Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

※Corrected typos on 2018/5/14.

※A little addition was made to sections 16-46. It’s not necessary to read, but if you're curious, please take a look.

This is Satou. Recent games tend to be designed with helpful guidance, but I feel that many old games started with little to no explanation. Trial and error can be fun, but there were also plenty of games that seemed like they just didn’t want you to solve them.

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“――Oh.”

In the white space where God Zaikuon had brought me, a yellow ring of light appeared centered on me, touching the ground and turning into a black line.

The circle was roughly about 500 meters in radius.

Along with that, the white space gradually took on some color so that the sky and ground could be distinguished.

Underfoot, it still felt strangely like standing on clouds.

“Is this my opponent?”

About 100 meters from me, a small cube appeared.

The cube made a rattling sound as it transformed and grew larger, slowly taking on a humanoid shape, about three meters tall.

According to the AR display, it was labeled “Unknown,” so it was probably an apostle of God Zaikuon.

“Fight the apostle and win.”

A dignified voice came from behind.

The speaker was the Shrine Maiden of the Cliff.

But something was off.

Her expression was unnaturally blank, and she looked lifeless, like a puppet.

The AR display showed she was in a state called “Divine Communion.”

It seemed she was in a trance state induced by a ritual that continued.

“What are the victory conditions?”

“To defeat the apostle. Do not leave the circle. Do not intentionally attack the shrine maiden.”

After the Shrine Maiden of the Cliff said this, she floated up surrounded by a yellow phosphorescent orb and gently moved outside the circle.

As I tracked her with my eyes, I heard a rattling sound.

The cube left the apostle’s hand and transformed with a sound like a halberd.

It seemed the apostle preferred close combat.

Here, if I immediately fired the no-time space magic forbidden spell “Myth Collapse” to finish it instantly, I’d probably get disapproval rather than praise, so I held back.

“Item Box, [Open].”

I said aloud and opened the Item Box, pulling out a custom-made Orichalcum Holy Sword.

Just like the Demonic Sword Heim I had gifted to Mr. Heim, the “weed” of the Shiga Eight Swords, this was a longsword equipped with a magical circuit modeled after the Holy Sword Durandal.

It had a command word called “Eternal Blade” to restore its sharpness.

It was probably perfect for an opponent whose attack style I didn’t know.

“――Begin.”

Waiting for me to draw the Holy Sword, the Shrine Maiden of the Cliff gave the starting signal.

――ZWAAAA.

The apostle emitted a piercing noise that hurt my ears.

At the same time, a ripple of yellow light flowed over the apostle’s surface.

It looked just like the purple ripple that appears when Arisa uses her unique skill.

――Fast.

Like Pochi’s instant movement, the apostle rushed toward me.

I was curious how heavy the downward strike from that height would be, but I had a bad feeling, so I dodged and slashed at the apostle’s leg.

――Huh?

That felt strange.

It was like cutting water — no resistance.

According to the AR display, the apostle’s HP gauge barely decreased.

Checking the details, the apostle was currently in a strengthened state called “Invincible Warrior (Champion).”

I still couldn’t see its level or skills, but these support states and gauges were normally visible.

“――Oops.”

I jumped to avoid a thrust from behind.

The apostle unleashed a combo of attacks that looked like its halberd had multiplied.

Unlike the apostle’s main body, the apostle’s halberd could be parried with the Holy Sword, so I carefully deflected the blows.

The speed of the halberd was comparable to Liza or Pochi’s, and the timing of the openings was like Tama’s, so it was quite difficult to handle.

Clearly, it was stronger than the apostles the palace knights fought in the Itachi Empire.

Probably, the “Invincible Warrior (Champion)” unique skill-like enhanced state was boosting the apostle.