My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 53: Skill [Iron Wall Reflection]

Episode 53: Skill [Iron Wall Reflection]

“…Gakuto.”

“I swear, I’m gonna kill you no matter what!”  

Gakuto stormed forward. He was carrying his greatsword on his shoulder. Seeing this, Kyousuke stepped forward. But Rindou held him back and moved ahead instead.  

“Rindou-kun, are you sure about this?”  

“He’s after me, Kyousuke. Besides, I’ve got unfinished business with him.”  

“Unfinished business, huh? You should’ve just died when I tried to kill you the first time!”  

With no intention of negotiating, Gakuto charged in with terrifying speed. Rindou exhaled lightly. He raised his Gale Blade to meet the incoming strike.  

——BOOM!

The ground beneath Rindou caved in from the impact of the greatsword. But he endured without breaking a sweat, smirking confidently.  

“Is that all you’ve got?”  

“You bastard!”  

Gakuto gritted his teeth in frustration. He swung his greatsword wildly in anger. However, his reckless attacks were easy for Rindou to predict.  

Rather than dodge, Rindou deliberately took each blow. He was accumulating damage while maintaining his stance. He intended to store as much power as possible for a counterattack, even if it meant enduring Gakuto’s skill [Heavy Tank] for now.  

“Damn it! Why won’t you die?! Why won’t you fall?!”  

“You’re the one who needs to stop! Do you even understand how serious it is for players to fight each other?!”  

“Like I care! I’m fighting for myself! It’s the weaklings who should be dying for my sake—like you!”  

Gakuto’s selfishness was reaching its peak. His field of vision was narrowing to focus solely on Rindou. For Gakuto, Kyousuke might as well not even exist.  

“You bastard! Enough already!”  

Determined to end it, Gakuto activated his trump card from [Heavy Tank].  

“Regret it in hell! [Invitation to the Abyss]!”  

Black magic began to pour out of Gakuto’s body, concentrating into his greatsword.  

“What the hell is that…?”  

Rindou leaped back instinctively, creating some distance.  

“Rindou, watch out! That’s [Dark Magic] condensed into a single strike! Even just blocking it will drain your strength. It’ll overwhelm you!”  

“So, it’s a debuff-infused strike…”  

Despite Kyousuke’s warning, Rindou maintained his stance. He faced Gakuto head-on.  

“You’re seriously gonna stand there and take this?! Are you insane?”  

“Doesn’t matter. I’m here to take you down, Gakuto.”  

“Take me down?! Don’t make me laugh!”  

“Do I look like I’m joking?”  

Rindou’s unwavering resolve made Gakuto grit his teeth in rage.  

“You’ve got some nerve! Fine, I’ll kill you just like you want!”  

Switching to a two-handed grip, Gakuto raised his greatsword high. His open stance conveyed his confidence that Rindou couldn’t hurt him.  

But Rindou had no intention of simply exchanging blows. With his new skill [Iron Wall Reflection], he had all the tools he needed.  

“Bring it on, Gakuto!”  

“Die, Rindouuuuuuuu!”  

Gakuto’s abyssal blade descended. It was aimed squarely at Rindou’s head. Instead of clashing blades, Rindou timed his move perfectly.  

“Skill: [Iron Wall Reflection]!”  

Just as their weapons collided, Rindou unleashed his skill. He redirected all the stored damage he had absorbed back at Gakuto.  

“What the—?! What is this?!”  

Caught completely off guard, Gakuto’s body was hit head-on by the reflected damage. It sent him staggering backward.

His own greatsword, imbued with dark magic, was reflected back at him. Having never been overpowered before, Gakuto’s expression turned from confusion to sheer terror.  

“This is the end, Gakuto!”  

“D-Don’t be ridiculous! I’m the strongest! I am— I am—!”  

Gakuto’s scream was cut short.  

The accumulated damage from [Iron Wall Reflection] was immense. It not only shattered the dark-magic-infused greatsword but also obliterated Gakuto’s upper body entirely. The reflected force unleashed every bit of the stored damage in one devastating blow.  

“Hah… hah… hah… hah… It’s… over… finally…” 

Rindou gasped, his breaths ragged—until he noticed the gruesome aftermath.  

Gakuto’s mangled, headless body lay sprawled on the ground. The sight churned Rindou’s stomach. He fought to hold back the nausea rising in his throat. It forced himself to accept the outcome.  

This, he realized, was the price of his arrogance. It was the result of underestimating the depths of their conflict. With trembling resolve, he swallowed his rising bile.  

“Hah… hah…”  

“Are you alright, Rindou-kun?” 

Kyousuke’s voice broke through the heavy silence. It was soft and filled with concern.  

“…Yeah. I’m fine.”  

“You don’t look fine.”  

“It’s my burden to bear. This happened because of me—I have to own it.”  

Rindou stared at Gakuto’s lifeless body, his mind spinning, when an unexpected system window appeared before him:  

[Congratulations on your first player kill. Special gacha: Acquire the player’s skill.]  

“…W-What…?”  

The cold, brutal message drained the color from Rindou’s face. The unexpected reward, indifferent to the tragedy, filled him with a profound sense of dread.