Chapter 87

【Holy Knight】Ray Stirling

The monster [RSK] created solely to defeat me, a <Superior>.

"I see, so Lilianna and the others are having a hard time because it's a [Holy Knight]..."

Since it has the same job as me, the countermeasures against me are directly applicable. It's an unfortunate coincidence.

I think that if they weren't [Holy Knights], Franklin would have just summoned a different monster.

...He can still summon additional monsters if he wants to.

However, he's not doing so just to "crush my spirit and defeat me completely" and to maintain the scenario where "the people protecting the city are helpless against a single monster."

Even if I defeat [RSK], he will likely summon more monsters.

However, if I can defeat [RSK], I can prevent the monsters from being released in the city, and when the barrier disappears, there will be a chance to save the princess.

"In other words, what I need to do hasn't changed. I just need to defeat [RSK]... that stupidly named piece of crap monster, [Ray Stirling Killer]."

"For that, I need to know why [Vengeance is Mine] didn't work..."

"I already have a pretty good idea."

"Huh?"

"I'm about to confirm it."

I pulled the reins to stop Silver.

"Ray!?"

I closed my right eye and opened only my left.

In a stationary state, I covered my face with my left hand to avoid a direct hit to a vital point, and through the gap, I directed my gaze at [RSK].

He was still firing countless light projectiles from the crack, accompanied by light.

Naturally, looking directly at him would burn my eyes with the piercing light, like looking at the sun through a telescope.

However, I tried to see the source of the light, the depths of the crack, even if it burned my left retina.

In the blinding light, I couldn't see anything clearly. But I kept my eyes open, determined to see what should be there.

And then—

"I thought so."

As soon as I confirmed it, a light projectile hit me.

Combined with the damage I had already taken, my HP dropped below 50%.

"Ray! [Force Heal]!"

Lilianna, from a distance, cast a healing spell on me after I was hit.

Thanks to her advanced healing spell, my HP quickly recovered to about 90%.

"Ray... you idiot! That was practically suicide!"

"Ray! That was way too dangerous!"

Yeah, I'm getting a serious scolding from both of them.

"Sorry... but it was worth it. I saw it."

Lilianna's healing spell hasn't fully restored my left eye yet.

However, the trade-off was worth it.

"I saw a name in the light."

"Name?"

"In the glowing crack, I saw the name of a different monster, faintly."

"Could it be...?"

"—[RSK] isn't alone. The one attacking us is a different monster."

◆◆◆

In <Infinite Dendrogram>, there exists a monster called the [Spawn of the Evil God].

Their characteristic as a species is that "they do not have a specific shape as a species."

They are not amorphous like slime.

The [Spawn of the Evil God] is a monster that can freely grow body parts and organs.

They start as uniform spheres of flesh.

However, they change the parts they "grow" according to their environment.

In areas with many enemies, they grow numerous sensory organs to detect danger.

In areas with many cliffs, they grow numerous hands to grab onto rock faces.

Although they grow numerous body parts by differentiating their cells, it is not something that can be easily visualized according to human aesthetics.

Additionally, they have the habit of eating easy prey, including children—whether animals, humans, or the young of [Spawn of the Evil God]—which is why they are called and shunned as [Spawn of the Evil God].

When creating [RSK], Franklin considered using the [Spawn of the Evil God]'s ability to differentiate body parts as a base.

The [Spawn of the Evil God] can differentiate not only sensory organs and limbs but also attack organs that can fire light projectiles.

Franklin took this a step further.

He modified the attack organs to "spawn other monsters."

He enhanced the differentiation to the point where the attack organs were recognized as separate monsters from [RSK].

Furthermore, he adjusted the attack organ monsters to be under the complete control of [RSK] while being separate individuals.

Normally, such a drastic modification of a monster's original form would be impossible with [Monster Creation].

[Monster Creation] is a researcher-type skill that primarily involves gathering large amounts of monster materials to create monsters of the same species.

While some status changes and skill additions can be made during creation with additional materials, the range is limited.

However, Franklin's <Superior Embryo> Pandemonium's ultimate skill, [Rebirth Temple], made it possible.

The result was... [RSK], a monster with the attack organ monster creation skill [Familiar Creation] and numerous nullification skills, while the main body does nothing.

There is no point in making the attack organs separate monsters.

If you attack with a non-nullified attribute, it won't be a problem.

Therefore, despite the elaborate design, [RSK] is just a pure dragon-class monster.

—Except for one <Master>.

◇◇◇

"Another monster? But Franklin's [Summoning] only called one [RSK]."

"Maybe it spawned the other monsters after being summoned. Some plant-type monsters can increase their numbers, too."

I've seen monsters that can reproduce by division or by spreading seeds on my way to Gideon.

"What's the point, though?"

"Yeah, normally it wouldn't make a difference. Whether it's doing it itself or other monsters are attacking, the outcome would be the same."

However, the difference in method is decisive for me... and for Nemesis.

"That [Ray Stirling Killer] is a monster created to defeat me. And our trump card, the counter skill [Vengeance is Mine], deals damage back to the attacker."

In other words...

"The counter skill that deals damage back to the attacker—only works if the attacker itself attacks. There's no better way to counter us than to do nothing."

That's why it failed.

The damage we're taking is from the monsters [RSK] created, not from [RSK] itself.

So, it's not that we can't use [Vengeance is Mine]; it's that using it would be meaningless.

Multiplying zero damage by any factor still results in zero.

Additionally, the light emission likely conceals the fact that it's a collection of multiple monsters.

"Hmm"

In any case, the trick is out.

[Vengeance is Mine] won't defeat [RSK], and even if we defeat the attack monsters, [RSK] will just create more.

"Have you confirmed your despair yet?"

"Franklin..."

"Hehe, you're quick. I thought you'd panic and not understand the situation. But even if you understand, it doesn't matter!"

Franklin laughed.

Indeed, as he said, knowing the trick of [RSK]'s magic doesn't change anything.

It's a fact.

But...

"I'm relieved to know why our [Vengeance] doesn't work."

"Relieved?"

Franklin's smile faded, and he frowned.

"Even you, a <Superior>, couldn't create an invincible monster without a reason."

"..."

The pinnacle of players, <Masters>, and <Embryos>.

The few dozen who have reached the ultimate seventh form.

Even for such opponents, creating an invincible existence was impossible.

"If that's the case, there's a way to fight back. Even if the chances are close to zero... if there's a possibility, I won't give up on it."

I recalled the words my brother once taught me, the words I remembered during the battle with [Gooz Maze].

"Hah, it's fine if you don't give up, but the remaining time is less than 270 seconds. What can you do in a little over four minutes?"

I readied [Black Greatsword] Nemesis and pointed it at [RSK].

"I can beat that guy."

"...Hmph"

So, four minutes left.

We still have no effective strategy.

Neither Lilianna nor Lord Lindos do.

[Vengeance is Mine] and [Inferno Flame] don't work.

We can't use [Reversal Like a Flapping Flag] because [RSK] doesn't use status effect skills, and we can't use [Hell Miasma] because people are falling around [RSK].

Or rather, if Franklin's words are true, using them wouldn't work anyway.

"..."

—[Vengeance is Mine] doesn't work.

—It doesn't cause status effects.

—[Inferno Flame] doesn't work.

—[Hell Miasma] doesn't work.

—[Silver Light of Separation] doesn't work.

—Even if [Grand Cross] were available, it wouldn't work.

Franklin's words.

Franklin's words, but... there are a couple of holes in them.

One is that he explicitly declared that my skills "don't work."

If he hadn't said anything, I could have wasted time trying each one.

He could have enjoyed watching me try each skill and fail.

Why... did he say it?

Just because he was in a good mood, or is there another reason?

The other is... that his countermeasures aren't perfect.

"...Ah, right. You mentioned 24 hours, didn't you?"

The maintenance period of the [PSS] I used to send information is 24 hours from this morning.

So, it's not surprising that he didn't know.

But, this alone probably won't be enough to beat it... no.

Considering the holes in the statements I mentioned earlier... it might work.

"Ray?"

"There's one last-ditch strategy. Franklin probably doesn't know about it."

"...Is it 'that'?"

"It's 'that.' If we double down on 'that,' we might be able to beat it. The risk if our read is wrong is huge, though."

Most likely, we'll lose in a semi-suicidal way.

"Is there a greater risk than losing this way?"

"No doubt. But there's still a problem."

I looked at [RSK]'s feet. Several members of the Royal Guard had fallen there.

We can't use this strategy without helping them.

As I was about to move to help them,

"Is there a way?"

Lord Lindos, who had been fighting [RSK], called out to me.

"It's a long shot... but if it works, we can prevent the monsters from being released."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

When I heard those words, I felt my eyes widen.

I had only met this person twice, yesterday and this morning, and he didn't seem to have a good impression of <Masters>.

"...I understand what you're saying. But my personal likes and dislikes are trivial. What matters is—"

"The people of Gideon and the princess, right?"

"Exactly."

Lord Lindos smiled.

I smiled back.

"So, what can I and Lord Grandria do?"

"Move the Royal Guard at [RSK]'s feet within two minutes. At least 100 meters... meters."

It will likely take two minutes to "charge."

"Also, don't let it move from there. And when I get close, stay back."

Otherwise, it will be dangerous.

"Unexpectedly, you're giving a lot of instructions. But I understand. Did you hear that, Lord Grandria?"

"Yes! I'll take care of the rescue!"

"Then I'll stop its movement!"

With that, the two moved toward [RSK]'s feet.

Lilianna dodged [RSK]'s light projectiles to rescue the Royal Guard, while Lord Lindos single-handedly held [RSK] in place.

I was genuinely impressed by the movements of these two, who were more skilled [Holy Knights] than me.

"We're going too... Silver!"

In response to my voice, Silver neighed.

And—

"[Wind Hoof]... Activate!!"

I activated the equipment skill of Silver—[Radiant Jade Horse White Silver Wind].

To be continued

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