＜Infinite Dendrogram＞

■ [Black Sky Dead Monochrome]

[Monochrome] doesn't know his beginning.

I don't even know if it's a natural occurrence or "designed” by someone.

I wouldn't even have been aware of the name over my head.

[Black Sky Dead Monochrome] and the monster named after the world, could not even recognize himself as [Monochrome].

For [monochrome], the symbol of name was unnecessary because the world was only of its own or two other types.

Yes, what was important to [Monochrome] was that he had several powers, and that was all he was done with.

Complement all the energy of your own activities by simply absorbing light [monochrome]. That meant that nothing needed to be done.

So [monochrome] hasn't done anything since it happened.

I didn't think about doing anything because I didn't need to do anything.

I didn't even think... I didn't even move my mind in the first place.

It's like a star floating in the sky, just close to the "being” way of life.

It was that, as it were, there was also the possibility of spending eternal time just floating around without thinking, like an asteroid in space.

The turning point must be the landscape of the struggle seen from above the sky hundreds of years ago.

Fighting between humans, killing each other.

People get hurt, houses burn, and many die.

A lot of anguish, a lot of despair, was there.

There was intense emotional exposure there, not in [monochrome].

Watching it, [Monochrome] felt what he hadn't previously made slight in himself… shaking his mind.

To the despair beneath my eyes, I don't know why my heart moved [monochrome].

However, that was the first change that occurred to [monochrome] that had just drifted inorganically so far.

So it doesn't matter to [monochrome] whether the mind moved positively or negatively by despair.

What mattered was that if there was despair... if you inflicted pain on beings other than yourself, there would be a change in you.

So [Monochrome] decided to create despair with his own hands.

Hurt and burn the opponent with your own strength, as the struggle under your eyes does.

Then what do you think?

I wonder if it's going up, or if it's distressing.

Let me see, despair.

"... kya... ha"

To the sight, [Monochrome] felt his mind move again.

Even the mechanism for vocalization, which I have never used before, starts with sound.

"KYA...... HA...... HA"

[Monochrome] emits a heat line. Mass produce something that can be applied to distress and despair without knowing what happened.

The more overlapping it was, the more [monochrome] felt something happen in me that was like a stone.

"KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

Only when, the vocalization mechanism was starting to laugh out loud.

Like the laughter of a baby I once heard when I was looking down on the world.

Just be innocent and show your joy.

[Monochrome] makes his changes faster and alters his consciousness.

- Let's don't burn it from now on.

- It's a sweet potato.

- Because every time I burn it, my heart brightens.

Thus [monochrome], from the height of heaven, continued to burn creatures to despair.

Occasionally, some tried to resist [monochrome], but everything was burned to death without tracing to [monochrome].

[Monochrome] 's mind, however, moved most heavily when the desperate face of those who sought to fight turned to despair.

Knowing that, at some point in time [monochrome] began to stay in one place.

- If you wait here without moving.

- There's another desperate face.

- You can see despair, can't you?

One place with that in mind...... I later continued to be over a place called the village of Torne.

As a result, the meteorite was to be buried in the ground by direct fire for three hundred years... but still the policy and manner of [monochrome] has not changed.

Continue to stay here and wait for the "sweet potato” to fight against you with a desperate face.

And [Monochrome] 's wish came true.

Now, under the eyes of [monochrome] - because there is a man who desperately resists more than anyone else in the land.

◇

Man - Ray continues to prevent the downpouring [monochrome] hotline with a circular shield, the third form of nemesis.

It is only by taking it with a shield and avoiding a direct hit, but some of the heat given is passed to Ray via the shield, and the right hand holding the shield is already burned in the hand.

Still, Ray doesn't pull off, and he never lets go of his shield.

I have heard the words conveyed by the shield's nemesis, even using healing magic continuously.

"27210... 3635"

That was a number.

Every time I get a hotline, Nemesis counts for something.

That's similar to a conventional damage counter...... slightly different.

Most importantly, the damage counter would have already accumulated the amount of "enough to defeat [monochrome]" damage Ray had anticipated, but Ray still continued to be attacked.

In the amount of healing magic that I still use and [BR Armor] 's "Blood Flow Regeneration" combined with the amount of healing that decreased the falling hotline with circular shields and "Protecting the Holy Knight," the damage to the hotline is still beaten.

But that hasn't won significantly either, staying jizzily sharpening Ray's HP.

"Brother Ray......!

Louis, protected by Gringham, watched Ray like that.

Ray, who receives the hotline, is not already standing on Gringham's back.

[Monochrome] was already changing the target from Gringham to Ray.

It was evident from the fact that the hotline did not target the unprotected part with Gringham's body shield, in addition to the fact that the position of the hotline descending along with it changed as the ray moved.

So Ray gets off Gringham and keeps taking a solo hot line.

Gringham wasn't already able to move because of the heat line damage he took by then, but he's still trying to protect Louis with that body.

Lewis watched Ray resist [monochrome] in the pouring hotline, sheltered by Gringham.

◆

"KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

[Monochrome] 's vision captures many things on the ground.

I was watching the “sparkle" of armor running towards the windmill cabin.

He saw a shelter built for himself and a frightening "blitz” in it.

I was watching the beast "Tatami” and the boy "Tatami” sheltered by it.

I was watching men and women “sparkling" hiding in the dark.

I was watching a bunch of "sparks” trying to strike again from the ground.

I was watching Mohican “Tamaki” being stopped trying to fly into the sky.

However, any of those "sparkles” didn't matter to [monochrome].

[Monochrome] already has no interest in other “tatsumi” for [Monochrome], and now all of that cheer is directed at one “tatsumi” … something that hits the strongest emotion against itself.

[Monochrome] was obsessed with “sparkles” under his eyes.

Until then, [Monochrome] has never paid attention to one “sweet potato”.

[Monochrome] 's world had nothing but itself and nothing else, except itself, a "sweet potato” that burned with anguish and despair, and it didn't even need to be distinguished.

But right now, only the “sweet potatoes” were distinguishing.

Without showing fear from the ground and without even signs of despair or fine dust, look up at [monochrome] with pure anger for that “sweet potato”.

Ray Sterling.

[Monochrome] I think.

- Yeah, that's him.

- He's the closest I've ever seen.

- What difference does he make?

[Monochrome] remembered Ray as one of those who had been trying to get close to him earlier.

Ray was knocked off the sky once, but still watched [monochrome] with a face to resist.

That was strange for [monochrome].

Everyone who has ever stood up to [monochrome] had something to rely on.

It was a polished sword move, an exceptional bow, or a dragon to fight with.

Often, when they realize that what they rely on is as if it doesn't make sense, their hearts break and their expressions change from opposing faces to desperate ones.

[Monochrome] has been most heart-moving to its face.

But Ray was still fighting.

Even though flying in the sky didn't reach [monochrome].

Even though I still get a hotline and my whole body is burned.

Whatever you think, there shouldn't be a hitter or anything.

Still, that mind hadn't succumbed to [monochrome].

He didn't break.

That's why [Monochrome] thought.

- Then let's do it for real (...).

That's hundreds of years since [monochrome] occurred.

Full force that I haven't used as a single time.

Convert the light to MP, convert the MP to the energy of the hotline, and continue to build up the energy extensively without releasing the hotline.

Conversion is followed by conversion, charge is repeated after charge… [Monochrome] condenses the limited amount of energy endured by itself into the crystal body, not the tip of the tentacle.

The energy aftermath leaks from the crack in the crystal, and the cloud, which was close to [monochrome], evaporates.

Thus, a cloudless sky is formed around [monochrome].

[Monochrome] was shining its crystal balls, as if it was a lie that did not emit light until then.

Release more than this is a [monochrome] trump card.

Skills with unique names, not unnamed hotlines.

His name is SHINING DESPAIR.

As the name suggests, it was just a glimmer of hope.

that amount of energy that is not comparable to previous hotlines.

It seems that there is no attenuation due to distance.

Not only would it evaporate the target humans if it poured down to the ground, but the surrounding area...... the majority of the area of the village of Torne would disappear.

That is something that those who look up from the ground can see.

In evidence, most of the "sparkles” seen from [monochrome] look desperate.

"KYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

[Monochrome] Let's go.

I'm happy my heart moves, I laugh.

And I saw the face I most wanted to check... Ray's face.

- Desperate?

- Hey, desperate?

- Despair............... Huh?

But Ray's expression wasn't hopeless or anything.

I'm just looking up at [monochrome] with a deeper angry look.

Both eyes tell me that even if I lay despair in despair, I will continue to resist it.

I'll take you down.

- Cowaii

In response to that gaze, for the first time, an emotion that was not a joy appeared in [monochrome] 's mind.

But that's for a moment.

[Monochrome] irradiated SHINING/DESPAIR toward the ray immediately under the eye.

Or it could have been due to the fear that was about to arise for the first time.

But I don't know [monochrome].

That he's called “indomitable”.

No matter how many tragedies preceded the calamity that far exceeded my strength, I did not retreat.

That I have kept standing with my anger eaten up in my chest, even as I tried to get my knees broken by malice and despair.

And that I've grabbed the same “miracle” as disaster.

I don't know [monochrome].

But you'll know.

- Now, that was the time.

◇

"Gringham!!"

Ray, who sensed the huge hotline from the sky - SHINING DESPAIR - entering the firing posture, just called Gringham's name for one word.

With that one word and Ray's gaze at Louis, Gringham did what he had to do.

I get up with a worn out body and lift Louis like a parent cat that twists kittens...... I run out.

To let Louis escape from a place that would be a blast.

"Gringham......! Brother Ray!"

While Gringham takes him away, Lewis calls the name of Ray, who remains where it would be a blast.

Ray did not answer the call in words, he just responded with a circular shield.

Thus, only Ray and Nemesis remained in the place where it would be a blast.

They don't run away.

Running away like this, you'll get caught up in that destruction.

In addition, it would feed on that hotline, including the air trenches from which many Tians are evacuated.

So they don't retreat.

"His trumpet-like hotline... how powerful is it?"

"At least, it's obvious that one is not enough. Even if you use two pieces, whether or not you can stand it."

"No more brooches?

"We don't have [Brooch] in stock. I just got to Louis and Gringham."

Prevents lethal damage [lifesaving brooch].

Ray had three before heading to the village of Torne. But one is broken in yesterday's battle against werewolf cherry blossoms, and the other two are given to them when they jump off the top of Gringham to protect Louis and Gringham.

I have no regrets about that action.

"So... it's up to me and Nemesis"

"Ying. Let it be left to you"

"Oh, I believe you"

The remaining Counter Absorption stock is twice.

Ray would be a death penalty if he hadn't been raised by two walls and a shield, passive defensive skills.

That way, you can't fight back (...), and [Monochrome] ravages everything in the village of Torne.

When it comes to crossing, this moment was the biggest crossing.

In status, in skills, in equipment, in.

With all the power they have gained since entering < Infinite Dendrogram >, can they resist the despair of descending from heaven or not?

That was - this was the moment.

"-" SHINING - DESPAIR "

At the same time as the declaration, an enormous heat line is emitted from the crystal, the body of [monochrome].

The brilliance of the columns that connect the heavens and the earth conceives the enormous calories that burn down the earth.

Touching the ground would evaporate every object and turn this village of Torne into the earth of death.

Many lives in this village of Torne were desperate for its brilliance.

But - they can't break.

"Counter Absorption"!! "

A circular shield nemesis creates different walls of light in front of the falling columns of light.

Its walls prevent the effect of the columns of light only for a moment and are easily breached.

However, the columns of light inhibited by the walls of light narrowed slightly in their diameter.

Then, before the pillar of light that broke through the wall of light, yet another wall appears.

Continuous activation of the Counter Absorption. The technology Nemesis has gained in the past month, also used in the battle against werewolf cherries.

The second wall held down the pillar of light for longer than the first wall.

But the pillar of light breaks even it and reaches the ground.

The extreme hotline, which was supposed to burn down the ground, is sucked most of its power by two walls of light.

The destruction, which was supposed to wipe out the entire village of Torne, had been reduced to a very narrow range.

But penetrating energy doesn't have to be enough to sweep the ground, twelve minutes of power.

The windmill hut that had become a blast had melted and vanished.

The area is also extensively exposed to high heat and the surroundings are burning red.

It was like the bottom of hell.

sights that people can't imagine, such as standing

But still...

"..................................................................................................................."

In it, Ray stood.

That's not enough to mean full creation.

Here and now, it's so strange to be standing alive.

The number of state anomalies displayed is not sufficient to count with fingers, and the skin of the whole body is also red or discolored black due to heat.

Ray's gear also crumbles and falls into the lava.

The accessories, even the prosthetics on my left hand... melt off and disappear.

[BR Armor] melts, but still continues to spit out his Blood Flow Regeneration skills.

Such a sight - he stood in that hell.

'... Huh, apparently, slightly off track at the time I went through the second one. If we hit it straight, it might not have hit the boulder.'

"Oh, that's lucky..."

Whether or not you don't get a direct hit from SHINING/DESPAIR, the aftermath is. Plus, the surroundings are a scorching hell melted by heat.

Therefore, there is no pain. However, I have tasted the sensation of burning beyond the limit of irritating my whole body, as well as the feeling that the air I inhaled burns my throat.

In such a scorching hell, with his feet burned by the red-hot earth......, his knees still won't break.

My heart doesn't give in either.

"... I'll use it (...), Nemesis"

To Ray's words, which he tells quietly, the nemesis of the circular shield nods with his heart.

"Accumulated value, a little over 650,000...... Sixty-five thousand meters if (...) '

"Will it arrive?

"Let it arrive."

"Then I entrusted it"

Exchanging conversations with Nemesis, Ray restarts his circular shield.

It's not a defense that stands overhead, it's in the front of itself - it stands as if it were a weapon.

"Nemesis, third form“ β "-"

Immediately afterwards, the circular shield changes its appearance.

The handle of Ray's grip slides from the shield to "a long weapon with a shield connected to the tip."

There was also a change in that shield.

Five silver curves that arc from center to outer edge, carved at equal intervals on the surface of the black shield.

They emit light - from which the shield opens (...).

And the shield spreads its feathers along the curve as if the buds of flowers bloom - no, like a windmill (...).

It's a five-feathered windmill... called Windstar in the village of Torne.

Yes, that was a variable weapon that turned into a star windmill over a shield (...).

Form Shift

And they declare.

Their new power - the name of the third form of nemesis.

His name is...

"'Shooting Windmill (Wheel)'"

To be continued