Chapter 12 - Proper Equipment

“How is this possible? How are they doing this? This is inhuman. This is absurd. What’s going on? There are only three of them...” Laurim muttered under his breath, paralyzed with fear. His wide eyes darted between the trio as they effortlessly incapacitated his group, one brutal strike after another.

He could only stare in disbelief as his former classmates dismantled his underlings like they were nothing.

Unbeknownst to Laurim, a dark, wet patch had formed on his pants, supporting his fear as he stood frozen in place.

After flooring another male student with a swift punch, Samantha straightened and glanced over at Lucas. Pointing a finger toward Laurim, she smirked, “Hey, what do we do with him? Can I beat him too?”

Lucas raised an eyebrow as he dusted grime off his hands. “You got some personal vendetta against him, or is this just for fun?”

Chloe dusted her hands off and stepped closer, chiming in, “Laurim is the guy who made her get an A- in the Python class.”

Widening his eyes in realization, Lucas exclaimed, “Oh! So he's the idiot Samantha’s always ranting about? Well, looks like someone’s about to get a special first-class knuckle sandwich.”

Cracking her knuckles and tilting her neck with a menacing pop, Samantha advanced toward Laurim with a dark glint in her eye.

“No! No! Please! I’m sorry!” Laurim stumbled backward, his face pale and panicked. “I swear I won’t do it again! Just let me go!” His voice broke as he pleaded, waving his hands defensively

Ignoring Laurim’s pitiful pleas, Lucas turned to Chloe with a calm tone, “Let Samantha have her fun. You should check what rewards you got first.”

Chloe gave a quick nod, brushing aside the commotion, and summoned her system screen.

Lucas followed suit, calling up his rewards. Before him, three glowing orbs materialized, radiating a faint light.

The first two were familiar, an Uncommon Skill Book Selection ticket and an Uncommon Equipment Selection ticket, the same as what he had received from the last quest. However, the final reward caught his attention. It was a finely crafted longsword named the Ravager.

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Ravager

Rank: Uncommon

A sword forged from Black Iron, its razor-sharp edge resembles the savage fangs of a predator tearing into its prey.

Special Effect(s):

Bleeding Fang - Each successful strike carries a chance to inflict the 'Bleeding' status.

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The sword resembled a typical blade straight out of a fantasy film.

Except that this one stood out with its gleaming black luster that stretched seamlessly from the tip to the guard. Its hilt was wrapped in an unfamiliar material that offered a surprisingly comfortable grip.

Accompanying it was a sleek black scabbard, perfectly tailored to the sword’s length and design, enhancing its ominous allure.

Giving the sword a couple of swings, Lucas nodded in approval. Despite its ominous appearance, the sword felt surprisingly light and well-balanced in his grip.

“That's what you get for dragging me down!” Samantha spat at Laurim's unrecognizable face as she returned to the duo with a smug expression. "Huh? You guys are already opening the Christmas presents."

Looking at Samantha’s satisfied expression, Lucas chuckled. “Well, technically, you're the one who opened it first.”

“Hmph,” Samantha snorted. “The idiot once changed an entire section of my code, turning it into a horrendous mess. Then, during the presentation, the program crashed because it wouldn't run properly. And he even had the guts to blame me!”

“Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard that story at least thirty times,” Chloe quipped, holding a pouch in her hands. “Nice sword, Lucas.”

“Cost me fifty Bitcoins on Temu. Not giving it to you, though,” Lucas replied as he strapped the scabbard to his waist.

Samantha finished reviewing her rewards and said, “One common skill, a common piece of equipment, and a few potions. What did you two get?”

“An uncommon skill, a common piece of equipment, some potions, and a pouch with enough compressed food to last us a week,” Chloe replied, jiggling the pouch in her hand.

“One uncommon skill, a piece of uncommon equipment,” Lucas said, grabbing the hilt of his sword. “And Ravager the sword.”

Suddenly, another system notification appeared before them.

Stolen novel; please report.

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Regional Quest - The State of Raum

A Regional Quest for the state of Raum will begin in one month. During this period, focus on surviving and thriving in the changing landscape.

Task: Survive for 30 days.

Penalty: Death.

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“Things seem to be escalating,” Chloe muttered as she scratched her head, staring at the newly received quest.

On the other hand, Samantha wore a smirk that made it clear she was excited about what lay ahead.

Lucas, however, was deep in thought, considering their next move. Staying within the confines of the university compound was not going to help them grow.

They needed to leave, find new challenges, and prepare for whatever this Regional Quest had in store.

***

15th October 2023, Town of Phago.

A blue car sped through the desolate town road, effortlessly weaving through the scattered obstacles, including overturned cars and debris. The tires screeched as the car navigated the wreckage with surprising precision.

Soon, the blue car reached its destination.

It was a white two-story building that looked as if it had weathered years of neglect. The walls were chipped and the windows brimmed with dust, giving it a rundown appearance. A white signboard, hanging precariously at the entrance, read, “Raum Arms Dealer.”

For context, firearms are extremely strictly regulated in this country. Unlike the Country of Freedom, where owning a firearm is a legal right for its citizens, here the rules are far stricter.

Owning firearms illegally can result in a prison sentence of up to seven years, along with a fine of up to seventy thousand dollars. To own a firearm legally, one must obtain a license. The process involves submitting an application to the state Chief Police Officer, which can take years to be approved, and even then, approval is difficult to obtain. Once the license is granted, firearms can only be purchased from stores approved by the relevant government department.

Despite all the regulations, nothing was going to stop the three young adults standing in front of the store.

“Lucas, are you sure about this?” Chloe asked with a hint of doubt in her voice.

“Why not? It’ll be useful for the current early stage,” Lucas replied confidently, glancing at the store’s entrance.

“Do you even know how to use one?” Samantha raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

The three young adults were Lucas, Chloe, and Samantha. Currently, they were outfitted in their new gear, weapons, and armor, all courtesy of the ticket they had received.

Right now, they were about to raid a gun store.

Although the rolling shutter of the storefront was tightly secured, there was a side door tucked away next to it.

“Relax, this place is always closed. There's probably no one inside,” Lucas reassured them casually. With a swift motion, he struck the door handle, breaking the lock and forcing the door open.

Upon stepping inside, the trio was momentarily stunned by the sight before them.

Rows of glass display cases stretched across the room, showcasing an impressive variety of firearms, handguns, shotguns, and rifles. Behind the counters, a wall was packed with shelves, each stacked with boxes of ammunition, cleaning kits, and various gun accessories.

The opposite wall held a rack brimming with tactical equipment such as military bags, gun holsters, body straps, and even an assortment of close-combat weapons ranging from knives to batons.

For Lucas, as a man, the sight was nothing short of paradise. A haven he had only dreamed of.

“Alright, we’re inside the store. What now?” Samantha asked, her gaze sweeping across the room, alert for any movement.

Lucas, still wide-eyed from the sights, blinked and shook himself out of his daze. “Oh, right. Yeah, sorry. Got a bit distracted. First thing, search the place. Make sure no one else is here.”

After a thorough sweep, they regrouped, confirming the store was completely empty. Even the backroom, which seemed to double as a small living space, and the second floor, likely the store owner’s bedroom, were devoid of any occupants.

Satisfied, Lucas nodded. “Looks like it’s just us. Let’s get to work.”

Looking through the display cases, Chloe glanced up and asked, “Mr. Avid Reader, what should we get?”

Lucas rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the room. “Let’s see... we should at least get ourselves a handgun and a rifle. A handgun for close quarters and emergencies, and a rifle for distance and precision.”

He crouched down, peering into one of the display cases. His gaze settled on a sleek, silver handgun. “Here, a Desert Falcon,” he said, carefully removing it from the display. “374 mm in length, about 2 kilograms, single-action, gas-operated, semi-automatic. Powerful and deadly to your enemies.”

“I have no idea what any of that means,” Chloe admitted, stumped. Still, she picked up the Desert Falcon, posing with it briefly and feeling the weight. “Quite heavy,” she noted before carefully putting it back.

Keeping the Desert Falcon back to the display case, Lucas said, “Alright, maybe something lighter.” He pulled out another handgun and gave it to Chloe, “Gaston-18. 188 mm, 0.62 kilograms. Durable polymer frame, semi-automatic, large capacity, and lightweight. Easier to handle, a perfect balance of gun.”

Chloe gave him a skeptical look. “I’m fairly certain you're just making half of these up.”

“No way, ma'am! I'm a dealer who emphasizes honesty! The embodiment of transparency!” Lucas exclaimed.

Grabbing the Gaston-18, Chloe played with it for a bit before smiling satisfyingly. “This feels good. How much?”

“Seventeen clamps or kisses on the cheek,” Lucas smiled mischievously.

“Hey, hey! I’m still here. Don’t just ignore me,” Samantha interjected, rolling her eyes as she watched the couple flirt. “Just pick the one that’s most suitable for us. And I’m not paying you a single cent.”

Disappointed, Lucas muttered, “Is this what they call a party pooper?”

Sighing, Lucas shifted his tone to something more serious. “Fine, go grab one of those jackets and bags. They’re military-grade, so they’ll be way more durable than what we’ve got right now. Also, pick up a chest strap to holster your guns. And remember, style points matter, okay? Fashion is still important!”

"Oh, Chloe. Remember to pick mine as well. Thanks, love you!" Lucas blew her a flying kiss.

"Fine, just don't regret it," Chloe giggled, returning the wink.

In the background, Samantha rolled her eyes. “Ugh, I’m going to puke,” she muttered, clearly unimpressed.