Battle Tank-V (Bound)
Grade: Platinum
Length: 10.4 meters
Width: 3.9 meters
Height: 2.9 meters
Weight: 68,325 kilograms
Primary Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore cannon
Secondary Weapons: 12.7 mm machine gun, 40 mm grenade launcher
Maximum Speed: 82 km/h
Cruising Range: 430 km (Ether refueling required)
Maximum Firing Range: 10 km
Accuracy:
100% up to 4 km
80% from 4–6 km
60% from 6–8 km
40% from 8–10 km
Skills:
• All-out Attack: Fire all weapons simultaneously at 200% of the user's power. Cost: 50% Maximum Ether.
• Invincible Shield: Generate a barrier that blocks attacks below the six-star realm for 10 seconds. Cost: 50% Maximum Ether.
"Invincible Shield…" Kiara muttered, unable to hide the awe in her voice. "That's absurdly powerful."
Her fingers hovered in the air, almost as if she could reach out and touch the massive steel beast hovering in the holographic projection. Memories from her past life flickered through her mind—late nights drafting armor calculations, arguing with generals about recoil systems, and pushing the limits of modern metallurgy.
And now, in a medieval world ruled by Ether and cultivation, she held something far more terrifying.
A Platinum-grade weapon that could erase anyone below six-star realm with a single shot.
For a moment, dangerous ambition flared in her chest.
"One day," she whispered, "when Nexus stands above the Big Three, I'll build a real factory. Not some little smithy—an entire industrial complex. I'll bring every design I ever created back to life."
The vision lingered, warm and promising.
Then she shook her head, clearing it.
"Dreams can wait. Survival comes first."
She closed the interface and continued walking toward Nexus, Zion trailing silently behind her like always.
By the time she reached the shop, the two temporary Luck points she had taken from Jareth had already faded from her status. According to the system, it would take him a full day to recover even one. Two days total.
Kiara felt no guilt.
If it had been a humble merchant or a decent person, she might have felt a twinge. But for an arrogant bully who threatened strangers without provocation? She had zero sympathy.
This world was cruel. She was simply learning how to survive in it.
---
Back inside Nexus, the store was quiet and empty as usual.
With no customers around, Kiara immediately turned her attention to her newest unlocked weapon.
"System. Create Revolver."
[Revolver successfully created.]
A sleek handgun appeared in her inventory.
---
Revolver
Grade: N/A
Description: A repeating handgun capable of firing six consecutive rounds.
Range: 25 meters
Price: 20 gold coins
---
"Twenty gold coins…" Kiara raised an eyebrow. "Five gold already scared people away. This is going to be even worse."
She leaned against the counter, thinking.
"If I sell it unloaded, they'll complain. But if I include six bullets…" Her lips curved. "That changes the perception."
She did the math quickly. "Six bullets cost me one gold and twenty silver. My cut from a twenty-gold sale is two gold. Even after giving the bullets for free, I still clear eighty silver profit per unit."
A faint, satisfied smile appeared. "That's acceptable."
With renewed focus, she began producing revolvers one after another. Soft system chimes filled the quiet shop as the pile slowly grew.
---
Far away in the Bloodhill Forest, Sector-8 — Nurwhir.
The area was infamous among adventurers. It belonged to the goblins — clever, vicious creatures that didn't just kill their prey, but scavenged and hoarded everything left behind. Armor, weapons, coins, even torn scraps of clothing were dragged back to their hidden nests like trophies.
For anyone below three-star, Nurwhir was a death trap.
But for this group, danger was relative.
Five-star Knight Captain Ralph stood vigilant. A hidden five-star assassin lurked in the shadows. Four-star Mage Prince Kaelan scanned the battlefield. Three-star swordmaster Lucian moved like living silver, while three-star swordswoman Sienna Vale kept pace beside him.
And then there was Arceus Silver.
One-star realm.
Self-proclaimed Pistol Master.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Sharp gunshots shattered the forest's natural rhythm.
Sienna carried a wooden box full of bullets, staying close behind Arceus like a loyal attendant. He moved with smooth, almost joyful rhythm — draw, load, aim, fire. Every three seconds, another goblin dropped with a bullet through the skull.
The loud cracks sent nearby goblins fleeing in panic, only for Arceus to chase them down with bright-eyed excitement.
The nobles treated the hunt like sport.
Ralph and the hidden assassin treated it like duty.
High in the dense canopy, four black-clad figures watched the scene in silence.
"I can't tell who the real monsters are," one of them whispered.
---
An hour passed. Then two.
Arceus eventually slowed and glanced into the bullet box. More than half the ammunition was already gone.
Two hours later, the box was nearly empty.
He slapped his forehead. "I bought too few bullets again," he muttered. "After this hunt, I need to visit that store. Next time I'm stocking at least a thousand."
Sienna's expression darkened as she listened.
More than a week ago, he had bought the previous batch. Each bullet cost twenty silver.
She did the mental math and frowned deeper.
*That shop owner has turned him into an addict.*
She bent down, picked up a spent casing, and examined it closely.
"Twenty silver per shot…" she murmured. "If this continues, thousands of gold will flow into her hands. And worse — Arceus might actually grow attached to her."
Her eyes sharpened with calculation.
"What if we analyze the composition and replicate it in our own smithies? We could steal her business and crush her before she climbs any higher…"
A plan began to take shape.
"I should speak with Father," she decided.
As another gunshot echoed through the trees, the future quietly tilted in new directions.
---
For the next hour, the group moved more leisurely along the outer edge of Sector-8. Arceus walked ahead with casual confidence, spinning the pistol idly in his hand as if it were a toy rather than a skull-piercing weapon.
Eventually, Captain Ralph looked up at the sky. The sun was already sinking, painting long amber streaks through the canopy.
"We should head back," he said firmly but respectfully. "The deeper sectors aren't safe after dark."
Arceus nodded without complaint. Even he knew the thrill faded when the real dangers came out at night.
By the time they reached the outer region, night had fully fallen. The thick canopy hid most of the stars, leaving only faint silver glimmers above.
Prince Kaelan blinked at the open clearing and suddenly frowned.
They had forgotten the tents.
An awkward silence settled over the group. The nobles would have to sleep in the open.
The two knights efficiently gathered dry branches while Prince Kaelan summoned a controlled flame. Soon, a modest campfire crackled in the center, pushing back the darkness just enough to create a small circle of safety.
On one side of the fire, Arceus and Lucian stayed awake, their voices low in quiet conversation.
"So," Arceus began lightly, twirling the pistol once more before setting it beside him, "have you changed your opinion about Prince Kaelan yet?"