YM778.TV Volume 9 Chapter 3 PaRT 8
Estoc of Petrifaction: One-handed Sword Skills: Add Petrifaction, Empty, Empty, Empty
When the light has finally subsided, the fusion has been successfully completed. So, this is a weapon called Estoc of Petrifaction, huh?
As for the Skill, it’s not 「Petrifaction」 but 「Add Petrifaction」. It’s probably because of the Kobold Skill Crystal.
「Ooh, as expected of Sherry. It’s a success.」
「It’s a success?」
「Yeah.」
I show the Estoc of Petrifaction to Vesta.
「It’s amazing.」
「It’s Sherry who’s amazing.」
Roxanne compliments Sherry. Sherry herself has a somewhat subtle expression about her face, because she knows that it was I who chose an equipment which was bound to succeed, for fusion.
「Well then, Roxanne will be using this sword for a while. For now, Miria will only be observing.」
「Are you sure?」
「Okay, desu.」
I pass the Estoc of Petrifaction to Roxanne. To acquire Assassin, you have to first be a Warrior Lv.30. Because I’ll be uneasy in having a Warrior Lv.1 fight monsters, I ask her to observe for the time being.
From our home, I warp us to the twentieth floor of Haruba’s Labyrinth and switch Miria’s Job from Diver Lv.35 to Warrior Lv.1.
「Sherry, swap places with Miria.」
「Understood.」
「Okay, desu.」
「Is there a meaning in having her observe from behind?」
Sherry is sharp as always. The reason as to why I’m having Miria observe for now is because I have switched her job to Warrior Lv.1. If I didn’t change her Job, Roxanne would be fighting with the Rapier.
「It’s important to observe the battles from behind every now and then. Miria, can you use a spear?」
「Use, desu.」
After successfully deceiving her, I hand the Holy Spear to Miria.
「Well, you could say that.」
Sherry nods vaguely and exchanges positions with Miria. After I forcibly end this topic, we kick the exploration off.
「Add Petrifaction」 Skill took unexpectedly long to succeed. It was not until the fourth group we have encountered that the monster has been petrified. The Hat Bat that received Roxanne’s attack falls onto the ground.
「Ah!」
「Fell, desu.」
Roxanne and Miria shout at the same time. Miria seems to be observing Roxanne’s fighting style well, but I doubt she can use it as a reference.
The hat bat is lying on the ground, still. It does seem to have been petrified.
「What happens when you get petrified?」
「You become as hard as stone. Consequently, you become resistant to physical attacks. However, you become vulnerable to magic attacks.」
While listening to Sherry, I swap places with Roxanne and send her in the back.
So, even if it has been petrified, it has to be finished off? 「Add Petrifaction」 Skill won’t be as effective for a Party with no Mage in it.
I cast 「Firestorm」. As expected, the flames engulf the hat bat lying on the ground unmoved. Although it has to be finished off even if it has been petrified, for it to receive an attack like that is convenient.
This Skill is indeed great.
However, when it comes to the chance of inflicting petrifaction, it’s not that great. Roxanne has attacked a dozen of times, and the probability of it triggering is definitely low, that much I can say. About same as Vesta’s critical strike.
I burn two Rub Shrubs to dust. Thereafter, I finish the still Hat Bat with a 「Breeze ball」. Although it dodges attacks a lot, because it was unable to move, the attack was a bullseye.
「So it becomes like this when it gets petrified.」
「Unlike paralysis, it can’t recover naturally if it’s petrified.」
「White, desu.」 「Really?」
Everyone watches the hat bat curiously as I poke it with the spear. When it gets petrified, does it turn white? I don’t get it.
「Roxanne, you wanna try once more?」
After I dispose off the Hat Bat, I ask Roxanne.
「Not at all, it’s enough for me. Thank you very much.」
「You wanna try, Sherry?」
「I’m not used to one-handed swords.」
Sherry doesn’t seem to be interested either. I thought she was interested since she seemed curious but it doesn’t seem to be so.
「Well then, Roxanne. The chance of inflicting petrifaction doesn’t seem to be high. It’s for the sake of confirmation.」
「Umm, is it an experiment?」
「Correct.」
「Understood.」
It’s not really for the sake of confirmation. I can confirm the probability with the Warrior Miria, too. However, she’s only Warrior Lv.5 at the moment, so I want you to keep at it for a while.
There’s another option. I can switch Roxanne’s Job to Assassin, but I won’t do that, because her Assassin job is only Lv.1, so it’d be risky.
Since Job effects are shared by all Party Members, I can’t afford to drop levels of more than one member, and Vesta’s Dragon Knight Job is still at Lv.24.
I leave the Estoc of Petrifaction with Roxanne and carry on hunting. As for the second monster to get petrified, it was once again a Hat Bat.
The petrified Hat Bat drops down. A lone Rub Shrub remains, so I switch to 「Firestorm」. Roxanne and Vesta surround the rub shrub. Sherry and Miria thrust their spears from a distance.
Earlier, I was using 「Breeze Storm to get rid of the Hat Bat, for it’s more difficult to handle owing to its movement.」
Because it’s a troublesome monster, Roxanne was keeping it company. Because it’s a troublesome monster, I was using the magic it’s weak against. Now that it’s down, there’s no need.
Roxanne’s and the Estoc of Petrifaction’s compatibility doesn’t seem to be high.
When I was making the decision, I didn’t think it that far. I’m glad that I decided to have it made for Miria in the end.
I take a step back and cast another Spell.
Although I had switched to Fire Magic, the Hat Bat turned into smoke nevertheless. proving that it becomes vulnerable to magic attacks when it gets petrified.
I finish the remaining Rub Shrub with a Fireball.
「In case of a weapon capable of inflicting abnormal status, choosing the enemies is difficult.」
As you would expect from Sherry. She has identified the demerit of the Estoc of Petrifaction. But can it really be called a demerit? It’s more a matter of luxury.
「It would be more effective if a dragon knight were to dual wield. I agree now.」
「I see. It may indeed be true.」
「Is that really so?」
Vesta still doesn’t seem to get it. Because it’s necessary, I’ll have to explain it.
「For example, we encounter a group of two Rub Shrubs and one Hat Bat. I will use fire spells, it being the weakness of the Rub Shrubs. Ideally, in this case, I would like to petrify the Hat Bat because even if I petrified a Rub Shrub, I would still use the same number of fire spells. If I petrify the Hat Bat, however, it will make it considerably easier. Do you get it?」
「Yes.」
The next petrifaction didn’t take too long. Roxanne still had to attack over twenty times, though. The chance of inflicting petrifaction really is low. You could consider successful petrifaction a godsend. So, as you would expect, successive petrifaction is impossible.
First, you can only target one of the monsters from a group. Even then, it’s not a surety that they’ll get petrified. If you aim for more monsters, it’ll only slow the process down.
After I make sure that Roxanne has translated it all to Miria, we proceed.
「If we come across a group of two Hat Bats and one Rub Shrub, since Hat Bats need to be taken out first, which one would you like me to petrify?」
「Rub Shrub.」
「Okay, I’ll petrify the Rub Shrub then. In other words, if there are two swords capable of inflicting abnormal status, two people of ordinary Jobs will be required to use the swords. However, if there is a Dragon Knight, they will be able to use both the swords alone. If two people were to attack the same target, it would be a distributed attack. However, if a Dragon Knight were to attack alone, it would be a concentrated attack, hence easier for them to petrify the target.」
「Ah, I see. That is indeed true.」
To give a Dragon Knight two swords capable to inflicting abnormal statuses is the most optimal solution, right?
Assassin job seems to be rare.
「Still, I’ll stick to my decision of having Miria use it. Miria can choose the monster herself. However, it will also depend on the formation of the vanguard. Therefore, choosing a monster will not always be possible.」
「I see. Understood.」
「Do, desu.」
「I think it’ll be alright.」
Issuing instructions every time is bothersome. Leaving it all to them is much easier.
Experiencing life and death situations inside the Labyrinth will surely help Miria learn and grow quickly, making her understand fish isn’t everything.