I Became a 6★ Gacha Character

The tower we needed to clear was a mysterious space beyond magic - something that couldn't be explained or analyzed by modern science or even fantasy magic. From floors 1 to 10, and 51 to 60, vast prairies stretched out, larger than any city.

The sun hung at an angle suggesting around 11 AM, staying up all day. Despite this, the ground maintained a gentle warmth. Though not a drop of rain had fallen, fresh grass grew anywhere from ankle to knee height.

In this wide-open prairie where superhuman scouts could spot targets kilometers away, an earthen fortress suddenly rose up.

"It really stands out, even more than the wooden fence," I said.

"Is it a larger encampment? Though the size doesn't seem that different," Grace noted.

"Maybe the issue isn't how much land they can occupy?" Katie suggested.

On the prairie where unnamed wildflowers barely reached above our knees, a roughly 5-meter earthen wall towered above us. With densely placed wooden stakes on top of this dirt mound on completely flat ground without even a gentle slope, it clearly suggested stronger defenses than the monster encampments on the 55th floor. Still, being only the 56th floor, it couldn't be overwhelmingly stronger.

After all, even stone walls couldn't withstand aura without magical reinforcement.

"Hmm, they must have used magic to raise the earth before building their camp on high ground. Still, we should be able to jump over something like that," Olek said.

"Captain, why don't we just charge and find the supply entrance to break through? The centaurs must have a path they use," a knight suggested.

"Since they kidnap people too, there must be at least one wide road, not just a narrow path," another added.

Even the Ice Cross Knights, who had just reached high rank, were casually discussing whether to jump over or break through. A 5-meter dirt mound could be cleared with two jumps, and the wooden stakes on top could be cut like straw using aura.

The only variable worth worrying about was the possibility of an aura-wielding enemy hiding behind the fence, waiting to strike at any opening, rather than just mid-rank orc hunters.

Though the knights could move like death itself against mid-rank orcs and goblins, and their group tactics let them handle even high-rank monsters, they'd be torn apart like goblins if hit by aura while jumping the wall or breaking the fence.

"No need to jump over or sneak around looking for an entrance. I'll break through the fence - follow my signal," I said.

"Yes, understood!" they replied.

With 11 years of adventuring experience, I didn't want the dishonor of seeing fellow knights die, even if they weren't my companions. Besides, our Goddess had given us a quest to bring these guys along, so I needed to take point.

To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing, but as an adventurer and tank, I took pride in not losing a single companion or temporary ally over the past few years.

Having people praise me to my face with chuunibyou nicknames like "Indomitable Hero" or "Immovable Iron Wall" made me cringe like squid on a grill, but as a man, wasn't it natural to take pride in that record?

"I'll go first and break down as much of the fence as I can. Then the Ice Cross Knights charge in. Focus on widening the gaps in the fence and clearing debris rather than fighting enemies, to keep support flowing smoothly. After that, Hanna, Grace, and Irene advance slowly with the knights to clear the inside," I explained.

"Got it, Roland. Be careful just in case," Han Se-ah said.

"Should I cast a barrier on you?" Irene asked.

"Just on the knights. I prefer handling my own defense."

So once again, I laid out a straightforward strategy of charging in order.

I'd take any traps behind the wall and fence with my body, then the Ice Cross Knights would advance behind me while Han Se-ah, our main firepower, cleared the trash mobs under Irene's protection. Just like how rogues and mages follow a tank in adventuring parties, or how archers and mages support charging knights on the battlefield.

It was so simple it was basic, so classic it was cliché, but that also meant it was a time-tested strategy used for ages.

"I'm going ahead!" I called out.

"How will you signal us?" a knight asked.

"You'll know it when you see it - one shot!"

From bright-eyed Olek and the knights understanding the simple strategy to Irene's worried look about me charging without a barrier, I met everyone's eyes once before rushing forward.

Mana enveloped my body more naturally than breathing, a thrilling satisfaction ran up my spine - a sense of omnipotence impossible to feel in a weak modern human body.

With each step as I tensed my thighs to move forward, the surrounding view seemed to stretch like melting cheese, and the wind rushing past my ears felt like having a car window open on the highway.

Dong— Dong—

Wheeeee—! Keek—!!!

Sensing my approach, there was bustle behind the fence. Perhaps to prove they'd improved slightly from the 55th floor, I could hear bell tolls and feel them moving frantically.

But it was already too late—

'...???'

—or so I thought, when a red magic circle appeared under my feet.

Before they could ring the bell or get up on the fence, I'd already stepped on the earthen wall. Unlike the log fence built on the prairie by goblin laborers or magic, it felt surprisingly solid, as if created by the tower's system. I was about to use it as a foothold when—

"R-Roland?"

-LOL the tank strat is working great

-Was wondering why there was no moat, they planted mines instead. Game knows what it's doing lol

-One floor up and we get an earthen fort with magic mines? That's showing the difficulty increase

-Ahhh it's a flying teacher! Run away!!!

-Even scarier when the scary teacher starts flying ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

With a flash of light, my body soared upward.

Very, very high—

※

Though startled Irene reached out to cast a barrier on me, it didn't really matter.

Apparently it was magic meant to blast enemies away with shockwaves rather than kill with raw power - I didn't even feel like I'd been hit, let alone resisted anything.

Of course, being launched this high would mean instant death for anyone below high rank. Unless quickly saved by a mage, they'd die from their bones being crushed on impact after being flung to such heights by the magic circle.

I was up there long enough to register Irene's barrier, flip myself over, grip my hammer, and gather plenty of mana.

"Here I cooooome—!!!"

Unfortunately for them, they'd gotten the direction wrong.

Whether the magic circle was meant to filter out mid-rank small fry or due to the monsters' limited intelligence, it had reacted too late to my charge.

Instead of blasting me backward toward my startled allies, it launched me about 20 meters up and forward in my leaping posture, letting me sail clear over the fence to target roughly the center of their camp.

The orc warriors pausing mid-helmet adjustment to stare up at me dumbfounded, the orc hunters hastily aiming bows that couldn't even pierce Irene's barrier, the goblins huddled together trying to climb the fence while carrying supplies.

They'd gathered so nicely to look up at me - perfect positioning for a gift.

KWAAAANG—!!!

With the barrier protecting me and my posture set, I swung my warhammer full force the moment my feet touched down, legs spread wide.

Like folding my body in half, I swung in an exaggerated motion past 180 degrees to nearly 320 degrees, smashing into the center of the clustered monsters.

"Change of plans! You break the fence!!!" I shouted.

"Yes—!!!" they responded.

The ground cratered as if struck by a meteor, and goblins went flying in all directions from just the shockwave. A 100kg mass falling from 20 meters up would be devastating enough - what about one wrapped in aura?

Dirt flew higher than the fence as my mana-charged shout boomed over the thunderous impact. The knights' discipline showed as they rushed in without confusion to start dismantling the fence as soon as they heard my order.

"Captain! Magic circles on the earthen wall!" one called.

"Pierce through spots where you sense suspicious mana first! They're just cheap tricks - hit the center before they can activate!" Olek ordered.

"Just don't step on them!" another added.

After watching through Han Se-ah's camera as they climbed up, stabbing the earthen wall with aura-charged swords under Irene's personal barriers, I pulled my deeply embedded hammer from the ground like Excalibur and looked around.

Orc, goblin, orc, orc, goblin, orc...

No centaurs and oddly few in number.

Was this place empty?

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