Trent put the weapons on display.

“All three of them are throwing knives?” Their choice of weapons surprised Liam. He expected swords, spear, or bow as they were the more common ones.

“It’s due to the customer’s preference. When you’re talking about premade enchanted weapons of good quality, customers only buy secondary weapons from us. They carry personal weapons which are much better and look to fill their inventory. Throwing knives have the highest demand, so we make sure two or three of them remain in stock,” Trent explained.

Liam shifted his attention to the enchantments present on the knives. He visited the store with two purposes. The first reason was buying weapons in preparation for the upcoming fight.

The second reason was more complicated.

“Got it?” Jade asked.

“I need more time.” The enchantments present on the weapon were complicated, needing more time to decipher.

Their exchange baffled Trent, but he stayed silent.

“I’ll buy all three of them,” Liam said after finishing the examination. “Call your manager. I’ll discuss the payment with him.”

Trent perked up and went to get his superior. He stayed outside while the manager entered the room. “You’re looking to purchase all three of them?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything else you’re interested in buying?”

“No.”

“That’ll be 120 gold.”

The price surprised him. Compared to the previous weapons, the quality of knives was better, but they were still bottom-tier. Forty gold of each one was a massive amount. No wonder enchanted weapons weren’t widespread. Not every person could afford such things.

“My guarantor will pay you, but the transaction should remain a secret.”

“I’m sorry, but it won’t be possible.”

Liam smirked. “Really?”

“These products were transported through the dimensional gate. It comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Transportation is easy, but the authorities record everything we move through them. There’s no way I can erase the trail.”

The pained expression on the manager’s face didn’t fool Liam. There’s no way the largest weapon store in the town didn’t have some important people on the payroll. He was trying to push for a better price.

Liam didn’t bother haggling and placed the trusk’s token on the table. “Will this suffice?”

The manager used mana to activate it and frowned. He repeated the same process with his frown growing deeper. “Is it broken?”

“No.”

His right hand that held the token shook in nervousness. “Are you telling me this thing doesn’t have a limit?”

Liam smirked. He remembered what the trusk told him when he passed the token. “The princess gave you enough money to buy the entire town. She told me to remind you that it’s only valid in Tightwood creek. She’s made other preparations in Rodich. I’ll act as the guarantor of your purchases. When you show my token, they’ll keep any transaction you make a secret.”

It was welcome news in a dire situation. Anya knowing about their actions would cause a lot of problems. “Will this suffice?”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The manager gulped and nodded.

Liam directly picked up the knives and walked out of the store.

“What kind of enchantments are present on them?” Jade asked.

“Later. Did you forget what Anya wanted from us today?”

**********

Liam, Jade, and Dunn sat in a room facing Caleb and Anya.

"Before the fight, there is there is a piece of information I need to verify," She said with an intense look in her eyes. "I need to test your rift ability,"

It was one of the many things Liam wanted to avoid, but at the same time, couldn’t.

The Rift was a curious place. It both challenged and rewarded the people who survive its horrors. Body enhancement was a minor benefit compared to some of the other advantages. It gifted people who managed to survive without turning into corrupted with abilities. Unlike spells, the ‘gifts’ weren’t limited by elements. They came in all varieties and provided incredible benefits.

Liam’s ability was the reason he managed to survive so many years in the Rift. In a way, the Rift made him suffer, but at the same time, it helped him persevere.

He nodded, giving her permission. Though they were sitting and talking cordially, he didn’t think he had the option to reject.

Anya explained the procedure of the test. "You don't have to worry about us spreading the information as only the people who will be privy to this information are going to be me, Nora, Caleb, and Alisha. There will be someone who can verify the validity of your answer, but he doesn't need to hear what you say. Your secret will be safe with us."

Liam seriously doubted the validity of the statement, but he maintained a calm demeanor.

"So, what are your abilities?" she asked with an intrigued expression.

Dunn went first. "Within a small area around me, I can absorb speed. I gain the same amount of speed my opponent loses. It doesn't just work with people. Even objects and projectiles are affected."

"What is the range of your ability and how much speed can you absorb? Also, how does one absorb speed?" she asked with confusion.

Dunn shrugged. "Who knows how it works? I am fine as long as I can control it. The range is one meter around me and as for how much, It is difficult to explain or compare it. I can absorb ten percent of my maximum speed."

Jade mentioned her ability next. "My ability allows me to fuse with the ground. Not literally, but think of it as an immovable mountain. When I use it, I can withstand attacks far beyond my capabilities. I become immovable, like a rock entrenched into the ground. Any impact I withstand is directly sent into the ground. My body doesn't sustain any damage nor does my stamina get depleted. I can keep standing as long as my stamina allows me to hold my shield. Unless an attack can completely overpower my defenses, I will not take any damage."

Caleb’s right eye twitched after listening to Jade describe her ability. It was so overpowered, words failed him. She was essentially saying that she could defend against any number of enemies for hours if not days unless someone overpowered her.

"You know, I am thankful that rift abilities do not grow stronger after they get out of the Rift. "Caleb’s said.

Anya snorted. "That's not entirely true. The Rift 'gifts' abilities to any survivors. As long as you do not become corrupted, your gift becomes stronger. The stronger here doesn't mean an increase in its strength or range. It means that the complexity of the ability will increase. Initially, when he entered the rift, Dunn's ability might be something as simple as a small boost to his speed. The longer he stayed, the more complex the ability became. As long as he keeps growing stronger, the range and strength of the effect will increase. The only thing that will remain constant is the complexity."

Caleb’s voice rose an octave. "So you are telling me that the effectiveness of their abilities can increase as they grow stronger?" He looked around hoping to see someone laugh and say "It's a joke."

When no one responded, he sat down and cursed under his breath.

Nora turned back towards Jade. "How much force can you withstand?"

"Nearly 150% of my maximum strength."

Anya knew that rift abilities had severe limitations, but even with the limitations, their abilities were insane.

She finally turned towards Liam and prepared her heart. The other two were already overpowered, now she wanted to know what his ability was.

"Scan and analyze." Liam's said in an extremely calm voice. He boldly lied about his ability knowing that the other party wouldn't be able to identify it. It was both true and false at the same time. There was no way, Liam or his friends were stupid enough to explain everything about their abilities. They kept part of it hidden.

The situation was more complicated in his case. No one knew his true abilities, not even his friends. He deceived them by drawing attention to his other abilities and misguided them. Many times, he tried telling them the truth, but always stopped himself due to the risks. He already prepared a plausible explanation for his ability.

If Anya was going to make plans based on what she heard, she would be in for a huge surprise.