Chapter 335
It's a common pattern in games: once you defeat a boss, you proceed to the next stage, often leading to consecutive battles.
In FBO, Boldrinde falls into this category, but he's a bit different from other enemies.
The number of waves in the Boldrinde fight changes depending on how you handle the battle.
There's a minimum of 2 waves and a maximum of 4.Note that people often think fewer waves (2) are easier, but that's incorrect.He throws his full force into those 2 waves, making it genuinely tough if you aren't strengthened beyond the recommended level.
Boldrinde's basic tactics involve dark magic and summoning.He's a commander-type who fights by adding his subordinates to the fray and scattering buffs and debuffs.However, his skill build isn't purely commander-oriented; he's also capable of fighting personally.
Ironically, the easiest way to fight Boldrinde in FBO is actually the 4-wave version.Because he divides his forces, it's easier to handle them bit by bit.
But that was in FBO. I never fought Boldrinde *before* the original story like this, and above all, coming to this world has taught me repeatedly that things don't necessarily play out the same way in reality.
We've already taken out most of his subordinates beforehand, and we just defeated Dupro, his last retainer.Him drinking the Poison of God Ixil, which he didn't use in the original, imposes a time limit, but it also creates a clear path to victory: just hold out for an hour. However, the unsettling question remains: what does he hope to achieve by creating a future where he loses in an hour?
Furthermore, what about that demon earlier? If it was prepared solely to intercept us, wouldn't the winning strategy have been to fight alongside it, using the demon as a decoy while Boldrinde provided interference and Dupro handled assassinations?
Even assuming the demon was an uncontrollable entity, having such a thing rampaging in the center would have prevented us from fighting properly, and a surprise attack following an assassination would have guaranteed at least one casualty.
Boldrinde's actions up to this point are marked by obvious misplays.
*Think on the premise that he* had *to do it that way.*
"Lord Liberta, is something the matter?""It feels like there might be, just when I think there isn't."
Normally, the sensible course would be to challenge and defeat Boldrinde right now.But *because* I know the man Boldrinde, doubt crept in about whether it's right to defeat him normally.
In times like this, having prior knowledge is a nuisance.
Ingrid, while keeping her eyes on the battle, asks me a question, noticing my hesitation. Well, it's natural if I'm obviously hesitating.
"But that demon earlier, Dupro's solo charge, the piecemeal deployment of forces... he should know these are poor moves. So why did he do them?""From what I can surmise, possibilities include buying time for someone to escape or waiting for reinforcements to arrive.""I considered those too. But then I don't understand why he'd drink the Poison of God Ixil. It's powerful, but it also guarantees his death. If he's buying time for Azhdaha's revival, an hour is far too short. If it's for someone's escape, a family member comes to mind, but...""Could it be that the Boldrinde we are currently fighting is a decoy?""A Mirror Image Homunculus."
When observing the fight, the possibility of him using a Mirror Image Homunculus to create a body double was the first thing I considered.If it's a Mirror Image Homunculus, which perfectly copies skills and stats and can be controlled by the original person, he could use it to facilitate his escape.But that wouldn't explain this stat increase, and it's also strange that there's no report from the spirits about anyone escaping.
The possibility exists that there's an escape route in these ruins undetectable by spirits, but there shouldn't be any gaps in their surveillance, be it magical or physical.
If his original stats were just that high, it would be understandable.But it's hard to imagine Boldrinde in this world possesses knowledge about EXBP.
From this perspective, since enhancement-type poisons/potions don't affect Mirror Image Homunculi, I can infer that the one currently fighting is the real person.
"That's not it. But if so, why *isn't* he using a Mirror Image Homunculus?"
My comrades are fighting. Moreover, the battle situation is in our favor.And since time passing seems to tilt victory towards us, I can afford to spend time thinking.
As a last resort, we could just pull back the front line and wait for him to die.But my intuition tells me that's the wrong move.
An FBO comrade once told me:Such intuitions often mean that conditions within your memory have aligned, an answer has been reached internally, but it hasn't surfaced consciously yet.
In other words, regarding this bad feeling, I likely have the information and am subconsciously working on the answer.
The reason for not using a Mirror Image Homunculus, which could still be a useful asset at this critical juncture.
"! So that's it!! But... can he even do that?"
Thinking about it, one possibility came to mind, and upon considering if it was feasible...
"Theoretically, it should be possible. If that's the case, then this is bad.""We need to settle this quickly?""Yes, seriously, yes! Or if we could just ignore Boldrinde and have even one person break through to the inner chamber! Damn it!"
No element suggesting it was *impossible* came to mind, stripping away my composure. I raised my spear and joined the front lines.
"All forces, full assault!! Don't worry about mana or item consumption!!!!"
The familiars Boldrinde summons lack uniformity.There are monsters suited for combat, and others that are being forced into service.He's using them with a reckless, 'burn everything now' attitude.
That behavior makes the bad feeling even more pronounced.
"You've noticed! But it's too late now!!"
Hearing my shout, Boldrinde grinned a nasty smile. I charged straight for him.But he sent familiars to block my path.
"Out of my way!"
I should have considered the possibility.No, in this case, perhaps it was preconceived notions.
The Mirror Image Homunculus magical tool was largely a mystery even to players, with many unresolved aspects.Its primary use case was Boldrinde using it as a body double for himself, leading to the assumption that it could only be used on humans, or that once registered, it could only copy the registered individual.
But that's wrong. That's not it.
Why didn't I think of it?
In this world, monsters can also use items.
So why didn't I consider that the Mirror Image Homunculus could be used *by Azhdaha*!?Well, normally, giving such a tool to an uncontrollable monster is a mistake in itself.Common sense and reason dictate that it's not something to even joke about.You shouldn't do it. He wouldn't do it.
That perception had constrained my thinking.
"As expected, only you would notice! I'll praise you for that! But it's too late now!!""I'll make it in time!!"
I tried to use all my skills and expendable items to break through, but Boldrinde, who seemed to have guessed my conclusion, interfered.
"! Liberta, go!"
Nell, forcibly shaking off the familiars around her, covered for me amidst that interference. Only she, with the highest physical strength stats here, could manage such a forceful intervention.
"I shall handle the rear."
Ingrid, who had followed my sudden charge, moved to cover Nell, who had overexerted herself.
"You just need to break through, correct!!?"
Even then, familiars still tried to block my route.But as if anticipating this, the sound of cutting wind echoed, followed by multiple ice boomerangs impaling the familiars.
Using the familiars, slowed by the near-fatal blows, as stepping stones, I leaped over them.This space isn't as vast as the hall where we fought the demon earlier.But it's not narrow either.
With Class 8 stats, in an environment where I can sprint at full speed, it would only take seconds to cross.
However, with research desks and equipment forming barricades, familiars positioned to obstruct our advance, and Boldrinde's interference, even with these stats, traversing it easily is impossible.
"Archers! Forget about us! Assist our Lord!!"**" " " " "Ooooh!!!" " " " " "**
The support shifted from general to pinpoint, thoroughly piercing familiars that threatened to hinder me with arrows. I vaulted over obstacles, and just as I was about to leap into the inner chamber—
"I won't allow it!"
Boldrinde himself, arrows sticking from his body, leaped before me.Wielding a rapier, the slender sword favored by nobles, he thrust with a well-practiced, elegant motion.
"You think I'll let the likes of you destroy my dream!!!""What kind of dream is worth fulfilling at the cost of the world's destruction!?"
I retorted emotionally, fueled by the annoyance from my FBO days, finding his words hard to sympathize with. I deflected the rapier with my spear and thrust back, but he dodged and cast a spell using the wand in his other hand.
The spellblade-style possesses subtly effective delaying techniques, making it troublesome in situations like this.On top of that, Boldrinde favors dark magic.Which has many skills effective for stalling.Added to that, his physical abilities are boosted by the poison, so he doesn't even flinch when hit by arrows from the Otoban-shu.
"What could you possibly understand!!""I don't *want* to understand, but I *know*!! I know you developed warped values due to your environment when your self-awareness was forming, had those values further distorted by your parents, lived by inertia, and then awakened to a bizarre hobby!!"
Boldrinde shouted his final, cliché line, but unfortunately, such lines mean nothing to me.In a way, I also know about the private lives of named characters, even the core parts.
"I even know that you, at your age, still treasure that monster encyclopedia, getting excited and laughing while looking at it over drinks!!""!?"
Mercy? Clemency? Considering the danger that lies ahead, such sentiments are just naive, feel-good notions.The situation is what it is.
If words can make him widen his eyes, shake his emotions, and create an opening, then I won't hesitate to use underhanded tactics like exposing his past.
"Heart Strike!"
No matter how much his stats have increased, if the user's mind goes blank for even a moment, landing a critical hit with a major technique is entirely possible.
I surely pierced and crushed his heart.
*"Cough*"
He spat blood but still tried to move. I forcibly thrust my spear forward, pinning him to the wall, grabbed the kusarigama at my hip.
"Too late."
I said those final words and beheaded the seemingly satisfied Boldrinde.
And then, as if to signal the relentless advance of the timer...
**" " " " "!?" " " " " "**
An overwhelming presence emanated from the inner chamber, causing the party members and Genjiro's red-armored warriors to brace themselves.
"Tch."
I was too late.
The Mirror Image Homunculus reflects the copied entity's stats and skills as they are.
However, there are things it does *not* reflect.Status ailments.
The Mirror Image Homunculus, while not necessarily in perfect condition, cannot copy Bad Status effects.
"All forces, evacuate!! Relay immediately to all knights within the ruins!! Hurry!!"
In other words, it can copy something while ignoring status ailments like... being *sealed*.
This is the worst-case scenario.
Disregarding our plans, a copy of Azhdaha has been revived using the Mirror Image Homunculus.
That bastard! What kind of phase transition is this!?