Takashima crossed his arms. "Alright, Markus. You're up."
Markus stepped forward without a word, placing his hand firmly on the orb. The instant he made contact, the room pulsed with an intense light—far brighter than any before. A deep hum resonated through the space as raw magic crackled in the air.
"This is a big one," Kai muttered, shielding his eyes.
Slowly, the light condensed, taking shape in Markus's grip. A massive weapon materialized before their eyes, its dark metal gleaming under the overhead lights.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"What… is that?" Aika breathed.
The weapon was enormous—a double-edged sword, but its tip was shaped like a trident. The metal pulsed faintly with an eerie glow. But that wasn't all. A thick chain extended from the hilt, coiling slightly before vanishing into thin air.
Markus frowned, his fingers tightening around the grip. "What… do I even make of this?"
Takashima exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "That… was designed by Crowne."
A familiar, theatrical voice echoed from the back of the room.
"GUILTY!!!" Crowne declared, stepping forward with a smug grin.
Markus rolled his eyes. "Of course."
"How do I even use this thing?" he asked, lifting the heavy blade slightly.
Crowne smirked. "Easy. This weapon functions both as a sword and a spear."
Markus inspected the weapon. "This looks like it'd be horrible for throwing."
Takashima shook his head. "The magic imbued in it ensures it will always land true on its target."
Markus turned his gaze to the short chain hanging from the handle. "And what's with this tiny chain?"
"Pull it," Crowne said with a grin.
Arnik stepped forward and grabbed hold of the chain. He gave it a firm tug.
Then another.
Then another.
More chain emerged—endlessly. It just kept coming.
Kai's jaw dropped. "Okay, that's kinda ridiculous."
"That magic chain can stretch infinitely," Takashima explained.
Markus narrowed his eyes. He found a small button embedded in the handle. His thumb hovered over it. "What's this?"
"Press it," Crowne urged.
Markus hesitated before clicking the button. The chain recoiled instantly, whipping back into the weapon with a sharp snap, as if the entire length of it had never unraveled.
A slow smirk spread across Crowne's face. "Deadly, if you master it."
Markus exhaled, lifting the weapon properly for the first time. It was heavy but balanced—foreign but familiar in his grip.
"Interesting," he murmured.
And with that, his weapon was chosen.
Markus tightened his grip on the weapon, feeling the weight of it settle in his hands. The design was strange, impractical even, but something about it felt… right.
I don't care if it doesn't look fancy. His fingers curled tighter around the hilt. If I can butcher those machines, then I don't care what I use.
Rose stepped forward, rolling her shoulders. "Alright, my turn."
She placed her hand on the orb, her tail flicking slightly in anticipation. The glow surged to life, light swirling around her as energy pulsed through her arm.
Then, it took shape.
A long weapon materialized in her grasp—sleek, sharp, deadly. The head of the weapon gleamed under the lights, a razor-sharp spear tip with elegant curve patterns etched into the metal.
"A… Yari?" Arnik muttered, tilting his head.
Rose spun it once in her hand, testing the weight. "Hah! Now this is a weapon."
She smirked, jabbing forward with it, feeling the smooth balance.
Kai crossed his arms. "Of course you'd get something sharp and stabby."
Takashima nodded. "It suits you. The Yari is an incredibly versatile weapon—effective for both long and mid-range combat."
Rose grinned, twirling it effortlessly. "Yeah, yeah. As long as it lets me take down enemies fast, I'm happy."
Takashima smirked, watching her movements closely. "That one's my design."
Rose raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So, what's the special trick?"
Takashima gestured to the Yari. "Its cutting power is directly linked to your speed. The faster you move, the sharper and deadlier it becomes."
Rose's ears perked up, her grin widening. "Ohhh, now that's fun."
She crouched slightly, shifting her stance before vanishing in a blur of motion. In an instant, she reappeared at the far end of the room, the Yari whistling through the air. A reinforced training dummy nearby split in half before it even hit the ground.
Kai let out a low whistle. "That's… concerning."
Rose smirked, flipping the Yari in her hands. "Guess that just means I have to keep moving."
Takashima nodded. "Master it, and you'll be practically untouchable."
Rose spun the weapon behind her back and started swinging it casually—except she wasn't paying attention to just how close it was getting to Kai's face.
He flinched as the blade sliced mere inches from his nose.
"WOAH—WATCH IT!" Kai yelped, jerking back, hands raised in alarm.
Rose just snickered, ears twitching. "Relax, Kai, I know what I'm doing."
Kai shot her a glare, still holding his cheek as if he was making sure it was still attached. "Yeah? Well, my face would like some reassurance."
Rose grinned wider, taking another playful spin of the Yari—this time aiming the twirl a little closer just to mess with him.
Kai nearly tripped backward. "QUIT IT!"
Rose cackled. "Consider it training for your reflexes."
Kai muttered something under his breath but let it go.
Takashima turned toward Aika. "Alright, you're up next."
Aika stepped forward hesitantly, her fingers twitching at her sides. She exhaled sharply before placing her hand on the orb. The glow surged to life, swirling light wrapping around her arm, magic pulsing through her veins.
The energy condensed.
A long staff materialized in her grasp—sleek, polished, and humming with raw power. The deep violet wood gleamed under the dim lights, intricate runes etched into its surface. At its tip, a floating crystalline core pulsed with energy, shifting in color as if reacting to Aika's presence.
Arnik tilted his head. "A staff, huh? Guess that makes sense."
Kai nodded. "She's already strong with magic. Giving her something to boost it further makes her even deadlier."
Rose rested her Yari against her shoulder, smirking. "Yeah, yeah, but what's it do?"
Takashima stepped forward. "This staff was designed to amplify spellcasting efficiency. It allows you to use stronger magic spells within a much faster time."
Aika's eyes widened slightly. "Faster casting?"
Crowne stretched, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Well, that's boring."
Takashima shot him a sharp glare. "Oh, shut up."
Crowne smirked. "What? I was expecting something a little more… dramatic. Maybe a giant warhammer or a sword that shoots lightning."
Takashima pinched the bridge of his nose. "These weapons are designed to match their wielders. Not everything needs to be flashy."
Kai crossed his arms, studying the staff. "Faster casting time… That means she can chain spells together without cooldowns holding her back."
Andrew nodded. "Exactly. Right now, even the strongest magic user has to wait between high-level spells. With that staff, Aika's biggest weakness—her casting delay—is nearly removed."
Aika stared at the staff in her hands, gripping it tightly. This… this is exactly what I needed.
She exhaled slowly, feeling the hum of energy pulse through her fingertips. The crystalline core glowed brighter, responding to her emotions.
Rose leaned in, smirking. "Try it out."
Aika hesitated, then raised the staff. Magic surged through her body, the air around her thickening as power coiled at her fingertips. She flicked her wrist.
A chain spell—one that should have taken five full seconds—burst forth instantly.
The others took a step back, watching as a gravity field expanded in an instant before dissipating just as fast.
Kai let out a low whistle. "Okay, that's actually terrifying."
Rose grinned. "Well, now we definitely have to spar."
Aika exhaled, lowering her staff. She wasn't used to having an edge like this.
But she wasn't about to waste it.
Andrew cleared his throat, cutting through the noise. "Enough. Now that you all have weapons suited to you, it's time to begin the real training."
The room fell into silence.
They all knew what was coming next.
The real battle was just beginning.
Andrew stepped forward, his expression serious. "Good. Because we don't have time to waste."
The room fell silent.
"We're tasking you with protecting this city," Andrew continued, his voice firm. "Our space force has been weakened after Lionel's last attack… and I fear the worst."
"GO AND TRAIN!!! Get familiar with your weapons!"
"SIR, YES SIR!"