“Alright! Let’s do this!”
As they entered with a chuckle on their lips, an arrow zipped past, piercing through Pirate’s head.
Seeing Pirate’s head turn into mist, Lucia clung to the wall in fright, becoming one with it.
From a distance, elves were charging towards them.
Elemental spirits swirled around themselves, aiming at Pirate, who turned his body into mist to dodge incoming arrows.
Of course, being magic, it could have dealt a fatal blow to Pirate, who enlarged his area of impact.
──If they managed to hit him, that is.
The world’s only third-tier class, a Climber who’s also a “chosen” one with a sub-class evolution!
Following Wakamou Inarizushi, she’s Mare Pirate, the next generation’s strongest Climber representing Japan.
Although she’s Japanese, she sometimes wonders if her leader gifts her relics related to the Korean hero Yi Sun-sin to hint at getting naturalized… but she lives without much worry.
“Are you sure about this? Even though it’s [Elemental]…”
Pirate asked worriedly, reaching out as she returned her body to its normal state while looking at the approaching spirits.
As soon as her hand touched, the spirit of fire transformed into an orb and floated in the air.
Realizing something was amiss, an elf shaman shouted something, but as Pirate swatted away a spell sent by a water spirit from afar, the linked water spirit also turned into an orb.
“I’m glad because my magic prowess far surpasses theirs.”
When they couldn’t comprehend what it meant, “the element of water” froze to a white frost and flew about, perfectly hitting the trajectory of the elemental orb once made of fire.
“[Elemental Conversion Magic: Elemental Force]”
Fire and ice collided, causing a bright light and mana shockwave that rushed harshly down the narrow corridor.
In a flash, the corridor inside the labyrinth froze as the rampant magic raced through, behaving like a wild stallion trying to escape, with blazing frozen flames burning brightly.
Towards the frozen statues of elves who had become ice sculptures in the wrecked labyrinth corridor, Pirate flicked her finger, slicing them as if they were cut and crumbling them down.
“Look, Lucia!! It’s like a world full of elves!!”
“Oh─indeed! It’s beautiful!! Beautiful Venus statues are popular too, you know? Should we perhaps set up a gallery for adults? I’m suddenly contemplating this.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I was thinking of displaying elves as exhibits, stripping them for artistic expression. After all, ancient sculptures used to do that to highlight the beauty of the body.”
“Couldn’t you just make plaster casts of the original and put them on display in a museum while dressing the actual body?”
“That’ll work too!!”
-Endless crazy statements.
-The Monster Rights Association is bound to protest.
-So, would there be more human statues, right?
-Hahaha, you’re right.
-The artwork would increase silently.
-Pirate is too strong!!!
“Hmm~ I still don’t quite know. Even if my job got stronger, I haven’t learned any skills yet. If it’s just an enhancement of existing skills? I need to see it for myself…”
The [Variation Wizard Master], a [Shape-shifting Wizard] who achieved 100% conditions for class upgrade, raised questions if any would emerge after Pirate. Pirate, who couldn’t be advised by anyone yet had to offer advice herself, lightly swung her shoulders.
“Everyone might feel a bit dizzy~”
And with a slight bow of apology, Lucia started painting all over with a brush dipped in black ink.
-Ugh.
-Ugh, dizzy.
-What kind of illusion is this!!
“[Op Art]!”
It’s a type of scientific art that uses geometric shapes, subtle color relationships, and perspective to fool the eye into seeing illusions.
In simpler terms, it’s a drawing that creates an optical illusion to deceive the eyes.
An elf warrior charging bravely towards the painted terrain of black and white on the floor leaped over a perceived pit.
However, bumping into a protruding feature of the labyrinth’s terrain, he fell into what he thought was a pit on the floor.
Making it seem, through perspective, like the terrain jutted out, recessed, or was a bottomless pit─
The more one relied on their eyes, the harder it was to escape the illusion, severely unnerving due to the labyrinth’s effects.
Painting while laughing around the narrow, complex labyrinth was Lucia.
No knowing which corner was which, where paths were blocked, or where one could go in.
Behind Lucia, utilizing every nook and cranny like the ceiling and floors and even the walls existing at the ends of corridors to incite illusions that wrecked vision, monsters were clashing and getting into a melee.
Even when they tried to track them down through spirits, the elves couldn’t even follow it properly and were thrashing around helplessly.
Squelch─
As the [Elf Assassins] concealed reached the spilled ink from Lucia, they charged in with poison-coated swords, but.
The chisel in her hand swung much faster.
In an instant, as the waist was severed and both arms soared skyward, the creation called [Elf Assassin Torso] naturally settled into Lucia’s two hands.
“Check it out, it’s amazing!! Aha!! What a pretty elf face! By sculpting the face a bit more…. Coloring the eyes will breathe life into it! It’s a fortunate thing to have a female elf!! See the liveliness in this sculpture only possible because they’re alive!!”
Pirate pondered while gazing at the elf torso frozen with a face of terror engraved the moment their whole body was chopped to pieces.
“Looks like a new type of onahole otakus would use.”
-What kind of thought is that by looking at that!!!
“I’m sure even if they only had the lower half, our crew would be fine with it!”
-What the heck do they think we are!!
-Do we really get one..?
-Yo, you’re insane.
-This place is full of crazy people!!
“As an Artist, having this new skill [Art Carrying Bag] sure makes it convenient!!”
Though any bag was fine, she stuffed the elf torso into a bag. Diligently gathering the lower body and arms spread out, she smirked, mentioning how the moment she entered the tower, the materials for her artworks were unlimited.
“In our gallery right now, we have paintings depicting wars with Orcs and Orc plaster statues on display! Come see lots and lots!!”
-In some sense, those museums are alive, aren’t they?
-Yes, living museums.
-If they’re exhibiting monsters, that means they’re alive.
-There are still two Six Legged Beasts on display haha….
-This truly is a real urban legend in the making, haha.
“Come, come, come!! Ahahahaha!!!”
Joyously, Lucia snapped away with her camera, expressing delight while shaking the photographs coming out from the Polaroid.
And she placed the photo of the passage filled with incoming elves in front, positioning another photo at the forefront.
In the viewers’ and Pirate’s sight, only the rushing elves were visible, but Lucia, with the photo right up to her face, couldn’t see it.
“[Photo Montage]!”
And as the skill was cast, the corridor started getting torn into pieces.
Combining photography with the artistic technique known as [Photo Shifting] where pictures were cut up, everything within that space got sliced.
Not a single drop of blood flowed nor a scream; the elves floated with precise lines creating gaps throughout.
“A great piece of formal art will turn out!!”
And as she suddenly set up a canvas, forming a [forced perspective] with her hands, she smiled signaling joy.
“Click!”
Boom─
A piece of barely understandable modern art emerged on the canvas.
The artwork called “Elves of the Labyrinth” drawn using the Shifting technique appeared on the canvas; the hallway was completely empty as if there was never anything there.
“Seems like there’s no reason for senior to jump in!!”
“Still, shouldn’t I do something?”
“Haha! That’s right!!”
Continually swinging her chisel, smoothly carving into the labyrinth’s walls and ceilings to form brick-like shapes, Lucia cheerfully stuffed them into her material bag as she proceeded.
As they hadn’t moved at all, the aggro had shifted elsewhere, and monsters were swarming from all directions to target the remaining Pirate party now that they’d surpassed the mid-boss.
Clang Clang─!!
Pirate, who turned her body into metal, received the incoming arrows. Although the elf warriors charged while wielding mana-infused weapons, sparks flew and Pirate, unscathed, simply adopted a karate stance and thrust her fists forward.
“Navy Karate Right Fist!!!”
Unable to withstand the forceful punch delivered with each move, the elf warriors tumbled away one after another.
An [Elf Sage] amongst them tried to cast magic, but Pirate’s presence eluded him due to the continuously shifting vision and distorted scenery, leaving him standing with a dumbfounded look.
Even the elves’ distant archers and shamans, finding themselves in empty corridors where all things seemed to vanish as they entered a certain distance, couldn’t manage an attack, hesitatingly fumbling around instead.
It would be problematic even if they pushed into the realm of Lucia’s paintings, but the further the distance, the more potent an illusion’s effect.
“Ah─ the inspiration for art! Happiness and joy!!! What a splendid model!! It’s shining bright!!”
Cheering joyously, Lucia stacked materials, checking with viewers if they could see well.
They were looking, yes; feeling deeply how profound art could be?
And observing that Germany’s future seemed incredibly bleak.
“[Mannequin Art]! When it’s Mannequin Art, then opera! 【The City of Death】! Ah! I’ve got stories to share with my adorable SS companions!! Art! Opera! Musical─!!”
“Oh, I agree! ‘Land of Lola’ from Kinky Boots also sounds good. “I am freedom, I am desire, I’m your contradictory illusion~♪””
Following Pirate’s lead, who was singing a musical number and dancing, Lucia tapped along.
Just hanging around and chatting all day seemed enough to be delightful. Singing, dancing, the mood never dropping.
“My happiness that stayed with me, oh my genuine love, now goodbye!”
Creating an opera scene, captivated by mood and song, Lucia shouted out as the artwork took form.
A “Modern Mannequin Art” adorned with multiple arms and legs came to light.
Rolling uncontrollably across the narrow maze, the bizarre creature approached, setting off a spree of frantic attacks, and a sculpture of an elf grabbing an elf’s head from within its torso hurled it at its own kind.
All battle considerations gone, the elves fled in terror from the sight.
Pursuing them relentlessly, the sculpture crushed every elf it encountered in the frantic escape.
Dozens of arms grasped, seemingly inviting others to join, swallowing them whole as agonizing screams of elves desperately struggling to survive echoed.
Lucia, playing a violin melody in harmonic accompaniment with the cries, made nasal sounds.
“Indeed~ the freshness of materials is essential after all~ Isn’t that so? How was our art… No! How was our performance!? Please smile for us? Please, right? Oh, never mind if you don’t smile…”
Asking about their reaction, wanting to hear the evaluation of an intelligent monster, Lucia, singing her statement, shook the shoulder of a trembling elf shaman.
Yet, more than a smile, the elf seemed to have lost all reason, sobbing helplessly, causing Lucia to sharpen her expression and raise her sculpture knife.
“Don’t forget to smile!”
“[He..hehee…]”
“Well done, my adorable friend!! Everyone will come to see that smile!!!”
Seeing Lucia stuffing the completely defeated elf into her bag, Pirate, who remained excited, burst into laughter clutching her stomach.
“Hahahah!! It’s true, she’s a grandma!! The Sack Grandma!! Or maybe she’s Kammas Oyaji?”
“Would you introduce me as Krampus?”
“Introducing!! The Elderly Penguin!!”
“That’s just too mean!!”
Despite poking Pirate’s side like she was pushing a button, the smile never leaving Lucia’s face, she started to dance once again as if finishing a dance she couldn’t complete before.
Playing the violin, singing, dancing─in front, the Mannequin Art made from elves zealously dragged elves along.
Pleading not to leave them behind, imploring them to stay together─ Lucia’s modern art, laden with numerous arms and legs attached to many bodies, was forcefully adding more elves to its ensemble.
“With these art materials gathered~ I sell them to Wizards and Alchemists for money~~ Summoners would be good too!! Lucia, the diligent one, works well~♬”
“And of course, her friend Pirate is going to ask to buy drinks with that money!! Let’s go to the Izakaya!!!!”
“Let’s gooooo──!!”
“”Hahaha!!!””
Acting as if they were drunk, even though they weren’t, the two, laughing loudly, found that as they set foot where the [mid-boss] was stationed, the retreating elves had formed ranks with Forest Trent, awaiting them.
Watching the rolling descent of their art down the long staircase, Lucia clapped her hands.
Then, finally, music only the viewers could hear began to flow.
“I used to think my life was a tragedy… But it turned out to be a darned comedy!!”
“Presenting─!! Welcome the artist of Germany with a round of applause!!”
“May my death be worth more than my life!!”
Pirate and Lucia descended the stairs, performing a dance. When Lucia attempted to light a cigarette, Pirate tapped her throat, signaling a no.
Lucia, dropping the cigarette and finding it amusing, showcased incredible dance moves as if she hadn’t visited a club in Germany just once or twice.
Swinging her shoulders, shaking her legs, moving her waist, captivating viewers with her dance, and next to her, Pirate danced humorously like a backup dancer, her fans losing themselves to enjoyment.
“[Die, you intruders─!!!]”
An [Elf Knight] charging towards them with valor thrust a sword at Pirate; she deftly ducked into a dive, reaching out.
As Pirate’s hand touched the elf’s body, [Shape-shifting] occurred, instantaneously shrinking the elf into a bite-sized snack in Pirate’s grip.
“Aha, it turned into a snack sized, like something you’d have with drinks~?”
“[A- A monster..! A monster!!]”
“[What the hell are you!!!]”
“No need to scream so loudly, I hear you perfectly fine!! Elven friends!!!”
Using [Shape-shifting] to transform something, not on oneself, but─ by expending mana on [Others], the alteration became feasible!!
Just that alone completely altered their entire battle strategy as Pirate, with a smile, lunged.
Regardless of whether an elf shielded with a shield, as soon as Pirate touched it, the shield wrapped itself in steel to encase Pirate’s hand─
The slapping water noise resounded under the elves’ feet as Lucia’s art pieces manifested in reality, sea water suddenly surging to waist height in an instant.
“Navy!! Merman Karate!!!”
Encasing herself in the element of water, throwing a fist as one with the wave, the impact erupted with a shockwave, and a massive wave followed, crashing onto the elves and shattering their formation.
And within the inside of the ensuing wave, “two Pirates” leap out.
Despair clouded elves’ faces.
“[Decalcomania]!”
Lucia exponentially multiplied Pirate through art, triumphantly raising a brush while simultaneously directing the two Pirates independently; they began pummeling and knocking elves down.
Assessing that they should target the other first, the elves’ archer aimed and shot arrows─ But Lucia intercepted them with a coffin.
“Welcome the delightful moment of our art reveal! Connecting scraps upon scraps….crafting out the art of [Assemblage]! Furthermore, with the fusion of the so-called moving art, [Kinetic Art]! Spring forth from the coffin, Adelheid!!!
Boom─!!
Bursting through the worn coffin ascended a human-like form crafted from assorted junk and scraps.
Silver hair fluttering with embedded green metal that glinted in the light, Adelheid, linked to Lucia by a string, lunged forward.
From joints springing spikes, blades sticking out all over, and yet harpoons emerged from joints whenever they moved.
An elf warrior caught by Adelheid, unable to escape due to being bogged down by water at their feet, embraced them with a scream of despair.
In an instant, the elf warrior was ridden with holes, incapacitated, collapsing under the sea water.
“Rest assured~ Adelheid’s love! Her hug! Only seeks warmth! Therefore, it never seeks to claim life!! I’ll capture everyone and turn them into art pieces!!!”
At those words, all the elves charged towards Pirate en masse.
“Don’t ignore us!!! Fight back!!!”
Choosing to die fighting, they charged at Pirate, their numbers surging as Pirate let out a light chuckle, lightly stomping her foot. Water instantly froze over.
The elves entering the freezing field broke through the ice unfazed, resisting the state change while unleashing attacks, but the electrocurrent attack, dispersing electricity while changing form, caught them off guard.
“[Mega Fired]─”
“Magma conquers fire!!!”
Pirate turned her punch into magma, drilling through the sage attempting to use a magic skill.
Speeding up by turning into lightning before halting and lunging with lava-induced fists, none of the monsters could withstand the direct hit.
Desperately, an elf spirit sent forth spirits, but as Pirate touched them, they turned into spheres, falling under Pirate’s control.
“[Elemental Transformation: Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain]”
Capturing four elements in an instant, Pirate was about to unleash them with full force, but was met head-on by the Forest Trent.
The mid-boss, who had remained still thus far, finally started to move.
It was the start of the unmovable mid-boss’s movements.
The Mare Pirate leaped to avoid the swing of a gigantic arm, darting across the trees and using the [Model Adjustment] skill to enlarge her fists, but the Forest Trent evaded at a faster speed.
Instead of being pushed back by two Mare Pirates, the Forest Trent, showcasing agile movements while using the entire space to his advantage, stomped the Pirates into the ground.
– “Getting stronger by drinking water!!!”
– “It’s seawater!!!”
– “Any moisture counts!!”
– “So it wasn’t moving because it was drinking water!!”
The already strong Forest Trent had absorbed the water Lucia created and the elemental shot by the Pirate, becoming even more powerful. Not expecting this gimmick, the Pirates transformed into mist and escaped from the floor, seizing Lucia in a hug and creating distance.
“You have a Werebeast skill too, right?!”
“Can’t use it well! Still immature! The duration is short!”
“Then, should we go for a combined technique?”
“Great idea!”
Avoiding the pursuing Forest Trent, the duo returned to the maze, dodging its massive fists.
“It’s makeover time, Pirate!!”
“I heard you’re a master masseur!”
“You’ve got a lot of knots!”
The two Pirates, doubled with [Decalcomania], were stacked together, and both transformed into clay with [Shape-shifting].
Using the artistic technique known as [Sculpting], which involves molding clay, Lucia masterfully sculpted the Pirates, mixing and shaping them with incredible speed to transform them into a masterpiece.
Without wasting even a gram, Lucia utilized every part, carving scales with a precision tool, and soon a magnificent Eastern dragon revealed its grand form.
“Go now! Lucia’s ultimate work of art!! [Mare Pirate]──!!”
“Kiyaaah!!”
The flexible and agile Eastern dragon, transformed with [Shape-shifting], charged towards the mid-boss again, using [Model Adjustment] to grow large and ascend to the skies.
Even the formidable Forest Trent was dwarfed by the sheer size of the dragon.
“Oorooroo!!”
The Pirate, wrapping around to prevent escape, exhaled flames from her mouth, incinerating the remaining elves along with a roar.
Despite being trapped, the Forest Trent struggled, but it was restrained with the force of steel, turning to molten lava as it became brighter and redder with [Shape-shifting].
“Come on!! Move as fast as you did earlier!!”
Craaack!!!
As the shell began to melt, the Pirate crushed and shattered the flaming Forest Trent with a howl.
Leaping up as if to soar into the sky, adhering to the ceiling and running along the walls, Lucia landed by adjusting her hat upon using the [VTuber Model] to revert back to [Mare Pirate].
“That was quite a combination!!!”
“Yeah!! Eastern dragons are great, but imagine what else is possible with this capability!!”
“Lucia, you’re incredible!! A genius!! Superb!! It’s just awesome!! Totally rockin’!!”
“Ohohohot!! Compliment me more!! More praise for Lucia!!”
Clap, clap, clap!!
“Good job, well done!!”
Responding to the Pirates’ applause and cheers, Lucia grasped the hand of the scrap heap Adelheid and waltzed around in joy.
– I don’t know what rhythm I’m supposed to follow, LOL.
– These two are driving me nuts, LOL.
– Two geniuses together create a ridiculous synergy.
– Continuous fresh ideas…!!
– The difficulty was supposed to be low due to joint participation, but this was really too much.
– Amazing, Japan’s next strongest!!
“Thank you, thank you~”
“Since we’ve done so well!! Let’s have a drink!!!”
Filled with satisfaction from the audience’s passionate reaction, Lucia and Pirate stepped towards the boss room.
The line of Forest Trents didn’t stand a chance against the two.
What boss monster awaits these two at the center of all this?
The first thing to notice was the closed door on the opposite side, and as if they had stepped outside, the two squinted against the brilliant light and raised their eyes to the sky.
Yggdrasil…? No, it’s different.
It was a tree that existed solely within the tower. The fruits emitted a jewel-like radiance, and even the leaves appeared transparent like glass. Looking at the various spirits playing around, this place appeared like a paradise hidden by elves within the maze.
At the center stood a knight clad in full armor, sword plunged into the ground, preparing to meet the intruders.
[Boss [Alvheim’s Sword Master] has appeared!]
“Huh?”
Until now, the tower never announced the appearance of a boss.
Did it think of this as a disadvantage to the Climbers?
Hearing the name of the boss monster before them, the two exchanged opinions on how to fight.
No monster had appeared with the class of [Sword Master] until now.
But isn’t the Sword Master something that appears in all kinds of works? Naturally, acknowledging it to be incredibly strong, Lucia immediately sent out the scrap Adelheid.
With an intense charge, Adelheid furiously swung her arms, but upon reaching the Sword Master, a flash occurred.
Before the sword could even be seen, Adelheid was chopped into pieces and collapsed.
“Okay, Lucia, don’t step in”
“Will you be alright?”
“Got to consider everything.”
Exchanging words, Lucia meticulously painted on Pirate’s arms and face with a brush.
Upon completing the [War Painting], and confirming the [Idol’s Protection] buff, Pirate chuckled and approached the Sword Master.
“There’s a deranged serial killer in Japan claiming to be a [Swordsman]. A senile old man who got wrecked by my dad and fled. Left sword marks on my dad’s body.”
Among Japan’s [Legendary Classes], the most heinous criminal was known. A pleasure killer who murdered many just because he wanted to slash.
Self-proclaimed Samurai in an era misplaced, a killer fled Japan because he suffered a shameful defeat to her father, the King of Authority.
Boasting that he would return without losing if he fought again, Pirate smiled upon hearing that the fool still lived at the Legendary Festival.
If she dismantled that old man, who didn’t understand his condition, instead of her father, it would prove that she was stronger than her father!!
Narrowing her eyes, the Pirate assumed a karate stance and charged towards the Sword Master.
“Come at me─!!”
Just before the full steel body of the Pirate’s fist touched the armor, a slicing sense of Mana repulsion was felt fiercely.
With a flashing gleam, the blade’s attack effortlessly severed, as Pirate, composed of [Rare Metal], was cut through like water, gritting her teeth.
Unlike Wakamou, she could feel pain.
With half arms severed, the waist slashed, and the neck half-severed, Pirate struck back at the Sword Master’s abdomen even as her fist flew through the air.
“Fast, fierce, and strong…!!”
Even if the attack connected, the whole body was cloaked in Mana. Is this the so-called [Aura]? The [Knight], being the advanced class of [Fighter], can envelop their sword in Mana, generating slashes, which Pirate knew. Her father had shown wrapping his fists in something akin to a power technique.
But she chose not to use it.
It was karate that she created by purely bashing through it with the body trained up by climbing the tower!
Moreover, as a [Wizard], such enhancement methods were not available to her.
‘Terrible matchup!’
Grinning wickedly, Pirate twiddled her fingers into blades and rotated her arms into sawblades, striking. With a shattering sound, the blade erupted loudly in all directions.
While ignoring the shattered blade, she grabbed her falling hand and swung back, utilizing her [VTuber Model] to restore her body to its original state and took a deep breath.
“I’ll use the pill I got from Ichigo!!”
The Pirate gulped down the pill, toxic almost like poison, and immediately coughed up black blood.
But as a reaction, steam spewed out from her entire body.
Pirate, whose skin turned red hot, saw her Mana level starting to explode.
“[Werebeast]─!!”
Boom!!
As the skill was invoked, the Sword Master closed the gap, targeting Pirate’s neck amidst the transformation.
Not knowing what technique or skill was used since they were not spoken, it was evident that only Pirate and Wakamou at the Wakamou Party could match such an opponent.
Kigigigi──!
“Tough, aren’t ya!!”
With antlers bursting from her head holding Mana, they vied with the sword’s blade.
Clashing with the sword’s blade with all her neck strength, Pirate rose, changing into a human form of a deer with a wide, curious grin.
“Am I going to get a bunch of fan art thanks to this!!”
Springing from the ground, Pirate’s punch, fired like lightning, embossed a deer’s hoof shape with cherry blossom patterns.
“Raise the pitch!! Take this, Sword Master!!!”
Taking a deep breath, all muscles in her triceps, shoulders, and upper arms swelled like balloons.
Inside, ominous military-like noise grew, threatening sound inside the muscle inner, unleashing even a fiercer blow than before with a hoof.
“Wakamou Style─”
Standing in place, altering her body’s internal structure with [Shape-shifting], chain explosions created elasticity from the rubbery tension and robust metal physique, augmented by beastial strength…
“Hoof Cherry Blossom Blizzard!!”
Da-da-da-da──!!
Attempting to swipe the Pirate’s arm, parry and slash while piercing mid-air, transforming from hair follicles through each muscle fiber into metal, Pirate stood firm and met the attack head-on.
Through Wakamou’s knowledge of manipulating [Mana Control] involving body transformation, leading to unrestricted, implementing lessons invaluable tactics, every dialogue with Wakamou, she gained significant insight into her skill utilization, placing Wakamou as her ultimate mentor.
Clang, clang, clang─!!
Although her chest split and waist broke, face and neck sliced, Pirate relentlessly maintained her torrent of strikes, finally shattering the Sword Master’s armor, exposing his form beneath.
“──Let me show magic…!”
Sneering as the Sword Master emitted an aura-sword, Pirate’s fist whipped forward despite losing one arm to an attack with a resounding action, twining as if tightening.
Drawing power up from feet through hand, winding like a spring through primary joints, creating tension…
If everyone else used orthodox methods, the one punch unique only to [Shape-shifting] Wizard would suffice.
“Mach Punch─!!”
Whether the sound barrier was genuinely breached was unclear. Just knowing that the tornado-like driving force from all her strength was fired like a drill.
Fired point-blank, the punch unleashed a tremendous auditory explosion, even sending the launching Pirate herself careening backward.
“Graaaah…!!!”
With the punch’s power being unwieldy, Pirate was stunned upon seeing her arm explode below the shoulder, turning into an unrecognizable mess.
“It feels like I set off a nuke with my arm, damn…!!”
Spitting black blood from Ichigo’s pill’s toxins, Pirate leaned against Lucia’s support, struggling to stand.
Using the [VTuber Model] could revert her body to the original state, but transformation came with cooldown and did not eliminate toxins.
Chugging the potion Ichigo crafted, in the cloud of dust as she assessed the boss monster’s state….whether were they defeated or not…
As the alert didn’t pop up, growing anxiety escalated, and a blow approached, with Pirate shielding Lucia, intercepting it.
“Oooghh..!!”
As blood poured from a slash across her chest, Pirate gritted her teeth, coughing out more blood.
Though resorting to [Shape-shifting] managed to mitigate…a second later, she might have been bisected.
“Really…”
The Sword Master holding a broken sword with an arm gone stared back.
Utilizing Mana to create an [Aura Sword], the Sword Master stood unwavering.
Witnessing their severed arm gradually regenerating, Pirate unintentionally laughed.
“Pirate!!”
Escape wasn’t viable. The Sword Master outpaced the two by far.
Raising the sword as Pirate sensed the slowing of time literally, her head seemed off due to blood loss?
….The [Variation Wizard Master] Pirate was more capable and better than she envisaged.
The power of [Shape-shifting] had effects extended beyond Pirate herself, affecting others── indeed, wasn’t it? The surrounding mana was apparent.
Her class was 【Wizard】.
In a lineage capable of seeing and feeling mana, as Wakamou proclaimed.
Facing death’s doorway…noticing and sensing mana’s color for the first time, an idea sparked in Pirate’s mind.
There were no [Skills] present. Yet utilizing [Skills] to conjure what didn’t exist was precisely Wakamou’s specialty. Engrossed in conversations with Wakamou where Pirate’s skill application methods were discussed, she constantly learned—arguably considering Wakamou as the optimum teacher wouldn’t be overstated.
“It’s all or nothing!!!”
– Captain?! What’s planned?!
– Won’t she die at this rate? Captain won’t, right?
– Help’s on the way, either hang in or withdraw???
– Is this a loss for the Captain?
“Win!!”
With both hands outstretched, Pirate struck a stance.
Indeed, not a karate stance─ intending to cast [Magic], Pirate sported a grin whilst eyeing the charging Sword Master.
“Thrilling… this talent of mine!!”
The landscape quivered and flickered.
Lucia had shown an alternative world through a diorama with an immersive sense experienced from it, including WaaKamo’s unique [My Worlds] within a contained realm experience on WaaKamo Floor 1.
At this very instance── manifests it!!
“Ah, what an amazing self I am…!”
As the scene shifted dramatically, the world darkened, and Pirate’s nose bled profusely.
Pirate’s face was filled with a smile in contrast with reddened bloodshot eyes and vomiting black blood, invoking [Shape-shifting].
Not herself nor anyone─ reversing the entire space touched by mana in an instant.
The dearth in mana accumulation resulted solely in transitory seconds…0.2 seconds replicated within WaaKamo’s domain!!
Unearthing mana’s configuration and swelling the Sword Master’s form, turning flesh bloated.
Resisting within though, missing the attack opportunity swayed the momentum.
“I am….!! Japan’s strongest!!”
Absorbing the Sword Master’s mana and surrounding power, Pirate assumed the formidable darkness whirlpool of menacing aura and magic.
Birth through amalgamation of diverse things, [Dark Element] donned upon Pirate’s fist, dealing the final decisive blow that broke through Sword Master’s head and blew through.
“【Black Whirlpool (黒渦)】!!”
The black whirlpool swept the area asunder, shattering the Sword Master’s corporeal form amidst an explosion releasing concentrated mana.
Laughing with a peculiar gait, even being on death’s door, Pirate remained upright, leaving the scattered boss monster ignored.
[Incheon Tower’s Floor 54 is unlocked under platinum conditions, opening to all humanity!!]
“Jehehehaha─!! Witness this, everyone!! Captain is the strongest!! Kaput”
“Pirateee!!!”
With victory celebration laughter being brief─ The rebounding body, albeit recovery, affecting issues led Pirate to roll eyes and sheltered down.
“We promised to go to Izakaya!!!”
Pirate, unresponsive, immobile despite talks about going for a drink.
“Sniff sniff…I was planning on an expensive bar!”
“Really?”
Pirate rose immediately at those words.
Lucia, growing exasperated, hammered Pirate’s head.
“No way, you really did get up.”
– LOL lolol
– LOL
– No way LOL
– Patient confirmed alive.
– Is this how it is?
– Our captain’s unbeatable!
– Hahaha, expected nothing less from the Captain!!
– The back-to-back new techniques were wild LOL
Though close, with the great reform, clearing the 54th floor was a success.
Wakamou taught bits, and Pirate perfectly absorbed every lesson, executing superbly, leaving Wakamou slightly afraid.
Genuine geniuses were on another level, indeed….
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