The reincarnated mid-boss welcomes the protagonist with a level of 999 ~ It seems the hero is mistaken about having a max level of 99 ~

Episode 39: The Level of the Archduke

“What the hell!? What does that level mean!?”

Phew.

To think I would expose my blunder like this.

“I trained for the purpose of facing you.”

“Haa… Haa… That’s… ridiculous… It’s… blatantly surpassing the common sense of this world…”

“That might be true.”

But the same goes for this hero.

He became the disciple of a master I didn’t know, learned the Muscle Faust Fist of muscles I didn’t know, and acquired the Ultimate Ultimate Rock Giant Golem, level 999, the strongest vehicle obtainable after defeating the Demon King at such an early stage.

Normally, the demon duke and the hero would fight under level 100 circumstances. The demon duke is level 66. The hero would be around 40. That’s the tutorial of this game. It’s an amusing trick that says, “Actually, this story is max level 999, and the demon duke is a mid-boss. There’s still more to come.”

At this point, the player’s playtime exceeds 20 hours. It’s a mechanism where they go, “Huh, really!? There’s more!? Amazing!”

But things have changed quite a bit.

Well, it’s because I started moving to defeat the hero, thus altering fate.

The hero’s level has risen to 82, and he now uses items like the Sealing Collar and the Codex of Halving, in addition to the Ultimate Ultimate Rock Giant Golem, level 999.

It’s needless to say that the hero has powered up beyond the norm.

However, the same goes for me.

The five years since I regained the memories of my previous life have been desperate. Every day, every hour, every second. I thought only about the hero.

To defeat the hero. No, to not be defeated by the hero.

I desperately devised strategies.

I stole the hero’s weapons and items. I even severed ties with my allies.

And I trained myself. I strengthened my own level, along with enhancing the monsters in my army.

It was all because I feared the hero’s strength.

The hero has protagonist correction. The Brave Critical, which can unleash twice the power of the level value. And the presence of the comrades who cooperate with him.

Protagonist correction is truly fearsome.

So, I planned to max out my level and confront him.

The max level value in this world is 999.

I trained desperately and reached level 999.

By the time Seia was recognized as the hero and entered my territory, my level was 999.

With my level maxed out, I was in perfect condition!

I would confront the hero at level 999!

It’s perfect! I can definitely win!!

Just as I thought that, I felt a strange unease.

“Is this really okay?”

Upon closer examination, the fate of the story has been determined by me being defeated by the hero.

If there’s a mistake on my part, my existence will be eradicated by the powerful protagonist correction.

I need to be more solid. More certain.

I have to eliminate all possibilities.

So, I went to meet the Great Sage.

It’s impossible for the hero to meet the Great Sage before defeating the Archduke.

Normally, it’s an impossible story.

However, the current situation is unpredictable. After all, I’ve already changed fate.

With the help of the Great Sage Caphrodyte, I became her ally and received her magic research.

One of them was the “Limit Break of Levels.”

This is a new system adopted in the sequel.

It’s a phenomenon that would never exist in the original story.

It’s about drastically raising the level cap with special magic. Truly worthy of the title of Great Sage. With her assistance, my level cap was changed to level 9999.

After that, it was days of training.

The goal was level 9999.

To max out my level to defeat the hero, or rather, to not be defeated by him.

…That was the plan.

But after the limit break, there were only a few weeks left.

No, that’s just making excuses.

Honestly, I’m disgusted with my own incompetence.

I do like leveling up, but I’m still far from being mature.

It’s pathetic.

I couldn’t catch up to the max level at all…

“I-I can’t believe it… W-What is this level!?”

“Well, embarrassing as it is, I couldn’t max it out.”

“L-L-Level… *gulp*”

The hero swallowed hard before reading out my level.
“What!? Level 3000!?”

Yeah, that’s right.

Just that much.

“What’s the meaning of this!? Level 3000!? B-But, but, by the Codex of Halving, the level should be halved!”

Indeed.

“S-So, in other words, it’s effectively level 6000!?”

Hmm. I didn’t reach level 9999. I’m reflecting on my own incompetence.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!!”

Ah, yes.

“I have a set skill, you see. It’s ‘Status Doubled Enhancement.'”

“Oh no…”

“Since it doesn’t consume magic power, it’s always activated.”

“Oh no…!!”

Originally, this Status Doubled Enhancement would be nullified by the Priest’s spell ‘Invalidation,’ but…

Mishiri seems to still be unconscious.

“It’s a relief. That she came to our side. Or rather, didn’t you raise her level? She’s still unlearned, isn’t she?”

“Gahhh…!!”

In other words, it’s double the effective level of 3000. The effect of level 6000.

Well, that doesn’t really matter.

Since we’ve successfully recovered the hostage.

“Well then, shall I attack from my side now? Is that okay with you?”

“Ahhhh!! Burst Punch!!”

And he threw the Golem’s fist.

Phew.

I countered the flying fist like swatting a fly with an uppercut.

BOOOM!!

The Burst Punch was instantly destroyed.

“Attacks like that won’t work.”

“Ahhh!!”

Alright then.

Jumping up…

“Take this!”

A straight punch.

I hit the Golem’s body with my fist.

“Aghhhhh!!”

And then, the body of the Golem shattered into pieces.

“Indeed.”

The hero fell to the ground with a thud.

“Now, this is a true one-on-one, Hero Cea.”

The confrontation between the hero and the Archduke.

Isn’t this the climax of the story?

“Ahhhhhh!!”

Don’t worry.

I won’t let my guard down.