Chapter 36
All stats 400% enhancement.
The stats that concern me are only HP.
That means HP is enhanced by 400%, so in total, it's 5 times the original.
HP 7,742/77,645
Load all current MP 1,253 into 'Blue Blood Lv3' to recover stamina.
HP 7,442/77,645
+50,120 recovery (40×1,253=50,120)
↓
HP 57,562/77,625
Shimaenaga-san's revival skill 'Blasphemous Morning Star' probably still has its cooldown from the last Gunma Dungeon, so I can't afford to die and expect to revive.
Considering the margin to withstand the tentacle attacks, the HP I can use as ammunition is only 52,000.
If I convert all of it to 'Finger Snap Lv4',
Conversion rate ATK 100: HP 1
ATK 5,200,000: 52,000
(5.2 million)
Even if I use the skill 'One Strike', the maximum damage would be double that, 10.4 million, I suppose.
Not enough, still not enough.
The enemy's HP is 25 million.
Far away. Too far away.
Is it impossible after all to defeat a raid boss alone?
"Chi-chi-chi!"
Shimaenaga...... it feels like he's saying not to give up.
That's right. That's right.
I should still have skills.
Skills that I gained at the end of hardships.
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Akagi Hideo
Level 130
HP 57,562/77,625
MP 0/2,623
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'One Strike'
'Steel Spirit'
'Probability Time: Coin Lv2'
'Super Metal Assault'
'Blue Pulsation'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv3' G4
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
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'Probability Time: Coin Lv2'──this should be very useful.
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'Probability Time: Coin Lv2'
Entrusting oneself to a 50% probability is foolish.
However, that worry is no longer necessary.
Perform a coin toss.
If heads, all stats enhanced by 40% for 5 minutes, and the next attack will multiply the final calculated damage by 2.5 times.
If tails, all stats weakened by 100% for 168 hours, and HP and MP set to 1.
Can be used once every 168 hours.
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In the extreme state of being stuck in a swamp and whack-a-mole'd by tentacles.
But, I have already overcome a probability of 1/2.
For me──Finger Man, nothing is impossible.
While being hit on the head by tentacles once every 4 seconds, I seize the gap and succeed in getting heads on the coin.
The skill 'Probability Time: Coin' has activated.
10,400,000 × 2.5 = 26,000,000
It exceeds.
Alright, I can do it!
"Hey, you cultists over there"
"Ha ha, what is it, Finger Man, surrendering?"
"No. Now, with 26,000,000 ATK firepower, I'll blow away that octopus you're so proud of"
"............Eh? No no no no, impossible...... right? Yeah, impossible. It's impossible. 26,000,000 firepower? There's no way...... it's impossible, absolutely, absolutely impossible. No matter how powerful the skill you prepare......"
I aim and put strength into my finger.
I can't rub my fingers. They won't move. They don't budge at all. Too stiff.
It was the same last time when I accidentally attacked Shimaenaga-san.
But, I should have accomplished it.
Up until now, I should have overcome it.
The numerous impossible challenges set by the daily missions.
Having overcome all of them to reach here.
Therefore, it's possible.
I can do it. I can! I can! I can! I can I can I can power!
"Uwoooooo!"
In my mind, "Excalibur!" or "Power!", the sound of coins spinning, various memories (※traumas) rush through.
The surrounding air changes.
The mud swamp begins to evaporate around me, lightning roars in the dome space, and pale blue or purple, cold-colored sparks crackle with sounds.
The colosseum starts shaking, and my fingers move little by little.
From the gap between the pad of my thumb and the pad of my middle finger, a dazzling glow spills out with a tingle.
"Uh, that's a lie, right? It's a lie, isn't it? Even for Finger Man, 26,000,000 is...... it's just bragging...... (meaning: what if it's true)"
"Exs!"
"Wait! Wait a minute! Me, me, Metal armor, you forgot about the Metal armor, right?! You can't win! You can't win, no matter what amazing technique you use, one explorer can't defeat it! It's a raid boss, you know?! Dozens, sometimes over 100 explorers team up to barely defeat it, that's the level of monster it is!"
Just before, I realize with a start.
That's right. What he says is correct.
"You're right about that"
"Ah, you changed your mind, huh (oh, that was close, I seriously thought our evil god's avatar was going to be destroyed...... whew)"
"There is Metal armor, isn't there"
"Eh?"
This guy's HP is 25 million.
The next 'Finger Snap Lv4' ATK I output is 26 million.
If 1 million is blocked by Metal's defense, maybe I won't be able to defeat it.
That was dangerous.
I'll use this.
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'Super Metal Assault'
A sturdy shield is a troublesome weapon.
However, it's not absolutely impenetrable.
For 15 seconds, reduce the opponent's defense by 50%.
Usable once every 168 hours.
────────────────────
"Alright. With this, defense has dropped by 500,000 and become 500,000, right?"
"Ah, what?! Somehow the evil god's Metal is peeling off bit by bit?!"
"Well then, once again──Exth!"
"St-stop ittt!!"
"Exth, Caliburraaaah!!"
Snap──That sound is the conductor of destruction.
A fireball occurred in the center of the dome.
The inescapable flame that destroys everything completely.
Any substance on Earth cannot withstand this heat and turns into plasma.
Primordial destruction smashes the violent might of the Black Swamp.
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(Skill level has increased)
(A new skill has been unlocked)
My ears are ringing.
My vision is pure white.
I feel like my body is being destroyed by the scorching wind.
All senses are invaded by white and heat, returning to nothing.
────
When my vision clears, the mud around is dried up.
On the parched and scorched ground, I was lying.
Sounds are gradually returning.
The blast site has become a crater.
A crater the same size as the diameter of the colosseum.
I was at the edge of that crater.
From the edge of the crater, I look down at the center. At the same time......its survival is gradually becoming certain.
"It didn't......work."
"Ch, Chi......"
At the bottom of the crater, in the sea of lava, the dungeon boss was wriggling while burned and mangled.
The cultists, with half their body charred black, raised voices of joy at the survival of the Metal monster they worship.
"Yesssh! Hyahahaha!"
"......"
"Chi......"
"I really thought I was going to die, Finger Man. But, unfortunately, you said that if I reduce 25 million HP, I can defeat it, but you didn't say that I have an anomalous substance (Anomaly) that makes revival possible!"
Revival......so that's possible too.
That's the worst.
Even though I used everything I had.
I couldn't defeat it.
"Hideo, were you here?"
"Eh? Ah. Grandpa. It's dangerous to enter the boss room without permission."
Grandfather came in through the mist.
Before I knew it, the metallic feel is gone.
Maybe Grandfather can return to normal like Hagane did.
"Not metallic anymore? I returned by putting strength in my stomach."
Apparently.
Oh well, that's fine.
"Sorry. I was told to wait, but I couldn't wait. Whoa. What is that monster?"
"The one that pulled Grandpa here. Probably."
"I see."
"Grandpa, I'm a failure. I couldn't finish it off at the crucial moment."
"Is that so. Well, everyone fails sometimes. You can try again."
"But, it's impossible now. I used everything up with that."
"Is that so. But, failure isn't a bad thing. Hideo, you're great. You challenged it, right? Then you're great."
"Grandpa......"
"Young people should challenge what they want without worrying. Without fearing failure. When you fail, fixing it is──the job of the elderly."
"Eh?"
Grandfather pulls out a rocket launcher from somewhere.
He aims it, taking position.
"My grandson was taken care of, so take this as a souvenir to the afterlife──Metal Rocket Launcher!"
Probably Metal has nothing to do with it.
Fire.
It hits the dungeon boss, causing a massive explosion.
"Ha ha ha, fool, RPG-7? There's no way such normal weaponry can hurt a dungeon monster! Besides, this guy has metal armor──"
The dungeon boss shatters.
"Wha?! Impossible?! Why with normal weaponry?! Uwaaaaah!"
The cultists are crushed by the boss.
They don't die instantly, and agonized screams suffering from the intense heat echo through the boss room.
"Th-thank you, Grandpa."
"Don't worry about it."
"You figured out how to use that well......"
"I've seen it in movies, this weapon. In zombie games, it's always used to finish off the boss."
"You knew there was a boss here?"
"Hm? No, I didn't know. I borrowed the rocket launcher to take home and put on the family altar. It's cool, so I thought Grandma would be happy."
Just how funky are you.
Grandpa is the ultimate badass.
"Where did you get that from?"
"It was placed in the previous room. Maybe these guys were planning a war. If Hideo wants it, I'll bring it for you."
"No, I don't need it."
As expected of the Akagi family's grandfather.
I won't say anything anymore.
With the boss defeated, particles of light gather.
Pikon pikon pikon pikon pikon pikon pikon!
It feels incredibly good.
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Akagi Hideo
Level 145
HP 243/20,128
MP 0/3,520
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv4'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
'Single Strike Lv6'
'Steel Spirit'
'Probability Time: Coin Lv2'
'Super Metal Assault Lv6'
'Blue Pulsation'
'Black Swamp's Severer'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv3' G4
'Proof of the Chosen One'G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror'G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud'G3
────────────────────
Wonderful.
You've reached level 145.
Hmm.
Somehow, the skills section feels thicker now.
......Wait a minute.
Oh, oh, that's strange.
Oh, oh, so this and this, because of this.
Oh, oh, that's odd, hya—.
Amazing.
'Single Strike' has mega-evolved into 'Single Strike Lv6', hasn't it.
Come to think of it, there was an announcement earlier.
It was hard to hear because I was engulfed in light.
Let me check the details.
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'Single Strike Lv6'
Slaying a powerful enemy is no easy task.
Especially if it's with a single attack.
Multiplies the final calculated damage by 4.5. Usable once every 168 hours.
Unlock condition: Kill a boss with a single strike dealing over 20,000,000 (20 million) damage.
────────────────────
Hya—.
I see.
There were probably a lot of Lv2 or Lv3 in between, but it skipped straight to the adult stairs in one go.
But still, 4.5 times is insane. Isn't this the strongest?
But according to Shurado, it probably goes up to max Lv10, so it's still not enough. Gotta keep going!
By the way, 'Super Metal Assault' has also evolved straight to 'Super Metal Assault Lv6'.
Double evolution, huh.
Double Olympic energy, I guess (?).
────────────────────
'Super Metal Assault Lv6'
A sturdy shield is a troublesome weapon.
But it's not absolutely impenetrable.
Reduces the opponent's defense by 100% for 15 seconds.
Usable once every 168 hours.
Unlock condition: Kill an enemy with over 1,000,000 defense, or kill 100 or more enemies with over 10,000 defense at once.
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This one's amazing too.
It's a percentage down of 100%, so it won't be very effective against normal enemies, but against the next Metal-type enemy, it's basically a win.
With this, I can ignore Metal.
And new skills have been added.
Ah, checking all these skills is going to keep me busy (joyfully).
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'Black Swamp's Severer'
Proof of resistance against invasion from the Black Swamp.
You have become one of the wedges that maintain the world.
Instantly restores HP and MP to maximum.
Usable once every 720 hours. Stock: 2.
Unlock condition: Make a heroic major contribution in defeating the Black Swamp dungeon boss.
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Oh, this is strong.
Or rather, it's totally broken.
Honestly, 'Blue Blood Lv3' wasn't enough for recovery, so this is a huge help.
But still, it's 720 hours as always...... I wonder if I only have aptitude for heavy skills.
But it says stock 2.
So, that means I can save up to 2 uses.
Yeah, yeah, all of them are strong.
I think I've finished checking...... oh, ah!
I just noticed something.
'Phobia Syndrome' has become Lv3 too! (※Just noticed now)
Let me see.
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'Phobia Syndrome Lv3'
Proof of one who delights in spreading terror.
Gain experience points from others' terror.
At Lv3, experience points gained receive a 3.0x multiplier.
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Oh, the unlock condition isn't showing (※It's not newly unlocked)
Hmm, well, it's still a terrible skill.
What is this, turning others' terror into experience points.
I won't become a villain who levels up by terrifying others!
Iha yaha, so many skills have increased.
"Chi-chi-chi!"
"Huh? Shimaenaga-san? Have you gotten a bit puffier again...?"
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Shimaenaga-san
Level 29
HP 10/12,486
MP 10/11,563
Skills
'Blasphemous Morning Star'
'Blasphemous Pact'
'Blasphemous Gaze'
Equipment
'Calamity Beast'
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Oh crap...... The experience from 'Black Swamp's Accumulated Malice' that came at me, part of it got siphoned by Shimaenaga-san......
So, Shimaenaga-san is actually the "siphoning Shimaenaga-san" (※That's not a real Japanese term)
No, it's undeniable that Shimaenaga-san's cooperation helped defeat it...... but man, the status is really insane.
Why.
Why, at level 29, already HP and MP have reached the five-digit mark.
Oh crap.
If this child grows, it's bad.
"Chi-chi-chi♪"
"Hmm~ Is it because I leveled up, I'm so happy~♡"
"Chi~♪"
Hmm~ Well, whatever.
Yeah. Because it's cute.
Such a cute child destroying the world is impossible, right.
But, I'll check the skills (item inspection).
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'Blasphemous Gaze'
Misconduct toward the world.
Touch the knowledge of the center of the universe.
Can analyze and understand all phenomena.
Usable once every 720 hours.
Resolve cooldown with 10,000 MP.
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Hmm, good!
Okay.
Because it's something like 'Blasphemous Gaze', I thought what if it kills all living beings in sight.
It doesn't seem like an attack-type skill, yeah yeah, still fine.
Yeah. It's okay, it's okay.
I can take care of it by myself.
"Chi-chi-chi♡"
But, no more putting in the chest pocket.
From now on, I'll have you put in the stomach.