Chapter 34 – Rule 15. The Leader Has a Dedicated Weapon (2)

 

I inserted the platinum-grade access card into the slot.

 

[The platinum-grade equipment you ordered is ready for pickup. Please reply ‘Yes’ if you wish to receive it.]

 

The AI on the Deus Atelier screen spoke in a friendly tone.

 

“Yes.”

 

[Very well, I will guide you to the location. Please allow approximately 5 minutes for equipment retrieval.]

 

Oh Baek-seo and I moved to the room the AI guided us to and waited. After 5 minutes, a large case arrived in front of me on a rail.

 

*Shhh!*

 

The case opened with a hiss of heat.

 

[A three-section staff of lightning attribute, crafted with the highest quality, named ‘Iron Dragon Staff’ by our Deus Atelier.]

 

Inside the case was a three-section staff, perfectly straightened and secured with friction locks.

 

The exterior was exquisitely covered with the scales of a black ‘Ironclad Dragon’.
Grooves lined the precisely arranged magic circuits, resembling electronic circuitry.

 

The thickness was slightly thicker than my previous staff, and the length was a bit longer.

 

Inside the staff, ‘Lightningwing’ petals would be lined up. Lightningwing was a mystical flower that only bloomed in the heart of the Thunder God Beast’s territory, where lightning poured like rain. The petals fluttered like waves, greatly amplifying the power of lightning magic.

 

Most of the mileage was spent on the petals because of their high value.

 

Anyway.

 

‘Iron Dragon Staff…?’

 

I pondered, stroking my chin.

 

The name is pretty cool.

 

Iron and Dragon.

 

Wasn’t it a name that combined only cool elements?

 

Considering the exterior that clearly showed the Ironclad Dragon scales, it seemed like an appropriate name.

 

‘Originally, I was going to name it ‘Excellent Conversation Starter’.’

 

I had thought of that name because I didn’t want to give the equipment a cheesy name.

 

‘I stand corrected….’

 

Hearing the name ‘Iron Dragon Staff’ from the AI made my blood boil with excitement.

 

‘The name ‘Excellent Conversation Starter’ is cheesy, but it also lacks romance.’

 

It was a shameful thing that I, as a man, couldn’t tolerate.

 

Originally, cheesiness and romance were separated by a thin line.

 

Now that I had acquired my own personal weapon, it was only fitting to give it a cool name.

 

[If you don’t like the name, we can change it….]

 

“I like it. Iron Dragon Staff. It’s good.”

 

[I’m glad you like it.]

 

Let’s see.

 

I grabbed the Iron Dragon Staff.

 

‘Ah, this cool and heavy feeling….’

 

A strange sensation flowed from my palm throughout my entire body. It was as if the Iron Dragon Staff was judging whether I was worthy of being its owner.

 

Well, that was too romantic of an expression….

 

It was just ‘magic resistance’ kicking in.

 

The lower the magic compatibility with the equipment, the more severe the magic resistance.

 

As a result, it became difficult to operate magic through the equipment, and even caused pain. To use it, I would have to act pathetic.

 

However, my magical compatibility was top-notch.

 

The sensation the Iron Dragon Staff conveyed resonated within me like a soundboard, only aiding my magic circulation.

 

‘Thickness, length, durability, weight, grip. All satisfactory.’

 

As my magic flowed through the Iron Dragon Staff’s circuits and circulated throughout my body, I could sense how powerful a weapon this three-section staff was.

 

The AI said so.

 

That I would be able to use this three-section staff like an extension of my own body.

 

I think I knew why.

 

Because it fit perfectly in my hand, even though I hadn’t used it yet.

 

[Would you like to test the equipment?]

 

“Yes, please.”

 

[Activating the training dummy range. Please select the desired level of the dummy. Levels range from 1 to 10 and….]

 

“The sturdiest one, please.”

 

[Level 10 selected.]

 

*Creak!*

 

One of the walls went up, revealing a giant training dummy. Like in games, that dummy boasted a level of hardness that wouldn’t budge from normal attacks. Even if I fired a shotgun or a cannon, it would only leave a scratch.

 

*Woooosh!*

 

As the hologram image activated, the training dummy took on the form of a monster. It roared.

 

The hardness of the dummy according to its level was the same in all training grounds. This is because there cannot be any difference in the sandbags used to test newly forged equipment.

 

And Level 10 was a level that only those who were at least in the upper ranks of the 5th Tier and equipped with platinum-grade equipment could attempt.

 

‘Good.’

 

A level I wouldn’t have even looked at normally.

 

But the moment I held the Iron Dragon Staff, I was convinced that Level 10 was worth a try.

 

“I’ll be right back after hitting it once.”

 

“Sure. Fighting.”

 

Baek-seo smiled casually.

 

I approached the training dummy.

 

I activated the magic circuits. The magic gathered in my lower abdomen spread evenly throughout my body. I poured that magic into the Iron Dragon Staff.

 

*Bzzt!* With the sound of electricity flowing, blue-green magic circulated within the Iron Dragon Staff’s circuits.

 

‘Let’s go.’

 

*Whoosh!*

 

Kicking off the ground, I swung the Iron Dragon Staff towards the training dummy with all my might.

 

*Thud!!!*
*Crackle!!!*

 

An explosive roar.

 

Along with the heavy impact, multiple shockwaves of electricity engulfed the training dummy.

 

The amplified magic, thanks to the Iron Dragon Staff, was released powerfully. Ferocious lightning danced in the air, and a strong gust of wind momentarily sucked in the air.

 

*Crash!* The monster screamed and was driven straight into the wall. This was because the ankle of the training dummy, which was fixed to the ground, had been blown off.

 

*Zzzt.* The hologram flickered with static. Then, the form of the training dummy, hidden by the monster skin, was revealed. It was bent in half from a single blow.

 

“Wow….”

 

I heard Baek-seo’s exclamation of admiration behind me. It was the first time I had heard such a genuine exclamation from her.

 

I was just as surprised.

 

‘That was crazy….’

 

How much was my magic amplified with that blow?

 

I couldn’t tell.

 

‘…As expected, gear makes all the difference.’

 

Realizing the immutable truth once again, I looked down at the black three-section staff, named the Iron Dragon Staff.

 

Made of Ironclad Dragon scales, it continuously emitted blue-green electricity along its straight magic circuits. As if leaving an afterglow.

 

‘This is sick.’

 

The corners of my lips curled up.

 

My heart began to flutter involuntarily.

 

“Thank you. I’ll put it to good use.”

 

[You’re welcome. Have a good day.]

 

I wanted to get it enhanced right away, but I couldn’t because I didn’t have any platinum mileage left.