More than half a year had passed since Nobu's disappearance.
The time ratio between worlds became unstable at times—like the ocean. Without a stable anchor, the time between the two worlds could be distorted. It is one of the things Suimei explored after studying the other world.
It is different from the parallel worlds that act as a version of a core world.
The other world Nobu fell into wasn't related to their world. It has a different set of laws and phenomena. It wouldn't be surprising to see something so different from it.
Fortunately, they established the so-called anchor. The [Void Transference] used by him to travel into that world formed a brief connection. That served as an invisible anchor between them. It retained the time ratio to a minimum except for some times.
Miku's mission is to trace that extremely vague connection by undergoing a trial and error. There would be times the coordinates are a hit while there are times they are a miss.
After finding the 'hit' coordinates, she would further deduce the correct ones until she reaches the other end of that anchor.
Along with Kazamitsu's help with increasing that probability, it finally happened.
[Error.]
[Error.]
[Calculating Path Deviance…]
[Lord Nestaheim, the end path has deviated from the previous plan.]
Her voice rang from the earpiece in Kazamitsu's ear.
His long black hair swayed in the midst of the black tunnel.
The [Dimensional Gap] looked like that. It is full of turbulence that would split your body and soul to pieces. They act as a deterrent but also protection. If someone is free to pierce a hole through it, there would be an untold amount of chaos.
Even now, Kazamitsu clearly perceived how their world's Twilight Syndrome seeped out of the crack.
Once they reached another world…
"We shall proceed. It is our awaited chance."
Kazamitsu ignored the 'error' as he knew the magic circle on his feet had somewhat caused it.
It is the highest level of [Phenomenon Mixer]. If the latter played with the 'probability' found in casting spells, this magicka—Probability Distortion—could manipulate every odds at will.
In broader terms, it affects luck and fate.
Such magicka could only be found on Magisters.
[Understood. Establishing a connection with the end coordinate.]
Void Transference was completed at that moment.
Crack-!
Unlike the times they punched out of thin air, they heard a solid cracking sound. A small slit was opened out of the darkness. A blue sky existed beyond it.
Instantly, Kazamitsu acted and used a holy magicka. It formed a transparent membrane over the small slit, blocking the Twilight Syndrome that wanted to seep into it. These are merely the fragments and not the strongest cursed demon he faced back in the day.
"Now, this is a dilemma…"
His eyes pinpointed the slit wouldn't last long.
[Lord Nestaheim!]
[The—]
Buzz-!
A static began forming on Kazamitsu's earpiece.
Miku realized this on the other side.
[...Initiating…Protocol.]
From the beginning, they planned for many contingencies. This scenario is one of them.
Snap-!
A dozen huge black boxes floated midair. Then, they shot straight to the small slit.
…
Two seconds had passed when they heard a voice.
"Kazamitsu-san?!"
*****
"Is this it..?"
I couldn't believe it.
It is a dimensional crack, isn't it?
It is the one I saw in my world. The surging heat on my body and the increasing number of chances that I have is a proof of it.
"It's not certain…"
It could be a crack leading to a different world. I don't want to jump into wrong conclusions.
"..!"
Suddenly, I saw a dim white light cover the crack's entrance. I could barely see anything except darkness, but it is still far better than when I saw Louise-san and Saito-san's arrival.
Compared to Void Transference, it didn't have the starry background. It is just like this, a black curtain.
However, I am extremely familiar with the dim white light.
Holy Magicka.
It is the system I used to cast [Abraq ad Habra] which has been effective against 'corruption' like the Demi-spirits.
I would not mistake it with another.
Just as I thought so, huge projectiles came out of it. They nearly crashed to me if not for them stopping in advance.
My pupils shrank as I saw them.
"What…"
A chilling feeling was sent to my spine. It was then converted to excitement. My entire body became numb due to it.
"How… Kazamitsu-san?!"
"Still sharp as always."
A voice responded from beyond the crack.
It is really Kazamitsu-san..!
"I see you're fine. That's good." He said. "We'll come back for you."
Immediately, the crack receded like a tide. The small crack disappeared to nothingness.
Only the dozen boxes were left floating around me. They are all locked with a three-point security system. Although they would open with a single word from me.
"It's like a dream…"
I found a dimensional crack, heard Kazamitsu-san was there, got these supplies, and saw it disappear in an instant.
"Fu…"
After calming down, I decided to return. Having these twelve black boxes rotating around me might paint me as a man-made solar system.
Firstly, I examined the boxes. They are similar to the pocket arsenals I have back in my world. [Judgement] sends the signals to proxy satellites which would then send a mobile arsenal to my side.
The box looks similar to a crate but has a sleek metallic design. It doesn't have any edges. Only the small lines indicated the places where it would disassemble and reveal its contents. Even the passcode screen wouldn't light up without my signature.
On the off chance it is pried open forcefully, it would explode.
I tapped the center while casting a simple spell, [Recognition]. It compresses my signatures in one spell—something used to unlock everything with biometric locks in my inventions.
Click-!
The sleek black metal lit up from the center. Just as it was about to open, I prevented it by touching the center once more. Instead of unlocking it, I entered its developer mode. A white interface filled with letters and numbers popped up.
"Alright…"
*****
"Oh~? What's that?"
"Some surprises."
"Is that so?"
After returning to the familia home, it was nearing nighttime. A dozen boxes around me floated down without making a sound.
Coincidentally, Ein was playing around with some magicka in the courtyard.
She eagerly examined one of them—without touching them, of course.
"I don't know these but… they're cool!"
"Wanna see their contents?"
"Yeah!"
Hearing her words, I selected a specific arsenal. It made a decompressing sound to release the box's contents from its vacuum state.
It opened from the front. Its contents were soon revealed.
A low-light is present inside the container. It dimly illuminated the stored weapons inside.
The container roughly has a size of around two cabinets placed together. However, it became larger after it was opened. Its space magicka made its internal capacity larger.
"Whoa..!"
Ein eagerly viewed the silver nodachi on a special sheathe. The said sheathe looks similar to an intricate machine than anything else. It has a silver design with red linings running through it.
Miku even sent that here..?
"That's Ryuusatsu (Dragon Killer)."
"Ryuusatsu…"
Other than the nodachi, there are several 'huge weapons' that specializes against huge enemies. Zweihander, Miandao, Pile Bunker… Everything used for big enemies are all here.
Anti-cavalry swords have special sheaths that could go off on their own, all the whilst increasing the force exerted by these weapons during that state. It is similar to [Wave Blast]'s principle, but these swords use something similar to a blank.
(A/N: There will be bloo—)
After entertaining Ein for a while, I decided to tell her something important.
…
Should I..?
During the crack, I got a total of four chances. One of them was originally planned to be used to Filvis—to rid her of her current state as a creature. It would work if the target was 'her'.
However…
There is some chance that Ein would disappear. Reversing Filvis' state would reverse everything. That includes the excelia in which she gained [Einsel], her clone magic.
It would've been fine if it was the me before but…
I knew more about Ein. I understood her existence. I can't bear to dismiss her like this. I promised myself I would make their life better—that they wouldn't need to suffer to Dionysus.
Facing this dilemma, I don't know what to do.
'...I'll think about it later.'
"Do you want to see a cooler one?"
I decided to buy some time.
*****
One day later.
In the innermost area of the 37th floor, a monster rex resided. It had been defeated three months ago by the Freya Familia. Currently, it had spawned once more.
Albeit, there is a difference. The one who challenged it was not from the top exploration familias. Anyone who had seen the challenger would be shocked, but a certain group would simply think it is natural.
"Lock on."
Bang-!
A loud gunshot was heard all over the room. Its origin—an armored man—held something reminiscent of an anti-materiel rifle. His feet remain anchored to the ground as it withheld the rifle's recoil.
"As expected of a monster rex."
His comments were drowned in silence. The monster rex—Udaeus—had its bony arms littered with cracks. It was evident the rifle's power is absurd.
Then again, Udaeus is just as absurd for blocking that bullet's speed. Its bones are far too strong for a normal level six.
Pssshk-!
The anchors on his feet retracted. The rifle in his hand disappeared which was replaced by a sheathed nodachi.
A light source located on his chest lit dimly inside the throne room. Unimaginable power is hidden within it.
In this round of dungeon prowling, he decided to test his arsenal's strength. He streamlined everything up to the 37th floor with ease. Be it escaping from the monsters or confronting them head-on, he was able to do so.
Despite not using Sirius, he was already like this. After using it, he became even more absurd.
The suit enabled him to cast grand-scale magicka—something only below to Judgement's output.
As such, he easily wiped the floor with the monsters.
"I have to thank Miku and Kazamitsu-san later…"
For now, he focused on his fight.
Pssshk-!
Sou-!
A wave of black spikes emerged from the ground. They all headed at his direction, in which Nobu promptly leaped to avoid.
Several cartridges were opened on his suit's shoulder. They all headed towards the direction of Udaeus—a half-skeleton that has half of its body submerged to the ground.
The small missiles headed straight to its face.
Boom-!
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to faze it.
It didn't hesitate to bring out its prized sword from the ground. It is a black sword made of unknown bones. An eerie aura surrounded it.
Swiftly, Udaeus predicted Nobu's direction and swung its sword horizontally.
Swooosh-!
An unexpected scene occurred.
Swoosh-!
Clang-!
The nodachi was blasted by its sheath, gathering enough momentum for Nobu to parry its strike.
"I'm quite numbed..!"
He mused as he briefly paid attention to his arms. Before, he would have definitely dodged that strike. He wouldn't meet it head-on since he is confident the internal shock would severely injure him.
It is different now.
Swathes of spartoi crawled out of the ground. They surrounded Nobu akin to a tide of monsters. They swarmed him in all directions.
"...Enth, Astrum." (Oh stars, fall down.)
Through the integrated computation system, both his and the suit's calculation speed was factored together. The allocation of parameters were easily completed. Due to it, the large-scale spell took less than five seconds to be cast.
Boom-!
Boom-!
Boom-!
…
Nobu didn't relent on his strikes.
Storing the nodachi in his storage, he then took out [Sora] and began chanting.
"...libera nos a malo." (Deliver us from evil.)
The sheathed katana shone with a dim white light. Nobu chose to fight the undead monster with holy magicka.
Similar to Aiz's [Tempest], it enchanted his weapon with the holy attribute.
Click-!
The electromagnetic thrusters on his back sent him flying straight to Udaeus.
By the time the dust cloud caused by [Orionids] was gone, Udaeus saw that he is flying above its head.
It changed the grip on its sword and swung it diagonally at him, akin to slapping a fly.
However—
Swoosh-!
—his body slanted. He barely dodged the sword strike. Nevertheless, it signified his continued flight toward the huge skeleton.
With that, Nobu delivered a crushing blow.
A golden magic circle appeared behind his back.
"Cross Output: Raiju."
Shiing-!
Bzzt-!
Several large golden lightnings manifested on the blade before it was used to cut its target. A strong attraction occurred between them, sending Nobu to its side in an instant.
Cut-!
Small arcs of it danced around Nobu until he landed to the ground.
Tap-!
He sheathed [Sora] before pointing his palm at its chest. At that moment, he saw Udaeus' skull sliding off from its skeletal body. Due to it, Udaeus remained unresponsive and unable to react to the decisive blow.
"Natus Soli Deus Benedictio. Obsecro Virtus Dare Exsupero Inimacus." (The one born with the Sun God's Blessing. I pray, beseech me with strength to surpass my foes.)
A red magicka circle was constructed on my palm. It is a grand-scale magicka used to purify demons and curses alike.
"Fax Rendre." (The light that gives.)
Scarlet orange flames engulfed the entire room.
Once it died down, all that was left are various scorch marks in the white throne room. The White Palace's most important place was ruined just like that.
As for Udaeus…
"Fu…"
Nobu saw a towering pile of ashes along broken fragments of a magic stone. A black sword lay on top of it, bearing a slight scorch mark from his attack.
"It's an improvement…"
Such was the performance of the boy dubbed as "Arbiter" in the magicians' world.
*****
A/N: Ahem. It looks like MC became overpowered all of a sudden, but it is his full strength with his equipment. With a level three status, semi-opened [Mana Furnace], modern armaments, and his combat suit, he easily dealt with a level six monster rex on the span of forty seconds.
(PS: Though yes, even I was startled when I reached this conclusion, haha.)