Chapter 80
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: New Invaders (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Only two byproducts remained in the Lord's Castle.
One Essence of Freezing and one Fusion Aether.
However, the items that could be crafted with these two byproducts…
[The blacksmith can currently craft one of five specialized items.]
There were a whopping five of them.
The jackpot didn't end there.
Each item the gnome could craft was a 'specialized item'.
What were specialized items?
Literally, they were exclusive equipment.
'This is another legacy that stinks of MonMonMak's crappy game days.'
Each monster had its own exclusive equipment, and equipping it would grant special skills or additional stats regardless of the item's rank.
Though since the exclusive equipment itself was at least A-rank, it didn't make a huge difference.
It was a system introduced in a later patch, and naturally, since it was equipment from the premium gacha, the odds were abysmal.
'You had to pull an A-rank or higher piece of exclusive equipment for a monster you were actually raising.'
Still, the specs on this exclusive equipment were so broken that quite a few users poured their money in and went up in flames.
It also acted as a catalyst for MonMonMak's player base to decrease exponentially.
"To think I can craft those specialized items myself."
[Currently Craftable Specialized Items]
1. Heart of the Glacier (Goblin Exclusive)
2. Halberd of Freezing (Lizardman Exclusive)
3. Ancient Glacial Armor (Ogre Exclusive)
4. Shadowfrost Bow (Dark Elf Exclusive)
5. Ten-Thousand-Year Frost Shell (Ice Ear Turtle Exclusive) - ※ Gnome's Recommendation!
[Detailed item information cannot be viewed until crafted.]
"Oh."
I couldn't see the detailed info, but for a MonMonMak veteran like me, it didn't matter.
The Heart of the Glacier to the Shadowfrost Bow were all items that existed in MonMonMak.
The Halberd of Freezing, in particular, was one of the most coveted items for many players.
Just equipping that one item would let a 2-star Lizardman slow, slice, and block all on its own.
The rest were also rare items you couldn't get your hands on.
Except for one.
"Ten-Thousand-Year Frost Shell...? I've never seen this before."
And an Ice Ear Turtle, that's the one.
The very same monster I fought a life-or-death battle against in the Ogre's Sanctuary.
I was thrilled when I extracted its magic stone, only to find out its massive form was due to the effects of 'Interference,' and it was actually just a 1-star monster.
"It's dozing off next to the Lord even now."
I stared at the tiny turtle slumbering beside the throne.
Is it worth investing an item in this thing?
But to just ignore it...
※ Gnome's Recommendation!
This tag next to the item in the list bothered me.
"Sage, what should I do?"
[The Sage recommends the gnome's choice!]
"Reason?"
Prrr.
Seeing it slowly look away, it seemed its special analysis wasn't working either.
Weren't you supposed to analyze it properly before answering?
'Well, the Lizardman is already performing quite well. If the goal is to boost our overall strength, it's probably better to gear up the Ice Ear Turtle.'
After all, in its current state, the Ice Ear Turtle is nothing more than an ordinary turtle.
"Okay, I'm counting on you!"
[You have commissioned the crafting of the Ten-Thousand-Year Frost Shell.]
5,000 gold, the Essence of Freezing, and the Fusion Aether disappeared.
Immediately after, the gnome picked up its hammer and began diligently crafting something.
With that, a new pixel window popped up.
[Time remaining until Ten-Thousand-Year Frost Shell is crafted - 04:59:56]
The job was done; now all I had to do was wait.
I looked away from the blacksmith and checked the overall situation of the Lord's Castle.
At first, the Lord's Castle had been utterly desolate.
But now, various monsters were bustling about inside.
Dark Elves on patrol, Gono and Odolph sleeping in the barracks, the baby lich scurrying around, the Lord sitting on the throne, and the Ice Ear Turtle crawling beside her.
"Hm?"
As I was checking on each of the deployed monsters, something suddenly began to glow.
The two Evil Eye Towers set up in the Audience Chamber.
They were flashing at regular intervals.
"It's here."
Tapping on the skull tower made a red warning window flash.
[Warning! 11 days remaining until the 704th wave.]
Two weeks had passed since the 703rd invasion.
This meant there was nearly a month-long gap between the 703rd and 704th waves.
Considering the previous invasion cycles, this was very late.
Prrr!
The Sage looked at me with worried eyes.
"It's okay, I was prepared for this."
I didn't know how long I'd have to keep blocking waves, but it was something I'd have to do tirelessly from now on.
I had no intention of complaining.
"The problem is just how formidable the invaders will be this time."
That was why my expression darkened slightly.
During the reward settlement for the 703rd wave, an unidentified someone had remarked that 'everyone is watching the castle on the frontier.'
And now, a wave cycle that had stretched to nearly a month.
What this implied was quite clear.
[Activating the Half-Dragon's Evil Eye Tower to check wave composition information.]
Of course, it could just be needless worrying.
However, the danger sense I'd honed through MonMonMak was usually accurate.
And this time was no exception.
[The Evil Eye Tower has not been sufficiently upgraded. The 704th wave is composed of a single unit. No penalty will be applied.]
"A single unit?"
In MonMonMak, there was only one case where a wave was composed of a single unit.
The first wave.
That wave, and only that wave, consisted of a single, very weak 1-star monster.
But after that, at least two would appear.
But it was too soon to be surprised.
[704th Wave Information - Idic (■-Star, Void Attribute, Proliferation, Predation)]
The moment I checked the detailed wave information.
I narrowed my eyes.
First, I was surprised that the star rating wasn't displayed properly.
And I was surprised by the appearance of an attribute I'd never seen before.
"Void?"
MonMonMak basically had attributes based on the four great elements.
Fire, Ice, Earth, and Wind.
Light and Dark were added later through a patch, but it never deviated from that framework.
And until the very moment MonMonMak shut down its service, the 'Void' attribute never existed.
It was then.
[The Dream Lord has requested a conversation!]
With a *ding!*, an exclamation mark appeared above the Dream Lord.
That's right.
The master of the Lord's Castle, she, who was knowledgeable about the world where the castle actually exists, would know.
[You have decided to speak with the Dream Lord.]
1. The 704th Wave
This time, it went straight to the selection screen without any greeting.
As soon as I made my choice, the Lord's speech bubble appeared.
[My Lord, from now on, special beings will be targeting the castle. Therefore, you must be fully prepared before the wave arrives.]
[You asked about the Void attribute.]
[Void is a trait that only 'chosen' monsters can possess.]
Chosen?
Chosen by what?
But I couldn't ask about that, and the Lord continued to extend her speech bubble.
[They are fundamentally unaffected by any elemental advantages or disadvantages and take reduced damage. Furthermore, they inflict additional damage to all elements.]
They take less damage, but deal extra damage when they attack.
…Literally no weaknesses.
If this had appeared in MonMonMak, it's a broken attribute that would have driven away even the handful of remaining players.
[In addition, monsters belonging to the Void category possess numerous individual traits.]
'My experience as a MonMonMak veteran is completely useless against these guys.'
The reason I'd managed to defend the castle under such poor conditions until now...
...was only possible because I knew the characteristics of the monsters that made up the waves.
But that wouldn't work against the Void attribute.
It's no different from starting MonMonMak as a complete newbie.
[You expressed your gratitude to the Lord.]
In that case, I have no choice but to devise a plan over the next 11 days.
[Please do not worry too much, my Lord. I will also assist you to the best of my ability.]
The female knight who had risen from the throne bowed her head.
I watched her and smiled faintly.
[The Sage promises to also do its best to help!]
"Yeah, yeah."
I dismissed the pixel window and sank into thought.
"For now, let's set aside the Void trait. Let's focus on the rest."
The other two traits are Proliferation and Predation.
Proliferation means the monster can divide on its own to increase its numbers.
It's a tricky but common trait.
Even 1-star slimes have the Proliferation trait.
"The problem is Predation."
Predation is a trait that continuously steals the stats of opposing monsters during combat.
It's a trait found on monsters of at least 4-stars or higher, and it has no growth limit.
This means that the longer the battle, the endlessly stronger the Predation monster becomes, while the Lord's Castle monsters facing it grow weaker.
Back in the MonMonMak days, there were plenty of cases where the Lord's Castle was ruined because players couldn't take out the Predation monster first.
'But to have both Predation and Proliferation at the same time. One wrong move and I'll be completely overwhelmed.'
It's a problem if a monster strengthened through Predation then proliferates.
And it's a problem if the proliferated monsters also have Predation.
What a hellish combination.
[The Sage shudders, wondering what kind of freakish traits these are!]
"Tell me about it."
In the end, there's only one way.
To attack and destroy the main body without giving it any room to use Predation or Proliferation.
After mulling it over, I suddenly nodded.
It seemed I didn't need to rack my brain over this alone.
* * *
"...CrappyGame-bro."
"Hm?"
"So, this is why you called me? To run a simulation of a crappy game that's already failed?"
I stared at the snappy blonde girl in front of me.
Asha was pouting, her lips pushed out as she cupped a teacup with both hands.
"I never planned on having you over, you know."
I was planning to go to a cafe or somewhere to talk peacefully.
It's the fault of this invader who barged into my home the moment I said I needed some advice.
"Giving me your address means I can come over whenever I want!"
"No, no. It meant you could come for the housewarming party later. I only gave you the address because you were so persistent about it."
"Well, um. I was just curious about the layout of your place, CrappyGame-bro..."
"What's there to be curious about? You live in the building right next door."
To add, this Russian Hunter also lived in the officetel right next door.
"Mine faces south. Yours faces north, so of course the layout has to be different."
"Alright, okay."
I nodded at the whining Asha.
It felt like this bickering would never end otherwise.
"So, in a situation like this, what would you do?"
I had already told Asha about the 704th wave.
Adapted, of course, into the format of a 'MonMonMak simulation'.
Asha rested her chin on her hand, her lips jutting out as she spoke.
"I don't know. First off, a Void attribute? Isn't that a bit too lore-heavy? Why would they need to add another dirty element to a game that's already a piece of crap?"
'Tell me about it.'
I vehemently agreed with her on that.
But what could I do? This was happening in reality.
But Asha wasn't finished.
"It's starting to get suspicious. I wonder if the MonMonMak developers singled you out, CrappyGame-bro, and are working you like a beta tester."
"Huh?"
"And then they add all these freakish settings and threaten you, like, 'You'll die if you can't block this wave.'"
[(,Ծ_Ծ,)]
"And then every time you block a wave, CrappyGame-bro, they give you a new ability in real life or something?"
"..."
Asha stared intently at me, then chuckled and waved her hands dismissively.
"Ah, was that too much of a fantasy? Sorry. I've gotten into reading novels like this lately."