Bloodsteel Horizon
Episode 10 — Back in the Quiet
Current Level: 130
Evolutions: 1 / 150
Mods: Target Lock Mk. I, Overcharge Burst, Precision Strike, Rift Breaker Rounds, Bulletstorm Core (Unlimited Power Tier I), Unlimited Ammunition (Purchased)
Currency: $168,000 → $68,000 after purchase
Return to the Old Sky
Kael stepped through the Rift and into his own world.
The first thing he noticed was the air — crisp, breathable, and without the tang of molten blood or Rift ash. The steel forests, crystal plains, and burning cities he'd been in lately felt like another lifetime compared to this.
The streets of his city bustled as usual, hunters in armor and street clothes moving between shops, repair bays, and restaurants. Neon signs buzzed, some advertising Rift contracts, others showing weapon tuning services or bounty updates.
Kael didn't stop. He headed straight home.
Home — Silence and Steam
The apartment door slid open to a silence he'd almost forgotten existed. No gunfire. No roars. Just the low hum of the city outside.
He stripped his armor off in the hallway, letting it clatter against the wall. The magic circuits on his guns still glowed faintly even after retraction, like they were unwilling to rest.
The shower was a wall of steam before he even stepped in. The water hit his skin like a reset switch — washing away the stench of burning beasts and the faint metallic tang of Rift energy that clung to him after every fight.
For the first time in weeks, he didn't think about the next battle.
Dinner
Kael ate like a man who hadn't tasted real food in months — which, technically, was true.
A steak the size of his hand, seared just shy of charred. Roasted root vegetables. A glass of dark ale. Every bite was a reminder that he still lived in a world worth protecting… or at least worth enjoying between hunts.
The guns rested on the table beside him, still warm to the touch.
"You'll get your turn," he muttered to them.
Sleep
He fell into bed with the weight of exhaustion pressing him down. His dreams were fragmented — flashes of gunfire, golden light from Bulletstorm Core, the feel of his weapons kicking against his palms.
When the alarm woke him, the city was just beginning to glow with morning light.
⸻
The Hunter's Shop
The glass doors slid open with a hiss. The Hunter's Shop wasn't just a store — it was a vault of dreams for anyone who lived by the gun. Rows of weapon racks stretched across the showroom, each glowing with holo-projections showing specs, mods, and available enhancements.
Kael ignored the rifles, shotguns, and exotic blades. His eyes went straight to the Dual Machine Gun section.
Weapon Skins
The display cycled through models, each more outrageous than the last:
• "Ebon Wrath" — deep black plating with crimson runes, barrels shaped like snarling beast jaws.
• "Solar Storm" — golden frames with sunburst etching, firing ports glowing bright white.
• "Specter Veil" — sleek silver design that refracted light, making the guns shimmer like ghosts.
• "Bloodsteel Legacy" — jagged crimson accents with pulsing magic veins, as if forged from Rift beast armor.
Kael tapped the display, enlarging "Bloodsteel Legacy." It looked like something that belonged in his hands. He made a mental note.
Enhancements
A separate section showed available functional upgrades. His gaze landed on one immediately:
UNLIMITED AMMUNITION MODULE
Never reload again. Sustained fire without magazine constraints.
Cost: $100,000
His HUD auto-calculated:
Funds Available: $168,000
Purchase? [YES] / NO
Kael didn't even hesitate.
"Yes."
Installation
The shop techs worked fast. They took his guns to a back bay, where magic engineers and mechanical specialists opened the frames. He caught glimpses — glowing cores, rotating magic seals, the faint shimmer of dimension-linked ammo feeds being etched into place.
When they brought the guns back, the changes weren't just internal.
The magic circuits along the barrels now glowed brighter, pulses traveling faster like a constant heartbeat. The muzzles had a faint heat shimmer even at rest. When he gripped them, the weight felt perfectly balanced — ready to fire forever without pause.
⸻
First Test
The shop had a private firing range in the basement. Kael stepped into the lane, lined up on the holographic Rift beast projections, and pulled both triggers.
The roar didn't stop. Bullets poured out in a perfect, endless stream, Target Lock automatically tracking weak points as Kael swept across targets. No pauses. No reloads. No breaks in rhythm.
When he finally let go, the air was thick with heat, and the magic veins along the guns still pulsed with stored energy.
He grinned. "Worth every credit."
The Next Rift
His HUD pinged again — a Rift forming only two districts away. The bounty read:
TARGET: Triple-Beast Hunt — High Threat
LEVEL RANGE: 135–145
REWARD: +3 Levels per Kill, $15,000 per Beast
Kael holstered the guns. The day's rest was over.
"Let's try this new trick."