Arcane Sniper

Chapter 987

『Escape from the Abyss』

Description: “The fact that you provided me with a new and fresh blood, one that no one else could procure, indicates that you possess remarkable abilities as a Bearer.

However, I must admit that my own power is undeniably infused in that task’s execution. Hehehe… I am curious to witness your true strength. Do you possess the courage and will to crawl out of the abyss with your bare hands? Are you prepared to walk a path far more perilous than this frivolous test? Thus… I shall face you directly!”

Black Bass sought to establish a perfect trust relationship with the person handling it. It anthropomorphized itself in this world of illusion to try and kill you.

Before anything else, you must eliminate the ‘Anthropomorphized Black Bass’. However, anticipate dangers far beyond predictable realms in a world before the continent’s division.

Objective: Eliminate the ‘Anthropomorphized Black Bass’.

Reward: ?

Condition for Failure: Death

Upon Failure: Current usage of Black Bass

Do you accept?

“… Simple. But isn’t it a bit much to say that your power is included in this, black?”

What exactly did you do!

Leeha felt a flash of anger but did not voice it.

The truth was that as a Musketeer, a job with relatively few skills, he had overcome difficult moments using the skills attached to Black Bass.

Skills such as ‘Mana Clairvoyance’, the best stealth skill ‘Camouflage’, the ‘Mana Vaporizing Shot’ that easily neutralized enemies, and others like ‘Multi-Warhead Shot’ or ‘Ghost in the Shell’.

‘It was the same when capturing Toon… and when blowing off Chiyou’s head. Those skills were indispensable.’

However, this quest appeared to limit the use of those skills.

But Black Bass’s skills were not Leeha’s only assets.

If there were no penalties attached to the use of various spirit skills, wouldn’t it be doable?

“So if I defeat you when you’ve turned into a human, you’ll acknowledge me?”

―Indeed. Undoubtedly, the Bearer would become a user fitting my power.―

“Damn, already calling me ‘Bearer’… And one more condition must be… It means death by not only you, black, but all monsters, right?”

Leeha cautiously confirmed.

It had been described in the quest’s explanation.

‘This is a world before the continent split.’

Back when God and the Devil still remained in Middle Earth, essentially like a primordial era.

Leeha assumed there would undoubtedly be ferocious monsters swarming.

‘That must be the trap. Hehe, with all the time I’ve spent in Middle Earth, I wouldn’t fall for such a thing.’

Thus, the quest failure condition must be death in general, not just death by Black Bass.

Black Bass confirmed Leeha’s confident voice.

―Jellypong’s protection is also prohibited.―

“Well, right. It’s hardly a skill anyway. Okay, I agree. And―.”

Swooosh!

“Wha…?”

Something suddenly popped up beside Leeha as he negotiated quest particulars with Black Bass.

Though surprised, Leeha noticed they too were looking at him with startled eyes.

“Hmm? Why did you suddenly appear here…?”

“What? Leeha?”

“Kidd? Luger? Where were you?”

Kidd and Luger had been sucked into this place alongside Leeha. They silently shifted their gazes between him and Black Bass.

Black Bass’s bolt flickered intermittently.

―Hehehe… The Cobalt Blue Python and crimson geckos remain incomplete. Their users too are unprepared.―

“What- Ah. Ahhh, couldn’t they charge something like their completion rates?”

At Leeha’s words, Luger and Kidd showed bitter expressions. This confirmed that Leeha had progressed rapidly.

Just as Leeha was about to tease them, Black Bass spoke.

―Yet they have acknowledged their own Bearers.―

“Wha… Huh? How!? You said they didn’t reach 100% charge!”

Leeha understood Black Bass’s words in an instant.

Even if they hadn’t fully met the charge rate that corresponded to Black Bass, the recognition of Kidd and Luger by Crimson Geckos and Cobalt Blue Pythons was significant!

This stance of recognizing and permitting passage through the quest was starkly different compared to Black Bass!

“It’s unfair! Why just me―.”

“Well, isn’t it the bond of someone who cherishes their rifle?”

“Hmph, you just got lucky and increased your absorption rate quickly. Isn’t Black Bass a sniper rifle? How can a sniper not even handle a sniper rifle properly yet?”

“What? That’s not true! I’m already….”

―If that’s the case, then I’ll heed the words of the Cobalt Blue Python and the Crimson Geckos. To devour everything, the cooperation of those who have separated from me is essential. Hehe… What will you do, the one marked by them? Will you take the test with Ha Leeha?―

Leeha looked at Black Bass with a resentful gaze as it interrupted his words.

Despite being the practical owner of Black Bass, no one was paying attention to his words.

‘Whether it’s this guy or that guy, is what I say just a town square drum?’

However, there was no time to grumble.

Content: Defeat the “Anthropomorphized Black Bass”

Reward: ?

Condition for Failure: All three die

Penalty on Failure: ?

The quest window had changed, and Luger and Kidd were staring blankly into space. The quest window that appeared to Leeha would also be visible to them.

‘It turned into a cooperative quest. The content is the same. The failure condition is lenient enough at this point.’

If all three died, it would be over? That meant that Black Bass would face all three at once.

The change in the penalty for failure could be interpreted as an intention to give separate penalties suitable to Kidd and Luger.

For Leeha, it remained fixed as “using Black Bass in the current situation.”

‘It’s been a while since a quest with nothing to lose. Well, getting here was nearly impossible, anyway.’

They turned their gazes from the quest window to Leeha for a moment.

As Leeha had somewhat interpreted, Luger and Kidd were also characters familiar with Middle Earth.

Predicting the quest’s success wasn’t much of a problem.

“Are you confident?”

“Well, I could do it on my own but—if you’re willing to help, I won’t refuse.”

“Hmph, there’s no way a guy like you can do this alone without our help. Shut up and accept. I will, you arrogant rifle.”

Luger was the first to press the accept button.

Just as Leeha was about to retort Luger’s words, Kidd also pressed the accept button. Kidd hadn’t hesitated much from the beginning.

‘With these two…’

What could be the problem?

Seeing Kidd’s smile, the anger of Leeha slowly subsided.

Despite pretending not to like each other, the bond of the Three Musketeers was far stronger.

In a situation where they all sufficiently recognized each other’s skills, Leeha also pressed the accept button.

“Alright, black. The three of us will… kill the illusion of you.”

As soon as Leeha finished speaking, a powerful light began to emanate from the bolt of Black Bass.

When the light, sufficient to completely cover the vision, exploded.

The three stood firmly on the ground.

This was before God and the mages had their final bet, in Middle Earth.

“Wow… This is…”

Leeha looked around. A much murkier atmosphere than usual greeted them.

The trees, the grass, even the distant cries were all things they experienced for the first time.

“Fate certainly smiled on you, you fool. First, check your weapon.”

“That was my plan, alright? Anyway, people can be so uptight. All we need to do for this quest is capture Black Bass, with the three of us—.”

Leeha grumbled at Luger, patting his own back. There was a comforting weight of the rifle strapped to it, which allowed him to confidently survey his surroundings.

Since they were in a place they would never experience again, it seemed apt to activate the recording function and thoroughly enjoy such an environment, which embodied the fun of Middle Earth.

“—Hey, what is this?”

However, the rifle felt different than usual. Specifically, he could feel another elongated object beside the gun barrel.

“W-wait a second. What’s going on? No, no!”

“… Even after reading the quest window, you failed to realize? Black Bass clearly stated that this quest requires bare hands.”

Kidd shook his head as he witnessed Leeha’s frantic behavior.

“Ha! I knew you’d do that, you blockhead. Were you seriously thinking of taking on Black Bass with a modern rifle? Hilarious! Even foolishness has its limits!”

Luger chuckled, ridiculing Leeha.

Yet Luger’s expression, as he loaded his weapon, was far from bright. The gun he was fiddling with wasn’t the 〈Cobalt Blue Python〉.

Having taken out some iron balls, he inserted them into the muzzle, pushing them in with the ramrod.

Kidd, similarly, was doing the same. However, Kidd’s weapon was a modified pistol with the barrel part cut off, making the loading process easier for him than for Luger.

“By the way, Kidd, why are you using pistols? And two of them?”

“It’s due to the trait of ‘Crimson Geckos’, isn’t it?”

Indeed, loading two pistols required some time. At this moment, the only one maintaining composure was Kidd. Even though Luger growled, his confidence seemed considerably shaken.

“Damn it, they couldn’t at least give me a weapon I can load. With this stupid musket—”

“No, it’s more likely shaped like the weapon you used during the ‘Trait Test’. If they truly intended to emulate ‘Crimson Geckos’, wouldn’t I have received four weapons as well?”

“Kuh—back then, at least, it was something much better than this!”

“… Even if you used high or special-grade items back then, at level 10, it wouldn’t have made much difference here.”

“I know that! Hey, Ha Leeha! How long are you going to sit around?”

Leeha glanced at Kidd and Luger, feeling disheartened. Was that what it meant?

『Thus, I wish to see your true might. Do you possess the courage and resolve to emerge from the abyss with bare hands?』

“So, it wasn’t about sealing Black Bass’s skills… it meant you can’t use Black Bass at all?”

It wasn’t just Black Bass but also the Cobalt Blue Python and Crimson Geckos. Ego Weapons, which defined the Three Musketeers’ features, were completely absent here. All that remained was the musket.

Luger’s unease, grumbling about having used something better, was entirely reasonable.

〈Trial Musket〉

Attack Power: 233

Range: 40m

Attack Speed: 1 shot per minute

Requirements: Strength 10 or higher, agility 10 or higher, black Powder, iron Ball, ramrod

Description: One bullet, one life — whether it’s your enemy or you.

“This…isn’t this the one used during the job advancement test?”

The test item for advancement. Did Black Bass intend to conduct a test by issuing a test item?

Regardless, that was not the most pressing matter. All items had been provided, and the die was cast.

They had to capture the 〈Anthropomorphized Black Bass〉 with the 〈Trial Musket〉. All within the primordial atmosphere exuding from the primordial world of Middle Earth.