Gacha System: Reborn In The Hardest World
Chapter 32: Proof of Strength

Chapter 32: Proof of Strength

Of fire and lightning, the twin beasts manifested, roaring through the frostbitten chamber right for the Monarch himself. As he directed the ethereal dragons, Gael watched the sovereign, finding the man not evading the elemental force, but confronting it.

With a stomp of his boot, thundering through the chamber, a tempest of frost swirled around the youthful ruler as he raised his blade to the ceiling, "Eis!"

The silver ice erupted, coalescing into the form of a glacial lion, being sent forth against the twin dragons.

Gael planted his feet down, keeping both hands up as his magic clashed with the Monarch’s own. Right as the frost-formed lion crashed into the dragons of fire and lightning, the force threw him back.

"Ngh–!"

He barely caught himself as his back was shoved against the statue, forcing his hands forward, putting all of his strength behind the twin dragons. As fire roared and lightning crackled throughout the chamber, the overwhelming tidal wave of frost overwhelmed both elements at once.

Even as he produced the burning beasts, he watched as his fingers began to slowly become encased in ice.

’--This guy is insane. This is supposed to be a test, right–?’ He thought, flinching at the torrent of clashing elements.

He could feel the strength being sapped from his body as he held back the beast of frost before–

It exploded; both the lion and the twin dragons ruptured into a volatile reaction of clashing elements. The result of the elemental collision brought a gale of icy wind shouting through the chamber.

"Haah..." Gael breathed out, finding himself still standing, though frost crawling over his skin as he looked across.

The Monarch remained unfazed, the cold seemed to be a non-issue for him as particles of ice trickled over his bestial cloak, "Come, Outlander. Surely that wasn’t your trump card."

It was obvious to him; if he didn’t prove himself right then and there, only death awaited. As his lungs were filled with cold air, bringing his body to shiver, he shouted, "SSR Summon!"

[SSR Special Summon Initiated.]

The golden-eyed sovereign was already on the move, closing the distance between them as he swung his massive blade, "So, that’s your innate ability?"

"--!" Gael slid back, using the slick flooring to his benefit as he narrowly avoided having his midsection bisected.

"A summoning ability that brings forth random results," the Monarch discerned while swinging his sword without much effort. "--A chaotic power, though perhaps boundless in possibilities."

As the light flashed through every color in the spectrum, every millisecond counted in avoiding the frost-born edge. Though the Monarch was undoubtedly faster than him, he found his reflexes heightened enough to at least maneuver around the heavy blade, flipping back as it crashed down.

As his feet landed, he found the cloak-wearing sovereign already midway through attempting to split him in half from the left side, forcing him to bring his right foot down harder–

["Shockwave."]

–The activation of the skill with the slam of his boot shattered the sheet of ice crawling over the ground, interrupting the Monarch’s assault. It was only momentary, though just enough for the summoning process to reach its conclusion:

[Skill Permanently Obtained: (SSR) "Total Body Manipulation"]

Throughout every fiber of muscle, carved into his bones, engraved into his strands of DNA, the mystical power was imbued into his being. In the room inhabited by freezing winds, he adjusted his own internal body heat, raising it until the cold wasn’t a factor.

’Now...I have a complete, fundamental understanding of my own body. I can change it at will,’ he realized.

As that frozen blade was swung for his head, he increased the density of his own muscles, amplifying their explosiveness before bolting to the side. The sword missed its mark completely as Gael found himself across the chamber from a single step.

It was a surprise for both; he found himself taken aback by just how much speed he built up through overloading the strength in his calf.

"An increase in your physical condition...I’d say you were five times faster there," the Monarch analyzed, looking over towards him as he hoisted his blade from the ground. "Interesting. So, it’s not just weapons or familiars you can summon. It’s also abilities–magic and physical."

There were no words he could spare for the ruler, only able to think to himself as he prepared for the next assault.

’It’s not just the ability to control my own body–I can push certain parts past their normal limits. I imagine the further I push, the more dangerous it becomes in turn. I have to be wise,’

"Temporary Summon: Weapon!" Gael shouted, moving forward at the same time.

[Temporary Weapon Summoning Initiated.]

Amplifying the muscles in his legs once more, he kicked off with a burst of speed that rippled across the ice-ridden ground. This time, he took the fight right to the Monarch, breaking a dozen meters of distance in a single dash–

"I see," the Monarch said, staring right at him with those ethereal eyes. "Perhaps there is some worth to you, after all."

Despite the flimsy compliment, the blade of ice was raised, swirling with a wind of ice as its size was expanded. Gael slammed his foot down, expanding the muscles in his left leg to force himself to stop as he looked up.

’That’s not good,’ he observed.

The colossal sword of frost extended to the size of a pillar, exuding a wind of biting cold as it was held above the Monarch’s head. As he witnessed that towering blade loom over him, the fluctuation of light by his hand reached its end–

[Weapon Temporarily Obtained: (R) "Handheld Cannon"]

Around his arm, a massive weapon forged of silver-and-white material manifested, hardly seeming "handheld" as it practically attached itself to the right side of his body. Condensing the muscle into that cannon-carrying limb, he exhaled sharply before hoisting the cannon up, pointing it right for the ice-forged blade as it was swung down–

He pulled the trigger at the moment the sword befell him, filling his vision with the flash shooting out of the other end of the barrel–

BOOM.

The force slid him back as he watched the impact explode against the frozen blade, casting winds of ice and sparks throughout the chamber.

"—Phew!"

It was only thanks to strengthening his right side that the recoil of the cannon didn’t dislocate his shoulder. As he watched the smoke billow alongside the dazzling ice, he pulled the lever back on the cannon’s side, initiating the reload–

"That was surprising."

–He immediately found himself using the cannon as a shield as the sly words were followed by a sudden strike. Though he was sure he destroyed the ice blade, another had quickly been made.

The Monarch pushed him back with his cold weapon, sliding his fingers through his hair with a quiet breath, "Alright, I’ve seen enough."

"Wait, really?" Gael asked, still feeling adrenaline rushing through his body.

[Temporary summoning over.]

As the cannon evaporated into nothing but fleeting air, the ice gripping the chamber was shattered as well.

The Monarch held his hand out, allowing his elemental blade to crumble to cold particles, "You pass."

"But I didn’t beat you...I don’t even think I touched you—" Gael remarked in surprise.

A prideful laugh left the lips of the sovereign as he stepped past the Outlander, patting his shoulder, "It’s a given that you would stand no chance against me, Outlander."

Gael wanted to reject the arrogant claim, though couldn’t deny it as he watched the man venture back to his throne. The colossal lion hadn’t moved from its spot, still behind the pinnacle seat as the man placed himself upon it.

"Still, what I wanted was to decide if you possessed strength—that is, in spirit and potential," the Monarch explained.

There was something vexing about how casually the sovereign went from trying to kill him to sitting in his throne. All he could really feel was a bit of fortune, seeing as the Monarch was pleased with his performance.

"So...What now?" Gael asked.

"That is the question, yes," the Monarch said before stopping in thought, tapping his fingers on the seat’s armrest. "As you are, you’re unfit for the Heavenly Kings."

"Heavenly Kings...What exactly is that?" Gael asked.

The Monarch seemed delighted by the Outlander’s ignorance as he laughed heartily, "I am not here to answer your questions, Outlander. Meet back with your lady and rest here in the Keep of The Silver Lion. Tomorrow, I will have work for you."

"...Right."

As he took his leave from the chamber, he felt the eyes of the black lion watching him, he only felt fortunate to exit in one piece.

The doors opened and closed behind him, ushering him into the hall where the others waited.

"Master! Are you alright?!" Florentine asked worriedly as she rushed over.

Matteo had the capybara on his arm, guiding it to hop over to Gael’s shoulder as he whistled, "Sounded like a warzone behind those doors."

"Well, I’m alive...somehow," Gael sighed, looking over at Blythe, who seemed just as relieved as he was.