Midday in Stone City was the busiest time, but also the safest time for Grande. It was the window when Rank F Custodians were permitted access to the deepest sectors to handle High-Rank residue.
Grande returned to Stone City through the old service drains, carrying not only the Hardwood Sword (concealed within a rolled-up Custodian mat) but also the stolen Mana Recognition Sensor, hidden under his Custodian badge.
Infiltrating the Rank A Commander Training Quarters was simple. No one paid attention to a familiar Custodian. He even ran into Jefri, the old Custodian, who only nodded without suspicion.
"You're back, Grande. I thought you died in the Wastelands," Jefri said.
"Just took a long leave," Grande replied, forcing a smile. "I missed the efficiency of the job."
Grande entered the main hall. He could see Commander Sirus himself, now protected by a thick Rank A Mana shield, seriously practicing his sword movements. Sirus was clearly furious and on edge after hearing the rumors about Commander Zarth being humiliated by a "custodian phantom."
This was an unexpected challenge. Grande had to disable the inner shield without provoking Sirus in the same room.
According to Vektor's Logistics Map, the entrance to the Rank S Weapon Depot was through a hidden panel behind the obsidian wall of Sirus's personal changing room.
Grande moved to the changing room. He began "cleaning" the obsidian wall meticulously, using a wet cloth. The Mana Recognition Sensor on his wrist pulsed, confirming that behind the wall, a deadly Bio-Lock Shield was active.
This Bio-Lock Shield was designed to instantly incapacitate anyone below Rank B attempting to breach.
Grande pulled out his concealed Hardwood Sword.
[Focused Cleaning Technique: Rank A Echo Release Activated.]
Grande channeled all the stored Rank A Echo Energy in his body. Then, he swung his Hardwood Sword and activated the Custodian Snap Technique on the obsidian wall.
SNAP!
The blow wasn't a loud explosion, but it had a precise vibrational force. The Snap Energy, triggered by disguised Rank D strength, forced the obsidian stone to release the stored Rank A Echo Energy.
The concentrated Rank A Echo Energy surged outwards, channeled into the Bio-Lock Shield as a fake Rank A Mana Disruption.
ZZZZTTT!
The Weapon Depot security system responded to the false signal. The Bio-Lock Shield violently shuddered, and the hidden wall panel hissed open, revealing a dark, steep staircase.
Three seconds. The disruption would only last for three seconds.
Grande immediately leaped into the opening, his Hardwood Sword tucked behind him, and the panel sealed shut.
In the main hall, Sirus stopped training. "What was that sound?" he muttered, looking toward the changing room. He sent the new Rank B guard, Marius, to investigate.
The Heart of the Arsenal
The Rank S Weapon Depot was a cold maze of metal and Mana Runes. Every chamber was filled with powerful weapons untouchable by Low Ranks, stored in individual energy shields.
Grande immediately rushed to the center of the depot, guided by the pulsing of the Mana Recognition Sensor, which now indicated the focal point of the Rank S Energy.
In the middle of the space, suspended on an anti-gravity rune platform, floated a single blade.
Fate Breaker.
The sword glowed with deep Crystal Blue Mana, emitting an aura so potent it stopped Grande in his tracks. It was unlike any other High-Rank weapon - it was the heirloom weapon of the True Gigantes.
Surrounding the platform were five Rank A sensor shields emitting a steady Blue Mana light.
Grande knew that if he attempted to touch the sword, the entire Stone City security system would be activated.
[Mana Recognition Sensor Analysis: Rank S Shield Activated by the Main Mana Core.]
No deception or Snap could disable this shield. He needed to escape with the sword in a matter of moments.
Just then, the Weapon Depot door burst open, and Commander Sirus strode in, followed by Rank B Marius.
"Custodian!" Sirus roared. "I knew you were behind this chaos! You are not a cleaner, you are a trash rat I allowed into my home!"
Sirus did not use a Rune Staff. He drew a Rank A Mana Sword from its sheath, its blade igniting with blue fire.
"I will eliminate you myself, Grande. And this time, the Fate System won't hold me back!"
Custodian vs. Commander Showdown
Sirus charged forward with terrifying speed. His Rank A Mana Sword aimed to cleave Grande in two.
Grande, realizing he couldn't dodge forever, evaded Sirus's initial attack. Then, he raised his Hardwood Sword.
He executed the newly trained Five Consecutive Rapid Snaps, aiming at Sirus's wrist.
SNAP!
The Rank D Snap, though amplified, could not pierce Sirus's Mana shield. But the physical vibration from the strike disrupted Sirus's Mana focus.
Sirus cried out, shocked. "The wood... it interferes with my Mana!"
Grande smirked. "Gigantes Hardwood doesn't channel Mana. It nullifies Mana!"
Sirus grew angrier. He began to use a true Rank A Skill: Annihilation Slash, which released a wide Mana blade that could cut through stone.
Grande knew he couldn't fight back. He had one last chance.
He ran towards the Fate Breaker platform, letting Sirus's Annihilation Slash hit the Depot wall.
BOOM!
The sensor shields protecting the weapon platform wobbled.
Grande aimed his Hardwood Sword at the sensor shield protecting Fate Breaker.
"I need one final cleaning, Destiny!"
SNAP!
He unleashed his Strongest Snap, containing the last residue of Rank A Echo Energy. The Snap hit one of the sensors, not to break it, but to physically disrupt the Rank S reading.
CLING!
The sensor exploded. The shield protecting Fate Breaker vanished!
Grande reached for the blade of Fate Breaker.
Sirus, seeing this, lunged forward. "Don't touch that sword, Rank F!"
But it was too late. Grande's fingers gripped the hilt of the Fate Breaker sword.
[Ancestral DNA Recognition Complete: Grande Recognized as the Last Heir. Rank F Power Limit Permanently Revoked.]
The instant he grasped the sword, the deep Crystal Blue Mana from Fate Breaker flowed into Grande. Not High-Rank Mana, but True Gigantes Mana that the System had never recognized.
The Fate Breaker sword resonated.
Grande turned, the Hardwood Sword now in his left hand, and Fate Breaker in his right.
Sirus froze. He saw the empowered Rank F holding the weapon he was meant to guard.
"Get out of here, Sirus," Grande said, his voice now calm, yet echoing with newfound power. "I've come to clean up your entire system."
Grande used a Snap from his Hardwood Sword on the floor, creating a violent tremor. He and his Hardwood Sword leaped back into the hidden opening, leaving a stunned Commander Sirus in the center of the now-breached Weapon Depot.