The night was still when Shadow left the city walls. Moonlight draped the plains in pale silver, and the silence was broken only by the whisper of grass shifting in the wind.
He flexed his hands, the reforged gauntlets gleaming faintly in the dim light. Their scars hadn't vanished—instead, they had been integrated, forming jagged lines across the metal like veins of molten stone. The gauntlets pulsed with life, more vibrant than ever, their hum deep and steady.
"Let's see what you've become," he murmured.
A small panel of translucent light flickered before his eyes as he willed the gauntlets' ego to reveal themselves.
---
[Ego Weapon: Shadowfang Gauntlets – Stage II]
Durability: 100%
Elemental Coating: Active (Limited Duration)
Transformation: Stable (Gunblade, Tonfa, Bow, Crossbow)
New Trait: Predator's Hunger – absorbs fragments of mana from defeated foes to gradually repair itself.
Resonance: Low (bond increases efficiency)
---
Shadow's eyes narrowed at the new line. Predator's Hunger. It wasn't something he had planned during forging. The gauntlets had grown on their own, evolving in response to battle and survival.
He clenched his fists, then darted forward.
His movements cut through the night—silent, efficient. With a thought, the gauntlets shifted into twin blades, their edges glowing faintly with elemental coating. He swung at a nearby tree, the blade carving through bark and half its trunk before fading just as quickly. The coating consumed more mana than he'd expected, but the edge was lethal.
Next, he let them morph into twin guns. He channeled mana into each, focusing until the barrels glowed bright blue. With a sharp pull, he fired—two bursts of raw energy streaked across the clearing and exploded against a boulder, scattering shards into the grass.
He smirked. "Not bad."
The gauntlets pulsed, a low sound like approval.
By the time dawn painted the sky, Shadow returned through the gates, exhaustion in his limbs but satisfaction in his chest. He had confirmed their growth, their hunger, their potential. The work hadn't been wasted.
Later that morning, he found the trio and Rena gathered at the guild square, preparing for their own quests. They looked surprised when Shadow approached, a small satchel slung over his shoulder.
"You look like you didn't sleep," Sera commented, eyeing his tired expression.
"Did you even eat?" Ryn added.
Shadow ignored their teasing and opened the satchel. Inside were several small items, each glimmering faintly with mana—ornaments forged from the spoils of their last hunt.
"I made these," he said simply.
He handed them out one by one.
To Ryn, a steel pendant shaped like a spearhead, forged from the tusk of the ravager boar. It glowed faintly, boosting his strength and impact.
To Sera, a sleek silver anklet embedded with wolf claw shards. The magic woven into it enhanced her agility and speed.
To Lena, a bracelet threaded with crystal scales, designed to improve mana flow and spell efficiency.
And finally, to Rena, a thin circlet of woven metal and beast sinew, faintly humming with resilience. A defensive charm, subtle yet powerful.
The trio froze, staring at the gifts as if they were worth more than gold.
"You—made these last night?" Lena's voice trembled with disbelief.
"They're not perfect," Shadow replied, almost dismissive. "But they'll do."
Sera slipped the anklet on and bounced lightly on her feet, her eyes widening as she felt the difference. "This… this is incredible!"
Ryn laughed, swinging his spear with ease. "Hah! I feel like I could crush a wall with this!"
Lena gazed at the bracelet, her eyes soft, then looked up at him with rare warmth. "Thank you, Shadow."
Rena, however, studied her circlet in silence. She placed it atop her head, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "You're full of surprises. First you endure my blade, and now you forge like this. Tell me, Shadow—just how many secrets are you hiding?"
Shadow lowered his hood, expression unreadable. "…Enough to keep me alive."
The gauntlets hummed quietly, their voice unheard by the others. But Shadow knew—they were laughing.