Chapter 302 Part 1
What time is it?
It’s 3:20 PM.
I think we were able to gain more distance than I expected.
However, I’m used to traveling on Zangetsu during the day.
I have a strong feeling that we’ve wasted a lot of time.
A wide area of ground bulges out here, making it look like an island.
Even looking at the wide area map makes it abundantly clear that this is the center of the S1W4 area.
Without a doubt…
I’m sure it’s an area portal.
I can’t confirm its name on the wide area map.
This means it hasn’t been released yet.
Now, what’s the problem?
Is it okay to continue with the current lineup?
It would actually be quite troublesome.
However, looking at the terrain that will become our battlefield, it’s not too late.
Well, how should we do this?
The island seems to be of a decent size.
Despite it bulging out from the surface of the swamp, it’s basically a flat patch of land.
That’s why I could easily tell what this place was.
Should I call this a pond?
Or perhaps a lake?
In any case, I have a feeling that some kind of aquatic monster will soon appear.
Is it really okay to leave my lineup untouched?
No.
I recall Couturier and summon Nias.
This is insurance.
What to do with Helix?
I’ll keep him around for the time being.
There are still places where I can’t tell what could come our way.
If something like a Kelpie Slave tries to attack us, Helix can intercept it.
I’ll work out just fine in the end, I’m sure of it!
No, we’ll make it work somehow!
Floating on the shore of this lake is a soul-like ball of fire.
I’ve buffed all of us with my spells and checked what weapon artes I’ll be using.
Well then.
Shall we get going?
《We don’t just mourn》
《We shed blood when violence arises》
《We don’t just laugh》
《We comfort the souls of those who die》
《You too will be turned into souls to be comforted》
The Info screen is gone.
As I was thinking about that, the soul started floating towards the center of the lake.
Then it disappears.
Has anything changed?
Doesn’t look like it.
Wait, something is happening.
A vortex?
And something is making its way to land on the shore of the lake.
Greater Karkinos Lv.1
Event Monster Demon
Enemy Target Active
??? ???
Oh!
This is the one I saw in the Zodiac.
There were three of them.
Although they may be a higher rank than Karkinos, their fighting style doesn’t particularly change.
We can defeat them with a frontal assault.
But I’m curious.
Isn’t this a little too easy?
I also wonder what’s up with that vortex?
Is there some kind of trick?
But we’ll give it our all during this fight.
「True Fighting Spirit!」 「Bless!」 「Meditate!」 「Intelligence Attack!」
Now, how will this turn out?
Weird.
How many monsters I had defeated before that thought crossed my mind?
The number of defeated monsters is already twelve.
There are three in front of me now.
They keep on coming.
Whenever a Greater Karkinos is defeated, a new one will appear from the lakeside.
There is no limit.
That vortex has to have something to do with that, right?
The vortex itself is approaching.
A spear of water flies from it.
Hey, watch out!
Vodyanoy Lv.8
Event Monster Fairy
Enemy Target Active
??? ???
The moment it came completely out of the vortex, 【Identify】 was triggered.
At the same time, blades of water are scattered all over the place.
Goukame created a membrane of water, but they managed to break through it!
My spells won’t be enough.
A direct hit?
No, Goukame’s membrane seems to have cushioned some of the impact, so they didn’t deal that much damage after all.
Though it doesn’t change the fact that it hurts.
What I was more concerned about was this new monster’s appearance.
Its upper body looks like a fish.
However, it has human-like arms and legs.
Like a merman?
It’s the opposite of Nias!
At any rate…
Why do you go back into the water so quickly?
No need to be so shy!
There are still three Greater Karkinos in front of us.
But it would be nice if we could capture that merman first.
A way to do so would be to send Strand into the water.
But what about the risks such a move carries?
If I’m going to dispatch Summoned Monsters into the water, then I should send everyone who can operate underwater.
Goukame, Taylor, Strand, and Nias.
Can Helix and I keep the three Greater Karkinos busy all by ourselves?
Let’s find out.
Strand goes into the lake.
Nias takes off her robe and does the same.
Then Taylor and Goukame follow them.
One of the Greater Karkinos tries to head towards the lake, but I switch targets to that one.
Don’t even think I’ll let you get in the way!
Strangely, the vortex has disappeared.
And no more Greater Karkinos spawn.
Only one Greater Karkinos remains.
Are these guys weaker than what we’ve fought before?
No.
I should see this as us having grown relatively stronger.
The last remaining Greater Karkinos has had both eyes ripped off by Helix, and is already on the brink of death.
One of its pincers is also missing.
Intelligence Attack?
It seems to be quite effective.
The feel is also different from Boosted Power.
There’s a feeling of response in my hands.
It’s not as bad as when I use Boosted Power, but it does feel strange.
However, since this arte lets me use spells on top of it, I guess you could say it’s easier to fight while using it.
After defeating the last Greater Karkinos, I took a look at the lake.
Has anything changed?
Nothing yet.
Somehow, I know that my Summoned Monsters are safe.
Hmm?
Here they are.
Strand emerges from the lake.
He comes ashore wrapped around that merman.
Nias comes out of the water at the same time.
She changes back instantly and picks up her gear before quickly reequipping it.
It happened so quickly that I didn’t even get a chance to take a screenshot.
Then Taylor and Goukame resurface.
Well, it was Goukame first, then Taylor.
These two are the only ones whose HP bar has decreased unnaturally.
Are you taking hits?
Who’s chasing Taylor and Goukame after they’ve come back ashore?
Greater Karkinos.
There are definitely ten of them.
I look at Nias.
Her HP bar is fully recovered, but…
Her MP bar has decreased quite a bit.
I guess she’s been singing.
Well then.
Time for an encore.
With the support of Nias’ singing voice, I also go to the front line.
What about that merman?
Let Strand and Helix take care of it.
「Intelligence Attack!」
I wield my staff and refresh my new weapon arte now that its effects have worn off.
Then I stand next to Goukame.
He seems to be fighting while skillfully using my Thorn Wall to prevent getting himself surrounded.
His DEX is quite low, but…
His HP bar also seems to be recovering nicely on its own.
He’s really sturdy.
Meanwhile, Taylor is on the offensive.
It looked like Goukame had restored most of his HP bar, but it’s already gone back down!
Oh well…
Does Taylor need me to back him up with some of my spells?
The battle continues as I throw some spells into the mix.
It has been difficult until we got them down to five, but from there it’s become relatively easy.
It wasn’t until there were three of them left that I started feeling sure we would win.
Three versus three.
Still, let’s proceed with caution.
I haven’t been attacked by those pincers yet.
Both Taylor and Goukame seem fine and fight back even after being attacked, but their HP bars are decreasing quite a bit.
What if I were in their place?
I can’t say for sure that I’d live after being clamped by one of those.
After getting rid of the Greater Karkinos, all that’s left is that merman.
But…
It was already over.
It’s foaming at the mouth.
It looks like Strand has already suffocated it by tightly coiling himself around it.
It’s either that, or his venom.
I feel sorry for you, little merman.
I truly feel sorry for you.
《We mourn》
《You have refused the chance to have your soul being sent off with our blessing》
《But this is a place for healing the body》
《The stronghold of one’s spirit》
《In this world, we are also those who promise protection》
Is that all for the Info screen?
Looks like it is.
We won.
《S1W4 Map’s Area Portal cleared!》
《You have gained 4 Bonus Points. You currently have a total of 5 Bonus Points.》
《【Dash】 Level Up!》
Hmm…
Is this all?
Well, it’s true that the Summoned Monsters did most of the work.
It’s a shame that none of them have leveled up.
Oh well.
Let’s trust that they’ve earned a lot of experience points.
Let’s check this area portal on the wide area map.
Its name is Swampland Floating Island.
A very literal name if you ask me.
Well, that’s fine by me.
The time is exactly 4 PM.
There doesn’t seem to be much time left until it starts getting dark.
Let’s head south.
But before that.
Nias’ MP bar has decreased significantly, and I can’t bear to have her move through either on frozen ground or the swamp.
So I’ll recall her and summon Kotohogi in her place.
Well then.
Let’s go, everyone!
Let’s check the surrounding area with Call Monster.
No more Lesser Gryphons to be found here.
However, the other monsters are still going strong here.
Especially Argentavis.
Facing up to two of those at a time is fine.
Once you add a third of those birds to the picture, the threat level instantly goes through the roof.
Above all, it is difficult to escape from monsters that become Active and start attacking from the air.
There’s a way to prevent this…
Invisibility.
But, you know…?
It makes sense to try to earn some experience points by fighting them, too!
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
Summoner is Going
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 Hours
Thanks.