Possibility
"Yeah, right."
— 05:29, 05:28, 05:27…
After confirming the sub-quest window had updated, a timer was floating right in front of his eyes. It had started out white, but as time ticked down, it gradually shifted to a warning orange. Soon enough, it'd turn red, signaling the deadline was approaching.
"Hendrick, could you make something like the Three-Barrel Cannon or the Victory Cannon right now?"
He needed a proper weapon. The simple math kept running through his head: the bamboo cannons were one-shots, and he had five of them. If each took down one monster, that meant five kills. With sixteen total coming, that left eleven more.
No way in hell that'd cut it. He had to come up with at least one more plan before time ran out. It had taken fifteen minutes to make a single bamboo cannon, so if he played his cards right with the others…
Yeah, that'll work?
Right? He'd hoped against hope, but no dice, as expected.
[You've got talent in this field, lad, but don't treat blacksmithing like it's water. As the saying goes…]
His mind was already a mess, and now Hendrick was revving up his motormouth. Pang Yujin tuned out the chatter droning in his ear and racked his brain. Gathering more bamboo for extra bamboo cannons? He'd probably run into those things on the path back from the beach and get shredded.
"You said the weapons on the ship can't be used, right?"
[If you wanna get killed by shrapnel from your own gun exploding, be my guest.]
"Hmm."
What the hell was he supposed to do?
"Fuck it."
There was nothing he could do.
They were asking the impossible of him. This wasn't his fault—it was the system's for dumping something beyond his capabilities on his lap.
[What's eating you?]
Hendrick tilted his head at Yujin's weird vibe, but there was no time to explain. Hell, he didn't even want to think anymore.
"Dunno. Suddenly, I just don't feel like doing jack shit."
Hendrick gave him a pitiful look, but acknowledged he'd been busting his ass lately. "Fine, take it easy today," he said, drifting off. Yujin had always wondered where the bound spirit went—he had nowhere to go, after all—but whatever. Not now.
Sometimes, letting go and chilling helped. Pinning the blame clearly actually lightened the load a bit.
"Somehow, it'll work out."
—00:02, 00:01, 00:00.
Not knowing exactly when it'd hit, he'd gone all out on a last supper, devouring his stockpiled food, then caught a quick nap. He faced the sub-quest in peak condition.
Sub-Quest: Beasts of the Classic of Mountains and Seas 1
📍 The first wave begins shortly.
📍 Hold your position and slay the monsters.
Ah, this vibe? He'd thought they'd all swarm at once, but waves? Way better.
Still a hopeless situation, though. He'd learned the hard way last time that two barehanded was too much. The math was instant.
Even rationing bamboo cannons to clear the third wave, the final was doomed.
One per cannon left one extra in the final? And he couldn't count on saving them all intact anyway.
Last time, noise had given him away. This time, the lizard-headed monsters crossed the beach like they knew exactly where he was.
[Lad! Big trouble. They're swarming the beach!]
"Yeah, I see 'em."
He stepped toward the deck gap that'd been his safe spot before, but an invisible wall blocked it.
Hendrick looked tense too, lips sealed. Nice to see you shut up for once, old man.
Yujin whipped out a bamboo cannon without hesitation. No point rolling around desperately when he was fucked anyway.
But damn, he liked this grip. Stroking the bamboo joints, he aimed at the front experimentally.
Thicker than army rifles—totally different feel.
"Kieeeek!"
"Mom! Holy shit!"
Bang! The moment the thought crossed his mind, a monster filled his vision up close. Reflex took over—he blasted it.
"Kiii…"
Crude build or not, a gun was a gun. Pierced at point-blank, the thing tumbled back, shrapnel embedded everywhere.
"Keeeek!"
The next charged. Yujin dropped the spent cannon and yanked the #2 from his back.
Bang!
"Kip."
First was a lucky shot; this was aimed. It shredded without a scream.
Were they always this weak? He flashed back to fighting with the cutlass. Back then, one took death-defying effort. Firearms truly the great equalizer?
Gunpowder scent lingered on his hands, the thrill of smashing monsters with a flick pulsing in his palm. Mild recoil for the power—perfect.
First Wave Clear.
Second Wave in half a gak. Prepare.
The first hadn't died instantly from the glancing hit. After a pause, the clear popped up, snapping him from the afterglow.
Three bamboo cannons left. Clear second easy, die in third. Calm waves, gentle breeze—perfect dying weather.
As he tied the rest to his back for the next wave, Hendrick acted weird. Normally he'd brag, "See? Told ya."
[I said something was off! How's bamboo tougher than oak or pine? Ghosts weep at this nonsense.]
Aren't you the ghost? Yujin bit his tongue. Oblivious, Hendrick inspected the spent cannons.
[Should shatter after one shot from pressure, but intact.]
'What?'
Charred tip, but solid. Hendrick's vet status baffled.
[Refill, maybe a few more shots. Risky, though.]
Even Hendrick stumped—this was special. Heavenly Machine Star's true value?
In murim games, 99.9% weapons were cold arms. No clue what firearms talent did. But not the time.
[Better make new ones. Bamboo's plentiful… Huh? What're you doing?]
"They're coming back. Gotta recycle what I can."
If viable, he'd squeeze every edge.
He ripped open a gunpowder crate from the hold, shoveled in pre-gathered pebbles with powder into a used barrel. Cloth and knots finished it.
Sloppier finish, but familiarity—or "broken in" barrel?—restored the one-shot to form.
◈ A one-shot weapon reborn by skilled hands.
◈ Durability: 2/3 | Range: 1-2 | Attack: 80-120
"Done!"
Game changer. Hope reignited in eyes half-given-up. Heavenly Machine Star? Time to rethink this "trash" constellation.
"All fucked now."
He caressed the reloaded cannons like old lovers. Pretty babies.
Productive half-gak flew by; second wave hit. Three? Piece of cake.
Gripping a bamboo cannon, he waited for them to close. First taste hooked him—craving the next shot.
Regular blasts echoed across the beach.
Bang, bang, bang!
Second Wave Clear.
Final Wave in half a gak. Prepare.
Thrilling, electric, fresh. Intoxicating power!
"This shit's fucking fun?"
Earlier boredom gone; now he itched for the next wave.