The Survival of an Inferior

Another Way

Lying alone in the endless sand, a few black armours stand out, popping out of the ocean of sand. The remnants of death have disappeared, leaving only heat and dryness in the air.

I approach the armour with each step sinking into the fine grains, imprinting my footsteps.

I pull the armour out and scoop the sand aside.

"There it is."

A wide red metal emerges from the golden pool. The Dragon Slayer I used to kill the commander.

Before I keep it in my storage ring, a thought comes to mind. I place my hand out, palm open, and grip as hard as possible.

Bam!

A small impact explodes. Muscles in my fingers burst with energy and vigour; I am several times stronger than my past self a year ago.

With a deep breath, I attempt to challenge the insurmountable. Hands wrapped around the grip, core tightened, fingers dug into the handle for leverage, and legs crouched. I channel mana through my body.

Using an eruption of force, I utilize every muscle tissue to lift the impenetrable weight.

"UGHHHHH..."

The greatsword slightly yields, rising from the ground.

"Huff huff huff..."

However, that's as far as it goes. I can only lift it to my chest.

I succumb to its defiance and let go, allowing it to crash back into the sand.

"Huff phew... I have a long way to go."

I turn to the armour. Despite a broken gorget, other parts are as good as new, and the materials can be foraged.

As I store the armour and greatsword in my storage ring, I ponder this dungeon.

Why do we need to defend this fortress? Why did everyone disappear? And...

Is there really an escape ticket? If the system wants me dead, it definitely won't supply one.

"Tch... damn it." I scratch my hair.

I empty my mind. It's time to return to square one.

There are two plausible methods I can execute at my level. One is to somehow escape through an escape ticket... the second is to beat the dungeon unconventionally, basically cheating.

Despite the searing heat waves, I sit on the sand and close my eyes.

The objective of the game is to defend the fortress. But why? Is there something in the fort that those monsters need to get?

Secondly, the monsters are too organized and separated and attack at predictable intervals. There are two answers to that phenomenon. The first is an alliance, and the second is taming control, similar to the beast horde I faced back at Elvis (Volume 1). The latter has a higher chance.

I glance back at the outline of the fortress on the horizon, a silhouette of an abandoned civilization.

The failing condition is the fall of the gate. It might be reasonable for other games, but "Elvis Arcane" stands out. Everything has a reason in "Elvis Arcane."

If the monsters want to destroy the city, the failing condition would be eradicating the fortress, not a mere fall of defence.

On the other hand, if the monsters want something in the city, the failing condition would be the critical item falling into the monsters' hands.

...

Why the gate?

Why? Why?

...