A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 198

[Rene]

[Hello]

[New Dimension | 8663 viewers | 01:24:05]

The greatest strength of the whip lies in its unpredictable attack direction.

The elasticity creates deflections.

As a result, numerous possibilities are coming at me from all sides.

[Kyahahaha! So slow, so slow!]

Even I, with my Warhammer and Full Body Armor, couldn’t help but be slow.

Because of that, I was even more easily exposed to Ereshkigal’s attacks.

At least it seems fortunate that, unlike the Black Knight, there are no special mechanics here?

But I have to face a much bigger problem: I have nearly no angles to hit…

─The patterns are incredibly complex;

─Isn’t it better to switch weapons now instead of sticking with the Warhammer?

As suggested in the Chat Window, I thought about changing weapons, but ultimately, given that I’m wearing Full Body Armor, the fundamental issue wouldn’t change.

Even the armor in my inventory is all of the Full Body Armor type.

What on earth should I do about this?

[How about taking this too!]

Since I’ve memorized all the patterns by now, there’s no risk of dying.

Unlike with the Black Knight earlier, I can use potions, and I have plenty prepared.

But that certainly doesn’t mean it’s okay for this situation to keep repeating.

I’m here to clear a World Quest, not to be a punching bag.

…Should I just go with getting hit?

From my observations of the patterns up to now, there aren’t completely no openings.

If my gear had been different, there would surely be openings to exploit.

But then it would feel weird, wouldn’t it?

Are they making monsters that are entirely impossible to clear with certain gear?

This Room of Evil Dream isn’t a party dungeon; it’s a solo dungeon, right?

That’s just absurd.

It poses a problem in terms of game balance.

In other words, that means there are two ways to defeat Ereshkigal.

The first is to normally break the pattern or exploit any openings.

And the second is the extreme play I’m pondering now.

Ereshkigal’s attacks aren’t at the level of the Black Knight from earlier, but that doesn’t mean I can just get hit without a second thought.

However, it’s also true that if I use potions, I can manage it to some extent.

So what if I take her attacks while attacking, using potions whenever the situation gets dangerous?

I felt there was a sufficient possibility in that plan.

Of course, accounting for potion cooldowns means I’d need to endure until the very last moment.

If I make even one mistake, I’m sure I’ll have to start over from the beginning.

…But isn’t that exactly what makes a game fun?

I’m not really dying here.

[Fall down!]

“Here it comes…!”

Ereshkigal’s high and clear voice echoed.

Depending on how I respond to this pattern, Ereshkigal will take one of two actions.

If I back away when she swings the whip, the whip will lengthen, leading to a simple hit pattern.

If I block it in place, it leads to a tug-of-war pattern with Ereshkigal’s whip wrapping around my weapon.

And right now, I’m aiming for the tug-of-war pattern.

Swoosh!

[I’ve got you!]

With Ereshkigal’s bright voice, the whip perfectly wrapped around my Warhammer.

[Let it go!]

Thus began the tug-of-war.

If I give up this struggle and get dragged along, I will probably trigger an instant death mechanism, right?

Based on past experiences with special patterns, that’s for sure.

In other words, what I have to do right now is to be dragged just enough to avoid triggering an instant death, then rush in and attack Ereshkigal as soon as the pattern ends.

“Phew….”

I felt the heavy pressure at my fingertips.

Slowly taking one step, then another, I moved towards Ereshkigal.

Her expression and movements were unchanged from before.

Of course, this pattern could determine results based on the location at the end, but in a moment like this, I had no luxury to think that far.

Counting ten seconds in my mind.

[Tsk! This is too much!]

Ereshkigal puffed her cheeks and released the whip, and I immediately leaped forward with all my might.

I did my best to balance, but the distance was still considerable.

Thanks to that, even as I closed the distance, Ereshkigal had already assumed a stance for the next pattern when she came into my range.

[How dare you come this far, how rude!]

With Ereshkigal’s playful voice, a massive red magic circle formed on the ground.

The moment I saw that, I quickly pivoted to get out of the magic circle’s range and veered widely around her.

Then, the magic circle began to follow me.

Boom!

With a thunderous sound, blue flames erupted from the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

After five shocks trembled the ground, Ereshkigal’s eyes sparkled with light.

[Fall down!]

“Ugh…!”

Her whip swept through the area like a storm.

I advanced even while getting hit.

─????

─Why the sudden suicidal move???

─It’s okay since I can retry anyway ㅇㅇ;

─Maybe checking for other patterns?

Seeing my HP rapidly decrease, I could understand why the Rebongi were thinking that.

But really, standing back would only repeat the same situation.

As I broke through the storm created by Ereshkigal’s whip, my remaining HP was 27 percent.

That was enough.

The Warhammer and whip crossed, and both our HP began to dwindle.

16 percent. 13 percent. 9 percent. 4 percent. 3 percent.

“Now….”

I drink a potion to recover HP before Ereshkigal’s whip sweeps me away.

However, the relentless assault from Ereshkigal continued.

Calculating my rapidly dwindling HP against the remaining potion cooldowns, it was time for me to retreat for a moment.

“Phew….”

As a result,

Ereshkigal’s remaining HP was at best 95 percent.

In other words, it meant I had to do this at least 19 more times to defeat her.

─Can I really clear this???

─Seriously, even while balancing until the end, I barely took away 5 percent; this is absurd;

─??? : This has been designed to be extremely difficult, and there are also methods for failure considered.

─I think I’ll just give up…

In such a situation, the mood in the Chat Window was decidedly negative, but my personal thoughts were completely different.

Wouldn’t something like this be how a World Quest should be?

This is the first World Quest in New Dimension, after all.

If it could be cleared easily like just another field boss, it would be boring.

“Phew…”

As I slowly dodged Ereshkigal’s normal attacks, I caught my breath.

And just when I was about to charge in again…

[The durability of ‘Ruthless Dragon’s Horn’ has dropped to 0.]

[Cannot use until repair of equipment is complete.]

[The durability of ‘Svalin’s Armor’ has dropped to 0.]

[Cannot use until repair of equipment is complete.]

System messages obscured my sight as my helmet and Full Body Armor returned to my inventory.

“…Huh?”

─??????????????

─What the heck?????

The hand holding the Warhammer was no longer clad in the black gloves of my Full Body Armor, and the vision that had been constricted by the helmet suddenly widened.

And after quickly assessing the situation, the conclusion was just one.

“…I’m screwed.”

[Death]

★

[Death]

─I can’t believe this is actually my raw uncustomized appearance; it’s surprising as hell lol.

─From today, I become one with Tabung.

─Those who worship Tabung Ereshkigal, are they gods???

─I worship the Tabung Ereshkigal Sisters…

─World Quest <<< I feel it’s right to just fail here, upvote ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.



─I’ve pressed the recommend button 23755673458 times, this isn’t rigged ㅇㅇ;



─For real, with this level, it’s not rigged.



─I’ll bring a sewing machine ㄱㄷ.



“E-everyone, be quiet…!”



─So cute when they get embarrassed lol.



─Since the camera isn’t turned on during the broadcast, they’re forcing it on in-game.



─I’ve honestly been waiting for a day like today…



─Damn, their appearance is GOAT.



─Silver hair, unique eyes, cozy demeanor, big bust, smiling girl <<< How am I supposed to handle this?



“Ugh….”



Anyway, I realized that no matter what I said now, the reactions of the Rebongi wouldn’t change.



Coming to that realization, I immediately turned my focus back to the Chat Window and replayed the recent events.



Third attempt. And another third identical failure.



From that, I could only hold one conviction.



This definitely has to have some new mechanism involved.



Is it really possible that no matter what playstyle, the durability of my Full Body Armor and helmet ends up at 0?



Given the nature of the game called New Dimension, that doesn’t even remotely make sense.



There must be some other breakthrough.



So, there’s nothing to do but keep attempting until I find that breakthrough.



At least the fortunate thing is that my equipment durability resets every time I fail the challenge.



What’s happening is all the aftermath of this Evil Dream, or whatever.



Thanks to that, I get to reattempt over and over again.



─I’m curious when my durability will hit 0 in the next challenge heh;



─For real, I’m taking screenshots every time durability hits 0 lol.



Though the reactions in the Chat Window have changed like that…



Anyway, what’s important now is finding a way to clear Ereshkigal.



There didn’t seem to be anything odd in the patterns…



Then could there be some special mechanics in this room?



“Hmmm…”



[Ohohoho! Are you the strong one recognized by my father? Then I, Ereshkigal, will defeat you and receive heaps of praise from my father!]



…Ah.



What if it’s this?



I immediately equipped Tyrant, the Black Armor of Upha, and the Flames of the Great Demon.



The common feature of these three pieces of equipment is that they can all be obtained by clearing the Tagirion Raid.



In other words, these are items made from defeating Tagirion, Ereshkigal’s father.