Lord of All Weapons

As the 200-level class quest completed, notifications for the new skills popped up.

"Go, you vessel bastard!"

Without a moment to calm down, Vulcan leaped toward the iron gate as Tud pointed at it with his arm extended. He hadn't even properly checked his skills yet, but it felt like he had to do it.

This must be it?

Of course, he quickly scanned the skills while moving, roughly guessing what Tud wanted.

Decompose skill, right away. He couldn't smash or pry it open with brute force, so this was the only thing he could try immediately.

"Decompose."

As he placed his hand on the iron gate and activated the skill, mana spread out from his palm. It wrapped around the entire gate like a scan, and new information formed in his Dragon Eye.

At the same time, the rank of Dragon Eye rose—from S-rank to SS-rank. The description hadn't changed much, but Vulcan could instinctively feel it. New things were becoming visible, things he couldn't see before. He could see more.

That there?

Clang! Clang clang!

No matter the material, it was still a door meant to open and close. Hinges were necessary, and there were clear weak points.

Vulcan swiftly swapped his weapon for his dedicated crafting tool, the Craftsman's Origin, and struck the hinges. Not just to destroy, but using the information seeping into his brain through his naked eyes, he decomposed the hinges and smashed the vulnerable spot where the gate's center of gravity was uneven.

"?!"

Screeech—Boom!!!

The iron gate was wedged tightly into the passage, so it wouldn't budge easily even if pushed with force, but this time was different. As its center of gravity collapsed, it wobbled for a moment before toppling over sideways.

"Ah... so that's how it is."

At that moment, information ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flooded into Vulcan's mind—the blueprint for crafting this iron gate. The data confirmed by Decompose mixed with the new info from Dragon Eye, instantly copying the recipe. If he wanted, with enough materials, he could recreate the exact same thing anytime.

If I use this... I could figure out crafting recipes for anything.

Dragon Eye was cheat-level, but it couldn't reveal info on everything—only what Tud knew in life could be perfectly grasped. Its essence-piercing effect let him discern most new things, but some showed as unknown. With this, though? He could acquire nearly any recipe.

With Dragon Eye ranked up, he could learn more without Decompose, but it was Decompose that completed the puzzle.

Thanks to that, Vulcan quickly swapped back to his weapon after toppling the troublesome gate. It was finally time to face whatever black energy lurked inside.

He peered in, alert to both front and rear.

"...Huh?"

What emerged were none other than Dark Knights—knights in black armor embedded with black gems on their chests, absorbing dark-attribute mana. But upon confirming them, Vulcan couldn't muster his fighting spirit. His face twisted in disgust.

"You fucking bastards!!"

The Dark Knights' faces were far too young. Children. No older than 18 at most, half-mad kids donning armor and awakening murderous intent.

Naturally, Vulcan's rage turned not to the Dark Knights, but their escort knights.

Did they really not know? Maybe some didn't. But not all. Some had coordinated with the orcs in the forest beforehand.

He might have forgiven misplaced loyalties to Prolant Viscount's ambitions, but he never imagined this atrocity.

"Ugh! We didn't kn—!"

Splat!!

Vulcan whirled, his sword slicing the nearest knight's side. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The knight, fumbling for an explanation, couldn't react to the sudden strike. Even the others, attacked first, showed similar responses.

Their guilt was crystal clear, but they couldn't admit it. Admission meant the end.

They could have counterattacked to exclude Vulcan temporarily, but that would admit guilt too. Incomplete research-stage Dark Knights were obvious tells. Even their priests looked shocked.

"Wait, hear us o—!!"

The knights tried calming Vulcan, recruiting or negotiating, but he wouldn't listen. He vented his rage with his blade.

Can those be reversed?

- Heart-embedded dark mana stones make it tough with ordinary methods. Slow corruption as an aid might've been reversible, but they've become part of the body. Forcibly removing would kill them from shock. Rushed for quick results—crossed the line. Plenty died during installation too.

Amid exploding fury, Vulcan kept his head cool. He cut down the knights—neither resisting nor surrendering—while seeking Tud's wisdom.

But the answer wasn't encouraging. Extreme methods had wrecked their bodies. They were no longer human, but puppets—weapons themselves.

Even with Decompose? If I learn the recipe, maybe reverse it...

- What did Tud say? Tough ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with ordinary methods—not impossible.

Then?

- It'll work. Low achievement means focus needed, but no mistakes, and we can save 'em.

As hope flickered, Tud gave a positive reply. Legendary skill, after all. Tud's power, no less.

"Run! Everyone get out!!"

A knight barked the order. To remaining knights and soldiers? Priests? No—to the Dark Knight candidates.

If they vanished, so did evidence. Caught by Vulcan, but no proof meant they could cover it. Irreversible now, so hold Vulcan while evacuating to erase traces.

"Keep the promise! Block him!!"

Not just Dark Knights beyond the gate. Orcs, hidden from Vulcan's eyes, swarmed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the knights' command—per some pact.

"Where you think you're running?"

Vulcan was strong, but one body. Not low-level foes; breaking through determinedly, hard to block all.

But Vulcan grinned fiercely. He hadn't gained just Decompose.

"Alloy Assembly!"

Magical enough to call "alloying." The massive iron gate Vulcan decomposed reformed, hinges neatly joined. Behind him, impenetrable Thorn Iron Gate rose again.

"Kyahorak Shar!"

The knights startled briefly. Reforming the gate was unexpected, but they knew the movement spell—and hadn't told Vulcan.

"......"

"Wh-what?!"

"Kyahorak Shar! Kyahorak Shar!!"

Chanting repeatedly did nothing. Ownership transferred upon reassembly; door spells reset. No longer the same—now unopenable without Vulcan's say.

"Kill him! Kill the bastard!!!"

Now all-in for the knights. Killing Vulcan changed nothing, but no choice. Exposed, irreversible—capture him at least. External door blocked, couldn't fully erase evidence; Vulcan immortal, revives—but buy time to wipe traces.

Vulcan wouldn't let that slide. No dying planned.

"Ice Storm!"

Left hand whipped inventory, pulling Freezing Staff, unleashing AoE freeze. Mana-draining after reassembling the gate, but stalled them all.

Couldn't hibernate blade-fang snakes or fully freeze, but concentrated in tight space—frost coated bodies, slowed movement plenty.

Mana low... but gotta?

Leaping and swinging, Vulcan sensed oddity. Charged high-capacity mana battery, but facing knights, Dark Knights, orcs—thought careful rationing needed. Yet mana plentiful.

- That'll suffice for now.

Insane.

Another new skill's boon—near divine. Players form class mana circles at 200-level, but F-rank barely noticeable.

Draconic Circle? Overwhelming from start. Visible recovery boost, cost cut, power amp, all attributes? Mages specialized one attribute; this godlike.

Wait, then the last skill?

Naturally eyed the last: grandiose Lord of All Weapons. Like Item Master? Checked quick.

What the hell?

Checked, but unclear. Temporary ownership clear; rest unknown, three question-mark options.

"Kill him!!!"

Meanwhile, foes charged to slay Vulcan. Slowed, but temporary—minimal measure.

Vulcan's combat sense elite, but not pushovers; defense lacking for tanking. Ten couldn't beat one? Numbers too many for raw power.

No choice but try.

Surveying horde, Vulcan bit lip. Wanted strong AoE, but none—improvise.

Slash! Severed closest knight's right arm, grabbed his sword with left.

"Pulverize!!"

Flung at enemies, activating Pulverize. Works only on owned items, but Lord of All Weapons lets temporary claim, use as own.

"Gaaahhh!!!!"

It works.

Confidence sparked Vulcan's eyes. Pulverize + ample mana? Battle eases.

"Pulverize! Pulverize!!"

Focused snatching weapons. Wouldn't drop easily sans amputation, but wrenched by force, Pulverized.

"Dark Break!"

"Tch!"

Not all smooth. Orcs blocked via Pulverize, but Dark Knight candidates shrouded in absorbed dark energy like armor, resisting.

Weapons low-grade probably. Hoped Decompose salvation pre-, render combat-inept; Dark Knight powers better than thought.

"Damn. Good deeds ain't easy."

- Told ya—why do what none else would?

Tough. Inexperience meant edge in proper fight, but numbers issue. Plus, no lethal intent here.

"No helping it."

Vulcan found alternative. Slaughter meant burning precious high-grade gear—no way.

"Weapon Soul Memory."

Gamble time. Eyed charging Dark Knights, activated Lord of All Weapons subskill. Drew latent memory from Blessed Sun Sword.