＜Infinite Dendrogram＞

□ [Holy Knight] Ray Sterling

When I wake up, I immediately realize that I am 'not awake'.

He must have taken terrible damage, but now he doesn't have a scratch on his body or gear.

But on top of that, there's no sign of nemesis.

From that information, I found that this is the space that has entered many times before... When the body becomes incapacitated by [Stun] and [Forced Sleep], the consciousness of the < Master > is thrown into it.

He was thrown into the same space in a super collision and waited until the boundary broke in the dark. Well, the space I was thrown into so often wasn't dark because Gardlanda interfered and changed it as she liked...

However, this time... it's not dark, but the atmosphere is different from usual.

This is where I stand - the place I dreamed of one day:\ 37724; the place where I was healed.

I don't see the blacksmith hitting the axe, and I can't hear the hammer.

Just because you're here... it's probably the axe that called me.

"Waiting for your consciousness to return."

At the same time as I thought of it, I heard a voice from behind.

Turning around, the axe used in the Battle of the Labyrinth floats.

However, the figure is not as white as it used to be in a dream, nor black wrapped in a cursed cloth.

The spell is torn and the body of the pattern is exposed.

"That's you...."

The previous battle destroyed the spell cloth. As a result, it became possible to exchange words with you only in this space. "

When I exchanged words in the dream of [Lazy Demon King], he said that he could not move by his own will due to the influence of the curse cloth and resentment.

I see. When I prevented Igoronak from attacking, my curse cloth was torn.

"I waited half a day for your consciousness to return to this space."

"Half a day...?

Not only did my body [faint], but I was unconscious myself?

... well, it's been like that ever since I've been so reckless.

Or... a sort of recoil of the Grand Summon?

Is that why Gardlands isn't in this space?

…………

Besides, after half a day, my body hasn't woken up.

While I'm asleep, the rest of us... are the Nemesis safe?

I think I'm worried, but I want to get down to business.

"Oh, I'm sorry.... but what's the point?

With the destruction of the spell cloth, my change.

Apart from being able to talk about change like this... ah!

"Speaking of which, your attributes and output..."

Sure. As I told you before, I was optimized for my predecessors by resentment and curse cloth. For the physical and dark attributes that the previous users were resistant to, and for the output to the extent that the regeneration speed exceeded the damage. "

Ah, that's why attributes and outputs are here.

However, the curse cloth broke in the previous battle, and the grievances began to disperse. This eliminated the optimization. "

"Oh! Well then....!

Just like when I fought Sural in my dreams, if I limited it to light attributes, I could use it...

─ As a result, it became impossible to adjust the attributes and output of "Blade Selection".

... what is it?

"Eh, what do you mean...?

"Your control (...) is 0%, and attribute selection and output control are randomized."

... I don't know a word about control.

"Originally, my use requires me to acquire control, and the control of my abilities depends on it. Until now, attributes and outputs have been constant due to forced adjustment by external factors. But now we're trying to get back to the original specifications that weren't there. I don't know which attribute will be used, and there are amplitudes ranging from what the body disappears with a recoil to what it does not give the opponent as much breeze."

... I don't know what to say... isn't it pretty degraded?

"... I could have used it in the dream of [Lazy Demon King]."

That environment was a special condition in which unintentional things could not intervene. Therefore, the control-dependent restraint mechanism that my producer incorporated into me was not covered as well as the curse cloth, and it was possible to fully control by my will. "

Looks like they're limiting the extra options separately from the cursed cloth.

It seems like a complicated story for the axe itself.

"Why are you limiting it...?

Answer. Because users who do not have control do not cause major disasters. "

"Hmm...?... ahh"

I thought a little about the meaning of words and understood them.

If you just shake the axe once, you won't be ready to do it even if it's lower than mine.

Now, what happens if I set the one-time attack to the maximum output of the axe and shake it?

Naturally, a person who swings with recoil or aftershock dies, but there is a risk that the city will vanish in a single blow.

If that were the primary use, the axe would infiltrate not as a double-edged weapon but just as a bomb.

The blacksmith said he made an axe, but he didn't want to use it that way, so if he built a mechanism to limit it... I understand.

However, it seems as if there is no problem if you have control from the mouth of the axe, so there may be something strange about the axe producer.

... wouldn't you make an axe or [Alter] if it wasn't weird?

I say it myself. As it stands, I am less than a cursed weapon. "

"Are you going to abuse yourself....."

But now I'm finally going to have to operate as a shield named the axe...

No, if you say you need control...

"Therefore, I want to challenge the user to gain control."

There was still a way to get it.

"What does a trial do?

Destroy the hostile group of units presented by the control restraint mechanism in this spiritual world.

... it was the brain muscle solution.

But if that's the case, it's quick to talk, and if it's good in the spiritual world, it's helpful here.

"Fine. Looks like we're not awake yet. I prefer a little more power than nothing."

In the Labyrinth, Patriot and the others would have died if they hadn't helped him.

Even if you know you're still weak, you can't just know it.

I have the power to create the future I want.

"... by the way, what happens if you die in that trial?

[Lazy Demon King] If you die in your dreams like a war, you can't execute it during the war...

Just like the battlefield boundaries. You can revive and retry as many times as you like. There's no risk. "

"Oh, that's good.

Now, let's begin the trial.

When the axe says so, it changes the space where it was supposed to be.

It was the Eighth Arena, the home of the Death Period, which I know well.

... because this is probably the most place to shake an axe.

Well, it's getting a little more realistic.

It's not in a dream, it's the same feeling as when you're actually working on Infinite Dendrogram.

"Users have two tips for testing."

An axe was cut out for me as I was moving and preparing myself in the arena.

There was no risk...

First of all, you can't use your Half-Body and Perk Armor.

"... eh?

I noticed what they said.

[Manicure], [Purple Grievance Walking Armor], [Black Suit]. Both have the same shape, but these are the only ones that have a thinner presence (...) than usual when the presence around them has increased.

In addition, there are still no signs of nemesis in this space.

Perhaps there is no reality beside it...

I maintain status correction as a Gear, but Gear Skills are not available.

"Why are you doing this again?

"Because of the mechanism originally provided for me, foreign matter... No, I cannot intervene in those two points, which are additional elements (...). I will challenge you only with the power of Job."

There are things that get caught up in words.

It's as if those elements and the job were entirely different.

However, if it is such a specification, there is no other way.

"But this will reduce my combat power by 80%...."

"How about a 90% quote?

... maybe.

"... well, do you think it's better to just have a status correction?"

There's no Nemesis... What about the weapon?

The main one was Nemesis, and the sub was an axe...

Weapons ready.

Huh?

When I was worried, the axe brought some weapons into space.

Great Sword, Axe Spear, Great Shield, Double Sword. Since it was a weapon, there were no windmills and mirrors on the boulder, but when I took them in my hand, they all had the same blade span and weight as each form of Nemesis.

Perhaps the same performance on status.

I don't have the skills, but I wonder if this is a problem as a weapon.

"Oh, that's enough."

It feels familiar. There is no problem with this.

"Alright, anytime."

At first, he still holds a great sword and waits for an enemy to emerge to defeat.

Even if you are alone and your means of combat are limited, you will win.

... a little bit of care, but if he's not in the fight, we'll have to do it alone.

Second point. About the hostile unit. "

Ah, the axe kept on saying. Speaking of which, were there two warnings?

What is an enemy unit?

The impression of the word "control" is that some mechanical enemy is likely to emerge.

Or is there an enemy per attribute because it is an attribute selectable weapon?

... well, whatever comes out of the boulder, I don't think it's as bad as the ones I've been fighting for.

I'm not going to lose to Solo, but when he gives me the [Beast King] class...

"The control restraint mechanism connects to my records and repeats updates."

"... update?

As the explanation began to drift in a slightly disturbing atmosphere, black light gathered on the stage.

It gradually increased in concentration and eventually began to take a human form.

Therefore, the hostile unit takes the form of a historical user.

"... eh?

My surprise does not come from an axe explanation.

Against a silhouette of black light.

It was a man.

It was the king.

I was standing in front of a man like the king I once dreamed of.

The moment I realize who it is, I will definitely find out that the most powerful person in the history of axe users has emerged.

"... this is the first one?

"... good luck."

Immediately after there were signs of a distraction from the axe.

I was wiped out by a blow from the [Hegemon (...)].

To be continued