Ethereal arms are intrinsically bound to their chosen wielders, an unbreakable spiritual connection. No matter one's strength, operating another's ethereal arm is an impossibility.
In the divine kingdom of Lordrixis, upon reaching the age of fourteen, each individual is bestowed with one single ethereal arm, one unique ability, and one immutable destiny.
However, the resonance Shun experienced upon touching Arthur's knife suggested otherwise. He sensed a latent potential, yet a specific requirement remained unmet.
Deep within Shun's heart, he harbored an inkling of what that requirement entailed. The reason he could not wield the ethereal arm was simple: an ethereal arm cannot serve two masters simultaneously. The only way to sever the existing connection was through the ultimate act—ending the original wielder's life.
To command an ethereal arm, Shun must kill its current owner. This was the power and fate that destiny had imparted to him—a fate forged in the blood of countless victims.
Great power demands a great price, but to Shun, this cost was a blessing. For many, the first act of killing would be a horrifying and remorseful ordeal; for some, it might even evoke a twisted sense of pride.
Shun, however, felt nothing. The act of taking a life was as mundane to him as swatting a bothersome fly.
...
[Wavering Trail]
Class: Mortal
Weapon Type: Dagger
Ability Type: Illusion
By manipulating the senses of his opponent, the ethereal arm strikes from unexpected and deceptive angles, making defense nearly impossible.
"Experienced fighters may predict the future flow of battle, but none can foresee the path of the Wavering Trail."
"Unlike its previous wielder, this ethereal arm is quite remarkable," Shun mused, as he discarded Alex's lifeless body into the lake.
Even without an ethereal arm, Shun possessed the means to kill. Utilizing the environment and the element of surprise, he could easily dispatch an unsuspecting foe. Alex, known neither for friendliness nor social acceptance, had many potential enemies. As a mere child, Shun would be the last suspect in this murder.
One victim was not enough. A mortal's ethereal arm was not enough.
"All shall be mine—their lives, their ethereal arms, everything."
"No one will be spared; everyone shall surrender everything to me."
"This is the path I will tread, until the end of time."
...
[Long Shadow]
Class: Mortal
Weapon Type: Longsword
Ability Type: Elemental
This weapon allows its wielder to merge with shadows, enabling easy assassination, information gathering, and escape. However, keen observers can detect traces of the wielder's presence.
"Even shadows cannot be trusted."
...
[Spiral Spear]
Class: Instrument
Weapon Type: Spear
Ability Type: Configuration
A spear with a spiraling blade at its tip, capable of piercing flesh as easily as slicing through paper.
"No human can survive a well-placed thrust without protection."
Ethereal arms can be stored within their owner's mind, and despite possessing multiple ethereal arms, Shun was no exception.
The harvest of ethereal arms had been successful, but Shun remained unsatisfied. His next target was Jay's blessed ethereal arm. It wasn't power he sought; he simply wanted to kill Jay.
Utilizing the abilities of Long Shadow, Shun infiltrated Jay's house with ease. As a blessed ethereal warrior, Jay's home was well-maintained and luxurious. Killing Jay would be difficult and fraught with consequences, but a newly fourteen-year-old child wouldn't be suspected of murdering a blessed class adult. Even if he were, such a child would be treasured rather than condemned.
However, Shun's ability was different. Should the kingdom catch a glimpse of it, his end would be swift. In Lordrixis, the power to steal ethereal arms by killing their owners was a formidable threat to every citizen.
Shun remained in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Leaping from concealment, he summoned the Spiral Spear and aimed directly for Jay's heart.
Jay dodged instinctively, summoning his ethereal arm with a frustrated cry—a translucent sword that glowed in his hands.
Before Jay could adapt to the situation, Shun's Wavering Trail darted towards his throat.
Jay tried to block, but as the weapon's description foretold, "none can foresee the path of Wavering Trail."
The dagger veered towards his face at the last moment. In his final seconds, Jay saw only Shun's cold, unfeeling eyes.
And thus, Shun acquired a blessed ethereal arm:
[Spirit Piercer]
Class: Blessed
Weapon Type: Longsword
Ability Type: Special
This weapon's slashes bypass all defenses, directly assaulting the opponent's soul and inflicting irreversible damage that cannot be healed. Additionally, Spirit Piercer can phase through physical weapons.
"No matter how strong you are, your spirit is as fragile as a spider's web."
Shun laughed in amusement, not at his newfound power, but at Jay's death, marking the beginning of Shun's vendetta against the world.