____________________
Name: Weeping Boltcaster
Rarity: Forbidden
Rank: Forbidden
Grade: Forbidden
Description: This extraordinary crossbow ignores distance and evasion, guaranteeing a hit on its Locked Target within ten seconds. The farther the target, the more devastating the impact.
The crossbow's advanced sighting mechanism allows for the designation of a Locked Target. Enemies within sight can be marked for a short duration, while those at a distance of 7-10 seconds away will be locked for an extended period.
Once a target is locked, the crossbow's omniscient tracking system enables detection from anywhere, allowing for precise hits even without direct line of sight.
____________________
A small paper note rested in Jax's hand, and his gaze lingered on the crossbow's description, his eyes scanning the details with growing fascination. A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he gently rubbed his chin. Then a triumphant smile slowly spread across his lips.
With the crossbow "equipped", Jax possessed the freedom to summon and dismiss it at will, no longer requiring access to his Scroll Inventory.
But what truly thrilled Jax was that the crossbow possessed a unique ability of its own, one that he could utilize as freely as he pleased, without restriction.
But a tinge of disappointment accompanied Jax's excitement, as he discovered recently that the crossbow was also classified as a Forbidden type — a label shared by his own ability.
According to the Scroll, Forbidden types were unique in the way where they could grow in power through sacrifices. Currently, the crossbow was probably at its weakest, requiring considerable effort to strengthen it. Jax suspected that even with its unerring accuracy, the crossbow's bolts would prove ineffective against stronger targets, who would simply deflect or shrug off the attacks.
Jax let out a deep sigh as he waved his hand, and the paper note vanished into thin air. He could see the daunting task of not only figuring out how to empower the crossbow, but also determining what sacrifices would be necessary to unlock its true potential.
Perhaps it also needed souls?
Jax released another sigh, followed by a dismissive wave of his hand, and the crossbow also dissolved into nothingness. He shifted his gaze to the Scroll that was still hovering before him, its presence a reminder of the unfinished task.
With a hint of resignation, Jax issued a calm command, "Retrieve the Weapon Mystery Box."
Poof!
With the intention of utilizing the two remaining mystery boxes, Jax instructed the Scroll to bring out the second one, which would reveal another weapon.
A cube of white gemstone materialized in midair, its borders radiating a brilliant, snowy white hue, while the rest of its faces shimmered with a semi-transparent opacity. Suspended at the cube's center was a small, luminous orb of white light, resembling a concentrated form of energy trapped within. It was as if a star had been distilled into this tiny, shimmering form.
Jax grabbed the box. His hand strained to envelop the cube as its size nearly overwhelmed his grasp. His eyes burned with an unspoken intensity as he beheld the cube, his lips curling into a faint, enigmatic smile that hinted at the promise of secrets to be unveiled.
Then, his voice dropped to a whispered command, heavy with anticipation, "Open."
The Weapon Mystery Box abruptly erupted in a dazzling white glow. Undaunted, Jax's eyes remained fixed intently on the box, his eagerness to witness every transformation palpable as he waited for the glowing white box to reveal its secrets.
The Weapon Mystery Box lifted off his hand, hovering in midair. For a brief, suspenseful moment, it remained suspended, before a faint crack finally wormed on its surface.
The crack then soon grew, rapidly expanding before shattering the box into fragments that rained down to the ground. In its place, the small orb of light – the concentrated form of energy trapped within earlier – now hovered freely in midair, radiating a dazzling glow that seemed to draw all attention to itself.
Then, after another fleeting moment, a new transformation unfolded. The small orb of light began to resemble a formless pool of water, its luminescence undulating like ripples on a pond. Gradually, it took shape, its contours shifting until, at last, the weapon Jax had been eagerly anticipating emerged, its form now distinct and unmistakable.
''This...'' Jax's eyes constricted, his breath escaping in a sharp, icy gasp. As if drawn to him, the weapon slowly descended from its hovering position, and Jax instinctively raised his hands, palms up, to receive it.
''What the hell...'' Jax breathed, his voice barely audible over the stunned silence. His eyes widened in a mix of utter disbelief and astonishment, as if the reality of the situation refused to sink in. ''The Scroll must be joking...''
As ridiculous as it seemed, Jax's hands now cradled another crossbow, albeit a significantly smaller and more compact version.
A one-handed light crossbow!
A wry smile struggled to take hold on Jax's face, but the corners of his lips betrayed his amusement, twitching with suppressed mirth. With his right hand grasping the light crossbow, he raised it, attempting to take aim at a nearby tree, his movements tinged with a hint of awkwardness.
''A light crossbow, huh? Am I a fan of crossbows now?'' Jax muttered, his voice tinged with wry amusement, as he continued to shake his head in slow, disbelieving motion. The absurdity of it all lingered, refusing to sink in. Two crossbows in a row... Was his luck truly that astonishing?
Jax's gaze lingered on the light crossbow in his hand, its intricate design captivating his attention. Setting aside the improbability of receiving not one, but two crossbows in a row, this latest acquisition was a true marvel.
The absence of a scope was more than compensated for by the striking adornment at the end of the flight groove: the gleaming head of a golden snake, its eyes glinting like polished gemstones. The body of the crossbow itself was a masterful blend of elegance and ferocity, its frame resembling the scaly body of a venomous serpent, as if the very essence of the beast had been distilled into this deadly, beautiful instrument.
The limbs of the crossbow were adorned with intricate golden scales, while the golden bowstring seemed to pulsate with a subtle, otherworldly energy. From every angle, the light crossbow exuded an aura of exceptional craftsmanship, as if imbued with a hint of the extraordinary.
On top of that, the light crossbow felt eerily weightless in his hand, as if it were an extension of his own limb. Jax swept it through various motions, testing its balance and agility, and was surprised to find that it moved with effortless ease. The crossbow seemed to meld seamlessly with his hand, responding instinctively to his every gesture.
His eyes fixed intently on the light crossbow as he spoke, his voice low and curious, "Weapon description."
A small paper note materialized, hovering above the light crossbow. Jax plucked it from the air, his eyes scanning the contents as he began to read.
____________________
Name: Whimpering Repeater
Rarity: Forbidden
Grade: Forbidden
Rank: Forbidden
Description: This agile, one-handed light crossbow is optimized for short-range dominance, unleashing swift and relentless volleys of bolts. Its innovative design enables seamless automatic reloading, channeling energy to conjure new bolts within its flight groove.
This light crossbow boasts a devastating bolt multiplication capability, unleashing a maelstrom of projectiles that rain down upon multiple foes. To compound the destruction, each bolt is imbued with explosive properties, capable of knocking enemies back, slowing their advance, and inflicting crippling bleed and burn effects.
____________________
"Woah, Woah, hold on... This is... What a... badass weapon..." he stammered with his eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat.
As his fingers wrapped around the light crossbow, his hands trembled with uncontainable excitement, cradling the weapon with the tender reverence reserved for a priceless treasure.
In that instant, the crossbow's true potential had burst into crystal clarity, and Jax's entire perception of it had undergone a seismic shift, forever altering his understanding of its raw power and limitless possibilities.
The acquisition of this light crossbow seemed almost serendipitous, given his existing long-range crossbow. Having a complementary short-range weapon would undoubtedly round out his arsenal, providing a versatile edge in combat.
And although this light crossbow deviated from his initial expectation of a melee weapon, its description had proven too tantalizing to dismiss, its promised power and capabilities resonating deeply with Jax's innate desire for strategic superiority.
The light crossbow's knock-back and slow effects offered Jax a reassuring safety net, even in the most intense, close-quarters combat scenarios.
As enemies closed in, he could rely on the crossbow's capabilities to create a buffer zone, preventing him from becoming trapped or overwhelmed. With the ability to recover distance at a moment's notice, Jax could effortlessly regain control of the battlefield, maintaining a strategic advantage even in the most precarious situations.
With the Whimpering Repeater at his disposal, Jax was well-equipped to dominate close-quarters combat, effortlessly shredding enemies who dared to close the distance. Conversely, when foes attempted to break away or flee, he could seamlessly transition to his trusty Weeping Boltcaster, unleashing precise, long-range volleys to cut them down, refusing to let them escape.
Pairing these two weapons would result in a potent combination, as each would compensate for the other's shortcomings, creating a harmonious and effective synergy.
Jax nodded thoughtfully after weighing his options. "Having another crossbow isn't too bad," he concluded. "I'll give it a try later. For now, I should focus on opening that last mystery box."
With his decision made, Jax stored the Whimpering Repeater in his Scroll Inventory. He then turned his attention to the remaining mystery box, hoping that this time, he'd finally obtain a melee weapon. With a sense of anticipation, he retrieved the last Weapon Mystery Box from his inventory and opened it.
As Jax opened the mystery box, a brilliant light burst forth, filling his vision. The radiant glow hovered in mid-air, and after a brief pause, it began to take shape, gradually forming into a distinct object.
Jax held his breath, his anticipation building. He swallowed hard, his mind racing with thoughts of what weapon would emerge this time.
Sword, sword, sword. Dagger, dagger, dagger. Axe, axe, axe. Spear, spear, spear. Jax whispered a litany of melee weapons under his breath. His voice a gentle chant, driven by his ardent desire to finally receive a close-combat weapon.
As the luminous bead finally coalesced into a tangible form, revealing the weapon it had been concealing, Jax's eyes dilated in utter astonishment. His hands trembled as he struggled to comprehend the impossible reality unfolding before him, his head shaking slowly from side to side, and his countenance frozen in a mask of incredulity.
''What in the world...? Is this actually happening...?'' Jax whispered, his voice trembling as he fought to contain his surging emotions. A forced smile spasmodically twitched across his lips, while his eyebrows danced with agitated astonishment. The strain was evident as veins bulged from his forehead and fists, betraying the depth of his shock.
Jax's restraint finally snapped, and he held his breath for a fleeting moment before erupting into a thunderous roar. "ANOTHER CROSSBOW???" he bellowed, his voice echoing with incredulity and outrage. "WHAT KIND OF JOKE IS THIS?!!"
***
Meanwhile...
From a distance, a young man observed the scene unfolding before him, his face a mask of neutrality. Yet, as he watched Jax's outburst, a spark of curiosity ignited within him, and his gaze grew increasingly intent, betraying a deepening sense of astonishment.
It was, indeed, King, whose presence seemed to command a gravitas that hung in the air like a palpable mist. The weight of his gaze was unmistakable, and the somber atmosphere surrounding him was a testament to the depth of his contemplation. Even now, his eyes seemed to bore into the distance, as if struggling to reconcile the reality of what he had just witnessed.
''Forbidden weapons...'' King whispered, his voice barely audible as he narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. A faint crease furrowed his brow as he pondered the enigma before him. ''What kind of thing are those little boxes? And how can it possibly produce Forbidden weapons?''
With a single glance, King had recognized the weapons Jax had summoned from the shiny boxes. He could tell that they were Forbidden Weapons, infamous for their ability to grow stronger through sacrifices. The implications were deeply unsettling, and King's mind reeled as he struggled to comprehend the anomaly before him.
Regardless of how he turned it over in his mind, its likelihood to appear in the hand of one commoner as if it was of a Common rarity, was a scenario he had never once imagined. And it shook the very foundations of his understanding.