My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 80: The Colosseum ⑧

Episode 80: The Colosseum ⑧ 

——Like Kyousuke, Ayane immediately analyzed the situation upon being separated.  

“Targeting us one by one, huh? Honestly, that works better for me.”  

She had already activated the skill [Group Command], which enhanced her physical abilities. While Rindou’s skill [Resonance] affected a radius of 10 meters, [Group Command] had a much larger range. It spanned 50 meters.  

Even if Rindou or Kyousuke moved across the stage or to its far edges, they would still remain within the skill’s effective range.  

Thus, Ayane could move freely without needing to worry about their positions.  

“I wonder if Rindou-san will be okay, though?”  

That concern, however, was fleeting. Ayane was also mindful of Rindou’s [Resonance], just as Kyousuke had been.  

But her thoughts were quickly interrupted.  

——Slash!  

Not only did the wooden branches attack her as they had Rindou and Kyousuke, but the Elf wielding magic also appeared directly before Ayane.  

“So, my opponent is a woman. How dull.”  

The offhanded remark from the staff-wielding Elf ignited Ayane’s fury.  

“…Excuse me? What did you just say?”  

“Hmph! To react with such anger to a little insult, how typical of a woman…”  

The Elf shrugged nonchalantly, but Ayane’s sharp glare fixed on him.  

“Typical arrogant Elf talk.”  

“Arrogant, you say? An amusing perspective, indeed.”  

Ayane didn’t find her words amusing in the least. But the Elf chuckled, pointing his staff at her with a grin.  

“You call us arrogant, yet you dared to voice it aloud. That means you’re prepared for the consequences, aren’t you?”  

“I don’t know what kind of ‘consequences’ you’re implying. But I am prepared to defeat you.”  

“Hoho! A truly entertaining jest! Then come, I’ll lend you my chest to strike at!”  

No matter how much they exchanged words, the Elf’s condescending demeanor remained unchanged.  

Accepting this, Ayane readied her sword. She was intent on defeating him.  

“Then I’ll gladly slice through that chest of yours!”  

“[Wood Spear]! [Wood Burst]!”  

As the Elf uttered those words, wooden branches shot out from the walls. 

Ayane dodged and moved to close the gap. But this time, the branches didn’t just stop at protruding.  

——Boom!  

“They exploded!?”  

Immediately after she evaded, a small explosion erupted from the branch’s tip.  

“Tch!”  

“There’s more to come! What’s wrong? Where’s your earlier bravado?”  

Each time Ayane dodged a branch, an explosion followed.  

While she could evade more cautiously, the next branch was already emerging. And she began to accumulate minor injuries.  

“Ugh, this is getting annoying!”  

“Have you finally given up?”  

“Save the jokes for your face, why don’t you?”  

“What! You dare! That’s unforgivable! I’ll kill you at once!”  

Elves were known for their striking beauty. And they despised being mocked about their appearance more than anything. Their pride in their looks was unparalleled.  

(Elves are so easy to provoke. Just insult their appearance, and they’ll take the bait immediately.)  

Hoping to exploit an opening, Ayane kept a close eye on the Elf. However, the stage was the Elf’s domain.  

Branches shot out from all directions, targeting her relentlessly.  

In that moment, Ayane slammed her foot against the ground and sprinted with all her might.  

“Skill: [Wind]”  

She activated her second, hidden skill that no one else knew about.  

“She’s… fast!?”  

The Elf had never expected her to outrun the onslaught of branches—and even prevent them from exploding—with sheer speed.  

“But—[Wood Labyrinth]!”  

The stage, under the Elf’s control, began shifting. Wooden walls moved to block Ayane’s path.  

“Not happening! Skill: [Forest]!”  

Despite the walls being under the Elf’s command, the ones in Ayane’s path suddenly stopped responding.  

“Y-You! What did you do!?”  

“It’s my little secret. No way I’m telling you.”  

Without losing momentum, Ayane trusted her skills and dashed forward. 

Like a gust of wind, she closed the distance to the Elf in an instant.  

“…Impressive.”

“Thanks.”  

With that, she delivered a diagonal slash, cleaving the Elf in two.