Chapter 374: Magic Ship Quest and Ether Beast
I served Noah dinner and listened to his story.
"First of all, I don't intend to build just any magic ship. My dream is to build the best magic ship ever! I already have the blueprints. But the best ship needs the best materials"
Well, that's what's going to happen. Now, what kind of materials are we going to need?
"First, I need you to collect something called ether crystals"
"Ether crystals?"
I'm sure it was in the weapon material of Ix.
"Yes. I want to use it for the magic engine of the magic ship. The magic ship is supplied with all its energy from the magic engine, so I really want to use this material"
It's like fuel, isn't it?
"I see. Can you get it around here?"
"Yes! It is said to be available from ether beasts"
"Can't we just mine it or buy it?"
"Ahaha! That's impossible. The ether crystals that can be mined have already been mined long ago and even if they were available, various countries would buy them immediately"
How much material is that? No, that's not what I'm worried about.
"You can get it from the ether beast, right?"
"Yeah"
"You want various countries to do it, right? Then why don't they defeat the ether beast?"
"Because the ether beast is so strong. Wizard Orb has a history of repeatedly challenging ether beasts for ether crystals, but each time they are repeatedly annihilated"
That's crazy! That's it!
"Do you have any information on this?"
"I don't know. Maybe the Adventurer's Guild or the Library would have some information?"
Right. Well, I'll go there.
"...Are you sure you want to go?"
"I'm here to help Noah build the best magic ship he can. I'll do my best"
"...Ahaha. I'll be waiting for you with anticipation"
I looked up ether beast in Wizard Orb.
First of all, they were the target of an advanced quest at the Adventurers' Guild. That's what it would be. Then I found out that guild card holders of gold or higher were not eligible for the subjugation. When I asked about it, it was appalled.
"If adventurers of gold or higher were to compete with each other, the country would not be able to survive. That's why we have banned them. You are fine, so you can accept the quest. What do you want to do?"
Well, if it becomes a battlefield where people shoot each other with forbidden spells, it's over. I decided not to take the quest. Because it seems that I have to hand over the ether crystal to clear the game, so taking it would be a minus.
I looked further in the library and found a lot of information.
Ether Beast
A monster of ether crystal. It is easily spotted because of its seven shining colors. Its speed is astonishing, but its defense is overwhelmingly high. It is completely immune to magic and repels magic. It is also immune to abnormal conditions. It attacks while shooting countless rays of light from the ether crystals throughout its body.
Magic reflection, abnormal condition nullification, beams from all over its body, fast on its feet...what should we do? This monster...what I'm concerned about is whether or not wave techniques and breaths will work. If they work, I think we can win...but maybe that's naive.
Anyway, I need to find out what works and what doesn't. I heard that ether beasts appear on the way to the mine, which is a little far from this town. Shall we go there?
Stocking up on returns with delay magic, I'm ready to go. Lily and I get on Stra and move on. Lily warns us that we will arrive unexpectedly soon.
"Takuto! We're being targeted!"
As Stra urgently evades, a seven-colored laser flies out from a distant rocky hill. Wait a minute...it's attacking from that far away...I was told it was easy to spot, but if it's hiding in the rocky hill, I'll never know. Then the seven-colored lights start to move. Identify it.
Ether Beast?
? ? ?
Well, I don't see anything. It was a giant wolf-like monster with rainbow-colored crystals. It was the size of Kurogane.
As I watched, the ether beast stopped and glowed all over. I swooped the stole. The next moment, countless lasers shot out. I tried to use a tree as a shield, but it was not a shield. I manage to reach the rock pile while Stra is hit.
It looks like it can't penetrate the rock pile. This area looks like a forest dotted with boulders and large rocks. I guess the key will be how to take advantage of this terrain.
"Lily!"
"Light Wave Motion!"
Lily uses light wave motion. The ether beast stops firing its lasers and stands straight in front of her.
The moment the light wave motion hit it, it bounced back.
"No way!?"
No wonder Lily was surprised. But it paid off. She had found out that the movement and laser stopped when it was reflected.
After recovering further, Stra used a flame bullet and a corrosion breath, but all of them were repelled. So no skill moves either. Also, it seems that reflected attacks can only be returned in a straight line.
I summon Ix, Nowa and Kurogane. I return Stra and summon Gray.
Kurogane activates his coercion and ether beast continuously lasers Kurogane, but Kurogane withstands it by transforming his arm into a shield. He was able to do that. But even so, his vitality is still rapidly depleting. But the fact that he is able to withstand it is the best result of the war. Lily and I heal together and we are able to hold out for long enough.
Gray sends out phantom wolves to attack, but the ether beast shoots all the phantom wolves with a laser while showering Kurogane with lasers. Guidance doesn't work, does it? Next, I asked Nowa to use shadow binding, but Nowa shook her head.
"...Too bright"
I see. Then I asked her to try evil eye, but it didn't work. I put Nowa back and called Farida.
"Can't you do something about that laser?"
"I can't. It's too far away. Besides, magic power interference is a kind of abnormal condition, so I don't think it will work"
Not good...but I got an idea with Farida.
"Rune Skill!"
It bounced back and I was blocked from using my skills. No good. But I guess the direct magic skill returns the whole magic circle. Then I change Farida and summon Sephone.
"Shadow Summoning! Go! My servants!"
But the moment they emerge from Kurogane, Sephone's bats are pierced by lasers. Moreover, the curse-destroying seal was ineffective and the bats did not revive.
"I'm sorry, but I can't help you"
The curse-destroying seal is also disabled until night immortality...what a mess.
"Takuto...what are we going to do?"
Lily asked anxiously while recovering Kurogane.
"I'll be fine. We have defeated all kinds of enemies before, haven't we? Take care of Kurogane. Lily"
"Yes! I'm on it, Takuto!"
I've never had an enemy that I couldn't do damage to, though. Later, what I haven't tried is...I'll change Sephone and summon Lian.
"Lian, try using curse song"
"Y, Yes!"
Now, what do you think? I look at the ether beast and see that it is doing a small amount of damage. So the curse song works! And there doesn't seem to be any regeneration.
But I need to know something else...next I'll change Lian and summon Mir.
"Mir, I ask for a pit. Don't get your face out of the ground, okay? You'll be targeted"
"Yes!"
I also recovered Kurogane. Well, what happens now?
Then the ether beast stops attacking.
『Not good! It got away』
It must have sensed the pitfall...in other words, it doesn't like it.
I look and the ether beast jumps up. As the ether beast maintained its stance, countless lasers shot up from above.
"Everyone take cover!"
While we were protected by the rocks and Kurogane, Ix used her reflector to repel the ether beast's lasers and hit the ether beast, damaging it. Gray, protected by Ix, used hair needle, which also caused damage.
Physical techniques were effective. And that reflection attack of Ix's...is it just that his own attacks can't be reflected?
The ether beast cries out, interrupting my thoughts and when it opens its mouth, light gathers. Breath is still useful, right? But the lasers have stopped and it's taking a while to build up. Chance.
"Kurogane! Give it back what it's beaten you with!"
Kurogane's arm spins, electricity runs through it and he unleashes a rocket punch. The ether beast, unable to evade the attack during the pooling of the breath, is directly hit by Kurogane's rocket punch.
It was a huge damage, but it was not enough to hit it with a single rocket punch. Lily immediately jumps out, but before she can get close to the ether beast, she is hit by a laser and comes back.
I aim for the moment the ether beast is about to land on the ground.
"Sinkhole!"
The ether beast is damaged by the sudden ground subsidence. Is this kind of magic effective after all? I guess it can't be repelled unless it's magic or magic that hits it.
But when the ether beast jumps out immediately, its eyes turn red and it recovers all the damage when lightning bolts run from all over its body. So this is the same ability as Ice Wyvern!
Then, it suddenly hit me with an oversized seven-colored breath. He can use the breath with almost no buildup! Just in time!
"Release!"
We ran back with return. If it weren't for Kurogane, we'd be stuffed. We can't try again today. Then comes the info.
『Lily's light magic level has reached 10. She has acquired the light magic 【Laser】 and 【Clear】』
Lily, who has learned new magic, is feeling down.
"Takuto...sorry"
I pat Lily's apologetic head and declare,
"We're going to defeat it tomorrow"
"Eh?"
"Thanks to everyone's help, I have a general idea of how to defeat it. It's going to be a tough fight. I need your help"
"Yes!"
Lily replies and everyone replies individually. Then, before logging out, Setia brings something to stop me. Oh...I told her she could try the medicine. Appraise.
Purification Pill ? : Rarity ?, Pill, Quality F-
Effect: Eliminate the strengthening effect
A failed purification pill. When eaten, it removes the strengthening effect.
Purification Pill ? : Rarity ?, Pill, Quality F-
Effect: Paralysis
A failed purification pill. When eaten, it makes you numb and unable to move.
This is a drug, right? It looks like a chemical weapon.
"Setia...what did you mix it with?"
"It's a secret"
Pretty to say, not good! But I have a feeling I can use this. Of course it was supposed to be a weapon...but I can't tell Setia.
"Now! Takuto-sama! Go ahead!"
She wants me to eat a chemical weapon...fine. It's a game and it won't kill me. When I eat the paralyzing one, my tongue goes numb instantly. It's the feeling you get when you eat rotten food or poisonous grass. But I can't spit it out because it's numb. What the hell is this?
I fall down, standing upright.
Tasteless, tasteless, tasteless~! But I can't move my mouth or body? This is no good! I'm paralyzed, forced to log out. I sincerely hope Setia will produce proper medicine.
Name Takuto Love Summoner Lv16
Vitality 82
Magic Power 225
Strength 74
Defense 40
Agility 60
Dexterity 141
Skills
Fighting Lv15
Kicking Lv20
Staff Lv32
One-handed Sword Lv30
Spear Lv20
Katana Lv15
Throwing Lv10
High-Speed Chanting Lv38
Summoning Magic Lv38
Seal Magic Lv25
Horsemanship Lv33
Alchemy Lv23
Mining Lv28
Logging Lv33
Dismantling Lv41
Appraisal Lv32
Identification Lv39
Fast Magic Lv2
Flame Magic Lv3
Land Magic Lv2→Lv3
Sea Magic Lv4
Darkness Magic Lv3
Sacred Magic Lv10→Lv11
Lightning Magic Lv32
Explosion Magic Lv32
Wood Magic Lv27
Ice Magic Lv29
Space-time Magic Lv41
Beast Magic Lv3
Delay Magic Lv6→Lv7
Continuous Chanting Lv8
Underwater Action Lv15
Swift Lv4
Reading Lv14
Cooking Lv40
Feeding Lv8
Fishing Lv20
Synchro Lv16
Cooperation Lv8
Name Lily Dragonewt Cura Lv27
Vitality 104
Magic Power 106
Strength 214
Defense 67
Agility 84
Dexterity 78
Skills
Light Fist Lv10
Flight Lv28
One-handed Sword Lv37
Large Sword Lv32
Danger Premonition Lv6→Lv7
Hammer Lv13
Rengeki Lv14
Tempering Spirit Lv32
Light Magic Lv6→Lv10
Light Wave Motion Lv9
Dragon Technique Lv12
Dragonification Lv7
Dragon Breath Lv4
Holy Dragon Blessing Lv6
Name Setia High Elf Lv24
Vitality 83
Magic Power 210
Strength 73
Defense 53
Agility 66
Dexterity 199
Skills
Staff Lv16
Magic Bow Lv26
Eagle Eye Lv16
Shooting Lv17
Woodworking Lv19
Collecting Lv33
Dose Lv14→Lv17
Engraving Lv11
Jewel Magic Lv5
Lapidary Lv5
Wind Magic Lv8
Fire Magic Lv19
Water Magic Lv24
Earth Magic Lv15
Dark Magic Lv5
Sacred Magic Lv7
Lightning Magic Lv9
Explosion Magic Lv7
Tree Magic Lv17
Ice Magic Lv8
Tree Magic Lv14
Trap Setting Lv1
High Elven Knowledge Lv24→Lv25
Spirit Summoning Lv8
Employment Lv3→Lv5
Cooking Lv18
Name Ix Amor Ex Machina Lv12
Vitality 115
Magic Power 115
Strength 115
Defense 115
Agility 115
Dexterity 115
Skills
Flight Lv10
Machina Armament Lv29
Night Vision Lv7
Eagle Eye Lv13
Shooting Lv16
Detail Analysis Lv8
Arithmetic Lv8→Lv9
Action Prediction Lv8
Searching Lv20
Throwing Maneuvers Lv6
Reflection Lv5→Lv6
Rapid-fire Lv13
Conversion Lv6
Link Lv14
Magic Charge Lv13
Limiter Release Lv1
Name Kurogane Steel Golem Lv1
Vitality 161
Magic Power 0
Strength 203
Defense 203
Agility 36
Dexterity 35
Skills
Fighting Lv20
Solid Lv40→Lv41
Transformation Lv10→Lv12
Coercion Lv37→Lv38
Physical Resistance Lv34
Physical Destruction Lv16
Mining Lv6
Steel Wire Lv1
Stone Throwing Lv16
Light Ray Lv1
Sniping Lv10→Lv11
Electromagnetic Lv1→Lv2
Rotating Shooting Lv14→Lv15
Lightningproof Lv1
Cold Resistance Lv1
Heat Resistance Lv10
Poison No Effect Lv9
Disease No Effect Lv3
Corrosion No Effect Lv1
Regeneration Lv10→Lv13
Protection Lv1