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

50. Come At Me

I was walking down the main street, looking for Gregorio.

He’s too dangerous.

He likens killing people to ‘hunting’ and enjoys it.

And he has identified me as his ‘prey’.

In a way, that was convenient.

As long as he was targeting me, he wouldn’t kill anyone else.

Before there are any more victims—I will stop Gregorio.

How will I confront his skills with mine?

Let’s organize what we know about Gregorio’s skills.

He didn’t use his skills repeatedly without limit.

Maybe there’s a limit to the number of times he can shoot at once.

He fired four shots at the adventurers, and two at me—a total of six shots.

If that’s his limit, he might not be able to shoot for a certain period afterward.

Also, since he didn’t shoot repeatedly, he might only be able to shoot one at a time.

Of course, it’s all speculation.

However, my defensive skills have limits on duration and range.

So, it’s not surprising if his skills also have some limits—like the number of shots at once.

We’ll have to figure that out in the battle.

The next issue is how to find him.

It’s not easy to find Gregorio in the royal capital with tens of thousands of people.

So—I decided to let him find me.

That’s why I’m walking alone on the main street.

I’m using myself as bait to attract Gregorio.

For that reason, I didn’t activate my [Armor Phase].

Partly because walking around with such a colorful glow would be too conspicuous.

If I deployed my defensive skills from the start, he probably wouldn’t shoot.

“Come at me…”

I muttered almost unconsciously.

I kept my eyes peeled in all directions, not knowing where the red orbs would come from.

The orbs weren’t that fast.

Reacting wasn’t difficult.

All I had to do was stay focused.

How long had I been walking like that, nearly an hour?

Suddenly, I heard a scream.

“What…!?”

It came from a nearby alley.

I ran toward the voice.

I saw a figure ahead.

They seemed to have fled from someone—

A red glow flickered in the darkness.

“Gah…!?”

Simultaneously, the figure collapsed.

“That bastard…”

I groaned, seething with anger.

Was it frustration or mere whim? Gregorio had apparently started killing indiscriminately.

Or maybe he was trying to lure me out.

Either way, I couldn’t ignore it.

I have to go…!

“Stop!”

I ran straight ahead.

The person who had fallen was a young man.

If the number of shots he can fire at once is six, there should be five left—

I stayed alert.

Considering the danger, I should immediately protect myself with defensive skills.

But if I did that, he might get wary and flee.

What to do—

Did a moment’s hesitation create an opening?

A single red orb emerged from between the corpses.

“Damn—”

I quickly concentrated and deployed my skill instantly.

After a month as an adventurer, I was used to activating skills in an emergency.

The born rainbow glow easily deflected the red orb.

“Tch, so it was a sneak attack… No good, huh?”

A figure approached from the front, smirking bitterly.

“—Gregorio.”

“You can activate that in an instant, huh? That’s pretty handy.”

I glared at the grinning murderer with a stern expression.

The man lying at my feet had his life taken without reason.

Just for this bastard’s enjoyment.

Unforgivable, I thought.

I can’t let him go free.

“Ha, don’t make such a scary face. It’s just a game.”

“A game!”

As I shouted, the glow around me faded.

The duration of my skill was ending.

As the light of [Armor Phase] disappeared, I immediately reactivated my skill.

“What? Is there a time limit?”

Gregorio questioned suspiciously.

Of course, I didn’t answer.

There’s no need to talk about the nature or weaknesses of my skills.

“Well, God’s skills aren’t unlimited and omnipotent. There are things they can and can’t do.”

Gregorio shrugged.

“My [Flare Vision] can only shoot straight, and I can only fire six shots at once—though it’s nice they can always kill, it’s surprisingly inconvenient.”

Gregorio carelessly described the outline of his ability.

Flare Vision must be the name of his skill.

Still, it’s strange.

Why did Gregorio deliberately show himself to me?

Considering his abilities, hiding and ambushing me would be the biggest threat.

“Surprised I showed up? It’s not a trick. It’s part of the fun of killing.”

Gregorio laughed.

“I don’t just want to ‘kill.’ I want to ‘enjoy the killing.’ I want to see your despair up close.”

As usual, he kept talking.

I reactivated my skill cautiously.

The effect ended in about a minute, so I kept redeploying it.

I can’t let my guard down.

Even if he says it’s not a trap, that itself might be a trap to make me lower my guard.

“Hey, don’t look so scared. By the way, I saw your friends earlier. Both of them are beautiful, huh?”

Both… Does he mean Lilith and Alice?

Even though I told them ‘don’t come,’ they ended up—

“Ha, you’re worried about your friends. You’re distracted.”

Gregorio’s voice changed.

A chilling murderous intent filled his previously cheerful voice.

It was exactly at the moment my skill was about to end.

I’ve been redeploying every minute, so Gregorio must have figured out the duration.

A nasty feeling arose behind me.

Instinctively, I turned around.

Right in front of me—a red orb.

This bastard… Doesn’t he shoot straight—!?

“Ha! If the skill ends, the damage goes through!”

Gregorio sneered.

The essence of his killing skill, the orb, was closing in.

It’s bad. Even to deploy a skill requires a moment of concentration.

That moment—The orb reaches me slightly faster.

Despair froze my heart.

—No, not yet!

I have to deploy it somehow.

Concentrate with all my might, and formulate the fastest image.

Make it in time—

“No chance. I win.”

Gregorio’s triumphant voice.

The red glow of the orb filled my vision.

Death—The word floated in my mind with despair.

“[El Gust]!”

In an instant, a voice echoed,

“—!?”

A shock like a gust of wind blew my body straight up.

Just in time.

The red orb passed through the spot where I had been standing.