My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 84: Ignacio ③

Episode 84: Ignacio ③ 

“Fwahahaha! Fascinating, truly fascinating! To think someone could wield such a variety of weapons with such mastery!”  

Since switching to his defensive strategy using a small shield, Kyousuke had been focusing on endurance. However, taking Ignacio’s powerful blows head-on would have been a foolish move—doing so would drain his stamina instantly.  

Thus, Kyousuke chose to deflect every attack. He was minimizing his energy loss and surviving by the slimmest of margins. His survival itself was enough to elate Ignacio, as his words clearly expressed.  

(A steel small shield breaks after just three deflections. An iron spear shatters with one hit. Without anything tougher than steel, I can only endure as many blows as I have weapons.)  

Kyousuke, though trained in kendo, had also handled various other weapons to some extent. The sword he had started with had already broken. But his ability to adapt to different weapons allowed him to hold out.  

Neither Rindou nor Ayane could have created this situation.  

“Not going to counterattack? Then I’ll end this with this blade!”  

Right after Ignacio declared this, the straight sword he wielded began to glow with green magical energy.  

Understanding the implication, Kyousuke gritted his teeth as cold sweat trickled down his face.  

(A magic swordsman, huh?)  

A magical sword user could imbue their weapon with magical power. It would add its effects to their strikes. Kyousuke had no means to counter magic at this point. It left evasion as his only option—and his stockpile of weapons was nearly exhausted.  

“Don’t die too quickly now!”  

Prepared to take some damage if necessary, Kyousuke steeled himself—just as a sudden explosion erupted.  

——BOOOOOM!!  

Bright red flames and thick black smoke burst forth from the wooden wall behind Ignacio.  

“What?!”  

Ignacio canceled his spell and turned around in surprise.  

“Daraaaaah!”  

Rindou emerged from the black smoke. He unleashed his full strength in a whirlwind slash.  

——Slash!  

“Urgh!”  

“Not deep enough! Then how about—gah?!”  

Just as Rindou moved in for a follow-up strike, a sharp impact to his abdomen made him stagger backward.  

Ignacio’s reflexive front kick had landed squarely in his stomach.  

(Damn it! That was the perfect chance!)  

With his ambush failing, Rindou now had to face Ignacio head-on once more. If they got separated by magic again, all would be lost. Enduring the pain, he charged forward.  

“[Wind Ar—”  

“Not happening!”  

Though bl00d flowed from his left shoulder, Ignacio quickly recovered his stance to launch a magic attack—but Kyousuke intervened, attacking fiercely.  

Though not mortally wounded, Ignacio was accumulating small injuries. And the bleeding was becoming significant. Every move he made widened his wounds, worsening the bl00d loss.  

“Are you trying to die?!”  

“This? It’s nothing compared to the danger we faced back then!”  

Kyousuke referred to their deadly encounter with the Eldias Kong. Both Rindou and Kyousuke had been on the brink of death yet managed to survive.  

Kyousuke was a seasoned veteran of many perilous situations. He considered these injuries minor.  

“Hmph! Even if you can move, you’ll never defeat me!”  

“That’s what you think!”  

“[Reflect]!”  

While Ignacio was locked in combat with Kyousuke, Rindou unleashed a powerful strike from behind—this time using his [Iron Wall Reflection] skill.  

Ignacio immediately sensed the danger of the blow. 

(This strike… is deadly!)  

He diminished Kyousuke’s attack with his [Wind Armor] and turned to intercept Rindou’s strike with his sword.  

The clash released a massive shockwave. It caused the Colosseum to tremble.  

“…Heh, looks like it’s my win!”  

“No, it’s our win.”

——CRACK!  

A shattering sound came from behind Rindou.  

Although the wooden wall was still intact, the portion Ayane had destroyed earlier had mysteriously not regenerated. This signaled that Ignacio no longer had the magical reserves to sustain it. And at this point, the amount of black smoke had decreased.

“—Skill: [Zan(Mountain)]”  

Through a gap in the smoke, Ayane was drenched. But she was determined. She rose to her feet and activated her skill.