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Over the Infinite Chapter 20 Part 2

 

As Kuro said, this means I can’t fully utilize my immortality capabilities. Not that I want to, but without doubt, my combat ability is halved.

However, ((Indomitable)) and ((Desire for Life)) are quite useful. Just having these will make a significant difference.

「For now, it’s clear that Tsuna’s skills are quite unusual. They indeed seem to be a skill set that allows fighting even at HP 0.

But why do you have skills typically used by monsters? 」

The mysterious ((Primitive Man)) seems like a possible explanation, but I’d rather not say it.

「You have the mysterious ((Nin-Nin)) too. You didn’t tell us when you learned it, did you? 」

「Well, it was an incomprehensible skill. But at least it’s in the database, right? 」

Even if the description is just “Nin-Nin,” does it mean it’s registered?

「No, it’s great, truly a comrade as expected. 」

「Don’t just make me your comrade. I don’t have any masochistic elements. 」

「Really, why aren’t you a masochist? 」

「I don’t know. 」

Even though it’s about me, it’s full of mysteries. But I’m glad I’m not a masochist. If I had a masochistic nature, I would have reached a different state altogether.

 

-2-

「Uoohh! 」

I’m blown away by the old man’s sword.

His performance is on a completely different level compared to when we fought in the Trial Dungeon’s 4th floor. The sword’s barrier he conjured then has become sharper, repelling every strike, and disrupting my stance.

Even with the three of us, including Sarges, we can’t make a dent. Not even a single attack gets through. This must be the old man’s true form.

「Tsuna, you’re charging in too recklessly. It’s one thing when it’s just you and Yuki, but with Sarges here, think more about dividing roles.

Yuki, you’re relying too much on Tsuna. You’ve become too passive compared to before. You may lack decisive power but be ready to finish the job.

Sarges is… hard to understand. 」

「Thank you. 」

「I’m not praising you! 」

While receiving treatment in our battered state, the old man starts talking.

The one treating us is Pelshe, from (War Arms) as the old man, specializing in support as both (Cargo) and (Therapist). I wonder if those two classes share the same skill tree.

Her race is a water sprite… basically a mermaid, but she oddly has legs.

「It’s fulfilling to treat you since you always get so battered. 」

「Pelshe-san, you’re a mermaid, right? Why do you have legs? 」

「I’m just transformed using the ((Ecological Change)) skill. By the way, even transformed, some remnants remain, like these fins on my hands. 」

Looking closely, the fins between her fingers are indeed large. I wonder if her feet are the same.

「Lay down and listen.

From here on, we’ll keep repeating this. Actually, you only meet the minimum requirements when you can individually stand against me.

Arshelia was already stronger than me during the rookie match. I’ve gotten stronger since then, but her growth is on another level. 」

「Do you know how much stronger Arshe-san is compared to you now? 」

「I have no idea. All I know is that, as I am now, I could beat her as she was during the rookie match, but a year later… it’s impossible.

Without direct competition, it’s even harder to judge, but the difference is like an ant to a giant. Seriously, her growth speed is insane.

I sometimes doubt she’s even human. Anyone who can go above the 50th floor is definitely different. 」

She seems like a sweet person from our talks. After watching her videos, I can only nod in agreement.

Her home videos, playing with a panda on the 10th floor, were really heartwarming.

「Have you ever thought about a counter for ((Meteor Strike))? 」

「I’ve thought about it, but there’s no countermeasure. If it’s used, you just have to endure it. I could avoid a few when I faced it, but now it’s impossible.

The best strategy is to prevent it from being used. 」

「Do you know its activation conditions? 」

「No idea. I heard it can only be used with a spear, but other than that, the information is confidential.

It’s not in the magic category, so it doesn’t consume MP, and yet it has such power and range. It’s bewildering.

All I can say is, that’s why there must be other conditions. 」

「Why do you think so? 」

「Because weapon techniques, in exchange for not consuming MP, always have some kind of restriction. Be it a charge-up before activation, a moment of vulnerability afterward, or HP consumption.

Weapon restrictions are also a factor. The stricter the constraints, the stronger the technique tends to be. Specific and pointed capabilities are preferred over versatility. 」

So, there are HP-consuming techniques as well.

But then, what are the activation conditions for ((Meteor Strike))?

Some videos showed a gauge, so it’s probably not HP-consuming.

Maybe like my skills, it activates below a certain HP level. Is that enough to achieve such high performance? I need to rewatch the videos.

I know the charge-up time is long.

「I’ve also confirmed in the videos that ((Meteor Strike)) does have a blind spot. 」

「Really, it does? 」

「It’s almost meaningless, but the spears of light attack in straight lines without homing ability, so if you’re behind Arshelia-san, for example, it’s a complete blind spot. 」

「So, what, I should teleport behind her? 」

「No, that’s why it’s almost meaningless. Plus, she can probably fire them backward too. Even if you exploit that opening, it’s only for once. 」

「Could you withstand it? We could hide behind you. 」

With his masochistic superpowers.

「Impossible. Even with the HP-boosting skills of a (Martial Artist), a direct hit would nearly deplete my HP. Two hits would be definite.

To defend against that, a shield is absolutely necessary. The most practical would be the leader’s ((Instant Equip)) for defense. 」

With ((Instant Equip)), it’s possible to instantly deploy a metal shield.

That’s the best defensive tactic I can think of right now. Deploy the shield during the charge-up time and put the two behind you to endure the attack. The issue is whether the shield can withstand it and the angle of defense.

((Meteor Strike)) is a multi-directional attack, so even if you block from one side, spears flying from other angles can’t be defended against.

「What do you mean by ‘leader’? 」

「Tsuna-san is the leader of our team, right? It’s our duty as team members to use honorifics. 」

Who decided I’m the leader?

「I don’t remember becoming the leader. At least, we haven’t decided anything like that among ourselves. 」

「It doesn’t really matter, does it? For the team registration, we need to appoint a representative anyway. 」

「I’m not that type, but why not Sarges? He’s the oldest. 」

「No, I must decline. I have no intention of leading anyone, no matter the scale. 」

That’s right, he carries a heavy past life.

It’s easy to forget with his overwhelming fetish.

「I don’t mind being the leader, but what about our team name? Have you thought of anything? 」

「How about ‘Yorimitsu’s Four Heavenly Kings’? I’ll be Sadamitsu Usui. 」

「Yorimitsu? 」

That’s only related to my name. We don’t even have a Yorimitsu, nor do we have four members. Are you trying to do a Four Heavenly Kings thing?

And Sadamitsu Usui, why such an obscure reference…? Besides Watanabe no Tsuna and Sakata no Kintoki, almost no one knows the other two.

[1. TL Note: ‘Yorimitsu’s Four Heavenly Kings’ is a group of legendary heroes from Japanese folklore, known as the ‘Shitennō’ (Four Heavenly Kings) of Minamoto no Yorimitsu (also known as Raikō), a famous warrior and leader. The four members are typically identified as Watanabe no Tsuna, Sakata no Kintoki, Urabe no Suetake, and Usui Sadamitsu.]

「I don’t quite understand, but were such figures in your previous lives? 」

「It seems they existed long before we were born, but it’s weird to use that as a team name. Besides, there are only three of us. 」

「That’s something we can increase over time. 」

「What about after the rookie match? What if we become more than five? A standard party is six people. 」

「If we become five, let’s call ourselves the ‘Ryuzoji’s Four Heavenly Kings’. 」

[2. TL Note: The suggestion of ‘Ryuzoji’s Four Heavenly Kings’ for a five-member team is a playful, historically rooted jest. In Japanese history, Ryūzōji Takanobu was a notable 16th-century daimyō (feudal lord), but there’s no famous group known as ‘Ryuzoji’s Four Heavenly Kings.’ The humor lies in the contradictory idea of a five-member team being named after a group of four, using a historical reference that is less commonly associated with a specific group of legendary figures.]

Why do you only know such puns?

And that still doesn’t accommodate six people.

「Let’s reject ‘Yorimitsu’s Four Heavenly Kings’ for now. The whole Four Heavenly Kings thing doesn’t make sense anyway. We won’t use it in the future.

Think of something else… Sarges too. You plan to continue with the team after the rookie match, right? 」

「Yes, understood. Thank you very much. I’m grateful to be accepted as a member. 」

Regrettably, even after the rookie match, with the increasingly harsh circumstances, there’s no reason to exclude your extraordinary combat capabilities. Yuki’s (Five Trials) aren’t over yet.

…We can think about the leader when we can form a six-person party. We might join some clan anyway.

Wait, I have a bad feeling. I hope having Sarges in our team won’t prevent clans from inviting us.

…Did I rush into this?