Day 21, noon
Yumiella spun, struck, and beheaded the final hound monster mid-jump.
"Saints and
souls," the grey-haired guide Margrave Habsburg had loaned her mumbled appreciatively. "Lady Hero, what Level did you say you were again?"
"I just made Level 45," Yumiella reported as she fed the monsters to her Cardinal Sword and pulled up the listings for her most recent four swords. "Yoshi, leave that, here's your treat," she scolded, offering him a fruit he liked from the market so he would stop sniffing at the bodies she needed to absorb.
"Yom!"
NEW SWORD FORMS UNLOCKED!
Karma Penguin Familia Sword (unmastered) 4/20 -- Rarity C -- Base Power = ATK+9 ... ... Equip = ATK+7 ... swimming improvement (small) ... fishing improvement (medium)
Karma Rabbit Familia Sword (unmastered) 2/20 -- Rarity C -- Base Power = ATK+9 ... ... Equip = SPD+7 ... earth magic improvement (small) ... hearing improvement (medium)
Karma Squirrel Familia Sword (unmastered) 2/20 -- Rarity C -- Base Power = ATK+10 ... ... Equip = ATK+5 ... SPD+4 ... reflexes improvement (small)
Karma Dog Familia Sword (unmastered) 3/20 -- Rarity C -- Base Power = ATK+12 ... ... Equip = ATK+7 ... M.ATK+4 ... smell improvement (small)
"The dog and the penguin were the easiest for me to defeat," Yumiella reported, "and the Karma Dog Familia is more useful to master, so we should remain on this island."
It's odd that, like the Wave monsters, these only unlock one form each even after I dissected them.
"Right, this way. Most adventurers have the most difficulty fighting the Karma Dog and its familia, compared to the others," he commented as he led her and her reptilian child through the undergrowth.
"I find it more effective to fight monsters that deal high damage, as they tend to be less resistant to my attacks," Yumiella answered. "Provided I can strike first and kill them at range, there is minimal risk."
"I'm surprised you wield the Sword instead of the Bow, with that belief, milady."
"My accuracy is atrocious," Yumiella answered drily.
That and with my Level 99 strength I kept breaking the bowstrings... or the bow.
"Yom!"
She killed a few more monsters as he led her through the uneven terrain (and fed them to Yoshi since they were repeats she didn't need to absorb), until they came to a large clearing.
"This here is usually where the king Karma Dog appears during the activation event, and there's usually a few of the Familia hanging around on the off-season."
"Is there anything I should particularly do to lure them in?"
The sword they unlocked offers smell improvement, so maybe food? "Will the smell of blood lure them in?" she asked intently.
Her guide shuddered a bit. "Maybe we can just wait a bit, or make some noise talking and they'll come investigate?"
"I'm on a time-limit," Yumiella disagreed, producing a bunch of wet, raw Cactus Worm organs from her inventory.
"Oh. Bait, ah wasn' expecting that," her guide admitted. "Gud thinkin'."
"Yoshi-kun, don't eat these, we need to attract monsters. Mister Guide," she checked as she spread the viscera around, "is there a lake nearby? Some form of watering hole where monsters gather to-,"
ALERT
Monster Spawner is currently deactivated. Contribute SP to spawn a Karma Dog boss monster? Y / N
(Karma Dog may have deteriorated stats due to insufficient SP)
Yumiella blinked, read the alert, read it again, and suddenly realized that the periodic activation event, the unique monsters, and other game elements might have a reasonable explanation.
It was said that the Legendary Heroes of old helped the pioneers to settle and pacify the archipelago. It's not a matter of chance with the bosses, they developed some form of SP-fueled monster spawner that they distributed to large, centralized ecosystems. Possibly the once-a-decade element is how long the system needs to naturally accumulate an overflow of SP from the environment, or possibly the overflow naturally occurs periodically and the activation event serves to bleed it off beneficially. Pity I'm still not Level 50, or I could access the Purification Sword. As it is, I'll need to stick with the Energetic Sword form.
"Do you know whether monsters brought to Cal Mira during the activation event will also grant double experience? Or tamed monsters raised on the archipelago?" she questioned.
"I... don't rightly think I've heard either way, ma'am. Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Please step out of the way," Yumiella requested, and she selected YES on her menu.
Yumiella had expected a drain on her SP, or ideally a counter so she could select how much to donate.
Instead, she staggered as dizziness hit her like a hammer, and suddenly a giant black wolf was lunging for her throat.
"Yumiella Kick."
Her foot smashed its slavering jaws together, and she made excellent use of her jump improvements to get distance and land a slash on its side.
"Greeyowooooo~!" it howled angrily, flaring black wings at her.
"Faust Jinx," Yumiella cast, and it shivered as darkness flowed over it.
My SP is at 0, so I can't use any skills until it regenerates, but I still have my magic. I should be able to-
"Yom!"
"Graaaoooooooo~!"
"Yoshi!" Her oldest child in this new world had attacked to defend his mother, and while Yoshi was powerful and growing well, he was less than a month old and fighting a boss monster twice his size.
"Faust Jinx, Faust Jinx, Faust Hex, Faust Jinx," Yumiella chanted as she rushed in swinging. The giant hound spun away from the Tyrella mid-lunge to deal with this new irritant, only for Yoshi to bite a chunk out of its left wing while it was distracted.
Yumiella's fourth swing finally caught its sensitive nose as it snapped at her, and the monster howled in pain, instead of rage.
Its wings didn't seem to let it fly, and unlike a bear it didn't rear up on its hind legs, but at least one of Yumiella's spells had hit its face and there was some inhibiting effect as a result.
She and Yoshi had flanked the monster, it was off-balance, and Yumiella never stopped moving long enough for it to bite her.
The monster hunkered down after thirty seconds of relentless, two-pronged assault had opened a dozen bleeding wounds across its pelt. Then it tried to raise its head in the first notes of an echoing howl, and Yumiella lunged in with a sideways slash to its throat.
It must be a Boss monster with so much HP, Yumiella reflected grimly as her attack failed to behead it, or even to open its throat.
Nevertheless, the neck chop caused the building howl to immediately cut off, and as it hacked she shoved an open hand near its head.
"Faust Hex," Yumiella cast at close range, and the faint dark streamers of Jinx smoke intensified as its eyes began leaking black pus.
The monster howled, but not in pain or anger.
It howled in fear, a desperate attempt to scare foes and stave off dying.
"Yo-yom!" Yoshi cried, and the Karma Dog's leg bone
cracked between Yoshi's jaws.
It tried to simultaneously lunge at Yoshi for revenge while swiping at Yumiella with its wing, but rather than dodge away or block she jumped up over the blow and swung her sword down on its spine as Yoshi kicked it in the face.
There was a
crunch, it half-collapsed as its legs gave out, and Yumiella stabbed her sword between its ribs before the shift in balance could throw her off.
+77,880 EXP
LEVEL UP!
Yumiella Dolkness -- Cardinal Sword Hero -- Level 48
Energetic Sword -- Proficiency 100%
Would you like to reset Proficiency? Y / N
"Holy Seven Stars," her guide uttered shakily.
"Yoshi, you were very helpful, and thank you, but I almost had a heart attack when you lunged in like that," Yumiella scolded. "Please exercise more care in the future, and leave the dangerous fighting to Kaa-chan."
"Yurm," Yoshi grumped back at her with a stern glare.
Well, I can't really argue that it's okay for me but not for him. And he was very helpful... From the speed of its blows and how long it took to wear it down, I'd estimate there was a greater power gap between us here than there was the first time I fought and failed to defeat the Dullahan Boss in the Dolkness Dungeon, who was a Level 50 threat.
And unlike when I first fought the Dullahan, here my magic capability is minimal, my SP was reduced to 0 unexpectedly, and there was an innocent civilian in harm's way.
This could have ended very badly... although the worst possibilities would require me to be unable to run away, or for it to successfully chase me off the island.
"Are there any records of these Boss Monsters fleeing their home islands?"
"Never willingly," her guide confirmed, "and the few times people strong enough tried to drag 'em away, they went berserk and died fighting to break free. Gotta say, the Legendary Heroes really are something else; I really thought I would hafta step in, since most people need to be Level 60 or higher before they fight a boss, much less fight one solo." He gave her an approving nod.
Yumiella blinked, parsed that, and sighed as she resisted the urge to face-palm. "If you grew up here, I suppose you would have lived three six or seven of these activation events," she noted.
"Yup! Plus there's usually a few days when it's just locals in the beginning, right as it starts but the news isn't out yet to the rest of the world an' the monsters aren't too populous. Someone's gotta report the population booms an' all," he laughed appreciatively. "Still though, 73 years alive and I ain't never seen this ole boss outside the activation days. How'd you do it?"
Yumiella considered obfuscating, considered that he was probably twice her level if he'd been alive for four or five activation periods, and said, "In addition to HP and MP, the Legendary Weapons possess a regenerating pool of SP used to fuel our unique weapon skills. I was able to prompt the generation of the Boss unexpectedly, but it forcibly sucked out all of my SP to do so. I suspect that whatever mechanisms the previous Cardinal Heroes implemented when helping settle these islands fed off either their SP or a natural wellspring of such energy."
"You don't have any left? Is that safe?" her guide checked worriedly.
Yumiella checked her Menu. "I could continue to fight the weaker monsters, especially with Yoshi, but even if my SP were full it would be very dangerous for me to attempt to spawn another Boss, no matter the experience benefits."
ALERT
Karma Dog Spawner cooldown period:
01:00:37:15
Yumiella blinked as it dropped to 14, then 13, and 12...
"Also, it seems I will not be able to respawn another Karma Dog Boss until tomorrow. However, if we return to the hot springs I can recover my SP and investigate whether I am able to spawn one of the other Boss monsters. May I impose upon you?"
"Only if'n you bring more
proper backup to the fight," her guide insisted firmly. "Friends and teamwork are
important."
"...Agreed."
Day 21, afternoon
The muscular Karma Penguin boss monster fell with a final angry shriek as she slashed its six-pack open, and Yumiella stepped forward to absorb its body.
Only one sword form again, and it is also locked until Level 60. So the Karma monsters resemble Wave monsters but not Wave Bosses, interesting. But with this I'm finally Level 50, and I can use the teleporting power that was unlocked.
Portal Sword (unmastered) -- Rarity A -- Base Power = ATK+3 ... ... Unique Equip Skill = Transport -- spend SP to immediately teleport yourself and up to 2+(Level/20) allies to one of three locations you are familiar with (cooldown 00:01:00:00)
"That was terrifying," Farrie panted, dripping with sweat. "Have you hit Level 50, or are we going to hit the last island?"
"Our training was a success," Yumiella assured her. "Thank you."
Farrie shot her a thumbs-up. "Happy to. I could use a soak in the hot springs, though." Yumiella hesitated. Farrie frowned. "You don't have to tell me anything secret, but you clearly have some kind of... plan? Is there some emergency? I don't need to rest if you need help."
Yumiella debated explaining it immediately, then realized that either way she could use yet another dip in the hot springs to restore her SP for teleporting fuel. "We should go to the hot springs."
The trip back went without issue, and she thanked her guide with a promise to return and give him something more appropriate than money (which he had plenty of) as a tip. He laughed and bowed and they parted ways.
Yumiella gave Yoshi's scales a quick rub down and left him with some tasty treats before she joined Farrie in the springs.
"So...?"
"One moment," Yumiella requested, and she shifted the Cardinal Sword to the Nakama Sword form that she had Awakened earlier that week.
Nakama Sword (M) -- Rarity A -- Base Power = ATK+5 ... ... Equip Effect = trusted party members stat growth improvement (medium) ... Unique Equip Effect = unlock Relationships Gauge tab
She hadn't really been trying to get that when she'd Awakened the sword, she'd just wanted the stat bonus improvements to help her teammates stay alive, but in addition to a basic attempt at numerically describing someone's feelings toward her, it gave a... a reaction regarding her party members' emotions.
It had felt too much like an invasion of privacy, when she had gained this sword form through their trust and support, but this time Yumiella needed to be certain.
"I have been lied to about several things since I arrived in this world," Yumiella told Farrie. "I wish to know if you are complicit."
Farrie opened her mouth, closed her mouth, and said, "I don't
think so? What have you been lied to ab- wait, is this about that pageantry in the beginning when we chose our heroes to follow and none of us chose the Shield?"
"Among other things," Yumiella agreed, keeping her attention on the gauge's reaction. "Were you aware that historically the Cardinal Heroes were summoned one to a nation, not all four at once?"
Farrie frowned. "That... makes sense with what I've read, but I didn't know it- I know that Faubley has historically gone after the Spear Hero and Siltvelt has traditionally been the home of the Shield Hero, but all the stories usually involve all of them traveling around the world."
"Traveling rather than staying in one kingdom?" Yumiella pressed as Farrie blushed.
She's... embarrassed, but not guilty. Self-recrimination, not panic.
"I mean-! Lady Yumiella, I've mostly read novels and some centuries-old accounts, nothing that went in-depth! But yeah, what you're saying... it fits, and it actually makes more sense with why a Shield Hero has historically sided with Demi-humans despite being human, if it's a cycle where they always summon the Shield Hero and... he..." she trailed off, and Yumiella got the idea that there was some kind of reassessment and muted panic going on with her. "Ohshit. Is there some kind of conspiracy or evil plot going on? You think I'm part of it? I
swear, I'm-,"
"I believe you," Yumiella said simply. "I wish to know whether you will join me in unraveling these events."
"I- If I'm following you to fight a Wave, then I'm definitely willing to help you fight normal people. I'm, uh, I'm not that great with books and logic," Farrie admitted, "but I'll try to help you there if I can. What do you need?"
Shame, but also sincerity. She feels honest, Yumiella decided. "Do you remember Bakta's report that the Shield Hero had raped his one companion?"
"Yeah? I heard rumors like that as we were traveling, but I figured you'd speak up if you had feelings about it."
"I received a message from the Bow Hero earlier, and it seems the Shield Hero may have been framed by the Three Heroes Church to discredit him. Your opinion?"
"I... feel uncomfortable, but I can imagine that," Farrie said slowly. "We've never been really religious, not until I ended up serving a Holy Hero who blew the legends out of the water-," Yumiella blinked at this, given that said legends included slaughtering armies of monsters and defeating a monster the size of a mountain, but indications were that Farrie was sincere. "-and I've been praying more since then, but not really with any specific doctrine? I just... I don't really
know any Demi-humans, but I saw them living side-by-side with humans just fine when we visited my cousins in Zenoble, and the Three Heroes Church trying to blame them for everything when humans can be evil too never sat right with me. I just wasn't really religious enough to bother caring which services I attended when I went to Church. Um. This sounds totally wishy-washy and I'm talking with like a saint about how I'd skiff off church to train,
fuck," Farrie hissed. "Wait, sorry, moving on, what do you need me to do? If you want my help then you have it, no matter my past mistakes."
Total sincerity, at least as far as I can tell, Yumiella assessed. "What is your opinion of slavery?"
"I mean, some of what slave owners do is gross because they're gross people, but, um..." Farrie's mouth worked for a moment. "I guess saying I don't have an opinion is sort of shitty?" Yumiella didn't answer her. "It's... like, part of it just sort of like pets," she hazarded. "There are people who treat pets with love, shepherds who have them help with their job and cry when they die, and then there are assholes who beat their dog because they're mean. And it's also partly just, like, there's nobility and priests and rich merchants and peasants and then slaves are below peasants. I just... never really thought of it before? I don't have a better answer than that."
...I suppose I can't really fault her about that. I never questioned the idea that the Demon King was a threat to the world instead of focusing his hate on the Royal Family of Balshine, and despite growing up in a parliamentary democracy in my first life, I never particularly questioned or criticized the aristocratic government of Balshine even when Edwin behaved ineptly. I thought it was inefficient that most people weren't given the opportunity to easily Level Up under supervision as children, but other than helping Alicia when the game plots's influence pushed her to train in a daze, I made no particular efforts to help anyone else Level Up or prepare for the Demon King's revival.
Really, there was no reason for only five of us to go fight the Demon King, rather than eight or ten people who were of a respectable level, and even if there weren't people willing to train under my methods, it would have been the work of only another weekend or two to take Alicia back to the dungeon I first took her and have her run through it several more times for better equipment and a Level more suited to face the Demon King than what she had after that one day of training.
I simply never thought much about the differences between games and the real world unless those differences were slapping me in the face, because it was what I knew and what I had come to expect.
"There are many problems in the world that I, too, never thought much about before," Yumiella affirmed. "We shall try to grow better and wiser together, from now on."
Farrie went from shamed to surprised, and then pleasantly hopeful, offering Yumiella a wide smile and a thumbs-up in affirmation. "Right, we will! What do you need me to do?"
"I needed to reach Level 50 to unlock a teleportation sword form, which will allow me to return to the capital without any watchers reporting on my actions. Once there, I can disguise myself-," She still had both the disguise artifact Bakta had given her and an Awakened Decorative Sword form that improved her disguise skills. "-to covertly investigate the rape accusation against Naofumi as well as rendezvous with Itsuki to discuss his desire to free slaves and abolish slavery. Are you willing to assist?"
"Yes," Farrie agreed immediately.
