Gacha System: Reborn In The Hardest World
Chapter 29: Reunion

Chapter 29: Reunion

A sigh escaped his lips as he readied himself, placing confidence in his leveled up body before–

As he looked up, a punch was already thrown his way, witnessing those oversized, callused knuckles soaring right for his nose:

"Grrh?!--"

The fist failed to reach him, finding it stopped completely by the hand of the man in glasses. Despite the complete disparity in physiques, Matteo didn’t seem to struggle at all as he held the massive brawler’s hand in place, "Now, now, there’s no need for that. We were just passing through."

"You?!--How...?!" Moro struggled, oozing sweat from his pores as his complexion was now as red as a beat.

As the burly man withdrew his fist, stumbling back, the anger he exuded was palpable as his muscles seemed to somehow swell further.

"Big mistake! I’m going to grind your bones to dust now–this is a duel!" Moro shouted, slapping his own chest as his physique was amplified.

Gael couldn’t help but sigh, once again, finding himself in conflict within the boundaries of Galios.

’Seriously...This place is something else–it feels like a fight breaks out every five minutes. I’m going to wind up dying of exhaustion before anything else,’ he thought.

As he prepared for a duel, he found the hand of Matteo in front of him as the Jack of All Trades stepped up with a calm smile. There was already a small crowd of spectators in the market of sea-acquired goods, though most of which seemed more ready to witness the brute crush them than see an actual fight.

"Mind if I handle this one, Master?" Matteo requested. "I’d like to show you what I’m capable of, if you don’t mind."

"He’s all yours," Gael accepted gladly, folding his arms over his chest.

There was an unnatural growth to the muscles of the "Bone Crusher", as if his limbs were being inflated by air.

"I recognize this form of magic. A unison of wind, fire, and earth–though it sounds more impressive than it is, really," Matteo broke down what he perceived.

"What’s that?!" Moro spat out as veins pressed against his skin.

"Among seasoned mages, it’s called "Mana Rage"--an unrefined method that is little more than pumping elemental magic through one’s body. It results in a tremendous boost in strength, though carries certain risks," Matteo explained for all to hear.

It was surprising for Gael, listening to the clear, calm breakdown given by Matteo, as if he were a professor of magecraft giving a lecture in the face of battle.

Moro shouted, bursting forward, "Shut your mouth–!"

As the muscle-hoarding brute swung his fist wildly, Matteo ducked right beneath it without his smile fading. Like a cowboy quick-drawing his pistol from his belt, the man in glasses retrieved an ivory needle, in the same motion jabbing it right into the abdomen of the brute.

"--And this is one such counter," Matteo remarked.

"Nrk!?" Moro grunted.

There was no chance for the muscle-bound man to pull back his fist for another strike–POP. POP. POP.

Like firecrackers going off, the noise rang out as the brawler’s muscles deflated like a pierced balloon.

"Gaaaah!--"

A yell left Moro’s lips as he was thrown back by the inexplicable reaction occurring throughout his own body. Nobody tried to catch the wild man, simply letting him crash against an old, stone wall.

[EXP: +100] [110/1000]

"What was that? How’d you do that?" Gael asked curiously.

Matteo stuffed the needle back into its pouch before brushing his gloves off with a confident smile, "Simple, really. I used a mana-imbued needle to pierce his body, throwing the unstable flow of mana within his body into a frenzy, and well–that’s the result."

"That’s all it was? Really?" Gael asked further.

A small laugh left Matteo’s lips as he gestured for them to continue moving along, "Knowledge is strength. Knowing the most efficient, risk-free way to overcome the obstacle before you is the greatest ability."

As he hurried along away from the scene, keeping the compass in his hand, he still had a question on his mind. The image in his head of the monstrous fist being stopped utterly in its tracks merely by the Jack of All Trades’ hand; it didn’t make sense.

"If it’s all about knowledge, then how’d you stop that punch? That looked like raw strength to me," Gael questioned, glancing over at the wise adventurer.

Matteo showed his glove, "Maybe I’ll teach you, at some point."

—

Following the guidance of the magical compass, he somehow found his way out of the gloomy Paradise Sector.

Back to the exuberant streets of Galios’ capital, the sight of the snow-white castle at its center returned.

"There it is," Gael pointed out, looking ahead through the street.

The compass was reclaimed by Matteo, who stuffed it back into his pocket, "Quite the lavish looking place. Interesting."

Before he could approach the pristine, golden gates separating the castle grounds—

"Hey, Masteeeeeer!"

—He turned around only to have his vision filled by the sight of a breastplate before it smacked right into him.

The strong arms wrapped around him, giving him what he could only feel was a bear hug.

"Florentine?!" Gael coughed out.

"I thought I was totally lost...! I found you, though!" The muscular warrior woman whined.

"Yeah, you did...So could you let me go?!" Gael struggled.

Florentine laughed, releasing her hold, "Oh, sure!"

As he set himself back down from the arms of the burly woman, he glanced around, having earned some odd looks from the denizens of the city.

"Who’s this guy?" Florentine asked, completely lacking the concept of manners as she stared at the newly-summoned familiar.

Matteo adjusted his glasses before extending his hand, "The name is Matteo. All the same as you, I am a familiar of our Master here."

"Oh, nice to meetcha’ then!" Florentine accepted the handshake, though squeezing and shaking the hand a bit too aggressively.

Gael watched the meeting between the two as Pucha sat on his shoulder, feeling a sort of "same employment" rivalry between them.

’Well, I hope they can get along,’ he thought.