Gacha System: Reborn In The Hardest World
Chapter 56: To Atlantis

Chapter 56: To Atlantis

As he spoke to the sweet-treat enjoying girl, he found the dark-skinned man with sharp, silver eyes leaned over the table to get closer to him.

Jaxon looked right at him, "Hey, mate, heard you’ve got a system that summons things randomly. How about giving it a whirl?"

"I don’t think this is really the place for that," Gael declined.

With a disappointed sigh, Jaxon retreated back into his seat, kicking back, "Bummer, man. Well, show me sometime, yeah?"

"Yeah, sure," Gael said, just wanting to get the topic off his back as he picked at his steak.

"I’m sure the opportunity will arise soon enough," Jae-Seong butted in, waving his fork around.

Gael looked across the table, finding Astrid focused on a fish salad, seeming somewhat repulsed by the way that the man beside her ate and drank like a wild animal.

Of course, Rowan didn’t even seem to acknowledge that, as he practically ate half a steak in a single bite before washing it down with mead, "---Ahhh! This place always hits the spot!"

"I’m wondering if you really wanted to celebrate the new guy joining, or if you just wanted an excuse to come here," Astrid accused the muscle-bound man as she placed a bite-sized tomato past her lips.

Rowan seemed hurt by the claim, slamming his mug down, "Of course, this is a celebration for Gael! That doesn’t change the fact the food is good and the drinks are better here!"

As he glanced at Jae-Seong as if silently asking if this sort of dynamic was normal between the two, he received a subtle shrug that said "Pretty much."

The attention of the burly Canadian turned to the newcomer as Rowan addressed him, "So, Gael, if you don’t mind me asking–how did you end up in Gaia?"

"How I ended up here?" Gael repeated.

Rowan clarified, tapping his own chest, "Yup. In my case, I collided in just the right way–well, wrong way, and died right on the spot in the field."

"On the field?" Gael asked.

"Oh, right–I played football, the American kind! I was a tight end, and pretty damn good, I’d say," Rowan explained, slapping his own bicep.

’Well, that makes almost too much sense,’ Gael thought, looking at the man practically made of muscle.

"So, what about you?" Rowan asked again.

"I, well..." Gael recalled hesitantly.

Jaxon spoke up from his end of the table, stabbing his fork into his half-eaten steak, "I know you don’t care, Rowan, but some people don’t really like thinking about that kind of stuff. Especially not when trying to enjoy a meal."

The topic seemed to especially strike a nerve with the silver-eyed British man; it was the same for Astrid, who didn’t seem too keen on sharing.

"I–ah, well, you’re right," Rowan tried to explain himself before giving in, ruffling his bright-red hair. "Sorry, Gael. Just thought it’d be a good way to break the ice."

"No, it’s fine, really. It’s just not something I’ve really had the chance to talk about to anybody else yet," Gael said, looking at his plate.

Recalling those memories, it was still crystal clear; that quiet night, the way his blood ran cold in his body as soon as he saw the headlights of the truck.

"You sure, man?" Jae-Seong asked.

"Yeah," Gael assured, looking up. "I was–I got hit by a truck, it all happened pretty suddenly. I don’t even remember really "dying." Just one moment I was there, the next moment, I was here."

The table was quiet following his words, though it felt like he didn’t say anything that was foreign to the others.

"Sounds about right. That’s the way I experienced it too–oh, minus the truck," Jae-Seong added in as he leaned back. "I went out via bullet. I didn’t feel anything, so I can’t complain."

"A bullet? How’d that happen? Were you getting mugged or something?" Gael asked curiously.

Jae-Seong had a smile that veiled his thoughts, answering succinctly, "Something like that. Still, I gotta wonder what force chooses who gets a second life, and who doesn’t."

"Maybe everyone does, but we don’t all end up in the same place," Esmeralda spoke, though was still almost too quiet to hear as she snacked on a muffin.

"I just find that a bit too hard to believe," Jae-Seong retorted as he playfully waved his fork like a wand.

"What’s so hard to believe when you’re in another world right now?" Esmeralda pressed further.

"Oh, here we go again," Jaxon mumbled, scooting back in his seat.

By the exasperation shown by the others, it was obvious this wasn’t the first time the debate was had. Feeling somewhat responsible for the rise of the discussion, he did his best to remain to himself, cutting up his steak and eating it.

"I just think it’s you’re using one thing to justify the existence of another," Jae-Seong said, brushing off the idea.

Esmeralda’s voice rose more, seeming to get heated up, "You’re just being a contrarian! Just arguing for the sake of it!"

Caught in the crossfire, Gael tried his best to just enjoy his steak, though it was hard with the two at one another’s throats, verbally.

’Man, is it this hard just to enjoy some food?’ He questioned.

In the midst of the debate, the doors to the restaurant opened abruptly, with considerable force as the strength of their hinges were put to the test.

"Attention!"

–That single word immediately brought everyone out of their seats, except himself as he remained perplexed by the command. While the voice was familiar, he couldn’t place a name to it yet as he finished swallowing his steak.

A nudge from both Jae-Seong and Esmeralda on both sides brought him to finally rise as he stood there at the table like a statue.

’What the hell is this about?’ He thought.

Footsteps echoed through the fine establishment as the air in the room shifted, whispering past the lavish chandelier as it swayed. The arrival of the man in obsidian armor and a mane of pale hair reminded him of just who it was that booming voice belonged to.

’That’s the general of Galios’ Ironclad–Van Grandhield,’ he recalled.

The towering man of a presence and appearance like that of a lion stood at the end of the table, wearing a permanent scowl as he addressed the room, "Apologies to interrupt your dinner, but the Monarch has requested the Heavenly Kings to the Warp Chamber."

"Have the scouts confirmed the rumors about Marinus?" Rowan asked, dismissing his playful attitude.

"Aye," General Grandhield confirmed. "All but one were killed. They know we’re coming. So, that’s all the more reason to move with haste."

While it was saddening to abandon such a well-prepared steak, ignoring the Monarch’s orders was the last idea in his mind.

"Need a lift?" Jae-Seong offered.

Gael began to shake his head to decline, though remembered the long hike it was to the castle, having to go through the busy streets, "...Actually, sure."

"Alright–!" Jae-Seong said.

He stood there as the flashy Outlander placed his hand behind his neck for support before bursting forth with the essence of light itself. There wasn’t enough time to try to even blink before he arrived within the chamber holding the magical tree.

"Phewwww...I can’t get used to that," Gael breathed out.

"Ha-ha, well, it beats walking most of the time," Jae-Seong laughed.

The others weren’t far behind, bringing him to question the supernatural methods they deployed in getting there so quickly. As the tree hummed, brimming with magical energy, a new face emerged—

"Heavenly Kings, you will soon be deployed in a land close to the Atlantis shore," the feminine voice addressed them all.

He didn’t notice the woman there before, dressed in a black uniform with an azure cape, standing beside the tree.

The woman with short, black hair and rimmed glasses sitting over her olive eyes continued, "—Your objective once you arrive is only to survey the situation. If you encounter any of Mastorn’s forces, engage only if the party is not led by one of the Impervious Seven."

"Hold on," Jaxon spoke up. "Now, what’s the point in sending us there if you just want us to put our thumbs up our bullocks?"

Jae-Seong added, holding his hand up, "I wouldn’t put it that way, but I agree. What’re we waiting for, exactly? C’mon, Clarice."

The uniformed woman adjusted her glasses, "You will not be operating just among yourselves. The Ironclad will be on their way to provide support."

"The Ironclad?" Gael repeated.

"Fantastic!" Rowan remarked excitedly.

Clarice continued, "—That includes Lucius and Silvanas."

"Them—?!" Both Astrid and Jae-Seong reacted in unison.

’I’ve got no clue who those names are, but it sounds like a pain,’ Gael thought, standing idly.

As he watched the short-haired woman place her hand against the mana tree, he readied himself with focused breaths.

’This is it. A full-fledged, all-out mission...This is bigger than before—I can’t mess up,’ he resolved.

With the discussion settling down, the moment came as the plentiful mana of the branches was tapped into, filling the chamber with the blooming particles.

"Teleport: Atlantis Shore!"