Yodo, Barseto (1)
A massive influx of experience points poured in along with the message. Far more than from the regular thugs. This one was a named monster, not one of the ordinary ones.
This time...
I'd earned another skill point. And with my level hitting 3, a new skill had unlocked as well. It was called Void Rift.
From the description, it seemed to involve creating rifts to send weapons through...
Basically a skill for teleporting weapons to wherever I want, right?
A technique for dispatching weapons to any position I desired. If used well, it could open up all sorts of attack patterns. But it wasn't the offensive skill I'd been hoping for.
So, prioritizing a level-up for Weapon Revive to increase the number of summons made the most sense.
Weapon Revive level has increased.
Pretty hefty.
After dealing with the thief boss, I examined the massive axe lying beside him. Was it possible because of his mechanical arm? It was damn heavy when I tried to lift it myself.
First things first, I needed to check its options.
◈ Item Tier: Grade 1
◈ Two-Handed Weapon
◈ Attack Power: 25-30
◈ Strength +5
◈ Powerful Slash applied
Yeah, that explained it. The way he'd sliced people in half with a single swing. The option was Powerful Slash—it temporarily boosted the blade's intensity.
Right. Even with body mods, it didn't make sense otherwise. But this tracks.
The mystery was solved. I immediately registered the Great Axe in an empty slot.
Bwoooong!
I levitated it using my Weapon Summoner ability. The daggers were so light I hadn't noticed much, but even without holding it directly, I could feel the weight.
Still lighter than before, though. Probably thanks to the Strength +5 on the axe.
Weapon Summoner (Unique)
Level: 3
HP: 50/220
Mana: 20/220
Effects in Possession:
*Powerful Slash
My total Strength was now 15. I could feel subtle changes as my stats rose. The issue, though...
Mana drain on the axe is no joke.
Was it the weight? The grade? Either way, it consumed way more than the daggers. I'd have to use it situationally.
Time to grow as fast as possible.
Survival was priority one. Only then could I pay back the bastards who dumped me here—tenfold. I needed even more power. And money...
This should hold me for now.
I looted the thieves' corpses for cash. About 150,000 babel. I could sell their gear like they did, but that risked exposing myself. Cash only.
*
It took a bit, but the train got moving again. Soon we arrived at our destination: Brockton.
Just like the game.
On the surface, it was a typical 19th-century city. Stone-paved streets. Carriages and roofless automobiles rumbling along. Thick smoke belching from factories.
But the buildings were different. Steam engine pipes snaked everywhere, infusing the structures with all sorts of functions—unlike modern ones.
First, new clothes.
I'd come here to hide from those guys. A precious experiment like me vanishing? They'd hunt me down like dogs.
But my current look was too conspicuous. Lab coat soaked in blood.
...And the stares aren't helping.
I ducked into what looked like a barber first. Got a short cut overall, with a part I could style.
Hair alone wouldn't cut it. Spent the rest on clothes: black shirt, leather pants. That'd do for now.
Next: find the guy. Hamilton, who'd grabbed the exclusive weapon and bolted.
To Bares.
The main reason I'd come here was the legendary weapon. That meant tracking down Hamilton. Bares was a small village pretty far from Brockton. Long road ahead.
*
Hired a coachman. Bares was distant—even by carriage, it took two days. On foot without cash? Unthinkable.
We rolled into Bares. Carriages trundling by, squat stone buildings clustered together. Straight out of a Western flick.
One spot stood out: a tavern selling food.
Grrrrowl.
Hadn't eaten properly in ages. Objective reached—time to fill the gut. Taverns were info hubs anyway.
Kiiiek.
Stepped into the tavern-looking joint. Small village vibe: most tables empty. Wrinkled white-haired old man quietly wiping bowls.
"Booze?"
"Pass on the booze. Just something simple to fill up."
"Mm. Got it."
Tak.
Moments later, he brought a steaming plate.
"Direwolf foreleg stew. From your speech, you ain't local... But it'll suit your taste."
"My speech?"
"Mm? Nah. Just sounds a bit off..."
Since entering the game, I'd automatically used their language. Hadn't thought about it.
Possession making it sound different?
No solid info yet. But a new discovery. Could use it to spot others like me.
Slurp.
Tried the old man's stew. Never had real food before. Just jerky on the carriage.
...Damn, this is good.
"Starving, eh? Tea?"
He offered a drink. Tea, huh. Americano for me—I was hooked on it. Esperro had it too.
"Any... Americano?"
Asked cautiously, expecting confusion.
"Yep."
Even this? Parts of Esperro were modeled on reality, so it existed in-game. No iced, though...
He poured it into a small teacup. Who'd have thought I'd sip this here. Hot, not iced.
Slurp.
The bitter Americano slid down my throat. Yeah. This hits right. One cup washes everything away.
Belly full, coffee downed.
Destination reached. Time for intel. Owner should know something.
"Know a Hamilton?"
"Hamilton? Sure. Run a tavern in a small village for decades, you pick up on folks."
Spot on.
"Where is he now?"
"Oh, yeah. Probably..."
Bam!
Then—the tavern door kicked open. Someone stormed in.
"Hey, you the owner?"
Black suits, pomaded hair slicked tight. Pistols at their waists. All matching style.
Gangsters?
Level 3. No tougher than the train thugs.
Not a real threat. But gangs? Messing with groups gets messy.
"...Who're you?"
"Don't need to know. You know Hamilton or not?"
What? Why were gangsters after Hamilton? Some bounty?
"Hamilton? Dunno. Can't say."
Owner was sharp—lied, unlike what he'd told me.
"...Dunno? Small village like this, everyone's tight."
"Nope. He local?"
"Hm. Really don't know?"
"Hold up."
Another peered out the window. Trucks speeding past outside. He smirked and turned back.
"Boss beat us to that rat. But..."
His eyes turned vicious.
"Old man. You really don't know?"
He approached slowly, drew a dagger, pressed it to the old man's throat.
"Heard you talking when I came in. Told him you did. Huh?"
He glanced at me slyly.
"Some nobody..."
Spotted I'm an experiment? Nah, ignoring me for now.
"Guh, guhk!"
"You don't get us. Once we target someone, we find 'em. Lying? I could kill you right now, no sweat."
No bluff. The dagger's emotions screamed it—itching to kill.
...Can't let the old man die.
He was about to tell me. If he dies, I'm back to square one. And those trucks were heading to Hamilton already.
Shing.
Summmoned my dagger. Take out the old man's threat first.
Whish! Splat!
"Guh, guhk!"
Close range—perfect accuracy. But something was off. The dagger's power wasn't usually this much.
It pierced clean through his throat. Speed aside, the damage was insane.
Shadow Strike maybe, but normal attacks never embedded that deep.
Always threw full force then closed for quick slashes.
This punched straight through. Something changed.
No way—Powerful Slash option kicking in?
If so... Right, I'd forgotten. Weapon Summoners share weapon options.
The new axe's Powerful Slash was applying to the dagger!
"A-a ability user? That punk's one!"
"G-gun! Get the gun!"
While I realized this, the others moved.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
One reached for his gun. Hurled two daggers.
One missed. One nailed his chest.
Crack!
"Guhk!"
Same result. Definitely Powerful Slash.
Swung at the last one.
Slash! Slash!
Even basic swings hit different. Skin split like bursting on each strike.
Incredible.
Powerful Slash usually went on slow, heavy two-handers for raw power.
On a dagger? Fast-attacking low-damage weapon...
Boosts speed and power massively.
One option turned the dagger into a monster. No wonder Damian was busted.
"Hah, huff... huff..."
Meanwhile, the old man slumped to the floor. Shocked by the suddenness.
"H-Hamilton, that fool. Wh-what'd he do... A-anyway, th-thanks for the help..."
"Where's Hamilton."
"H-home. At home. The house you see on the hill at the north end."
He pointed out the window. Hill a bit outside the village. Lone house atop it.
...There.
Hamilton's spot—fled with the legendary weapon. Trucks racing that way too.
Hm?
Green glow from the truck. Someone had advanced-grade gear.
Not just street punks.
Surviving as a Weapon Summoner in The Game
Chapter 6
Date | 2023.10.14