"I'm warning you kid, take that back."
Graves exhaled a puff of indigo smoke, his shotgun Destiny aimed directly at Duke. His gaze was hostile.
"A gun that fits your hand is like a man's wife, you can insult me, but don't you dare insult my wife!"
Duke didn't take it seriously. In-game, due to the mechanics, Destiny looked powerful. But in real life? It was just a double-barreled shotgun. Duke wasn't impressed.
He didn't even think it was better than Lucian's pistols. It wasn't even good enough to polish Lucian's boots.
Rolling his eyes, Duke drew Ebony from his back, aimed casually at the nearby shoreline, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Muzzle flash burst out, and a hole the size of a cauldron appeared on the surface of the water.
Several razorfish floated to the top, cleaved clean in half.
Graves stared at the massive hole. Though the water quickly filled it back in, it was clear just how destructive Duke's weapon was.
His cigar slipped from his mouth, and he didn't even react. He just stood there in a daze, watching the water settle, and the razorfish swarm to fight over their own fallen.
Gulp.
Graves swallowed hard and looked at the gun in Duke's hand, eyes wide with awe, disbelief, and a shattered worldview.
Then all of that turned into one thing: desire.
For a true marksman, what could be more tempting than a legendary firearm with devastating power?
Only one thing: a beautiful legendary firearm with devastating power.
And Duke's Ebony was exactly that. Its polished frame gleamed with deadly elegance. One glance, and it had Graves completely hooked.
"What is that?"
His voice trembled as he looked again at Destiny in his hand, suddenly disgusted. Like coming home exhausted only to be greeted by a nagging wife and her visiting relatives.
"Ebony," Duke said calmly, raising it with his left hand to show it off.
"She's built for long-range precision. Once she's got her sights on you, there's no escape."
Graves couldn't help but step forward, eyes practically glued to Ebony. Seeing how hopelessly captivated he was, Duke almost laughed.
But then again, this was just like Graves. The only thing this guy cared about besides Twisted Fate… was his gun.
Even if he lost his weapon, his first thought would always be: get it back. And if he couldn't? Then build something even better.
"Wanna see her sister?"
"Mm-hmm!" Graves nodded like a pecking chicken.
Duke reached into the void and pulled out Ivory.
"She's got a different role than Ebony. If Ebony is for long-range sniping and suppression, then Ivory is for, "
He pulled the trigger.
Bang bang bang bang,
The shots fused into a stream of thunderous gunfire. Though it was a semi-auto pistol, it fired like a full-blown submachine gun.
The water was instantly torn to shreds, riddled with countless holes like a sieve. More razorfish floated to the surface, their bodies ripped apart and bleeding. The water turned crimson.
Gulp.
Graves swallowed again, staring at Ebony and Ivory with a single thought in his mind:
I want them. I need them. I'm obsessed with them.
Before he could act, though, Duke twirled both weapons and returned them to the void.
Those guns would be with him a long time. Not like ordinary sidearms you swap out the moment you find something new.
These were legendary weapons, forged with unique qualities.
First, their frames were tough enough to block blade strikes.
Second, they didn't need custom ammo. They could absorb Duke's own magic to fire, albeit slowly. And since he hadn't used them that many times yet, he didn't feel the drain.
As for why he hadn't awakened them with spirits?
He had his reasons.
It wasn't time yet.
"Hey, why'd you put them away?!" Graves cried, looking heartbroken. His eyes practically begged to see them again.
"They're mine," Duke said flatly. "I'll do whatever I want with them. Even if I lose them, that's none of your business."
Graves coughed awkwardly. "If you ever do lose them, at least tell me where, I'll handle the trash pickup."
Duke rolled his eyes, again. He was starting to lose count.
Was this scruffy, cigar-chomping bearded man even more shameless than he'd imagined?
Well… at least this meant he wasn't stuck in his game-version stereotype.
"Alright, Uncle Toy-Gun, step aside. I've got things to do."
Duke tried to walk past him, but Graves grinned and blocked his path.
"Hey, no rush! Let your big brother here show you the sights. This is my hometown, I know it better than I know this busted shotgun."
"Not interested."
Duke stepped around him again, only for Graves to block him once more. "Fine, then just let me look at them one more time. Or just touch one. Or, tell me who made them!"
"We're strangers. Why would I tell you anything?"
"Don't be like that!" Graves said, lowering his voice. "I'm the infamous outlaw Malcolm Graves. There's a bounty poster of me hanging at the docks. And I've got a deal for you!"
"You're Graves?"
"Damn right!"
The next second, Ebony was pressed to his forehead.
"Perfect. I can cash you in for some pocket change."
"Whoa whoa whoa! Bro, chill! Don't joke like that!"
Duke sighed and holstered the gun. "If you didn't joke with me, I wouldn't joke with you. Move it, or I turn you into Swiss cheese."
Graves grabbed Duke's arm. "Fine! Let me try the gun once, or at least tell me who made them!"
"You really just want that?"
"I swear!"
Duke narrowed his eyes. Graves nodded furiously.
"Alright then. The gunsmith who made them…"
Graves leaned in.
Duke pointed to himself. "Me."
Ebony and Ivory were pulled from the system. He paid for them. The system was his.
By that logic? He built them.
No lies told.
"You made them?"
Graves gave Duke a long, suspicious once-over, then laughed. "Come on now. I believe you could take on ten of me, but you made those guns? Nah."
His voice trailed off as he saw how serious Duke was.
"…Wait. You're not kidding?"
"You really think I'd lie about something like that after beating you ten times over?"
Duke sighed. He was seriously overdoing the eye-rolls today. Probably because this guy was even less reliable than he'd expected.
"Then… can you, "
"No."
"Aw, come on!!"
Graves dropped to the ground and hugged Duke's leg. "If you can make me a weapon like that, I'll do anything for you!"
"Anything?" Duke raised an eyebrow and smiled darkly. Graves flinched.
"Anything that doesn't violate my personal principles!"
"Do I look like that kind of guy?"
Duke crossed his arms and gave Graves a once-over.
"You don't look too bad. I could use a bodyguard. If you're willing…"
"I'm in!" Graves said without hesitation. As long as he got the gun, whatever Duke wanted was fine. Protect the kid a few days, get the reward, then ditch him and hunt down Twisted Fate.
"I wasn't finished," Duke said, pushing him aside. "You want in? Then we do this right. Sign a contract. Five thousand gold krakens a month. Full insurance. Food and travel stipend. One day off each month. Three-month probation, then a lifetime contract."
"And all weapon costs and materials come out of your salary."
"No problem! Totally fine!"
Graves grinned. In his head, he was already making plans to skip town once the goods were his.
"My contracts aren't ordinary."
Duke rested his hand on Graves' shoulder, his voice calm and quiet.
"Once you sign, there's no turning back."
"I'm not the type to break a deal."
Heh.
Duke smirked inwardly. He hadn't forgotten all the shady crap this guy had pulled with Twisted Fate.
Like that time they instigated a feud between two Noxian noble families, pretending to rescue the heir of one house, only to ransom him to their rival for more coin. The original client was left in tears.
You think Duke would trust someone like that without safeguards?
No chance.
Back when he powered up Captain Lisette's ship, he sensed something about his own magic, it could be used for more than just attacks. And now? Time to test it.
As for running off after getting what he wanted?
Not gonna happen.
"Ready to sign?" Duke asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Give me paper and ink, I'll sign right now!"
Instead, Duke infused a strand of pure magic into Graves, no soul, just energy. Just enough for the contract to bind.
Done, he patted the dust off Graves' shoulder with a smile. "It's done."
"That's it?"
Graves watched him walk away, hands in his pockets, and muttered to himself, "Where'd this sucker come from? So easy to trick."
Duke heard the thought and smirked.
"Don't worry. You'll find out who the real sucker is soon enough."
End of chapter...
To be continued...
Want to dive deeper into Duke's world of gears, power, and shadow?
Craving early access to game-changing chapters?
Join my Patreon and become part of the machine that powers it all. ⚙️
🔹 Hexcore Initiate – 15 chapters ahead
🔸 Arc Reactor Elite – 35 chapters + 1 bonus
Join now. Power up the engine. Build something legendary.
patreon.com/MrBehringer