Jack could feel it—a cold sensation that seemed to seep into his bones, saturating the room in a heavy, unshakable tension.
The moment Alogra's hand touched the hilt of the blade, everything shifted. The air grew thick, oppressive, and Jack's skin was instantly damp with cold sweat. He could feel his heartbeat, thundering against his chest. It felt as if an invisible blade pressed against his neck, as though he'd been transported to a realm forbidden, a sacred ground he wasn't meant to tread upon.
'This presence… this pressure radiating from him.' Jack swallowed, feeling a raw, primal fear unlike anything he'd experienced. It was like the feeling he'd sensed before at the altar, only intensified tenfold, as if he were now standing inches from the source itself.
His eyes widened, struck by a sudden understanding that sent a chill down his spine. For the first time, he could see something he hadn't noticed before.
'This pressure… it doesn't stop here,' he realized, glancing nervously around the room. 'It stretches at least five kilometers beyond this house. Is that why no beast dares come near this place? Why the trion never approached when I was gathering wood? Why I was never attacked?' It was all starting to make sense. Alogra had been protecting him all along, maintaining an aura of seeming harmlessness while he was the true apex predator in these lands.
'This man… his…' Jack's thoughts faltered as he struggled to put words to the revelation. If he couldn't handle even a fraction of this power, how could he hope to face the challenges waiting in his future?
'He's no monster,' Jack resolved, feeling a spark of defiance flicker to life within him. 'I can surpass him.' Determination replaced his fear, and his eyes gleamed with newfound resilience as he looked Alogra directly in the eyes, refusing to flinch.
Alogra caught Jack's fierce gaze, a glint of amusement crossing his face. 'This child… amusing,' he thought, chuckling quietly.
"Huh?" Jack blinked, the unexpected laughter snapping him back to reality. He had been so overwhelmed by the pressure that he'd instinctively regarded Alogra as a threat. As if on cue, the intense aura dissipated, lifting the suffocating tension from the room.
"I must say, you've got quite a lot of guts for a kid your age," Alogra said, his laughter dying down as he regarded Jack with an appraising look. "No need to feel so tense. I only wanted to show you why it's crucial to find a weapon that resonates with you. What you felt just now was aura—the intensity of which sharpens with the bond one has with their weapon. I'm not sure you'll find the perfect match here, but you can at least start with something decent. Go ahead, have a look around."
'Aura,' Jack thought, letting the word sink in. He'd never imagined something as abstract as a connection to a weapon could be such a deadly advantage. It was, perhaps, the most powerful skill he'd encountered.
"Go on, any weapon you want is yours," Alogra encouraged. "They're all enchanted and will boost your battle prowess, though I doubt you'll be able to wield them to full effect at your level."
Jack nodded, approaching the first weapon—a massive sword mounted on the wall. Massive was putting it mildly. The width alone was as thick as his arm, the length towering over his own height. He traced his fingers over its surface, feeling the rough texture of the metal, his hand catching on the deep cracks marking its age and battles past.
'Let's give this a try.'
[Appraisal skill activated!]
[Claymore; The Destroyer]
[Grade 4 Equipment]
[Enchantment: Earthquake—All enemies shall tremble before this great might.]
[Strength: +40]
[Stamina: +30]
[Perception: +2]
[Durability: 78%]
The stats glowed faintly before him, exactly as he'd hoped. The system could appraise weapons and accessories! An extra bonus that would undoubtedly be a powerful asset moving forward.
'This will be a handy skill in the future,' Jack thought, a grin spreading across his face.
'This is a formidable weapon… If only I could wield it.' He couldn't deny the frustration that rose within him. The sword was twice his weight, an impossibility to lift without crushing himself. 'It's like they built this for giants!' He withdrew his hand reluctantly, casting one last glance at the claymore as he moved on.
Next, he approached a sleek sword—a European-style blade, with razor-sharp edges and a straight, needle-like point designed for swift and precise strikes. In comparison to the claymore, this sword was smaller, its edges sharp and deadly.
[Hunker]
[Grade 2 Equipment]
[Enchantment: Piercing—Increases attack power by 20% and enhances damage with a miniature explosion upon impact.]
[Agility: +30]
[Stamina: +20]
[Strength: +15]
[Durability: 99%]
'A solid weapon, perhaps comparable to the claymore,' Jack mused as he carefully drew the blade from its hanger. As he gripped it fully, he felt its weight pressing down on him. It wasn't as unwieldy as the claymore, but it was still straining his hands, just enough to test his limits.
He raised the sword, giving it a quick vertical slash through the air. The blade sliced cleanly, sending a ripple through the air.
He was amazed by the smooth and sleek movement he had managed to pull off
"Remember, choose something that won't burden you," Alogra reminded, observing Jack's attempt. "The less burden, the better."
'He's right,' Jack admitted. 'I might be able to wield Hunker, but the weight would make it more trouble than it's worth in a tight situation.' He was still too small to wield such a weapon with ease, he continued scanning the room, determined to find something that suited him now, even if only temporarily.
He looked over to the axe mounted nearby. While he'd used an axe for chopping wood, the toll it took on his body after each use made him dismiss it quickly. 'Not an option.'
As he turned away, something else caught his eye. His gaze settled on a smaller, unassuming weapon in the far corner.