Light began to enter Gary's eyes, groaning as his eyelids fluttered to banish the haze that had enveloped him.
His sight was met with a high-reaching ceiling, along with an exhausted healer who was plopped down beside him.
He groggily sat up, rubbing his matted head of hair as he let out a pained groan.
"How long was I out?"
"Long enough for me to worry..."
'Figures,' He thought, looking down at his hands that were dyed a bright red after leaving his scalp.
Every part of his body hurt, as if he had been thrown against a brick wall.
Wait.
That was exactly what had happened, he realized after looking behind him. A fresh imprint of his body now existed on the wall, along with some crimson that highlighted the inside of it.
And next to it sat a bare hilt, firmly wedged deep into the wall.
'At least I have my sword.' He mirthlessly joked, reaching out and struggling to pull the blade free.
But he frowned as he held the hilt. Something just felt off. Like any self-respecting adventurer, he knew his weapon. It had been a worthy companion along his many adventures, yet the handle seemed foreign to him.
'I must be even more banged up than I thought.'
With a final heave, he managed to free his weapon, revealing the familiar sight of-- "Huh?"
Instead of being greeted by a broken steel edge, he held a silver weapon, wreathed in a faint golden light.
Gary tilted his head in confusion, turning the blade as he analyzed the strange sword that now sat in his hands.
The blade was thin, with two sharp edges that resembled the stinger of an insect rather than the common shortsword. It glowed with a reflective sheen, showing a clear image of his befuddled face in its blade. The hilt was thinner as well, with the grip worn down, yet offering a better handlehold at the same time.
'This-this is not mine.'
There was no way he would ever own such a well-made weapon. It was of a quality that couldn't be found in the best blacksmith's shop, let alone in the hands of an adventurer.
"This ain't yours, is it?" He questioned, staring suspiciously at Gabriel who looked just as confused.
"...When was the last time you saw me with a sword?"
"So it's mine."
"What? But you just asked--"
"I found it. It's not yours. So, it's mine." Gary cut off, placing a finger over Gabriel's mouth.
"You got that?"
After receiving an exasperated nod, Gary twirled the blade with a wide grin.
He couldn't help but feel a growing wave of glee. Now this was a weapon that he deserved. Sure, he hadn't tested it out, but the thin edges seemed to shout 'I'm sharp! Use me!'.
And if it cut as good as it looked... well, even that Demon would have to stay on his-- Shit!
The Demon!
Gary was pulled out of his reverie and sank into one of panic. He turned to the center of the room, and saw a battered Brandus in the hands of a very angry-- Possibly hungry? Demon King.
Damn it Brandus, you couldn't hold on for just a couple minutes without me?
Charging forward, he leaped through the fog toward the Demon's outstretched arms, holding the new weapon aloft and bringing it down with every ounce of force that remained in his body.
And as he brought the blade against its skin, the sound of singed flesh could be heard as the edge effortlessly cut through like a scalpel through paper.
And for the first time, the Demon screamed in pain.
"AHHHH!" Bellowing out, the Demon tossed Brandus away, backing up in trepidation as he noticed the glowing blade that had left its mark on his arms.
A mark that did not immediately heal.
The reaction surprised Gary, surpassing any hope that he had.
Just injuring him would have been a success. Freeing Brandus was the best-case scenario.
But for the Demon to back away? With what could be construed as terror?
Gary smirked in delight as he gave the blade one more twirl.
'Now this is what I'm fucking talking about.'
"I see you noticed my sword," Gary stated, aggressively swinging the blade in the Demon's direction. "Of course, it's nothing too fancy. Just my backup. You should see my actual weapon. Now that one is something else. Big, long, and stabs in all the right places. It's a shame I didn't pack it, then you would really be impressed."
"You... you..." The Demon cried out, pointing a finger toward Gary.
"I know, I know. Silly me, forgetting my main sword. But can you blame a guy for it? After all, we were just gonna visit some washed-up demon's hut. Nothing I couldn't handle myself."
"AHHHHH!!!"
The Demon roared yet again, only this time it carried an air of desperation as he recklessly charged Gary.
Gary grinned widely, and met the charge with one of his own, beginning a new phase in the battle.
As the two clashed, Gabriel appeared behind the fight, crawling on his stomach as he inched toward a heavily injured Brandus. Letting out a solemn chant, he discreetly shook his bell over him and let the golden light fall from its lip onto Brandus.
His collapsed chest began to inflate alongside the snapping of his ribs, and Brandus' eyes shot open as he greedily gasped for air.
"You okay, Brandus?"
"...Better," Grunting, he reached for his claymore that had been thrown to the side, standing up as he gazed in exasperation at Gary.
"I just can't believe it..."
"I can't believe it either!" Gabriel quickly shook his head in agreement, "To think that Gary would be blessed by the Goddess... deities truly do work in strange and unfathomable ways."
"That isn't what I meant."
"Huh? But the sword! It is clearly bathed in the light of--"
"No," Brandus interrupted, stopping the incoming religious tirade. "That's not it. I just don't understand why--, why does that bastard always get the good items!?!?"