Chapter 1194 - Setting Out
For those who enjoy being a "Warrior" in the virtual world, underwater is the most avoided environment.
There are more than enough elements that work to a player's disadvantage to count on the fingers of both hands, but above all, the greatest is the "obviously excessive" environmental load expression compared to reality.
Indeed, this was why the Tenth Four Pillar War was in an uproar even outside of this or that point of attention. "Water" in Arcadia generates a weight that easily entangles even a superhuman's body.
With a very few exceptions. Once the water level reaches up to the knees, it is common knowledge in the virtual world that even an agility-specialized build will have their legs half-paralyzed—then, it goes without saying what kind of absurdity, impossibility, and recklessness would arise if one were to throw their entire body into the water.
With a half-baked Strength Status, wielding a weapon properly is impossible.
No matter how much one has trained their Agility Status, there is no foothold to make use of it.
Of course, this is Arcadia, the Utopia where everything humans seek in their dreams is prepared. There is a full lineup of swimming-related skills as well... but, precisely because it is Arcadia, the Utopia that prepares everything humans seek in their dreams, difficulties far beyond that level also run rampant.
To put it simply, a drop in the bucket. Webbed feet on a human.
It might be one thing if they were making the fish of the real world into pitiful virtual enemies, but stepping into the territory of the monsters, beasts, and demons of the virtual world, there is no way a half-baked measure could run rampant.
Lest we forget, the general consensus is that Arcadia's combat content is of demonic difficulty.
A demonic world where even the ground, which is the domain of humans, can have "unconquerable" areas. That being the case, if one ventures into domains other than those of humans, it is only natural for such things to be rampant.
Unable to stand, unable to walk, unable to run, unable to move freely.
In addition, unable to breathe, unable to speak—unable to weave chants.
Since even "magic," the very synonym for making the impossible possible, cannot be used satisfactorily, it is a factual dead end. It is only natural that not only the general player base but even the elite would throw up their hands at this "impossible game," and the top elite also nodded at the same conclusion... or rather,
they are nodding, in the present progressive tense.
That is the reality of the current state of Arcadia's underwater world pioneering—
Thus, into such an impossible game world.
"—...The full appearance makes its entrance."
Now, passing through the door connecting different spaces,
"[Fairy Tale, Castle of Chalk and Blackwood]"
A single castle entered the water.
An abnormal sight where anyone watching from the side would without exception cheer, 'Are you stupid? (Fantasy)'. Into the water world filled with a mysterious and eerie darkness that allowed for some visibility, an ultra-gigantic mass that should not exist anywhere but on the ground made its grand manifestation at the perfect timing.
In short,
"Whoa, seriously?! We're not wet!"
Despite manifesting after entry, without allowing even a gap for the water to touch those held within.
The moment the party that had jumped into the teleportation gate all at once passed through the blue light and was thrown into another space, without even waiting for the extremely leisurely murmur of the master, the [Castle Lord].
It had, as if it were only natural, embraced all six of them, including Rinne who had cheered, into its interior... the inside of the castle formed by the "chalk" and "blackwood" corresponding to its name.
And then,
"...Mm. As planned, we will sink as far as we can sink like this."
Inside the "castle" that was sinking due to physics which, although having various excessive expressions compared to reality, certainly worked since they existed. As if the devotion, or rather the offering of the castle, to none other than the [Castle Lord] was something she was well-accustomed to, the [Sword Queen] standing calmly on the tilting floor confirmed the policy.
At that, there were three who nodded, and two others.
Leaving aside May, who seemed to be desperately trying to keep her sleepiness at bay while leaning against Iris... the garnet eyes turned their gaze toward the remaining one of the two, the silver-haired one.
"Yura."
"...Hah, no need for me to call them out. The bastards are coming in droves."
What was sought was a report of detection. What was returned was a corresponding curse.
—The next moment.
"Uwah-haai?!"
An immense shock, which triggered Rinne's scream, thrust up from below the castle.
And yet, in the spacious Castle Lord's chamber. The throne and various other black-and-white luxurious furnishings here and there did not... fly through the air. As if following the inorganic vassals who seemed to be holding their ground by their own will, the invited humans also—
"...Quite the pressure. As I heard, it seems to be quite a big shot."
"Rinne-san, please prepare your heart. The real thing is a bit shocking."
"W-Well, yes. I'm fine on that front, since monster-type horror is my favorite...!"
"Uaaah... my head is shaking..."
"May, stand up on your own."
They were not shaken by this level yet. The same went for [Screen], who was looking down in silence.
They had challenged the impossible, the absurd, and the reckless, and had made plans to conquer it—and they possessed the confidence to execute those plans... in short, each of them also carried the awareness of being lawless.
"May."
"Nn-eh... —I'm fine, totally okay. If we're just sinking..."
That was immediately apparent, starting with the "castle" that continued to shake violently under countless welcomes.
"...It's a bit late to ask, but even if this isn't destroyed, wouldn't water naturally come in?"
"You can see the open skylight over there, right? There are rumors that its very existence is a mass of conceptual different space, so perhaps the 'space' we are in is also being maintained as part of the castle's structure."
"Haeh—"
"Well, if it comes to it, I can buy as much time as needed. Don't wor—"
"Oh, Irori-senpai is so reliable!"
"...You are difficult to deal with, as always."
Whether his carefree behavior was a pretense or not, along with [Berumail] who was steadily continuing to accumulate "sound," there were two cards of all-around offense and defense with [Peerless], which could bring its fury even into the underwater environment.
"Sayaka, don't space out."
"Ah... y-yes. I'm sorry, right away...!"
Thrown a blunt warning, she showed an uncharacteristic panic, but then executed her duty along with "light." On the Status bars of everyone in the party, countless icons... all-environment suitability improvement buffs, all-attribute resistance improvement buffs, and even all-status slight improvement buffs, and so on, a lawless dance.
Truly doing whatever she pleased, listing support effects in a furious torrent, there was one card of an other-dimensional, all-situation-compatible, and the most excellent support mage in all situations, unparalleled in Arcadia.
And, the silver-haired one who made her work with rough words.
"Yura."
"Wide-area sensing and fire support. I'll do the job I was given."
"...Mm, I'm counting on you."
A contrarian who couldn't flatly reject expectations despite making a sour face—there was one card of a joker whom [Sword Queen (Iris)] secretly wished not to deal with next to the "Eastern Wings."
Finally, of course,
"Well then... as planned, I will go see how things are."
Counting none other than "the strongest (myself)" who stepped forward without hesitation.
"Please be careful."
"Mm."
Receiving words of concern from Sayaka as they passed each other, she moved her body toward one of the "windows" with unstopping steps—and, opening it without hesitation, it was just as [Peerless] had guessed.
The space secured for the "master" was also a part of the castle. Gazing at the pitch-black water surface blocked by an inviolable and invisible wall... Iris,
"..., ......"
took a quiet deep breath to encourage herself, so that no one behind her would notice.
"...—[Goddess of Dream and Reality (Anciel Elysee)]"
The name she called was the avatar of her own soul, with which she had long been familiar.
Not—the Sixth Tier [Goddess of Fantasy].
Having been shown countless "dreams" like a raging torrent from that day to the present,
she had transitioned her name to the Seventh Tier [Goddess of Dream and Reality], and now wore its raiment.
"Dress code_Leviathan"
The Queen, clad in it, invades.
Not half-awake, but dream and reality.
The Queen's raiment that sweeps away everything, both endless dreams and endless reality.
Apparently, it is the second Seventh Tier in history.
By the way, she was apparently the first to reach the Sixth Tier.
At the time she was overtaken by a certain commander-in-chief, she apparently sulked quite a bit.
*Note: This is the second in Arcadia's history, so please do not misunderstand.
As you may have guessed, the unannounced soul-vessels of Sword Saint-sama are not included in this count.