Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Yes, Everything Is Going According to My Plan, Faust's
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Yes, everything was proceeding exactly according to my plan, Faust's.
Without missing a single thing, without the slightest gap, I had driven the intruder into a corner.
'Lucky?'
No, it was because I maintained my composure... right?
In a moment of crisis, composure is a sharper sword than ever and a reliable ally.
Looking back on the situation at the time, the only combat-capable force on my side was Phenex.
After the tutorial's combat experience, I was incapacitated by lethargy. Lucifer was also out of commission due to the aftereffects of long-distance teleportation.
Having a single goblin face off against that adventurer would just be a pointless waste of resources.
In that case, Phenex would have been the perfect choice to deploy immediately. If not for her trait, 【Indomitable】.
Indomitable was one of the most poorly rated traits when the early 6-star demons were ranked upon Lemegaton's service launch.
Not only did it have some unknown number-based condition plastered on it, but even reading the effect in detail revealed utterly bizarre content.
'A familiar that can't win during a dungeon defense mission in a game where dungeon defense is the main content...'
It was a trait that went way beyond the pale.
In any case, since Phenex couldn't defeat the intruder once her dungeon defense activated, I needed to prepare another way to deal with the intruder.
Currently, all elements available for dungeon defense—traps, curses, environment—were inadequate.
It was like hearing rumors of a feast and the guest arriving far too early.
'Still... I managed to welcome the guest without disappointing them.'
Limping Agnea.
When the Rotten Root Dungeon was divided into three zones, she was one of the neutral bosses occupying a single zone.
The silver lining in the misfortune was that I already knew of her existence and had pinpointed her location.
Her lair was very close to the dungeon's core, so instead of the other uncharted zones, I could slot her into the defense area.
That way, the intruder would surely encounter Agnea. No, more than just encountering—they would engage in a desperate fight for survival.
And without exception, the intruder would lose.
The result of that was right before my eyes now.
'...They didn't die.'
They were still breathing, but the intruder had become a cocoon wrapped from the neck down in silk. And even that tenacious life seemed about to end soon.
The creature was already combat-ineffective.
The dungeon defense mission was as good as complete.
But there was still one unresolved matter.
'...Agnea.'
Eliminating Agnea.
She had fallen from her web during the fight with the intruder, but she was still hale and glaring at Phenex.
The difference in size and numbers was the first thing that caught the eye. Most would bet on Agnea's victory.
However, I was different.
'If Agnea falls from her nest...'
It means she's lost half or more of her maximum health.
Of course, even that would be an impressive figure in this low-level bracket. At level 1, without having unlocked the Altar of Growth yet, among the 6-star demons, only a handful of familiars could take down Agnea with raw power alone.
No obvious names came to mind. Phenex's name wasn't among them.
But...
After Agnea falls from her web, her 'Limping' pattern.
In other words, once that massive spider enters phase 2, the situation changes.
Alongside the names of those prior monster 6-star demons, a few more names surface.
Phenex.
Hers as well.
'Phenex...'
Her name undoubtedly stands alongside those great ones.
A crude skillset without ranged takedown abilities. But it's certainly straightforward and steadfast.
"Phenex, show me."
- …….
"That you are a demon."
From beyond, a response.
Grit...
- Yes, my lord!
* * *
[Phenex's basic ability: Blazing Flames activates.]
[Phenex continuously recovers life force until the battle ends.]
[The effect increases based on lost life force.]
Roarrr...
Phenex stared at Limping Agnea, clad in her blazing full-body armor.
The battle she now faced was the first major fight since her contract with Faust.
"Huu... huu..."
Before she came here, while observing the battlefield, Faust had given her a warning.
- The Fountain of Regeneration is still dormant. That means a single defeat equals death.
Failure means death.
It was a chilling warning, but words her master had left her long ago, like a pillar, supported her.
- Once you draw your sword, from that moment, envision death. Your enemy's death, or... your own. If you seek to take, you may be taken—it's a simple truth, not difficult, right?
Yes, drawing the sword means you can die.
It was the first thing she learned from her master, alongside how to grip the sword, when she sought his teachings.
She understood all too well that death comes suddenly, like a passing shower.
"Huu..."
Even understanding all this, her breath felt tight.
- Kiiiiii!
With distance between them, Agnea roared from her saliva-dripping maw.
Only then did Phenex realize it.
That she was tense.
That she feared the fight.
Strange, since she wasn't afraid of dying.
What was she afraid of?
Tremble...
Her hands shook.
...I see.
This was fear of loss.
This nest she had finally found after so long.
"I must protect it."
Before entering the battle, Phenex recalled her master, frozen long ago.
- Armor is resolve. Firmly. Don't forget your helmet—it keeps your pebble-sized head from splitting in two at once. Well, how about it? Now you're tougher than anyone. You won't die easily.
'I couldn't bring the helmet!?'
Pat pat...
Instead of steel plate, she felt her hair. Over the years, her armor had gradually lightened.
The steel decreased, but her courage grew.
"Armor is... resolve."
Yes, steel her resolve and draw the sword.
Shiiiing...
Her second basic ability activates simultaneously with the draw.
[Phenex's basic ability: Heat Transfer activates.]
[Enemies damaged by Phenex's basic attacks or abilities enter the Ember state.]
[Ember-state enemies take flame damage equal to 15% of max health over 30 seconds.]
[Ember-state enemies, upon death, become engulfed in flames and transfer Ember to those around them.]
[Transferred Ember refreshes the duration on the target and passes on the deceased's remaining flame damage.]
[Basic ability: Heat Transfer affects basic ability: Blazing Flames.]
[For each enemy in Ember state, Blazing Flames' life force recovery effect strengthens.]
"Big spider..."
- Kiiiiii!
"I'll cut you down."
Fwoosh-!
As she moved, Limping Agnea's second pattern began.
- Kiii!
[Agnea uses Point Stab.]
[Delivers a piercing strike to the designated area.]
[If the target blocks or takes damage, 1 follow-up strike triggers.]
Squeee...
KABOOM-!
Agnea's foreleg smashed the spot where Phenex had stood. Rocks shattered and flew, making it clear just how immense the power in that giant spider's foreleg was.
Whoosh-!
Phenex leaped straight back to assess the situation.
- Kiii...
Agnea remained in place, foreleg raised warily against Phenex.
'...Just as my lord said.'
- Agnea looks impaired in movement. She'll wait for you to approach.
- But... my lord, I can't win without closing in?
- I'm not saying don't close in. Create a sure moment.
Nod...
'Approach only when certain.'
Faust's parting advice ended there. Surely, he—as Kim Seojin, as Faust—knew far more about Agnea.
But he didn't pass all that information to Phenex. It would be meaningless.
If she overcame every future trial that way, she'd hit a wall eventually, he judged.
He didn't assume failure in conquering Agnea. Not because he trusted Phenex.
Because he trusted himself—Faust—who judged she could handle this much...
But the outcome after was unknown territory. Perhaps one of Faust's extraordinary abilities, 【Composure】, had led to a dangerous judgment.
Tap tap tap...
Phenex surveyed the battlefield.
A head-on fight offered no chance of victory.
Her innate regeneration, her hallmark, wouldn't shine much against a beast with such vicious weapons.
Agnea's foreleg would destroy her body faster than she could regenerate.
In that case, she needed a detour.
To reduce the numerical disadvantage, even a little.
- Kiiii!
- Kiii!
Dozens of them.
Not adults, but immature spiderlings, spreading out to surround Phenex.
Wary of her flames, they didn't approach rashly, but their numbers seemed to grow.
[Agnea's basic ability: Spawn Burst activates.]
[Every 20 seconds after battle starts, 2 silk cocoons hatch.]
Her premonition was correct.
'I need to thin their numbers!'
No matter Phenex's power, this was a dungeon.
A place manifested using fixed mana from the contractor's dungeon core.
She bore Phenex's name and was summoned here, but she could use only a fraction of the strength she'd built in hell.
A hollow end could come.
Like a hornet falling to a swarm of honeybees clinging and buzzing.
"One!"
Piiiing-!
Slash!
"Two! Nngh!"
Piiiing!
Slash!
But new spiderlings quickly filled the gaps, no progress made.
Glance...
Meanwhile, Agnea, commanding the spiderlings, hadn't moved a step from her crash site.
Instead...
[Agnea uses Acidic Venom.]
[Very fast venom contaminant shoots toward the target.]
[Inflicts strong acid damage on the target.]
Spiiiish-!
Occasionally, she spat acidic liquid from range.
"Urgh!"
The acid was extremely fast, but avoidable with focus.
However, evading while surrounded by spiderlings was difficult.
The spiderlings rebuilt a thick wall in front of Agnea.
Seeing this, a thought flashed in Phenex's mind.
Why were the spiderlings protecting Agnea? If she blocked the initial attacks properly, maybe Agnea would be defenseless after?
Thought became action.
Fwoooosh-!
"Out of the way!"
Spiiiish-!
Roooarrr!
Spiderlings, fearing the flames yet blocking to protect Agnea.
Spiiiish!
Spiiiish!
"I'm in a hurry!"
Spiiiish-!
She pierced the barrier in an instant, standing before Agnea.
As expected, that foreleg greeted her.
Whoooosh...
Unbelievable speed.
Immense downward force.
KABOOM-!
"Grhh..."
[Blocked Agnea's Point Stab.]
[Follow-up strike triggers.]
Whoooosh-!
KABOOM-!
"Urk..."
She blocked it.
She held!
'Now it's my turn...!'
Clang-!
She deflected the foreleg and immediately swung her sword horizontally.
'This foreleg! If I sever it...'
Squeee-!
Claaaang-!
A clear ring echoed, steel clashing against steel.
"...No way!"