Chapter 27
I'm going to die here.
I mean, the Calamity Beast is perched on my finger.
Of course I'm going to die. Anyone would die. The only ones who could get out of this situation are probably Jason Statham or Keanu Reeves.
Grade 6... it's a Divine Artifact Level anomaly.
In other words, it's the real deal.
This cute, white, tiny, fluffy, cute, white (I said it twice because it's important), and makes-you-want-to-put-it-in-your-mouth little one is destroying the world. It's got a criminal record. Yes.
In short, Hokkaido, where such a terrifying wild bird lives, can be called the place where the end of the world begins. Japan sure has a lot of scary regions.
"Um... I'll return this ring, so could you maybe let me off the hook...? I'll even overlook the fact that you came out using 1,000 MP without permission, so maybe you could let me go around here...?"
I sit in a formal position, trying to gauge the mood of Shimaenaga, perched on the tip of my right finger.
For now, there's no sign of it attacking.
If I run at full speed, couldn't I escape?
Thinking that, I gently set Shimaenaga down on the ground and start running.
It casually flies after me.
Those tiny, adorable eyes are saying something.
'I'm going to kill you, right now, right here'──.
"Uwaaaaaahhh!!! Someoneeee───!!! Help meeee!!!! It's a boss!!!!!"
I shout as I run through the twelfth floor.
But there's no explorer anywhere.
Come to think of it, everyone left after the raid ended!
"Tch! Do I have no choice but to fight here?!"
A ferocious bird, said to destroy the world, summoned from a Grade 6 Divine Artifact Level anomaly.
Clearly, it's bad news.
It feels like encountering one of those ridiculously strong monsters that appear early in an RPG game, the kind that wipes out your party with a 99.8% chance if you accidentally fight them while your level is low.
This cute, seemingly weak appearance.
I know, I know.
I'm well-versed in the trope where these mascot-like things are stupidly strong.
I blast Shimaenaga, who's flapping its wings desperately and flying toward me with determination.
No good, it's still chasing me.
I have to seriously counterattack.
I throw the duralumin case, open up a two-handed stance, and unleash a rapid-fire barrage of 'Finger Snap Lv4' at 6 times per second with HP 300 and ATK 30,000.
Shimaenaga moves at high speed, dodging through the explosions and flying toward me.
No way?! It's supposed to have a 100% hit rate?!
A 100% hit rate means it's guaranteed to hit!
If it's 100% hit rate, even in Pokémon, it's guaranteed to hit!
There's no way it can dodge!
Tch!
I get it, it's not dodging!
It's getting hit!
Looking closely, Shimaenaga isn't dodging the bombardment; it's taking the hits directly, just being pushed by the blast waves.
But as a result, an even worse fact comes to light.
In other words, it's been continuously hammered with ATK 30,000, and it's not even flinching.
I unleash all 19 remaining shots of 'Blue Blood Lv2'.
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Akagi Hideo
Level 110
HP 7,369/8,115
MP 2/1,499
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'One Strike'
'Steel Spirit'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv2' G3
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
'Mugen High-Load ver3.5' G4
'Calamity Beast' G6
────────────────────
I use up all my HP.
This is my all-out, full-spirit attack.
────────────────────
Akagi Hideo
Level 110
HP 1/8,115
MP 2/1,499
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'One Strike'
'Steel Spirit'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv2' G3
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
'Mugen High-Load ver3.5' G4
'Calamity Beast' G6
────────────────────
If I don't take it down with this strike, I'll be killed anyway.
Then, I'll put everything I've got into this.
The time has come to use this.
───────────────────
'One Strike'
Defeating a formidable enemy is no easy task.
Especially if it's with just a single attack.
Ultimately doubles the calculated damage by 2.0. Can be used once every 168 hours.
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HP 7,368 ATK 736,800
×2.0
= ATK 1,473,600 (1,473,600)
The friction on my finger is insane.
I grit my teeth and put all my strength into it.
No good, it won't move. I can't snap my fingers.
I still try to rub them with all my might. The skin on my thumb tears.
Blood and flesh grind together, mixing with pale sparks, turning into a vivid crimson.
It's no use.
I can't do a finger snap.
It's as hard as if someone told me to bend a metal rod with my fingers.
"But, here, if I don't do it here......! Move, move, moveeee!"
Shimaenaga is closing in right before my eyes.
If I don't do it right here, right now, when on earth will I get another chance!
"Exca, libur, aaa——!!"
A light, melodious sound echoes through the air.
——*Snap*
Immediately after, a red-hot blaze engulfs the corridor along with the Calamity Beast.
It seemed to shine in seven colors, distorting the air and light, causing an unprecedented massive explosion.
The dungeon is melting, turning everything up to 30 meters ahead into a lake of crimson lava.
——————————————————
Akagi Hideo
Level 110
HP 0/8,115
MP 2/1,499
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'One Strike'
'Steel Spirit'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv2' G3
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
'Mugen High-Load ver3.5' G4
'Calamity Beast' G6
——————————————————
My HP is depleted, huh......
Ahh, as expected.
I figured my HP was draining since I was bleeding...... damn...... this, is, it...... huh......——
"Chee-chee-chee"
At the moment I thought I was done for, I heard the voice of the ferocious bird.
As expected of the beast that ends the world.
Even after taking my full spirit, it seems completely undamaged.
————
"Chee-chee-chee"
"?"
When I opened my eyes, I was lying in the dungeon.
On my chest, the Calamity Beast Shimaenaga rested its wings, tilting its head as it looked at me.
My HP?
It should have been zero......
——————————————————
Akagi Hideo
Level 110
HP 1,000/8,115
MP 2/1,499
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'One Strike'
'Steel Spirit'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv2' G3
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
'Mugen High-Load ver3.5' G4
'Calamity Beast' G6
——————————————————
I've revived...... and my HP is at 1,000......
What on earth happened?
"Chee-chee-chee"
"Calamity Beast...... did you save me?"
"Chee-chee"
There's no sign of hostility.
Does it not recognize me as an enemy?
No, more than that, does it feel completely at ease with me?
It's even closing its eyes, getting ready to sleep...... what in the world?
"Chee-chee-chee"
I see.
So it wasn't trying to kill me after all.
"Hm, a window popped up......"
I was so desperate, thinking Shimaenaga was about to kill me, that I didn't notice, but a warning notice appeared beside my face.
(Attacks on familiar monsters are nullified!)
Familiar monsters...... familiar means something like a pet or a subordinate, right?
Could it be that the Calamity Beast has recognized me as its master?
Wait, does that mean all the attacks I've been unleashing until now were nullified?
No wonder I thought they weren't working at all. That's terrifying.
Once more, I trace the ring of 'Calamity Beast' with my finger to open its details.
——————————————————
'Calamity Beast'
The ferocious bird that once destroyed the world.
You have become the master of calamity.
The Calamity Beast has acknowledged your unyielding spirit.
Whether to destroy the world or to continue, it is all up to you.
Consumes MP 1,000 to summon the Calamity Beast.
Unlock condition: Possess 'Steel Spirit'. ——————————————————
Huh.
The description has changed a bit.
Unlock condition...... does this mean I was able to make Shimaenaga my ally thanks to the 'Steel Spirit' I gained through power training?
"Could it be, Shimaenaga-san, that you've acknowledged me from the very start?"
"Suya~"
It's fast asleep.
It's so adorable that I hesitantly stroke it.
Then, Shimaenaga-san's status appeared.
——————————————————
Shimaenaga-san
Level 0
HP 10/10
MP 10/10
Skill
'Blasphemous Morning Star'
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Ah, the name has become Shimaenaga-san...... probably because I kept calling it that...... Hmm, Shimaenaga-san, you have quite a fierce skill called 'Blasphemous Morning Star'.
Let's see. Please show me a bit, okay?
───────────────────
'Blasphemous Morning Star'
Rebellion against the world.
The guiding morning star that ravages the dark world.
Resolves death status and grants 1,000 HP.
Usable once every 720 hours.
Resolve cooldown with 10,000 MP.
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Finally, a child who can rewrite the laws of life and death has appeared.
A monster. White and fluffy, but still a monster.
As expected, this little one was a terrifying child.
But, probably thanks to this skill, I was brought back to life.
Thank you so much, Shimaenaga-san.
"HP and MP are only 10 each. Surprisingly weak...... No, it's level 0. Does that mean it will get stronger if I raise it from here?"
I placed the sleeping Shimaenaga-san into the chest pocket of 'Adolphene's Holy Shroud', picked up the duralumin case, and decided to hurry back to the surface.
Unexpectedly, I ended up with a pet.
"Shurado-san would probably love cute things......"
I couldn't wait to show Shimaenaga-san to her.