I Was Reincarnated with OP Invincibility, so I’ll Beat ’em Up My Way as an Action-Adventurer

178. If I Can Be Your Support

Grrrooooooaaaaaaar!

The roar of the beast echoed.

A dragon-class monster, ranked S, circled the skies above Tylas City.

Facing it were just three of us—me, Lilith, and Alice.

The breath unleashed from the dragon’s maw transformed into hundreds of ice bullets, raining down upon the town.

Instantly, a golden radiance burst from my body.

A golden field that enveloped all of Tylas City in an instant—[Elysion Gate]—scattered every ice bullet.

The dragon snarled in frustration and landed on the ground.

“—Here it comes.”

I warned Lilith and Alice.

…Well, maybe a warning wasn’t necessary, but just in case.

A moment later, the dragon moved.

Having realized its breath was useless, it attacked with claws, fangs, and tail—a barrage of physical strikes.

A combination of blows too fast for any ordinary person to react to.

But none of them reached me or Lilith.

My defense skill, activating automatically regardless of my reaction, blocked every attack.

Even the desperate breath attack was deflected by the same golden light.

The dragon’s assault had been completely neutralized.

“[Lightning Strike]!”

Lilith’s thunderbolt struck the dragon down in a single blow.

A dragon—revered as the world’s strongest, with the title of Dragonslayer bestowed upon those who felled it.

Yet now, even such a beast was nothing more than a weakling before us.

The monster subjugation ended swiftly, and we returned to the guild.

After reporting to the guild, I asked Lilith to help me test my defense skill.

The seventh form—[Elysion Gate]—a realm bordering on divinity, mastered through my battle with Jack.

I could activate it at will.

…Or rather, it seemed to activate on its own even without my conscious effort.

To put it bluntly, if I tripped on the street, it would instantly manifest to protect me.

Even if someone ambushed me, they wouldn’t be able to harm me now.

Neither sword nor magic.

No attack could reach me.

“Alright, let’s begin. Sorry for making you help me every day.”

This was already the fourth day of testing.

“If I can be of use to you, just say the word.”

Lilith was so kind.

“Thanks.”

I smiled gratefully and began the test.

Basically, Lilith would cast offensive magic, and I’d block it to gather data.

First, duration.

When I first acquired this skill, the base form—[Armor Phase]—lasted about five minutes.

But [Elysion Gate] was different.

Before, I’d feel a sense that it was “about to run out” when the effect was ending.

But with [Elysion Gate], there was none of that.

Perhaps it would last indefinitely unless I consciously deactivated it.

At the very least, it hadn’t faded even after hours, and I felt no fatigue.

Next, range.

Normally, it could cover an entire town with a golden barrier.

And with my will, that range could expand.

Yesterday, Alice flew up with magic to check, and it apparently reached three towns over.

If I really pushed it, it could probably go even further.

I planned to test its maximum range gradually.

Neither activation nor expansion caused me any fatigue.

In fact, the more I used the skill, the more a strange exhilaration surged within me.

The sensation of my power being honed and growing stronger was sweet, almost euphoric.

But deep down, a faint unease lingered.

Something was… off.

Was I truly growing stronger?

Or—?

[If you take that step, you may no longer be yourself. Are you prepared?]

The words the goddess spoke when I first obtained [Elysion Gate] flashed through my mind.

…Was I becoming something other than myself?

“Haruto, is something bothering you?”

As if seeing right through me, Lilith asked.

“I—”

I started, then stopped.

The vague, wordless anxiety remained unspoken.

“…It’s nothing.”

Lilith silently studied me for a moment.

“I’m here for you.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll always be by your side. I’ve always thought that, and I always will—if I can be your support…”

With a bittersweet smile, Lilith looked at me. I smiled back.

“You already are.”

Thanking her, I ended the day’s training.

After several hours of testing, I bid farewell to Lilith and Luca and headed to the guild branch.

The demon outbreaks had calmed down, but there was no telling when they might resume.

I wanted to gather information just in case.

Walking down the hallway toward the reception, a silver-haired girl approached from ahead.

“Good work today, Haruto.”

Alice smiled warmly.

“More defense magic training?”

“Yeah, Lilith and Luca helped me out.”

I couldn’t disclose divine power to non-Holders.

Trying would send searing pain through me.

So, I passed off the skill as just defense magic.

—Thump!

Suddenly, my chest burned with a pulse.

Again.

That sensation of overflowing power.

My consciousness soared, my mood lifting uncontrollably.

My heart pounded wildly in sync with the exhilaration.

“Ugh…”

My chest ached enough to make me grimace.

“Are you okay, Haruto?”

Alice looked worried.

“Nah, just a little tightness in my chest, y’know—”

How could I explain it?

I wasn’t sick.

If anything, I felt better than ever—but…

Before I could say more,

“I’ll cast healing magic. [Arda Curary].”

Alice raised her hand.

But the moment her blue light touched me—

Clang!

A golden radiance and metallic sound deflected it.

This—?!

My defense skill activated on its own…?