47. Build Composition (1)
Lenador's calm, composed voice echoed through the chamber.
"What is the ultimate purpose of the Guards? Protecting the city, right? But everything I've said is the truth. Orion is doing things they shouldn't, and it's spreading across the entire city."
Lenador paused for a moment. Then, as if resolved, she dropped a bombshell.
"We must stop them using our authority as Guards. Orion's growth is accelerating. We can't let it continue."
"Hmm... Guards intervening to attack a corporation. You know what that means, don't you? One wrong move, and we could all suffer massive losses."
A woman with red hair and goggles retorted. She was Abella, captain of Cherwin's Steam Guard.
"That's possible. Orion won't sit idly by. And the corporations allied with them will push back. But we have to stop their inhuman experiments—body modifications, the most heinous acts imaginable."
"We might gain work from the chaos, or we might take a huge hit... Hmm, this risk is way too high."
Abella fiddled with her massive mechanical gauntlet, which seemed mismatched with her petite frame. She clearly hated the idea of losses.
"We can't just stand by. Those scum deserve to be torn limb from limb."
"Even so, we can't just mess with corporations, can we?"
"Still, we can't ignore that mess. I'm in favor."
"He's right. If we Guards get involved, the city could descend into chaos."
Some raged at the body modification experiments. Others insisted they couldn't touch corporations. The room grew restless.
"But hearing this kinda pisses me off."
A man's voice cut through the chaos.
"So Orion's pulling this shit on our watch? That means we're the idiots who missed it?"
Two-block shaved sides, slicked-back black hair. Dressed in a sharp black suit, the man scratched his neck with a dagger's edge. He was the Raven Guard captain from Adreas, where Orion was based.
"Kesin, I never said it was your fault."
"Bullshit. That's exactly what it means. We look like morons who couldn't spot it."
Kesin vented his frustration nonstop. Gamble cautioned him.
"Kesin, watch your mouth. This is a gathering of leaders—show some respect."
"What the hell! We should wipe those bastards out without a trace."
"Kesin!!!"
Whoosh!
Suddenly, immense energy surged from Gamble. It was mana strong enough to knock out amateurs. But those present held firm—they were leaders of their Guards.
"Hey, old man. You wanna throw down here? Starting trouble in this place is taboo, or did you forget?"
Kesin glared at Gamble, hand inching toward his dagger. Gamble drew his greatsword in response. Tension peaked.
"Calm down, both of you. Kesin, enough."
Lenador intervened.
"Fuck it. Handle it yourselves. I'm against it no matter what. Let's go."
Kesin stood, and hidden Guards emerged to escort him. Other dissenting captains followed. Only a few remained.
"Raven Guard should stay since they handle that corporation. I was too hasty. I knew his temperament..."
"No, it's fine. I'll talk to Kesin later."
"Appreciate it. Same outfit and all. Hmm... but what now."
Gamble, the meeting's facilitator, pondered. The mood was shot.
"This got messy. I cleared my schedule for this... Who's compensating my time if it ends like this?"
Abella, still there, wanted resolution.
"Hard to conclude now. Since it's come to this, why not expand the meeting?"
Gamble proposed again.
"Expand? You mean include corporations?"
"Exactly. Doesn't seem like we can settle it among ourselves. Besides, with Kesin out, we couldn't anyway."
The mood shifted toward a larger summit.
"I agree."
"Yes, let's do that."
"A general assembly with corporations. Rare indeed."
"Rare? This could blow up huge."
The meeting ballooned into one of historic scale.
"We'll summon the corporations and reconvene. Expect formal notices. Those attending, see you then."
With the mood ruined by Kesin, Lenador adjourned for now.
A week passed. My injuries from clashing with Descartes were deep, so I relied on Jerome's kit and hospital visits. Not just me—everyone did.
'If we had a healer, we wouldn't have wasted this time.'
With a healer, no need for hospitals—instant treatment on-site. Work would've been smoother.
'Meeting around 6 PM tonight.'
Once recovered enough, Michael suggested drinks. Our first private gathering here. A bar meetup felt oddly nostalgic.
'Got three skill points total.'
One from before Descartes, four from dealing with him. One decided: the new 【Space Movement】 skill.
Testing Brilliance Blade showed its power—it sliced magic and seemed effective against most armor. Perfect for my personal weapon, not summons.
I needed a skill for direct attacks. One stood out: Continuous Strike, learned via Weapon Manipulation.
'Multi-hit in an instant.'
Amplify speed for two or three rapid strikes where one would do. Synced well with Brilliance Blade's 100-second limit.
Weapon Manipulation has reached Level 4.
Acquired Continuous Strike.
Two points left. One into Prototype Restoration.
Prototype Restoration has reached Level 4.
One more to true Level 5. The Soul of the Dead option pushed it past, but that's artificial. Esperro system dislikes it—effects vanish if the option is removed.
'Summon counts from options vanished when removed. Can't risk ancient weapon restoration canceling.'
Safer to level the base skill. The rest into Weapon Revive.
Weapon Revive has reached Level 8.
Current summonable count: 15
My level hit 20. Fifteen weapons now. Enough for all mine plus one spare.
'Level 21 grants trait points.'
Class-defining traits on level-up. Excited for Weapon Summoner's.
'With Kethar joined, time to organize builds.'
Three party members now. Party builds possible, leveraging class synergy.
'What combos work?'
Ignition mage, tattoo sorcerer, Weapon Summoner. Brainstormed synergies.
But lately...
'Thinking feels sharper.'
I had talent before, but as Damian, it's enhanced. Options flood faster. Builds too. Genius brain at work.
'Attribute Transfer Build.'
Based on April's Transfer. Give her items for multi-attribute spread.
'Spread my Bleed or others. Tattoo rare attributes on Kethar.'
Descartes said Orion preps to summon 'Oni.' Monsters changed—swarming like possessed. Numbers surging. This build counters.
Build planning buzzed. Additions? Gear? Endorphins flowed. A game-first new build.
Knock knock!
How long? Door knock snapped me out. Glanced at window...
...Night. Wasn't it day? How much time?
Dozens of scribbled papers littered the desk. Hyper-focused.
"...May I come in?"
Kethar visited. Same hotel—April covered his broke ass. Claims she's loaded.
"...How's the body?"
"Fine now. You... healed ages ago."
"Yeah."
Jealous of his Blood Thirst.
Anyway.
"...Impressed. Using Descartes like that."
He referenced the building demolition.
"...Game usually just hides you. Why that?"
"Obvious."
"...Aiming for megacorp recruitment?"
"Partly. Orion'll skyrocket soon. Can we dodge them then?"
Orion hides power, but corp wars change that. Full hunt incoming.
"...Tough."
"Yeah. Backed by a megacorp, they hesitate. Know how guilds treat recruits?"
"...Make megacorps chase us. Orion can't approach."
"Exactly."
Kethar fits well. Helped with Descartes, overall vibe. Big asset ahead.
"Time's up. To the bar."
Short chat, then to the tavern.
Post-incident changes: rumors about me. Descartes tormented Divine Guards—his feats known. I took him down. They gauge power by mana, not levels. Level 16 beat 40.
'Impressive even in-game. Knew the counters...'
Plus stopped city attack. City abuzz natural. Hero whispers, hidden power theories.
Attitudes shifted.
"Heading out? We'll tidy your room. Enjoy!"
Hotel staff now suite-level polite.
And.
"Oh, going somewhere? Try my shop! On the house!"
"Potions? Fresh stock—free sample!"
Streets: everyone recognizes, pushes wares. Recruiters swarm—not assassins, guild reps.
Thud. Thud.
"...More."
Two men approach. Kethar guessed. But one familiar.
"Good to see ya! Haha!"
Black panther beside: Benjamin from Esteno quest. Megacorp guild already?
"Whoa, you're huge now! Brockton's buzzing about you!"
"You personally? What's up?"
I know. Play dumb.
"Not here. Chat over there? Saw you like Americano last time... Ahem."
Points to cafe. Recruitment savvy—not just looks. Using coffee?
Expected. Mercury top-tier. Talk.
"Sure."
Cafe detour. Seated, his companion speaks. Lanky black man, 190cm+, basketball build. Sets fedora down.
"Intro first. Hans, Mercury 2nd Company Captain."
Hans, 2nd Company. Minor recall—Mercury's stacked.
"Straight to it: we want you."
"Hmm, got it."
Damn, this Americano's good. Rich.
Hotel nearby—should've come sooner. Today's win.
"You know Mercury..."
"...So join us. Platoon leader if you do."
"Wait, Captain? Platoon? I haven't even... No, we weren't recruiting for that!"
Benjamin panicked. Low rank—mere squad grunt. His skill's solid, yet...
"Benjamin. Times changed. He proved himself."
"But still...!"
"What say? Platoon leader gets full support."
Platoon leader. Mercury has 3 battalions? Five platoons per company, five companies per battalion. Decent for me.
"Hmm."
"Heard me?"
Hans puzzled at my apathy. Most'd bow gratefully. Even I'd consider Mercury.
'Not yet.'
Not joining yet. Let 'em chase more—Orion deterred.
"Need time to think. Offers pouring in."
"Think?"
"Yeah. Comparing."
"Waiting on Zeus?"
Rival #1. Hans sharpens.
"Among others."
"Hmph... Whatever they offer, know this: we're #2, but power's even."
"Know."
"How long?"
Scrape. I stood. Done.
"I'll contact when decided. Got Benjamin's card. Later."
"H-Hey...!"
Out with Kethar. Shadows vanish—5th corp sales, 8th? Watchers retreat.