VS Core Number 10 (2)

[Kehma, cancel [Humanization]!]

It was Rokuko's voice. I obeyed her command and released Narikin's [Humanization]. Oh, breathing got easier… or wait, I wasn't even breathing—I'm a Living Armor, after all. No lungs to be crushed by gravity.

"Kukuku, so that's your true form, huh? Pitiful! Absolutely pathetic!"

Core Number 10 sneered, his face twisted in amusement as he looked down at me and taunted.

… Canceling [Humanization] gave me room to think again.

Core Number 10 had somehow bypassed the absolute defense of the [Divine Blanket] and hit me with a magical attack. Apparently, gods can kill other gods. Damn it, that's news to me!

But in a no-holds-barred deathmatch, it's no use complaining just because the enemy pulls out something you didn't know about. It was my mistake for relying too much on the [Divine Blanket]. I had completely let my guard down.

… Well, I just need to use that lesson next time. Even if Narikin gets destroyed here, I'd still have another shot.

… Wait a minute. What if he used some kind of attack that destroyed even the soul I was using for [Possession]?

That's right. Core Number 10 was supposed to have the power of [Existence Erasure]. Haku-san had guessed it was from the Light God. Given that he'd been abandoned by said god, it was unclear if he could still use it, but that uncertainty made it all the more dangerous.

Should I retreat? If I did, I'd have to take Narikin with me.

"Now then… how shall I go about cooking you up? Hmm, as a Living Armor, I suppose you're not quite compatible with my powers. It's troublesome to turn inorganic material into undead."

So saying, Core Number 10 began to approach. Once he was close enough to touch, I silently cast [Elemental Burst] without an incantation. The light twisted unnaturally, grazing his face before flying past.

"Oh? Still got some fight left in you? — [FForce Drain]!"

A powerful wave of exhaustion hit me. I felt my life force and magic being drained. My strength left me, and unable to resist the enhanced gravity from [FForce Gravity], I collapsed to the ground with a clatter.

CLANG! My helmet—my head—got stomped on.

"I've drained you just enough not to kill you. You shouldn't be able to move anymore, hmm? Kukuku, I doubt you've got enough mana left to cast [Judgment Ray]. Especially not without an incantation."

… I could feel myself rapidly recovering thanks to the blanket's effects, but I kept that quiet.

The [Elemental Burst] from earlier had been distorted, but it had still inflicted damage. Even though he healed some with the drain, it wasn't completely ineffective.

Even against the heavily buffed Core Number 10, empowered with some kind of super magic—[Enchant Route: D] or something—it still worked. At close range, at least.

… Wait? Enchant?

Enchantments meant afflictions. State changes. In other words, abnormal conditions.

In that case… maybe it was worth trying that.

"Ha ha ha! Fuhahahaha! What should I do with you, you stupid suit of armor?!"

He stomped my helmet again and again, but I barely felt a thing—it was a helmet, after all. Meanwhile, I discreetly opened [Storage] from inside my body and pulled out my trump card.

Then, I quietly activated it—[Divine Alarm Clock], a divine tool that forcibly returned all conditions to normal. I set its range to affect all of the surrounding space—everything, including Core Number 10—but excluded my possession ability from being dispelled.

"… W-What!? What did you just do!?"

Core Number 10 was clearly rattled. From his reaction, I could tell my plan had worked.

At that same moment, I fired another [Elemental Burst] directly at him. He took a hit to the leg and jumped back to create distance. Yep—at close range, it really could hurt him!

"Damn you! How did you cancel my super magic!?"

The gravity pulling me down also returned to normal. As expected of [Divine Alarm Clock], one of Father's masterpieces.

Being unable to speak was annoying, so I reactivated [Humanization].

"Looks like that worked just fine."

"You dare cancel my super magic—twice!? Hmph! I'll cast another one! Super Magic Activate—[Enchant Route: M]… Tch! Super Magic Activate—[Enchant Route: 30S]…! Damn it! Damn it all! What's going on!? It gets canceled the moment I cast it!?"

Yeah, well, the alarm clock's still ringing. Not that you can hear it.

… Now then?

In this situation, could Core Number 10 even use any effective attacks on me?

I already knew that [Elemental Burst] worked at close range.

"Alright, time to counterattack."

"Geh, s-stay back! [Dark Lance]!"

A black spear of dark magic shot toward me, but it popped harmlessly in front of me. Normal magic didn't work at all on me under the protection of the [Divine Blanket]. At most, it served as a smoke screen.

"Judgment Ray!!"

I shouted while casting another [Elemental Burst]. Core Number 10 raised his staff and distorted the attack again, preventing it from hitting.

But it forced him to stop moving.

I rushed in, swinging my fist, and at the same time released an [Elemental Burst] from my punch!

"Judgment Ray Punch!!"

"[Retrieve]!"

With a pop, Core Number 10 vanished. My punch and [Elemental Burst] missed completely.

He'd run away… Fair enough. Being long-lived, he knew when to retreat.

[Kehma, you can pass through the boss room now. Just go collect the Dungeon Core already. I gave Soto her reward, so she'll help you whenever.]

[Okay, Papa, whenever you're ready… cough, I choked a little there. Kinue's socks are the best.]

… Soto, what the hell are you doing? Anyway, before Core Number 10 returned, I needed to finish this dungeon.

I entered the Core room, touched the black Core, and Soto retrieved the Dungeon Core at the same time. With that, the dungeon's Core vanished.

"That should be a win. Time for the next dungeon—huh?"

Bashun! A spray of black mist burst out. Something had hit me, but the [Divine Blanket] nullified it. I looked toward the source and saw Core Number 10 glaring at me.

"Damn it, what are you!? My super magic got canceled just by getting near you!?"

"Oh, you tried casting it from a distance this time? Very clever. Let's give you credit for that, Core Number 10."

"Hmph! That smug attitude won't last long… [Dominate]—!"

Core Number 10's eyes glowed red… and that was it. Nothing happened. I waited, unmoving, watching carefully as he suddenly started laughing gleefully.

"Kuahahaha! It worked! Finally, a hit! As expected, the curse using the Undead Core as a medium worked! This curse is designed to dominate the one who destroys a Dungeon Core. No one can resist it!"

Huh? … Sorry, what? Did he just curse me or something?

"Let me explain. This curse controls anyone who destroys an Undead Core. You shouldn't even be able to move a finger now, right? Hmm?"

"W-What!?"

Come to think of it, I did destroy the first Core… but hang on a second.

I was just talking normally, wasn't I? And my fingers moved just fine?

"You—you can still speak!? Is it your equipment? No matter! I'll finish you off now… I command you, take your own life!"

"… No??"

"… What???"

Nothing happened. At that moment, a message from Soto came through.

[Papa! That black Core we stored earlier? … It got swarmed and destroyed by some weird caterpillars! Oh, but they all dropped dead right afterward—were those poison dumplings or something?]

… Um. I… don't really get what just happened???