It was already nighttime, the silver moonlight splendor spilled across the barren territory of a certain policeman.
At the very peak of the embedded tower structure, chains of alloy bullets had long formed a heap at the corner. Both subordinates, Richard and Alpha, stood behind their liege as the trio watched a rising cloud of dust loom closer from the horizon.
[Time has elapsed! Beast horde incoming!]
[New quest assigned: Clear beast horde – Grade F-]
[Quest details: A stampede of trolls has been angered as a new Lord has taken jurisdiction over their territory. In a desperate attempt to take back their source of vitality, they are here to risk everything in killing the adolescent Lord…]
[Clear Requirements: Decimate the ten-thousand-beast army, and vanquish Boss monster: Vitality Troll Chief.]
Roy glanced at the series of notifications as they popped into his vision. He didn't seem panicked, as a strange soothing peace resided in his mind, calming him. He didn't know it yet, but the more time passed, the more he became Lord-like.
"So it has been a day already…" he mumbled. He had finally spent a full day in this new realm, and the passing time had long cemented the fact that humanity had ascended into a new reality.
"Richard… will you be able to wield the turret just fine?" Roy asked.
Richard seemed to hesitate a bit as he spoke. "According to the system, in this new realm accomplishing something that is not in line with your skills is the same as trying to force a fish to climb a tree…"
But determination flickered in his eyes as he continued. "But no worries, master. It is something I resolve to do, and even the laws of this reality can't impede me."
Roy nodded with a smile. "Okay then, I will trust you… remember the plan."
Glancing at the horizon, the distant figures of monsters that were once obscured by dust were no longer hidden, as the horde was now visible for all to see in all its terrifying glory.
Grotesque creatures waddled forward with rabid fervor. The twisted abominations looked humanoid, bearing features as though amalgamations of roots and dirt.
Glancing at the sight, which looked like something straight out of a horror movie, Roy seemed unfazed. If anything, his expression only bore repulsion and disgust.
A crimson sheen materialized midair, drawing the attention of both Richard and Alpha — most especially Richard, as his eyes widened in astonishment. Such a gun actually exists? he marveled, amazed at the sight of the Epic M16.
The beautiful weapon levitated in midair, its presence brimming with splendor and mysticism. Its crimson crystal structure resembled a soaring dragon sculpt, the claws serving as both the mag and handle. At the end of the roaring dragon posture was a thin nozzle jutting out. In short, the weapon was fabulous and mystical.
The weapon sat in Roy's grip, and immediately it was as though it melded into his presence, as if the gun were an extension of his body, like a limb. A dragon growl rang out as the weapon acknowledged its master.
Roy quickly felt the mystical sensation of knowledge flowing into his mind. He cracked the safety pin as his eyes met with the translucent scope of the assault rifle.
Let's see what this baby can do… Roy thought as he aimed at the front liners of the horde. He regulated his breath, steadying his figure. His muscles braced for recoil, and veins bulged around his legs as he rooted himself to the ground.
And then his finger slowly gripped the trigger…
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Three massive stacks of sound unleashed in a second. The 5.56mm caliber bullets catapulted from the belly of the rifle, streaming straight through reality. The burst speed of the bullets was so great that space warped and reality folded. Like teleportation, the bullets met their targets, ramming through the abominations unrestrained.
Their figures bulged and undulated, exploding in their wake. They streamlined through around sixteen to twenty trolls before their momentum died.
A mass of greenish, sap-like goo was left in their place. Within these mounds, glistening unknown objects could be seen.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The shots rang out relentlessly as the monsters didn't even stand a chance against the epic weapon. They were obliterated in droves, without the ability to put up a fight.
Roy had expected them to die easily — after all, this was an epic weapon. Against level 1 and level 2 beasts, it would still dominate. But this? This was too easy!
His eyes gleamed with excited fervor as a clawed mag appeared in his grasp. The weapon was convenient — immediately after the bullet rounds finished, the mag attached to the weapon crumbled to dust, eliminating the need to waste seconds removing it.
Clack!
The new mag was quickly slammed into place in one swift motion, as the scorching red nozzle reignited, continuing to belch out more bullets of doom.
Roy's sapphire-blue pupils glistened with excitement. This… this is what a gun should feel like, he exclaimed inwardly, basking in the pleasure of wielding the broken weapon.
Richard, standing behind, couldn't help himself anymore as he moved to the turret. Roy had long given him instructions on how to wield the machine gun.
He glanced at the silver construct with expectation. This beauty had a total damage of 39 — though a little lower than his master's weapon, it made up for it with its firing speed of around 14 bursts a second, coupled with a bullet caliber of around 5 inches (127mm), a beast size befitting a machine turret.
He sat at the wielder's chair, making himself comfortable. His hands grasped the controls as a sense of revulsion flushed through his entire being. He knew what this was — the lack-of-skill issue the system had warned about.
But he didn't care. He pumped his Ether through, and due to a lack of suitable skill, the amount of Ether the mounted weapon consumed was triple. The Ether concentration in their surroundings suddenly grew dense — a sign his master was lending a helping hand!
Richard grinned as he felt the Ether being replenished faster than it could be drained. Though the nauseating repulsion was still present, he ignored it and pushed.
Hummm!
A whirring sound rang out as the turret came to life. Its round mouth, featuring 14 nozzles, began to spin. Richard braced as he clamped on the trigger, the attached chain of bullets by the side rattling furiously.
Brrrttttt!
A low, resounding groan rang out as the spinning mouth of the mounted weapon spat out an onslaught of bullets. Like a lawn mower, anywhere the rain of bullets passed, all that was left were corpses.
The 5-inch bullets showed their might, leaving nothing but glistening items and mush in their wake.
Alpha gazed at the two enjoying themselves, and then he got excited. He let out an eager bark.
Woof!
Roy smiled. Through his innate bond with Alpha, he could sense the anticipation and hunger it harbored.
"Let loose, boy!" he gave the order.
The dog didn't even wait for the words to finish. It had already jumped straight off the tower, its figure bursting into a crimson glow.
Alpha immediately activated Ancestral Descent, and by the time its paws touched the ground, it had morphed into an ancient-looking canine behemoth, the earth groaned and a tremors rippled through its surface in its wake.