Infinite Dendrogram - Volume 17 - Chapter 2.5

Interlude: The Strongest Pieces on the Board

Event Area, North

Atop a small hill, there stood a multi-legged machine.

Having just fired, its muzzle was hot, releasing white smoke into the air.

It wasn’t a cannon, however. It possessed legs in the most literal sense, and the “muzzle” of its weapon was actually the end of its tail.

On top of that, the unit had pincers installed on its front, overall giving it the look of a mechanical scorpion. It was the very superweapon that had just brought down a participant using its magically charged particle cannon—a weapon dating back to the pre-ancient civilization.

“...A hit,” said the woman within the mechanical scorpion’s cockpit.

The upper half of her face was hidden by a visor that linked her to the scorpion, but it was still obvious that she thought very little of her kill.

“There is...no data on that enemy,” she said. “I saw both The Unbreakable and Black Crow in the lobby. It would’ve been great if that was them...”

She was a Dryfean Master.

Of course, this event had nothing to do with wars or any squabbles between countries. The participants came from all over the world.

Despite that, here was someone who looked at it from a different angle.

“I got no idea how good the reward is...but for Reinhard’s sake, I...should probably prevent it from ending up in Altar’s hands.”

Speaking the name of the imperator—as well as the person who did maintenance on her unit—she nodded to herself.

“I’ll aim for victory while still taking them down. Let’s go, Citrine.”

This was the woman who rode her cherished Prism Crawler No. 2—Citrine Obliterator.

Fifth in Dryfe’s kill rankings, she was Flow Princess, Juba—a pre-Superior from the imperium.

Event Area, Southeast

On an expansive plain, two Masters faced each other.

One was a bald man of rather advanced age with two different battle-axes on his back.

The other was a youth in a cowboy hat—someone who wouldn’t look out of place in a western film.

They sought each other out fully intent on fighting, but their hands were now completely still. Though their expressions were full of animosity, they seemed to have no intention of attacking each other.

“So, cowboy...you’re also participating in this event.”

“That’s my line, lumberjack. I thought I was lucky to be chosen, but it’s lookin’ like it might’ve been bad luck.”

Despite clearly not enjoying each other’s presence, they were actually not only part of the same country, but the same clan, as well.

“Stand aside, seventh. I will be the one to bring the reward to Lady Huili.”

“That’s another one of my lines. And this ain’t no arena, partner. I’ll crush ya, fifth rank or no.”

They were respectively the fifth and seventh in Huang He’s duel rankings, as well as two of the “Five Generals” of Huili’s Army of Fools—the empire’s top clan.

They competed in duels as well as in their contributions to Huili, who was said to be one of the most beautiful women in Infinite Dendrogram. Because of this, they had never gotten along.

It wasn’t uncommon to see them squabble just like this, making Xunyu often say things like, “Man, whY’s basically every one of our top duel rAnkers like this? Why can’t thEy be more like me and Cang?”

They threatened each other, but neither raised a hand to fight.

Though their clan leader allowed rivalries, sabotaging other members was forbidden, so neither of them was able to take action to remove the other from this event.

“Tch... Just drop out after clearing the path for me.”

“You really can’t stop stealing my lines, can ya?”

The two then turned around and went to search for other prey.

Fifth in Huang He’s duel rankings—King of Axes, Wan Zihao.

Seventh in Huang He’s duel rankings—King of Cowboys, Jamie Crescent.

They were both pre-Superiors from Huang He.

Event Area, South

“Hmmm-hm-hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm...” A woman was walking by a river while cheerfully humming the Japanese children’s song “Kagome Kagome.”

While her features were those of a proper noble lady, her expression was closer to that of a child overjoyed to go on a picnic. This contrast had a strange sort of charm to it, but that was where her charms ended.

Below her neck, under clothing that resembled an oddly modified kimono, there were countless scars, both large and small. Growing from her shoulders were two extra pairs of metal arms, which, combined with her own natural limbs, gave her a total of six.

Most importantly, she was surrounded by other participants who at that very moment were dying and becoming bits of light one after the next.

“AGHHHHHH...”

“S-STO—?!”

“GUHHH...”

There was death and blood all around her, yet her steps were light, as though she couldn’t be happier.

But suddenly, her smile vanished, she stopped humming, and turned around.

“Whooo is behiiind youuu nooow...? No one, it seems,” she said, sounding disappointed, with a serious expression on her face.

The only things left moving were her weapons.

“I was having so much fun that it ended before I could even finish the song,” she said. “How troubling that you would stop moving just because you are dead. Isn’t there at least one Death Soldier among you?”

Receiving no answer, she let out a regretful sigh.

“Hmm. Well, no matter. I will surely come across a strong individual if I merely keep on killing. After all, this is a festival with Masters from the world over,” she said, composing herself and cracking a smile again. “This is not the island full of those I know well. To be part of a murder spree as enthralling as this... It is only natural that it would uplift me as it has.”

Resuming her singing, the Asura of Tenchi began to stroll around the island.

Event Area, Middle

He said not a single word. Post-transportation, he’d realized that he was in the island’s central mountain that he’d seen on the screen.

Whether it was someone’s intention or by mere chance, he’d appeared close to the gate that served as the goal of the event. However, since there were none of the plate-dropping monsters nearby, he would have to go down the mountain to gather them.

Still, being here let him read the hint that was emblazoned on the gate itself.

Not saying a word, he chose to change his equipment right away. Since his gear was so well known, he’d taken it off in the lobby so as not to stand out.

Using Instant Wear, he switched to the full-body armor he usually wore. After changing, he did some meddling around the gate, then began walking away.

The footprints he left behind looked like those of a cartoonish bear.