Everything had begun ten days earlier.
Ten days ago, at Storm Manor;
"Ha… ha…"
At dawn, Lucian Storm stood alone in the training courtyard, a wooden sword gripped tightly in his hands.
Like every morning, he executed a thousand swings before breakfast, a ritual carved into his bones since childhood.
It was merely a warm-up before sparring with his swordmaster, yet ever since returning from the recent hunting trip, his training had intensified from the very first day.
He refused to experience helplessness again in the presence of higher-realm experts.
At the same time, he disdained relying excessively on ether crystals for advancement.
Every breakthrough he had achieved thus far came naturally through relentless practice, through sweat soaking the earth beneath his feet.
His ambition was singular.
To reach the realm of becoming one with the sword.
The pinnacle stage of the swordarts.
Unfortunately, even his teacher remained only a Swordmaster. Legends spoke of swordsmen who transcended into unity with their blade, but those figures lived in fairy tales and ancient chronicles, not in the present world.
Without guidance, Lucian could only push himself.
"Ha!"
Each swing cut through the air with ferocity. The pressure generated from his blade formed visible gusts that traveled more than ten meters, leaving faint slashes on the bark of a distant tree.
"Luce…"
A familiar voice floated across the courtyard.
Lucian halted mid-swing and turned.
A guard escorted Arceus Silver and his two handmaidens through the manor gates. Arceus wore his usual bright expression, stepping forward with an almost infectious enthusiasm.
After brief greetings, Arceus reminded him once again of the unique weapon store he was about to visit and asked him to tag along.
Lucian raised a skeptical brow.
Still, curiosity flickered within him. Why was Arceus so attracted to this weapon store? Who was that lady who captivated his best friend in just two meetings?
He decided to conclude training early that day and accompany Arceus.
*
The Imperial City stirred with morning life. Commoners bustled along stone-paved streets while spirit warriors strode with quiet confidence. In the Averton District, an unnamed narrow alley received two approaching carriages.
The first appeared ordinary, drawn by common horses.
The second was anything but.
It was pulled by two massive hounds with sinewy limbs and unnatural amber eyes.
The alley proved too narrow for both vehicles to pass. The wealthy man inside the extravagant carriage scoffed and instructed his coachman to force the other aside.
The black-robed coachman of the opposing carriage narrowed his eyes.
"Move before trouble finds you," warned the ordinary carriage's driver.
The wealthy man laughed and ordered his coachman to proceed.
The whip cracked.
The hounds barked violently at the horses.
The horses reared in panic.
Then the black-robed coachman vanished.
He reappeared instantly at his original position.
Blood dripped from his hands.
One hound's head rolled across the stones, its neck sliced cleanly. The second trembled in terror.
Screams erupted from nearby pedestrians.
Calmly wiping his hands with a handkerchief, the black-robed man spoke in a cold tone.
"You have one minute. Disappear from my sight, or both you and your master will vanish from this world."
The terrified coachman hurriedly dragged the carcass aside, repositioned the surviving hound, and fled without waiting for further instruction.
A soft knock came from inside the carriage.
"I smell something unpleasant. What did you do, Stephen?" came a composed voice.
"Nothing, Lord Storm. Just a beast."
The carriage proceeded.
*
Soon, the carriage halted before Nexus Weapon Store.
The black-robed guard remained outside while Lucian Storm, Arceus Silver, and the two handmaidens entered.
"Welcome to Nexus, Esteemed Customers."
Zion stood at the entrance, greeting them as usual.
Lucian's steps faltered.
For a fleeting second, he felt as though time paused. Zion's aquamarine eyes were calm, indifferent, almost detached from the world.
Something stirred unexpectedly within Lucian's chest. The feeling of suppression.
Zion turned slightly.
"Big Sister, Lord Silver is here."
Behind the counter, Kiara lifted her head from arranging bullets into wooden boxes. The moment she saw Arceus, her face brightened.
She rose immediately.
As the four guests entered, Lucian's gaze swept across the interior. The shop was immaculate. Not a single speck of dust rested upon shelves or counters, despite being located in a modest neighborhood. With his exceptional eyesight, Lucian could detect imperfections easily, yet here he found none.
The pistols displayed along the walls appeared identical in shape and polish.
He stared at them intently.
Then his eyes fell on Kiara. And once again, he couldn't help but pause his steps. However, in the next seconds, a frown appeared on his face as an image passed through his mind. "This lady is indeed a plainfolk. But she looked a bit like Queen Consort Callista. Or is it only me?"
"Lord Silver, you came at a perfect time," Kiara, meanwhile, greeted warmly.
Arceus blinked in confusion but quickly explained his purpose. "I used all my bullets during the hunting trip. I need at least five hundred this time. How many do you have?"
"Five hundred?" Kiara repeated, momentarily startled, before delight surged through her.
After a brief calculation, she answered carefully, "I have slightly over two hundred, but I must reserve some for other buyers. I can sell around a hundred immediately and deliver the rest within a few days."
She deliberately maintained the image of a mere seller rather than a creator. Until she possessed sufficient strength to protect herself, secrecy was her shield.
"That works," Arceus agreed without hesitation.
Kiara's eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Lord Silver, we recently received a sample of an advanced form of pistol. Would you like to see it?"
The word advanced struck like a spark to dry tinder.
Arceus's eyes widened instantly.
"Advanced? Show me."
He practically forgot about Lucian and the handmaidens as he hurried toward the counter.
Lucian remained momentarily behind, glancing once more at Zion before following.
The air inside Nexus felt charged.
Something told Lucian that this visit would not be as ordinary as it seemed.
*
"You are telling me this can fire six bullets consecutively?" Arceus Silver's eyes shone as though someone had placed a constellation directly into them.
The revolver rested in his palm like a treasured relic, lighter than the previous pistol, its grip smoother and better balanced, the metal body reflecting light in clean curves that made the earlier model feel primitive in comparison.
Kiara leaned slightly over the counter and pointed to the small latch at the rear of the cylinder. "Press here and swing the chamber outward. That opens it. You load the bullets into each slot, then close it firmly until it clicks."
Her fingers moved with deliberate clarity as she demonstrated the process.
The cylinder rotated with a satisfying mechanical rhythm, and she inserted each bullet one by one, explaining calmly, as if unveiling a secret meant only for the initiated.
Arceus watched without blinking, absorbing every detail. Learning something rare delighted him more than any jewel.
Behind him, Lucian Storm stepped closer to observe.
His gaze lingered on the revolver, yet every few seconds, it drifted involuntarily toward Zion, who stood nearby like an unmoving pillar. His presence unsettled Lucian in a way he did not fully understand. It felt as if a tiger was sensing the presence of another apex predator in the same territory.