The security officer led Kaelen through corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly, each step echoing against polished stone. His ribs protested with every breath, sharp reminders of cracked bone still healing. His left arm throbbed where the serpent had bitten him, the support brace restricting movement in ways that made him hyper-aware of the injury.
The officer's boots clicked in steady rhythm ahead of him, professional and detached. No conversation of what had just happened in the Council Chamber. Just duty, bieng executed with mechanical efficiency.
Kaelen's mind replayed the session despite his exhaustion. Darius's crushing aether pressure trying to force him to his knees. Serene's intervention cutting through the hostility like a blade. Lyssa's unexpected offer and his rejection of it.
"I rejected her offer." he thought, the reality of it still not quite settling. "To her face, in front of the entire Council, no less."
He felt stupid but also proud. He'd made his own choice, stood his ground, refused to be shaped by someone else's agenda. But consequences would follow. And he knows that.
The corridor opened into a wider passage, and the officer finally spoke. "The armory is through there. Master Chen is already informed and will be expecting you."
Then he was gone, disappearing back the way they'd come before Kaelen could even acknowledge the statement.
...
Kaelen stood alone before massive reinforced doors marked with protective formations. He pushed the doors open. What he saw made his breath pause.
The armory stretched before him like a cathedral dedicated to violence. Weapons lined the walls in organized displays, each one secured behind protective barriers that hummed with contained aether. Swords, spears, axes, bows—every tool of combat humanity had ever conceived, rendered in materials that shouldn't exist and enhanced with power that defied natural law.
The air itself felt heavier here, saturated with residual energy from accumulated weaponry. Every breath tasted like metal.
"You're the boy who survived the C-rank encounter?"
The voice came from deeper in the armory. An elderly man emerged from between weapon racks, moving with the kind of casual grace that suggested power held carefully in check. His hair was white, pulled back in a practical style that kept it away from his face. His hands showed decades of scars—burn marks, chemical stains, cuts that had healed poorly despite cultivation.
Weaponsmith's hands.
His eyes were sharp despite his age, tracking Kaelen with assessment that felt almost physical. It wasn't t hostile, just measuring. Seeing what stood before him and comparing it to whatever standard he maintained internally.
"I was expecting more..."
"Master Chen?" Kaelen asked.
"That's me." Chen gestured toward the weapon displays with one scarred hand. "The council decided to gift you a C-rank equipment. That's generous of them for what I'm seeing here."
"Well... there's more than the eyes see." Kaelen replied.
"Which could be a disaster," he moved to a central workstation, pulling up holographic displays that showed the available inventory. "C-rank weapons aren't just better versions of whatever you used. They're qualitatively different. Any artifact ranking C-rank and above always are. From enhanced durability, aether conductivity, special properties that complement specific fighting styles."
Chen's eyes found Kaelen's again. "They're also temperamental. Bad match between weapon and wielder means wasted potential at best, active hindrance at worst. So tell me about how you actually fight."
Kaelen thought about that. How did he fight?
"I'm best at close range," he said after a moment. "Most of my skills work best when I'm within a few meters of the target."
"Any formal martial training?" Chen asked.
"Not yet. Though, i was offered to be taught Muay Thai if..." Kaelen trailed off, uncertain if that promise would hold now.
"Brawler style then." Chen nodded, seemingly satisfied with the assessment. "You rely on natural instinct and an advantage rather than refined technique, which works until you face someone with both advantage and skill, then it gets you killed."
He gestured toward the weapon displays. "Come. Let's see what fits."
...
The first weapon Chen showed him was a pike. Not the simple spear-type weapon Kaelen had seen in training, but something far more sophisticated.
[Resonance Pike: Harmonic Spine]
[Rank: ???]
[Type: Offensive Two-Handed Melee]
[Class: Pole Arm]
[Durability:???]
[Description:???]
[Effect:???]
Kaelen activated Analytical Scan, reading the partial information his skill could reveal.
The weapon was elegant. It was around 2.1 meters, constructed from some metal that seemed to vibrate faintly even at rest. Crystalline formations ran along its length in regular patterns, each one pulsing with internal light that synchronized to create waves of resonance.
"Harmonic attacks," Chen explained, seeing Kaelen's interest. "Each strike generates sonic frequencies that disrupt opponent's internal aether flow. Effective against both beasts and cultivators. Range advantage keeps you safer than close combat."
Kaelen lifted the pike carefully, feeling its weight. Balanced, responsive, clearly high-quality craftsmanship. He could imagine the advantages of keeping enemies at a distance, disrupting their abilities before they could close.
But he's mind went back to him and Davos in a cave, surrounded by serpents. He thought of trying to maneuver a two-meter weapon in a confined space.
"It's impressive," Kaelen said, setting it back carefully. "But not for me. Too much reach for the environments I've fought in."
Chen nodded, showing no disappointment. "Fair assessment. Next."
...
[Twin Shortblades: Echo Divide]
[Rank:???]
[Type: Offensive Paired Blades]
[Class: Shortblades]
[Durability:???]
[Description:???]
[Effect:???]
The blades were beautiful. Each one curved slightly, the metal catching light in patterns that suggested motion even when still. Where they met, aether formed visible connections.
"It's a spartial displacement blade," Chen said. "Strike with the right blade, damage appears from the left. It confuses opponents. But it requires dual-wielding coordination."
Kaelen held one blade, testing its weight. Light, responsive, perfectly balanced for speed over power. He could see the appeal the advantage of attacking from unexpected angles, of creating false positioning that enemies couldn't predict.
But the reminder of his throbbing left arm rung through his brain. He thought of a scenario of an arm being incapable and the dual-wielding blade required both arms functional. If the coordination is broken, it's utterly useless.
"Not interested." He said.
...
[Heavy Chain: Grasp of the Bound King]
[Rank: ???]
[Type: Restrictive Weighted Chain]
[Class: Chain]
[Durability:???]
[Description:???]
[Effect:???]
The chain looked simple at first glance, just links of dark metal connected end to end. But Analytical Scan revealed complexity beneath the surface. Each link contained formations that allowed independent movement, making the chain behave like a living thing under proper control.
"It's a crowd control weapon," Chen explained. It binds multiple opponents simultaneously, creates barriers, and restricts movement. Excellent for holding ground against superior numbers."
Kaelen tested the chain's weight, feeling how it moved. The potential was obvious. Wrap it around enemies, create distance, control the battlefield through restriction rather than elimination.
But the cave came to mind once more. Fighting in spaces barely wide enough for two people. A four-meter chain would have be a liability. It's useful. But he'd rather use this as a complimentary weapon, not a main one.
"It's nice but... doesn't suite me," he said, coiling it back carefully.
...
Chen showed him five more weapons in quick succession. Each one was impressive. Each one had clear advantages.
An aether rifle that could punch through Guardian-level defenses from a hundred meters. A war hammer that could shatter reinforced structures with single strikes. An aether-thread whip that required years to master but offered devastating precision. A shield that generated barriers strong enough to protect entire teams. Knuckle daggers that caused internal bleeding through armor.
Kaelen examined each one with growing frustration. They were all exceptional. All powerful but all completely usesless for how he actually fought.
"I don't think any of these fit," he said finally, his exhaustion making the words come out more defeated than intended.
Chen studied him for a long moment. "Your decision so far suggests someone who expects to be alone. Every decision you're making assumes no backup, no support, no one to cover your weaknesses."
"That's how it's been so far," Kaelen replied quietly.
"You should have allies. Going on without any would not be so good for you." Chen's tone wasn't unkind, it was just matter-of-fact. "But I understand. You need weapons that complement solo survival."
He paused, seeming to debate something internally. Then he sighed.
"There's one more option. But I wasn't planning to show it."
...
Chen led him to the armory's far corner, where a workbench sat covered with tools and partially assembled equipment. Behind it, half-hidden by a heavy cloth, Kaelen noticed something that made him pause.
Gauntlets. A pair Unlike the last one he used. The last was a unit.
The cloth didn't fully cover them, and what was visible made his breath catch. The metal was darker than standard alloy, almost black, with patterns etched across the surface that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles. But what drew his attention were the cores.
Where the gauntlet he had used last had nothing but a smooth surface. These had a smooth obsidian crystal that thumped with contained energy.
It was audible and felt like hearing someone's pulse through their chest.
"Those weren't meant for showing," Chen said, his voice carrying warning. "It's a cursed equipment."
Kaelen approached despite the warning, drawn by something he couldn't articulate. His Analytical Scan activated automatically.
[Gauntlet:Gravepulse Mandate]
[Rank: ???]
[Type: Offensive Paired Impact Gauntlets]
[Class: Gauntlets]
[Durability:???]
[Effect: Strength +7, Endurance +5, Vitality +4]
[Status: Cursed Set]
[Description: Set Effect: Pulse Transfer.
Every hit transfers force inward, not outward. Damage partially bypasses external armor. Shock travels into organs, joints, aether nodes. Heavy punches feel like getting hit twice.]
[Active Skill: Grave Pulse]
Cost: 55 A.E. | Cooldown: 30 seconds
Slam gauntlets together, release radial impact wave. Knocks back enemies below weapon rank within 6 meters, and stuns enemies up to the same weapon rank briefly, converts stored shock into area damage.
[Curse: Shared Trauma]
Every enemy hit transfers 5% of impact strain back to wielder. Bruising, microfractures, muscle tearing if abused.
Surprisingly, most information for the gauntlet was not obscured despite his Analytical Scan's level. It's like the System deliberately bypassed rules to match him with this.
Kaelen read through it twice, making sure he understood.
"The gauntlets were crafted from a Burrow Tyrant's crystallized heart," Chen explained, moving to stand beside him. "A C-rank beast, territorial, known for devastating internal damage attacks. It would hit you once and your organs would liquefy from shock."
He gestured to the thumping cores. "The weaponsmith who made these tried to replicate that capability. Succeeded, actually. Created gauntlets that transfer force directly into targets, bypass most external defenses."
Chen's expression darkened. "Past users have died or have being crippled using them. A curse backlash. Every hit they landed, they felt a fraction of themselves. It wasn't the damage but the strain. Thier body couldn't handle it. Tore themselves apart from the inside."
Kaelen looked at the gauntlets, feeling the match despite the warning. They matched how he fought. The internal damage would work against beasts whose armor made conventional strikes less effective.
"How many died wielding it?" Kaelen asked, curiosity hitting him.
"Five previous wielders," Chen answered. "Three dead and two crippled from overuse. The curse demands durability. It tests whether you're strong enough to wield them without destroying yourself in the process."
"Can the curse be removed?" Kaelen asked.
"No. It's integral to the weapon's function. The shared trauma is what makes the pulse transfer possible." Chen met his eyes directly. "You could take the knuckle daggers. They're powerful, no curse attached, perfectly functional for your style. Or you could gamble on these and hope you keep up long enough to master them."
Kaelen remembered the Mauler fight. The E-rank gauntlet cracking under the impact, stress fractures spreading across its surface. Though it was a weapon the academy had lend him, he had come to love it.
These would work. Even with the curse.
"I'll take them," he said.
Chen's eyes narrowed. "You understand what you're accepting? The strain accumulates. You hit too many times without recovery, you'll tear your own muscles. Break your own bones. The gauntlets don't care about your survival—they just transfer force."
"I understand."
"Do you?" Chen's tone hardened. "Because the five cultivators better than you thought they understood too. They're paralyzed now. Or worse."
"I have a passive regeneration skill," Kaelen said. "It works constantly, and will heal damages over time. That should help manage the strain accumulation."
Chen studied him for a long moment, seeming to weigh something. Then he sighed heavily.
"Fine. But I'm warning you once more. These weapons will kill you if you're not careful. The curse isn't fully understood, there may be effects we haven't documented yet. And once bonded, they're yours until passed to the next person."
"I accept the risks." Kaelen said."What do you mean by 'bonded'?"
Chen moved to the workbench, clearing tools away to reveal the gauntlets properly. Up close, they were even more impressive. The dark metal seemed to absorb light, making exact details hard to track. The obsidian crystal pulsed with steady rhythm, their thumping synchronized to each other.
"A bonding ritual..." Chen said, pulling out specialized equipment. "Is a ritual to bond you and a weapon... especially, special types which will increase your compatibility with them."
"That's..."
"Let's start... it will be a little painful."
...
The process was simpler than Kaelen expected but more intense. Chen placed each gauntlet on a specialized platform, then directed Kaelen to channel his aether through specific formations carved into the workbench surface.
Pain lanced through his hands as the connection formed. It was the sensation of something foreign forcing its way into his aether channels, mapping his energy flow, learning the patterns that made him unique.
The smooth obsidian crystals humped louder, resonating with his own pulse. For a disorienting moment, Kaelen couldn't tell where his heartbeat ended and the gauntlets' rhythm began.
Then the pain faded.
He opened his eyes, not realizing he'd closed them. The gauntlets sat on the platforms, their metal now carrying faint patterns that matched his aether signature.
It was complete.
"Put them on," Chen directed.
Kaelen lifted the right gauntlet first. The moment it touched his hand, the fit adjusted automatically. Metal flowed like liquid, conforming to his exact proportions before solidifying again. The weight settled into his arm like it had always been there, balanced perfectly.
The left gauntlet followed. Supringsingly, the gauntlet adjusted around his brace. He expected to have trouble putting on the left or feel pain, but he felt neither. It was even releasing a cool sensation into the left arm.
Suddenly he wore paired weapons reaching his mid forearms that felt less like equipment and more like extensions of himself.
The thumping of the crystals synchronized completely with his pulse now.
Chen watched the bonding complete, then nodded once. "They're yours now. For better or worse."
Kaelen flexed his fingers, testing the range of motion. Perfect. No restriction.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
"Don't thank me yet." Chen's expression was grim. "Thank me if you're still alive when we meet again."
...
The walk back to his dorm took longer than Kaelen expected. Exhaustion finally caught up properly, making every step feel like wading through water. His ribs protested with each breath. His left arm throbbed despite the support brace.
He had taken off the left gauntlet on his way back and had it in his right hand.
...
Kaelen collapsed onto his bed without bothering to remove the gauntlet on his right hand. His body demanded rest immediately, but notifications chimed insistently on his wristband.
He pulled up the interface with shaking hands.
>Official Academy Rank Update:
>Kaelen Burn - Sentinel Rank (Emerald Badge)
>RP: 0/5000
Sentinel rank. The academy had officially recognized his capability despite being first-year. But his RP had reset to zero, standard procedure due to the compesation protocol or what they said. He'd need to rebuild from scratch.
Then a financial notification appeared.
>Credit Transfer: Mira Ashveil
>Amount: 1,100,000 credits
>Balance: 1,100,670 credits
Kaelen stared at the number. One million, one hundred thousand credits.
His mother's yearly income and his earning a year from aether-tech repair was maybe thirty thousand. On good years. This single transfer was equivalent to thirty-six years of both works combined.
"I could..." His thoughts scattered, unable to focus. "She wouldn't have to work. She could retire. Everything changes."
The reality of that much wealth hit him like physical force. Not abstract numbers on a screen but actual capability to reshape his entire family's circumstances permanently.
Then his System chimed, pulling his attention to new notifications.
...
[??? Reward Calculation Complete]
The pending reward from his Sentinel's Shield quest finally processed. Kaelen pulled up the full notification.
[Analysis: Performance exceeded parameters]
[Survival against C-rank threat: Exceptional]
[Leadership under stess: Confirmed]
[Reward Generated: 5,000 SP]
His eyes widened. Five thousand Shop Points.
His current total had been 525. This single reward multiplied his purchasing power nearly tenfold. Suddenly, skills that had been completely out of reach became possible. Upgrades, technique manuals, resources he'd only glanced at before.
The Shop's possibilities exploded in his mind, but exhaustion made detailed planning impossible. That could wait.
Another notification appeared.
[System Artifact Generated]
[Cinder Serpent Chain]
[Rank: C]
[Type: Integrating Chain Weapon]
[Class: Chain]
[Durability:???]
[Description: Length: 3 meters. Golden interwoven chain.]
[Effect:Autonomous serpentine movement when deployed. Extends striking range, creates barriers, binds opponents. Fire damage over time on contact. Integrates with any weapon for combined attacks.]
Skills:
Activation Cost: 130 A.E. per skill use
Snake Form:
Chain moves independently, following wielder's intent rather than requiring direct control after activation. Drains 50 A.E. continuously after skill activation.
Ignite Coil:
Any strike while in Snake Form ignites chain segments, dealing fire damage over 6 seconds to struck enemies. Can leave small patches of burning terrain if the chain remains wrapped on an object or surface for more than 2 seconds.
Blazing Constriction:
Wrapping around an enemy's limbs or torso increases pressure and infuses heat, adding damage over time while immobilized. Activation adds slight AoE scorch (3 meters) around the target if multiple enemies are nearby.
Kaelen read through it twice.
The System had given him a complimentary weapon that addressed his main weakness... limited range. The chain extended his effective combat distance from immediate melee to several meters.
And it integrated with the any weapon. How convenient.
"Does the System know what I'm going to do before I do it?" The thought was unsettling. "Or does it just respond to patterns in my behavior?"
No answer came.
[Skill Acquired: Oblivion Pouch Lv. 1]
[Type: Utility/Dimensional]
[Description: Creates a semi-permanent dimensional pocket that exists slightly out of phase with normal space. Can store only non-living matter (weapons, gear, consumables, materials, documents, etc.)
Pocket is invisible and intangible from the outside; objects inside cannot interact with the real world and remains in a temporal stasis until retrieved.]
[Capacity Limits:
Max Length: 50 meters (internal usable space). Max Width: 30 meters. Max Height: 30 meter. Max Weight: 200 kg ]
[Activation Cost: 100 A.E. to create. 10 A.E. per object inserted or retrieved]
[Duration: Pocket lasts for 24 hours before collapsing automatically. Can be deactivated manually at any time, releasing all stored objects instantly.]
[Only the caster can open/retrieve objects. Cannot store living beings, or blood. If the total weight exceeds 200 kg, the pocket destabilizes, potentially ejecting all objects or consuming extra A.E. to stabilize.
Objects maintain their original state; no decay or spoilage while inside.]
Kaelen tested it immediately, focusing on the new skill. A space opened in his awareness, not physical, but present nonetheless. He mentally directed the Cinder Serpent Chain into it, and the weapon vanished from reality, stored safely in dimensional space.
[–100 A.E.]
[–10 A.E.]
"An actual inventory management." He muttered. The ones he knows were artifacts adventurers used, made from rare beast crystals.
...
Kaelen lay back against his pillows, letting exhaustion finally claim him properly. His body was done. Completely spent. But his mind kept processing despite his best efforts to rest.
He'd started the day in a medical bay, being assessed for clearance.
Faced Council judgment.
Rejected a Council member's apprenticeship offer to her face.
Chosen cursed weapons that five previous wielders had died and gotten paralyzed using.
Received massive rewards from multiple sources, financial, equipment, System resources.
"How is this my life now?" The question felt rhetorical. All his life until months ago he'd been a Null repairing aether-tech in the lower districts. Now he wore C-rank cursed gauntlets and had enough credits to change his mother's life permanently.
Pride filled his chest.
"It will always be better."