The Guns of Survival
Three firearms lay before him: a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, and a sniper rifle, all rated F-grade Blue quality.
Springfield M1A Semi-Automatic Rifle
Type: Semi-Automatic Rifle
Quality: F (Blue)
Level: 1
Power: 80
Skill 1: Bayonet Charge – A fixed bayonet allows the rifle to function as a melee weapon, dealing damage equal to its muzzle power.
Description: The civilian version of the M14 rifle, manufactured by Springfield Armory. Total length: 1118mm. Magazine capacity: 20 rounds. In the original source material, this rifle was wielded by Miyamoto Rei. However, the constant fear of gunshots attracting the undead meant it was primarily used as a spear-like polearm. The "Bayonet Charge" skill clearly catered to this brutal close-quarters necessity.
Ithaca M37 Shotgun
Type: Shotgun
Quality: F (Blue)
Level: 1
Power: 10x16 (Per pellet x Pellet count)
Skill 1: Stock Strike – Swing the shotgun like a club, dealing blunt damage equal to 50% of muzzle power. +20% Critical Hit Rate.
Description: A shotgun produced by Ithaca Gun Company, chambered in 12-gauge. Aside from its limited magazine capacity, it was virtually flawless. This shotgun belonged to the protagonist, Komuro Takashi, in the original story. After being cornered by the undead and exhausting his shells, he famously used it as a blunt instrument. The "Stock Strike" skill undoubtedly originated from this desperate moment.
Armalite AR-110T Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle
Type: Sniper Rifle
Quality: F (Blue)
Level: 1
Power: 150
Skill 1: Budget Sniper – Can utilize standard automatic rifle ammunition, but power is reduced by 50%.
Description: A modified version of the Knight's Armament SR-25, equipped with a bipod and optical scope. Known for its formidable firepower and reliable performance. In the original story, this was the signature weapon of the portly otaku, Hirano Kouta. He used it to provide covering fire for Komuro Takashi during the rescue of Shizuka Marikawa's niece, Shizuka "Alice" Marikawa, and it proved invaluable throughout their subsequent escape. Arguably, it was the most impactful firearm in the entire Highschool of the Dead narrative.
The quality and attributes of these three weapons fell squarely within Royomaru's expectations. It was the fourth item, the collapsible crossbow, whose stats delivered a genuine surprise.
Barnett Wildcat C5 Crossbow
Type: Crossbow
Quality: F (Purple)
Level: 1
Power: 200
Skill 1: Beast Hunter – Inflicts wounds on targets classified as "Beasts" that cannot self-heal, causing continuous blood loss. Effect stacks.
Skill 2: DIY – Can be combined and modified with weapons of the same type. However, combining with lower-quality weapons carries a risk of downgrading the resulting item's quality.
Description: A portable, foldable crossbow powerful enough to take down a bear. Its modular construction hints at potential customization possibilities.
This crossbow held the dubious honor of being perhaps the most forgettable weapon in the original story. It made a fleeting appearance when Komuro Takashi and Hirano Kouta pried open a storage locker, only to vanish from the narrative entirely afterward. Whether the author couldn't find a suitable wielder or simply forgot its existence remained a mystery. After the group departed from the villa of Shizuka Marikawa (Nishikiori Rika), the crossbow was never mentioned again.
Royomaru was utterly astonished. This crossbow, which possessed less narrative presence in the source material than Miyamoto Rei's mundane white mop handle, turned out to be the most valuable piece of equipment in this entire hidden cache.
Within the Illusionary Realm, raw base stats were rarely the ultimate measure of an item's worth. A single, potent skill could elevate a mediocre weapon into something extraordinary. Royomaru's own experience with the [Feathered Serpent God's Native American Hunting Bow], acquired in the Dead Rising Illusion, was a prime example. That short bow, even maxed out, only reached 80 Power – less than an unenhanced Blue-quality assault rifle. Yet, its skill, "Arrow of Malice," allowed him to charge shots dealing up to 300% of its base Power as True Damage, catapulting its value into the stratosphere.
Compared to the similarly F-grade Purple [Feathered Serpent God's Native American Hunting Bow], the [Barnett Wildcat C5 Crossbow] boasted superior raw power but lacked standout skills. "Beast Hunter's" stacking bleed effect was potent, but its restriction to "Beast" type targets severely limited its applicability. It was the second skill, "DIY," that gave Royomaru serious pause.
This skill had been highly controversial in his previous life. It represented a high-risk, high-reward gamble – a one-time-use special ability. It allowed the combination of a qualifying piece of equipment with the original weapon to forge something entirely new, with randomized base stats and skills. On the surface, trading two items for one seemed disadvantageous. However, a hidden rule existed: combining with an item of the same quality offered a chance to produce equipment of a higher tier.
Therefore, a weapon possessing the "DIY" skill presented its owner with a high-stakes wager. Win, and you might trade two Blues for a Purple, or two Purples for a Gold. Lose, and while not catastrophic, losing an entire piece of gear was undeniably painful.
Should he take the gamble?
Royomaru currently possessed the [Feathered Serpent God's Native American Hunting Bow]. Crucially, it shared the same "Crossbow" equipment type and the same F-grade Purple quality, perfectly meeting the prerequisites for the "DIY" skill. If Lady Luck smiled upon him – a "one-shot success" – he might just synthesize an F-grade Gold quality bow.
Royomaru sat cross-legged on the floor, the short bow and the crossbow laid out before him. He rested his chin on his hand, lost in deep contemplation for a long while.
Ultimately, he decided to roll the dice.
Ever since upgrading his primary weapon, the E-grade Gold [Meitou·Fugu Poison], to its maximum level, Royomaru had increasingly felt the limitations of the [Feathered Serpent God's Native American Hunting Bow]. While its skills, "Silent Bowstring" and "Arrow of Malice," were undeniably powerful, the weapon's paltry base Power of 80 severely hampered their effectiveness. Even using the expensive 200-point [Kabaneri Black Feather Arrows], the bow's maximum attack power capped at 420. This level of damage, perhaps a finishing move for the average player, felt increasingly inadequate for Royomaru's current needs. As a standard weapon, its rate of fire couldn't match firearms, and the power was often excessive for common threats. As a dedicated boss-killer, any initial advantage gained from a surprise shot could usually be matched or surpassed by a single strike from his main sword. What is my purpose? – The short bow seemed to contemplate its existential purpose within his arsenal. It was... awkward.
The [Barnett Wildcat C5 Crossbow] suffered from a similar identity crisis. Royomaru wasn't short on points; what he lacked were versatile, high-impact weapons capable of handling diverse, high-stakes situations. Therefore, rather than hoarding two valuable but situational tools like a miser, it made more sense to gamble. The worst-case scenario was trading two situational items for one slightly different situational item – hardly a devastating loss for him.