Legendary Grade, Souls of the Dead (3)

I leisurely stepped into the factory amid the hail of bullets, just as expected.

Countless bullets rained down. But no problem.

The Lightning Barrier protected me. Of course, since it was still only Level 1, I couldn't drag this out for long...

Tat-tat-tat!

While I drew their fire, Jackson slipped in quickly. The barrier, having blocked bullets from dozens of guns, was starting to weaken.

"Gah!"

"Arghhh!"

Right on cue, Alpano burst in from behind the building. His blood-soaked clothes suggested he'd taken out countless small fry.

"Kill 'em all!"

"Fire! Shoot 'em to pieces, no mercy!"

Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu!

Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu!

Their bullet storm poured down. They focused entirely on us, bullets flying from every direction. We ducked behind abandoned factory machines, biding our time.

"One wrong move and we're Swiss cheese."

Jackson calmly lit a cigarette in his mouth and loaded his bullets one by one. Must be all that combat experience—even in this mess, he was cool as ice. Me? I had my drugs for composure.

"I'll take the lead."

"Kid, looks like you snagged a mage's gear. But that trick won't block everything for long, right?"

Jackson knew his ability users well, so he had the Lightning Barrier pegged. He was right—it couldn't hold forever. But now that we were inside, cleaning them up would be easy.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

I'd already Locked On to the bastards. Hiding behind machinery, I hurled my daggers.

Whirrr!

"Gurk!"

"Keurk!"

The daggers whipped around wildly. The Locked On targets dropped like flies, and the bullet storm shifted to the daggers.

Mission accomplished. Their concentrated fire scattered.

"That's what you were going for. Alpano, let's move."

"..."

Alpano gave a curt nod, then darted along the wall with Jackson. Their target: the stairs to the second floor.

Meanwhile, I advanced slowly toward the center with my shield out front, drawing eyes.

Ting-ting-ting-ting!

"Gaaargh!"

"D-don't shoot! Don't shoo—gurk!"

Bullets poured from every angle. But the shield wasn't moving on my command now. It had a will of its own, protecting me instinctively.

A shield that guards on autopilot? Felt pretty damn reliable. Even trivial stuff boosts morale like crazy.

The bullets reflected by the shield turned the tables, riddling them instead.

"Ugh, uuuugh..."

"Wh-what the hell kind of power is that...? Never heard of weapons moving like this..."

Now only two remained, guarding the second-floor office.

That's gotta be it.

Red light leaked from the second floor. The glow of the Legendary grade, Souls of the Dead. White light seeped out too, and it looked like all the gear was piled in there.

Pew!

Shrrrrrik!

Jackson's shotgun and Alpano's daggers finished them off.

Thus, the 80 organization grunts guarding this place were wiped out. By just five of us.

"We pulled off something huge here. Teaming with you just added a major notch to my belt."

"...Good. Follow."

Even Alpano cracked a satisfied word. Meanwhile, Michael and Jerome, who'd been sniping from afar, joined us at the office.

And there, nestled among the gear, I found the Legendary orb: Souls of the Dead.

A round sphere painted blood red. Too big for one hand. White smoke swirled inside—the vengeful spirits trapped within. That was the orb's core power.

But it's not called a cursed orb for nothing.

Its item tier kept the stats modest despite Legendary grade. But the real value was in those options below. Mana +15 and +20% Mana boost already ballooned my mana pool. And then...

Vengeful Spirit Attribute and Vengeful Spirit Exchange. Efficiency depended on usage.

Vengeful Spirit Attribute has a level restriction, so can't use it yet. But the mana boost was the main draw anyway.

Of course, there was a penalty: HP Drain.

HP drains continuously the moment you touch it.

But if my hunch was right...

Swooo.

I didn't grab it directly. Instead, I used the Weapon Summoner's unique skill, Weapon Manipulation, to levitate it.

......

......

Just as I thought. Normally, HP would drain the instant you hold the orb. But even as I manipulated it, no effect.

To confirm, I opened my status window.

Just as expected—the penalty doesn't trigger.

No penalty option visible. I was manipulating the orb, not touching it directly.

A condition unique to me as a Weapon Summoner.

No one else gets this perk. Overpowered options with no downside? But mana drain is no joke. Legendary item, maybe? I unsummoned it to conserve mana.

"Damn, tons of gear here. Better call the crew."

"Yeah. The merchant folks'll love this. We're cashing in big on you ability users."

Jackson's group marveled at the piled-up equipment.

...Huh?

But then—a new light flickered not far off. Purple-tinged!

And massive mana radiating from it.

"Everyone, down!"

Screeeee!

KABOOM!

A crossbow bolt slammed in out of nowhere, exploding and wrecking part of the office. Aimed right at us.

"Wh-what the hell!"

"From over there!"

Michael aimed his sniper rifle instantly. But before he could fire, more bolts flew.

Thung!

Crack-crack-crack!

Over eight bolts fanned out and embedded. Jackson tackled Michael out of the way, and the rest scattered again.

Position: second-floor roof eaves. Firing through the window at us.

Sniper type?

Crossbow user. Explosive Bolt, even Multishot. Skills requiring at least Level 30.

"Whoa, you guys dodged all that?"

The guy slowly revealed himself. Level 30 above his head. Black hair in a topknot, dirt-brown skin. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Massive crossbow in hand.

Definitely a Crossbowman class.

So that's what the different accent meant... He's a player.

I got it now. His speech had that subtle off-note compared to natives. But not a player like me. Orion emblem on his coat.

"You with them too?"

Jackson asked, helping Michael up. The guy scoffed mockingly.

"Dumbass. That's your question? Lumping me with those NPC shits?"

Thung-thung-thung!

Pissed off, he raised the giant crossbow and fired bolts. Crack! Crack! Pierced the stone floor. No normal bolts—infused with mana. Tougher than bullets.

Real pain in the ass.

"Boss! That guy's a Crossbowman ability user!"

Michael, same archetype, spotted it first. Him overlooking us from above? Bad spot.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!

First, distract him. Hurled daggers his way.

"Yes! You must be Damian!"

Thung! Thung! Thung!

He clocked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my attack instantly. Definitely no simple mob.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Knocked my daggers aside with bolts. Insane reload speed, pinpoint accuracy. Attack Speed Boost, even Accuracy Enhancement passive.

Normal Crossbowmen don't spec like that...

Just like my Crossbowman evasion build. He was using it too.

Then...

BOOM!

Screeeee!

Needed to test his reactions more. Activated Shadow Strike.

Crossbow snipers' weakness: sluggish movement while firing.

"Huh? What the—!"

Caught off guard. But with my build, he'd counterattack, not dodge.

KABOOM!

Blasted Explosive Bolt at the central dagger, deflecting them all. Spot on. Abnormal attack speed for a Crossbowman. Using my build.

"Whoa, almost screwed up... No more games. Don't need the small fry."

Thung!

KABOOM!

"Gaaargh!"

"Arghhhh!"

Bolts nailed Jerome and Alpano dead-on. Unlike me, they couldn't react.

"Two down."

"Jerome!!!! Alpano!!!"

Clank! Bang! Bang!

Michael roared and fired, aiming true. But it wouldn't land. Build's core was evasion over offense.

Whoosh!

"...Dodged?"

As expected, casual shoulder tilt. Bang-bang-bang-bang!

Jackson joined, blasting shotgun nonstop.

Whoosh! Whoosh-whoosh!

Guy's speed was nuts. Widened gap before shots hit. Evaded Michael's sniper and preempted Jackson.

And fired a bolt mid-retreat.

Thwung!

"Arrrgh!"

KABOOM!

Straight hit flung Jackson off the railing. Force was insane—shoulder probably wrecked.

Followed my blueprint to the letter. Tough to take him down like this.

Bad matchup. Evasion and speed-focused build. Offense solid too—Crossbowman base power.

Unlike evasion assassins before, this was practical. Balanced evasion and attack. Needed overwhelming volume to pierce evasion.

"Leg'll grow back or whatever."

Ziiiiiing.

Finished with Jackson's crew, now focused on me. Light gathered on crossbow. Stance: one knee down, crossbow tight to shoulder. Bracing for recoil.

"Might sting a bit."

Thung!

Fwooooosh!

One bolt fired. Glowing tip. Knew the skill: Critical Strike. Charges mana for one massive shot.

"Might sting"? Direct hit would obliterate the limb.

Thud.

Instinctively summoned shield. Won't block perfectly, but throw everything at it.

Crack!

Insane power ignored Reflection. Bolt tip pierced as expected, but held.

"Tch, blocked it... Even for Damian, that move? Who the hell are you?"

"..."

He was catching on. Not just "Damian" moving.

Situation sucked. High-level ability user, perfect copy of my build player.

"Playing dumb? Who are you? What kinda bastard?"

And his weapon was no slouch. Purple—Heroic grade, above Rare.

But my mood soured. Jackson's crew writhing in pain. They were my allies now.

"Serendos."

"...What? S-Serendos? Rank 1?"

Fear flashed in his eyes at my ID. Any Esperro vet would know it. He'd copied my build, after all.

"N-no way. Why's Serendos here? Impossible..."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hate two things. Anyone touching me. And touching my allies.

He hit both. Me and Jackson's crew.

Doesn't matter who. Payback double.

Swoosh.

Summmoned Souls of the Dead before me.