Episode 3

## Shangri-La Frontier (anime)

**Black Wolf Nightslayer** is the 3rd episode of Shangri-La Frontier anime series.

## Synopsis

Rei learns Rakuro has already reached Secondil. Other players notice Rei belongs to one of the seven clans formed to hunt the seven unique beasts, in Rei’s case her clan hunts Lycagon. Despite executing perfect strikes on Lycagon’s critical weak points Rakuro’s legs are bitten off but he swears to find and defeat Lycagon before he completes anymore of the game. Respawning he finds himself afflicted with Lycagon’s Curse; he cannot equip armour to his legs or body, though they are now immune to magic, he can no longer fight monsters weaker than himself and NPC’s will treat him differently. Plus the curse is permanent unless removed by a Saint or killing Lycagon. Forced to return to his swim shorts Rakuro suddenly encounters a Unique Scenario, an invitation to the rabbit city Rabituza which he accepts, unaware the recommended skill level is 80. Inside the scenario he is congratulated by white rabbit Emul for embodying the spirit of the Vorpal Rabbit; willingly attacking a superior enemy while hitting only the weak points. For Lycagon to curse him was actually Lycagon marking him as a worthy opponent, as such, Rakuro is the first player ever invited to meet Rabbit King Vysache. A brief flashback shows Rei started playing the game on Mana’s advice, on the promise Mana would also have Rakuro start playing so Rei could get close to him.

## Summary

Rei meets Reiji and Mia, and asks them if they have see a player named Sunraku. Reiji confirms and explains that he was poisoned by the Ravenous Snake and ran into Secondil. He also describes him, stating that he was naked with a bird mask, although he may have gotten some gear by now. Rei realizes that Sunraku indeed had skipped the first town. She thanks them and then leaves. Reiji recognizes her clan emblem, which is a clan focused on hunting the unique monster, Lycagon the Nightslayer. Since Mia doesn't know what unique monsters are, Reiji explains that they are special class of monsters with a name and a title. While normal monsters when killed or captured, respawn after certain amount of time, the unique monsters are only one of each and don't respawn when killed. There are seven unique monsters in the game, known as The Seven Colossi, but they don't know the criteria to spawn them. A lot of the top players have formed clans focused on taking them down. The unique monsters are also really strong and its been a year since the game started, but even though there is a 30 million playerbase, not a single unique monster was so far defeated.

Sunraku faces the unique monster Lycagon the Nightslayer. As the Redcap Goblins to wipe in a single attack, Sunraku realizes that a single hit from Lycagon will defeat him. Lycagon attacks, Sunraku manages to Perfect Parry and then counter attacks, but his attack has no effect. He is glad that he learned Perfect Parry, otherwise he would have been dead right now. Sunraku equips the Vorpal Choppers and lands a critical hit on Lycagon's paw as it attacks. He dodges a few more times and lands a second critical. Lycagon then disappears and suddenly appears behind Sunraku, however Sunraku manages to dodge his attack in time. The two continue to fight. After about five minutes, Sunraku had dodges every attack of Lycagon, but feels that even though he landed large amount of critical hits, it has no effect. At the same time, his Vorpal Choppers are losing their durability. Sunraku knowns that Lycagon is out of his league at the moment, however he still enjoys it. After a few more critical hits, Lycagon stops and starts to howl. Sunraku is then unable to move and in just a moment, Lycagon strikes and cuts Sunraku's legs. As the attack was so fast, Sunraku couldn't even see what hit him. He is also surprised that he is still alive with 1 HP remaining. Sunraku tells Lycagon that its incredible strong, however the wolf was programmed to be that strong, so it also means its beatable. Sunrake then makes his mind, stating that he doesn't care about the last boss or the story, and while it may take some time, he will for sure beat Lycagon. Until then, Lycagon must make sure that it doesn't get defeated by anyone else. Lycagon then bites Sunraku, killing him and applying Lycagon's Mark curse.

Sunraku respawns in the inn in Secondil. He sees that he has a curse applied and reads that while cursed, he can't equip armor on the curse place; monsters lower than his level will flee; will gain new conversation options with NPCs; cursed body parts gain resistance to magic; and that the curse can be removed by a Saint or by defeating the curse caster. Sunraku gets frustrated that he can't equip any armor and feels this is a trash game type of thing. Sunraku then sees that even though he didn't defeat Lycagon, just by fighting it, he gained a lot of experience and is now lvl28. Having 50 points to spend, he decides to refine his build, but ends up investing his points elsewhere, but no on Vitality. He realized he made himself a glass cannon, but has no other choice as the curse locked two of his four armor slots, so there is no point in investing into vitality. Since he has high luck stat, he guesses it the reason why he remained on 1 HP after the wolf's attack.

Moments later, a bunny lands on his head and then waves at him. Sunraku realizes its a Vorpal Bunny, although a bit different and wonders if they spawn in town. He goes after it, guessing that if he captures it, he will get some rare item. The bunny leads him to a dead alley, where a door appears on the wall. After the bunny enters, Sunraku stops and sees that the door reads its an Unique Scenario "Invitation from Rabituza". Sunraku remembers reading about unique quests that are mysterious scenarios which unlock conditions and content are not publicly known. Because of that the equipment, skills, and spells you can obtain from them are top quality. Sunraku gets excited that he encountered such quest so early and enters the door, failing to see that the recommended level is 80.

Sunraku finds himself into a town full of vorpal bunnies called Rabituza. The bunny he saw earlier then shows up and greets him, stating that it wanted to meet him and that the town is quite abuzz about Sunraku. Even though Sunraku is quite weak, he had the courage to face the Nightslayer and land so many perfect blows without taking a hit, which is an embodiment of the vorpal soul. The mark that Lycagon left on Sunraku is proof that the wolf doesn't see him as a mere prey, but as a fellow being. The bunny, Emul, then explains that their boss wants to see him, which is she was send to bring Sunraku. Sunraku hopes its not because he killed a lot of vorpal bunnies, but Emul assures its that their boss isn't petty for revenge.

Reaching the palace, Emul explains that while a lot of people visit Rabituza, Sunraku is the first to enter the palace. Sunraku then realizes he is the only one who had encountered this unique scenario. Sunraku then meets Vysache, the boss of Rabituza, who is happy that finally someone didn't lose his hope and vorpal soul after facing Lycagon.

## Characters

* Psyger-0/Rei Saiga
* Sunraku/Rakuro Hizutome
* Emul
* Vysache