“Three?”
─I will enhance three of them, so annihilate that Demon.
“But it’s just one enemy.”
Rather than adding just one more, it would be better to grab a Vampire with the power of an Intermediate Demon or above.
With Lasty around, it’ll be easier to control things, and having someone else move around is preferable to me wrapping myself in a Transcendent Masterpiece.
“Don’t you think one is insufficient?”
─Your greed is excessive. Transcendence is not a trivial level.
Each one could potentially disrupt the balance among users.
─Even a very weak Human could defeat the highest-ranked Outsider by obtaining a Transcendent Masterpiece.
“That’s true.”
Just having a Multicolored Successor grants over 80 levels of mana stats.
It means a level 1 user is on par with an 80-level user who only raised their mana stats.
If the accessory is like this, the other Weapons must have superior stats and Techniques as well.
“But battles aren’t decided solely by specs. Strong Power means nothing if you lack the ability to wield it.”
─Do you lack the ability to handle a Masterpiece?
“I certainly don’t.”
─Then you shouldn’t be worrying about that.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Of course, I can make up for the value of a single Transcendent Masterpiece with a Vampire who has the power of an Intermediate Demon.
It might be quite difficult for now, but once I undergo the Fourth Phase and somehow regain my strength, it could be possible.
But I’m currently undergoing the trial of the Multicolored Successor.
‘A trial arranged by the System.’
The trial of the Multicolored Successor can be undertaken by any ‘User.’
“From the perspective of a ‘User’, the value of one Transcendent item and that Vampire is not the same. It’s clearly advantageous to control that Vampire.”
“That’s right. It’s advantageous to control me.”
The Demon King of the One nodded in agreement.
Unlike a Lich, there’s not even a hint of rebellion.
But that’s only natural since he lost control over his body.
─…There’s a contradiction in your words.
“?”
─The reason you can control that Vampire is because you have a connection with the Queen of Vampires, right?
“That’s correct.”
─A ‘User’ can never have a connection with the Queen of Vampires. You know this well.
Well, that’s obvious.
Lasty’s body is already dead and sealed within my soul, and even if she were somewhere alive on this continent, it would have been impossible to contain True Blood.
“Is it a choice that doesn’t even exist?”
─That’s correct. A normal user could never control a Vampire like you. This is a clear contradiction…
“Why would someone who should know everything say that?”
I reach out to the Vampire and take the orb.
The aura of the Demon Race is palpable, but at the same time, the vitality of the Vampire, which is not of the Demon Race, spreads around.
It should have been extinguished by the Holy, but because it contains True Blood, that energy still lingers.
“Whether it’s a contradiction or not, it doesn’t matter.”
It doesn’t matter what perspective you view the worth of the two great beings from.
“From the User’s perspective, it’s correct that it’s lacking. It’s also true that discussing the User’s position is a bit ambiguous since I can’t control Vampires like myself.”
─……
“What’s important is that it’s merely impossible with just one.”
If the opponent had been a normal race or monster, I might have tolerated their words to some degree.
It’s not that they were entirely wrong; the final authority of the trial is given to the monster, not to the System or me.
I could have understood it in my own way.
But.
“Unfortunately, I’m a bit too narrow-minded to show mercy to a Celestial.”
The opponent is a Celestial.
I have no reason to accommodate them like others nor any intention to do so.
─……
Loreliess falls into a deep silence.
“I’m fine with whatever route you take.”
“Glad to hear that. I had to persuade this side too.”
“Hahaha…”
The Orb of the Demon King of the One, the Life Vessel, hums ominously.
Are they trembling a bit?
There’s really no need to be so scared.
“What’s your name? Besides the Demon King of the One.”
“A name… the name is all Demon King of the One. It was given to me by Kofus. No, Kofus is the one who named me.”
“Hmm…”
The Demon King of the One has a rather lame name.
Since Lasty is good at naming, I wonder if taking them to Lasty would yield a better one?
─…Weren’t they supposed to hate the Demon Race?
“?”
Is that the conclusion after all that pondering?
I was somewhat expecting a more profound answer, but I’m a bit disappointed.
“It is indeed disgusting. Even more than Celestials.”
In fact, from a human perspective, I dislike them more than Celestials.
Shudder.
The Orb rings.
─Then how do you plan to take them?
“Teetering on the edge.”
The Demon King of the One is not a Demon.
To be precise, they are an experiment that inherited the powers of the Demon Race.
Born from the hands of the Demon Race, possessing a body and thoughts similar to the Demon Race, but in conclusion, they are not a Demon.
I have no intention of allowing Celestials and Demons into my Space of Despair, but if properly educated, I can make exceptions for experiments.
“If it’s unreasonable to take you along, then how would you be friends with Lasty and possess that power?”
“Indeed, they are my dear friend.”
─……
“Do you have anything more to say?”
If not, then we can go back.
─Four.
“Four?”
─But only on the condition that it’s given with the Light of Transcendence, which has a probability. Excluding the two previously promised, the rest would be at a fifty-fifty chance…
“Five.”
─…Are you kidding me right now?
Are you serious?
“I’m serious.”
Rolling the orb.
An orb that moves freely at my command.
“I came here for the odds, and now you want me to comply with the odds again? If it were a perfect five, I’d consider it.”
─Then I can’t comply.
“Then let’s just wrap this up.”
I toss the orb into the Space of Despair and dash out of the castle.
The Demon King of the One and the Lich he holds.
And countless elite soldiers.
As I gaze at them all, I grip the hammer tightly and expand the size of the Holy Power.
The True Blood that dwells in my heart weakens the vampires, and the White Guardian, which has grown to rival the castle’s spire, prepares to strike.
Far away, a Lich glows, but it’s futile.
The Demon King of the East, who has already prepared for the death of his body, tightly binds his Life Vessel.
─W-wait a minute. Just a moment…
“Six?”
─Just hit it, you idiot.
I struck.
[The progress of Loreliess’ ■■ Trial is 100%.]
[You have passed the trial.]
■
“……”
“Still, it was quite enjoyable, right?”
“No.”
“That’s strange. I promised I’d fulfill it.”
In Loreliess’ temple.
I passed the trial to eliminate all the Demon Beasts and should be exiting soon, but I still have a reward pending from Loreliess.
“What is your complaint?”
“…You. Enough. Just give me the reward and get lost. My head is pounding.”
“Alright then.”
“Speak your wish. I’ll enhance exactly ‘two’ as promised.”
“Bitterness.”
“…I could kill you in one blow.”
“If you could.”
I spread my arms.
In an instant, Loreliess’ immense Holy Power surged atop the temple but didn’t come my way.
The trial is over now, and it’s the phase for rewards.
Loreliess, under the influence of the System, can never attack me.
‘If I strike first, though, that’s a different story.’
I responded, feeling a strange delight.
“Let’s start with the White Guardian.”
I gave her the White Guardian.
She bestowed a light akin to the Light of Transcendence, and the White Guardian began to radiate a magnificent glow as it transformed.
“Oh.”
“Take it.”
The newly glimmering White Guardian emits a serene light.
Its basic stats have greatly increased, but the most important thing is the total amount of Holy Power it can contain.
Before, it could hold about 60-70% of my strength, but now it feels like it’s increased to over 80-90%.
It doesn’t have any special traits like other masterpieces, but it’s highly effective for fully utilizing my abilities.
I’ll check the detailed performance later when I go out.
Now, I need to choose the last one…
“……”
“……”
“Aren’t you going to choose?”
“I’m thinking it over.”
The remaining weapon types are silver, yellow, black, and green.
The accessory types are red and blue.
I have to pick one of these… From my perspective, I should choose either red or blue.
Both can be used even if my weapon changes in the future, and they’ll be useful for boosting my stats.
The problem lies with the powers of the masterpieces themselves…
The red one is usable, but I question whether I need the transcendent ability. The blue one, on the other hand, is something I’ve never used since I got it at the very start.
The power of the blue one is ‘Guardian.’
It’s literally a masterpiece with the power of protection, but my body is tough enough, and I have basic healing, so I’ve never had much use for it.
Of course, once it becomes transcendent, it might be useful.
But is there really a reason for me, who already has excellent protection abilities, to gain ‘protection’?
Excluding those two, the remaining options are weapons.
They include sword, scythe, greatsword, and dagger—all weapons that I don’t primarily use.
However, there might be another way to think about it.
Considering the giant tribe I briefly observed and the upcoming Great Cataclysm, I’ll have to confront increasingly transcendent beings.
From that angle, it wouldn’t be so bad for another user to wield a transcendent masterpiece while I focus on my own strength.
That way, the areas I need to pay attention to would be greatly reduced.
I’m not just running the Academy for no reason, teaching all sorts of things.
“Alright.”
“Have you made a decision?”
“I’ve made my decision.”
■
[Ending the trial.]
[Returning to the location before the trial.]
I’m back.
My eyes slowly open, and I see myself leaning against a soft chair.
In my hand, I hold the transcendent masterpiece I chose.
The most ordinary yet familiar form.
With this, I should perform quite effectively in future battles.
‘By the way…’
Swoosh!!
“?”
[Hahahahahahahahahahaha]
[Yena, Yena…]
[Lol]
[How come you haven’t hit once?]
[How many times have you died, lol]
[The Agent is seriously strong, huh]
[?]
[Oh?]
[Lily?]
“Miss Yena?”
“Oh, come on! Let’s hit something already!”
Yena, who agreed to watch my broadcast, is getting killed by the Agent.
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