I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 712

713. [Side Story] Box Opening (7)

Actually, since I can adjust the stage configuration to my liking, I could have designated a much easier monster army.

Nevertheless, the reason I specifically designated the Wraith King’s army, a named monster, is simple.

‘To maximize the gains.’

Accumulating gains is like having insurance for later. So, when I can use this Royal Scepter cheat, I need to suck up as much honey as possible.

‘If I can impose a big penalty and drastically reduce combat power… it’s obviously more beneficial to face a strong, well-known foe.’

The stronger the enemy, the greater the stat reduction from the penalty.

Let’s choose a powerful army of monsters with established strategies and clear weaknesses to defeat.

That’s why I chose the Wraith King. He was the perfect opponent for all conditions.

‘But it feels a bit reckless. Our preparations aren’t complete either.’

Especially the walls and equipment.

It’s obviously impossible to repair the walls within the remaining week, and repairing damaged equipment isn’t easy either. In the case of completely lost equipment, it’s impossible to create new ones within a week.

So…

“Okay~ let’s open the boxes.”

I decided to finish opening the stage reward boxes that I had stopped doing last time.

If several complete items drop here, it would be a great help in the upcoming stage.

‘This time, the rewards are 1 EX-grade box and 8 SSR-grade boxes.’

I decided to open the SSR-grade boxes first.

‘Should I open them one by one, or all at once?’

After a moment of superstitious contemplation, I decided to just open them all at once.

Standing in front of the boxes, I unconsciously swallowed hard. How extravagant. Eight gold boxes, and I’m opening them all at once… it’s a luxury that won’t happen twice in my life…

‘My inner circle SSR god! No, my friend SSR god! You know my heart, right? You know you’re my best friend, right? Huh? So please!’

I’m asking for an amazing complete item bonanza-!

I made a wish and forcefully opened eight golden boxes at the same time. Did a cheat item drop-?!

Flash! Flash! Flash-!

Golden pillars of light rose from the boxes opened in a row. How can such a beautiful color exist in the world!

I rubbed my hands together and smacked my lips. What came out!

And the results were as follows:

[Rewards]

– Oath of Protection (SSR): 2

– Oath of Healing (SSR): 2

– Mountain Spirit’s Axe (SSR)

– Old God’s Husk (SSR)

– Heavenly Voice (SSR)

– Just You Wait and See (SSR)

There were some familiar items that I had seen a few times in the game, and some that I had never seen before. I blinked.

“Wait, a protection and healing set is dropping here?”

Two of each? Huh…

Both [Oath of Protection] and [Oath of Healing] are bracelets, and their effects can be summarized simply as follows:

[Oath of Protection]

– Heals a designated ally by the amount of damage I inflict on an enemy.

[Oath of Healing]

– Damages an enemy by the amount I heal a designated ally.

In other words, it’s a support equipment focused on healing a designated ally and fighting together.

It’s basically a set equipment, but two can be used by different heroes to help each other.

However, the true value of this equipment appears when both are worn by one person…

‘The equipment effects trigger a chain reaction with each other.’

So, if [Oath of Protection] heals an ally by the amount of damage I inflict on an enemy, [Oath of Healing] damages the enemy by that amount of healing, then [Oath of Protection] heals the ally again by that damage, and then [Oath of Healing] damages the enemy again by that amount of healing…

In this way, a miraculous perpetual motion is possible.

‘In reality, perpetual motion doesn’t work because there’s a limit to the amount of healing.’

The chain stops the moment the designated ally is fully healed, as there is no more room to heal.

And the damage inflicted on the enemy also gradually decreases during this chain due to the opponent’s defense or health limit.

Still, it’s a very fun piece of equipment if used well. In the game, if you got one set, you could see someone at the front line dealing damage, healing, and making a fuss all by themselves.

‘If there were no distance restrictions, I would have given it to Damian without question.’

Damian is our strongest frontline dealer and a unique healer who can heal from a distance. Looking at the options alone, it’s equipment that should be given to Damian right away.

But unfortunately, the effective range of this equipment is quite short. According to the equipment description, the effective range is about 10 meters. Whether it’s an ally or an enemy, healing or damage is only applied within 10 meters.

It’s not suitable for Damian, who needs to perform long-range designated marksman duties in a safe place.

‘Then I should give it to Zenith, the front-line healer.’

It’s possible to use this equipment even if you’re not a healer, but a healer can activate [Oath of Healing] first. Once you start healing, [Oath of Protection] will deal damage, and then [Oath of Healing] will heal again, a beautiful infinite loop.

Zenith basically wears divine armor and fights on the front lines, so she can start the combo in either direction. It’ll be a good fit.

‘……Wait a minute, though.’

Two sets came out. So, 2 [Oath of Protection] and 2 [Oath of Healing].

That means… wait a minute…

‘If two people each wear a set and designate each other as the target of the oath?’

As soon as one side heals an ally or damages an enemy, both of them can unleash an infinite power healing and damage storm…!

‘Wait? No, hold on. This is theoretically a cheat… no, it’s more than a cheat? Theoretically, isn’t this an infinite power × infinite power with crazy synergy?’

If the situation works out beautifully… a terrifying combo chain is theoretically possible.

I shuddered at the dizzying sensation, as if I had discovered an infinite combo in a fighting game. No, if this is left as is, the game will be ruined? Aren’t they patching it? Not recalling it? Really?

Then I’ll gladly take it for free!

‘Zenith, and… Rosetta. I’ll bring the two priests to the front lines.’

Both of them had enough stats to fight on the front lines, but since they were valuable healing resources, they were usually placed in a position slightly behind the front lines.

But if they each wear this set, it’s okay to throw them on the front lines. No, it’s only on the front lines that you can properly utilize this bizarre infinite combo set!

“……”

I was giggling with joy at this cheat equipment full of potential, but then I slowly wiped the smile off my face.

‘……To give away set items like this all at once again.’

What’s the reason?

I stared blankly at the sky, trying to guess the intention behind giving away equipment like this…

“Eh, whatever!”

And then I just let go of the thought.

At least the SSR god has never betrayed me so far. Let’s gratefully use the items given.

‘The other 4 items are all new… what are they?’

I started by examining the [Mountain Spirit’s Axe]. It was like a small hand axe. Its effect is…

[Mountain Spirit’s Axe]

– If dropped anywhere, three random spirits will appear and retrieve the axe. One of the three spirits can be summoned immediately. (Limited to once per day)

“This is another weird one.”

A rather funny piece of equipment came out.

Its attack power as a weapon was low, but there’s no need to look at the attack power for this kind of equipment. The special ability is everything.

In other words, it allows you to draw a random spirit once a day. Is this like a daily draw given as a login reward in a mobile game?

I thought it would be fun to give it to anyone, but when I looked at the detailed equipment description, there was a phrase that said, ‘The grade of the summoned spirit is affected by the user’s spirit affinity.’ Then the user is decided.

‘Hannibal, it’s yours.’

Hit the jackpot and summon the Spirit King. Although the probability seems extremely low…

After deciding on the owner of the [Mountain Spirit’s Axe].

I looked at the remaining items. What are their effects?

[Old God’s Husk]

– A crown made from the husk of a dead ancient god. When activated, it transforms the wearer into their prime for 3 turns. (Limited to once per stage)

[Heavenly Voice]

– A mouth covering worn by the heavenly choir. The user’s voice turns into a beautiful song, and it gives various buffs to allies.

[Just You Wait and See]

– A boomerang used by a legendary hunter. No matter where it’s thrown, it will always return to the user’s hand when the user wants. Equipment weighing below a certain limit can be additionally attached to the boomerang.

“Some more weirdos rolled out…”.

I have no idea how to use these pieces of equipment.

While I was wondering who to equip these items with to make them useful, I was startled. Wait a minute.

‘Come to think of it, this equipment… could it be…’

…Can captured monsters equip them?

In the last battle, the captured monster army that I had gathered and that Jackal had transferred was almost annihilated. But I didn’t lose everything.

The Kraken, which can be summoned once every 3 stages, is still there.

There’s also a tiny version of the Jormungandr that I captured this time.

And, I don’t know how they survived the chaos…

The Banshee Legion Commander and the Dullahan Legion Commander are also still in my captured monster subspace.

“……”

No, wait a minute. Think calmly. It’s a precious SSR-grade equipment. Even if captured monsters can equip equipment, is it really the right decision to give it to them?

‘Ha, but… this is too…’

The options are a perfect fit… It’s as if the items were specifically assigned like this for them…

“……”

I twitched my eyebrows and swept the equipment into my inventory. Let’s decide on this after testing.

“Okay, this is a good haul! Thank you, SSR god!”

Of course, the gacha show isn’t over yet. The last box, the highlight of today, is left. But I have to remember to give thanks in between so that the SSR god will be pleased.

After unnecessarily setting out a bowl of clear water and giving thanks, I carefully picked up the last box – the white, shining EX-grade box.

‘EX-grade box… I think I only got one after clearing the tutorial stage before.’

What came out then was the [Traitor’s Necklace] that I’m wearing around my neck now. It has functions like the achievement shop. It seems like there are other hidden functions as well.

Anyway, the fact that it’s EX-grade means that it’s used to refer to something ‘different’ outside of the existing grade system. The item that comes out here is likely to be something out of the ordinary.

‘It’s highly likely that it won’t be helpful in direct combat…’

But you never know, should I open it with some expectations?!

I took a deep breath and forcefully opened the box. SSR god… no, EX god! Please give me one cheat item that can completely destroy the game balance-!

Flash-!

And.

What came out of the box with a dazzling white light was a small-sized… ring.

“What is it?”

I narrowed my eyes and examined it closely.

[Imperial Seal Ring (EX)]

“Imperial Seal Ring…?”

An imperial seal refers to the seal that a king stamps, and a ring is… a ring.

Upon closer inspection, transparent magic was rippling on the top of the ring, changing its shape from moment to moment. Ah, if I stamp this ring somewhere, that pattern will be engraved.

This is called a Signet Ring, and it seems to be the imperial seal version of it.

‘So, what’s the function…’

When I looked at the item description in detail,

[Imperial Seal Ring (EX)]

– Can manifest power by gathering the will of the members of the organization it represents.

“Ooh…?”

An amazing explanation came out! It’s a bit abstract, so I’ll have to use it to know for sure.

‘But the organizations I represent… are quite a few…?’

As I was thinking, I put the ring on my right ring finger,

“Huh?”

The magic pattern engraved on the ring immediately changed.

The sword and rose, the symbol of the Empire, appeared, then changed to the fire-breathing dragon head, the symbol of the Bringer Duchy. Following that, it changed to the X mark, the symbol of Crossroads, and after a few more changes… finally, it changed to a plain black pattern with no decoration.

It’s the symbol of the World Protection Front.

“……”

I focused my consciousness on the ring. Then.

“……!”

I could intuitively understand how to use the ring.

I gaped. No, this kind of function is possible?!

In fact, even though I’ve been called a guardian god of humanity and gained divinity, I haven’t gained any visible power, so I haven’t really felt it… this ring was an equipment that concretized that part.

‘I… I haven’t realized it all this time.’

I covered my mouth with my right hand wearing the ring and shed a few tears of emotion.

‘Maybe I’m a cheat character now?!’

It was a comeback after a long time of humiliation and oppression. How much have I been scolded for not having combat talent and how much have I self-deprecating myself…

I clenched my right hand wearing the ring tightly. And I thought to myself.

Good! I’ll carry this defense battle!

***

And time flew by like an arrow, and a week later.

The morning of the 41st stage dawned.