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"Tsk."
Russell stared down at the headless corpse, annoyance written across his Arrogance form. The werewolf's body was already starting to dissolve, demonic energy dissipating into the air like smoke.
"Every. Single. Time." He pulled out his phone, switching back to human form as he did. "Can't interrogate them, can't get information, just boom—headless corpse. At least leave a cryptic note or something."
He snapped a photo of the remains before they completely vanished. Evidence for the Association, and proof he wasn't making things up.
[A Loving Family]
[Russell]: (Photo attached) Sect of Unification member. Self-destructed as usual.
[Blake Whitmore]: Russell, where are you right now?
[Russell]: New Metro First High. This guy literally dropped into my lap. Or onto the school gate. Same difference.
[Russell]: No idea what's happening in the rest of New Metro though. Residential areas seem quiet. Could be good or bad.
[Felix]: junior brother are you okay??? the sect has been a NIGHTMARE up north cant believe they went straight to new metro wtf
Russell smiled despite himself. Felix, his third senior brother, had apparently never met a punctuation mark he liked. The man texted like he was permanently out of breath.
[Russell]: Thanks for the concern, Senior Brother. I'm fine. This guy wasn't that strong—more bark than bite. Literally, since he was a werewolf. Just annoying that he blew himself up before I could ask questions. Same self-destruct as the secret realm demons.
[Elise]: The Sect of Unification is backed by demons. They call themselves human, but they're more demon than anything else at this point. Same restrictions apply—no information extraction possible.
[Jasper]: Exactly. And here's the kicker—they can't use cards.
That made Russell pause. The werewolf had only fought with claws and regeneration, no cards at all. He'd assumed it was arrogance or strategy, but...
"They're failed cardmakers," he realized aloud. "People who couldn't awaken card abilities, so they grafted demon parts onto themselves for power."
Desperate enough to literally become monsters. That's... actually kind of sad.
[Jasper]: Be careful though, Junior Brother. A small percentage of Sect members ARE cardmakers. Those are the really dangerous ones. We call the others "limb-grafting monsters" internally.
Limb-grafting monsters. Catchy. Marketing department working overtime on that one.
[Blake Whitmore]: I contacted Principal Shepherd. New Metro's situation is relatively stable. They detected the Soochow activity and responded quickly. This particular Sect member was likely trying to open a secret realm in the city. The school attack was a diversion.
"Oh, NOW it makes sense!" Russell smacked his forehead. "That's why he announced himself instead of just attacking. Draw Association forces here, keep them worried about civilian casualties, while his buddies open portals elsewhere."
And targeting a school specifically attacks our reserve forces. Kill the next generation of cardmakers before they develop. Cold but logical.
"Russell! What's going on down there?"
He looked up to see the crater rim lined with faces. Students, teachers, administrators—everyone who could walk had come to gawk. He dismissed his remaining cards and leaped out in a single bound, landing lightly despite the forty-foot jump.
"Everything's handled," he announced. "Let's get everyone back inside before—"
"AHEM." Principal Shepherd's cough could have shattered glass. "All teachers, please escort your students back to classrooms. This is not a spectacle."
Groans of disappointment rippled through the crowd. Several students had their phones out, clearly wanting selfies with "God-Russell."
The principal opened his mouth to question Russell when a massive shape dropped from the sky. Teachers screamed. Students scrambled backward. Russell just sighed.
"Relax, everyone. Association backup."
A giant white wolf landed where the playground used to be, its rider dismounting with practiced ease.
"Zephyr? Seriously?" Russell couldn't hide his amusement. "They sent you?"
"Russell?" The young man's messy hair hadn't improved since their last meeting. Neither had his fashion sense—still dressed like he'd gotten dressed in the dark. In someone else's clothes. That didn't fit.
"Yeah, it's me." Russell watched recognition, then something like sadness, cross Zephyr's face.
He's comparing us. Last time we met, I needed him to save me from bronze-level threats. Now I'm taking down silver-level Sect members solo. That's got to sting.
"Hey, Luna!" Russell made exaggerated kissing noises at the wolf. "Remember me? Remember how you tried to eat me that first time?"
The massive wolf, who'd been preparing to look majestic and aloof, caught sight of the smoking crater. Then Russell's expression. Then the crater again. Its tail slowly tucked between its legs as it let out a whimper that sounded more like a kicked puppy than an apex predator.
"Don't tease her," Zephyr protested weakly. "She's sensitive."
"She tried to bite my head off."
"That was a greeting!"
"Sure it was." Russell pointed at the pit. "Anyway, limb-grafting monster from the Sect. You probably got the briefing on the way over."
Zephyr's expression turned serious. Professional mode engaged. "Yeah. Thanks for handling it. If you hadn't been here..." He didn't finish, but they both knew. Students would have died. Teachers would have died. The school might not have survived.
"The Association will process a points reward for this," Zephyr continued. "Substantial, given what you prevented."
"What about the rest of New Metro? How bad is it?"
Zephyr's face darkened. "We responded quickly, but... there were still casualties. Not catastrophic, but not good either."
Russell understood. When Blake said the situation was "relatively good," he meant the Sect hadn't achieved their primary objective. But people had still died. Families destroyed, lives ended. All for what? Opening some portals?
"I'll take the body," Zephyr said, moving toward the crater. "Want to come back to the Association? President Marcus would love to see you."
Marcus. That traitorous bastard who's secretly Society.
Russell was curious about the Society's stance on the Sect, but showing too much interest would be suspicious.
"Pass. I'm just visiting—heading back to Northgate soon. You can handle the paperwork, right?"
"Sure, saves me from fighting." Zephyr collected what remained of the werewolf, storing it in some kind of preservation card. "Stay safe, Russell."
"You too."
Luna took off with a powerful leap, Zephyr waving from her back. Russell watched them disappear into the clouds before turning back to the school staff.
"Principal Shepherd, Ms. Song, Mr. Williams—I should go."
"Of course." The principal's expression was complex—pride, worry, awe. "Visit when you can, Russell. You'll always be welcome here."
"Will do."
Without ceremony, Russell triggered Arrogance again. The black-red form shot skyward, breaking the sound barrier as he headed west toward Northgate.
"How can a golden dragon remain in a pond?" Principal Shepherd murmured, watching the contrail fade. "Once it meets wind and clouds, it soars to the nine heavens."
"Principal," his secretary said gently, "nobody quotes classical poetry anymore."
"Fine. How about 'Don't bully the young for being poor'?"
"That's... marginally better?"
Russell pushed himself hard on the flight back, only relaxing when he sensed Hazel's familiar presence next door. Home. Safe.
Well, relatively safe. His yard still looked like a warzone from Kai's "subtle" assassination attempt, but at least the Shadowkhan had been maintaining basic cleanliness.
[Russell]: Back in Northgate, safe and sound.
[Jasper]: 😊
[Russell]: Teacher, what's the overall situation in other cities?
[Blake Whitmore]: Mixed results. Some cities got hit hard—Sect established footholds, low-level secret realms opened successfully. No high-level portals, thankfully, but casualties were unavoidable.
People died while I was playing hero at my old school. Could I have saved more elsewhere?
[Blake Whitmore]: Interesting note: the Spirit Begging Society also engaged the Sect around New Metro. They seem invested in keeping them out of that region.
Russell's blood chilled.
The Society's fighting the Sect? That's... not good.
The Society never did anything without profit motive. If they were protecting New Metro, it meant they had plans there. Big plans. Plans that couldn't tolerate interference from rival criminal organizations.
They're planning something massive in New Metro. Something that requires a Sect-free environment.
"Time's running out," he muttered. "I need to get stronger. Fast."
But first, Artoria needs a weapon.
He'd been considering options for days. Divine Weapons from martial arts comics, mythological blades, legendary armaments from various cultures. But most were either incompatible with Artoria's style or beyond his current ability to create.
Then inspiration struck. There was one sword perfect for her. One that made absolute thematic sense.
"Please let me have enough points..."
He opened the point exchange platform, fingers crossed.
[Universal Prosthesis] (Gold) - 2,100 points
For the silver arm base
[Sword of Glory] (Red) - 5,800 points
Excalibur's essence
[Portable Sealing Array] (Purple) - 900 points
To contain the sword's power
Total: 8,800 points
Remaining: 220 points
"Fuck. That's literally everything." His hands actually shook slightly as he confirmed the purchase. "This better work."
[Please begin story compilation.]
Russell took a deep breath and began:
[The Silver Arm is more than legend—it's a story of loyalty transcending death itself.]
[Nuada, the Silver-Armed God of War, first bore such a prosthetic. When he lost his arm in battle, the smith god Creidhne forged him a replacement of pure silver that moved as naturally as flesh. This established the precedent—that divine power could reside in artificial limbs.]
[But this story isn't about Nuada.]
[After the Battle of Camlann, King Arthur lay dying on blood-soaked earth. Mordred's cursed lance had dealt a mortal blow, one that even Avalon's scabbard couldn't fully heal. With her last strength, she gave a final command to her most loyal knight.]
["Bedivere," she whispered, voice barely carrying over the moans of the dying. "Take Excalibur. Go to the lake beyond this crimson hill. Cast my sword into its waters. Return and tell me what you see."]
[Bedivere knew the truth—returning Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake would complete the cycle. Arthur would die, finally and truly. The sword was the last thread holding her to life.]
[Twice he went to the lake. Twice he turned back, lying to his king about what he'd done. Both times, Arthur saw through his deception with eyes that had watched kingdoms rise and fall.]
[The third time, Bedivere stood at the water's edge for hours. Dawn was breaking. His king was dying. Duty warred with love.]
[Love won.]
[When he returned, Arthur had vanished. Not dead—that mercy was denied her while Excalibur remained in mortal hands. She was trapped between life and death, unable to rest, unable to heal.]
[Bedivere began his eternal journey, carrying Excalibur, searching for his lost king. Years became decades. His hair went gray, then white. His left arm, injured at Camlann, finally failed entirely.]
[In desperation, he sought out Merlin.]
[The wizard, moved by such loyalty, performed one last great magic. He sealed Excalibur within a silver prosthetic, replacing Bedivere's useless arm. The holy sword's power sustained the old knight, granting him strength to continue his search.]
[This is the Silver Arm—not Nuada's divine prosthetic, but Bedivere's burden. The un-returned holy sword, Excalibur, forever waiting to complete its journey home.]
[Perhaps one day, when Bedivere finds his king, the sword will finally rest.]
[Perhaps.]
The card materialized with a flash of golden light that left afterimages. Russell could feel it resonating with Artoria's card, like magnets drawn together.
"Holy shit, it worked!"
[The Un-Returned Holy Sword: Silver Arm]
Level: Silver
Quality: Red
Category: Equipment
Skills:
[Silver Arm, Grasping the Sword] (Passive): When equipped, the user can manifest an invisible holy sword—a phantom projection of the sealed Excalibur.
[Flash of the Silver Arm]: True Name release unleashes an annihilation wave—essentially a miniature Excalibur blast. (Cooldown: 1 hour. After use, arm enters 30-minute overheat state with reduced attributes)
Characteristics:
[Holy Sword's Enhancement]: The sealed Excalibur continuously reinforces the user's physical parameters.
Advancement Path:
Silver [The Un-Returned Holy Sword: Silver Arm] → Emerald [Holy Sword: Excalibur]
Chain Potential:
Can chain with card [Bedivere]
Can chain with card [Artoria] ✓ (ACTIVATED)
Chain Effect: When Artoria wields the Silver Arm, [Flash of the Silver Arm] damage increases by 300%. [Holy Sword's Enhancement] effectiveness doubles. (Note: Effects multiply further if both cards advance together)
Bond Potential:
With [Arondight]: Activates [Gift from the Lady of the Lake]
With [Avalon]: Activates [Sword and Scabbard]
Russell stared at the specifications, jaw dropping.
"Chain cards are THIS broken!?"
This was his first successful chain creation, and the synergy was insane. Artoria wouldn't just have a weapon—she'd have Excalibur, sealed in a form that made her deadlier than ever.
"From one-shot wonder to sustained damage dealer. This changes everything."
And if I can advance both cards together...
The possibilities were staggering. But for now, he had a holy sword to deliver to its rightful king.
Even if technically, according to legend, she should throw it in a lake.
(End of this chapter)
PLZ THROW POWERSTONES.