ch441-ch460 · 445-ch445
Chapter 445: The Field Test
"It's done."
Not that Mia-san slapped it together overnight—procuring materials and whatnot took a few days—but she still had it finished in under a week.
"Folding-type, is it?"
Kasumi-san stares at the finished product in astonishment.
We'd planned for an assembly kit, but what Mia-san built was a shield with three side panels attached to the main shield, foldable for easy transport.
Transportable, I say—though it apparently weighs nearly four tons, so only Kasumi-san and Mia-san can lift it, and the main front section is out of spec too: two meters wide and over three meters long.
Well, appearance-wise it's exactly what it is: a steel plate.
As ordered, the front face has a reinforced-glass peephole.
There's also a grip positioned for easy enhancement by me, and a pole for Kasumi-san to lift and carry it from inside.
Step inside, and while it's not cramped, it does feel stifling.
With four of us in here, long sessions look impossible.
We'll have to go with an in-and-out mindset.
"The shield enhancement goes through with no problem......"
"First let's see how much attack it can take. Taking it to the 40s floors comes after."
"If there's anything you want fixed, say so."
In its charged-shield state, it even withstood Yukiya-san's hammer attack—so on durability, it passed, safe and sound.
Before Floor 48, I'd love to take one rocket hit—but where would we even get a rocket......
Well, 'Charge・Shield' can block just about anything except 【Dimension Slash】.
Even if an attack exceeds the 'shield enhancement's' capacity, releasing the MP charge lets it block once—and as for physical attacks, there's nothing it can't stop.
'Shield enhancement' may well be the strongest of ALL the enhancement skills.
Word is that even Ao-san's attacks stacked with four or five weapon enhancements leave not a scratch on Kaito-san's shield.
There's a fantasy that shields are simply hard, so the dungeon makes shield enhancement strong......
You see that kind of talk on the net all the time.
"This is an unexpected complication. Who knew it would feel HEAVY once the enhancement is on..."
As the testing went on, something unexpected came to light.
When I use 'Charge・Shield,' the effect of Kasumi-san's 【Equipment Weight Reduction】 weakens......
No, I knew about that part already.
Things under the influence of someone else's skill—our skills don't take on them, or take poorly.
Two people holding the same weapon together: the famous fact that you can't weapon-enhance it simultaneously.
The only one who can enhance it is whoever used 'Weapon Enhancement' first.
The same way, for my 'Armor Manipulation' to operate someone else's armor, the person wearing it must NOT be using 'Armor Enhancement' as a precondition.
Conversely, once I've put 'Armor Manipulation' on it, that person's 'Armor Enhancement' stops having an effect.
This time, Kasumi-san's 【Equipment Weight Reduction】 isn't nullified completely—it's only weakened. That's our one piece of luck......
Incidentally, weapon enhancement DOES have exceptions.
Those famous twin streamers had a video where they enhanced one weapon simultaneously to boost its power.
Then there are jobs like Aikawa's 【Dancer】, or the 【Enchanter】—skills built from the ground up to be cast on others.
Well, that's only natural......
"Want me to put tires on it? You could push it, at least—make it roll with a slight lift. More parts, sure, but better than nothing."
An improvement proposal from Mia-san, right away.
The sticking point is keeping it from getting blown away or flipped over......
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"Really, just the two of you?"
"Until its safety is confirmed, yes."
Durability testing and movement testing complete—next is the field test, so first we head to Floor 46.
Our level is 46 anyway, so it's just right.
Once it's proven completely safe, Kasumi-san won't object to power leveling either......
That depends on today's results.
"Mia-san, you're welcome to come along."
"Mmm-mmm-mmm."
"Not going! Get moving already!"
With Kasumi-san alone, transport looks like a struggle—another lifter would help a lot.
Well, that too waits until its safety is confirmed.
"【Gate】"
Destination: Floor 46—the spot where you come out of the 'Gate to Floor 45.'
About a kilometer and a half to the fortress, maybe?
No bow could plausibly reach this far, but staying alert is wise.
Which means I stand guard, and assembly is Kasumi-san's job.
"Done. Please, inside."
Inside the assembled box, we set off.
Movement is also Kasumi-san's job......
No, no, I AM properly standing guard, so I am working, you know?
Kasumi-san lifts the invincible box slightly and advances.
'Charge・Shield' isn't active yet at this point, so we make steady progress.
"Here they come! 'Charge・Shield,' going up."
Just under 300 meters from the fortress, the first bow attack comes flying.
"Ungh."
With 'Charge・Shield' engaged and the weight back, plus the impact of arrows on top, a sound escapes Kasumi-san.
"Kasumi-san, let's set it down once! This is where we test it first."
I wanted to close another 100 meters, but the castle gate is already clearly in view.
We're not moving over that way, so the position doesn't have to be exact—we can re-place it as many times as we like.
That said, 'Charge・Shield' is in use, so there IS a time limit.
My MP is a bit over 900, so roughly 450 seconds—within that window we have to lure the skeletons in and retreat......
"Then, pardon me—"
With that, Kasumi-san sets the invincible box down with a THUD, and—hugging me from behind—presses her attack on the front of the shield I'm touching.
"Wait, I haven't placed the 'Eye Gate' yet......"
And while we're at it, the anchor 'Left Hand Gate' isn't placed either.