Is My Main God Miyazaki Hidetaka?
The Carian Knight's assault was fierce and direct. The knight's sword traced a cold path through the air, its tip pointed straight for Lynn's throat.
Lynn didn't dodge. Instead, he took a step forward, raising the Bloodhound's Fang to parry.
Clang—!
The screech of metal on metal shook the courtyard, sending sparks flying in every direction. Lynn felt a massive surge of force travel through the blade, enough to crack the stone slabs beneath his feet.
With his Level 2 physique bolstered by Godrick's Great Rune, he managed to take the hit with only a slight stagger, though the impact left his arm feeling numb. The Carian Knight was a true "stat monster," possessing a physical power that slightly eclipsed even Lynn's current state.
The opponent didn't pause. The silver heater shield in its left hand followed up immediately with a shield bash aimed squarely at Lynn's face.
"Damn it! Since when did you learn that move?!"
Startled, Lynn pushed off with his left foot, leaning his body back to narrowly avoid the horizontal sweep of the shield. Simultaneously, he flicked his wrist, the Bloodhound's Fang sweeping upward from below to pierce the knight's armpit.
However, the knight's reactions were faster. The shield spun in the air with an eerie fluidity, accurately intercepting Lynn's blade.
Thud!
The tip of the sword collided with the shield face, producing a muffled boom that forced the knight back half a step. Seizing the momentum, Lynn activated his weapon skill, "Bloodhound's Step." His body turned into a blur, instantly repositioning himself at the knight's flank.
The Bloodhound's Fang struck out like a viper's tongue, aiming for the knight's waist.
Clink!
The knight's reaction speed was staggering. As if it had eyes in the back of its head, it brought its sword back to its waist, parrying Lynn's ambush. The blade and the sword ground against each other, emitting a piercing screech.
Lynn's eyes narrowed. This knight was a truly tough nut to crack. Beyond its raw attributes, its combat technique far surpassed the apprentices from before. Moreover, its pattern wasn't rigid; it was filled with the fluidity of experience and unpredictability. It was even more formidable than the one in the Lands Between.
"Again!"
He growled, unleashing an assault like a torrential downpour. The Bloodhound's Fang danced in the air, creating silver arcs of light. Every slash carried the weight of the wind, aimed at the knight's vitals.
The knight responded with composed precision. The knight's sword and silver shield worked in perfect harmony. Its strikes alternated between slashes and thrusts, parries and blocks, while the shield functioned as both a wall and a secondary weapon.
For a time, the courtyard was a chaos of flashing steel and flying sparks. Lynn's attacks grew faster and more cunning. He pushed the experience of a thousand life-and-death battles from the Lands Between to its limit, each strike carrying a prediction of the enemy's next move, each dodge perfectly utilizing his invincibility frames.
The knight's movements grew heavier. Though it remained accurate, a hint of fatigue began to show in its stance.
"Now!"
Lynn seized a microscopic opening. After blocking one of Lynn's heavy overhead slashes, the knight's center of gravity shifted upward for a fraction of a second. Lynn suddenly retracted his blade, spinning his body like a top as his left foot lashed out toward the knight's knee.
Bang!
The kick carried Lynn's full strength, connecting solidly with the knight's left knee joint.
Crack!
The sound of breaking bone was unmistakable. The knight's body stiffened; its left leg lost its support, and it collapsed onto one knee. Without a moment's hesitation, Lynn brought the Bloodhound's Fang down in a heavy vertical strike aimed at the knight's helmet!
Vroom—!
The moment before the blade connected, the knight's left hand shot upward. The silver heater shield caught the blow, the frost patterns on its surface igniting with light as it executed a powerful sweep.
A Parry! Lynn's heart hammered.
Clang—!
With a thunderous ring, the Bloodhound's Fang was locked firmly against the shield. A powerful riposte force traveled back through the blade, leaving Lynn's arm vibrating. Using the momentum of the recoil, the knight leaned back and thrust its sword upward, aiming for Lynn's chin.
The move was fast and vicious. Lynn couldn't dodge completely and could only jerk his head to the side.
Sshhh—!
The cold blade grazed Lynn's cheek, leaving a bloody trail. The searing magical energy even singed a few strands of his hair.
"Close call!" Lynn cursed under his breath, performing a backward roll to reset the distance. One more mistake and he would have been sent back to the Site of Grace to restart the whole run.
The knight stood back up. Though it walked with a slight limp in its left leg, its combat capability didn't seem diminished. The knight's sword began to glow with blue light again as mana surged around it. It raised the sword above its head, assuming a posture that looked suspiciously like a certain "Ex-calibur" stance.
"Great... Caria!"
The knight let out a low growl. A massive blade composed of pure magical energy manifested from the sword, radiating a powerful pressure that sent ripples of air outward. In just two breaths, the magic greatsword had extended beyond ten meters!
No way! Since when was Carian Grandeur this big? Did they buff this knight that much?!
Seeing the scale of the attack, Lynn didn't dare block it. He began to sprint toward the side. But to his horror, as he moved, the knight's magic blade suddenly shifted from a vertical slam to a horizontal sweep!
Did you go and take lessons from Rellana or something?!
Lynn barely had time to react. Driven by pure instinct, he rolled. In the split second the blade brushed past him, he entered his invincibility frames. He escaped the brunt of it, but a shallow wound still opened across his side.
However, now was not the time to cry about pain. Having finished the massive attack, the Carian Knight was stuck in its recovery animation.
Lynn let out a roar and lunged. The Bloodhound's Fang struck out like lightning, aimed straight for the wound on the knight's left leg!
Squelch!
The tip of the blade buried itself in the injury, the intense pain making the knight's body shudder. Lynn didn't stop there. He grabbed the knight's shoulder with his left hand, used his body weight to yank the knight backward, and twisted the Bloodhound's Fang inside the wound before ripping it out.
The blade carried a spiral force as it swept upward from below, slashing across the knight's chest.
Crash!
The knight's armor was torn open by the edge of the Bloodhound's Fang, and a deep, bone-exposing wound appeared on its chest. Yet, the Carian Knight's vitality was extraordinary; it didn't fall. Instead, it let out a low, guttural roar.
"Stay down!"
With a ruthless glint in his eyes, Lynn charged again. He abandoned the slash, instead slamming his body into the knight while his left hand shot out like a bolt of lightning to grab the silver heater shield.
The knight tried to resist, but Lynn's momentum was too great.
"Die!"
Lynn roared, twisting his body and using a clever levering motion to wrench the shield from the knight's grasp. Deprived of its shield, the Carian Knight instantly lost its balance, its body swaying precariously.
"Critical Hit!"
Lynn gave it no chance. The Bloodhound's Fang thrust forward, accurately piercing through the knight's visor.
Squelch!
Blue light erupted from within the knight, consuming it instantly.
[Runes Acquired: 3000]
Gasping for air, Lynn pulled the Bloodhound's Fang from the ground and casually flicked the residual light from the blade.
"Finally over." He looked at the blue motes of light slowly fading on the ground, a sense of profound satisfaction welling up in his chest.
[Obtained: Carian Knight's Shield x1]
Lynn leaned down to pick up the silver heater shield. It was heavy and radiated a deep chill. The frost patterns carved into the surface looked exceptionally exquisite under the pale blue light.
"This thing is leagues better than my raggedy buckler."
Lynn weighed it in his hand, a small smile appearing on his face. Without hesitation, he tossed his old, battered shield aside and equipped the brand-new Carian Knight's Shield. Its size was perfect—providing excellent protection without being overly cumbersome. With this, Lynn felt his defensive capabilities jump to a whole new level.
"Yeah, that's some solid security." He nodded in satisfaction, tapping the shield face. It produced a muffled, pleasant ring.
A shame the knight's sword didn't drop, though.
After sorting through his loot, Lynn looked around for the next clue. As he was thinking, a wave of exhaustion hit him. Though the duel with the Carian Knight had been exhilarating, the high mental concentration and intense physical exertion had taken their toll.
"Time to find a place to rest," Lynn whispered.
His gaze swept the edge of the courtyard and soon found an inconspicuous corner. There, a faint beam of light burned quietly—a lantern waiting for a traveler.
"A Grace!" Lynn's eyes lit up. He knew there had to be one after a fight like that.
He walked over and sat down by the Site of Grace, leaning his back against a relatively flat rock. The light of the Grace wasn't strong, yet it radiated a warm, comfortable aura that seemed to wash away the road-weariness. Lynn closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling every muscle in his body slowly relax in the warmth. The wound on his side fully healed within a few breaths.
When Lynn opened his eyes, he felt refreshed, as if the fierce battle had never happened. Not only was his physical strength fully restored, but his mental state had also reached a peak of clarity.
"That feels incredible."
He knew the trial wouldn't end this simply. The Carian Knight was just a gatekeeper; there was bound to be a boss fight ahead.
Once he had finished resting, Lynn clapped his hands and stood up. He looked around again, his gaze finally locking onto a grand archway at the front of the circular courtyard. This gate was taller than any he had entered before. It lacked the twin-moon insignia; instead, it featured complex patterns of stars and flowing light, as if it led to a mysterious galaxy.
"Yeah, with this kind of grandeur, it's definitely a Boss Room."
Lynn rubbed his chin, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes. He pushed open the archway and stepped inside.
Behind the gate was not the dark passage he expected, but an absurdly spacious classroom. The layout was peculiar—no podium, only rows of semi-circular stone benches. Every seat was several times larger than a normal chair, as if tailored for giants. The ceiling was impossibly high, embedded with countless flickering Glintstones to simulate a deep starry sky.
The most striking feature was the center of the room. Atop a massive, throne-like stone chair sat a figure.
It was a woman.
She wore a black sorcerer's robe trimmed with red and a tall golden hat, looking solemn and mysterious. Cradled in her arms was a massive egg-shaped object radiating a soft amber glow.
Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
Lynn's pupils constricted slightly. He knew this figure all too well. In the Raya Lucaria Academy of the Lands Between, she had been the supreme master of Glintstone sorcery—and a powerful opponent during his long journey. In a certain sense, he could even call her... mother-in-law.
"Hello there, Mother-in-law."
Lynn grinned, his tone casual and slightly mocking. He didn't draw his blade immediately. Unlike the apprentices and the knight, this Queen of the Full Moon didn't attack the moment he entered. She simply sat there, cradling the amber egg like an eternal sculpture.
Only when Lynn spoke did she slowly raise her head. Her face was partially obscured by her long hair, but her eyes flickered with a starlike blue light in the darkness. Her voice was ethereal and distant, carrying an indefinable trace of sorrow.
"Tarnished... you have come again. Do you wish to be born anew?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Born anew? And "again"?
The scene and the dialogue were too familiar. This was the line she spoke in the Lands Between after she had been defeated. This meant the Rennala before him was in her "post-defeat" state.
"Mother-in-law, do you remember me?"
Lynn took a few steps forward, stopping at a respectful distance. The Bloodhound's Fang remained sheathed, but he was ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"I remember..." Rennala's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable certainty. "You were the dear friend of the stars, and... the Lord of Frenzied Flame."
She was referring to the two endings Lynn had completed in the Lands Between. The Age of Stars had been his first choice, while the Lord of Frenzied Flame had been his final destination. Lynn's heart stirred; it seemed this Rennala had inherited his memories from those different timelines.
"So, where is Ranni?" Lynn asked directly.
Rennala didn't answer. She simply shook her head gently and raised a slender hand to point toward a corner beside her throne. There sat an old wooden chest.
Confused, Lynn walked over and carefully opened the chest. It contained no gold or powerful equipment—only a single ring lying on a velvet cushion. It was a ring carved from delicate Darkmoon Stone, the band featuring intricate stellar patterns and radiating a faint, pure blue light.
The Dark Moon Ring.
Lynn's heart skipped a beat. He knew this ring all too well. It was Ranni's ring of betrothal, the key item for triggering the Age of Stars ending. He hadn't seen it since his reincarnation.
He picked up the ring. The cold sensation traveled through his fingertips, as if he could feel the call of the distant stars.
Could it be... this ring is the 'medium' Ranni mentioned?
Holding the cold Dark Moon Ring, the delicate texture felt like touching solidified moonlight. He looked up at the sorrowful Queen on the throne, his mind swirling with questions.
"Is this... a graduation gift?" he asked tentatively, his voice carrying a hint of the absurdity he felt.
Rennala didn't answer. Her eyes, reflecting the starry sky, remained hollow as she softly repeated the words etched into her soul:
"...My sweetings, do you wish to be born anew?"
Lynn curled his lip. Fine. Looks like I won't be getting any new dialogue out of her.
His "mother-in-law" currently acted more like a functional NPC—quest complete, rewards issued, now in standby mode. He carefully slid the Dark Moon Ring onto the middle finger of his left hand.
The size was perfect. The moment it touched him, a cool surge of mana flowed from his fingertip like a small stream, merging into his body and soul. It resonated with the trace of starlight Ranni had left behind. A wonderful sense of connection blossomed within him.
At that moment, the massive classroom began to tremble violently. The starry canopy above grew blurred, and the stone benches began to crumble like weathered sandstone, turning into blue light particles that drifted away.
Rennala on the throne, along with the Amber Great Rune in her arms, began to turn transparent. She gave Lynn one last look, and in those hollow eyes, a flicker of maternal tenderness seemed to pass by.
"Goodbye, Mother-in-law."
Lynn waved his hand, watching as she and the entire phantom of the Magic Academy vanished into the light.
When the light faded, Lynn found himself standing at the end of that secluded side path. Before him was the cold, mossy rock wall. It felt as though the trial across time and space had been nothing more than a bizarre dream.
But he looked down. The Dark Moon Ring on his left hand was glowing with a soft blue light, and the Starlight Shard in his palm—the "key"—confirmed that everything was real.
"Good haul."
Lynn praised his luck and began to take stock of the loot from this "dungeon." Over three thousand Runes, a brand-new Carian Knight's Shield, a seemingly ordinary Glintstone Staff, and most importantly—the Dark Moon Ring.
Lynn walked out of the Dungeon and looked up. The sun hung low in the west, casting long shadows from Babel. It was early for dusk, but still far from night. He touched the ring on his finger; the cold sensation was very real, but there were no stars in the sky right now. To be precise, there was no starry sky at all.
One couldn't summon Ranni without the stars.
Lynn clicked his tongue. His burning desire to summon her was doused by reality.
"I can't exactly just sit on the city wall until nightfall, can I?"
"I'll go see what Patches is up to first."
Lynn stretched, his joints popping. He arrived at the cheap inn where Patches was staying. Pushing the door open, he was hit by the smell of low-quality tobacco and food scraps.
The lobby was dim, lit only by a few oil lamps in the corners. A few people sat at broken tables, hunched over their drinks in a heavy atmosphere. Behind the counter, the innkeeper—a scrawny old man—was lazily wiping a glass with a rag.
"Hey, old man, where's my bald friend?" Lynn walked up and tapped the counter.
The old man looked up. Recognizing Lynn, a strained smile appeared on his face. "Oh, it's you. Your friend... is in the backyard."
His expression was strange, as if he were remembering something unpleasant.
Lynn raised an eyebrow and tossed a few Valis as a tip. "Thanks."
He walked through a narrow corridor and pushed open a creaking back door leading to a small open space behind the inn.
Then, he froze.
A small section of the clearing had been tidied up, covered with a relatively clean rag. Atop the cloth were several items arranged neatly: a few Magic Stones of obviously poor quality, a couple of rusted daggers, a few bottles of suspiciously colored recovery potions, and even two battered copies of "Adventurer's Guides."
And Patches was currently squatting behind this "stall," his shiny bald head reflecting the afternoon sun. He wore a dusty old robe he'd found somewhere, and his face was plastered with an overly enthusiastic smile as he pitched to a hesitant young adventurer:
"Look at this dagger, young man! Sure, it's a bit rusty, but look at the shape! Look at the thickness! I'm telling you, this was seized from an Elite Goblin on the twelfth floor! It might still carry the 'Malevolent Aura' of an elite monster—it's incredibly effective at warding off evil for beginners!"
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Danmachi: My Primary God is Hidetaka Miyazaki? (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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