The Silver Knights and the Merged Scenario
The Silver Knights. Dozens of machines, including the Silver Cross Star, knelt before me on one knee. The radiance erupting from them was so intense that the approaching angels and demons were clearly flustered.
“Those wicked demons are up to their tricks!”
“Don’t be deceived! It’s the illusion magic of those filthy angels!!”
With those shouts, the angels and demons charged in, fearless. Wait, if they’re enemies with each other, why are they only targeting us? …Not that it matters.
The moment the dark red blade manifested in the Silver Cross Star’s right hand and swung toward them, everything was cleaved in two.
The corpses of the angels and demons thudded to the ground, and at the same time, a message appeared.
Congratulations! You have completed the 21st-floor quest!
Achievement Unlocked: I Am the Knight Order.
21st-floor record broken!
Would you like to register for the Hall of Fame? Yes / No
“Yes.”
You have been registered in the Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame reward issued!
Congratulations! You have acquired the special ability: Physical Resistance!
Physical Resistance
Grade: Undetermined
Effect: Reduces physical damage taken. It doesn't hurt! It doesn't hurt!
It ended too anticlimactically compared to our power. Leaving now felt a bit disappointing.
“Should we clear a few more floors?”
【The Guardian of All Things nods.】
【The Captain of the Twelve Stars agrees.】
“You can help, right?”
【We shall follow the Commander's orders.】
Since the Silver Cross Star agreed, all that was left was to clear them. …Come to think of it, I can connect one more person via Fate's Link. Can’t I connect the Silver Cross Star? It would be reassuring if I could summon them at will.
“Fate's Link.”
You have not met the specific conditions for Fate's Link.
The message popped up, firmly denying me. Feeling a bit let down, I pressed "Next Floor" to make the most of it.
【Do you wish to challenge the 22nd floor?】 Yes / No
“Yes!”
Scenario quests will proceed from the 21st to the 30th floor.
Please be careful, as the monsters appearing on each floor vary.
22nd Floor Mission: Win the Heavenly-Demonic War!
⏳ Time Limit: Unlimited
✅ Success Condition: Eliminate angels and demons.
❌ Failure Condition: Failure to kill or death.
⚔ Restricted Equipment: None.
🚫 Restricted Protocols: None.
I opened my eyes to a blinding white light, the knight order guarding me as if escorting me. “Are there any angels or demons nearby?”
【No presence detected.】
Either they haven't appeared yet, or they’ve set a trap. Which is it? …Does it matter? In the face of overwhelming power, nothing would be of any use.
“Wipe them out.”
【As the Commander wills.】
Except for one knight, the order spread out in all directions. Soon, explosions echoed from everywhere. BOOM!!! Demons burst from the ground to attack the knights, but it was futile. Their attacks didn't even reach the knights and vanished into light.
As the knights finished off the last one and searched for the angels, something shining fell from the sky to the ground. That is… a marble…?
As the five-colored marble hit the ground, a message appeared.
Error! Error! Error! Error!
A problem has occurred in the scenario map.
The Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm propose a scenario 'integration' from the 22nd to the 25th floor.
The Administrator has approved.
Huh? Approved what?
【The scenario from the 22nd to the 25th floor will be integrated.】
The white light grew brighter, enveloping everything around me. For a few seconds, I couldn't see a thing. As the light slowly faded, a completely different landscape unfolded before my eyes.
“What on earth is this….”
The place I had awakened in was a massive field. I was lost in a daze, captivated by the beautiful scenery of blue skies and green meadows, when the sound of a horn rang out.
BWAAAAAAHHHH!!!
At the same time, a message appeared.
22nd ~ 25th Floor Mission: Win the Heavenly-Demonic War!
⏳ Time Limit: Unlimited
✅ Success Condition: Eliminate angels and demons.
❌ Failure Condition: Failure to kill or death.
⚔ Restricted Equipment: None.
🚫 Restricted Protocols: None.
【Monsters from the 22nd to the 25th floor will appear in large numbers.】
【Please win the Heavenly-Demonic War.】
So, in other words, they combined the 22nd through 25th floors and are dumping all those monsters on me at once? No, doesn't that just increase the difficulty while the rewards stay the same!? Administrator… Administrator, come out here…!
With the thought that I would definitely grab the Administrator by the collar during a consultation soon, I gaped at the sight of angels and demons flooding in like a tidal wave.
“Just how many are there?”
【The Guardian of All Things frowns, thinking this has crossed the line.】
【The Captain of the Twelve Stars exerts their power.】
The void split open, and twelve aircraft carriers revealed themselves. As they spread out as if to escort the knight order, a deep, resonant voice echoed.
"If you seek death, you shall live."
"I grant the warrior the speed of the wind."
"If you seek to live, you shall die."
"I grant the warrior the power to shake heaven and earth."
"If one man guards the pass, ten thousand shall fear."
"I grant the warrior the courage to overcome any hardship and adversity."
One of the reasons the Captain of the Twelve Stars was called "OP." He was a broken character who could even provide area-of-effect buffs.
***
So much time had passed that no one knew how many hundreds of years it had been since the Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm had worked together. That was how dangerous this climber was. The overwhelming power displayed on the 21st floor had shocked both sides, and they couldn't guarantee victory if they left him alone. Judging this an exceptional situation, they implemented the scenario integration, which the administrators had approved.
Inside the golden palace built above the clouds of the Heavenly Realm, Michael, the Legion Commander of the Heavenly Gods, furrowed his brow. “How can a mere mortal possess such power?”
As the one who had protected the Heavenly Realm for thousands of years, it wounded his pride to fear a human, but given the circumstances, he couldn't lower his guard. “Is everything ready?”
At his words, his adjutant bowed his head. “As per your instructions, Legion Commander, 1,000 high-ranking angels equipped with holy weapons have assembled.”
“And the Demon Realm’s forces?”
“They say they are deploying Legion Commander Asmodeus along with 10,000 mid-ranking demons.”
Michael’s expression twisted at the thought of fighting alongside the filthy demons of the Demon Realm. “Filthy things, but this time, it cannot be helped. Deploy.”
***
Meanwhile, in the underground fortress where lava flowed, Asmodeus, the Legion Commander of the Demon Gods, was giving orders to his subordinates. “Listen well, everyone. Today we fight alongside those filthy Heavenly Realm bastards, but in the end, only we demons shall remain.”
He revealed his dirty plan with a wicked smile, but since it was a common sight in the Demon Realm, the other demons just cheered. They were grinning at the thought of disposing of the human and tearing those filthy angels to shreds.
During the speech, his aide, Beelzebub, approached and whispered. “Legion Commander, all preparations are complete.”
“It is time to hold a festival of blood! Deploy, everyone!”
Both armies moved to the battlefield through rifts in space and time. What unfolded before their eyes was a massive field. In the center stood a single human, surrounded by dozens of silver entities.
“Is that our target?” Asmodeus asked, and his adjutant nodded in response. “Yes, it is.”
Those massive silver entities were clearly neither from the Heavenly Realm nor the Demon Realm. They stood around the human as if protecting him, and the radiance erupting from them was blinding.
At that moment, a filthy voice rang out. “Charge. Trample that wicked and filthy human.”
Asmodeus’s eyebrows twitched at Michael’s voice. “I won’t let those filthy things take the lead! Everyone, deploy!!”