God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World!

Chapter 399: Gabriel vs Hero Ranked Tank [End])

The hero rank tank paused momentarily upon hearing Gabriel’s words, a brief gleam of confusion flickering within the depths of his brown eyes.

”What did you mean?” he asked in a rough voice that sounded like two pieces of sandpaper grinding against each other.

”It’s rather simple.” Gabriel displayed a warm smile that did not reach his eyes.

”How simple is it? Can you just speak already?” the impatient voice of the tank rang out. He did not know whether it was Gabriel’s confidence or something else, but he found himself compelled to listen, which was strange considering this person had talked down to him only moments earlier.

Not only that, there was a growing sense of respect for the young man who had caused so much damage to powerhouses like the eastern camp in such a short amount of time. Little did he know that this was Gabriel’s natural charm, and he was being influenced against his own will.

It was the effect of charisma. It was an innate trait a lord developed over time. It usually took years to manifest, however Gabriel had awakened it far earlier due to his constant exposure to authority, battle, and leadership.

Finally, Gabriel spoke. His voice was deep and cold, sounding more like a command than an offer.

”Submit and join my Broken Dawn faction,” he said, eyes locked onto the tank’s. ”Or go against me, and I will make this battlefield your resting place.”

A sharp tingle ran through the tank’s scalp. That voice. Those eyes. They were terrifying. Why did it feel like this? Gabriel was not even hero rank, so why? Was he under the influence of a skill or something?

Feeling a light migraine just from thinking about it, he shook his head, dispelling the thoughts. He did not reply immediately. Instead, he glanced back toward the main forces of the eastern camp.

This was not lost on him. Even though the enemy seemed to be dominating, this was still a relatively small force. It was too early to judge the outcome and jump ship. Not only was he afraid of Henry and Dominic’s wrath, there was also the lingering thought of what would happen if Broken Dawn lost. If that happened, he would lose everything, and his family would be slaughtered for treason.

Here, Henry was both the government and the king. The order would be carried out, and no one would question it.

Gabriel looked at him with an unreadable expression, studying his features. He saw the slight confusion in his eyes, the hesitation that did not stem from fear of death but from something far heavier. It was the look of a man who had already made his choice long before stepping onto the battlefield, a man who knew exactly what he wanted but could not reach for it.

The hero rank tank exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders loosening just a little as if he had finally accepted something he had been resisting all along. His shield lowered an inch, no longer raised aggressively, no longer poised to advance.

”Don’t misunderstand,” he said. ”If this was another world... another situation... maybe things would be different.”

He glanced at Gabriel, really looking at him this time, not as an enemy, but as a person.

”If I were alone,” he continued, his jaw tightening, ”if I didn’t have anything tying me down... I would have joined you.”

”So what’s stopping you, and why would you want to join me?” Gabriel asked, genuinely curious.

”I don’t like the eastern administration,” the tank admitted, bitterness evident in his tone. ”Never did. Henry and Dominic rule with fear, not loyalty. They don’t see soldiers. They see tools. Disposable ones.”

His hand trembled slightly as he clenched it into a fist. Gabriel recalled the reports he had received from Sniperbowlegend and Alice. One of the hero ranks had complained about the exact same thing.

”But I have a wife,” the tank said quietly, drawing Gabriel’s attention once more. ”And a daughter.”

The battlefield noise seemed to dull for a moment.

”I can’t afford to gamble,” he went on. ”If I make the wrong choice, it won’t be me who pays the price. It’ll be them. Henry is a ruthless man. If I betray him and fail, he won’t just kill me. He’ll do unthinkable things to my wife... to my little girl. Things no father should ever imagine.”

Silence followed his confession.

Gabriel listened without interrupting, his expression calm, though something deep within his eyes shifted.

”I understand,” Gabriel finally replied. His voice was not mocking or dismissive. It was honest. ”I truly do.”

They did not need to spend any more time talking. Their standoff had already drawn too much attention.

They charged at each other.

There was no countdown, no signal.

The tank roared and surged forward, shield slamming into the ground as he activated his defensive skills one after another. Golden light wrapped around his body as he charged, each step shaking the earth.

Gabriel met him head on. His body blurred as he activated his movement skill, Bull Rush, weaving past the shield’s edge and striking with brutal precision. Fists collided with reinforced armor, shockwaves rippling outward and kicking up clouds of dust as the two forces clashed again and again.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The fight was savage. The tank fought like a fortress that refused to fall, absorbing blows that would have crushed other hero ranks. Gabriel fought like a predator, every movement calculated to wear his opponent down.

Eventually, it ended when Gabriel trapped the hero rank with a Stonebind Trap and finished him with a series of relentless punches, each one carrying his two hundred plus strength stat.

The tank staggered, dropping to one knee. His shield embedded into the dirt to keep him upright. His breathing was ragged, blood dripping down his chin as he looked up at Gabriel, who stood before him wielding his greatsword in one hand.

The tank knew it was over.

Slowly, with shaking hands, he reached into his armor and pulled out a small, worn photograph. It was creased at the edges, clearly taken out countless times.

He held it out, staring into Gabriel’s eyes. ”My wife... and my daughter. If you win this war, help watch over them. My daughter possesses good talent. She would certainly be useful to your faction in the long run.”

The battlefield fell silent once more.

For a brief moment, Gabriel froze. Then he nodded.

He lowered his weapon and severed the tank’s head from his body in a clean strike.

”I will.”

M