Prospective Underclassman and a Sense of Crisis
[Exclusive weapons purchased.]
Exclusive Weapons Acquired
Rohan plunged his hand into the rippling space.
Nothing solid grasped his fingers. Only the pulsing throb, like a heartbeat, pulsed against his skin.
A voice seeped into his mind.
"Two become one at last, two for the sake of one."
The throbbing stopped. Condensed power flowed up his arm.
Instinctively, Rohan emptied both hands.
He sheathed the longsword, its edge dulled from cleaving through rigid foes.
He set down the pistol he'd borrowed from Sion on the floor.
The energy crossing from the space took form.
First, his right hand: a longsword with a crossguard and pommel.
Heavenly Sun Holy Judgment Sword mana cost reduced
Heavenly Sun Holy Judgment Sword power increased
Repairable with points if damaged
Grows upon reaching experience cap
Perfect weight.
The grip wrapped around his hand like a custom order.
The longsword, infused with Scorching Blade, radiated a heat unlike any blade he'd wielded before.
The blade embraced the flames with love.
And in his left hand, the automatic pistol.
Weakness Infliction mana cost reduced
Inserted bullets enter firebrand state: increased mana capacity and hardness
Repairable with points if damaged
Grows upon reaching experience cap
A simple silver form that gleamed. Perfect size, comfortable in his grip.
The magazine was fully loaded.
'Stacking? Growth...? Never seen gear with options like this.'
In Abyss City, finalizing a weapon meant pulling the same one six times and stacking it to level 5.
But these?
No clear numerical attack power or bonuses listed. Growth via experience instead of stacking.
Click!
Rohan bit down on the pistol's grip regretfully, his hands now full, and racked the slide.
'Ah, whatever. Don't get it, don't care about the complicated stuff.'
No time to overthink now.
One thing was certain: these weapons fit him perfectly.
That was enough.
"O-Oppa?"
"Rohan... those are...?"
Shocked eyes at the sudden armaments.
Still, they'd buy it easily enough.
Gear like Noah's exclusive weapon Fimbulvetr, existing in compressed form, wasn't unheard of.
"I'll explain later. Let's finish this quick."
He focused mana into the pistol named Stigma.
Mana flowed into the bullets like water, loading the skill in an instant.
Rohan pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Target: a bloated scorpion. The bullet buried into its thick exoskeleton.
— Kreeeeek!!!
The monster's pained screech.
Effect confirmed already.
Imparting physical attribute weakness to target.
The party's common thread: physical damage.
As Rohan charged forward, Sion and Clara followed.
Click!
Reloading the skill mid-sprint.
One shot into the Hughes Beetle leader buried in the shutter.
— Chiruk! Chirruruk!
Imparting physical attribute weakness to target.
The beast, loyally nuzzling the sturdy shutter, lifted its head.
Leader specimens with bullets lodged turned toward Rohan.
"I'll take right! You two, left!"
Entrusting Sion and Clara, he gripped tighter.
He swung the sword in his right hand.
Flames erupt along the blade.
———Shraaak! The massive scorpion split not vertically, but horizontally.
Its rigid claws and armored shell parted smoothly.
Like a burger bun awaiting its patty, the monster gaped open top and bottom.
The signal of the monster's life ending.
"!"
Rohan marveled at the effortless feel—no resistance at all.
Even with Weakness Infliction, cleaving these should've taken real force.
Like slicing crisp paper—no strain.
This blade named Brilliance was undoubtedly a masterwork.
"Cleaving it one-handed like that, not even dual-wielding? Impressive work."
"Oppa really is...!"
The girls, returning after downing a giant beetle, gawked purely at the scorpion's clean cross-section.
Beyond Rohan's skills, the cut itself drew awe.
"Looks like we're done. Good work, both of you."
Rohan returned the floored pistol to Sion and surveyed.
No need to force open shutters for civilians.
The mummy leaders fell to Ichinose and Noah.
Security officers swiftly handled remnants; stability imminent. No visible monsters left.
'Just report to Instructor Juyeon.'
With multiple rifts in Academy City, Juyeon must be swamped.
One message: unharmed and safe.
Enough.
"Rohan."
"Yeah?"
"So, what are those weapons?"
"I-I'm curious too...!"
How to explain.
They'd accept anything, but piling lies on this bond felt wrong.
Glossing over would lead to an irreparable point.
"Remember that skill of mine that gets provisions? Like food and stuff."
The girls recalled the monolith incident.
Already nodding in realization, ah! of admiration.
"Not just edibles, huh. Remarkable power."
"But gear like this costs insane resources. Can't compare to water or rations."
"Oppa... so the gun shop...?"
"Need a holster even with the pistol, so yeah. Stock bullets too."
Clara brightened at the plan.
She'd really wanted to go.
"Sword can use the old leather scabbard, cut and tie for now."
"Not bad, but ordering a scabbard today might be best?"
"If we spot a good shop. Wonder if they're open amid this mess."
"O-on days like this, weapon shops probably boom, right...?"
"True, Clara's got a point."
Time to retire the installment longsword.
He'd abused it harshly; post-Weakness Infliction on unbeaten beetles and scorpions left the edge chipped.
Repair costs made farewell wise.
'Suffered under a rough master.'
Until today, the battered blade had pierced leaders, earning fame.
Rohan bid the gear adieu.
Meanwhile, Sion and Clara glanced upward.
Longing gazes.
"Wish we could retrieve the purchased stuff."
"Ah... "
Underwear and pajamas, paid and packaged, left at the shop.
The girls remembered.
As Rohan's group cooperated with security in the tidied mall,
Ichinose and Noah rejoined after chatting with officers.
"Everyone safe?"
"Uhyah! Working up a sweat made me hungry!"
Both obviously fine.
Noah buzzed faintly from battle thrill—befitting her aggressive beastkin blood.
"We're good. Reported to Instructor."
"W-we're fine too... "
Ichinose exhaled long in relief.
Noah wagged her tail casually, as expected.
"What kind of disaster is this... Not just Academy City—got word of small rifts across Samhwa Nation too."
"Tigrova too! We crushed 'em quick! Other nations similar?"
"Ominous signs."
Rohan adjusted the awkwardly strapped scabbard on his back, pondering.
No complacency in the mall's miracle of no deaths.
'Sudden quests weren't like this.'
Dimensional rifts or monoliths popping up were Abyss City staples.
But simultaneous, unprepared outbreaks? Never.
'Game convenience vs. reality...'
Main story broken—related?
Tough times ahead, he sensed.
"Cadets, emergency shutters released. Retrieve items now."
"Ah! Thank you."
The officer hurried off with radio, more grateful.
Rohan eyed the mall's distant ceiling.
"Grab our stuff and bounce."
As he stepped, a hand tugged his collar.
Not Sion or Clara's grip—head turned automatically.
"Hm?"
A young girl entered view.
No cadet uniform. Casual clothes—academy student? Unclear.
Sion and Clara froze mid-step to retrieve bags.
Ichinose held breath, watching Rohan and girl.
Noah alone blinked blankly, chill.
"U-um!"
"Who're you?"
Short hair—back view might fool for boy.
Front: unmistakably pretty girl.
"Th-thanks for saving me...!"
Boisterous voice.
Rohan recalled.
"Ah!"
Mid-blitzing monsters,
Her defending vending machine folks with fists and feet. Blurry memory.
"You fought well too. Good work."
"I'll train harder...!"
Unique, intriguing speech. Dojo-like poise.
"A-and... "
"And?"
"Graduating high school next year... aiming for Orion Academy...!"
Her gaze at Rohan pure, earnest.
Eyes with clear goal sparkled.
"Get in, I'll be your senior. Work hard."
"...Senior! I'll bust my butt to get in...!"
Suddenly trembling like palsy, she fumbled out her phone, offering to Rohan.
"Th-th-th-the...! A-A-Academy st-st-stuff... wanna ask questions...!"
"Number exchange?"
Face beet-red, nodding slowly like first time.
Rohan chuckled at the novel experience, inputting his number.
She bowed nearly to ground, then fled to her giggling group.
Kya! Kya! Bubbly squeals erupted.
"""..."""
The women, who'd watched intently from above without descending, began coloring with varied emotions.