> and job had synergistic effects, Beldorber was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.

"Tricky... even though"

And yet.

"You're giving me quite a performance, aren't you?"

Despite the inside of the vibration barrier being a hell where everything was shattered.

The sound waves flowing outside were a performance that could move one to tears.

Marie, and the real-life Minami Nagisa, had attended famous orchestra classical concerts for interviews.

She was impressed then, but the performance of Beldorber's orchestra, resonating on this battlefield, was incomparable.

It was not just Marie's impression; during the battle, several residents were occasionally drawn to the music, only to realize the intense battle and flee.

"Is it the 'Conductor' skills that make it sound like a great performance?"

"Well, at least I wrote the score."

Marie's mutter was answered by a sound wave carrying words, as if they were words.

Despite the chaotic soundscape of destruction and heavenly music at the center where Beldorber was, he could apparently hear Marie's words.

They were hundreds of meters apart, and normally it would be impossible to communicate without the vibration barrier.

However, Beldorber's skill to send sound and his skill to receive sound made this conversation possible.

"You wrote it yourself... that's impressive. But, I don't understand. If you were in an art clan or a combat clan, it would make sense, but why are you in a robot production-focused clan?"

"I also contribute to their creative activities. I recently helped create a new theme song for Grand Marshal."

"Grand?"

Beldorber continued, riding the sound waves, as if it were a joke—yet a true story.

"The reason I joined is simple. Because Franklin won the previous war and will likely be the main force in many battles to come. Because he might become a hero. Or he might be the one to fall to a hero... either way, it's fine."

"Hero?"

"Yes, I want to see the moment a hero rises. I want to see it with my own eyes."

Despite being a simulated voice created by the performance, Marie could sense the intense passion in it.

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to team up with the 'Beast King' or the 'Demon General'?"

"They didn't share my interests."

"..."

Marie swallowed a light-hearted remark about how she shared interests with someone like that.

It was not out of self-restraint.

She simply felt it was not the time to say it.

The music had gradually weakened.

The range of the vibration barrier was also shrinking.

(MP depletion... no!)

Ignoring Marie's agitation, Beldorber stopped twirling his baton.

This gesture signified the end of the performance.

Following this, the three <Embryos> stopped playing.

The music ceased, and the destruction and heavenly performance that had filled the surroundings came to a complete halt.

Marie could not take this opportunity to attack.

It was not a skill-based perception.

Her woman's intuition... or perhaps her animalistic instinct, was sounding the alarm.

"Percussion solo. Strings and horns, tuning."

This was the first time Beldorber's voice had been heard since the battle began.

Immediately after his words, the kobold stepped forward and positioned the drum it was carrying.

The kelpie and centaur lined up behind the kobold—pulling cables from their mechanical bodies and connecting them to the kobold's body.

"...!!"

Contrary to the previous situation.

The insight that she must move, that she must stop it, brought a warning.

But,

"Ugh"

Just before closing the distance, Marie spat blood.

It was not just that. She was also suffering from bleeding from her eye sockets and ears, and a strong dizziness that made it impossible to move properly.

(Damage... what is it?)

Then she realized.

The music had stopped, yet the dust around her was still vibrating slightly.

As if shaken by intense sound waves.

(This is a loud sound... more specifically, infrasound below the human audible range!)

In