Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: 5th Floor. False Reunion
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"Kihheeeek!!! It's a shark!"
"It's an alligator."
"Ah, my ignorance..."
Can't be helped if you're ignorant. I like people who can recognize and accept their own shortcomings.
'Bigger than I thought.'
I'd figured its height was about human-sized at most, but that was wishful thinking. More like around 3 meters.
Albert and the other criminals had only heard it was big—they clearly hadn't imagined this big. They stared blankly at the Sewer King in stunned silence.
And those reptilian eyes looking down at us.
'Holy shit. Not worried about getting bitten—more like getting stepped on. How the hell did people beat something like this in this insane game?'
Of course, later on you punch demons to death barehanded, so a giant alligator didn't seem like such a big deal.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 👑 Name: Sewer King, Vesha ⭐ Level: 10★ ❤️ Health: 405/405 ■■■■■■■■■■ A giant alligator with white skin living in Whitechamber's sewers. The constantly flowing mana can create monsters like this. By the way, it's female. The last bit wasn't particularly interesting, but the revealed stats showed HP in the 400s—the highest so far.
Considering that even combining the Wanderer and Bell of the End only got you to the 300s, it made you question how early-game players were supposed to beat this boss.
'At least its accuracy is low.'
Not that it mattered—it still got wrecked by all sorts of ridiculous tactics in practice.
"Gonna need a cannon to take that down."
"We have cannons."
Albert grumbled, then paused as realization dawned. He nodded.
"Fair point."
Creeeeak—
The Sewer King opened its jaws wide. Its mouth rose to the height of a small building, forcing us to crane our necks up.
As if claiming all the warm sunlight filtering through the gaps, its shadow engulfed us.
Baaaaang—!!!
It was just yawning—opening wide and closing.
But the resulting air pressure roared through the cavern, shaking it violently and nearly bursting our eardrums.
The world tilted drunkenly.
"What the fu—!"
My body crumpled like a marionette with cut strings. The ground rushed up to meet my face.
I'd never seen or heard of a pattern like this. No matter the difficulty, what kind of insane enemy inflicts a status effect with an AoE the moment you encounter it, without even making contact?
Even as I raged at the sheer bullshit of it, the Sewer King slowly lumbered toward us on those massive legs.
"Ve... Ve... Vesha!!"
It halted.
I didn't know if it'd work, but I had to deal with this now or we'd get eaten and game over before any攻略 could happen.
Thankfully, it still reacted to its name. The white alligator paused its approach and gazed down at me silently.
I slowly stood, careful not to provoke it.
Cold sweat poured down like rain, but I kept my composure.
'Fuck. Those teeth are huge.'
Its blunt, saw-like teeth were right in my face now. I bit my lip to stifle a scream.
The rotten fish stench from its maw was nauseating.
One bite from those, and I'd be protein supplement, turned into part of its muscle.
I shakily pulled out the handmade alligator statue I'd kept safe in my pocket—Jeff's.
"Vesha! Vesha! Don't you recognize me?"
I didn't expect a Deeeet human! How about one shot before I go? Desu? or anything, but it recognized its owner's statue. Its tail thrashed wildly in response.
The violent writhing sent water jets exploding like bombs, droplets raining down.
"Remember our precious memories!"
And I threw it.
The plastic alligator statue soared through the sky on a graceful arc.
Startled by the sudden toss, the Sewer King twisted to follow the statue modeled after itself.
"Severa! Frost Spear!"
The air temperature plummeted. A massive ice chunk whistled past my ear.
A little closer and it'd have smashed my skull. My legs went weak, but the spear nailed the Sewer King's gaping maw dead-on.
Frost spread, freezing the sewer water.
"Kyaaaaah!!! I almost got hit!!!"
"Hmph."
Was she that eager for aggro?
Severa turned away primly, playing innocent.
I'll make her regret it later. For now, focus on the Sewer King.
"Everyone up and shoot whatever you've got! It won't stay frozen long!"
"Ngh... The world's spinning..."
Albert nocked an arrow roughly and loosed it despite the dizziness. It steadily struck the alligator's nape.
But it didn't sink deep— the thrashing shook it loose, and it vanished into the water.
The risen criminals followed suit with bows, crossbows, or thrown stones if they had nothing else.
Another Frost Spear flew.
This one targeted its legs to lock movement, but it wouldn't last long.
Cracks were already forming.
But that was enough. Twang, twang—arrows and bolts slammed home amid the sounds of straining bowstrings.
'Not much damage, though.'
Albert's arrows aside, the criminals' did 1-2 damage each. Even his weren't that effective.
The boss's defense was sky-high. The criminals' low stats didn't help.
'Stones do zero. But if we use all Frost Spears and two Fireballs, we can halve it.'
Skipping aiming, casting and firing magic took 2 turns.
By my calculations, Severa could reach frenzy phase intact before her Fuel ran out.
'No.'
If there's a more efficient way, use it.
"Severa, use all Frost Spears, then one Fireball. Then close in and use Inevitable End."
"..."
"Not even answering now..."
As long as she got it, fine.
She'd obey anyway—no risk of sabotage or botching.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Foul water, foul air, sunlight that never reaches.
I resented the owner who'd abandoned me here, but I survived anyway.
Believing he'd come back someday.
His appearance had changed a lot after years apart. The chick-yellow hair was now dull black, his unscarred face covered in wounds.
Many changes, but that statue he always carved while looking at me—it was definitely his.
He'd suffered too. But finally, he came for me!
In joy, I wagged my tail like when I was a pup acting cute for him.
I'd grown a lot since then, but he'd pet me like old times.
Back to the good old days—
The statue flying through the sky. Why did owner throw it?
Maybe it slipped from his hand while showing it to me. Then I should return it.
I worried turning would make him vanish, but losing the statue would make him sad.
I twisted back, plunging into the now-familiar filthy water after it. Splash.
Crunch.
Sudden cold. Freezing cold binding my body. Cold halting my thoughts.
I couldn't understand. Couldn't.
The only good thing about this place was it never got that cold, even in winter.
But it was ice. The hated cold thing I'd seen years ago and never since.
It wrapped my body, making movement hard.
And it hurt. My jaw throbbed like it'd been hit by a rock. Needling pains annoyed too.
Why? Owner's doing?
Why? Hate me now?
Why? Too big now?
Why—why—why—why—why—
Endless questions. But owner didn't answer.
Resentment for him drowned out the cold, stinging, burning pain.
And the hazy something flitting before my eyes.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Inevitable End Instant death on human/animal/insect types (Dungeon Gallery Pack adjusted to near-death). Reduced effect on bosses.
Shrrrip—
It hurt. Like my soul tearing, but something bigger swallowed the pain, swelling my body.
I looked at owner.
"As expected of a boss—effect's weak. Still, 25% of max HP on a boss is impressive."
Owner's face, giggling despite knowing my pain.
All that remained was aimless murderous rage.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Severa used Inevitable End and exhausted her Fuel, returning to onahole form.
Instant death on humans, animals, insects—but Dungeon Gallery Pack tweaks made it near-death. Even reduced, weak on bosses.
Two resistance logs meant sub-bosses could somewhat resist too.
Still, 100 damage in one spell was beyond excellent.
'Though using it means recharging her wand till Magic fills up.'
150 Magic cost is no joke. Even max level, without Mind investment, unusable.
"Remaining HP... around 160. Everyone, get ready. Here it comes."
At my words, Albert and all criminals gripped their weapons tensely.
The Fireball had melted the ice, freeing movement. The Sewer King swelled its muscles under thick hide, slowly turning back to us.
Its pure white skin was soot-streaked from flames, and three deep scars matching those on my chest gashed its snout.
Reptilian eyes, blank before, now burned with sticky murderous intent and madness.
Aimed squarely at me. I raised my axe at it.
"C-can't you open your eyes nicer?"
"It's too scary."
Fucking terrifying. For real.