Chapter 252
Azhdaha is a monster that appears in the later stages of FBO's Grand Quest.
A Class 9 semi-raid boss.
It's called "semi" because this monster is an event-type enemy that players cannot cooperate with each other to defeat.
It's an offline event where you must cooperate with the characters you've raised and NPCs to defeat it.
This event is prepared once for each continent.
Azhdaha in the South, Oberon in the West, Fenrir in the North, and Hyakki Yagyo in the East.
All of these are quests triggered by progressing the grand event.
In other words, these events shouldn't occur unless the story is advanced.
"......"
Probably, I'm making the most severe face since coming to this world.
I always boasted that things would work out, but this time, I can't help but think it might be fatal.
A warning from a god—no, it was so obscure I didn't think it was a warning at first, but with some forced deciphering, I'm patching it together with what could barely be called speculation—more like delusion.
You might think I'm a fool for feeling anxious about such a thing.
But in this world, gods are absolute beings, and I'm not optimistic enough to ignore words sent by a god.
At the very least, I can't laugh until I go to Azhdaha's event location and see the seal with my own eyes.
"Is it dangerous?"
"......"
"There's no need to choose your words, Liberta. Please tell us your honest thoughts."
Dark knew about Azhdaha.
But many others don't.
Even if I desperately rack my brain for solutions, all I come up with are ideas filled with uncertainties and lingering anxieties.
Explaining in this state would only spread unease, but not speaking would be worse.
"Dangerous doesn't even begin to cover it. It's not just about national survival. If handled poorly, the world could end."
""""!?""""
I never thought I'd recall the term "game over" after coming to this world.
In a way, the phased structure of this Grand Quest could be seen as the developers' mercy.
There was a player who tested what would happen if they progressed the Grand Quest to a certain point, set a time limit, and then left it unattended.
What happens then?
Normally, you'd expect a "game over" screen when the time limit expires.
But FBO is different.
It forcibly triggers an alternate route, leading to intercepting a fully revived Azhdaha.
If you defeat it at this stage, that's fine—a restoration event occurs, and civilization remains intact enough for the country to maintain its form.
But what if the player neglects it further?
To prevent Azhdaha from encroaching on the territories of the other three continental monsters of the same rank, they emergency-revive.
Normally, they shouldn't revive without following the proper steps, but Oberon absorbs all the energy of the Western World Tree, Fenrir of the North absorbs all the heat of the entire continent, and Hyakki Yagyo absorbs all the souls slumbering in that land—skipping all quest progression and reviving at full power without any regard for the consequences.
What happens then? A glorious monster showdown erupts.
And simultaneously, the player must deal with these rampaging monsters of the same rank.
By then, all NPCs who were supposed to be allies start acting on their own—to protect their homelands, to flee from danger. Some might stay with the player, but好感度 (affection levels) become irrelevant.
The time limit ticks down, and the NPCs you trained are steadily defeated.
Even if you win at this stage, tremendous scars remain, and if you lose, a "civilization has collapsed" message appears, and it's game over.
Normally, unless something extreme happens, you can learn about Azhdaha and the other continental monsters through legends or inscriptions, and by that stage, your leveling, equipment, and personnel are sufficiently developed to have a full chance of victory.
But currently, if we were to challenge Azhdaha, my combat strength consists of Nell, Amina, Ingrid, Claudia, and Lady Esmeralda as the main force.
Plus, whether the Duke's forces and the Spirit King can be negotiated with to have the spirits cooperate.
Depending on the time we have, even if we're still in the early stages and have some leeway, the win rate is below 50%.
And that's against its pre-fully powered form.
If it becomes fully powered, the win rate is less than 10%.
And that 10% conclusion would require immense sacrifices.
"To that extent..."
Explaining this would undoubtedly kill the atmosphere.
Amina is holding her breath.
Everyone else also has dark expressions.
"B-but if we evacuate to the spirit world, there might still be a chance—"
"That's impossible, Nell-dono. The spirit world exists through the Spirit King's power, but the source of that power is the mana generated by the nature of the world you live in. We spirits manage the world's nature in exchange for that power. If the nature of that world perishes—"
"The spirit world will also disappear?"
"That's right."
Nell's desperate hope that we might still be saved is denied by Dark.
Originally, the event to come to this spirit world involved defeating the western continent's monster, Oberon, saving the spirit world from crisis, and the Spirit King inviting you to the spirit world as thanks.
There's no path where only one side is saved.
"If this is true, His Majesty would not hesitate to cooperate. Liberta, we should go to the King immediately!"
"...Right. I want confirmation, at least. It's dangerous, but we have no choice but to ask the Spirit King to send scouts."
However, this is merely speculation I've imagined in my head.
Whether it's true or not, we need to verify this information.
It would be best if it's all nothing, just groundless anxiety.
"Do you know where to send the scouts?"
"I have a few ideas."
Make haste while the sun shines—even if time passes differently in this world than the surface, it's best to act immediately now.
We must reset all leveling and unique skill acquisition plans and focus on verification.
"Shall I go with you?"
"Please. And Earth Researcher, come with us too. If you, who received the prophecy, are there, the Spirit King will be more likely to believe us."
Time-wise, meeting now is outside conventional hours.
But we must meet.
If this is verified, we'll need to quickly coordinate with the Duke and mobilize the Southern King.
"Sorry, I don't know if you can rest after hearing this, but everyone, please try to get some rest. Ingrid, could you prepare some easy-to-eat meals for everyone?"
"Understood."
There's no time to worry about appearances anymore.
I thought about meeting the Spirit King and then immediately working on countermeasures, but seeing everyone's faces, I stopped.
"Hey now! Leave it to Liberta! He'll figure something out! Or rather, he has to, because if he doesn't, my lifestyle is in danger too—he'll manage no matter what!"
Their dark expressions are natural after the gloomy news I delivered.
Then, it's also my role to clear those dark clouds.
Hey, there's a path to victory.
Then it's just a matter of how much combat strength we can reinforce within the remaining time.
I thump my chest loudly, putting on a brave front backed by my track record of always pulling through.
I have no confidence at all that I can manage in the current environment.
But I can't show that weakness.
I know I'm cornering myself by saying "it'll be fine," but I have no choice.
Saying that, I try to brighten their expressions even a little before heading to the Spirit King.
"What should we do?"
I honestly admit that it's seriously bad.
"Why can't you keep up the bravado until the end? Do you think I wouldn't become anxious and shaken after hearing such a story?"
"Are you shaken?"
"I am. I'm just not showing it. If you're putting on a brave front in front of the women, see it through to the end. Well, I understand feeling shaken though."
The audience with the Spirit King proceeded surprisingly smoothly due to the emergency.
His appearance and demeanor were as usual.
Seeing him so confident makes me think I shouldn't be anxious and shaken either, so I take a deep breath and reset my mindset.
"I've roughly grasped the situation. However, Azhdaha... I thought we had destroyed it completely..."
"Probably not completely destroyed. It's reasonable to think an insurance measure left behind just in case has now activated."
The Spirit King also seems unaware of Azhdaha.
And from his tone, he might have fought it in the past.
Then he should understand the danger of this situation.
"Can the current spirits win?"
"Hmm, impossible."
"Impossible?"
"That thing and we spirits are completely incompatible. Even if all of us, including me, challenged it, there'd be only a one-in-ten-thousand chance."
"The avatar of natural destruction and the protectors of nature—the worst compatibility, huh?"
"Hmm. It is a calamity that defiles the earth. With wind, soil, fire, and water polluted, spreading contamination, our powers would steadily weaken against it. Intermediate-rank and below would vanish before even reaching its main body. Even upper-rank—no, even I wouldn't last long against it. Well, if I abandon maintaining the spirit world and exert all my power to fight, there is a chance of victory. But in exchange—"
"The spirit world would collapse?"
"Indeed. Then the spirits would lose their sanctuary. Consider that a last resort."
"Understood."
So, the Spirit King honestly tells me what can and cannot be done.
If the world is going to perish, it's still a gain that he promises to fight with all his might.
"Either way, we need to verify the truth of this prophecy."
"Hmm. A prophecy from a god—verifying that fact is essential. I will not hesitate to cooperate on that point, and if it is true, I will also cooperate to defeat it."
"Thank you."
"Not at all. It's a request from the hero moving for the world's crisis. As a king, it would be wrong not to accept. But I expect you to use your wisdom to the fullest."
"I also promise to use everything at my disposal to overcome this difficulty."
"Good! Then first, information gathering!"
And to prevent that, he promised to help gather information and fight together.
Then.
"I've prepared a map. I want you to investigate eighteen locations in the northern part of the southern continent."
I unfold a map prepared in advance. It's rough, but the general topography is drawn, with many red circles marked on it.
"That's a lot."
"Probably, one of these should be the right one."
"If there's nothing, does that mean we're safe?"
"Ideally, finding it in a sealed state would be best. Finding nothing is the worst-case scenario. The state of uncertainty itself is an element that prevents peace of mind."
Until now, I assumed it was sealed and focused on leveling, but having received information that it's moving, I want to grasp the situation urgently.
A development where it turns out to be groundless anxiety is what I want to avoid most.
"Indeed, that's true. We need dark spirits, wind spirits, and—"
"Please also ask earth and water spirits for cooperation. The enemy might be lurking underground, and if someone broke the seal, they undoubtedly used water."
"Understood. I'll gather spirits skilled in covert operations and give instructions."
"I'm sorry for asking such dangerous work."
"Not at all. It's necessary."
Really, when will the day come when I can level up in peace?
T/n sorry for the late release. P.s I like that series because it's give hell modes vibes .