novelraw Chapter 164
Chapter 164
Chapter 164
Jigokudo frowned the moment she laid eyes on the Dark Knight.
"Another monster that threatens global security... Finger Man, are you planning on starting an invasion or something...?"
"Even if you look at me like that, it's not my fault."
"Saying 'not your fault' is exactly what an evil scientist would say... Well, never mind. Do you have any documentation on that unit's performance, Dr. Na...?"
"Jigokudo-san just called me Doctor...!"
"? Aren't you a doctor?"
"Ah, n-no, Doctor is fine! C-come on, this way."
Na led them to the research lab on Calamity Island.
Though called a research lab, it wasn't a modern one with cutting-edge equipment.
It was a dark, damp, and creepy fortress.
"What is this fortress...? I don't remember seeing it three weeks ago..."
"I'll explain later."
Na entered for now and submitted the documentation on the Dark Knight.
For security reasons, performance data, including that of Gii-san's familiar monsters and weapons, had to be disclosed to Jigokudo. That's why Na conducted the research and prepared the documents here.
"D-Level 33...? This is quite the monstrous creature..."
"Even 'as is', it's ridiculous. Makes you want to laugh."
The foremost expert on monster weapons is laughing.
By the way, what exactly is D-Level?
I'm not good with unfamiliar terms, you know.
"D-Level refers to dungeon level... When applied to explorers, it measures the floor level of monsters they can defeat... When applied to monsters, it indicates the level of dungeon floor where they might appear, shown as an index..."
"So is it the same as the monster weapon index?"
"The monster weapon index is for monster weapons, while D-Level is broader—it represents 'how much combat power the entity holds in dungeon floor terms'... For example, Finger Man, I estimate your D-Level easily exceeds 60..."
"Is that impressive?"
"...Normally, an A-rank explorer's D-Level is around 30 at most. There are exceptions with extreme evolution... But a 5-level gap makes a battle unwinnable... So your D-Level, Finger Man, falls into what we could only call a transcendent realm... Though I can't speak for your current self... You do grow fast, after all."
I had a vague feeling... but looks like I've come a long way now...
No wonder I can't even struggle anymore. I don't even feel the thrill of battle.
"By the way, this black, damp fortress... What exactly is it?"
"Ah, this? Well then—this is Gii-san's doing."
I pulled Gii-san from my sleeve and held him up in front of Jigokudo's face.
"Gii (Translation: I constructed it using a skill)"
"Constructed with a skill...?"
"In the past three weeks, Gii-san leveled up and learned a new skill."
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Gii-san
Level 110
HP 468,000/785,500
MP 36,030/1,241,200
Skills
'Call of the Black Swamp Lv3'
'Black Swamp's Tragedy Lv2'
'Black Swamp's Armament Lv5'
'Black Swamp's Catastrophe'
'Black Swamp's Fortress'
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'Black Swamp's Catastrophe'
Summons a great monster from the Black Swamp.
Usable once per day.
MP Cost: 1,000,000
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The Dark Knight can be summoned using 'Black Swamp's Catastrophe'.
The resources required are extraordinary, so it should be summoned strategically.
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'Black Swamp's Fortress'
Summons the Black Swamp's Fortress.
Usable once every two hours.
Stock: 999
Cooldown can be bypassed with 200 MP.
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By using the skill 'Black Swamp's Fortress', a part of the endless fortress from the eternal marshland known as the Black Swamp can be summoned.
Since walls and stairs are summoned as modular parts, the layout is standardized and setup takes some time, but it's still far faster than building from scratch.
"Gii (Translation: I acquired it because I thought it would help with conquering the Archon Dungeon)"
"I see... That's a good idea... I recently visited Antarctica, and I think conquering the Archon Dungeon, which is in an active state and called the stranded zone of the other world, will be a daunting task..."
"The Archon Dungeon is already unsealed?"
"Technically no... We can just peek into it from this side... Though it's possible they're also watching us from their side... Oh, the Dark Knight from earlier has arrived."
"Gii (Translation: I have something I want to show Dr. Jigokudo)"
"What are you going to show me...?"
Gii-san glanced at Na, and when Na nodded, she opened a container marked with Finger Man's logo. For the record, I didn't design the logo.
Due to a meme-type SCCL anomalous substance, anyone who sees my face and tries to draw it on paper to spread my identity ends up unconsciously drawing this defensive illusion—a mysterious hand snapping its fingers.
Team Finger Man now had a guild and a base in the form of an island.
So we wanted some kind of organizational symbol, and since this one fit, we edited it slightly and started using it.
Inside the container were three black spears.
Two black spears twisted and tangled together to form a single paired spear.
It had the same shape as the 'Twisted Black Spear' that Gii-san can summon using 100,000 MP via 'Black Swamp's Armament Lv2'.
"That's the anomalous substance Shurado brought to me before... Its performance was so astonishing that I've been analyzing its structure, materials, components, and mystical properties... And apparently, it really is mass-producible..."
With that, Jigokudo said and picked up one spear after giving a nod.
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'Twisted Black Spear Lv2'
One of the Black Swamp's Armaments
Only permitted to be wielded by true Warriors
ATK 20,000,000
The black tip pierces through all defense
When thrown, it has a destructive force equivalent to 90,000,000 ATK
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"Uh... It says Lv2...?"
"That's because the spear was enhanced using the Doctor's Mugen High-Load. The original G4 spear Evolved into G5 and became even stronger."
Na picked up one 'Twisted Black Spear Lv2' and handed it to the Dark Knight who had just arrived.
Then she gave it a bunch of other equipment too.
With each item added, the Dark Knight's body slightly transformed, growing larger and more menacing.
Before I knew it, the Doctor and Na were standing beside me, looking very pleased.
It was the look of evil scientists who had just completed a weapon of inhumanity.
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Black Spear Gunslinger Dragoon Saint Dark Knight
Blessing Level 9
Dark Knight
HP 4,200,000/4,200,000
ATK 1–20,000,000
DEF 20,000
Equipment
'Salvation's Machine Gun Lv2'
'Twisted Black Spear Lv2'
'Magic Sword: Photon Edition Lv8'
'Dragon Sage's Naginata Lv3'
'Saint's Scale Armor Lv3'
'Saint's Swift Wings Lv2'
'Saint's Barbed Tail Lv2'
'Saint's Dragon Shield Lv2'
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In each of its four arms, it holds weapons gathered from various places.
Every one of them is a G5-class anomalous substance.
Some are also dungeon equipment, but those too have already Evolved into G5-class.
"This is the strongest familiar monster individual in the current Team Finger Man. Estimated D-Level is 57. We don't know if a 57th floor dungeon actually exists, but that's the theoretical value."
"Vanilla's Dark Knight is 33... and with maximum armament, it reaches 57... Is it really possible to increase by 24 D-Levels...?"
"There's a reason for that. The giant tree 'Tree of Experience Points' at the center of the island grants blessings to those linked to it. For humans with dungeon factors, that's a one-level benefit. But for familiar monsters, it seems to amount to roughly one D-Level's worth of Power-Up."
"So Vanilla's 33 plus Blessing Level 9 makes it equivalent to D-Level 42... To think it grants the strength of nine floors to all who are linked... It's as if a god mocks the evolution of humankind... That tree appears to function on a completely different scale than anything human..."
The Tree of Experience Points alone has incomprehensible performance, but what even is it, really?
Afterwards, Jigokudo said, "The inspections here are so exhausting..." as she was guided around the fortress, shown things like the little hedgehog's armor workshop.
Na, who was leading the tour, looked like she was having a great time.
"Kyukyu! (Translation: This is the maintenance workshop for the armor I created, kyu!)"
"Gii (Translation: I just use a skill to equip, remove, and store them. Let's move on.)"
"Kyukyu!!? (Translation: I want you to spend more time focusing on me, kyu!!)"
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Little Hedgehog
Level 108
HP 120,250/120,250
MP 400/1,541,000
Skills
'Salvation's Thunderclap'
'Salvation's Storm'
'Salvation's Scale Armor Lv3'
'Salvation's Swift Wings Lv2'
'Salvation's Barbed Tail Lv2'
'Salvation's Dragon Shield Lv2'
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↓Little Hedgehog's list of new skills
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'Salvation's Scale Armor Lv3'
One of the ancient myths dwelling in the storm
Wears dragon scales imbued with the power of ancient wind
MP Cost 100,000
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'Salvation's Swift Wings Lv2'
One of the ancient myths dwelling in the storm
Wears dragon wings imbued with ancient wind
MP Cost 10,000
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'Salvation's Barbed Tail Lv2'
One of the ancient myths dwelling in the storm
Wears a dragon tail imbued with ancient wind
MP Cost 10,000
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'Salvation's Dragon Shield Lv2'
One of the ancient myths dwelling in the storm
Wields a dragon shield imbued with ancient wind
MP Cost 10,000
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↓List of armor Little Hedgehog can summon via skills
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'Saint's Scale Armor Lv3'
The law of salvation that corrects and governs impurity
Armor of the ancient dragon Saint
Grants DEF 100,000
Increases SPD by 50%
Passive Skills
'Continuous Regeneration'
'Guts'
'Purification'
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'Saint's Swift Wings Lv2'
The law of salvation that corrects and governs impurity
Wings of the ancient dragon Saint
Increases SPD by 70%
Passive Skills
'Continuous Regeneration'
'Intimidation'
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'Saint's Barbed Tail Lv2'
The law of salvation that corrects and governs impurity
Tail of the ancient dragon Saint
Increases ATK by 50%
Passive Skills
'Continuous Regeneration'
'Intimidation'
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'Saint's Dragon Shield Lv2'
The law of salvation that corrects and governs impurity
Shield of the ancient dragon Saint
100% reduction of physical damage
100% reduction of mystic damage
Passive Skills
'Continuous Regeneration'
'Intimidation'
Skill
'Saint's Retribution'
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Over these past three weeks, the little hedgehog has evolved rapidly and finally caught up with Gii-san, so the quality of their equipment has also improved dramatically.
"Lastly, let me show you the barracks!"
"There's a unit packed with our dreams and hopes, so I'd really like you to take a look."
When they arrived at the barracks, the Black Swamp monsters were waiting in the spacious training grounds.
"Before, I held back with the 'regular unit' since I thought I'd get scolded for releasing them without permission, but this time I believe it'll be fine."
"The Kyoto Class 5 dungeon... if we send them there...?"
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'Black Fingertips First Guild'
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Black Tank ×5
(Blessing Level 9) (D-Level 42)
(Scale Armor Lv3, Swift Wings, Spiked Tail, Dragon Shield Lv2, Dragon Shield Lv2)
Breakdancers ×3
(Blessing Level 9) (D-Level 37)
(Black Spear Lv2, Scale Armor Lv2, Swift Wings Lv2, Spiked Tail Lv2, Dragon Shield Lv2)
Breakdancers ×12
(Blessing Level 9) (D-Level 37)
(Black Spear Lv2, Scale Armor Lv3, Swift Wings Lv2, Spiked Tail Lv2, Dragon Shield Lv2)
Dark Knight
(Blessing Level 9) (D-Level 57)
(Black Spear Lv2, Scale Armor Lv3, Swift Wings Lv2, Spiked Tail Lv2, Dragon Shield Lv2)
(Magic Swords Lv8, Dragon Sage Naginata Lv3, Salvation Machine Gun Lv2)
Norwegian Bakeneko
(Blessing Level 9) (D-Level 51)
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The phenomenon where light and darkness combine to look like the strongest is now saturated.
With the enhanced equipment, all 21 individuals in the unit have surpassed the strength of the previous Fingertip captains, and thanks to the presence of the fluffy Norwegian Bakeneko, the sinister aura has been toned down, improving the overall atmosphere.
"Nyan♪"
"Among the 7,500 units currently stationed on Calamity Island, this 'Black Fingertips First Guild' is the strongest. They're equipped with the latest gear, and we've even given them one-of-a-kind anomalous substances. Production can't quite keep up yet, so a few still have old equipment, though."
"In the future, we plan to power up all 200,000 Black Swamp monsters to match the First Guild. The ultimate monster unit, outfitted with the best equipment evolved using Mugen High-Load. Our dreams are expanding~"
"This is bad... these people... I have to do something soon..."
Maybe Jigokudo has a headache.
She's holding her temple with a troubled look on her face.