To make a comparison, it could be understood as this.
The maximum effective limit of the Eternal Shield is equivalent to the full-force strike of its owner.
In other words, the maximum defense is leveled with the maximum attack.
And as long as it doesn't exceed this defense value, nothing can harm the person protected by the Eternal Shield.
"This skill almost completely nullifies any kind of sneak attack."
Whether it's a sword stabbing the heart from behind, or a poison that takes effect upon cutting the skin, or a fatal blow aimed at vulnerable spots like the eyes or throat.
All of these would lose their intended threat, turning into the most ordinary damage.
And as strength increases...
Reaching Damien's level, even an attack capable of destroying the universe couldn't damage his body.
"As expected of the woman I've set my eyes on."
"You've brought me a truly remarkable ability."
Damien helped Darkness up from the ground and praised her, "In any case, I'll be counting on you from now on, Lalatina."
"Uu~~"
Being called by her real name, Darkness blushed furiously and quickly hammered Damien's chest with her small fists. "Don't call me that!"
"Hahaha..."
Damien playful bantered with Darkness for a while, finally agreeing to call her that only in private.
"Let's go. I'll take you to an interesting place."
After accepting Darkness, Damien no longer needed to hide anything from her.
So he directly brought her to the Dungeon he had set up in the northwest corner of Axel.
"This is..."
Darkness asked, "A Dungeon?"
"Yeah, one I specially created."
"Eh?"
"Don't worry."
Damien reassured Darkness with a smile. "I won't harm the adventurers here."
It was the same old principle.
He had no grudges against anyone, so Damien wouldn't harm others carelessly.
Moreover, the folks in the Adventurer's Guild were his good drinking buddies.
If he truly schemed to get them killed, Damien couldn't bring himself to that level.
"Though it's a Dungeon, it's actually more like a game."
Damien explained, "The most basic point is that dying in the Dungeon isn't real death; you'll revive outside it."
"Hm?"
Darkness didn't quite understand.
In this world, resurrection magic was the most top-tier spell, quite rare.
"In other words..."
Damien continued, "As long as adventurers keep exploring the Dungeon and fighting monsters, they'll eventually become stronger."
This could be considered Damien's gift to the adventurers of this world.
"Oh, right, one more thing."
Damien added, "The levels in the Dungeon are linked to adventurer levels."
"Defeating monsters inside will also allow adventurers to level up."
Of course, to prevent adventurers from getting addicted, Damien had placed restrictions on how many times each person could enter the Dungeon per day.
"Each adventurer can challenge the Dungeon at most three times a day."
"Exceed that, and they'll have to wait until the next day."
After explaining, Damien looked at Darkness. "What do you think? Want to give it a try?"
"Eh? Me?"
"Better not."
If it were the old Darkness, she would have excitedly charged in and battled the monsters for three hundred rounds.
Well, though there's a high chance it would be Darkness getting one-sidedly beaten by the monsters.
At least, she could participate somewhat.
But now, Darkness was too strong.
With 990,000 magic essence, three unique skills, plus the Eternal Shield.
There were no monsters in the Dungeon that could stand in her way.
"All right."
Damien had already anticipated Darkness's response.
Afterward, Damien and Darkness returned to Axel, ready to continue his adventurer game.
As for the Dungeon, Rimuru would test it out during tonight's rest.
That meant, at the latest, tomorrow.
The Dungeon could officially debut near Axel!
---
"Ah!! Kazuma~~"
"Why? Why did you drag me out on a quest yesterday!!"
As soon as he entered, Damien saw Aqua strangling Kazuma by the neck.
"What's going on?"
Damien asked Miss Luna, who was walking toward him.
"Um..."
Luna said awkwardly, "They didn't attend the banquet you hosted yesterday, and Miss Aqua is furious because she missed the chance to taste high-grade sparkling wine for free."
"Heh~"
Damien was a bit speechless. Should he say this was so typical of Aqua?
Speaking of which, since traversing, Damien hadn't truly met Aqua face-to-face, and he didn't know if she still remembered him...
'She probably does, right?'
'Hm... maybe not.'
Damien thought, 'Didn't Aqua forget that guy named Mitsurugi?'
Perhaps, like Mitsurugi, she had already tossed him to the back of her mind.
"Damien!!"
However, the expected situation didn't occur.
Aqua, who was tormenting Kazuma, turned her head and spotted that familiar figure.
"It really is you!!"
Casually tossing Kazuma aside like trash, Aqua hurried forward. "I thought it was just the same name, but the rich Damien is really you!"
Rich Damien?
Damien's mouth twitched slightly. What kind of ridiculous title was that?
He glanced at the surrounding adventurers.
They either lowered their heads or turned away, all pretending they knew nothing, emphasizing that it had nothing to do with them.
'These guys...'
Damien shook his head inwardly.
Fortunately, he was already used to these adventurers' temperaments.
'You bastards!'
Damien flipped off the bunch of jerks.
Only then did they dare to lift their heads, showing honest smiles, not minding Damien's disdain at all.
"Cough cough cough..."
Escaping Aqua's clutches, Kazuma gasped for fresh air. "Al-almost died."
It was only at this moment that he had the chance to properly look at Damien and Darkness beside him.
"It's been a while, Miss Aqua."
Damien hadn't forgotten that Aqua was his benefactor.
Even if she was that Aqua, Damien was willing to give her the respect she deserved.
"Waaah~~"
Aqua was moved to tears. "Great, I can finally stop following that useless Kazuma."
"Hey!"
"That's really too much!"
"What do you mean useless Kazuma?"
"It's clearly me who's been suffering while following you!"
Seeing that Damien was Aqua's acquaintance, Kazuma quickly got up from the ground. "Bro, I'm Kazuma. Could it be that you're like me too..."
***
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