“Is he a Rogue participant?” A deep voice shook the command center. Alexander Ma, representative from House Magnum, wore a doubtful expression as he stood in a room equipped with hundreds of monitors.

“No, our record officially states that Blue One belongs to House Clovis.” One of ARMA’s supervisor reported nervously. “However…”

“Continue.”

“It also states that Blue One’s circuit grading is copper and his energy type is of the lowest form.”

“???” Alexander found it hard to believe that a nobody with basically no astral strength could defeat someone who was sufficiently-nurtured from the Ma family. “That’s impossible! How did this happen?”

The disparity in individual astral strength between House Magnum and the other Houses was not something that could be scoffed at. Even, if for some reason, the other three Houses decided to unite and remove House Magnum from Milestone City, the latter would still be able to hold its ground. Albeit, barely.

Did House Clovis submit a false report of their participants?

Such unsportsmanlike conduct was not unfounded, especially since ARMA’s main clients were the Houses. However, House Clovis was known for their calculative approach in all matters, always keeping calm and rational. On the other hand, House Philius did not care much about such intricacies and were results oriented.

“Are they in alliance?” Alexander muttered under his breath. “It may be a fluke but…”

“Co-supervisor?”

“Have someone monitor Blue One’s performance for the remainder of the match.” The representative from House Magnum instructed.

“Yes sir!”

Just then, a man wrapped in a dark cloak entered the command center and the air became heavier suddenly.

----------------------------------------

All was dark and still. Aisael could not move his body. He had been in an immobile state for five minutes? An hour? Nobody knows.

ELZB, where am I?

[Your physical body is still in ARMA. As for your simulated one, I’m not sure…]

Aisael was surprised. It has been awhile since his hyper-intelligent supercomputer companion answered uncertainly.

A tiny speck of light appeared in the distance and drew his attention.

Hmm? It’s… growing?

True enough, the light was enlarging at a visible rate. It became so big that there was nowhere that darkness could hide. Just then, a refreshing yet relaxing sensation embraced Aisael.

“Congratulations to all surviving participants! Welcome to the Seeker’s Trove. You may gather outside once you’ve chosen your weapons.” The announcer’s androgynous voice pierced the blissful moment.

Aisael blinked and found himself no longer in the heavenly light environment but in a marble tiled room. It was large and many other participants were in it. Most appeared to be from House Clovis, what with their signature blue apparels and outward markings.

“Seeker’s Trove?” Aisael wondered aloud.

“Huh?” Brass looked at Aisael curiously. “You have no clue, do you? Well I guess that’s only natural since this is the first time you’ve gotten past Sigil Hunt. I still don’t get how you First Blooded House Magnum…”

Aisael did not seem like he would respond to Brass’ not-so-subtle prying so Brass continued.

“Anyways, in Seeker’s Trove, participants will be given a few weapons to choose from. Those in the Sub Points share a treasure trove of weaponry and often find themselves in a first-come-first-serve treatment. However, for us in the Main Point, we get the luxury to choose freely as each of us will be presented with our own trove.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“So where is our trove?” Aisael asked.

Brass casually snapped his fingers and a variety of weapons appeared before him. Different type of weaponry floated in front of Brass; an axe, a pair of daggers, a shield, and rings…?

Interesting... One snap and an inventory of weapons materialize.

Aisael snapped his fingers. But nothing happened. He snapped a few more times.

ELZB, am I snapping my fingers right? Aisael was slightly irritated.

[It seemed so…]

Brass glanced at Aisael doubtfully. How could someone who First Blooded House Magnum not do a simple task.

“Hey, can you summon your trove again?” Aisael asked Brass with furrowed brows

ELZB, record and analyze from start to end of Brass’ actions.

Brass snapped his fingers. Just like before, his trove flashed and appeared in front of him.

[It seems that a certain type of energy identified as “astral energy” was released from the tips of his fingers when he snapped them.] ELZB concluded its analysis instantaneously from the playback it recorded.

The supercomputer then showed Aisael a simulation of himself emulating what Brass did to the tiniest of details. From the generation of astral energy within him, to redirecting it throughout his body, and then releasing from his fingerstips.

It took Aisael only a moment to understand what needed to be done.

Aisael felt a bizarre sensation build up inside his body as he generated astral energy. He redirected the energy to his fingers, and snapped!

A blinding light briefly seared the vision of anyone looking in Aisael’s general direction.

“Boy what are you trying to do?” Brass was slightly annoyed, then shocked. “What in the world-…”

Only one weapon materialized before Aisael, and it had a strange shape.

“What is this?” Aisael had never seen such a ‘weapon’ in his life.

“I don’t know.” Brass was just as clueless. Many other participants whose attention were drawn by the flash had a baffled expression as well.

“Did Blue One choose that object out of curiosity? I don’t see how he’d be able to survive the next stage with that.”

“What a brutish-looking object…”

“I mean, how is that a weapon?”

The ‘weapon’ looked like a large tuning fork. And there were two of them floating in front of Aisael.

A dual-wield weapon? ELZB?

[This is a pair of battle forks. Its function is similar to a tuning fork. When the two battle forks clash together, vibrations produced are amplified by storable astral energy within indents found along the prongs. The astral energy induced vibrations resonates from one end of the prong to the other, infinitely building up until release through impact or until the battle fork reaches its physical limit.] ELZB deduced from a structural analysis.

What happens when it reaches its physical limit?

[It would self-destruct and release an explosion of astral energy.]

…

[Side note, the battle fork isn’t registered in ARMA’s inventory.]

Is this a cheat item?

Aisael grasped the pair of battle forks in front of him. They felt surprisingly light for their size. He gripped and twirled both battle forks like a martial artist would with nunchucks.

“Why does your trove only have this… thing?” Brass was worried.

“How am I supposed to know?”

Brass shook his head and sighed.

“It’s fine. Don’t lose hope kid, there’s still the AM.”

“AM?”

“Come, I’ll show you.” Brass beckoned the ‘newbie’ to follow him. The both of them exited out of the marble room back into the soot-filled land. There were many participants gathering around in front of them.

“What is that?” Aisael asked.

“That is the AM,” Brass answered, “the Ability Merchant.”

A three-meter fiery bronze humanoid machine with five different faces and five pair of hands stood tall over everyone. It had a jovial look on its faces as it interacted with the participants. The Ability Merchant can be seen exchanging sigils for palm-sized tokens with the participants.

“Brother Blue!” A familiar voice drew Aisael’s attention.

“Oh, it’s Toby and Dina.” Brass recognized the owner of the voice.

“Uncle Brass!”

“Hello uncle.”

Aisael and Brass made their way over towards Toby and Dina.

“Have you guys exchanged with the AM yet?” The man with an eyepatch asked warmly.

Toby wore a shaky smile and shook his head.

“We were shoved away.” Dina clicked her tongue. “They insisted that Sub Point participants have lower priority...”

Brass’ face reddened upon hearing people from the same House treating each other with discrimination. Suddenly, the Ability Merchant stopped moving. Many started complaining about not being able to trade their sigils.

“Unfairness will not be tolerated as long as House Clovis stands!” Brass declared.