My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 123: An Unbelievable Scene

Episode 123: An Unbelievable Scene

As Rindou and Kunichika stepped through the hidden double gate, an inexplicable sensation washed over them. 

“What the hell is this?” 

“Tch! I can’t sense anything!” 

A white mist hung in the air. It obscured their ability to detect any presence. Whenever they tried to sense something nearby, the mist seemed to block their perception. It cut off their awareness. 

However, while their ability to sense others might have been hindered, the powerful presence they had been tracking continued to emanate steadily. 

Proceeding cautiously, Rindou noticed something ahead. 

“…Kunichika, is that what I think it is?” 

“You’ve got to be kidding me…….. Those are players, aren’t they?!” 

What Rindou had spotted were numerous players lying motionless on the ground. 

“Are you okay? Hey!” 

They rushed over and called out, but not a single person responded. 

“They have a pulse… They’re not dead.” 

“But why aren’t they moving at all?” 

The players on the ground were utterly still. It was almost as though they were lifeless. 

As Kunichika pointed out, they had a pulse. But their breathing was so faint that it could barely be heard even when listening closely. 

“It’s either some kind of status ailment… or a monster’s skill.” 

“If they’re not dead, there’s still a chance to save them. And Kyousuke and the others aren’t here.” 

Rindou scanned the scene carefully. But he didn’t see Kyousuke, Ayane, or Kageboshi among the fallen players. 

“…Hey, rookie. Do you hear that?” 

While Rindou silently prayed for Kyousuke and the others’ safety, Kunichika spoke up. 

“…Yeah, I hear it. It’s… the sound of a fight!” 

“Let’s go!” 

“Right!” 

Rindou and Kunichika took off in the direction of the battle sounds. 

The sound of the fight grew louder as they ran. It brought them closer to what they assumed was the source—or so they thought. 

“Damn it! Why’s it getting farther away?!” 

They were certain they were running toward the noise. But the sounds of combat inexplicably began to recede. 

It was possible that whoever was fighting was intentionally moving away. But the idea that someone could retreat faster than them while engaged in battle seemed unlikely. 

As they started to sense that something was wrong, Kunichika suddenly dropped to his knees. 

“Kunichika!” 

“…Hah… hah… What the hell is this?” 

“You okay?! Hey!” 

Rindou rushed to Kunichika’s side. He leaned in to check Kunichika’s face. His complexion was unnervingly pale. 

“…Rookie, you feeling anything?” 

“Y-yeah, I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong with me.” 

“…Then it’s just me. Whatever this is, it’s only affecting me.” 

Kunichika’s breathing grew increasingly labored. But he tried to stay calm. He was sorting through the information they had gathered so far. 

(The players who were down… I’ve seen them before. Every single one of them was either highly ranked or had been playing for a long time. Rankings are set by the Association and mean nothing to monsters. So… could it be tied to experience instead?)

The lack of information made it difficult to be sure. If his guess was wrong, telling Rindou could cause unnecessary confusion. 

“…You’ve realized something, haven’t you, Kunichika? Tell me.” 

Rindou noticed Kunichika’s expression. He could tell he had figured something out. 

“…There’s a good chance I’m wrong, you know. You sure you want to hear it?” 

“Anything’s better than knowing nothing.” 

Encouraged by Rindou’s determination, Kunichika hesitantly voiced his theory. 

“…My condition is probably the same as those fallen players. If I had to guess, it’s targeting the most experienced players first.” 

“Experienced players?” 

“Yeah. The more experienced you are, the harder it is to deal with. The Association probably decided the most dangerous areas. Then, they sent high-ranked players to handle them. And a lot of the high-ranked players are veterans.” 

Rindou had relatively little experience as a player. Hearing Kunichika’s reasoning, he began to believe the theory might be correct. 

At that moment, Rindou also realized that Kyousuke, Kunichika’s peer, was likely already incapacitated. 

“…Hurry, rookie.” 

“But I can’t just leave you behind.” 

“The other players are still alive. They won’t be killed so easily.” 

Kunichika could no longer even stand. But he still had a strong determination shining in his eyes. 

It was the will to survive no matter what and conquer the gate ahead. 

“………Got it. I swear I’ll take down the boss monster and clear this gate.” 

“And… take this with you.” 

As Kunichika spoke, he extended the Voltenix he had been gripping tightly to Rindou. 

“Are you sure about this?” 

“In my current state, I can’t do anything. I’m counting on you… Rindou Amachi.” 

Kunichika had only ever called him “rookie” until now. He finally addressed Rindou by his full name just before losing consciousness. 

Accepting Kunichika’s will and weapon, Rindou stood up and sprinted at full speed toward the source of the sound.