I Became a 6★ Gacha Character

Though all monsters on floor 60 were enhanced and mutated, the suicide goblins were clearly the biggest headache.

They hurled stones from centaur backs that could shatter steel helmets, then when approached, clung with their long arms and exploded without hesitation. The explosion damage was so severe that multiple goblins could shatter even a 5★ Saint Candidate's secondary barrier.

Because of this, both Imperial trainee commanders pioneering floor 60 and mercenaries playing soldier for money looked grim. After all, northern monster waves might swarm from sky and ground but at least they didn't explode themselves.

And while viewers argued mere stone throws weren't scary, others donated videos showing real slings shattering helmets and skulls.

"Everyone seems to be struggling."

"Still, they've managed to establish outposts, so they must be able to endure somehow."

Viewers gradually began understanding these long-armed goblins were unexpectedly terrifying enemies.

Though lacking mana, their abnormally modified arms made their throws threatening. Combined with their Dragon Ball Saibaman[1]-like suicide attacks, even veteran mercenaries looked ragged.

Whether intermediate or high-ranked, all were covered in dirt and soot, faces grimacing with constant cursing, creating such a gloomy atmosphere that no one could dismiss them as mere goblins anymore.

"Give something first if you want info."

"Fucking hell, what kind of goblins just blow themselves up?"

"Their grip strength is insane. Might as well call them orc-like goblins."

"At least they die exploding each other if you hit them before they get close."

"These mana stones look weird, right?"

"Magic Tower'll pay good money. By the way, is the priest alright?"

Thus three groups naturally gathered in the safe zone near the gate.

Imperial trainee commanders squabbling while grudgingly sharing info but hating others' success, mercenaries complaining in their battered state after harsh lessons from suicide goblins, and the tiny minority of top-ranked adventurers who could handle suicide goblins easily.

Except for Imperial commanders, everyone readily shared information. Unlike Imperials defending their domains against monster waves, Kingdom folks had to gather in the tower.

Whether mercenary or adventurer, withholding information here meant someone's death. In an already small industry, rumors would spread... leading straight to ruin.

The moment you're disliked for sneaking away to monopolize info, you're treated like a bandit robbing colleagues, so info exchange flourished. I don't fuss over image-making for nothing.

"Those Imperial guys are so narrow-minded. They'll end up fellow warriors against monsters, why act so hostile?"

"The Empire's huge. Once they part here, they'll never meet again. Unless they crush others to become superiors."

"Living such a harsh life."

So the commanders steadfastly did their duty while being treated as idiots by mercenaries and selfish blockheads by adventurers. At least some seemed sharp enough to gather and whisper schemes.

What kind of person was this Empress to force such people into the tower? Thinking this, I exchanged information with familiar-looking adventurers. Though mostly about monsters, I learned quite a bit.

Like a merchant group settling east of the gate, suicide goblin bombs being unstable enough to chain-react if thrown together, and outposts needing ballistas and makeshift catapults beyond just palisades and mines.

"Makeshift catapults?!"

"Really shocked when rocks suddenly flew over the palisade."

Reaching floor 60 meant this adventurer party were veterans who'd broken through mine-type magitech devices and palisades. Their bushy beards bounced as they laughed while telling near-death experiences.

Well, if stone dwarves in underground cities could bore tunnels with laser beams, why couldn't monster armies use siege weapons? Amazing how quickly we bonded after just a few chats, like some capybara party.

"Mines, ballistas, catapults, suicide troops - they're really making this a pain."

"But the pay's good! Ah, maybe shouldn't say that in front of the hero party?"

"No no, even heroes need to earn!"

※

The information gained while restocking supplies proved surprisingly accurate.

"Incoming rocks!"

"Don't block, dodge! Don't rely too much on barriers!"

Real catapult rocks were indeed flying.

High earthen walls topped with reinforced palisades. Step forward and familiar mines would welcome us.

Of course, before reaching those minefields, we had to evade massive rocks precisely targeting us and heavy ballista bolts flying between them.

At that point it felt wrong to leave everything to the Ice Cross Knights just because it was annoying, so I charged forward with my shield. Mines didn't matter if I stepped on them, and ballista bolts couldn't pierce my shield no matter how strong.

"Holy shit, rocks are really flying!!"

-What else would they be, fake rocks? lololol

-Look at her acting shocked when rocks appear after being told there were catapults

-lol Won't believe the construction worker looking guy

-But mines and defensive catapults means they know gaming strats? Plus suicide troops, nasty combo;;

-Suspiciously gas and bomb obsessed hero vs Demon King deploying suicide soldiers and minefields

Our companions weren't people who'd fall to mere rocks either, all following well.

Grace and Katie nimbly dodged rocks without losing speed, while Han Se-ah and Irene slowly advanced deflecting flying rocks with barriers and Earth Control.

...Wait fuck, what's she doing with that? Pushing away catapult rocks with Earth Control?

"Shouldn't we protect the rear?"

"Break the ballistas past the palisade! Trying to block these rocks up front just gets in the way!"

Reaching the palisade while watching Han Se-ah's unexpected feat, Ice Cross Knights leapt up the earthen wall at similar timing.

They kept glancing back, apparently concerned about leaving the mage and priest behind, but seemed reassured seeing the two skillfully deflecting rocks as they vaulted the palisade.

"Ack, mines!"

"Jump forward, idiot!"

Some got blown backward by mines but with Irene's quick barriers there was no need to worry.

"Roland! Cut the ballista strings first, then what about the catapults?"

"Katie, can you cut them?"

"I think I can!"

So our party members finally mounted the palisade through the monsters' desperate resistance from mines to catapults.

The tower ballistas were disabled when Grace's arrows shattered their strings, while the interior catapults hurling rocks were easily sliced by Katie radiating blue aura.

Wondered how she cut down even the orc soldiers operating the catapults, but then remembered Katie's sword was enhanced with special enhancement stones. Though we'd rushed through without fully farming mutant ogres this time.

Aside from annoying catapult rocks, there weren't major difficulties, so I worried about special enhancement stones while vaulting the palisade to find chaos.

"Hey! These bastards explode too!"

"Their waists! Grace! Shoot their waists!"

Apparently this was a centaur cavalry outpost, as goblins with long arms sprinted from tents using those arms to push off the ground.

These crazy goblins instantly went for suicide attacks without centaur mounts. Though tower monsters were driven by hatred of humans over fear of death, this seemed extreme.

Thinking this as I dove into the outpost, they instantly clung to me.

...Though I could take mere explosions, getting hugged by goblins felt too gross, no thanks.

[1. raei: those small little green guys that jump piccolo. lolol]