Chapter 142 Half-Boss Capture Battle
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The guard stared at the last set of arcane guns on the worktable and stepped back a little, as if the sight scared her. She already held two custom versions of the Elingium sniper gun in her storage space, but the extra one still waited for her.
”Why did you make one more when I asked for two?” she asked.
”I had fun and could not stop,” I said with a small smile.
”Please do not make more dangerous weapons just for fun!”
Her big reaction made me want to play more, and I understood why the Immortal King liked her.
”First, here are the two magic cannons you wanted,” I said. “They speed up magic shots.”
”You said cannons, and now there are two? What does that mean?”
”Each one is 2050 millimeters long and weighs 15 kilograms. It holds one shot. I made the barrel bigger than the Elingium—30 millimeters wide. I have not tested them, so ask the city mayor for permission and try them outside the city.”
”What am I supposed to fight with these?”
”Maybe a flying fort or a ground ship. That is what you asked me to build, right?”
”That is true!?”
Her loud, happy shouts filled the room and made the morning fun. The Immortal King watched with a wide grin. This was exactly the reaction he wanted to see.
I handed the guard a custom Elingium. She took it with care and held it at her waist. The pose looked wrong for a gun, but it matched her request.
”It fits my hand so well…” she said with a low groan.
”Is that not good?”
”My feelings are mixed…”
She put the two custom Elingiums away in her inventory (storage space) and picked up the extra one. She tried a few poses, then made a face like she did not want to admit it worked.
”Why does this one fit too?”
”I used the rifle I saw yesterday as a guide. I think I copied your habits perfectly.”
”It is too perfect, and that makes me feel strange…”
Earlier that morning, after Ichika and I made sandwiches and ate a quick breakfast, the bell rang. I opened the door and saw the three visitors from the land of endless night, just as I expected.
”I have been waiting for you,” I said. “The items are ready. Please follow me to the workshop to check them.”
”You do not sound right when you use polite words,” the guard said.
That was rude, but I knew I was not perfect at it. Still, I tried for customers. The guard got a light tap on the head from the Immortal King, a sign to stop rude words. The king acted like a real boss sometimes.
”What is all this!?” the guard shouted the moment she saw the line of finished items on the worktable.
Her shout was the loudest, but I heard Harker-kyo whisper “what is this” under their breath. The Immortal King’s plan worked well.
”First, for the Immortal King, here are your two mana guns (magic guns) that I kept for repair. Please check them.”
”Hm,” the king said.
He took the twin guns from me and looked puzzled. The weight felt the same, but I had changed everything inside.
”Are these not too different from before the repair?”
”I found a self-break spell inside, so I removed it. I also rebuilt the parts to make them stronger.”
”I asked for repair, not a full change…”
The king spoke with a tired sigh, but he held the guns and tested the feel. I had kept the old settings, yet the grip and aim still needed work for him. My crafter heart could not let that pass.
”Let me adjust them a little more,” I said.
”Did I miss something when I asked for repair?”
”The old shape did not fit you at all. What was the person who made them thinking?”
I quickly changed the grips and gave the guns back. The Immortal King’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
”A small change makes such a big difference. Well done, Tatara Julon.”
”I am very happy to hear that, noja.”
I answered with true joy. The king looked fully pleased from the bottom of his heart.
”Next, for the Harker-kyo, I made several items. Please try them.”
”You still refuse to give me a saber…”
”Your favorite weapon and the best weapon for you are different, especially for close fights.”
The Harker-lord let out an angry breath at my words, then picked up a cutlass from the swords on the table. Surprise crossed her face.
”This is not full mithril (silver metal)?”
”The blade is mithril, but I saw you need some weight from how you move your hand. I used demonsteel (dark metal) for the body and forged mithril into the edge.”
”I have never heard of a sword made that way…”
She looked confused, then moved the cutlass through a few forms. Her face turned sour.
”What is wrong, Gabrielle? Do you hate that it fits your hand so well?” the Immortal King asked.
”Be quiet, stupid king!”
She snapped back hard at his clear teasing. He had hit the mark. She set the cutlass down, took the falchion I thought would suit her best, and hung her head as if she gave up.
”I did not expect anyone to read my habits this well.”
”If you use the right weapon, your skill will rise one step. Your growth will be even better, so please use it.”
”What was all my hard training for…”
She let out a heavy sigh, then put the falchion in her inventory.
”Will you take the cutlass and saber too?”
”That would be too many.”
”I have extra materials, so it is no problem.”
”How can you say mithril is extra… I do not understand.”
The guard muttered those words when I offered more. That was just how I worked, sadly for her.
The night before, I had seen the Immortal King off at the front after he teased me again. I did not want to break the barrier and hurt myself, so I let him leave the easy way. I trained one daily sword skill called “sky split,” then went to bed. Ethelena did not come to the room, maybe to rest for the next day.
Back at the workshop the day before that, the Immortal King had asked, “What will we do? Put them in storage and take them home?”
”No, I want to see Ikeemaa’s reaction to you. Let us come back tomorrow morning. A tired you would not make the reaction fun, noja.”
He spoke as if he planned the whole show. I let out a deep breath. Lately, this man started to look like a normal person, and that worried me.
My mother-in-law, who had stayed quiet, nodded as if she agreed with the king’s words. I was used to reactions like that now.
”How about the bracelet that shows information? Do explorers in this city not have the flying magic device?” the king asked.
”You get the bracelet at graduation. I am still a student, so I do not have one.”
”With your skill, you are no student…”
The king said that in a tired voice. My mother-in-law nodded again.
”The goal is sublimation of existence (soul upgrade), so I will train myself as I go down. It will take some time. Even reaching the 50th floor in half a day will be hard now.”
Past the halfway point, the enemies grow much stronger in number and power. Upper-floor monsters have higher basic strength but clear weak points. New monsters appear too. I need to study them as I move, or it will be dangerous. With Tatia along, rare types strengthened by floor level will show up. For goblins, types far stronger than a commander will appear.
”But the night march was very hard. They might be asleep from tiredness,” I added.
”Hm, that chance does exist,” the king said.
”From the start, I have no plan to fight ready to die. The difficulty is just that high. To be honest, I do not think for a second that the bosses on the 50th or 60th floor are stronger than you.”
From game knowledge, their abilities are clearly lower than the Immortal King’s. The awful boss on the 50th floor troubles players with its high defense and magic attack power, but our party can challenge it with status far above the recommended level. Our equipment works fine even around the 70th to 80th floors.
The Immortal King seemed shaken by my words and asked in a shaking voice, “Tatara Julon, do you plan to fight me ready to die, noja?”
Well, the way I said it could sound like that.
Unlike the Immortal King’s guns that needed quick fixes, the guard’s extra gun fit perfectly from the start. As a bonus, I handed over a thousand demonsteel armor-piercing bullets. She looked shocked and pulled back.
The guard seemed hurt by the quality of my work—made by her enemy—while her boss turned to face me.
”I have received the items I asked for,” the Immortal King said. “They turned out better than I hoped. I am very happy, Tatara Julon.”
”I am glad you like them,” I replied.
”Heh, that polite talk does not fit us,” he said with a chuckle.
”Right now, I am the shopkeeper and you are the customer.”
”Yes, that is true.”
He spoke with a hint of sadness, nodded once, and pulled himself together.
”I cannot give direct payment, so I will send the reward through this city’s leader later. It was for a good cause.”
”I thank you very much.”
I bowed to his kingly words. My job as shopkeeper was done.
”By the way, the power went up a lot, but they use more mana now. Be careful,” I warned, switching back to my usual tone.
”That change makes me think you have two personalities,” Gabrielle said from the side with a tired voice.
The Immortal King grinned wide and looked pleased.
”Haha, that attitude suits us best,” he said.
”We are enemies, after all. The polite one was just for the job.”
”Yes, stay rude but careful with me.”
He left with the other two, looking happy. It was a full morning, but our longest trip into the dungeon lay ahead. I needed to get ready.
Just then, something broke through the garden barrier and landed with a thud I remembered well.
I went outside and saw a girl on one knee in a three-point pose.
”Welcome back, Dahlia. You were gone a long time,” I said.
”I am home, master,” she replied.
Dahlia stood up. Her clothes looked neat, but dirt marked her armor in spots. She came close, pulled something from her inventory (storage space), and held it out.
”What is this?” I asked.
It was a small magic device (magic tool) about the size of my palm, gold in color. I used appraisal (item check) on it. The name was “Returner (return gate).” The effect—
”A simple teleport gate just for the dungeon!?” I said.
”The city mayor said it lets you restart once from where you stopped,” Dahlia explained.
I had made a one-use item to return home, but the city mayor improved it. She added mana refill to make it reusable like a continue point.
”You fill it with mana, set it at the stop point, then come back home,” Dahlia went on. “It sends a marker signal. The gate picks it up to let you go back.”
”The city mayor made something right on the edge of possible…”
The bracelet from graduation lets you teleport to stairs every five floors. This one lets you return to any floor once. Very strong.
”They thought you could study it and make more, master,” she said. “But sell just one per person or party.”
”Yes, that makes sense.”
Too many would let people set them anywhere and break the rules.
”Also, it can fool the dungeon for three days at most,” she added. “After that, the dungeon takes it.”
”That problem still stays. But three days is a good long time.”
Dungeons often absorb items in ten minutes. Three days counts as long.
”Master, are you going out now?” Dahlia asked.
”Yeah. To beat the bosses on floors 50 and 60.”
Her face changed at my words.
”Do you plan to come?” I asked.
”Yes. This fight is for your life. Let me help—”
”No. Rest.”
I ordered her not to join the boss fight. She looked lost for a second, then got angry.
”Why? I am your strongest sword!”
”You are too tired.”
”This tiredness is nothing…”
Her body swayed as she tried to argue. She must have overused mana, wearing out her inner paths.
”Rest. I know your strength, but I cannot relax if you fall here.”
Her tough face twisted like it might break, and she started to cry.
”I thank your loyalty from my heart. But rest now.”
”Yes… master.”
I stroked her head as she clung to me crying, then sat her on the living room sofa. She fell asleep fast from tiredness, so I covered her with a blanket.
”Is that okay? She is our strongest fighter,” Yohira asked from the garden.
”Yes, but we are not so weak that we need her every time,” I replied.
She had asked just to tease. I answered easy too. We had raised our levels and gear as much as possible. We would not lose now.
”Hm… then we must come back with happy faces,” she said.
”Yeah.”
This was just a checkpoint to the deepest part. Floor 50 had a tricky gimmick, but after that, it needed raw power. Well, power with the right elements and weak points.
We finished getting ready and left. We met Tatia at the desk and started the trip.
Tatia’s tsubame gaeshi I (swallow return (sword skill)) was not max yet, so we focused on her. We beat enemies fast or used steal skill to take items and build uses. Yohira grew fast—faster than I thought—but Tatia kept up well. Worst case, level 8 would let 90% damage go through. If the boss defense matched the game, her attacks would work fine.
The devs went mad halving the one element that worked. Element weapons were rare drops, and level-ups gave random stats. Attack power often fell short.
I thought about that as we cleared each floor and went down.
Party members took status-up items from the same dazed muumins (dazed beasts) in their ways. We one-shot the next floor’s mithril golems (silver metal giants).
Tatia spent hours hitting orichalcum golems (golden golems) to raise skills, like a final push. Then we farmed status items from Immortal Kings.
Bloodsuckers (vampires) gave gear for the Immortal King fight as sacrifices. After dragon zombies (undead dragons), Ethelena found a treasure chest with a dragon cannon (dragon gun)—strong magic cannon for this floor.
We kicked apart groups of harpy queens (bird queens) and beat spirit kings (spirit lords). At last, Tatia’s tsubame gaeshi hit max level.
”Finally,” Tatia said softly.
We stood before the door to the 50th floor boss room after checking status.
”As I said before, this boss is a pain,” I told them. “But we should decide who fights which spirit king around it and in what order.”
My max firepower hit 303, so no one-shot on the trash boss without a back attack. We did not need one-shot, but the attack window was under a minute, with three-minute breaks. We had to cut HP with two elements in time, or it dragged on too long.
From the past fight with the archangel, it matched old knowledge: trash boss in the middle, spirit kings at the four corners. Send Tatia to the far one to build charge power. I would take the one across to backstab the boss for a kill shot.
Send Ethelena to the far back too, since she moved fast. She could aim for a back attack. Her sword skill aptitude should let her learn sword moves, so she could add more power. Put Yohira across from her, and raw strength could push through.
”That is my plan,” I said.
”Ethelena should aim for the wind spirit king (spirit lord) because of her sword’s element,” Yohira said. “Even if spots change, our movement is over 20. We can switch fast.”
She had a point. We raised movement, so no worry there. Her mana blade (magic blade) magic sword was not done, and dual weapon (two arms) cut her power. But her attack strength worried me a bit.
”After Yohira beats hers, send Ethelena next,” I said. “Let Yohira hit the enemy’s back while it focuses on her.”
”That sounds good,” Yohira agreed.
”Then Tatia aims, and I can hit the back easier,” I added.
”Depends on distance,” Tatia said. “I will use charge (speed strike) to cut as much as I can. But my power might not be enough.”
”I will help then. I can beat it from the front if needed.”
We set each role, then opened the door when all was ready.
In the center sat a strange shape. It had four wings of different colors and parts on its back. Four arms, two legs, one head—but four eyes on the face. This was the floor boss of the 50th floor in Beyond the Deep Darkness, the worst gimmick boss called Janus (two-face god). A spirit type named after the door god with two faces.
The moment we saw it, teleport pulled us to the room’s center. Mana gathered at the four corners. Fire pillar, waterfall, stone pillar, whirlwind appeared and turned into spirit kings. Then light wrapped Janus.
Hey, no such show in the game or last time!
”Julon, this teleport!” Tatia called.
”Not before. Likely a special ability gimmick from our numbers!” I shouted back.
From here, straight line to back spirit kings was about 80 meters. Standing before Janus put the water and earth ones a bit farther at 100 meters.
’Yohira, Tatia—to the far fire and earth spirit kings!’ I sent via mind talk (thought speech).
’Got it!’
’Understood!’
They moved at once. Ethelena and I turned our backs to Janus and ran. I to water, her to wind. Lucky—the setup matched our plan.
Then magic flew from behind at me.
Magic hit: 90 + 80 – 243 = 73. Dodge check.
It missed my speed. The wind blade cut the wrong spot. Mid wind magic wind blade—nasty spell.
We reached our spirit kings as Yohira clashed and beat hers.
’Fire down!’
’Ethelena!’
’Got it… wind down!’
Yohira’s top attack strength report came fast. I called next, and Ethelena finished. They returned to flank Janus.
’Tatia!’
’Leave it… down!’
Her Andrea (wind sword) with wind element plus charge after 100 meters—10 squares—shattered the spirit king in one hit.
My turn. I slammed my hammer switched to earth element into the water spirit king.
Weapon hit: 20 + 243 – 30 = 213. Hit.
Earth attack 2×263 – 40 = 486.
Earth touched water spirit king, and it broke into a puddle that vanished. Down confirmed.
’Done! Yohira, go!’
I turned, ran at Janus, and used appraisal (item check) while sending mind talk.
Spirit type Janus
HP 400/400
Mana 470/500
Skill Power 100/100
Physical Attack 60
Physical Defense 40
Magic Attack 100
Magic Defense 40
Speed 80
Movement 3
No status problems
Special: Element immune—physical, mana, fire, wind, earth. Water resist.
No gear.
Tough stats as always. Ignores all but right elements—unfair. Yohira closed in at top speed.
’On it!’
She sent strong will back as she unleashed sword skills on Janus. Without power from four spirit kings, its four wings fell, and the light faded. Defense down, clear to see.
The swallow return skill from the Immortal King fight that took many lives slashed Janus. Higher rank meant way more hits. It cut her body, but next moment she rebuilt.
One of four arms gone. That tracked her remaining lives.
Rebuilt Janus hit back at Yohira with magic—same wind blade I dodged. She avoided easy.
’Ethelena!’
’Got it!’
She answered my call with sword and Lonisera attack. Janus focused on Yohira, back to Ethelena—perfect surprise.
Her sword skill added speed to attack power. With gear and skills, speed 395. Base 115 plus that made 510, but dual weapon cut to 80%—408, halved to 204. Back ambush and surprise attack made it five times: max theory damage. Her hit blew Janus HP away. Rebuilt body lost another arm. It turned and shot magic at her—rock spears from rising ground, mid earth magic rock spear. But flying Ethelena dodged.
’Tatia!’
’Roger!’
She dashed from her spot at top speed. Charge III after 100 meters accel hit hard, plus Andrea lit with mana. Wind burst from the stab pierced Janus.
Her 149 attack plus 300 charge plus burst edge (power slash) 305. Halved, just short of full HP cut. But she had the card.
Quick pull back for second hit—swallow return same power combo. Mana low killed burst edge, but charge power landed again.
Second stab broke and rebuilt Janus. It turned and unleashed wide muddy wave—mid area magic wave surge, hard to dodge wide. But element magic meant nothing to us. Tatia stood unhurt in the flood.
’Too soft! Our shield ain’t weak!’
Mind talk to keep surprise effect. I appraised again, readied hammer for heavy strike (hard hit)—top power smash.
Spirit type Janus
HP 400/400
Mana 350/500
Skill Power 100/100
Physical Attack 60
Physical Defense 40
Magic Attack 100
Magic Defense 40
Speed 80
Movement 3
No status problems
Special: Element immune—physical, mana, fire, wind, water. Earth resist.
It shot mid-level magic non-stop, so its mana dropped a lot. The element left was water. Our plan worked. We held the advantage.
Weapon hit: 20 + 243 – 80 = 163. Hit check.
Earth attack: 0.5 × (263 + heavy strike (hard hit) 50) × surprise 1.75 × ambush (surprise attack) 1.75 – 40 = 439.
My hammer struck Janus’s back. It felt solid for a moment, then shattered. All elements broken.
’Done!’
’Not yet!’
The pieces gathered and reformed. No wings or arms left, but change came. Shoulders where arms were gone bulged. Meat-like flows shot out. The back did the same, shaping up. In about two minutes, a huge dragon-like form towered over us. Four crystals on its back.
”What is this!?” Yohira shouted.
”First time for me too, but this is its true form!” I yelled back.
Game never showed it, even with archangel. But game book comments mentioned it.
This Janus was a half-spirit, half-dragon—Spirit type. Sealed by four spirit kings (spirit lords) in fake body. Break that, and true form shows.
They tried in game, but difficulty broke limits. Other staff stopped it, cut back.
Janus moved its giant body and sent a shockwave. No damage, but knockback pushed us 20 meters away.
Time to appraise (item check) the new foe for the fight ahead.
Spirit type Janus
HP 600/600
Mana 500/500
Skill Power 100/100
Physical Attack 120
Physical Defense 100
Magic Attack 150
Magic Defense 100
Speed 40
Movement 2
No status problems
Special: Element immune—fire, water, wind, earth. Physical resist.
No gear.
All stats exploded. Four elements blocked, physical halved. Only pure mana, light, dark work—things we lack. Funny. Shared info via mind talk (thought speech), planned fast.
’Ethelena, ready elingium (sniper gun). Resist, but pierce and back hit should cut deep. We three draw eyes—shoot without hold.’
’Got it.’
To Yohira on front line:
’Yohira, concept appraisal (deep check)?’
’Sad, not in life range. Pure cut only.’
’Got it… temari-bana (flower cut) not enough?’
’Joke. No blade in my hand fails.’
Her fierce grin strengthened me. To Tatia last:
’How you hold? Egg full heal, right?’
’Yes, mana and skill power full from change time.’
’Good. Drop Andrea (wind sword) element. Pure mana hits on your burst edge (power slash). Count on you.’
’Yes, my lord.’
Concept appraisal on Janus again. Slight warp in back crystals. Only on back stones—my job.
Used kurokira (black shine) jet to fly close. Appraised one.
Spirit type wind spirit crystal (element core)
HP 999/999
Mana 0/0
Skill Power 0/0
Physical Attack 0
Physical Defense 500
Magic Attack 0
Magic Defense 500
Speed 0
Movement 0
No status problems
Special: Wind immune.
No gear.
What!? Defense 500 blocks normal damage, HP maxed—insane!
No concept appraisal, gamble pierce weapon. No wonder stopped.
Wind type, so hammer to fire. Ran concept appraisal, saw warp. One spot—weak point. Swung.
Weapon hit: 20 + 243 – 0 = 263. Hit.
Fire attack: 2 × 263 – 500 = 26. Instant death.
Crystal shattered on hammer clash. HP remained, but deep check broke inorganic easy. Janus screamed loud.
’Tatara, its wind resist gone!’
Yohira appraised, sent change.
Crystals boost element resists. Break all.
’I keep smashing back crystals! Hit lost element!’
’Got it, Lord Tatara!’
Tatia hit with element at once. Janus wailed in pain.
’Good! Wind weak now!’
’Push through?’
’Extra power, but defense high. Not instant!’
True, defense like orichalcum golem (golden golem). Her combos take time. Why make this? Normal explorers cannot win!
Ethelena fired elingium, gouged back deep. Janus raged in pain, but I aimed next crystal.
Spirit type fire spirit crystal
HP 999/999
Mana 0/0
Skill Power 0/0
Physical Attack 0
Physical Defense 500
Magic Attack 0
Magic Defense 500
Speed 0
Movement 0
No status problems
Special: Fire immune.
No gear.
Hammer to water, concept appraisal. Swung at warp.
Weapon hit: 20 + 243 – 0 = 263. Hit.
Water attack: 2 × 263 – 500 = 26. Instant death.
Crystal broke with high sound, Janus screamed again. Clearly weaker.
’Tatara, problem.’
’Here? What?’
Yohira’s mind talk came.
’It has lives like that king. Cut HP once, but healed.’
Real, why make such pain? Too much!
’No kill condition known.’
’Got it. Keep cut with lives in mind. I break all crystals.’
’Why, Tatara?’
’Crystals are spirit type. Maybe life stock. Try break.’
’Till then, we tank. Leave it.’
Set plan, went to next crystal. Then mana gathered overhead.
Magic hit: 250 + 40 – 243 = 47. Hit check.
Fire-wind mix attack: 150 – 213 = 0. Element absorb.
Smashed crystals’ mix magic—mid area thunder call lightning—hit me. But surprise or not, kurokira defense held.
Payback: aimed hammer at next crystal, deep appraisal to concept.
Spirit type water spirit crystal
HP 999/999
Mana 0/0
Skill Power 0/0
Physical Attack 0
Physical Defense 500
Magic Attack 0
Magic Defense 500
Speed 0
Movement 0
No status problems
Special: Water immune.
No gear.
I switched the hammer to earth and swung full force at the warp.
Weapon hit: 20 + 243 – 0 = 263. Hit check.
Earth attack: 2 × 263 – 500 = 526. Instant death.
Third spirit crystal (element core) broke. I was getting used to Janus’s screams. At the same time, its huge body shook and lost balance. I pulled a sword from inventory (storage space) fast and stabbed its back to hold on. But I let go of the hammer.
’Tatara, you okay!?’ Ethelena asked through mind talk (thought speech).
’Safe for now, but dropped my weapon.’
Should I go down and pick it up?
’Tatara, can you get the weapon and climb back?’ Yohira asked.
’Not sure. It will guard more now.’
It knew breaking crystals weakened it. Monsters learn. If I did not break the last one, we might stall forever.
’Lord Tatara, I have an idea,’ Tatia said.
’What, Tatia?’
’Use test sword skill.’
That woke me up. I still had that.
’Thanks, Tatia. I forgot!’
’Remember your own cards, Lord Tatara,’ she replied with a tired feel.
She was right. This showed my lack of fight talent.
I steadied myself on the sword, stood firm on Janus’s back, and pulled it free.
The blade would not break even in my hands. It was famous sword Alcard (unbreakable blade). Never thought the Immortal King would help here, but I would use it to the end.
I faced the last crystal, readied the sword, and used appraisal (item check) then concept appraisal (deep check).
—
Spirit type earth spirit crystal
HP 999/999
Mana 0/0
Skill Power 0/0
Physical Attack 0
Physical Defense 500
Magic Attack 0
Magic Defense 500
Notes:
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Gabrielle – Chancellor of the Land of Eternal Night, she commissions Julon to craft weapons, evaluates materials seriously, and reacts with disbelief at his swift, high-level craftsmanship.
• Ikeemaa – A vampire guard assigned to protect Gabriel Harker, she is tense and hostile toward Julon at first, then apologizes after tasting his blood and requests a sniping gun.
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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