231. VS Arrogance (Part 2)

Power overflows.

Unique skill “Heroic Hymn.”

Its effects are an increase in all stats and skill power, and the granting of unique skills to party members.

Stats are pulled up to four times their original value, and even if a skill is at LV10, it exerts power beyond that.

It is truly an exceptional skill that could be called the incarnation of a cheat.

“Momo!”

“Wan!”

As Momo barks, darkness overflows from beneath our feet like a muddy stream.

The overflowing darkness gains momentum, filling the surroundings in an instant.

“Lightning Style Jutsu.”

I once again take a ninja blade out of the Item Box and use a ninja art.

And—the next moment, Momo and I have moved behind Arrogance.

“Ts—What!?”

“Ha!”

A strike that completely catches him off guard.

The ninja blade, its sharpness increased by the Lightning Style, slices through Arrogance’s right arm without resistance.

“Gu—You…!”

“Wan!”

Momo barks again.

In an instant, we are behind Arrogance once more.

“Twice!”

Arrogance’s response was faster this time.

He immediately deploys a defensive wall made of blood, repelling my slash.

Furthermore, he immediately extends blood to pick up the severed arm and reattaches it.

Hey now, it just sticks back on?

“Fresh Blood—”

“Oops.”

“Wan.”

We take our distance before Arrogance can unleash a technique.

Instantly, we move to a location dozens of meters away from him.

“It’s not movement via shadows… Teleportation?”

“Correct.”

Yes, this is Momo’s unique skill “Jet Black Breakthrough.”

Its effect is the teleportation of party members.

Until now, we couldn’t move without first entering a shadow, but while this skill is active, anyone can instantly move to any place as long as there is a shadow or darkness.

Closing the distance instantly or getting behind the enemy is exactly as I desire.

Naturally, partial teleportation like moving inside an enemy’s body or moving only an arm or an attack is impossible, but it is still a skill that could be called the ultimate version of Momo’s “Shadow Crossing.”

“Wan… gurururu…”

“It’s okay, calm down, Momo.”

“Garoooooooon!”

Ah, this is bad.

Momo is incredibly angry.

“Wan! Waoooooooooooooooon!”

Momo snapped.

In that instant, Momo’s form blurs.

Through a series of teleportations, Momo repeatedly appears and disappears all over the place.

And every time Momo passes through, the “Shadow” and “Darkness” diffused in the vicinity swell larger and thicker.

“Waon!”

Momo’s movements don’t stop.

The densified “Shadow” and “Darkness” unite and transform like a giant vortex.

It was just like a small black hole.

“Is that… Momo’s skill ‘Darkness Bullet’…?”

If I recall, it was originally a skill to fire shadows as bullets.

It seems to have transformed into something even more atrocious under the influence of my Heroic Hymn.

It possesses terrifying density and ominous energy.

“Waooooooooooon!”

“Gu—Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

Arrogance tries to defend instinctively, but he’s too late.

The attack range is too wide to allow for evasion.

Arrogance is torn to shreds by the giant vortex of darkness, which seems like the embodiment of Momo’s rage.

However, he is not dead. He is regenerating, but the speed is slow.

“Wan!”

Momo creates even more “Darkness Bullets,” as if saying “Not yet!”

“Gu… Don’t get cocky, you little doggggggg!”

Arrogance is not losing out either.

He cancels out Momo’s Darkness Bullets with slashes from his magic sword.

Giant shockwaves and dust ripple into the surroundings.

“Fu—fu—… gururururu.”

“C-Calm down, Momo. I know you’re angry, but you’re getting too far ahead.”

“Wan! Wan wan!”

Momo hurries me, saying “Hurry up and kill that guy!”

It seems she is extremely ticked off about being manipulated.

Yeah, well, I agree with her on that.

“Aka, Kiki.”

“~~~~~~~~Ts! (Nod nod~)”

“Kyuuuu!”

The next to activate are Aka’s “Perfect Mimicry” and Kiki’s “Reflective Armor.”

Both of them seem to be at the boiling point of their anger, just like Momo.

“~~~~~~~~~~Ts! (Vibrate vibrate~)”

Aka’s body glows brilliantly.

In the next moment, countless “Me’s” appear around me.

“Ha, as if mere clones matter now—hmm? No, this is…?”

Arrogance tries to snort in derision, then tilts his head.

He must have noticed the incongruity of the clones.

“That’s right, I haven’t activated any ninja arts. These guys are—Aka’s clones in mimicry.”

“What…?”

“~~Ts! (Nod!)”

At a signal from Aka (the original), the countless Akas mimicking me charge at Arrogance.

“Wan.”

Furthermore, via Momo’s Jet Black Breakthrough, the clones close the distance instantly.

“Against mere clones—Wha!?”

Arrogance immediately tries to slice through the Akas mimicking me with his magic sword.

However, he cannot.

Before he knew it, Aka’s clones were equipped with various weapons: ninja blades, battering rams, and orc cleavers.

And it doesn’t end there.

“—Lightning Style Jutsu” “Fire Style Jutsu” “Explosion Style Jutsu” “”Fire Style Jutsu”” “””Battering Ram””” “”Vanishing Shadow”” “Shadow Mimicry” “Vanishing Shadow” “Vital Point Strike” “Battering Ram” “Lightning Style Jutsu” “Swordsmanship” “Clone Jutsu” “Fire Style Jutsu” “Explosion Style Jutsu” “Vanishing Shadow” “Vanishing Shadow” “Lightning Style Jutsu” “Gale Breakthrough” “Battering Ram” “Battering Ram” “Shadow Mimicry” “Wind Style Jutsu” “Wind Style Jutsu” “Shadow Binding” “Shadow Mimicry” “Physical Enhancement” “Item Box” “Full Power” “Vital Point Strike” “Swordsmanship” “Mimicry” “Lightning Style Jutsu” “Fire Style Jutsu”

Aka’s clones activate the skills and ninja arts I possess.

Explosions, blasts, electrical discharges, impacts, crushing voltage.

Tremendous destruction detonated around Arrogance.

“Wha—I-Impossible! Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

The power of so many skills activating at once is not inferior to Momo’s “Darkness Bullet” from earlier.

This is Aka’s unique skill “Perfect Mimicry.”

Aka, who previously could not mimic living creatures, can do so only while Heroic Hymn is active. However, this is limited to party members.

Furthermore, Aka can reproduce skills other than the unique skills of the mimicked party member.

Compared to me (the original), the power is about seventy percent, but unlike me, Aka has the massive advantage that all clones can use skills, and parts of the body can be transformed into weapons.

Aka cannot mimic multiple party members at the same time, but essentially, while Heroic Hymn is active, Aka can activate all skills—excluding unique skills—of our party members.

I have to say, truly a successor to the Sea King.

In terms of the sheer number of moves, Aka during Heroic Hymn is the best among us.

“The finishing blow. Kiki!”

“Kyuuuu!!”

As if saying “Leave it to me,” Kiki activates a skill next.

“Ts… What is with these clones… attacks won’t go through?”

Arrogance desperately tries to attack Aka’s clones, but the attacks don’t land.

Neither slashes from the magic sword, nor blood bullets from the Fresh Blood Territory, nor object manipulation—absolutely no damage goes through.

All of it is “Reflected” and neutralized.

Kiki’s unique skill “Reflective Armor.”

Its effect is the granting of continuous “Reflection” to party members.

It is the ultimate shield that reflects and neutralizes slashes, magic, mental pollution, and any and all attacks from external enemies.

It can block things other than physical attacks, and while Heroic Hymn is active, its effect is permanent.

It has the weakness that it cannot reflect two or more types of attacks at the same time, but as long as it is one type of attack, it can reflect and neutralize anything.

“Why… Why won’t my attacks…”

If he observed calmly, he would understand that if he applied two or more types of attacks simultaneously, one of them would go through, but Arrogance currently has no such composure.

“Finally—Ichinose-san.”

『Yes!』

I don’t know if my voice reached her, but in the next moment, the bullets fired by Ichinose-san “passed through” Aka’s clones and hit Arrogance.

“Guaaaaaah!”

Ichinose-san’s unique skill “Meteor Direct Hit.”

It allows her to snipe a marked target while ignoring obstacles.

To put it simply, her bullets permeate through everything except the target.

Therefore, without worrying about friendly fire at all, she can always perform snipes from the opponent’s blind spot, ignoring cover.

“…Even as an ally, that’s nasty…”

Sniping while ignoring cover, plus an infinite combo of teleporting and sniping again via Momo’s “Jet Black Breakthrough.”

In a sense, it might be the most cruel means of attack.

For the one on the receiving end, it must be unbearable.

『Fuhahaha! Everyone is doing quite well, aren’t they! Then, I shall also—』

『Shiro too—』

Sora and Shiro try to join the battle as well, but I restrain them with my hand.

『Mu? What is it, Kazuto?』

“It’s enough. Any more than this will ‘kill’ Arrogance.”

He took Momo’s Darkness Bullet, he took Aka’s simultaneous attack, he took Ichinose-san’s continuous sniping—Arrogance was already in tatters, barely able to stand.

It is marvelous that he is not dead after taking all those attacks, but he no longer has any chance of a reversal.

As proof of that:

“…’Fresh Blood Territory’ seems to have disappeared.”

“Gaha… haa… haa…”

He no longer has the strength remaining to maintain a territory skill.

He would probably die like this even if left alone.

However, I am the one who must deliver the finishing blow.

(Judging by Ichinose-san’s email, there is a possibility this guy has planted a ‘parting gift’ on himself.)

Therefore, I cannot let anyone else kill him.

I, with my high stats and many resistance skills, am the best fit to deliver the final blow.

But before that, there was something I absolutely wanted to ask him.

“Arrogance, let me ask you one thing.”

“…What is it?”

“You… what did you want to do?”

“…”

That was his true objective.

He said killing me was the objective of this raid.

But was that really all? I thought there might be some other objective to this raid.

“…Ha.”

Arrogance lowered his eyes for a moment, then wore an expression of resignation.

He let out a long breath.

“…Someone has to raise a baby until they become an adult…”

“Huh?”

What on earth is he talking about?

“This world… Chaos Frontier is a castle built on sand. It’s brand new and terribly fragile… Someone has to protect it…”

“…”

“Arrogance is a skill that can interfere with the system. I accessed the system many times because I wanted to know about this world, and I learned the truth… about the Dead King and the Sage, and ‘the world on the other side’ as well.”

“You knew…”

I had a feeling based on his tone, but it seems Arrogance had investigated this world more than we thought.

“I… I was only trying to protect this world in my own way…”

“Protecting it…?”

I was taken aback by words that didn’t connect at all with his actions up until then.

Arrogance gave a short laugh, as if finding my reaction amusing.

“Yeah. After killing you all and gaining power, I intended to make the Six Kings submit and kill them—the ‘vanguard’.”

“Wha—!?”

This time, my eyes really went wide.

This guy even knew about the vanguard.

“I had even made a plan to get in their good graces and strike when they were off guard… Haha, I didn’t think I’d stumble at the preparation stage…”

“W-Wait a minute? So, what? You were acting all this time to defeat the vanguard too?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Arrogance paused there for a moment, then:

“—Because I am a monster born into this world.”

He stated that clearly.

“I am different from you humans, but I am also a life born in this world. I am not an existence to be killed or thrown away at someone’s convenience. …As a life born in this world, I wanted to protect this world…”

“Then—”

“You’re going to say I should have teamed up with you? Don’t make me laugh. I told you, you are human and I am a monster. Our existences can never be compatible. Your allies are simply the exception of exceptions.”

Arrogance looked toward Aka and the others.

For just a moment, his gaze seemed to be mixed with envy.

“I love deceiving humans, I love tainting humans, and I love killing humans so much I can’t stand it. How could such an existence team up with you humans and fight?”

Arrogance asserts that it’s impossible.

He says he has a firm identity as a monster.

That he rejected teaming up with humans and fought as a monster to the very end, in his “Arrogance.”

“It’s too late to change my way of life, and I have no intention of changing it. …I… I lived in this world as I desired…”

With a trembling hand, Arrogance thrust his hand into his own chest.

A massive amount of blood overflowed, and a purple magic stone was gripped in his blood-stained hand.

“Ts… You!”

“Don’t worry, I haven’t planted any ‘parting gift.’ It’s your—it’s your group’s win.”

Arrogance put strength into his hand.

With a snap, the magic stone shattered.

“Ahhh… I wanted to go on a rampage as I pleased a bit more…”

“…”

Arrogance’s body began to disappear little by little like mist.

“Soon… the final battle… will begin. Do your best… Kudo… Kazuto—…”

Saying that, Arrogance vanished.

Arrogant until the very end, as an existence incompatible with us humans.

≪Experience points acquired.≫

≪Experience points have reached a certain level.≫

≪Kudo Kazuto’s LV has risen from 27 to 28.≫

≪Experience points have reached a certain level.≫

≪Kudo Kazuto’s LV has risen from 28 to 29.≫

≪Experience points have reached a certain level.≫

≪Kudo Kazuto’s LV has risen from 29 to 30.≫

≪Race LV has reached the maximum value.≫

≪High-tier race selection is available.≫

≪Slaying of named monster ‘Arrogance’ confirmed.≫

≪Analyzing slaying participants—Selecting MVP.≫

≪Kudo Kazuto is certified as the MVP.≫

≪Slaying bonus will be granted.≫

≪Transitioned ‘Question Right’ to the final stage.≫

≪’Administrator Privileges’ acquired.≫

≪Access to the Chaos Frontier System Server is now possible.≫

Announcements informing me of massive experience point acquisition.

I let out a sigh of relief at the fact that the battle was over.

However, some quite intriguing announcements have come through.

“Administrator Privileges…?”

Then, along with a light headache, I felt a sensation of being connected to something.

“This is…”

As I held my head, another announcement played in my brain.

≪Notice from the Chaos Frontier System Server.≫

≪An ‘Invitation’ has arrived for Kudo Kazuto.≫

≪Do you wish to access the Chaos Frontier System Server?≫

What…?

Thank you for reading.

The end of this work is getting quite close.

I would be happy if you stayed with me until the end.

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Please check them out as well.

End of 231