Reincarnated in the game world ~ A gamer's beginning to [Dungeon job hunting recommendation]

The «The Four Illusive Tower of Shield» effect was to manifest the physical rising towers as shields. It's performance went without saying, though it also came with its downside—a 30 minute long cooldown. Moreover, there was a time limit to how long the tower shield would last. Since the towers were an illusion in essence, gaining a physical form only for a temporary period, they would revert back to illusion once the time was up. 

The sign of physical manifestation end would be seen by it turning translucent gradually, and eventually completely disappearing. 

It could be regarded as an elaborate magic trick, but just like any magic trick, it's something that would catch many in awe when they see it in the beginning.In a similar way, the two classes would suspect it to be the actual physical object and continue to focus on it even when it turns into mere illusion. 

The same was currently happening on the battlefield. The alliance had completely been tricked by Lacritta's unique skill.

"It's the time, Mert-san!"

"Everyone, open fire now!"

Lacritta called out to Mert, a signal that the tower was about to turn into an illusion. Mert promptly instructed Class-8 to open-fire. 

"W-What the heck is going on!?"

"Raise the de—tsk, we would be late!"

Just as they'd planned, Class-9 and Class-10 found them unable to set up any defense when they saw the rain of attack from behind the tower suddenly appearing. In a split second when the alliance was about to fell prey to Class-8's tactic—

"I had wanted to keep it hidden, but situation is situation. —«Soul Overdrive Conversion»!"

—Keel's uncanny skill resounded within the battleground. 

The moment was soon over and the attack made an impact.

" " "We did it!" " "@@novelbin@@

"Hey, stop your crow's mouth!"

A shout of delight escaped from Class-8's members like a chorus as they leaned forward to take a clear view of the situation, but were promptly rebuked by Mert. 

Apparently, this world knows some flags must not be raised as well. 

Alas, it was never possible to take back the words once spoken. They immediately saw Class-9 and Class-10 charging through the smokescreen. 

"Impossible! How're they unhurt!?"

One of the members shouted in befuddlement when he saw the alliance's appearance, still healthy as they're before the surprise attack.

However Mert promptly noticed the changes.

"No, look again. They're missing one tank, and I had heard them shouting «Soul Overdrive Conversion» or something skill! They'd probably pushed the missing tank to receive all the damage!"

Mert's expression grew steep. And he wasn't wrong. The «Soul Overdrive Conversion» was a substitute skill, and its effect was to transfer the damage to another person for a fixed duration. A complete parallel to Sierra's «Induction Cover» where she was the one to shoulder damage for allies. 

Anyway, the alliance managed to escape unhurt from their surprise attack at the expense of one of their members.

"You think I had wanted to waste someone!? Such is the bane of a tank! I will make you pay for that!"

Keel shouted as he ran toward Mert while brandishing the huge scythe in his hand.

With eyes shining in eerie glint, the battered fluttering robe, and the scythe—everything about him inspired a dread, that he's coming for their soul. 

"But we can finally take you down from close! Everyone, chargeee!! With our strength in numbers, victory is ours. Bring them into melee!"

" "Oooohhh!!" "

" " "Charge! Charge! Charge!" " "

At last, following Keel's command, the two classes finally came to a frontal clash against Class-8. Meanwhile, Keel himself wasn't idle. With a blinding speed, he closed the gap from behind the alliance formation to Mert's forefront.

"Take this! —«Soul Blade»!"

"You really are a persistent one!"

Keel had set his target to Mert as he closed the distance between them with blinding speed, almost akin to the use of sonic category skills, while his scythe glowed in eerie radiance. 

The members of Class-8 swiftly take note of the situation, too, and nearby members deployed to protect their leader Mert. 

"Not on my watch!"

"You would've to get through us first!"

But of course, if Keel had been so easy to deal with, he wouldn't have received an alias. 

Keel's pace was impeccable as he weaved his way.

"Buzz off!"

"Rrrgh! The heck!?"

"Raise the shie—his attack slipped away!?"

The first strike was made by Keel. He slashed down at the pair of boy and girl who had appeared to protect Mert, making the shields look like paper.

"A «Soul Eater» feeds on the soul! Shields are mere paper without defensive skills accompanying them."

"What?!"

The pair of boy and girl exclaimed in astonishment when they heard Keel. But of course, it was half bluff. 

It was true that «Soul Blade» couldn't be intercepted without using a skill. However, that was only true for this skill. The reason he had bothered to mention 'defensive skill' was to divert the attention of his opponent toward them. 

And he somehow managed to achieve so. The two students were indeed kicking themselves mentally for not opting for any defensive skill when in fact, either of the skill types would've still been fine.

Of course, Mert had seen through his plan.

"Do not believe in the enemy's words! «Flare Burst»!"

"Woah... so close!"

"There's no reason to hang up on defensive skills to stop him! Just keep targeting the leader!"

"A-alrighhttt!!"

"Got it, Mert-san! And thanks, I nearly believed him!"

Mert's word quickly killed Keel's plan, prompting the boy and girl duo to follow up with their own counterattack.

"Tsk, whatever. —Keep pushing them, everyone! It's time to show them the strength is in numbers!"

"Do not let yourself be caught up in enemies' pace! Keep pushing them back!"

Keel falls back to join the alliance members while tackling the boy and girl duo and prompts for a charged rush. 

When the boy and girl see him escaping, they conclude it wouldn't be anything to chase him there, and fall back to Mert's formation. 

At last, the three classes crashed onto each other. 

In the free-for-all situation, Mert continued to scrutinise the situation and supported the members with his magic if he saw them struggling.

"(Hmm, this clash didn't come out as overwhelming as I was expecting. We are losing in numbers—it's a pity we couldn't shave off opponent's count earlier—so I was expecting some disadvantage but everything is too normal. No more attack has come my way, which means... they have other goal?)"

Mert squinted his eyes when he saw there was no crazy momentum to either side when they'd suddenly crashed into each other. 

There was no way Class-9's leader would lead a charge for a futile confrontation. As a neighbour, Mert knew this much about the adjacent class. This could only translate to... their goal was something else all along. Mert was wondering about what it could be when he realised something.

"(No, wait, where the heck is Keel? I am sure he was just here a while ago. Did he hide his figure? Was it invisible?)"

While Mert had realised the actual goal of two class lied somewhere else, Class-10 leader Jay appears to challenge Noel, leading to a confrontation between a Esper and a Singer. 

Though the two were still within sight, the main piece in the opponent—Class-9's leader Keel was nowhere to be seen. He only remembered him falling back to join his comrades, but they'd lost his sign afterwards.

Mert promptly deduced Keel had probably hid himself using concealed skill or something similar, so he instead turned to support Noel first.

"Haaa! «Psychokinesis»!"

"Blew away~ «Mike Impact»!"

"This is nothing! «Super Strength—"

"—«Holy Breath»!"

"Gaahhh!"

Receiving a direct hit of third-order holy attribute magic, Jay was blown away in exaggerated motion, as if a truck had crashed on him. Noel stopped her singing at the sudden situation.

"Mert-kun?!"