Chapter 11: Delight
AVICII—a Hack-and-Slash action game where the player powers up by conquering randomly generated dungeons. A fan-favorite game with strong repetitive and addictive elements, and infinite ways to play depending on how you develop your character.
Random equipment is a key feature of the Hack-and-Slash genre. Players challenge levels over and over again in search of powerful items with various abilities that change each time they are obtained.
Most Hack-and-Slash players have a lot of equipment with various abilities in their arsenal.
That was the true nature of Mr. H’s game, and the reason why Vagia could inflict enough damage to injure the Hero clad in legendary equipment.
“Brilliant move, Sherlock♡. You got us good. There will be punishment time for you later, Mr. H. Nervous men make the ladies uneasy, you know? That goes for negotiations and sex♡. Be ready for a thorough lesson♡.” A seductive sigh slipped from the Succubus Queen’s full lips.
She must have realized that the situation had changed when Takuto correctly guessed Mr. H’s game. Now she had to abandon her approach to broker her version of peace and just outright eliminate Takuto and his cohort.
“But what good does knowing Mr. H’s game is a Hack-and-Slash do for you? Information isn’t enough to overcome strength. Bee-sidez…” Vagia drawled.
“Dammit. The Succubus troops are literally coming outta the woodwork…” Yu cursed, panic seeping into his voice.
If they were up against common Succubi, they would still be fine. Unfortunately, the amassing troops were of a higher rank than that, though not quite on the Noble Succubus level. They gave off an aura that warned they would not be easy to deal with. Maybe if it were just their level to contend with, Yu could manage. However, every single one was decked out in Mr. H’s gear.
They were equipped with Hack-and-Slash items capable of hurting even Yu.
Powerful items usually have level and ability score restrictions. Avicii had similar restrictions. In that respect, Takuto was grateful they weren’t getting massive power boosts beyond their level, but that didn’t make him any more optimistic about their odds. Even if there were equipment restrictions, what they had was still powerful enough to keep any enemy at bay.
“A mixed army of Elves and Succubi, equipped with unparalleled, powerful and rare equipment provided by Mr. H. They are stationed on the border with Mynoghra, darling♡. Once I give the command, they will swarm into the Dark Continent♡.”
Vagia had yet another vicious plan up her sleeve.
A slight frown creased Takuto’s brow. He had considered the possibility. Not even Mynoghra’s military could withstand a surprise attack from an overpowered mixed army of Elves and Succubi.
The situation would’ve been different if Mynoghra’s Research and production had reached its final stages, but Takuto knew wasting time thinking about the ifs was one of the most foolish things in the world.
At Mynoghra’s current strength, they couldn’t beat the Lawful Continent Alliance on an individual or military level. That much was obvious.
I was wondering why Qualia joined the alliance, but maybe it was because they were threatened by this mixed army. They already lost the war before it started. Takuto thought back to the sour expression on the Qualian Pope’s face. Some Succubus had probably already saved the man.
“I don’t doubt Mynoghra possesses a powerful army of darkness. The neutral nations of the Dark Continent also maintain considerable military forces. But when it comes to an army of Succubi, superior in every way to mere mortals, and the overpowered gear that enhances them, just how long do you think your side of the continent can hold out, hmm?”
Vagia made a sound argument. Just as she said, Takuto currently lacked the power to force them back.
He could have handled one without the other. The Succubus Army and Hack-and-Slash gear. With those combined into one enemy, Takuto had no choice but to accept the reality that he was in a tight spot.
“This is the end of THE Takuto Ira, who put me through so much misery. Hehehe, just give in to paradise already, darlings♡. A harem of naughty, naughty Succubi ladies is waiting to service you!!”
They were surrounded. Succubi cut off every escape route. There was nowhere left to run.
The barrier created by the Seven God Kings’ Spell Card didn’t seem like it would wear off anytime soon, so they couldn’t rely on Ai’s teleportation spells.
Yu seemed physically fit enough to fight. It was his mind that had fizzled out from all the stress of the dire situation.
Vittorio was utterly useless with his abilities blocked, and even though Takuto’s Botchling had combat abilities near Hero unit level, it wasn’t enough to turn the situation around.
This looks close to a checkmate, Takuto calmly analyzed.
He wasn’t there in person, so he would make it out safe. Vittorio could escape if he killed himself.
The same didn’t apply to Yu, Ai, and the envoy. They didn’t have any cards up their sleeves to escape like Takuto did, and they had no way to defeat the Succubus Army.
Their enemy wasn’t stupid either. If they didn’t cooperate with Vagia’s so-called peace, she would use any means possible to turn them. Depending on what SGK cards she had in her deck, she might even be able to Brainwash them or change their alignment.
If she could assimilate people, then Takuto couldn’t just abandon the Phon’kaven envoy. Anyone who holds a position high enough to be chosen as the leader’s representative will naturally know details about the transactions between Mynoghra and Phon’kaven. They would have a lot of knowledge that Takuto wouldn’t want to get out.
Everyone Takuto considered a part of his group needed to be brought home safely. That was the bare minimum requirement for his future plans.
“W-We’re screwed…”
“Master…”
The circle tightened around them.
Their enemy hadn’t pounced yet because they were still wary of Takuto’s party. They were exceedingly cautious in everything they did. Takuto knew that it was sometimes better to act on impulse, so he was intrigued by his opponents’—especially Vagia’s—obscene level of paranoia.
“Hm-dee-hm. We’re in a right fix! Stuck between a rock and a soft place! So, mon dieu, whatever are you going to do?” Vittorio asked in that annoying way of his, signaling time was up.
They couldn’t buy any more time than this.
Takuto slowly swept his gaze around him, then threw up both hands in exasperation. “Game systems are really broken, aren’t they? No matter how much you strategize, how much power you gather, or how carefully you move, it can easily be overridden. There’s no balance.”
“I agree with you there, darling♡. I mean, this is what happens when you throw Eroge, SLG, RPG, and the like into one game. Buuut, it’s got nothing to do with me anymore. And it won’t have anything to do with you kitties soon, either, ehe♡.”
Accepting Vagia’s proposal would spare their lives. But what awaited them was life as cattle in a sweet and lascivious world.
Takuto wasn’t interested in that kind of life, and his pride as a Player wouldn’t allow surrender.
“Come. Take my hand, Mynoghra’s King, Takuto Ira,” Vagia purred. “This sexy lady will especially attend to you right now♡.”
“Regrettably, I have to decline. My heart already belongs to someone.”
Takuto had already decided to get everything back. He would take back everything he’d lost and lead his people to the heavens. His resolve was unwavering.
He was a top player precisely because he won’t stop and can’t be stopped.
“With that done and settled, Witch Vagia, it’s time to break the game again.”
“…What?”
“Great Ritual: Dark Nation.”
As soon as he spoke those four words, an invisible force field spread across the entire continent. Yes, it covered the whole continent of Idoragya.
A powerful ritual magic was about to be activated, so strong that it ignored the barrier around the World Tree.
A torrent of magical power raged across the world.
It didn’t hurt anyone, and it didn’t destroy anything…
But it was clearly trying to rewrite the laws of the world.
“Miss Vagia! He’s going to escape!” Mr. H yelled.
“Capture him! Don’t let him escape!”
Witch Vagia, her Noble Succubus guards, and the elite Succubus soldiers rushed toward Takuto’s group with the mythical, legendary, and master-class weapons that Mr. H had prepared for them.
Certain death was upon them.
Powerful attacks that penetrated even the defensive power of the Hero rained down on them. Every single strike was a critical hit that landed with 100% accuracy.
But…
〈！〉All attacks are nullified by the Great Ritual.
“What the?! Why! Why isn’t it working?!”
The storm of unreasonable attacks failed to stop them, let alone inflict damage. It was as if the downpour of attacks was never allowed from the start…
Vagia’s eyes spread wide in surprise. The Succubus Queen had shown emotion several times before, but the expression she had now was particularly emotional, a mixture of anger, shock, frustration, regret, fear, and every other emotion possible to man.
Takuto moved his face closer to hers until they were almost close enough to kiss. Then, as he studied her face with great intent, he let out a laugh that sounded like it came from a place of genuine delight.
“That’s the face I wanted to see. I wanted you to thoroughly taste the same injustice I experienced. It’s despicable, isn’t it? Sucks to be on the other side, doesn’t it?”
Vagia jumped back from him like a frightened rabbit. The Succubus guards leapt in between them to protect her. Meanwhile, attacks came at them from near and far, but none could penetrate Takuto’s defenses.
Darkness slowly engulfed Takuto’s group.
The Succubi kept their distance, watching with eagle eyes so they could deal with whatever came next.
Takuto found their reaction amusing. With a wry smile, he lightly waved at them.
“Relax. This concludes the conference. I must regretfully admit that you had the upper hand this time. I’m putting the fight on hold. Well, it will probably be a long while before we resume…”
Thick, black magical energy gradually engulfed Takuto’s party. Before long, their entire bodies were wrapped in darkness.
Just before he was cut from view, Takuto looked firmly at Vagia…
“I won’t lose next time.”
They were swallowed up in darkness, those words echoing in their wake.