Whizzzz----!! Crack---!!
Fire caught on my enemy's metallic humanoid parts, causing it to burst like a malfunctioning machine and power down.
I sat frozen, as if time had stopped. After a while, a wave of immense relief washed over me, leaving me weak-kneed.
"haa..haa!"
'Probably, I managed to chip away at the knight's remaining HP with slip damage and just barely defeated it.'
With the relief comes a delayed sense of exhilaration from leveling up. And again, I feel relieved.
Pushing a few buttons quickly as I learned from Saffron, I unlocked my cockpit. "Cough!! Cough!!"
"Haa--phew..."
I sighed and lay on the ground filled with grimoires, the cool sensation comforting my back.
'I was lucky this time.'
It felt like a stroke of luck or perhaps a twist of fate, but I knew such circumstances wouldn't repeat.
'But now, I have this weapon. A secret card up my sleeve that will surely help me against the impending invasion in a few months.'
Resting within the arsenal box is the Quantum Pulse Rifle, a sleek and futuristic firearm crafted from advanced quantum-infused materials. Its surface gleams with a lustrous sheen, adorned with intricate circuitry and pulsating energy conduits.
At its core, pulsing energy coils thrum with contained power, ready to unleash devastating bursts of quantum energy. The rifle's barrel extends with streamlined efficiency, evoking lethal precision.
'Shall I try it?'
As I ponder, I channel my ME into the gun. Although it's a weapon that requires no ME, the detailed mechanism is something else... which I will discuss sometime later.
"And, come to life, my baby~!"
RIZZZ--
When activated, it emits a soft, resonant hum, signaling the activation of its quantum pulse technology. As a pinnacle of technological achievement, it offers unparalleled firepower and precision to those brave enough to wield it.
'Phew, I managed to get my hands on it somehow.'
I mount the quantum pulse rifle inside the emergency mount provided by Titanic Ravager, then gaze at the floor of the chest.
There, a magic circle is drawn, emitting a faint yellow light.
This is a warm hole. Entering here will teleport you to the first floor of the dungeon. Once entered, you can learn the mechanism to warp back here.
In other words, it's a device designed for players who want to challenge the boss without having to re-enter the dungeon, sparing them the trouble of descending again.
Exhausted, I enter the shimmering and eerie portal and trace my steps back home.
I sneak back into my room quietly, heaving a sigh of relief.
Phew, I finally made it back.
I managed to obtain the Quantum Pulse Rifle and gain access to the Etheric Colossus's floor, but...
Even with the Quantum Pulse Rifle, will I be able to challenge this cybernetic dread which I've defeated through luck multiple times?
No matter how confident I
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am, I can't shake off the fear. Even now, just thinking about it makes me tremble.
'Should I stop protecting my cousin sister from the monster invasion?'
If I do, I won't have to keep challenging the boss for leveling up. Besides, even during the monster invasion, there might be dangers like today where I could be at risk of dying.
Protecting her only brings me debts of gratitude. If I don't involve myself in the story, maybe I can avoid death without having to owe anyone anything.
'Well, let's stop thinking about it for today. I'm tired and sleepy.'
With that thought, I head to bed and tuck myself under the blanket.
'Let's sleep...wait?'
Thwack--
A creature obstructs my hand as I gaze into the dark of the night to find who it is, And there, lying on the bed, is Saffron, soundly sleeping.
This lewd redhead.
I gaze at her sleeping face. There's nothing but innocence in that childlike face.
I sigh.
"Well, I can't send a kid like this into battle, can I? Oh well, I'll just have to get stronger."
I lay down at the corner of the bed, making sure not to wake her up.