Chapter 56 - Trial
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In the game, when a "Hero" or a "Heroine" had received their 『Exclusive Weapon』, they will get basked in an aura for a brief second pertaining that they've received their 『Exclusive Weapon』 through their possession.
In this case, similar thing had happened to Seia after she hold the gun. If what I'm thinking is right, her skill should be added since she already attained her first 『Exclusive Weapon』. So I took a peek at Seia's stats once again.
『Seia』
『HP: 400/400』
『MP: 200』
『DEF: 19』
『AGI: 592-1184』
『DEX: 150』
『Endurance: 320』
Skills:
⟨⟨Gunslinger: 1/3⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Lock-and-Load⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Triple Jump⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩
I knew it! And it looks like her stats increased a bit just like how her skill described it.
"Mhm," Akari who was silently watching firmly nodded. "Seia, looks like that gun is your fated weapon. An 『Exclusive Weapon』 that can only be used to its full potential by you."
"Huh?" Seia spoke in bewilderment. "You mean this weapon...?"
The gun that Seia is holding is a sawed-off double barrel shotgun called 『Boomstick』. Using it on a chaotic combat or a 1v1 situation might be a bit complex since it only has 14 damage per bullet but well.
"Really..." Seia paused, trying to remember something. "No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity when I took it..." Seia continued, taking a guess. "But maybe my mother knew this that's why she gave it to me as her gift."
Or maybe because it was fated according to the developers of the game. A coincidence created by the opportunism of the story... Is what I thought but let's leave it at that. It will pretty much benefits us, so I won't complain.
"That weapon will also grow stronger along with you" I added. "That weapon similar to yours can be upgraded using some certain materials that can be acquired by means."
"Ehh?!" Seia's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. "R-really...?"
Akari who saw my intention added some fuel. "Yes—If you want, we can upgrade it after we left this place. I can certainly help you with it. Right, Aruji-sama?" Akari shot me a wink.
Seia is firmly listening to us jaw dropped from overwhelming excitement. Even with her timid stature, Seia likes this kind of things which I find to her very unusual, but not in a bad way. Of course, I would like to spoil Seia about this area of topic, but our guess is about to arrive in a moment.
"Of course, but let's think it thoroughly after we left this place." I replied. "Right now, we have a problem to think before that."
"What do you—?!" Before Seia was able to complete her sentence. An explosion appeared at the wall of the cave near the cabin. What emerged from it was a giant knight ranging at least double the size of mine, carrying nothing of some sort. I'm 183cm by the way.
The knight standing before us wore a giant gold armor and is moving a bit awkward. its body is slumped and looks like its forcing itself to move by someone. By its appearance alone, this tall person in front of us is already—
"Dead, isn't it." Akari spoke which completes of what I had in mind. "It makes me uncomfortable for some reason..."
"You're right." I agreed. "It's very unpleasant but please endure it."
"Mhm..." Akari gave me a timid nod.
Then after a moment, a familiar voice we just heard earlier started speaking. "Seia, I know this is very ruthless and unmotherly of me, but I want you to take this trial. This will be your fight as an experience for you to take your step against this world. Don't worry, if you feel like you can't do it, you can just comeback later. If you think you can do it, then I suggest you not dream of something extravagant if you can't even defeat something like this."
It was Seia's late mother who was talking currently. Uwah... After all those dramatic words earlier... Talk about unexpected. Well, what would Seia—
"Hmph!" Seia let out a sound of annoyance which made me surprise. "I really hope you're not underestimating me mother." Seia shot me a fierce look that's very uncharacteristic for her. "Sai, please let me handle this alone."
Such out of character made me stunned for a moment. Though, I kept my composure and answered her remark. "I don't mind but at least let Akari help you fight it."
"But..."
"I have my reasons, but I'll tell you later." I added.
Seia paused for a moment before conceding and giving me a nod. Akari also started to approach behind Seia—serving as a rear. I used my ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ on the knights to see its status:
[Entrant of the demised legacy: Golden Knight: 11,220/11,220]
Entrant of the demised legacy: Golden Knight, one of the Mini-Boss in the early pre-chaos mode enemy. Its attack is slow and lackluster in varieties of attack. This Mini-Boss is good as you can practice your skill fighting against it. We already have Akari who can dish out some burst damage so there's going to be no problem with them fighting it.
"Let's go, Akari!" Seia called carrying her 『Boomstick』 and starts engaging the knight.
"Mhm!" Akari firmly nods and raised her hand pointing towards the knight. After a moment, a dark substance started to materialize at Akari's palm.
"Umbral Collision" After Akari spoke that word, the substance floating in her hand started to shoot a focused beam towards the knight.
⟨⟨Umbral Collision⟩⟩ is one of Akari's ⟨⟨Exclusive Skill⟩⟩ as your companion. Akari has many varieties of skills in her arsenal. Though, it can only be unlocked when you killed a certain 『Boss』. In this case, she probably unlocked it since I've completed one of the requirements to attain that skill which is to defeat the 『Real Abomination』.
Although the ⟨⟨Umbral Collision⟩⟩ hit the Golden Knight head on, it didn't even falter and just keeps closing itself through Akari like a walk in the park.
Seia who already close herself through the Knight bravely went to face it head on. The knight who saw Seia in front of him turned its attention to Seia and attack it with a solid punch. The punch was so strong that it left a force of wind that made Akari swept backward.
Though, it was dodged by Seia who ducked herself at the right time and jumped again after the blow and starts to fire the two shells of bullet to the knight's face. A point-blank range which guaranteed a critical damage.
The two shots from Seia's 『Boomstick』 at its face made the knight stagger in response.
The two didn't let the opportunity go to waste and attacked it with all their skill from their arsenal. An ⟨⟨Umbral Collision⟩⟩ for Akari which vaporize the knight's HP at a fast rate and Seia's 『Boomstick』 which she fires through the head of the knight point black for a burst damage.
But as expected it was very underwhelming considering the boss health and Seia's outclassed weapon.
"Seia! Take this!" I shouted at Seia and threw the 『Polarity Shotgun』 I took from my pouch.
"Thanks" Seia replied. "I'll give it to you later."
Unfortunately, by the time Seia received the weapon, the Golden Knight was back from its feet and is ready to move again, so Seia have no choice but to retreat.
"Akari, let's start at it again," Seia declared which Akari gave her a nod.
"Careful you two, that knight will be more aggressive than earlier." I remarked.
"Gotcha!" Seia replied. "Akari, let's go."
Through Seia's command, Akari shot another ⟨⟨Umbral Collision⟩⟩ at the knight. Just like earlier, the knight just takes the beam head on without even flinching and just continuing to close itself to Seia.
Since Seia is now using the 『Polarity Shotgun』 I gave to her. She doesn't need to close herself anymore and just firing her shotgun at the knight while moving at a safe distance.
But the moment the knights reach a certain HP, just like I mentioned—it started to move faster, surprising Seia in the process.
"Careful Seia, it became faster" Akari warned Seia.
"No problem!" Seia replied, then mumbled after she think of something. "Let's see how you take this..."
Suddenly, Seia ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ and closed herself to the knight. The moment Seia enters the Golden knight's range, it starts to aggressively throw a swift punch to where Seia is. To my surprise, Seia is hastily dodging the blows with nimble movements.
And the moment Seia saw an opening amidst the myriad of punches, she kicked the ground creating a crack on her footstep and jump at the knight landing herself to the Golden Knight's head upside down face to face while midair.
"Take this." After saying her line, she shot the knight in the head point blank—consuming all of her magazine while doing an Arc.
The way she executes such spectacular feat made me stunned in awe. Was it her confidence? In any case, it was very amazing that she even left me astonished.
The knight who ate all the bullets Seia gave was staggered and was stunned in the process. The difference right now is that Seia is now using my 『Polarity Shotgun』 which can deal 23 damage per bullet. Considering that this shotgun fire 3-4 bullets per round added with the guaranteed point-blank critical damage...
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! After a full magazine of 『Polarity Shotgun』 and Akari's continues damage. The golden knights finally fall into its feet, completely dying in the process. It was already dead, but you get what I mean.
[Entrant of the demised legacy: Golden Knight has been defeated]
The Golden Knight had turned into dust, leaving its golden armor behind together with the 『Monster Bag』.
"Good job you two," I complimented the two who was breathing a bit heavily. I approach and take the 『Monster Bag』 then gave it to Seia.
"This is?" Seia asked.
"A drop from the knight earlier." I told. "You should open it. You're the one who defeated it after all."
Seia paused for a moment then turned her attention to the 『Monster Bag』 and started opening it. The bag disappeared after she opened it, magically transporting the item inside the bag through her 『Magic Pouch』.
"This is...… Eek!"
Seia screamed in repulsion when she saw the item that appeared from her 『Magic Pouch』. She was disgusted that she threw away the item into me.
The item that was thrown on me was a pile of bones called 『The Bones』. It is one of the important items that will be very necessary in order to get stronger. 『The Bones』 together with 『The Flesh』 and 『The Core』 are the three items needed to create a permanent buff item called 『Essence of Limiter』. By consuming this item will grant the player 100+ to its Mana and HP. But there's a possibility that it can also grant the rest of stats 100+ to its stats but we'll see it later.
I went into the hole where the explosion originated. It was a tunnel where the Golden Knights went earlier. In the game, it was a secret entrance where the sword I'm currently finding is located. The reason I'm trying to find something in the cabin is that I'm finding the pressure plate where the explosion that happened will occur, but it looks like Seia already stepped on it which place us currently right now.
I took a [Torch] and started to head straight towards the end of the black tunnel. The two who saw me silently followed along after.
"Heh... I didn't know there would be something like this." Seia said while her eyes swim to every corner of the tunnel in curiosity. "I probably wouldn't notice this if I were alone."
After a while of walking into the darkness—we finally reached it. The place was very dark, but I can see some objects scattered around which made me discern that this place is the place where the former strongest gunslinger hides her treasure.
"I can't see properly..." Seia spoke while squinting her eyes. "Was there some light we can open perhaps...?"
"No need." I replied. "I already got what I wanted." I took the sword that is buried on the ground and pulled it out. "Besides, all the items scattered here were not really important so let's just leave them here."
"Is that so..."
"Yes"
After taking what I want, the three of us left the tunnel. After we went back just outside the cabin, I head to where the [Demon's Tusk] is located.
The sword that I took from that tunnel is called 『Twilight Sword』. Its appearance is a broadsword clad in black color. Similar to my 『Sword of Imbalance』, this sword shoots a projectile but instead shoots a black beam straight to where the sword is aimed to. Well, introducing this sword in unnecessary since I won't really use it but as a crafting material.
I took out the 『Kusanagi』, 『Katana』, and 『Hellsing Blade』 out my pouch and put the 4 Swords inside the mouth of the [Demon's Tusk], eating the 4 Swords in the process.
"W-what are you doing Sai? Seia shouted in surprise.
"Just wait and you'll see." I replied wryly.
The [Demon's Tusk] started to munch as if like a monster eating something, and after a moment, it spit on something.
"!! W-what's that...!"
"A-aruji-sama…"
The Sword appeared which is the [Demon's Tusk] had spitted out. Though, what made the two girls even Akari who was calm most of the time is agitated is because this sword was emitting something very grim.
As if indicating that someone mustn't touch this sword no matter what as it will cause something of some sort of menace. After a bit of pause, I took the sword and raised it with my hand.
『Imperfect Demon Blade』 has been acquired.