Gacha System: Reborn In The Hardest World
Chapter 26: Warrior’s Resignation

Chapter 26: Warrior’s Resignation

[—Destroy.]

That same command repeated itself through each synapse of his brain before slamming his fist forth. It struck the magical skin of the reaper, producing a shock wave that rippled through the arena.

Despite how much strength he packed behind the punch, it did not send his enemy flying, only sliding Rurik back as a light bruise was left on the man’s metallic skin.

"This colosseum usually only feeds me has-beens and incompetent never-wheres," Rurik remarked, brushing his chest off. "You’re a breath of fresh air."

None of the man’s words played any meaning into Gael’s mind, only seeing red as the singular word repeated in his head—

[Destroy.]

As he brought his palms close together, the malevolent flames sparked in accordance to his will. The frightened look in the spectators’ eyes fed his destructive urges, stoking the fire he held as it swirled intensely.

Rurik readied himself as if welcoming the pitch-black fire before–

Instead of throwing it, Gael instead swallowed the burning sphere, causing a mixed reaction from the crowd.

"Now that’s...odd," Rurik mumbled.

As the fireball was consumed, steam escaped through the pores of Gael’s body, gathering around him like a burning cloud. He planted his feet down as vapor left his lips before pushing his head forward and opening his mouth–

"AAAAGH!"

–A stream of the black fire launched from his lips, pouring out like a tidal wave of the burning element. The sheer quantity of the fire flooded the battlefield, pushing up against the magical barrier that stood between the lethal heat and the audience.

"THIS FIRE...IT’S GETTING REAL HOT IN HERE...!" The worried voice of the announcer boomed.

It didn’t take long as he kept his mouth open before filling the entirety of the arena battlefield in the black flames. He finally closed his mouth, breathing out as steam left his lips.

The malevolent wave of fire was pushed away by a burst of wind across the arena. Against all logic, the reaper still remained on his feet, though his mystical skin was covered in burns.

Rurik breathed heavily, "...A few seconds more in that fire, I might’ve turned to ash."

There was no hesitation planted in Gael’s mind as he pushed his foot off the ground, shattering the flooring as he took off with tremendous might. He placed everything into his fist, clenching it as the black flames swirled around his limb, encasing it in the destructive might he called upon–

Rurik met him halfway, racing across the arena as the silver complexion of his skin shifted once more; the Venator Reaper took on a snow-white, crystalline form.

As his enemy came within reach, he leapt up, cocking his flame-infused fist back–

[Temporary summoning over.]

"Ah?--"

Like a fog clearing from his mind, all of his rationality returned, though the abundant power of destruction escaped. Before he could slam his fist down upon his enemy, the complexion of Abaddon was erased like water to ink–

"I surrender."

–As those words calmly left the lips of the Venator Reaper, Gael landed without tossing his fist, finding himself face-to-face with the odd man.

The audience was silent at that moment, as if those words spoken had completely taken the air out of the underground stadium.

[EXP: +500]

[Level Up!] [8 -> 10] [10/1000]

[BODY: +10] [MANA: +10]

[PERMANENT SUMMON: +2]

[SSR SUMMON: +1]

It wasn’t a ruse; the very fact he received experience confirmed it for him—the man no longer desired to fight.

"Why would you–?" Gael questioned in disbelief.

A soft smile was worn on the lips of the seasoned killer as his complexion returned to its normal, pale state, "I’ve come to realize what you are, Gael."

"What I am?--"

Before he could get an answer, the announcer’s voice shouted from the pinnacle of the arena–

"--AGAINST ALL ODDS...ALL BETS, THE ROOKIE HAS DEFEATED THE VENATOR REAPER?! FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE REAPER HAS SURRENDERED?!"

Though there were definitely those unhappy with the outcome, he was overwhelmed with cheers—

"GO ROOK!"

"GAEL! GAEL! GAEL!"

—He looked up at the stands as his name and deeds were praised. It was a new feeling, though one he didn’t oppose.

To his surprise, Rurik approached him with an extended hand, showing sportsmanship he didn’t expect from a gladiator.

"You’re a mighty warrior, there’s no denying that," Rurik complimented.

Gael hesitantly accepted his hand, rejecting the praise, "...You knew, didn’t you? That power I had—it was gone."

"I don’t know about that," Rurik laughed it off. "I was quite spent myself. I couldn’t lift my fist, in fact."

It felt like a plain lie as Gael raised an eyebrow, though he didn’t question the outcome.

"About what you said...knowing what I am. Do you know?—" Gael asked intently.

"I do. It is for the love of your sort that I hunt the Venator," Rurik explained, taking his leave as he strolled towards the other side of the arena. "—My wife was an Outlander, like you. Until they took her away."

As he watched the pale man disappear through the corridor, he left the way he came in as well. As he walked through the tunnel, the adrenaline started to wear off.

The wounds he took weren’t major, though they were hardly pleasant.

As he returned to the waiting room, the first thing he was greeted by was the dog-sized animal rushing to him—

"Oh, hey, Pucha—I won," Gael said, welcoming the capybara as it jumped up into his arms.

As he earned some affection from the furry companion, he looked at the tall man standing in the room.

Darius adjusted his shades, hardly looking pleased, "Congrats, fresh blood."

"Congrats?" Gael repeated, setting the capybara on his shoulder. "You never expected me to win, did you?"

A tense silence filled the weapon-stocked room of peeling, gray wallpaper.

Darius held a small bag filled to the brim with what could only be precious coins in it, "You won, didn’t cha? Don’t see the need for these what-if scenarios."

Without any gratitude, he snatched the bag out of the crime boss’ hand, stuffing it in his pocket.

He headed towards the door with a fresh amount of money lining his pockets.

Darius called out from behind him with a greedy laugh, "If you find yourself with bigger spending habits than your bag there, there’s more where that came from."

Gael stopped only for a moment before opening the door, "I’ll keep that in mind."