Infinite Dendrogram - Volume 15 - Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen: Hero

September, 2044

On that day, the Babylonian Battlegroup was fighting a UBM on a plateau near the city of Claymill.

The clan was a force to be reckoned with, and many powerful UBMs had already fallen to them. In most cases, the MVP special rewards for those victories went either to Foltesla — their leader and the third in Altar’s duel rankings — or Shulka — the clan’s sub-leader who formed the backbone of the group.

However, things were different with the UBM they fought this day — Jetdragon, Valcan.

This monster was a landdragon that had mutated and gained the ability to fly at supersonic speeds by releasing the energy within it to propel itself, much like a rocket. Valcan fought primarily by combining the tough body of a landdragon with immense speed, creating fearsome charge attacks.

Since arriving in the area surrounding Claymill, this UBM had caused tremendous damage to the local ecosystem and greatly affected the lives of the citizens. That was why the Babylonian Battlegroup had set out to vanquish it, but that turned out to be easier said than done.

After all, Valcan was a landdragon that could freely fly through the air. Foltesla and Shulka’s attacks couldn’t reach it, any power-focused skills always missed, and those with skills focused on accuracy couldn’t penetrate its hard outer body.

Battles in Infinite Dendrogram were always strongly influenced by compatibility, and it seemed that the Babylonian Battlegroup as a whole stood no chance against Valcan...but there was one among them who was capable of battling the creature.

His name was Masked Riser.

His Embryo was still only in its fifth form, but its skills made it possible for Riser to briefly fly at supersonic speeds and deliver powerful attacks.

Because of that, the clan created a strategy centered around him, and the result was a resounding success.

Though the other members of the Babylonian Battlegroup were barely even able to touch the monster, they could still use their abilities to limit Valcan’s movement enough for Riser, fully buffed by Shulka, to deliver an attack that brought it down to the ground. This created an opportunity for the rest of them. Shulka used Lahmu to bind Valcan before it could take to the sky again, letting the others lay into it with everything they had.

When it was defeated, Riser was chosen as the MVP.

He himself was perplexed by this, but everyone else — the leaders included — believed that he richly deserved the award, and that was the end of the battle against Valcan.

However, Riser then found himself perplexed by something else entirely.

His MVP special reward — the first he’d ever gotten — wasn’t some powerful piece of gear, but a material.

“...What am I supposed to do with this?” he said, frowning beneath his mask. He was sitting in the lounge of his clan’s headquarters and staring at the object placed on the table — the item called “Compressed Remains of Jetdragon, Valcan.”

It was slightly larger than an adult man and looked like a statue of the dragon who had borne the same name.

Despite that, it was no doubt his MVP special reward: an MVP special material, to be precise.

The summoner grouping could use items of this kind as catalysts to summon weaker versions of the UBMs. The necromancer grouping could use them as remains to create undead. If any crafting jobs somehow managed to become MVPs, they could use the material in their production efforts.

As a result, this kind of MVP special reward often went to players with these kinds of jobs.

However, Riser was a fully battle-focused Master. Neither his build nor Embryo had any production capabilities, so there was nothing he could do with the Compressed Remains.

This was his first MVP special reward, but it was completely wasted on him.

“What’s wrong, Riser?”

“Leader...” Suddenly, he was approached by Foltesla.

“Oh, that’s the MVP reward you got yesterday,” the clan leader said. “You still haven’t asked someone to work on it?”

“Yes, it’s the reward... Wait, what do you mean ‘ask someone to work on it?’” Riser said, not sure if he actually heard that right.

“Hm? You didn’t know?” the leader said. “Other people can work on MVP special materials, but only the MVP who received it can use the final product.”

“Is that how it works?”

“Yeah. Totally battle-focused Masters only get material like this when they know someone who can work with it. I once got an MVP reward that could be turned into medicine and had my wife make it for me. I bet you know someone who can do something with this material too.”

“I see,” Riser said. A particular individual did indeed come to his mind immediately. “I’ll go and put in the request right away.”

“See you later, then,” said Foltesla. “Show me the final result, okay?”

The Fortress City of Claymill had been built several centuries ago as a defensive base. Because of that, it had a strong equipment production sector; supposedly, it had the most tians with crafting jobs of any city in Altar.

Riser brought the Compressed Remains to the workshop of one of the city’s most skilled craftsmen. He opened the door, looked at the many people hard at work, and said, “Excuse me, is Mr. Zola here?”

“Oh, well if it ain’t Riser! I’m here, laddie. What brings you in today? Your mask seems all right to me.”

An aging man polishing what looked like a piece of armor replied to Riser’s call. He was the exact person Riser had been looking for — High Armorsmith, Zola. The man was the owner of this workshop and spent day after day working alongside his apprentices there to fulfill many equipment requests from Masters and tians alike.

Riser had known Zola since shortly after he arrived at Claymill, which was more than two years ago by that point. The metal mask Riser was wearing right now — based on those worn by heroes from action-heavy tokusatsu shows — had been created by none other than Zola.

In the early days right after Infinite Dendrogram’s release, most Masters could only craft things based on designs that already existed. In order to create something that had no established recipe, one had to wait until exceptionally skilled craftsmen appeared or until some sort of technological innovation made the process easier.

The same principle applied to customization of existing designs. Even turning a standard full-face helm into a mask without compromising its stats required a skilled hand.

Creating an item that functioned like a metal full-face helm but looked like a mask worn by tokusatsu heroes was too challenging for the first wave of Masters, so Riser had no choice but to rely on a tian craftsman.

However, that came with its own problems.

In hindsight, Riser felt that he had been quite unreasonable back then.

I asked him to make me a hero mask when the concept of “tokusatsu” didn’t even exist here, he thought. The word “hero” only makes most tians think of “The Hero,” which was a Special Superior Job.

Because of that, he and Zola went through many clashes of opinion before they reached a mutual understanding and began making progress. After much experimentation based on Riser’s poor drawings, they eventually created the mask Riser wore now.

As Riser leveled up, he also had Zola create improved versions of the same mask design using better materials. They even had a Recipe for it now, making it easy to create replacements in case the mask was destroyed.

Through their many interactions during all this, Riser and Zola had become such good friends that he was even welcome to join the smith’s family and apprentices at his dinner table. There was no craftsman Riser trusted more, and he believed Zola was the perfect man for this job.

“I have a request,” Riser said, presenting the Compressed Remains and asking Zola to make equipment out of it.

“Hrm...” However, Zola didn’t seem too thrilled about it.

It looked like he was conflicted...even hesitant to accept this job.

“Lad... Wouldn’t it be better to get someone else to do this?” he asked.

“Why?”

“This material’s too much for me...simple as that,” he said, placing a hand on the headpiece of the remains. “I’ve heard of UBM special materials before, but it’s my first time seeing the real thing. Never worked with stuff this good. I’d be biting off more than I can chew.”

“But...”

“And...I ain’t a Superior Job,” Zola said with a sigh. “I’m just an everyday craftsman who can’t even reach max level. This is a one-of-a-kind material. Don’t leave it with me. You’re better off taking it to a Superior Job or a Master with an Embryo good for smithing.”

Unlike Masters, tians had individual differences in talent that could cap their level below 500.

Zola was well aware of the limits of his abilities and tried to refuse Riser’s request because he didn’t consider himself good enough. An unskilled craftsman would only waste the rare material, after all.

However, looking into Zola’s eyes, Riser also saw an artisan’s desire to create something truly unique.

Fully understanding the smith’s point, Riser...

“That doesn’t matter to me. I want you to create it.”

...refused to back down.

“I’m telling you — I’m not good enough...”

“Look at this mask,” Riser said as he pointed at his face. “You made this. On the other side, I got in an accident and had to give up on my dream of being an actor. But thanks to this mask, I can still be a hero in this world.”

At first, Riser’s reasons for creating the mask were rather negative.

He wanted a reminder of the dream he’d lost and the possibilities that were now out of his reach.

However, that changed when he had finally donned the first mask that Zola had created for him. It had reflected his dream so strongly that he found it dazzling, and as he wore it, he realized that he now had superhuman stats, a trusty Embryo to take into battle...and the face of a hero.

Instead of becoming a reminder of what he’d lost, the mask whispered to him that his dream was now within his grasp.

Thus, he resolved to become someone worthy of that mask.

He put it on, requested that Zola create a suit to go with it, and went out to act as a hero.

He protected people by fighting monsters and bandits, even going on regular patrols.

Both Masters and tians alike saw him as a weirdo.

In time, however, he found friends in Bishmal — who liked Riser’s style and joined him on his patrols — as well as Foltesla — who heard rumors about him and invited him to his clan.

And as he continued his activities, he eventually began to be called a hero.

Not “The Hero,” but just a friendly neighborhood hero — a champion of Claymill.

The mask that was supposed to be just a reminder of a dream he’d lost had given birth to a hero known as Masked Riser. And that was why...

“You’re the one I want to create the equipment I’ll use when I wear this mask...”

“Lad...”

...Riser insisted that Zola accept this task.

Zola hesitated at his earnest request for a second before saying, “I can’t say no to that! Just don’t complain if it turns out bad!”

The aged smith had accepted.

“All right! We’ll have to give it all we got! Lads! We’re starting with a sketch! Gather here once you’re all done with your tasks!”

“Got it, boss!” the apprentices replied, all with smiles on their faces. They also wanted to work on something made of MVP special material.

“Design comes first. That’s what’s most important for a hero, ain’t it, lad?” Zola asked.

“Oh, feel free to make it in a way that’s easier for you...”

“Don’t be an idiot! It’s gear for you and you alone! It’s gotta be all hero-like!” Zola laughed, poking at Riser’s chest. “Even though I dunno if we really understand what ‘hero-like’ means! We’ll make a bunch of designs at the workshop, so you come and choose whichever you like, all right, lad?”

“Okay... I’ll be looking forward to it!”

“You better!” And so, Zola and his apprentices took to designing the piece of equipment using Valcan’s remains.

It was an arduous task that took almost a whole month.

The result was Valcan Air — armor designed to impart the traits of the Jetdragon to its wearer. It was intended to be used alongside Riser’s Hermod and, perhaps most importantly, to look like the apparel of a hero.

In many aspects, it was the perfect armor for Riser...if it weren’t for a single flaw.

“Sorry...we messed up.”

The flaw was so big that Zola and his apprentices were crestfallen over it.

One of the skills the armor had was called “Destruction Resistance.”

MVP special rewards were supposed to have an auto-repair function that recreated them for the owner if they were destroyed, but Valcan Air was merely resistant to destruction.

That made it quite durable, of course, but it also meant that it couldn’t be repaired. It could even potentially be lost forever.

The remaining durability was actually displayed, so its limits were clearly visible. Once the durability was gone, it would break.

Some would say that this flaw alone made it far worse than any other items in its tier.

“I messed up the most important part...” Zola felt awful. If he’d been a better craftsman, he might’ve left behind a treasure that matched actual MVP special rewards — a power that could never be lost.

Riser’s reaction, however, wasn’t what Zola expected.

“No. This is perfect.”

“What...?”

“There are things that are precious because they may break someday.” Not everything lasted forever. There were some things that could break or be lost for all time. However, that also made those things all the more irreplaceable.

To Riser, this armor was as dazzling as the dream he’d lost.

“Lad... You like it?” Zola asked.

“I will treasure this armor...this suit of yours,” Riser replied without hesitation.

“...Ha ha hah!” After a brief silence, Zola laughed. “I see. Well, I’m glad the client likes it,” he said with a relieved expression and gave Riser a light hug. “All right, let’s celebrate a job well done with a party! Drinks are on me!”

His words were met with cheers from his apprentices.

“None of you mind if I bring along my wife and kids, right?”

“Of course not!” said Riser. All smiles, they went to call Zola’s family and set out into the evening-tinted city of Claymill.

They chatted and celebrated as they walked — the very picture of a simple, peaceful day-to-day life.

But that was then. Now...only one person from this image was still alive.

A month later, Claymill was attacked by the greatest calamity Altar had ever faced — Tri-Zenith Dragon, Gloria.

The people of Claymill, those that had loved Riser and called him a hero, were snuffed out by its devastating light.

◇

He’d lost his dream.

He’d lost people dear to him.

But there was still something he had.

It was...

◇◆◇

The Royal Capital of Altea, Fountain Plaza

“Ohohoh! Whatever is the matter? Your movements seem worse than before.”

The battle against Regina Apis Idea was turning against the defenders.

Regina redirected any damage done to her towards the Apis Ideas spread all over Altea, making them burst in an explosion that could potentially cause a great deal of damage.

The Queen’s Guard standing between them and Regina were a serious threat, as well. Having the Death Soldier job allowed them to move even after dying, giving them time to act before they finally exploded.

They used that time to either charge at Riser’s group or run towards nearby buildings like suicide bombers.

It was like they were holding the entire capital hostage. The defenders couldn’t recklessly attack Regina, so Riser’s party had no choice but to stay on the defensive.

As the battle wore on, Riser tried to find a way to win this.

Maybe we should use some kind of debuff? he thought.

They did have the option of using debuffs instead of attacks, like the White Field Gem he’d used against the Queen’s Guard. However, restricting Regina would probably change nothing. Even if she was Frozen or Petrified, the Apis Ideas would still move on their own and explode upon death.

There was even a chance that they would fight even more erratically and aggressively without an active leader, causing even more havoc inside the city. The Apis Ideas could only be stopped if Regina was defeated.

It might be possible to neutralize them with Charm...but not many people have that skill. Riser only knew of two people who used Charm: Catherine Kongou, the second in kill rankings, and Rook from Death Period.

He hadn’t seen the former in a while, and Rook was at the peace conference.

Spells like Death Sentence can kill without dealing damage...but putting them into circulation as Gems is against Altarian law, so I doubt that anyone here has those. Their options were limited — and even those limited options weren’t available. It seemed like they were completely powerless against this threat.

“R-Riser...” Kasumi whispered to him, Taijitu in hand. It seemed like she didn’t want Regina to hear what she was about to say. “I-I noticed something about the explosions.”

She pointed at the surface of the Taijitu and drew a circle before continuing.

“All the bee-men that exploded after the attack were within a radius of three kilometels from here...! The ones in the north were almost completely untouched.”

“Really...?!” Riser looked at the map and saw that indeed, the distribution of the Apis Ideas was uneven. When he’d looked at it before going to the fountain plaza, they were spread out more or less randomly. Now, there was a donut-shaped area centered around Regina where the Apis Ideas were more sparse.

That was clearly because they had exploded due to Colony for One — meaning that this area of about three kilometels was the skill’s active range.

It might have a long reach, but it was indeed limited. That knowledge alone was a blessing.

“We should be able to reduce the damage to Altea if we lure her away from here...!” said Kasumi. “But...”

“Thank you.”

“...That would be diffi—huh?” Kasumi realized that Riser had cut her off and thanked her before she was even able to finish her sentence.

He knew what she was trying to say.

Kasumi wanted to suggest taking Regina out of Altea while avoiding the Apis Ideas and preventing her from giving the order to destroy the city.

That would be difficult, no doubt — but Riser saw hope in Kasumi’s words.

He knew of something that would let him overcome this challenge. He still had an ace up his sleeve that would let him save the city.

All he had to do now...was gather his resolve and use it.

“...Zola,” he said as he took out a little cube — an inventory dedicated solely to the most precious objects.

Inside it, there was something irreplaceable. Something he cherished dearly.

It was a memento of people that were gone forever — a piece of equipment that had been through many battles and was currently at its utmost limit.

Even so...

“I’ll use this...one last time.”

Even so, Riser decided to equip it.

“And this time...I will protect everyone.”

He grasped the inventory and called its name out loud, even though he didn’t have to.

“Instant Wear...Valcan Air.”

A moment later, his gear changed.

He was now clad in armor reminiscent of a tokusatsu hero’s suit.

The parts that resembled Jetdragon’s propulsion truly gave him the appearance of a hero who had just assumed his powered-up form.

However, the suit was the opposite of pristine. Every armor piece was cracked, and several parts were missing, showing clearly just how many battles Valcan Air had survived.

“R-Riser!”

“Riser, you... That’s the...!” Lang and the other Babylonian Battlegroup members raised their voices in shock. They all knew just how precious Valcan Air was to him.

However, they didn’t stop him. It would surely break the next time it was used, but Riser equipped it regardless. As his long-time comrades, everyone present knew that he was truly resolved to end this.

“What is that? Such shabby armor! It isn’t beautiful at all,” Regina said, ridiculing Riser’s crumbling suit. “How dare you try to fight me with such an ugly appearance?”

“I am Riser,” he said. “Masked...Riser. A man who was called ‘a hero’ by those dear to him.”

Riser told her exactly what he held most dear — the proof of his dream.

“The Hero? Ohohohoho! Reveal tells me that you aren’t even a Superior Job. You could not be a worse liar if you tried...but even if you weren’t, The Hero is a loser!”

He was killed by King of Plagues, after all, and the fact made her burst into laughter.

Riser also felt something upon hearing the word “loser.”

He’d fallen against a mighty dragon without being able to protect the people he loved.

He’d run into an impassable wall in the arena rankings and then continually lost at the hands of those who outranked him.

He’d been slain during a battle which would decide the fate of Gideon, leaving more work for those who survived.

And just recently, he was defeated alongside his friend and Embryo before he could even go to the conference that would decide the fate of Altar.

He had many defeats to his name, and he felt powerless because of that.

Despite that, he had never once changed his attitude.

“So you truly believe that you can surpass someone as beautiful as me and an army as powerful as La Crima’s?” Regina said, sneering. Riser, however, seemed unfazed.

“It doesn’t matter who I am facing...”

He slowly increased the space between his legs.

“It doesn’t matter that I am not a Superior Job...”

He lowered his center of mass.

“It doesn’t matter how many times I am defeated...”

He moved his hands...

“I will never retreat.”

...and assumed a stance.

“Because...I AM THEIR HERO!”

In that moment, as he roared out his challenge, he had the aura of a true champion.

He’d lost his dream.

He’d lost people dear to him.

But there was one thing he still had.

It was...himself, the hero he knew he could be.

The ally of justice, who was always ready to protect the weak from the ravages of evil, was still here.

“I see that you are nothing but a fool,” said Regina. “Get out of my sight, and take your brazen attitude with you!”

She sent the Queen’s Guard to surround him.

Riser wasn’t able to break out of their assault — and if he tried, he’d likely cause a chain explosion.

This situation meant certain death for Riser...

“BOOST!”

...but he escaped it by flying away.

“What?!” Regina exclaimed as she watched Riser with surprise in her eyes.

Multiple parts of Riser’s suit were releasing white smoke, propelling him through the air.

“Boost” was the main trait of the Jetdragon, Valcan. Valcan Air, designed to work in tandem with Hermod, had inherited this trait.

Even though it was reaching the limit of its durability, it was still as effective as the craftsmen designed it to be.

“A-Apis Ideas! Stop this man!” said Regina as she went on the defensive, knowing that she was Riser’s target.

She couldn’t avoid contact with him, but all damage done to her would be transferred to the Apis Ideas.

Even if he tried to take her away from the city, away from her minions, they would stand in his way and stop him.

Regina was surprised that Riser had suddenly taken to the air, but she was still certain that she couldn’t be killed here.

However, it didn’t take long for that illusion to be shattered.

After all...Riser wasn’t planning on taking her outside the city.

“OAARGH!”

“Egh! Gh...?!” With a short roar, Riser instantly closed the distance to Regina and sank his right foot into her stomach.

He then kicked off the ground and twisted his body...

“Valcan Air... FULL BOOOOOOOST!”

...and swung that same foot towards the sky.

A moment later, all the propulsion engines on Valcan Air roared to life; Riser was rocketed upwards, taking Regina with him. The gear built by people he cherished freed him from the chains of gravity and rocketed him up to the sky.

“...Ghhh?! Y-You... What are you doing?!” They were heading straight up into the sky, almost perpendicular to the ground.

This was the quickest and simplest path outside the range of Colony for One and the range from which Regina could control the Apis Ideas.

Riser intended to defeat Regina high in the sky.

“Y-You... Get your ugly leg off of me...RIGHT NOW!” Regina quickly realized where this was going. Riser was soaring upward at an overwhelming speed — in the first few seconds alone, many Apis Ideas were already outside the range of Colony for One and even the range of her control entirely.

Eventually, she wouldn’t be able to redistribute any of the damage done to her and would finally be the one to die.

“I-I’m too beautiful to die like this!” Despite the boot sinking into her stomach and propelling her upwards, Regina was able to take out her weapon — a spear made of Mythical metal, as poisonous as the stingers of the Apis Ideas. She wasted no time in thrusting it at Riser’s head.

He had no way of dodging, and the spear struck him straight in the face.

“I did it...!” Regina exclaimed — only to realize that something wasn’t right just a moment later. “...Wait, huh?”

The mask made by the craftsmen of Claymill began to crack...but Riser himself was completely unscathed.

The mask was far less tough than the spear, but it somehow protected its wearer.

It was like a miracle the late craftsmen had left behind them.

“OOOOAAARRRRRGGHHH!”

“Gh...?!” With part of his mask shattered, Riser roared once again. Valcan Air accelerated, driving his foot even deeper and taking them both even higher.

Suddenly, Regina felt an intense pain in her stomach, forcing her to drop her spear. The reason why she actually felt pain in that moment was simple — they were now too far away from all her minions to distribute the damage to them.

“N-No! This...! Ghh...!” Spitting blood, Regina truly began to panic.

However, she wasn’t the only one.

This isn’t enough... We’re not high enough! Riser thought.

Valcan Air was crumbling, unable to withstand the power of its own propulsion.

However, Regina was still alive.

Soon they would begin to lose altitude, bringing Regina back to the range of Colony for One.

If that happened, all damage done to her would once again be distributed to the Apis Ideas, and that would be the end of Altea.

He’d already used the ace up his sleeve, so there was nothing that could —

“...Not yet!”

No...there was still one more thing.

“Come...!” It was something that had been with him ever since he’d appeared in this world.

It had been with him through thick and thin.

It was...

“HERMOOOOOOOOD!” Riser called, and his Embryo answered.

Recently destroyed by Chrono Crown, it was awakened once again.

Though inorganic and silent, it heard the call and returned to its Master.

It seemed both miraculous and inevitable at the same time — a true display of everything that an Embryo was.

And so, Riser, his Embryo, and his armor all moved as one and resumed the acceleration.

It was the ultimate flight, sustained by the power of Hermod, the crumbling Valcan Air, and Riser himself.

Their acceleration was so immense it felt like the world was falling away behind them.

“RISEEEEEEEERRR...” The air here was sparse, but since he still had just enough oxygen to speak, Riser used it to roar once more.

“SKYWAAAARRRD...” Delivering his final, strongest attack, he reached higher than ever before.

“KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!” And finally, like the true hero he was, he pierced straight through Regina’s body.

The rumbling of Hermod and Valcan Air were suddenly silenced as he left the world and its soundscape behind.

“No... No...”

Regina, however, was still within the realm of sound.

She had been split in two before she could reach that high.

None of her minions were close enough to prevent this fatal blow.

“Th-This is... I-I’m too beautiful to... Not here... Not now...” As her HP dropped to 0, there was a change in her body — it began to release a red light.

“Ahh... No... No...” She knew better than anyone what that meant.

It was the Insect General’s final skill, Even a Worm Will Burn.

She herself had been modified into an insectoid, so obviously it would work on her, as well.

“No... NO!” It was as though she was getting her just deserts for treating the once-human Apis Ideas like disposable objects.

“This... THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!” With that final scream, Regina Apis Idea detonated high in the Altarian sky.

Riser heard a faint explosion from far below him.

“...This time, I did protect them all,” the hero whispered right before his consciousness faded.

His face bore a pure expression of relief.