novelraw Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Chapter 156
When a Dungeon Break occurs, the foundation uses its network to dispatch explorers to the site.
Nearby dungeons, or those who just happened to be close by.
Anyway, they gather every bit of combat power they can.
Everyone joins in to hunt the overflowing monsters.
Not a single one is allowed to escape.
Monsters are mysterious creatures that ordinary people simply cannot defeat.
Whether you bring guns, rocket launchers, or even fire missiles, they're ineffective. Only the foundation and its explorers can defeat monsters.
Do not falter, explorers.
You who expose and eradicate the mysterious.
'Pollen Fighter' steels themself, steadying their ragged breath.
Their opponent is a dungeon French Bulldog of the 27th floor class.
It boasts a body several meters long and has adorably round eyes, but if it escapes the combat zone, the lives of thousands could be lost.
Channeling their resolve into the axe bought from the home center, they let out a "WOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!" and smashed the French Bulldog with all their strength.
Even if their spirit was broken in the depths of darkness, and cosmic nightmare-like fear festered within, Pollen Fighter fights. Because they are a true explorer.
Because they believe that neither the impossible nor the unthinkable exists.
They continue to breathe heavily through their shoulders.
Defeating a level D-27 monster is an incredibly grueling task.
And with continuous battles, even Pollen Fighter begins to show signs of fatigue.
"Hah, hah, hah... That makes thirty of them... Hah, hah hah... The dungeon causing this Dungeon Break is massive... Monsters of the high twenties floor class are flooding out. Class 3 is tough... Could it be Class 4? If so, that means a Class 4 has appeared in Japan twice in quick succession for the first time in twenty years."
In recent years, the number of dungeons occurring has exploded.
And in the past few months, large-scale Class 3 dungeons have been increasing, and even a Class 4 has reappeared for the first time in ages.
"There's also the matter of the Archon Dungeon in Antarctica being unsealed. Something may be starting to move..."
A sense of unease wouldn't go away.
——Clap clap clap clap.
The sound of light applause echoed from somewhere.
"Bravo, bravo, bravo. As expected of the A-rank explorer 'Pollen Fighter.'"
The man stood on the roof.
Overlooking the street lined with souvenir shops, he was sitting on a steel beam laid down haphazardly—where he got it from, no one knows. The smell of rusty iron filled the air.
He had the slender features of a Westerner and wore a thick, dirty coat.
He wore tasteless round-lens sunglasses and rubbed his unkempt beard with his hand.
An extremely shady-looking man.
"Who are you? You don't seem to be a civilian. You're suspicious, breathing deeply even while pollen visibly scatters through the air."
"I'm a member of what your foundation calls the high-risk group 'Sword Prison Society.' We're the ones causing this Dungeon Break and letting monsters spill into the city."
"What? A Dungeon Break? For what purpose? That's like sneaking into a hay fever patient's bedroom at night and scattering pollen everywhere! (Translation: Why would you do something so awful?)"
"It's just a little errand. Our sponsor asked us to give it a try now that the technology to trigger a Dungeon Break is ready."
"You people are truly bizarre and dangerous."
"It's not such a strange story, Pollen Fighter. Those who want to control the mysterious, and those who want to use it freely—clashes are inevitable. Don't you agree?"
The shady man stood up and brushed off his coat with a flap.
"It would be inconvenient for us if the foundation's forces, those vigilantes playing heroes, happened to enter Area 01 and approached the dungeon. So first, we fill Area 01 with monsters, expand the barrier, fill Area 02 the same way, and expand again. Once we have about 100,000 to 200,000 monsters, we'll release the barrier and measure the damage in western Japan. That's the kind of social experiment data our sponsor wants."
"Do you really think the foundation will allow that?"
"Hah, they won't. They've tamed all sorts of monsters, after all. But look. That thing can't be broken."
The shady man pointed to the sky.
Currently, a massive dome-shaped barrier had been deployed in the sky.
"No matter what kind of monster it is, that barrier can't be broken. Which means the foundation's forces on the outside can only watch the damage happening inside."
Five minutes after the Dungeon Break occurred.
A barrier spanning several kilometers in radius had been deployed.
The 'Sword Prison Society' designated the initial barrier range as Area 01, then expanded it like a balloon, aiming to inflict the maximum damage on the surface.
Pollen Fighter was driven by a sense of duty.
If I don't act... If I don't stop them...
No one else can stop these guys.
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Gaeta Steiner. I came here to kill you, Pollen Fighter. Don't take it personally."
"No need to apologize. I'm planning to kill you too, starting now——"
Pollen Fighter lifted their log-like leg and stomped forcefully.
The ground quaked, and in response, a giant tree sprouted from the earth, its roots stretching toward Steiner.
Steiner raised his hand with a swift motion.
The steel beam that had been resting on the roof was launched at incredible speed, piercing the tree roots and stabbing toward Pollen Fighter.
Pollen Fighter rolled across the ground. They narrowly avoided a fatal hit.
They held their temple.
Thick red blood gushed out.
It looked like the steel beam had grazed them.
"Bravo. Bravo. Bravo. Nice dodge, Pollen Fighter."
Steiner floated gently and landed atop the cedar tree summoned by Pollen Fighter.
Around him, steel beams, metal scraps, and wire mesh floated through the air as if they had a will of their own.
"Wha—he's floating...?"
"Ah, this? It's my skill, 'Electric Generator.' A rather unique skill, you see."
As he spoke, Steiner moved his hands like a conductor.
Wires swam through the air around the artist-pretender, drawing waves as if a musical staff were fluttering.
"Long ago, I received an envelope from the foundation. But I couldn't become a proper explorer. Or maybe I just wasn't suited for it. But then I was picked up by that Japanese man, and I realized the power hidden within me. Now, I can easily bury even an A-rank explorer——like this."
Steiner smiled deeply, dimples showing, and moved his wrist ever so slightly.
The strange magnetic field surrounding him began to stir.
A murderous intent was released into the world, and a rain of scrap was fired at bullet speed.
A storm of multi-ton masses of bullets came crashing down.
The souvenir-lined streets of the old capital were devastated by the shockwave.
As the sound of destruction and clouds of dust cleared—
Pollen Fighter had barely managed to endure, using the giant tree as a shield.
"Bravo."
As he spoke, he regenerated a force field with 'Electric Generator,' retrieved the steel beam he'd just fired, and launched it again at incredible speed.
The shockwave blew Pollen Fighter away, tearing them to shreds as they rolled down the road.
"Guh... What kind of skill power is this...? And he couldn't become an explorer...?"
Pollen Fighter coughed up blood but stood up on unsteady legs.
From the other end of the street, Steiner approached while expanding his force field.
On the way, he picked up vending machines, abandoned bikes and motorcycles, replenishing his "ammo" as he came. The pressure he gave off was overwhelming.
Pollen Fighter gripped their axe tightly.
(If I can fully deploy the cedar tree, maybe I can overpower him with sheer force—but he won't let me. My skill is slow, requiring the tree to be summoned before I can use Power. His skill is fast and fires at maximum output immediately.)
They realized it. This was an enemy they couldn't deal with on their own.
But that wasn't a reason to give up.
Because they were a true explorer.
"An explorer is one who turns the unknown into the known, and annihilates the mysterious."
The potential of the unknown, the slimmest chance of victory.
They fight in search of romance.
A true explorer is a being who never gives up on a challenge, who always moves forward.
Pollen Fighter roared while spitting blood, raised their axe, buffed themself with every skill they had, and charged at Steiner.
A stake made of bundled scrap iron was fired.
It plunged deep into Pollen Fighter's abdomen.
The explorer's legs did not stop.
Another steel beam was fired.
It struck Pollen Fighter's face.
Blood gushed out, and one eye was crushed.
The explorer's legs did not stop.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
They swung the axe down.
A final counterattack unleashed from mighty arms.
Mercilessly, the blade came to a stop right in front of Steiner's nose.
"The closer you get to me, the stronger the magnetic field becomes. I'm like a coil myself, you see."
"Guh!! Ggh! You—!!"
Pollen Fighter pushed the axe with all their strength, but Steiner's magnetic force met it head-on, and by some strange twist of fate, they deadlocked three centimeters in front of his nose.
"I didn't expect you to get this close. Bravo, Pollen Fighter."
As he said this, Steiner pulled a steel beam to his hand, grabbed it, and smashed Pollen Fighter away with all his might.
They were blown clear across, rolled along the ground, and stopped moving.
"Well then, is it all cleaned up now? According to the intel, a few more rats had slipped in."
Steiner pulled out his smartphone to report the results of the battle.
That's when he noticed—Pollen Fighter, who should have been dead, was standing again.
"Oh? You've got guts. But that's enough. You don't have to push yourself anymore."
He lifted the steel beam and hurled it.
It struck Pollen Fighter—BANG! A deafening sound rang out, and the steel beam was sent flying off in a completely different direction.
A young man was standing there.
He was supporting Pollen Fighter, who was half-conscious, by the shoulder.
"You did well, pollen person. Nice fight."
"Y-Y...you're..."
"Oh? An explorer, huh. Deflecting my steel beam—that's impressive. Who are you?"
The young man turned around quietly.
"Finger Man. No need to remember. You'll be dead soon anyway."
"Finger Man, huh? ...Well now, looks like we've got a real monster here."
Steiner lowered his round sunglasses slightly and let out an impressed sigh.
His transcendent ability expanded its force field to the max, beginning to gather metallic matter within a 60-meter radius.
"I've been waiting for someone I could go all out against. Don't disappoint me now, Finger Man."
Steiner formed dimples and gave a deep smile.