Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Elven Labyrinth Art Gallery
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"Alright! Shall we go!"
As soon as they slipped inside with sly grins, an arrow flew straight through Pilot's head.
Lucia, plastered flat against the wall in horror, watched as Pilot's head turned to mist and rippled.
From the distant corridor, elves were already charging toward them.
Arrows rained down, but Pilot dodged them all by turning her body to mist, while the spirits lunged at her, wrapped in their elements.
Naturally classified as magic, they could deliver devastating area hits to Pilot, who had expanded her evasion zone.
──If they landed, that is.
The world's one and only third-job class, and the sole climber to choose it as a subclass!
Mare Pilot, Japan's next-generation top climber, second only to Wakamo Inarizushi.
She herself was Japanese, yet her leader kept giving her items tied to Joseon hero Yi Sun-sin, making her wonder if it was subtle pressure to naturalize... but she lived without a care.
"You okay? They're [elements]...."
Pilot asked in genuine worry as the spirits closed in, restoring her body and extending her hand.
The moment her hand touched it, the fire spirit turned into a floating orb.
The elf spirit summoner realized something was wrong and shouted, but when Pilot swatted away the water spirit's distant magic shot, the entire connected water spirit transformed into an orb too.
"Good thing my magic output crushes theirs."
Before they could grasp the meaning, the "water element" froze white, scattering frost as it flew──right into the path of the former fire spirit orb.
"[Elemental Conversion Magic: Elemental Force]"
Flames and ice collided, bursting with light and repelling force, sending a mana shockwave roaring through the narrow corridor.
The magic rampaged like a wild stallion desperate to escape the labyrinth's confines, instantly freezing the interior while icy flames blazed fiercely.
Pilot flicked her finger at the elves turned into living ice statues amid the devastated passage, and they shattered like cleaved sculptures, crumbling away.
"Look at this, Lucia!! It's an elf paradise!!"
"Ahh──yeah! So beautiful!! Statue Venus figures are popular too, right...? Should we set up a separate gallery for adults? Suddenly I'm torn."
"Huh? Why?"
"We're displaying elves as exhibits. Stripping them naked might make it more artistic, like ancient sculptures that highlight the body's beauty."
"Then just make plaster casts? Dress the originals and put them in a museum?"
"That works!!"
-Chain of sanity-shredding remarks.
-Monster Rights Association is about to protest.
-Then human statues increase too.
-Lmao.
-Vanishes quietly, gallery gains one more piece lol.
-Pilot's too OP!!!
"Hmm~ Not sure yet. Even if my class got stronger, I didn't learn new skills. Just enhancements to existing ones? Gotta test it out..."
[Variation Wizard Master], a class unlocked by fully meeting the [Shape-Shifting Wizard]'s 100% conditions──maybe no one after Pilot could even achieve it. With no one to advise her and her in the position to advise others, Pilot rolled her shoulders.
"Brace yourselves, folks, might get dizzy~"
With an apology to Lucia, she swung a brush dipped in black paint, painting everywhere.
-Ughhh.
-Dizzy af.
-What kind of optical illusion is this!!
"[Op Art]!"
A scientific art form using geometric shapes, subtle color relations, and perspective to create visual illusions. It pursues pure optical effects through perspective tricks and color tension.
In short, paintings that fool the eye.
An elf warrior bravely charged toward the black-and-white balanced terrain, spotting the pit illusion on the floor and leaping over.
But he slammed into the protruding labyrinth features, falling into what he thought was a pit.
Using perspective to make terrain seem raised, recessed, or a bottomless abyss──
The more reliant on sight, the harder to escape, especially amplified by the labyrinth's effects, driving them mad.
Lucia cackled, painting optical illusions everywhere in the cramped, twisting maze.
Corners, dead ends, paths──corridors, ceilings, floors, even end walls fully exploited to wreck vision. Behind her, monsters crashed into walls, tangled, chaos unfolding.
Even tracking via spirits failed as elves couldn't follow, flailing.
Splat──
[Elf Assassins] revealed by Lucia's scattered paint lunged with poison-coated daggers.
But her sculpting knife swung faster.
In an instant, waists severed, arms flying, the [Elf Assassin Torso Statue] naturally settled into Lucia's hands.
"Check this out, amazing!! Ahaha!! Pretty elf face! Sculpt the face more... paint eyes to breathe life in, crowds will come!! Female elf, lucky!! Look at this lifelike sculpture only possible while alive!!"
Pilot pondered the half-statue, terror of dismemberment frozen on its face.
"Otaku onahole for jerking off."
-How do you even think that from THIS!!!
"Our sailors would say lower half's enough!"
-Don't lump us in!!
-But... do they really...?
-You're insane.
-Everyone here's nuts!!
"Artist perk: [Bag Containing Art] skill makes it easy!!"
Any bag works, she stuffed the torso in, then carefully packed the rolling lower half and arms. Infinite art supplies once in the tower, she grinned.
"Our gallery has orc war paintings and orc plaster statues now!! Come visit lots!!"
-Literally a living museum in every sense?
-Living museum for sure.
-Monster exhibits = alive.
-Luksego duo still on display ㅇㅇ...
-This is straight-up Napolitan horror lol.
"Come come come!! Ahahahat!!!"
Lucia, thrilled, snapped Polaroids, shaking the prints eagerly.
She held up photos of the incoming elf corridor, then another in front.
Viewers and Pilot saw charging elves, but up close for Lucia, they vanished.
"[Photo Montage]!"
Skill activated, corridor shredded to ribbons.
[Photo Shifting], an art technique of cut photos merged with reality, slicing everything in the space.
Elves floated in perfect lines, gaps where cuts were, no blood, no screams.
"Perfect for formal abstraction!!"
She propped up a canvas, framing with [Composition Frame] hands, signaling with a smile.
"Click!"
Boom──
An incomprehensible modern art piece etched on the canvas.
The shifting labyrinth elves artwork complete, corridor empty as if nothing happened.
"No need for backup, senpai!!"
"Still gotta do something, right?"
"Ahahaha! True!!"
Lucia advanced, swinging her knife to carve walls and ceilings into neat bricks, stuffing materials in her bag excitedly.
Untouched till now, aggro shifted elsewhere, past mid-boss, now monsters swarmed Pilot's party from all sides.
Clang clang──!!
Pilot caught arrows by turning body metal. Elf warriors charged, mana-clad weapons swinging, sparks flew but no wounds; she struck karate poses, punching.
"Navy Karate Uppercut!!!"
Heavy blows sent elves flying off one by one.
Mixed in, [Elf Sages] tried magic but skewed vision and warped scenery left them blankly staring, unable to perceive Pilot.
Distant elf archers and summoners entered range, everything vanished, empty corridor only; they hesitated, unable to attack.
Op art zone was trouble, but illusions intensified with distance.
"Ahh──artistic inspiration!! Happiness and joy!!! Perfect models!! Sparks flying!!!"
Lucia cheered joyfully, stacking materials, asking viewers if visible.
They were──art's profound, huh? And Germany's future looked dark.
"[Mannequin Art]!! Mannequin art means opera! 【City of Death】!! Ahh! Story with my cute SS fans who love me comes to mind!! Art! Opera! Musical──!!"
"Ah, I know! Kinky Boots' 'Land of Lola' was good too.
'I'm free, I'm desire, you contradictory illusion~♪'"
Lucia tap-danced following Pilot's musical singing and dancing.
Just chatting all day would be fun. Dance and song flowed cheerfully, tension never dipped.
"My lingering happiness, my true love, farewell now!"
Staging an opera scene, Lucia belted out drunk on mood and song, unveiling the creation.
"Mannequin modern art" with dozens of arms and legs attached appeared.
The grotesque lifeform rolled wildly atop the narrow maze toward them; desperate attacks poured, but the statue yanked an elf head from its torso, hurling at kin.
No fight, just terror──elves fled every which way, statue chasing, flattening.
Dozens of arms shoved comrades inside like invitations to join, desperate screams as elves struggled to live.
Lucia played violin to the tune, humming nasally.
"Hmm~ Freshness of materials is key~ Right? Our art... no! Our performance!! What do you think!! Smile for us? You will, right? Nah, doesn't matter if not....."
To the trembling collapsed elf summoner: how was it? Speak, right?
Craving intelligent monster critique, she sang, shaking shoulders. But no laugh, elf sobbed, sanity lost; Lucia straightened, raising knife.
"Don't forget to smile!"
"[He...hehe...]"
"Good girl, cute friend!! Everyone will come see that smile!!!"
Pilot burst holding her gut, watching Lucia bag the will-broken elf by the scruff amid Pilot's song-high.
"Ahahahat!! Granny confirmed!! Sack granny!! Wait, Kamas oji?"
"Introduce me as Krampus?"
"Introducing──Granny-ping!!"
"So mean!!"
Lucia poked Pilot's side vengefully, smile unwavering, resuming unfinished dance.
Violin, song, two danced──ahead, elf mannequin art dragged elves diligently.
Mannequin modern art with dozens limbs stuck to bodies begged "don't leave us, join us──" crushing elves.
"Art supplies nabbed this way~ Sell to wizards and alchemists for cash~~ Summoners too!! Lucia's good hard-working girl~♬"
"And that friend Pilot'll demand booze with the money!! Izakaya gazua!!!!"
"Gazua──!!"
""Kyahahahaha!!""
Unt drunken chatterers stepped into [Mid-Boss] area; fleeing elves waited with Forest Trent.
Lucia clapped at the rolling art tumbling down long stairs.
Then, OST only viewers heard flowed.
"I thought my life was tragedy till now... turns out it was a shitty comedy!!"
"Introducing──!! Applaud Germany's artist!!"
"May my death be more valuable than my life!!"
Pilot and Lucia danced down stairs. Lucia nearly lit a cigarette; Pilot throat-punched "nope."
Dropping cig, Lucia roared laughing, busting pro German club moves──shaking shoulders, legs, hips, mind-blasting viewers; Pilot goofy backup dancer, fans lost it fully.
"[Die, intruders──!!!]"
Bold [Elf Knight] lunged sword-out; Pilot slipped in, hand extended.
Metal armor crumpled, then touched flesh──[Shape Shift], elf shrank instantly into Pilot's hand.
"Ahhn, turned into bar snack~?"
"[M-monster...! Monster!!]"
"[What the hell are you!!!]"
"No need to yell, I hear ya!! Elf buddies!!!"
[Shape Shift] now worked on others via mana──tactics revolutionized! Pilot grinned, charging.
Shield block? Hand touched, shield wrapped in steel──
Splash! Water filled to waists as Lucia's art manifested sea.
"Navy!! Mermaid Karate!!!"
Wave-wrapped punch exploded shockwave, massive wave followed, shattering formation.
From wave guts, "two Pilots" burst.
Elves' faces darkened.
"[Decalcomania]!"
Lucia multiplied Pilots artistically, brush high: "Two Pilots" moved independently, pummeling elves down.
Elf archer targeted other──Lucia caught arrows in coffin.
"Fun reveal time! Weaving trash into [Assemblage] art!! Plus moving [Kinetic Art]!! Burst from coffin, Adelheid!!!"
KABOOM──!!
Shattered antique coffin birthed humanoid of junk and scrap.
Silver hair flying, green metal glinting, Adelheid danced on Lucia's strings, hurling body.
Spikes from joints, blades everywhere, rusty harpoons popped on move.
No escape, slowed by pooled water──elf warrior embraced by Adelheid, screamed.
Instantly hole-riddled, collapsed into seawater.
"Don't worry~ Adelheid's love! Hugs! Crave only warmth! Won't take lives!!!! All captured for art!!!"
Elves charged Pilot en masse.
"Don't ignore!! Fight fair!!!"
Better die fighting──Pilot scoffed at horde, stomped; seawater froze instantly.
Cold-trapped elves resisted status change fiercely, shattering ice, but couldn't counter lightning scattering currents.
"[Mega Fire]──"
"Fire beaten by magma!!!"
Pilot lava-fisted sage's gut mid-spell, punching hole.
Lightning-accelerated dash, halt──arms lava, punches unblockable.
Elf summoner desperately sent spirits──touched, orbed under Pilot control.
"[Elemental Conversion: Wind Forest Fire Mountain]"
Four elements amassed, Pilot charged full-power shot──Forest Trent tanked head-on.
Mid-boss finally moved.
Dodged massive arm swing, Pilot tree-ran, [Model Adjust] giant fist──Trent dodged faster.
Not pushed by two Pilots, agile wall/ceiling climbs utilized space, stomping Pilot into floor.
-Water buffed it!!!
-Seawater!!!
-Moisture anyway!!
-Waiting to drink water!!
Forest Trent absorbed Lucia's water, Pilot's elements, powered up. Unforeseen gimmick──Pilot misted out, hugged Lucia fleeing.
"Werebeast skill?!"
"Bad timing! Immature! Short duration!"
"Then, combo?"
"Sounds good!"
Dodging pursuing Trent, back to maze evading giant fists.
"[Sculpting] time, Pilot!!"
"Heard you're massage pro!"
"Lotsa knots!"
[Decalcomania] doubled Pilots stacked, [Shape Shift] to clay.
[Sculpting] clay-molding art into work.
Lucia kneaded material-Pilots formless, balled at blinding speed.
No gram wasted, knife-scaled, finished──Oriental dragon manifested.
"Go! Lucia's ultimate art!! [Mare Pilot]──!!"
"Kiyoooooot!!"
Free agile [Shape Shift] dragon charged mid-boss, [Model Adjust] giant mid-air soar.
Overwhelming dragon dwarfed Forest Trent.
"Urororo!!"
Coiled no-escape, Pilot breathed flames torching remaining elves, roared.
Trent struggled inside──steel-tightened, lava-red shifted.
"Move like before!!"
Crunch!!!
Shell melted, Pilot crushed burning Trent, howling.
Skyward leap, ceiling cling, wall-run to Lucia, [VTuber Model] back to [Mare Pilot], landed hat-fixed.
"Nice synergy!!!"
"Yeah!! Dragon cool, but endless possibilities!!"
"Lucia's genius!! Amazing!! Brilliant!! Awesome!! Totally badass!!"
"Uhoohot!! More!! Praise Lucia more!! More!!"
Clap clap clap!!
"Good job good!!"
Lucia waltzed junk-heap Adelheid to Pilot's cheers, writhing joyfully.
-No clue the beat lol.
-These two insane lol.
-Genius duo synergy nuts.
-Endless fresh ideas!!
-Joint stratum lowered diff, but this OP.
-Japan's next top beast!!
"Thanks thanks~"
"Good job!! Lemme drink!!!"
Satisfied by viewer hype, Lucia and Pilot advanced to boss room.
Forest Trents lined up──no match.
What boss awaited center?
Opposite door shut first noticed, blinding light like outdoors; they squinted skyward.
World Tree...? No.
Tower-exclusive tree. Fruit gem-shining, leaves glass-transparent. Hanging spirits played──elves' hidden paradise.
Center: fully armored knight sword planted, ready for intruders.
[Boss [Sword Master of Alfheim] has appeared!]
"Huh?"
Tower never announced bosses before.
Deemed unfair to climbers?
Hearing boss name, duo eyed each other, strategizing.
No prior [Sword Master] monster.
But omnipresent in media? Must be insanely strong──Lucia sent junk Adelheid first.
Fierce hug-charge, wild arm flail──flash; unseen draw, Adelheid shredded apart.
"Good, stay back Lucia."
"You sure?"
"Gotta consider all."
Chatting, Lucia meticulously painted Pilot's arms/face with brush.
[War Painting] done, [Idol's Protection] buff confirmed──Pilot grinned, approaching Sword Master.
"Japan's got a [Sword Saint]-claiming psycho killer. Challenged my dad, got wrecked fleeing geezer. Left scars on other's dad tho."
Japan's [Legendary Class] most vicious criminal. Sliced for pleasure alone, pleasure killer.
Self-proclaimed samurai, wrong era──fled after humiliating loss to Fist King dad.
Bragged return-win fleeing fool still alive per Legendary Fest──Pilot smiled.
Crush oblivious old fart for dad──prove daughter stronger!!
Eyes fierce, Pilot karate posed, charged.
"Come on──!!"
Steel-bodied Pilot's fist neared armor──intense mana repulsion.
Flash, ruthless sword arcs──[Rare Metal] body sliced like water; Pilot gritted.
Unlike Wakamo, she felt pain.
Arms/legs half-severed, waist split, neck near-off──Pilot fist-smashed blade, gut-punched; clang, fist flew.
'Fast, sharp, strong...!!'
No hits allowed, even if──body mana-cloaked. That [Aura]? Knows [Fighter] > [Knight] mana-blade sword qi. Dad showed fist same.
But unused.
Pure trained body smashing──that's karate!
Plus [Wizard] her couldn't anyway.
'Bad matchup!'
Grin, finger-to-sawblade whirl──shatter sounds, blades scattered wildly.
Ignoring chipped blade, snatched falling hand, Pilot backed [VTuber Model] restore, deep breath.
"Using Ichigo's pill!!"
Poison-pill gulped, black blood spewed.
Recoil──steam burst whole body.
Skin red-hot, mana surged.
"[Werebeast]──!!"
Boom!!
Skill-shift, Sword Master neck-aim closed.
Unknown tech/skill silent──but Wakamo party level only Wakamo/Pilot could win.
Screeech──!
"Tough bastard!!"
Antler horns mana-charged clashed blade.
Neck-powered deflection, rising──deer-human Pilot stroked elongated snout amused.
"More creepy fanart incoming!!"
Pure white deer-human Pilot hoof-kicked floor──hoof thunder-punch.
"Hoof Cherry Blossom!!"
Boom!!
Blocked blade imprinted hoof──cherry blossom shape.
"Cranking it up!! Take this, Sword Master!!!"
Inhale──triceps ballooned. Shoulders/biceps inflated.
Whirring ominously──explosive innards, stronger hoof-strike.
"Wakamo-style──"
Stationary, internal structure [Shape Shift]──chain explosions merged rubber elasticity/steel body/beast strength/stamina──
"Hoof Cherry Blizzard!!"
Ratatat──!!
Sword Master parried arm, slashed/thrust──Pilot fur-to-fiber all metal pre-slice, tanked tough, front-fought.
Wakamo-taught body mod theory, [Mana Manipulation] internals──unbound common sense, direct from capable, revert-means anytime──Pilot went all-out.
Clang clang clang──!!
Chest split, waist severed, neck/face slashed──unfazed Pilot storm unrelenting; Sword Master's armor finally crumpled, body exposed.
"──Show ya magic...!"
Grin, sacrificed arm to sword-qi──Pilot coiled fist spring-tight.
Toes-to-fingers, spine/joints elastic-wrapped, max tension.
Can't do normal? [Shape Shift] Wizard-exclusive strike suffices.
"Mach Punch──!!"
Sound barrier? Unknown. Drill-rotation full-body squeeze punch.
Point-blank──massive boom explosion blew Pilot back.
"Graaahk...!!!"
Overload──arm shoulder-down mush unrecognizable; Pilot shocked.
"Feels like nuked with my arm, damn....!!"
Ichigo-pill poison black-blood spew, Pilot rose shakily on Lucia support.
[VTuber Model] revert possible but cooldowns/transforms off; form-change ≠ poison gone.
Gulped Ichigo potions amid dust──boss status... downed?...
No alert, anxiety peaked──incoming slash; Pilot shoved Lucia, tanked.
"Ughh..!!"
Chest-gash blood gush, Pilot gritted.
Instant [Shape Shift] tank──late would've bisected.
"Fr real..."
One-armed Sword Master held shattered sword.
Mana-[Aura Sword] formed, standing calm.
Regrowing arm──Pilot scoffed.
"Pilot!!"
No retreat. Speed outclassed.
Sword-raise──time slowed for Pilot. Blood loss brain fog?
...[Variation Wizard Master] far exceeded expectations.
[Shape Shift] affected others.
Forced mutation too──why? Ambient mana presence sharpened.
Her class 【Wizard】.
Wakamo-mentioned mana-seeing lineage.
Death's edge... mana colors appeared; flash insight.
No [skill]. But crafting absent via [skill]──Wakamo specialty. Endless lessons from convos. Ultimate mentor.
"All or nothing!!!"
-Captain?! What?!
-Not dying right? Captain?
-Support incoming, stall or flee???
-Losing, Captain?
"Win!!"
Hands forward pose.
Not karate──magic focus, Pilot smirked at charging Sword Master.
"Thrilling... my talent!!"
Rippling scenery.
Lucia diorama otherworld suck-in, sensations.
Wakamo's [My Worlds] isolated realm, 1F space feel.
Now──manifest!!
"Ahh, me...!"
Scenery flipped black instantly, nosebleed Pilot.
Bloodshot eyes black-blood spit ≠ smile-full; [Shape Shift] cast.
Not self/others──mana-touched space wholly swapped instantly.
Mana shortage──mere 0.2sec Wakamo-mimic domain!!
Mana stripped, Sword Master swelled fleshy.
Resisted mid──but missed attack chance, tide turned.
"I'm...!! Japan strongest!!"
Sucked Sword Master's/ambient mana──ominous black vortex maelstrom.
Misc-born [Darkness Element] fist-wrapped Pilot's strike pulverized head through.
"【Black Vortex】!!"
Black whirl shredded flesh, mana-burst massive explosion.
Ignored scattering boss, staggering death's-door Pilot laughed.
[Incheon Tower Floor 54 achieves Platinum, opens to all humanity!!]
"Jajajaja──!! Saw that, punks!! Captain invincible strongest!!! Good job."
"Piloooot!!!"
Victory laugh brief──recovery no match recoil, eyes rolled, collapsed.
"Izakaya promised!!!"
No stir from rolled-eyes Pilot despite booze plea.
"Sob sob... was gonna fancy bar!"
"Real?"
Instant rise──Lucia hammer-smashed head.
"Actually gets up."
-lol
-lolololol
-wtf lol
-Patient alive at least.
-This right?
-Captain strongest!
-Wahahaha believed ya Captain!!
-New tech barrage insane lol
Precarious but──revamped 54F clear success.
Wakamo taught bits, but Pilot absorbed fully──slightly fearful.
True genius different....