◇

 

Kai: “Aya! Aya!! Wake up, Aya!!”

 

Kai shouted. However, his voice didn’t reach her. Aya, with her dim eyes, seemed to be smiling faintly as she looked at Kai.

 

Aya: “……fanaticism……no good……”

 

Kai checked Aya’s status and confirmed that she was in a state of fanaticism. This meant that it would not be resolved unless Merlin was knocked unconscious or died.

 

Merlin: “She can’t hear it. Your voice.”

Kai: “I won’t forgive you, Merlin. Don’t touch Aya, if you hurt her, I’ll never forgive you.”

Merlin: “Oh… then can you protect her? From me, the Dragon God, and…”

Arnold: “Gaaaaa!!!”

Merlin: “From your guys’ strongest.”

 

Arnold swung his fist at Kai, a fist of destruction aimed at taking his life, crushing the air.

 

This was the strongest fist.

 

Stronger and freer than anyone else. But the man was being manipulated. The man who should have lived the freest, had now lost his freedom.

 

Tyrant Arnold Alteus.

 

Kai: “…as if it wasn’t dangerous enough already.”

 

Kai dodged the fist and shifted his gaze to the dragonoid. He then checked its status.

 

—————————————-

Name: Dragon God Orphen

Magic Power: 2,000,000

Skills: Wind God, Dragon God Equipment

Attack Power: Reflection Rate ▶ 75% (+30%) = 2,100,000

Defense Power: Reflection Rate ▶ 75% (+30%) = 2,100,000

Agility: Reflection Rate ▶ 50% (+30%) = 1,400,000

Intelligence: Reflection Rate ▶ 50% (+30%) = 1,400,000

 

※All stats increased by 30% due to Dragon God Equipment effect

—————————————-

 

The dragonoid was the Dragon God. He had seen the King of Demons and the Emperor of Demons before. But this was a monster named a god representing the leader of its race.

 

It was no wonder Reina couldn’t win. Its status was monstrous, far surpassing even the now-stronger Kai. And in front of Kai was another monster, revealing its true power.

 

Merlin: “Hmm, Arnold. Kill him with all your strength from the start.”

 

Merlin ordered Arnold from behind. With his words, the same phenomenon as before occurred. His already armor-like muscles shone, and his hair stood on end. Just the aftershock of the magic power shattered the glass, turning the place into ruins in an instant.

 

Arnold: “Gaaaaaa!!!!!!!”

 

It happened in the moment of his scream.

 

—————————————-

Name: Arnold Alteus

State: Beast God Transformation (All Stats +30%)

Job: Berserker【True・Awakening】

Skills: Recovery Inhibition, Super Recovery, Beast God Transformation

Magic Power: 1,753,000

Attack Power: Reflection Rate ▶ 75% (+30%) = 1,840,650

Defense Power: Reflection Rate ▶ 75% (+30%) = 1,840,650

Agility: Reflection Rate ▶ 75% (+30%) = 1,840,650

Intelligence: Reflection Rate ▶ 25% (+30%) = 876,500

—————————————-

 

The Beast God showed its true form in this world.

 

Dragon God, Beast God, and the magician Merlin. These three stood in front of Kai. With Aya as a hostage, they forbade him from resisting.

 

Arnold: 『Die, boy.』

 

The fist of destruction tried to pierce Kai. Much faster than before, but Kai, with his golden eyes shining, predicted its movement and narrowly avoided it by jumping back. The impact obliterated the ground, collapsing surrounding buildings as if a meteor had fallen. Shibuya Scramble Crossing instantly turned into a mountain of rubble.

 

Merlin: “…Knight of God. Why are you resisting? You still don’t understand, do you?”

Kai: “What do you…”

 

It was when the dust settled from the impact. Merlin, glaring at Kai from beneath his robe, put pressure on Aya’s neck.

 

Kai: “Stop… Stop it, Merlin!!”

Merlin: “Haha! What, I won’t kill her yet. But maybe I’ll break one of her fingers. You still don’t seem to understand. Fortunately, there are ten fingers.”

 

Then Merlin grabbed one of Aya’s fingers.

 

Kai: “Wait!!”

Dragon God: “Gaaaaa!!!”

 

Kai, trying to save Aya, turned into lightning. But the moment he teleported in front of her, the Dragon God swung a fist at Kai. Kai had to distance himself from Aya again to avoid it.

 

The relentless pursuit of the dragon and the beast further distanced Kai from Aya.

 

Merlin: “Protect, protect! How utterly annoying! It’s nothing but weakness! The existence of those who protect is nothing but weakness! That’s why you’re in such a predicament now!”

 

Kai: “Kuh! Aya!! Wake up!! Aya!!”

 

Kai continued to dodge the fierce attacks of the Dragon God and Arnold, shouting at Aya. But his voice didn’t reach her. Kai, obstructed by the two, couldn’t reach Aya with his Lightning.

 

Merlin: “This is the proof! Imprint it well into those cursed Eyes of God, Knight of God!!!”

 

It was the moment Merlin was about to break Aya’s finger with all his might.

 

Kai: “You don’t understand the essence of protection at all!”

Arnold: “Gah!?”

 

Merlin was suddenly punched in the face from behind and sent flying.

 

Kai: “Eh?”

 

Kai caught it in the corner of his eye.

 

Unknown Speaker: “You don’t understand the essence of protection. To protect is to love. To love someone, join hands, help each other, coexist, and connect to the future. That’s how we, the weak, have survived in this world. You’re not alone. That’s the essence of protection, and as proof, you’re now sprawled on the ground.”

 

Kai: “C-Chairman Kagetora!!!”

 

It was Chairman Kagetora. Rolling up his sleeves, he struck Merlin with his powerful arm. However, Merlin stood up as if he hadn’t been damaged at all and stared at Chairman Kagetora.

 

Merlin: “Ah, the man called the Fist God. Ha! Just an insignificant fish that hasn’t even transcended. Getting cocky over a surprise blow!”

 

Merlin drew his sword from his waist. His status was several times that of the chairman’s.

 

Kai: “No, it’s no use! Chairman, your status! He’s nearly at a million! Run away!!”

 

Kai thought they were saved for a moment, but he immediately revised his thoughts and shouted.

 

With Chairman’s status, he couldn’t win against Merlin. Merlin’s magical power exceeded one million. The chairman could end up dead.

 

But Kagetora, steadying his breath, took a stance and calmly said to Kai.

 

Kagetora: “No need to worry. Kai, you defeat your own enemy. Besides, Kai, battle is not decided by status alone, especially not by mere numbers…”

 

Merlin: “Don’t underestimate me!! A human of the S-Rank bottom class!!! Magic power is absolute!!!”

 

Merlin’s sword swung down. An overwhelming status gap that could not be countered with mere strength.

 

However.

 

Kai: “Why? How?”

 

It was Merlin who was down.

 

The sword was dodged, and instead, it was Merlin who received a gut-wrenching punch. All the stats favored Merlin.

 

This was an overwhelming numerical difference.

 

In a game, it would be a difference that couldn’t be countered. But there’s something that status doesn’t account for.

 

Kagetora: “I don’t know who you are, but…”

 

There’s no item for effort.

 

The item of effort that comes from training, sweating, and refining skills.

 

Kagetora: “Only Kai is allowed to casually touch my grandchild.”

 

It’s not recorded in the status.

 

 

 

 

Afterword

 

Grandpa is the strongest! Grandpa is the strongest!!

 

Thanks to everyone, my new work is third in the daily rankings! It’s super fun to write, so please read it!

 

Twilight of Azure ~ The Story of Me, Who Has No Other Talent Than Gaming and Being A Shut-in, Defeating The World’s Best Pro Gamers and Even Saving The World~

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330652142356116