章節 154: One sword is enough (1)
That sounds like a lot of work for a single day. I'll see if I can manage to get the skeleton swordmaster done quickly.
I am now standing at the entrance to the sword tomb. Last time I was only here in virtual reality and I have to say it feels even creepier in real life. Isn't the newest VR technology supposed to be able to perfectly mirror reality?
<To a very high degree at least. But it struggles with replicating godly powers and presences.>
Godly presence? Like what I felt when I met Hades? Is he here?
<No, Hades is busy elsewhere. But he personally gives each skeleton swordmaster stationed here a two-hour sermon on how important its mission to defend that boss room is. As a relatively weak creature just being in contact with such a god-level existence leads to some contamination. There's no direct increase in combat strength but it retains some of the aura of a god-level existence.>
So it's more like an intimidation-type skill?
<Yes, it might have some minor impact on combat but what you faced in VR should be comparable.>
Can we cut the whole theatric entrance and all that? I'm here to teach the skeleton swordmaster how to fight better not be dazzled by its performance.
<Wait a minute...>
I'm waiting.
<Just checked in with Daedalus. He said he would stop the special effects so you don't get too distracted. Since this is a special boss room he'll be watching so if you need anything just say it out loud and if it can be done he'll do it.>
Nice.
I enter the boss room and the obsidian doors close behind me. Al the ethereal glowing is now gone and the room is lit up by torches that are burning with normal orange flames.
Without mist covering the entire ground, I can see all the intricate details carved into the floor.
The spooky atmosphere is mostly gone and I can only feel the vibe that must be Hades' direct contamination of the skeleton swordmaster remain.
The skeleton swordmaster's upright coffin is already open and the lid has been neatly placed next to it. The skeleton swordmaster itself is standing before the coffin watching me expressionlessly.
As I approach its jaw begins to make clacking sounds and I can understand that it is talking to me.
"Why do you disturb my divine mission to guard this dungeon against the heretics? The Lord himself has bestowed this mission to me as a divine edict along with his blessing. How could a mortal creature dare to interfere with a divine edict?!!"
Oh, gods. Hades thoroughly brainwashed this poor soul with all that divine mission crap. Should have known that listening to Hades talk would make the skeleton swordmaster weird too.
"I don't know about all that divine edict business of yours but Hades gave me the mission to increase this dungeon's defense."
"How DARE YOU speak the LORD'S NAME so casually! Only those higher beings that are equal to the lord may speak of him like that!"
"Calm down, will you. I'm on a tight schedule and your willfulness is becoming an obstacle. Hades gave me this mission because he needs the dungeon's defense to improve. Are you going to act against his will?"
"You casually used his name again! I will not stand for this!"
"Fine, be that way. Lord Hades has sent me to teach you and now you'll listen."
"Very well, on account of the lord sending you here on an important mission, I will forgive your past transgressions. What is it you have come to teach me? A new skill?"
"Not quite. I don't have the time to wait until you could potentially learn a skill. If you do that's great but my aim, for now, is to change your combat strategy."
"Strategy? My sword skill is high enough and I do not need instructions from someone weaker than me."
I wish I could tell this big idiot that I already beat it once but it'd never believe. Time to use its loyalty to Hades against it.
"Are you saying that lord Hades was wrong to send me here? Are you implying that he made a mistake?"
The skeleton swordmaster is visibly shocked and its mouth is hanging wide open. The mere thought that it might have insulted its godly creator by refusing my advice must be crushing it.
"This... Of course, it is my mistake for not comprehending the means of the lord's greatness. Please instruct me!"
That sounds much better. Skeleton swordmaster successfully subdued. Though this is a bit concerning too. I've never had monsters disregard my advice before so I'll have to think about how I'll deal with such situations in the future. I won't always have the convenient knowledge of what makes them tick.
"First order of business, your ability to cancel a strikes moment and redirect it near instantaneously. This ability is good but you need to be aware that it puts an immense strain on your arm bones. If your opponent realizes that and tries to force you to do so repeatedly you need to avoid that."
"My arm does not break so easily."
"Lord Hades allowed me to fight a projection of you and I beat you by forcing you to consecutively redirect a strike twice and then clashing with you using my full weight."
"I was beaten... By YOU?"
"Deal with it. My point remains, the strain on your arm is too much if so you need to find another way to deal with an opponent after he dodges your first redirection."
"And how would you have me do that?"
"Have you tried using a second sword?"
"One sword is enough. More blades will only taint the art of swordplay. I will not budge on this matter."
<Guy, don't try to force changes. As I said, no physical alterations to the boss room.>
Even a second sword is too much? Fine.
"Then we'll work around it."
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