"So, what type of weapon do you want? According to my skill set, maybe I will use a dagger since I'm ambidextrous." (Rex)
"Death Scythe." (Argus)
Argus answered briefly. Rex, who was walking calmly, stopped when he heard his friend.
"What?!" (Rex)
"You're too loud." (Argus)
People looked in their direction. Argus hastened his walking pace, and Rex followed.
"My bad... But what's that? Aren't Summoners supposed to be magic users? Your weapon choice is too unusual." (Rex)
"It's for my romance." (Argus)
Argus said this seriously to his friend.
"That's so you anyway. It's hard to find a scythe weapon since scythe wielders are rare. And you want a Death Scythe? I forgot to mention that even in the black market, a scythe is hard to find. The drop rate for scythe weapons is also very low. I can help you find one if we can't get a scythe today." (Rex)
"That's helpful." (Argus)
Then the two reached their destination. They stood in front of a two-story building. The name 'Weapon Shop A' was visible from the front. All the shops in this rural black market had no names since they didn't want to reveal the identities of the sellers. Unlike in the black markets of big cities, the two entered and were greeted by a person wearing a cloak and a mask.
"What can I help you with, dear customers? I am the owner of this humble store. You can call me A." (A)
"Scythe for beginner levels." (Argus)
"Let me check if they are available. Please wait a moment, dear customers." (A)
While waiting, let me introduce you to the current classification for skill books: Common, Uncommon, Special, Unique, and Random.
As for items, they are ranked like the cultivation stages of Awakeners. There are currently 11 known Cultivation Stages in the Vesmir World: Core Formation Realm (Lv. 25), Blood Condensation Realm (Lv. 50), Tendon Transformation Realm (Lv. 75), Bone Forging Realm (Lv. 100), Energy Condensation Realm (Lv. 125), Path Expanding Realm (Lv. 150), Soul Condensation Realm (Lv. 175), Core Reinforcing Realm (Lv. 200), Energy Expansion Realm (Lv. 225), Domain Realm (Lv. 250), and Transcendent Realm (Lv. 275).
There are higher stages, but currently, the highest known rank is the Transcendent Realm, which is considered God by all the races in the Vesmir World. No one knows how many people achieve the Transcendent Realm. Even Rex, who is part of a big family, has no idea since it is confidential information. But Rex told him that only a handful of beings reach that realm, and they are divided among different races as their 'Guardians' or 'Pillars' of a Race.
After a while, A came back with nothing.
"I'm sorry, dear customers, but I did not find any scythes. We do not buy scythe weapons since they are not in demand. I hope you understand." (A)
Argus was a bit disappointed. They bid goodbye to the seller and went to the next shop to look for a scythe.
"Thank you, dear customers. I hope you come back."
Argus entered every weapon shop to look for a scythe, but not one sold them. They eventually exited the black market and planned to return home. In the end, Argus just bought a spear as a spare weapon.
"I will ask someone to look for your scythe. What are you going to do for your summons? Do you plan to buy and tame one?" (Rex)
"I don't plan to tame monsters yet. I am not rushing to tame one. This weapon should be enough for the time being." (Argus)
"A Beast Summoner with no summoned beast? You are really... unique. Anyway, what's your plan to level up? Do you plan on dungeon hunting with me?"
"No, I plan to level up solo. Just contact me after you find a scythe." (Argus)
"Do you have a particular request for the Death Scythe? If you want, we can customize it with a blacksmith. I know someone really good at making weapons. He is a bit eccentric, but he is one of the best blacksmiths that my father knows." (Rex)
"I do not have much money to spend on a customized weapon. Anyway, just contact me if you find a beginner Death Scythe weapon. My budget is 150,000 VC." (Argus)
Rex did not continue persuading Argus since he knew that it was unnecessary. There was no need for an expensive weapon in the early levels. Rex also knew that his friend would ask for money if his current funds were not enough.
"Prideful Devil." (Rex)
"Shut up, you thick-skinned devil. Here's my destination. Thanks for dropping me off. We won't see each other until the entrance exam." (Argus)
"Yeah, let's see who has the higher level in the entrance exam. I'm sure I will win, though." (Rex)
Argus just smiled and waved his hand. Rex also smiled, and then they both parted ways. Argus returned to his house. His house is 10x15 meters, with three rooms, but two of the rooms are empty. He is the only one living in this house, which his late guardian bought before he died.
{Flashback}
Argus is an orphan who was taken care of by a single man until he was five. His guardian's name is Gill Esta. Ten years ago, when a Dungeon Flood happened near his past home, an S-Class Gate suddenly appeared in their city and caught the people off guard. His guardian, Gill Esta, was not a strong Awakener, so he perished protecting him from the monsters.
Argus was safe since his guardian gave him a teleportation scroll that sent him to this house. He was proud of what his guardian did, but after that incident, he started training in hand-to-hand combat. He was only five and living alone, so it was very hard on him. He begged for food every day; luckily, some of his neighbors were kind. He began finding jobs on the streets. Although it was hard, he did not succumb to stealing or any bad conduct.
After that incident, his personality changed, and he was forced to mature quickly. Argus treats everyone as a stranger and does not care about anything they say as long as they do not cross his line.
He lived for five years with the money he earned from his work, which was enough for him since he lived alone and was not from a wealthy family. He trained in hand-to-hand combat during dawn, worked in the morning to afternoon, and read novels and books at night.
When some of his peers saw him training in the park, they tried to approach him, but he ignored them.
"You're new here, right?"
"What's your name?"
"Do you want to come with us?"
The boys started teasing him, but he did not care.
"This boy ignored us."
"What is this idiot doing? He is just punching and kicking the air like an idiot."
"He is probably fighting a ghost. Look at his face; it looks like he's about to win."
"Training this, training that... Bleh... He is just showing off."
"Do you think he is a child of a big family?"
"No... He is an orphan. I heard that his parents died protecting a city, and he survived. Tsk, tsk, tsk. His parents are heroes."
"Hero, my ass."
"Hahahaha."
One of the boys smirked. He saw a fist-sized rock and threw it at Argus. Argus did not see this but felt something dangerous and jumped away unconsciously from the spot. It was unexpected, but he dodged the rock that was about to hit his head. Before he could react, the other boys also started throwing rocks at him.
"Oh, that looks fun."
"Let me join."
"Me too."
"Me too."
Seeing this, Argus became furious. He dodged the rocks flying at him and dashed toward the boys. As he reached the first boy, Argus punched him in the face.
"Argh!"
The boy tried to fight back, but Argus hit him again, knocking him out. The other boys saw this and tried to run, but they were slower than Argus, who trained his body.
"No... I did not hit you, so please don't hit me!"
"I did not do anything!"
"I'm just a bystander!"
Argus did not listen to them and continued to punch and kick them until they passed out. The parents of the boys became angry when they learned about it and planned to get revenge. They tried to go to his house to find him, but he did not return home. The parents did not do anything to his house since they could be jailed if caught destroying someone else's property.
Every city has guards that strictly enforce the law. The families had no power and did not have the riches to bribe any of the guards, so they ignored Argus's house.