Magnus woke up, his body still aching from the relentless training of the previous day. His knuckles throbbed, and his legs were sore from running barefoot across jagged rocks. He winced as he stood up, knowing that today's training wasn't going to be any easier.
When he arrived at the dojo, Tri Tran was already waiting for him, standing beside an unusual test dummy. The dummy was sleek, metallic, and covered with glowing runes that seemed to pulse with a strange energy. This wasn't like the wooden dummies from yesterday—it looked far more advanced.
"Good, you're on time," Tri said, his expression unreadable. "Today, we'll see how well you handle weapons, and no holding back. I want you to strike as hard as you can with your mana daggers."
Magnus nodded and summoned his familiar mana daggers, the glowing blades forming in his hands. He felt a surge of confidence; if there was one thing he knew, it was how to fight with his daggers. Stepping up to the test dummy, he focused and delivered a powerful strike, expecting it to register a solid hit.
Clang.
The blades connected, but the result was disappointing. The dummy barely reacted, and when Magnus glanced at the display, the number that appeared was embarrassing.
Power level: 22
Magnus frowned. "Twenty-two? That can't be right."
Tri didn't look surprised. He folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. "Your daggers lack weight, Magnus. Mana weapons are powerful, but if you can't control their energy, you'll never get the full strength out of them."
"Alright, fine. What's next?" Magnus asked, the frustration building inside him.
Tri gestured toward a nearby table, where several different weapons were lined up. "Try something new. Swords, maces, hammers—see if changing the weapon makes a difference. Use your mana to form each one."
Magnus eyed the weapons warily, but he couldn't back down now. He focused, channeling his mana into a sword. The energy formed a glowing blade, and he took another swing at the dummy.
Power level: 19
His frown deepened as he switched to a hammer, the mana forming into a massive weapon. He swung it down with all his strength, but the result was just as weak.
Power level: 25
"None of these are working!" Magnus muttered, feeling his patience wearing thin.
Tri stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It's not the weapons, Magnus. It's your technique. You're spreading your mana too thin across the entire weapon. The more mass you create, the weaker the strike becomes."
Magnus tossed the hammer aside in frustration. "So what do I do? Stick with the daggers?"
Tri stayed silent for a moment, then a thought seemed to cross his mind. "Maybe you've been looking at this all wrong. You're not limited to just melee weapons. You have portals… you could think bigger. What about guns?"
Magnus blinked. "Guns?"
Without a word, Tri walked over to a large wooden cabinet at the far end of the dojo. He opened it and pulled out a small, sleek pistol. It was a strange sight, considering this was a dojo filled with traditional martial arts tools. Tri tossed the pistol to Magnus, who caught it with a questioning look.
"Where'd you get this?" Magnus asked, examining the gun.
Tri smirked. "Doesn't matter. I want you to fire it. But this time, use your mana. Create a mana bullet and fire that."
Still unsure, Magnus focused on creating a small mana bullet. It materialized inside the chamber, glowing faintly. He aimed the pistol at the test dummy and squeezed the trigger.
The result was immediate. The bullet shot out with incredible speed, slamming into the dummy with a deafening bang. The power level display flickered before shooting up to a much higher number.
Power level: 120
Magnus couldn't help but grin. But when he looked down, his smile faded—the pistol was cracked from the sheer force of the mana bullet.
Tri walked over, inspecting the broken pistol. "That's better. But clearly, this gun can't handle your mana."
"So, what do we do now?" Magnus asked.
Tri smiled faintly, motioning Magnus to follow him. "I know someone who can help."
Instead of leaving the dojo, Tri led Magnus to a hidden tunnel, concealed beneath the floorboards of the dojo's back room. The entrance opened with a loud creak, revealing a dark, stone passage that stretched deep underground.
Magnus raised an eyebrow. "You've got a tunnel inside your dojo?"
"Not just any tunnel," Tri said with a grin. "It leads to the best blacksmith you'll ever meet."
They walked down the passage, the air growing cooler as they descended deeper underground. After a few minutes, the tunnel opened into a massive underground workshop. The forge roared with life, and the sound of hammering metal echoed off the stone walls.
Standing in the center of it all was a large, broad-shouldered man, his muscular arms covered in soot. He wore a thick leather apron, and his hands were wrapped in blackened gloves from years of working the forge. Sparks flew as he hammered away at a glowing blade on his anvil.
"Ah, Tri Tran. Long time," the blacksmith said, barely looking up from his work. He gave a lopsided grin. "What brings you to my forge today?"
"Sovereign of Armory," Tri said, his voice steady. "This is Magnus. He needs a custom weapon."
Magnus blinked. "Wait… Sovereign of Armory?"
The blacksmith wiped his hands on his apron and finally looked up, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Name's Gunther. But people call me Sovereign of Armory. I make the best weapons you'll find anywhere."
Magnus stared at the man in disbelief. Sovereign of Armory wasn't just a title—it was a position of power. Gunther was a former disciple of Tri, just like Magnus was now, but Gunther had gone on to become a legend in his own right.
"How was hell?" Gunther asked with a smirk.
Magnus frowned. "Excuse me?"
Gunther chuckled. "Tri's training. Heard he runs you through the wringer. How'd you hold up?"
Magnus opened his mouth to respond, but Tri cut him off. "Enough. Gunther, we need a custom gun for Magnus. He's using mana bullets, and normal weapons can't handle it."
Gunther nodded thoughtfully. "A gun, huh? Not what I usually make for Ascenders, but I can see it working. What kind of gun are we talking about?"
"A sniper," Tri said firmly. "Something with range and precision."
Gunther grinned. "Alright. I'll make you the best damn sniper you've ever seen. But first, let's test the basics."
Gunther led Magnus over to the workbench and started pulling out various materials—steel, enchanted wood, and crystals. Magnus watched as the blacksmith worked with incredible speed and precision, his hands moving like a master artist crafting a masterpiece.
"How long have you been doing this?" Magnus asked, amazed at the dedication Gunther put into every strike of his hammer.
"Longer than you've been alive, kid," Gunther replied without looking up. "It's not just about making weapons. It's about creating something that lasts. Something that connects with the wielder."
Magnus was captivated as Gunther continued working. The weapon began to take shape, each piece fitting together perfectly. Even though it was just a basic sniper rifle, Magnus could tell it was crafted with care and precision.
Gunther stepped back after a few hours, admiring his work. "Alright, here's your basic sniper. But if you want something stronger, you'll need a white mana crystal."
Magnus's eyes widened. "A white mana crystal?"
Gunther nodded. "They're rare. You'll only find them in B-rank Doors or higher. If you want me to craft a weapon worthy of your power, you'll need to get one."
Magnus sighed. He was still too injured from training to take on a high-ranking Door solo. "Guess I'll have to be a porter for a few days, then."
Tri nodded. "It's a good plan. Heal while you help others. But be careful—keep a low profile. No one should know what you're really after."
For the next week, Magnus took on the role of a porter, working with various Ascender teams as they raided different Doors. Some were small, straightforward raids against goblins or orcs, but others were far more dangerous.
One of the teams he worked with ventured into an A-rank Door filled with vicious wyverns. Magnus watched from the sidelines, occasionally using his sniper rifle to take out key targets. He made sure to keep his assistance hidden, using his portals to redirect the bullets, striking from unseen angles.
Every day was a new challenge. Some Doors were filled with undead creatures that could only be killed by hitting their cores, while others had massive bosses that required coordinated attacks to bring down. Magnus learned a lot from watching the different teams, but more importantly, he kept his eyes peeled for what he needed.
Finally, after several grueling raids, Magnus found what he was looking for. Deep in the heart of a B-rank Door, hidden in a treasure chest guarded by a group of elite orcs, he spotted the faint glow of a white mana crystal.
With a quick portal, he teleported the crystal into his dimensional storage before anyone else noticed. He'd been careful the entire time, making sure none of the other Ascenders saw him pocket the rare crystal.
Magnus returned to Gunther's forge the next day, feeling both relieved and excited as he handed over the white mana crystal. Gunther whistled, examining the crystal with a grin. "Well, well. You actually pulled it off. This'll make one hell of a weapon."
"When will it be ready?" Magnus asked.
Gunther tucked the crystal away in his pocket. "Give me a few days. A sniper rifle like this needs to be perfect. When it's done, you'll have a weapon that'll blow through anything in your path."
Magnus nodded, a smile creeping across his face. "I'll be ready."
As Gunther disappeared back into his workshop, Magnus couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. Soon, he would have the weapon he needed. The sniper would be his next step toward becoming stronger—toward proving himself in the harsh world of Ascenders.
For now, all he had to do was wait.