Chapter 39 - 039＿The Possibility of 'Combine'
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Daily rankings seem about to fall but don't.
Going back and forth between 2nd and 3rd.
Going back and forth between 1000 and 1500 points.
Rather than my points going up, it feels like the top dropped.
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039＿The Possibility of 'Combine'
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For the Lake Bottom Temple, thinking to have Emilia and Yulin learn 'Wind Power Water Bullet', Rodney separated 'High Heat Flame Bullet' from the two of them.
At that time, Rodney suddenly wondered. What would happen if he combined these two 'High Heat Flame Bullets'?
Originally, 'High Heat Flame Bullet' was created by combining 'Flame Bullet' and 'High Heat Bullet'. He wondered if further combining was possible. Once he thought about it, he had to try.
He combined 'High Heat Flame Bullet' with 'High Heat Flame Bullet'. It required considerable mental focus, and he felt as if the two 'High Heat Flame Bullets' were raging the entire time he combined them. He also consciously used 'Manipulate', and somehow the combination succeeded. Without 'Manipulate', it might not have succeeded.
The new ultimate force created by combining was called 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet'. He wanted to test it, but since even 'High Heat Flame Bullet' had great power, he decided to head to the labyrinth.
Naturally, Emilia and Yulin came along. Moreover, even Bajis followed.
"Bajis, you must never go to the front."
"Yes, Onee-sama."
A heartwarming sibling scene. Rodney also said to Emilia.
"I'll protect you, Emilia."
"What are you saying? I'm the one who'll protect you, Onii-chan."
This was not heartwarming at all.
In the first level of the Abandoned House Labyrinth, Emilia instantly killed the Selvanui that appeared. Bajis watched her fluid movements with sparkling eyes.
First level is a ruined village area with many abandoned houses, but it does not go on forever. When they advanced to the back, the labyrinth wall blocked their path.
"I want to test fire the 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet' against the labyrinth wall."
"I've heard that even the highest-level ultimate forces cannot damage the labyrinth wall. Isn't it unsuitable for test firing?"
"That's not necessarily true, Yulin. Since it won't break, we can fire as much as we like."
Rodney moved the three back and concentrated his mind about 50 rom (100 meters) from the wall. When he held up both hands, a light bullet about 5 rom in diameter appeared.
"Roar, 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet'!"
The light bullet cut through the air and reached the wall in an instant, seeming to embed itself. It should be considerable power, but nothing happened, so Rodney thought he had failed.
He hadn't realized yet that even embedding in the labyrinth wall, which is said to be unbreakable, was amazing.
The three behind him also tilted their heads wondering what happened. At that moment, cracks appeared in all directions from where the light bullet had embedded, and a massive explosion occurred.
The shockwave of the massive explosion also hit Rodney. Blown away, Rodney instantly activated 'Diamond' and rolled across the ground.
The shockwave also hit Yulin and the others behind. Yulin crouched down to shield Emilia and Bajis. Since they were at a distance, they weren't blown away like Rodney, but if they hadn't activated 'Hardening', they would have taken damage.
When the explosion subsided, surprisingly, the labyrinth wall was greatly gouged out, forming a crater about 15 rom in diameter.
Rodney and his companions were shocked that they had destroyed the labyrinth wall, which was said to be unbreakable.
"Going by what just happened, I think we need to be at least 150 rom away to be safe."
Thinking Yulin was right, Rodney took about 200 rom distance and test-fired again.
As a result, the light bullet flew 200 rom in an instant and caused a massive explosion. The blast reached Rodney, but he was not blown away.
The wall had a crater of about 15 rom, same as before. To grasp the range of 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet', he took even more distance and test-fired several times.
He found that the maximum effective range was about 1000 rom. Beyond that, the explosive power diminished. But even 1000 rom range was unheard of, so he thought 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet' was a weapon. However, he also thought it was difficult to use, as the power was too high and could involve allies.
Then Rodney thought: If he could further combine combined ultimate forces, perhaps he could combine not just two but three or four ultimate forces at once.
When he tried, he succeeded. Combining the four: 'Flame Bullet', 'Water Bullet', 'Earth Bullet', and 'Wind Bullet' resulted in a ultimate force called 'Fluid Explosion Bullet'.
The power of this 'Fluid Explosion Bullet' is almost equal to 'High Heat Flame Bullet'. Its speed is less than 'Wind Power Water Bullet' but greater than 'High Heat Flame Bullet'. Its range is over 100 rom, and its explosion area is wide, being its characteristic.
It is a bullet of fluid metal like mercury, attaching to the target before exploding. It can be used both on land and underwater.
He tried various other ultimate forces, but some could not be combined. Among those, he managed to combine up to four. He doesn't know if this is the limit of 'Combine' or his current limit.
Furthermore, he combined 'Wind Power Water Bullet' with itself. The result was 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet'. A water bullet wrapped in wind that rotates like a drill, and upon impact, scatters blades that cut through a wide area.
Its flight speed and attack area surpass 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet', but its shooting range is about half. Its power is also lower compared to 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet', but that is because 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet' is too high. 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' is far more powerful than 'Wind Power Water Bullet', so Rodney thought it depends on how you use it.
Returning to the surface, he gave the combined ultimate forces to the Lake Bottom Temple raid team. Each time, they had to orally ingest Life Light Stone, so it took several days.
He had Emilia, Yulin, Roxwell, and Endever learn 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet', and ten mid-level soldiers learn 'Fluid Explosion Bullet'.
At first, he thought of having everyone learn 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet', but he decided otherwise because if everyone used the same ultimate force, it would narrow the tactical variety.
Due to the Menisas disturbance and new discoveries in 'Combine', the Lake Bottom Temple raid had been delayed.
Watching the attendants and soldiers training in 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' and 'Fluid Explosion Bullet', he felt that the Lake Bottom Temple raid should be feasible soon. With the ability to use 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' and 'Fluid Explosion Bullet', the success rate should have increased considerably.
"Roxwell. Endever. Have you gotten used to using 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet'?"
"Yes. We can head to the Lake Bottom Temple anytime."
"I concur with Roxwell-dono. However, 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' is marvelous. It is equal to or greater than the highest-level ultimate force, so its use is difficult, but."
The soldiers had also become quite accustomed to 'Fluid Explosion Bullet', so Rodney opened his mouth to give the order for the Lake Bottom Temple raid.
If one of the soldiers hadn't run up to him and told him to return to the mansion, he would have given the order.
"T-The Sage-sama has come."
"O-shishou-sama?"
Rushing back to the mansion, in the reception room, Sage Daguldor and his wife Melissa were drinking tea.
"Yo, Rodney."
Sage Daguldor's first words upon seeing Rodney were very light.
"O-shishou-sama, Oku-sama. It's been a while. I'm glad to see you both well."
"Rodney-san, I heard you got engaged. Congratulations."
"Oh, yes! Congratulations! I came to celebrate my cute disciple's engagement."
"Thank you very much. But if I had known you were coming, I would have gone to greet you."
"This man wanted to surprise Rodney-san, so I'm sorry."
Typical of Sage Daguldor, who has a childish side. Rodney smiled wryly.
"By the way, where is your fiancée Yulin? Introduce us."
When Rodney said Yulin was waiting outside the reception room, Daguldor told him to let her in.
When Rodney said that Yulin had come directly from the training ground and was still in armor, Sage Daguldor said it didn't matter.
"Kenja-sama, Oku-sama. I am Yulin. Please forgive my rudeness in appearing before you in such attire."
"Fine, fine. Hmm, she's a beauty, isn't she? Rodney, you're not to be underestimated, Melissa."
"Yes. She is beautiful. Yulin-san, I've met you a few times at the mansion, but from now on, please think of me as a grandmother."
"I wouldn't dare. That is too much honor."
Yulin was flustered, but Melissa gave her a gentle smile.
"Rodney-san is this man's disciple. A disciple is like a child or grandchild, family. In other words, Yulin-san, you are like my child or grandchild. Understood?"
"Thank you very much."
While Melissa and Yulin were having a pleasant conversation, Sage Daguldor, who had been drinking tea beside them, brought his face close to Rodney and whispered.
"Rodney, you haven't raided the Lake Bottom Temple yet, have you?"
"Yes, preparations are complete, so within a day or two."
Sage Daguldor's gaze turned sharp.
"Then, I'm going too."
"Eh?"
"I said I'll help open the treasure vault."
He's using my and Yulin's engagement as an excuse. His real goal is probably this. So like O-shishou-sama.
In their short acquaintance, Rodney thought he understood Sage Daguldor's personality. Childish, curious, and oblivious to his surroundings when absorbed.
Rodney promised to take Sage Daguldor on the Lake Bottom Temple raid. Whatever his motivations, Rodney thought that seeing Sage Daguldor's fighting style would be a learning experience for him.
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