Yodo Barseto (4)

I immediately checked the dagger he'd dropped.

A throwing dagger, not an ordinary one. But whether it's for throwing or regular use doesn't matter. As long as I activate Lock On, it'll hit somehow.

But in the game, it wasn't all that useful.

The biggest reason was the low damage. Sure, the accuracy was great since it always hit, but the damage was too low to make much of a difference. I'd only use it occasionally when I didn't have better options...

For a Weapon Summoner, it's different.

If I hold this weapon, Lock On applies to all my weapons. That's an enormous boost in utility for me. I've been racking my brain over accuracy issues anyway.

*

To find the legendary weapon, I followed Hamilton's guidance. But...

The place we were heading was nothing like I'd expected. Right now, he was leading me into a forest reeking of monster secretions.

"Why are we going into the forest?"

"Ah, w-well..."

Why does this guy look like that? I started feeling uneasy.

"Truth is, after I took the weapon, I wanted to test it out. See if even a powerless guy like me could wield its strength..."

"And?"

"So I tried to hunt a monster, and..."

"You didn't lose it, did you?"

"..."

Is this bastard insane? Losing a legendary weapon—not even a normal one?

He didn't endure the gang's threats; he was just scared they'd kill him if he talked?

"You fucker."

My hand moved on its own before I knew it. He flinched and trembled at my gesture.

But I still needed this guy for now. He knew where and how he'd lost it.

"I-I caught an owl bear, but then I ran into the leader one, and from that guy..."

"...You tried to take on the leader?"

This guy's level was 2. Meaning he had no real power to speak of.

Yet he went after an owl bear leader?

That's a tough one even for low levels. No way he could handle it. Probably level 10 at least.

Maybe an ability user could, but a powerless nobody like Hamilton? Even a legendary weapon wouldn't help.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"T-truth is, when I tried using the weapon, it was useless to me... No options or anything."

"No options? What do you mean?"

"Ah, w-well, see... On the way out with it, I-I broke the weapon? That's why all the options..."

...This bastard's a total villain. Tries to steal a pristine weapon, breaks it, loses all the options, and then drops it.

Is this some ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quest setup? Even if it is, it's pissing me off too much.

"B-but! D-don't worry! It won't work for me, but for you, it sh-should be possible!"

He stammered desperately. He'd probably caught my icy glare.

"Possible for me? What do you mean?"

"Th-that weapon was made for you, right? So you should be able to restore the options! Y-you... Do you have a weapon restoration ability?"

Ah, right. He was a researcher too.

He seemed to know a lot about Weapon Summoners.

Weapon restoration skill? He must mean this one.

I opened my skill window and checked the list. It was one of the unlearned skills—looks like that's the one.

I'd been holding off on spending points to level skills situationally. Perfect timing.

"If you have that ability, you can restore the weapon?"

"Y-yes! That's it. From what I know, the fragments are stored in various labs. One's in Brockton too. Find them, and it'll work again! Ha, haha."

He gave an awkward smile. Looked like he was struggling for his life.

Villain or not, he was giving me useful info.

"The Brockton lab—you mean Descartes' place?"

"...How do you know the director's name? Y-yes, that's it."

This flows naturally into the next part. I had to check it out anyway.

Descartes. One of the first bosses.

First things first, I know what I need to do.

I have to survive here. To do that, I need power.

To grow as a Weapon Summoner, I need strong gear.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

So, claim the weapon, recover the fragments.

And grab any other equipment available here.

At this point in the timeline, Descartes hasn't gotten that treasure yet.

He's originally an Orion lab director. But for personal reasons, he starts building power for his evil deeds and acquires a legendary treasure.

If he hasn't claimed it yet, maybe I can.

A bit ahead of the original timeline. I might snag his gear.

And if it's that treasure...

Might solve my mana issues to some extent.

Finish up here first and think later.

Whoosh.

Following Hamilton deeper, we soon saw a stream cutting through the forest.

"S-see that? It's in that cave. I left my weapon there too..."

Hamilton pointed at a cave, shaking like a leaf.

The entrance visible between tall trees. The leader must be inside.

Owl bear's got tough vitality.

My level's 4. Leader's probably 10.

Big gap. But I have a way.

"Wait here."

"G-got it!"

I entered slowly. Three claw marks on the tree bark. And blackened stains.

The blackened spots were rotting away.

Scratched by an owl bear claw, and that's what happens.

One of their traits: claws coated in toxin that rots flesh.

If I get hit now? Can't guarantee I'd be fine.

Absolutely no close combat.

Thud.

Thud.

Then it happened. Before I even reached the cave.

Heavy footsteps from inside.

-Grrr...

Probably hunting for food. It came out first.

Black fur, red eyes. Owl face on a bear body.

But massively bigger.

It bared sharp fangs, scanning around.

Attack from max range.

No chance if it closes in. Good thing I can do ranged.

I hid behind a tree trunk. Then cast Shadow Strike at it.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Started with three daggers. Hit before it could react.

But...

-Kraaaah!

Boom!

Clang clang clang!

It slammed its front paw down hard. Ground shook and erupted.

Like the boss's skill on the train: Earthshaker.

Guess it spotted my frontal assault.

Need to hit from other angles, but from here...

Since it came out first, I hadn't positioned well.

Too late to move now.

But not out of options.

I Lock Oned it.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

Launched all recovered daggers into the air.

Before, that'd be pointless...

But now it was different.

The airborne daggers arced toward it.

Thuk thuk thuk!

-Kr, kraaah!

Daggers plunged from various angles in parabolic paths.

It panicked at the unexpected assault.

Good. It's working.

Lock On solved accuracy. And multi-angle attacks.

I stayed hidden behind the tree, relentlessly launching weapons.

Thuk thuk thuk thuk!

It occasionally Earthshakered to deflect, but overwhelmed by attacks from all sides, it couldn't focus.

It scanned for me now and then, but hidden behind the tree, I stayed undetected.

Ten minutes passed. Took a while.

I attacked nonstop, but daggers hit their limit.

Been using early-game weapons non-stop; makes sense.

No immediate fix. Time to prep for Rank 2 daggers.

I kept attacking. Daggers were worn, but stable—no big issues.

So convenient not even aiming. Just Lock On and toss anywhere; they hit.

-Kr, grrr...

Bleeding red, HP critically low.

Time to finish.

I floated all greataxes into the air. Just before drop, powered with Shadow Strike.

Whoosh!

Splorch!

The axe cleaved it perfectly. It collapsed lifelessly.

"O-oh..."

Hamilton approached once the owl bear fell.

"To think Weapon Summoner power could be used like this..."

What did they expect—me swinging summoned weapons up close?

"We thought you just summoned and wielded them personally... But you can exploit gear options like this."

Hey, his way isn't bad either. But that's for higher levels.

For surviving here, melee's too risky for me.

"Follow me."

I dragged Hamilton into the cave.

As we neared, red light leaked from within.

Red light. Color of legendary items.

"Ugh..."

The cave was packed with corpses. Goblins, other monsters, even humans.

All eaten by it, probably.

There—my target. The legendary weapon.

Finally. Some twists, but it's mine now. No issue.

But per Hamilton, other problems.

I checked the options.

Just as in the memory. Black-lacquered scabbard, shattered blade.

Item tier Rank 10. Higher number means better options and values.

Top existing tier.

Level means growth-type item. Levels up options too.

Eight hidden options. Eight fragments?

Anyway, I have one. Grabbed it from the escape lab.

Prototype Restoration can fuse it.

Learned it and immediately used the skill on the fragment-fused weapon.