Chapter 209 — Boss Battles Are Truly About Power
The warriors of the desert were special beings.
If asked why they guard just the third gate, well.
Originally, the strong are forged in fierce real combat.
This place, the desert, was a military camp.
A place visible upon entering through the maze into the entrance garden.
It could be called a gate to guard the true world of death.
Cantati fortified the desert and perfected a system for raising warriors.
“This is a place of endless battle. There are things to be careful of.”
Before entering the first gate, Manus cautioned his companions.
Because in this Warriors’ Desert, there was a formula that must be pushed through.
The companions listened to Manus’s words.
The tips he occasionally gave were very effective for clearing towers.
Though unclear where he learned them, sometimes he seemed to know the future.
As eyes shone clearly, Manus spoke again.
“The warriors here collect battle data. The more varied tactics used, the more varied their responses become.”
“So they learn patterns.”
“Right. Conversely, it’s also a place to hone skills to the extreme.”
Say there’s a swordsman who only uses vertical slashes.
If facing countless enemies with just vertical slashes, what difficulties must be overcome?
Would need brutally powerful strength.
And weapons that can pierce any defense.
Would feel limitations as time passes.
But if those limits can be broken, could be recognized as a swordsman with the strongest vertical slash.
Manus’s theory was the same.
“If you can overcome many obstacles and train techniques, you’ll become strong enough to have no rivals in that field.”
“Good, let’s decide.”
Everyone nodded solemnly.
Difficult battles awaited.
Without fighting spirit, it would be quite a hard journey.
Still, the companions accepted Manus’s assertion.
“You’ll think you could win easily by tweaking a bit. If you want to be a specialist, endure and push through stubbornly.”
“Yes!”
The first years’ response was quite proper.
Alano, Nia, and Guillermo nodded too.
Turning to Trace, Manus saw him staring blankly elsewhere.
Manus quietly observed Trace.
Life soon flowed into his hazy eyes.
Though it seemed strange, Manus passed over it without comment.
‘Can observe more later.’
A mysterious boy invisible to others’ eyes…
As a character not in the original work, Manus planned to carefully observe bit by bit.
With all preparations complete, they just needed to open the door.
As Manus stood before the door, companions gathered behind.
Nia took position beside him.
“Ready?”
“Let’s go.”
Kugugugugu-.
The door opened.
Desert wind seeped through.
A strange metallic smell mixed in the wind, which Manus realized was blood.
Cheers rang out as the door opened.
The long passage looked like a path leading to a stage.
Colosseum.
A place full of arena elements now essential to games.
“Who’s going first?”
“I’ll go.”
“Me too.”
Guillermo and Melanie stepped forward.
Three was the number who could challenge first.
Finally Pierson raised his hand.
“Leave rear support to me. I’ll cast strong buffs.”
“Can I keep briefing?”
Emerson asked.
Manus nodded.
Like a coach giving instructions to athletes from outside the ring, Emerson’s analysis was quite possible.
But this time, they had to mind the enemies’ knowledge too?
So Manus requested a special method.
“This time use message magic instead of voice. The enemies should have intelligence too.”
“Okay. Then… I’ll direct to keep you all from getting hurt.”
“Emerson, counting on you.”
“Yeah, leave it to me.”
Emerson nodded, clenching both fists.
Would need continuous briefing during battle.
Unlike the garden and maze with similar types of demons, this place would have new bosses appearing continuously.
She felt heavier pressure than ever before.
The cheers grew louder.
As everyone came out, a rain of sound pierced from all directions.
[Welcome. I am Cantati, in charge of hosting. Dear residents of this other world.]
Waaaaaaah-!
Do even the dead cheer the same way?
Incomprehensible languages and cheers rang out.
Cantati’s eyes met the group’s.
The Apostle acting as host spoke.
From the hazy form, seems this wasn’t his main body either.
[What is the boundary between living and dead? Why must we oppose each other? Well, it doesn’t matter.]
Wooooooo-!
This time jeers poured down.
Clear who they were aimed at.
This was definitely deep in enemy territory.
Emerson spoke in a trembling voice while looking at the audience.
She knew their identity.
Those were all…
“The packed audience are all demons. Everyone be careful.”
“Th-those won’t all come down or swarm us, right?”
[Huhu, no need to worry about that. The desert residents love fairness. Nothing you need worry about will happen.]
“He says so. Then, go.”
“Huu… yes.”
Melanie and Guillermo stepped forward.
Pierson following behind.
Though firepower might seem lacking, it was a decently balanced composition.
Depending on how raised, Melanie could freely switch between melee DPS, ranged DPS, and tank positions.
Players who actually raised Melanie often researched her various uses.
Potential exhibited when giving “special methods” while maintaining tank position.
The origin was right here, facing the desert warriors.
[Let me introduce the nameless warriors. No, not warriors but mere apprentices. Should be suitable for warming up.]
Kuung-!
Heavy footsteps rang from the opposite side.
Surely beings with powerful strength.
Gulp, those who stepped forward swallowed dry saliva.
Manus spoke quietly watching his tense companions.
They far exceeded the standard level now, so needed confidence.
“You’re quite strong. So don’t cower and come back victorious.”
“Huu, got it.”
“Trust in your training and experience so far.”
Their breathing became stable as confidence grew somewhat.
Felt their heartbeats slowing too.
Kuung-!
The enemy’s great warrior appeared.
Ah, apprentice was it?
Emerson opened her eyes to measure the enemy’s strength.
And tilted her head.
“Because they’re apprentices?”
[Melanie, Senior, the energy from the enemies isn’t as strong as expected. I’ll tell you patterns through message magic.]
Those who climbed the stage nodded slightly looking back.
Her words were trustworthy.
Demons in the form of huge mummies.
‘This stage has Chariot, Strength, Emperor, Justice. Cantati is [Hierophant]. Can fill Orca’s necklace once more.’
[Justice] Arcana appearing as mid-boss.
Nutrients for Orca’s necklace waited.
Two mummies bearing Roman numeral ‘6’.
Not as strong as expected.
Two versus three, though the demons seemed disadvantaged at a glance, well.
Cantati had a habit of matching forces he considered equal.
[Then, let’s begin.]
The demons moved first.
Guillermo raised his shield and Melanie wrapped spirits around her body.
But something different from her usual self was visible.
Solid rock settled in her lower body, while burning flames blazed in her upper body.
Manus smiled seeing this.
After training for days, seems she learned it roughly.
Pierson’s special buffs poured down above.
Pierson who reached A class with buff magic alone.
“Special buffs coming!”
[Tutamen]
[Altus]
[Nervosus]
[Altus]
4th class magic and 3rd class buff magic.
Magic that greatly increased overall abilities poured down.
Not just that.
Pierson was pondering in his own way.
How to help the team more.
How to do his full share properly.
He wasn’t strong.
Against powerful enemies, what could his weak self do.
“Huhu, I have something I’ve been preparing!”
Another way besides strengthening myself and the team.
That was weakening enemies.
If making enemies as weak as myself, my stronger teammates could handle them easily.
Debuff.
Making enemies weak to lead battles favorably.
Pierson dug into what he could do well and succeeded in learning.
He wasn’t a hugely important character in the original work either.
But that meant he lived his own life faithfully.
‘Though not as good as Senior Manus!’
Pajik-!
A magic circle with purple light formed in his hand.
The clash had already begun.
Melanie and Guillermo each handling one opponent.
Manus smiled slightly seeing this.
Pierson was one who rises by himself.
A character who became a reliable pillar alongside Anais by the protagonist’s side.
Finally able to rise by himself.
[Pierson Special Technique: Inverto]
Light erupting from the purple magic circle wrapped around enemies.
Cantati’s eyes shone seeing this.
The woman handling spirits seemed to use kicks as her main weapon while the other wielded his shield like a weapon.
Most troublesome was the mage hanging back.
Not using any attack magic while doing ridiculous things.
[This is interesting.]
The Apostle witnessed directly.
Pierson raised his middle finger at the dog-headed Cantati.
Whether brave or foolish, Pierson would unhesitatingly provoke bosses whenever he saw them.
“Heh, we’ll definitely get past you.”
“Pierson, focus without chatter!”
Enemy attacks could fly at Pierson anytime.
But enemies under debuffs couldn’t break through Melanie and Guillermo.
They weren’t even selected as great warriors.
Round one ended unexpectedly simply.
[Kururuk!]
[Kuruk!]
The mummy fighting Melanie burned away, while Guillermo tore his to pieces using his shield’s edges and flat.
Pierson’s debuff had a basic [Defense Reduction] effect.
First victory.
The three’s condition was better than expected.
Just starting to warm up, only breathing a bit heavily.
Guillermo still thirsted for battle.
The magic stones lying alone looked large at a glance.
[As expected of challengers. Shall we proceed to the next duel? We have three, you have four.]
“Good.”
“I’ll go this time.”
Kael stepped forward.
She had something she wanted to do.
This was the perfect environment to train Cadenza.
–TL Notes–
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