Does Udaeus use weapons?
The Guild could tell you with certainty—no!
Among the skeletal monsters on the thirty-seventh floor, most wield weapons made of bone. But this king of skeletons alone does not use a weapon.
This intelligence is absolutely reliable. Records left behind by the Zeus and Hera Familia included this detail. Combined with countless challenges by high-ranking adventurers from the Loki and Freya Familia, the same conclusion was reached.
It is even publicly available information: the Floor Boss of the thirty-seventh floor, Udaeus, does not use weapons.
So is the Guild's intelligence trustworthy?
It can only be said to be acceptable. Some of it is correct, is it not?
But Udaeus is different.
In the original story, the first time Udaeus drew that massive black sword happened precisely when Ais was preparing to level up. Even Riveria was shocked when she witnessed it.
Because Udaeus only takes out that enormous black sword—one it has kept hidden for years—when it is forced into a corner in a one-on-one battle.
And this was not that point in time yet. How could the Guild possibly know such information?
As for why no such intelligence spread during the golden age of the Zeus and Hera Familia...
Perhaps it was simply because they were too strong.
Their Familia members were numerous and powerful. Even if they fought Udaeus alone, they would never push it into true desperation.
Because Udaeus would have been killed long before reaching that point...
So after gaining this black sword, did Udaeus' combat power increase?
Yes—but only modestly.
Its attack power became stronger, and its attack range widened. But its speed remained the same. If it could not hit Elise before, would that change now?
However...
As Udaeus grasped that gigantic sword, the ground of the thirty-seventh floor began to change.
Countless bone constructs erupted from beneath the earth. Compared to the massive bone spikes from earlier, these were much smaller—but their numbers were like cockroaches in a southern sewer.
Anyone with trypophobia would probably faint on the spot.
Even Elise, upon seeing the scene, had no desire to return to the ground and face so many skeletons. Would it not be better to wipe them all out with a grand magic spell?
Since the lesser skeletons could not reach Elise, their king had no choice but to act personally. Udaeus raised the black sword in its hand and brought it down viciously toward Elise, who was wrapped in starlight.
"Interesting. I'll test the strength of this barrier a little."
Elise's Prana barrier possessed extraordinary durability. So far, aside from Ottar, nothing had managed to shatter it.
Bare-handed Udaeus could not break it. But what about Udaeus wielding the black sword?
Elise also wanted to see exactly where her Prana stood in terms of tier.
Boom!
A violent clash resounded—the collision of sword and shield. Udaeus' razor-sharp greatsword had already fallen upon the Prana barrier.
Crack!
The sound of fracturing echoed out.
And it was not Udaeus' sword that cracked.
It was Elise's barrier.
"As expected... no matter how powerful Prana is, its source is ultimately just a single Urm Manadyte. It cannot compare to a true monster."
However—
As Elise poured more Prana into it, the cracks across the barrier vanished instantly, as though they had never existed.
Didn't see that coming? My shield is a sustained ability!
As long as she had Prana, the barrier would be endless!
And how much Prana did Elise have? That had already been mentioned.
Virtually infinite!
Unless an attack was powerful enough to shatter the entire barrier in a single blow, it would never truly reach her.
If even the outer shield possessed such strength, how formidable would the one clinging to her body be?
It was almost unimaginable. And Elise was still growing stronger. She was only Level 2.
The summoned skeletons could not reach her. Even after drawing the black sword, Udaeus had failed to injure her. It had nearly reached its limit—only one final move remained.
The colossal skeleton king raised its sword once more. But this time was different. The arm holding the blade erupted with dazzling violet light.
The massive magic stone within its body had begun to function, supplying it with an enormous surge of magic power.
That magic condensed until it was nearly tangible, like blazing fire.
Then—
Udaeus unleashed a strike at a speed completely at odds with its massive body!
Shhh—!
Under such a terrifying blow, everything on the thirty-seventh floor was erased. The bone spikes on the ground and even the earthborn it had summoned were reduced to ash.
A colossal shockwave erupted outward from Udaeus, intent on obliterating everything in its path. Even Elise's Prana barrier trembled violently under the impact.
But each time cracks began to form, Elise replenished it with Prana, restoring the barrier to its original state.
Elise had to admit—this strike from Udaeus was powerful. Several times stronger than before.
Yet it still failed to directly destroy her defense.
"It seems this is your limit, Udaeus..."
Watching Udaeus continue striving to attack her, Elise felt a trace of emotion.
Even the Floor Boss of the thirty-seventh floor could no longer pose a threat to her? Did that mean she would have to venture deeper into the Dungeon to gain meaningful growth?
Balor on the forty-ninth floor?
Cadmus on the fifty-first?
The corrupted spirit in the lower depths?
Or would it have to be monsters on the level of Behemoth or Leviathan?
At that thought, Elise completely lost interest in Udaeus.
"For the final blow, I'll end you with the power of wind!"
"Elemental... Stars... Polaris... none of those feel right."
Previously, Elise had planned to prefix her techniques with fixed terms based on the type of power she used.
But now...
As she began combining multiple forces within her body, such distinctions lost their meaning.
Some techniques used Prana, divine might, and elemental power simultaneously. Was she supposed to stack three prefixes together?
That would make the casting too long.
Better to keep it simple...
"Oh, right. I can do it like this!"
As though struck by inspiration, Elise began mobilizing both Prana and wind elemental power.
"I pay 1000 Life Points and target one Spell or Trap Card on the field. That card is banished!"
"Come forth—Cosmic Cyclone!"
By the way—
The one paying the Life Points was Udaeus.
And the card being banished was also Udaeus.
What?
Udaeus is a monster, not a Spell or Trap?
So what?
Monster Cards have long since been able to be placed in the Spell and Trap Zone, haven't they?