Inigo walked back through the village with slow steps, the path quiet and empty now that the villagers had returned to their routines. The wildflowers from the little girl were still tucked gently into the crook of his arm. His other hand rested near the Glock on his hip—his first weapon, the one that had saved lives.
But as he looked down at it… it felt small now.
Not just physically, but symbolically. That Glock had been the beginning. A starter pistol in a world that demanded more firepower. He wasn't some scared noob anymore. He had survived his first real engagement—and now, he was ready to gear up like a proper FPS main.
Back in the inn, the room still smelled faintly of wood smoke and clean sheets. Inigo dropped onto the bed and let out a breath.
Then he whispered, "Open shop."
His HUD flickered into life—bright blue holographic panels expanding in his vision with a soft hum.
He needed more.
More firepower. More reliability. More freedom.
He exhaled and muttered, "Open shop of freedom."
[Primary Weapon – Assault Rifle Slot]
He scrolled through the familiar selection. The SCAR-H and FN FAL were tempting with their raw power, but he knew what worked for him—fast handling, low recoil, tight control.
His eyes landed on it.
M4A1 (5.56 NATO) – Reliable. Precise. The bread and butter of freedom.
Cost: 150 Tokens
[Purchase Confirmed]
M4A1 Added to Inventory
Red Dot Sight Equipped
Vertical Grip Auto-Included
He grinned as the rifle materialized in a shimmer of light. Matte black, clean lines, and just enough modular attachment rails to make a Call of Duty vet cry.
He ran a hand along the body. "Hello, beautiful."
[Sidearm – Pistol Slot]
Time to retire the Glock for real.
Desert Eagle (.50 AE) – Excessive? Absolutely. Effective? Hell yes.
Cost: 110 Tokens
[Purchase Confirmed]
Desert Eagle Added to Inventory
Chrome Finish Variant Included.
Inigo gave it a spin and holstered it at his thigh.
"It's ridiculous," he said to himself. "And that's why I love it."
[Tertiary Weapon – Shotgun Slot]
He scrolled past the double-barrels, paused on the 870, and stopped at exactly what he needed.
M1014 (Semi-Auto Shotgun, 12 Gauge) – Built for war. Eats meatbags for breakfast.
Cost: 180 Tokens
[Purchase Confirmed]
M1014 Added to Inventory
8-Round Tube Magazine Loaded with Buckshot.
This one was going to ruin anything that got close. Inigo gave it a test pump, hearing the satisfying ch-chk that said, "Don't."
[Armor & Apparel]
Time to look the part.
Combat Uniform – Urban Tactical Set
Includes: Ballistic Vest, Utility Belt, Gloves, Boots, Reinforced Cargo Pants, Tactical Hoodie
Cost: 500 Tokens
[Purchase Confirmed]
Combat Uniform Equipped
He watched as the old clothes vanished, replaced by sleek, practical gear. The fabric hugged his form without being restrictive. Light armor plating across the chest, elbow and knee guards, and a sheathed combat knife on his left thigh.
Then came the system notification.
[Perk Unlocked: Weight Reduction – Carried Gear Weight Reduced by 50%]
He jumped lightly in place. No drag. No bulk. Despite carrying a full combat load, it felt like he was just wearing gym clothes.
"Now that's what I call a cheat code."
[Ammunition & Mags]
He backed out of the weapons menu and tapped into the [Ammo Packs] tab.
Time to feed his new toys.
5.56 NATO (x120 rounds) – Standard loadout for the M4A1.
Cost: 35 Tokens
.50 AE (x50 rounds) – Heavy recoil, heavy damage. Perfect for the Desert Eagle.
Cost: 40 Tokens
12-Gauge Buckshot (x30 shells) – For the M1014. Close-range nightmares incoming.
Cost: 30 Tokens
[Purchase Confirmed]
Ammunition distributed to mag pouches and sling carriers.
All weapons fully loaded.
Spare ammo stored securely in vest compartments.
[Total Tokens Spent: 105]
[Purchase Confirmed]
Ammunition Added to Inventory
Auto-stored in Tactical Vest Pouches
[Final Inventory Check]
M4A1 – Equipped
5x 5.56 NATO Magazines
Desert Eagle – Equipped
4x .50 AE Magazines
M1014 Shotgun – Equipped
30 Shells
Combat Tactical Set – Equipped
Combat Knife – Sheathed
[Remaining Balance: 1763 Tokens]
Still plenty left for future shopping.
He looked at himself in the cracked mirror.
What stared back wasn't a gamer anymore.
He looked like a one-man PMC.
And damn, he looked cool.
Inigo gave himself one last glance in the mirror.
The matte-black M4A1 slung across his chest. The chrome-plated Desert Eagle gleaming at his thigh. The M1014 resting across his back. The combat gear fit snugly, molded to his frame like it was made for him. And the look? Lethal.
But also… not subtle.
"Yeah," he muttered, turning sideways. "No way I'm walking around like this in town without scaring people."
He imagined stepping out of the inn dressed like this. Farmers would freak. Children would cry. And the town guards? They'd probably accidentally stab him.
His hand flicked open the HUD again.
There had to be a solution.
[Inventory Options] → [Equipment Visibility]
There it was.
[Toggle Concealment Mode: ON]
A ripple of blue light passed over his gear. The rifle shimmered, then vanished from sight. The shotgun followed. His Desert Eagle, knife, extra mags—all gone to the naked eye.
Then came the notification:
[New Feature Unlocked: Quick Draw]
Allows immediate manifestation of hidden weapons with mental command or combat reflex.
Draw time: Instantaneous.
Cooldown: None.
"Now we're talking," Inigo said, eyes gleaming. "Civvie by day, operator by surprise."
He tested it.
With just a thought, the M4A1 shimmered back into view, materializing in his hands with a soft zap of blue energy. He held it for a moment, then willed it away. Gone again. Like pulling weapons out of an invisible armory.
"Okay, that's actually busted," he grinned.
His fingers itched with excitement. He wasn't just some dude with a gun anymore. He had a loadout, a system, and now—stealth.
With a quiet chuckle, he turned and opened the window, letting in the mid-morning breeze. Outside, Valebrook was already moving again. Now, he wondered, what should he do at this point? Sure, he could just simply stay here and live his life by fulfilling a quest in this town, but that would be boring.
Maybe, it's time to leave and go to the big city.
That's a good idea.
***
Inigo found Garrick just outside the forge, hammering down a bent horseshoe with slow, careful strikes. The old soldier looked up as Inigo approached, tilting his head slightly at the sight of the teen's confident stride and new, sharper aura.
"Looking confident today huh?"
"I have an image to keep now since I am the hero of this village," Inigo said, chuckling.
He glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then stepped closer.
"Hey, I've got a question," he said. "Where's the capital?"
Garrick raised a brow. "You thinking of leaving already?"
"Not leaving," Inigo replied. "Just… moving forward."
The older man leaned on his hammer, wiping sweat from his brow. "Capital's called Elandra. East of here. Big, busy, way more complicated than Valebrook. You'll need a coin, a travel pass, maybe a few favors. Luckily, you have those three as the Village of Valebrook will provide it for you."
"Is that true? Thanks!"
"Let's go meet the Elder."