Well, the main body went strutting out, but the situation isn't exactly great.
I don't know why the Earth Dragons on the lowest layer are antagonizing the Demon King, but I can't imagine they could win a fight against him.
Having inherited the Queen's memories, I have a rough understanding of the Earth Dragons' capabilities—they used to be denizens of the lowest layer too.
The Earth Dragon chief is reasonably strong, but still not up to the Queen's level.
Even in a pack, they'd be meaningless against the Demon King's overwhelming Status and broken Skills.
It seems like the Earth Dragons understand all of that and yet are still challenging the Demon King.
Otherwise, those proud Earth Dragons would never resort to a clearly stalling retreat-tactic.
But I don't understand what the Earth Dragons are trying to buy time for.
What are they waiting for?
Gyurigyuri?
No... with the Demon King causing this much of a ruckus and still no sign of him, I don't think that man is going to get involved.
It's hard to imagine that Gyurigyuri, who holds administrator privileges, wouldn't know what his own subordinates are up to.
I think he's aware of it and choosing to let it be.
If that's the case, then the Earth Dragons attacking the Demon King is entirely their own initiative.
Earth Dragons that had been cooped up in the lowest layer for ages, making a move on their own to challenge the Demon King—someone far above their league.
I can't figure out their intentions.
No point racking my brain over something I don't understand.
Just like the Earth Dragons moved on their own ignoring Gyurigyuri's will, I'll do the same and act without the main body's consent.
Ah, tests. Can you all hear me?
<Sensitivity's good, go ahead—> (Same here, go ahead—) [Same here, go ahead—] "Same here, go ahead—"
Good.
As expected, no response from the one handling the Demon King.
<Huh? Did something happen?> The one handling the Demon King is currently in the middle of continuing their assault on the Demon King.
And the Demon King is desperately fighting back.
Honestly, I don't think they have the leeway to chat with us right now.
[Seriously? And what happened to the playing-dead strategy?]
Ah, that.
The Demon King's probably already figured out they're not dead.
(That's no good!)
Otherwise, there'd be no reason for the one handling the Demon King to go on the offensive on their own.
"Then... should we make a move too?"
Yeah. The main body just came back to life and is on cloud nine, so I'm the one reaching out instead.
(Roger. Then we'll start moving.)
What's everyone's erosion rate at?
<About 85%, I'd say> (A little over 80%.)
[Maybe around 70%?]
"Um, about 60%."
Low.
"Can't be helped! I was the last one to come into existence!"
Well, that's true.
Could you hurry it up, though?
[We've been hurrying this whole time.]
I know that.
(You seem awfully worked up. Is something bad going on?)
This... I don't have solid proof yet, but the Demon King and the one handling the Demon King are in much closer combat than us.
And it seems like, while they are eroding him, they're also being absorbed in return.
<That's bad!> I don't know which way it'll go yet, but in the worst case, they could be completely absorbed.
(That's bad. If that happens, the unfair soul-direct-attack won't work.)
[So we'd have to face the Demon King in a straight-up fight?]
"Against him?"
That's exactly what it means.
Right now, I want to boost the main body's combat strength even a little.
So I'd like to hurry up and absorb the remaining Queen as soon as possible.
[All right. We understand the situation.]
<We'll get started right away> Much appreciated.
Phew.
With that, the other Queen handlers have started moving too.
They'd been holding back because moving while the main body was weakened would be too dangerous, but now that it's revived, they shouldn't fall behind anyone except the Demon King.
Though with the main body being all giddy from the revival, it might slip up in unexpected ways.
Let's hope it doesn't.
Is there anything else I can do?
In terms of boosting combat strength, the best thing would be to rest and wait for my Status to recover.
After all, even if it's borrowed, I have the same strength as the main body.
If I recover, that alone doubles our combat power.
That's huge.
That said, my recovery is much slower compared to the main body.
My body has gotten needlessly bulky, but the important Status hasn't recovered that much.
It'll probably take a good while longer to fully recover.
In that case, maybe it's better not to push it.
Moving while weakened and making a blunder would be worse.
I'll just patiently wait for my recovery.
All I can do now is pray that the main body and the other split bodies handle things well.
The one handling the Demon King in particular will be crucial.
Depending on whether they succeed or fail, the course of events going forward will change dramatically.
I'd like to back up the one handling the Demon King if I could, but I can't.
Not just me—the other Queen handlers have already merged more than halfway with their Queens, so they can no longer move around freely with just their souls like before.
The only reason I was able to move into the egg was that I effectively relocated my entire existence as a Queen.
I've been incarnated.
I can no longer exist as a soul alone.
That's how much I've been transformed.
If I want to provide supporting fire for the one handling the Demon King, the main body would have to generate a new parallel will.
But I expect the main body won't be producing any more parallel wills.
I think the current state is right at the limit.
It's possible to divide the main body's soul while still preserving its original form.
Generating a parallel will is nothing other than splitting the soul.
Any further parallel wills would cause the main body's soul to wear away.
Due to the effects of Skills, as well as absorbing the souls of Queens and the Demon King, the main body's soul is already in a warped state.
If it were to generate more parallel wills on top of that...
In the worst case, the soul would collapse.
That means death.
No matter what immortality the System grants, a collapsed soul can't be revived.
It's frustrating that all I can do is sit and wait.
I'm counting on you all.