SWNOVELXO Chapter 305.2
Chapter 305.2. The Primordial Dungeon Core
Tigers, cats, snakes, and crows—all my familiars confront the tentacles. Of course, they don’t have the strength to defeat them. They’re easily knocked back, but if one can’t do it, two will. If they can’t stop them, the snakes bind them, slowing their momentum, while the crows body-slam to alter their trajectory, and the tigers and cats bite to halt their movement.
Not a single tentacle reaches me. Around me, my familiars engage in a fierce battle with countless tentacles. It won’t last long, but it’s enough.
My familiars seem to be enjoying their last dance. I smile fondly at the sight and leap into the hole.
It’s deeper than expected, but it only takes a few seconds.
“Guh! But—!”
[Self-Destruct]
Realizing it’s hard to stop me, the flesh mass resorts to a simple tactic. The flesh around me glows red like fire, and all the energy within explodes.
My vision is filled with light as a massive explosion occurs.
The rainbow-colored space distorts, and everything around is blown away. The flesh mass, the familiars—everything except the dungeon core.
The explosion fills the area, and the destructive light distorts the rainbow-colored space. If this had been used on Earth, the planet would’ve been shattered.
As the flames and smoke settle, a tiny, palm-sized piece of flesh emerges from the core, rejoicing.
[Fuhaha, I did it! I’ve reached Amano Sakimori!]
The flesh mass, now weak and devoid of its former power, shouts in triumph. The self-destruct was its last resort, a move it never planned to use.
Now, it’s just a small fragment, a remnant of its former self. It’ll take time to recover, but for now, the world is paused for creation. No one else can interfere.
Most importantly, it defeated Amano Sakimori. The flesh mass is ecstatic, having defeated its nemesis with its own power.
But as the smoke clears, its body stiffens.
Because there stands a man. A man who should’ve been obliterated, with no trace of his body left. Yet, he remains, intact and still clad in black.
“People always say my fashion sense is bad. They tell me to stop because it’s embarrassing. Harsh, right?”
A man’s voice echoes, and the flesh mass trembles in disbelief.
“Why? Why are you still alive?!”
“This black outfit is meant to counter monsters. It blinds the enemy and blocks attacks.”
“It shouldn’t be possible! Even divine-level defenses should’ve been destroyed by the explosion!”
It’s impossible. The flesh mass rages at the unacceptable outcome. But Sakimori shrugs and explains.
“I guess I have to stick to my fashion sense till the end. I did change it up a bit today, though.”
“What?”
“Ah, I secretly created a fourth self-aware familiar, [High Dark Slime] Su-kun. Its only skill is [Complete Defense]. Using it leaves me vulnerable to even a kitten’s attack for a full day, but it can block any attack for an instant.”
Removing his mask, Sakimori sheds his black coat. The coat squirms as a kitten, a snake, and a crow peek out from it, carrying the coat away from Sakimori.
“You’re quite the black-clad performer.”
“Not really. I plan to give them plenty of clean water later. Amatsukihara Corporation is a top-notch white company with great benefits.”
“Where do you think you are?”
They exchange banter as they face each other. Sakimori, now devoid of the fragment of darkness that once consumed him, is merely human, with only a sliver of mana left.
The flesh mass, too, is a mere emergency fragment, its former power nowhere to be seen.
“I never thought it’d end like this. We’re both in pretty bad shape.”
“Fate is cruel. I feel the same.”
Their thoughts align, and they simultaneously cast their spells.
[Shadow Arrow]
[Light Arrow]
A single magical arrow is fired. The most basic of spells, the first one anyone learns.
Shadow and light collide.
And the light is effortlessly scattered, the shadow arrow piercing the flesh mass.
The shadow arrow extinguishes the faint life remaining in the flesh mass. It sways and delivers its final words. This outcome was inevitable. The fragment’s stats were drastically reduced. Even weakened, it stood no chance against Sakimori’s magic.
But strangely, what fills its chest isn’t regret or hatred.
“I’m satisfied.”
With those words, the flesh mass turns gray and crumbles into sand.
“Me too.”
Sakimori mutters, shrugging. It was a worthy opponent for the last dance. A fitting final boss for the dungeon, with its decisiveness and intelligence.
And so, my greatest dungeon attack comes to an end.
Taking a deep breath, I steady myself and start walking.
Approaching the glowing red dungeon core, I gently place my hand on it. The Primordial Dungeon Core is absorbed into my body.
[You have obtained the Primordial Dungeon Core.]
[The Equivalent Exchange Store has exceeded its maximum level.]
[The Equivalent Exchange Store has fully merged with Amano Sakimori.]
[Amano Sakimori has become the Dungeon Master.]
The final level-up announcement from the Equivalent Exchange Store.
“A Dungeon Master, huh… Can’t challenge dungeons as a Dungeon Master, can I?”
The man who staked his life on dungeons lets out a disappointed, lonely sigh and shares his thoughts.