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~{Training Room 5 — After the Sudden Duel}~
For a moment, it looked as though the training room was seconds away from becoming a battlefield.
Dorian stood over the exhausted Nichola with that same irritating smirk on his face, while Arthur kept his metal training bat resting firmly against Dorian's shoulder. Azzmina stood nearby, her posture tense and ready, while Enbi remained crouched close to Nichola, one of her training daggers still in hand.
Torren, meanwhile, stood several paces away, blood still running from his nose and a thin streak of it trailing from the corner of his mouth.
The tension was only one bad decision away from exploding.
Then—
"Woah, woah! What's happening here?"
Vice Captain Micah's voice cut straight through the room.
Captain Enistia and Micah had returned to Training Room 5, and the moment they noticed the crowd gathered around the disturbance, they immediately moved toward it at a swift, alert jog.
The surrounding Section 7 members instinctively parted, allowing the two Wingarde officers through.
Their eyes immediately landed on the situation.
Nichola.
Arthur.
Azzmina.
Enbi.
Dorian.
And Torren.
Nichola's stomach sank.
I really don't wanna cause any trouble.
He forced himself to push up from the floor, still feeling the strain from his fight with Torren. His breathing remained heavy as he tried to steady himself.
"I can explain—"
"Sorry, Captain. Vice Captain."
Nichola stopped.
Everyone turned toward Torren.
The swordsman stepped forward, wiping the remaining blood from beneath his nose. His uniform was disheveled, his face bruised, and the aftermath of their duel was still clearly visible across his body.
Yet his voice was surprisingly calm.
"It was a friendly duel," Torren explained. "I kinda wanted to have one with Nichola Amacaria here. I was also the one who initiated it."
He gave a small bow of his head.
"And I want to apologize."
Silence.
Nichola stared at him.
Arthur stared at him.
Azzmina stared at him.
Even Enbi's eyes widened.
And Dorian—
Dorian looked just as confused as everyone else.
Nobody had expected that.
Enistia studied Torren for a few seconds before letting out a quiet breath.
"Ah…"
Her expression relaxed.
"I see."
She then clapped her hands once, drawing everyone's attention.
"Then let's wrap up for today. You should all get some rest and prepare yourselves for your very first assigned missions tomorrow."
Micah immediately followed her announcement.
"You all heard the captain. Everyone finish up here, change back into your regular clothes, and return your training weapons to the armory."
He raised a finger, making sure everyone was listening.
"And take note—tomorrow, eight o'clock sharp. We will all meet at the armory in the middle wing. That's where you'll finally be fitted with your own comfortable equipment and weaponry."
He gave the group a firm nod.
"See you all tomorrow."
With that, the tension finally began to dissolve.
The members of Section 7 started dispersing, gradually making their way toward the Training Room 5 armory to change.
Arthur slowly lifted his training bat from Dorian's shoulder.
The weapon left Dorian's shoulder with a quiet metallic scrape.
Dorian glanced sideways at Arthur.
Arthur simply stared back.
Neither said a word.
Then something unexpected happened.
Torren walked toward Nichola.
He stopped directly in front of him.
Then—
He extended his hand.
Nichola blinked.
Before he could fully process what was happening, Torren reached down and helped him back onto his feet.
The gesture caught Enbi completely off guard.
"Wha—?!"
She practically shot backward from beside them, her boots skidding against the floor as she stared at Torren in baffled surprise.
Nichola regained his balance and looked at Torren.
"So…"
He glanced at the hand that had just helped him up, then back at Torren.
"What's with the sudden friendliness after our sudden duel, huh?"
Torren shrugged.
"I just wanted to see if your skills were the real deal."
He gave Nichola a straightforward look.
"And I gotta say…"
A slight grin appeared.
"I'm impressed with your abilities."
Torren's expression became more sincere.
"Sorry about the fight coming outta nowhere."
He then extended his hand properly.
"I hope we get to work together, Nichola."
Nichola looked at him for a moment before accepting the handshake.
"Yeah."
Their hands tightened briefly.
"I hope so too." Nichola replied back with a semi-serious & semi-confused look.
Torren released the handshake, turned around, and immediately grabbed Dorian by the shoulder.
"Let's head back, Dorian."
"Uh…"
Dorian looked genuinely confused.
He allowed himself to be dragged along anyway.
As the two began walking away, Dorian glanced sideways at Torren.
"Well…"
He frowned.
"What was that for, Torren?"
Torren's grin returned.
"I see some actual potential in that guy."
He looked back toward Nichola for a moment.
"Y'know me, man. I like me a good fight."
His grin widened.
"And I respect a strong fighter."
Dorian stared at him.
Then sighed.
"Yeah…"
He shook his head.
"You have a weird-ass kink, my guy…"
Torren's expression immediately changed.
"It ain't a kink!"
He pointed at himself indignantly.
"It's an interest!"
"Whatever you say, man."
Dorian continued walking.
Torren's eyes widened.
"You for real ain't believin' me, yo?!"
He immediately hurried after him.
"DORIAN!"
Dorian didn't even turn around.
Torren picked up his pace, semi-frantically trying to catch up.
"I'm serious!"
Their voices gradually faded down the corridor.
Nichola watched them disappear.
For the first time since the confrontation began, he finally allowed himself to breathe normally.
The day had started with testing.
It had ended with a duel, an almost-fight, and a surprisingly friendly handshake.
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~{Hallway — Heading Back to Section 7}~
The training room had finally emptied.
After changing back into their regular clothes and returning their training weapons, Nichola and his new friends made their way through the Wingarde Family's long interior hallways, heading back toward the Section 7 living quarters.
The tension from earlier had mostly faded. What remained was the comfortable exhaustion that came after a long day of training—and the growing excitement for what tomorrow would bring.
Nichola walked alongside Azzmina and Enbi, while Arthur stayed nearby.
After a few moments of silence, Nichola glanced toward Azzmina.
"Just guessing here, but... you have an Asten-Drive, right, Azzie?"
Azzmina immediately looked at him.
"Huh? Yeah, I do. Why? Wassup?"
Nichola gave a small shrug.
"Nah, I was just wondering why you never used it during any of the tests."
Azzmina's expression became slightly more serious.
"Ah... well..."
She looked down at her hands for a moment.
"It's pretty destructive. And it puts a lot of strain on my body. I don't really want to rely on it unless I absolutely have to."
Then, almost immediately, her usual confidence returned.
"That's why I'm buffing up these babies!"
She slapped her left bicep with her right hand and flashed Nichola a playful wink.
Nichola couldn't help but smile.
Azzmina suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Speaking of the tests..."
She turned toward Nichola.
"How did that random duel even start?"
Enbi immediately nodded beside her, clearly wanting the same answer.
Nichola thought for a moment.
His eyes shifted toward Arthur.
Arthur wasn't wearing his usual bright, carefree smile anymore. His expression was unusually blank and serious, his eyes fixed straight ahead as though he wanted nothing to do with the conversation.
Nichola noticed.
He understood.
So he decided not to expose whatever Arthur was dealing with.
"Those guys were probably jealous and wanted to see if I was actually skilled enough to join the Wingarde Family," Nichola said casually. "I guess it was their version of an initiation test or something. Not really a big deal."
Azzmina raised an eyebrow.
"You're not even sure either, are ya?"
"Nope. Not really."
Nichola shrugged.
"He was hella strong, though. And he apologized afterward, so let's just put it behind us."
Azzmina stared at him for a moment before sighing.
"Yeah. Knew it..."
She shrugged as well.
"Well, if that's the case, okay then."
Arthur's eyes briefly shifted toward Nichola.
There was a quiet sense of gratitude in them.
Nichola had understood without forcing him to explain.
A moment later, Arthur's usual grin returned.
"YO! Let's hurry up and get back to our rooms! I'm pumped as heck for tomorrow!"
Nichola chuckled.
"Right. Retrieving our new Wingarde equipment. I wonder what they've got in store."
Arthur practically bounced as he walked.
"Well, well, well, my grey-haired buddy! You might already know this, but the Wingarde Family is famous for its tippy-top, top-grade equipment and technology!"
He rubbed his thumb and index finger together dramatically.
"So you can bet your ass they've got some primo goods!"
Azzmina immediately joined in.
"I'm mostly interested in whether they've got some good gauntlets."
She threw a couple of playful boxing punches into the air.
Then she glanced toward Enbi.
"How about you, Enbi? You're hoping they have some sharp daggers and flexible combat shoes, right?"
Enbi gave a quick, adorable nod.
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
Arthur looked down at her with a joking grin.
"You know, despite being so petite and tiny, you're really skilled and deadly when it comes to combat, huh? Hahaha—"
Enbi's face instantly turned red.
She hurried behind Azzmina, hiding herself from Arthur.
Azzmina's eyes narrowed.
Bonk.
She smacked Arthur directly on top of the head.
"OW!"
"Hey! Enbi's really delicate about that subject!"
"My bad! My bad!"
Arthur rubbed his head while laughing awkwardly.
Enbi peeked out from behind Azzmina.
For the first time since they had met, Nichola realized just how strangely comfortable everything already felt.
The teasing.
The arguments.
The stupid jokes.
The laughter.
It wasn't something he was accustomed to.
But somehow...
He liked it.
The four continued down the hallway together, their voices echoing softly through the Wingarde compound.
Eventually, they reached the Section 7 lobby.
It was time to part ways for the night.
Azzmina waved toward Arthur.
"See ya, Arthur!"
"Stay safe, ladies!"
Arthur waved back before heading toward his room.
Azzmina then turned toward Nichola.
"See ya tomorrow too, Nichola!"
She flashed him her usual wide, toothy grin.
Beside her, Enbi shyly raised her hand and gave Nichola a small wave.
Nichola returned it.
"Yeah. See y'all tomorrow too!"
As they walked, Nichola remained still for a moment.
He watched his new friends disappear into their rooms.
A quiet thought crossed his mind.
...Is this what it's like to make good friends?
A warm feeling settled inside his chest.
For once, it wasn't the weight of his past.
It wasn't revenge.
It wasn't another grudge.
It was simply... happiness.
Nichola smiled.
Then he turned and headed toward his room with Arthur.
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~{Section 7 — Arthur & Nichola's Room}~
The moment they entered their room, Arthur walked ahead without saying anything.
He then stopped.
His back remained turned toward Nichola.
"Hey uhh... Nicky..."
Nichola looked over.
"Yeah?"
Arthur's voice was quieter than usual.
"Thanks a lot, man."
Nichola paused.
He understood exactly what Arthur meant.
He didn't need to ask.
He simply smiled.
"No problem, man."
Arthur remained silent.
Nichola continued.
"You don't have to explain it any further if you don't want to, alright?"
He looked down for a moment, his thoughts drifting toward his own family.
Everyone carried something.
Some wounds were visible...
Others weren't.
"Everyone's got their own struggles and problems," Nichola said quietly. "And everyone has the right to keep things private. So yeah, stop worrying about it."
He looked toward Arthur.
"We've got a tomorrow to look forward to, yeah?"
Arthur finally turned around.
A warm smile spread across his face.
"Yeah."
He inhaled deeply.
Then the familiar energy returned to his voice.
"Let's get ready for tomorrow! I'm hella pumped!"
Nichola smiled back.
"Yeah..."
He headed toward his own room.
"Goodnight, my man."
Arthur opened his bedroom door.
"Night niiiiight!"
The door closed behind him.
...And just like that, the day finally came to an end. Outside, the Wingarde compound settled beneath the warmth of the night.
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~{Heading to the North Wing Armory}~
After a quick but hearty breakfast, Nichola and his new friends set out through the North Wing of the Wingarde Family's headquarters.
Morning light filtered through the tall windows, casting pale strips of gold across the polished floors as the group made their way toward the armory. Their footsteps echoed through the otherwise quiet corridors.
For most of them, there was a noticeable sense of anticipation.
For Arthur, however, that anticipation had apparently become impossible to contain.
"YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH—!"
"ARTY, SHUT UP! WE GET THAT YOU'RE EXCITED!"
Azzmina's voice bounced off the walls.
Arthur immediately turned toward her, still grinning from ear to ear.
Enbi was already plugging both of her ears with her index fingers.
Nichola gave Arthur an awkward smile.
"Arty, seriously, tone it down. I think there are still people sleeping somewhere in the North Wing. They don't exactly need an alarm clock this early."
Arthur blinked.
Then he looked around.
The quiet hallway.
The sleeping quarters.
The several doors they had already passed.
He finally realized just how loud he had been.
"MY BAD!"
Arthur threw his hands up.
"I'm just pumped! I don't think you guys understand how freaking sick the Wingarde Family's weaponry, equipment, and technology are!"
Azzmina let out a heavy sigh.
"Yes. Yes, we're excited too. Just... please don't make us the center of attention."
Arthur's grin gradually relaxed.
He inhaled deeply through his nose.
Then exhaled.
"Okay..."
He lowered his shoulders.
"My bad, guys."
Nichola couldn't help but give a small, semi-awkward smile before letting out a dry little laugh.
Azzmina shook her head with a faint smile.
Beside her, Enbi removed her fingers from her ears with a comical Pop.
She blinked.
The hallway returned to its peaceful quiet.
For a few moments, the four simply continued walking together.
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~{North Wing — Wingarde Family Armory}~
At last, the group reached the entrance to the North Wing's armory.
A large reinforced door stood at the end of the corridor, its surface built from dark metal and fitted with several security mechanisms. Beside it stood Vice Captain Micah, waiting patiently for them.
The moment he noticed the four approaching, he raised a hand.
"Hey, you guys. Ready to choose and receive your equipment?"
"Ye—"
Nichola and Azzmina had barely started answering.
"YESSIR! I'M HELLA EXCITED!"
Arthur's voice thundered through the hallway.
Nichola and Azzmina simultaneously sighed.
"Jeez..."
Enbi simply covered her face with one hand, visibly embarrassed for him.
Micah stared at Arthur for a moment.
Then, surprisingly, he smiled.
"Ah... well... love that spirit!"
He cleared his throat and straightened himself.
"Ahem. Anyways, head inside and take a look around. See what you think fits you, then come back and inform me. We need to get everyone grouped up first before we actually begin your first assignments."
"Yes, sir!"
The four answered almost in unison.
Micah raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, you don't really have to be so uptight with me, alright?"
He relaxed his posture.
"Me and Enistia are perfectly fine with being casual. We're comrades now, okay? Trust is a requirement for teamwork, and I want to make sure we're clear on that from the start."
Nichola gave a short nod.
"Understood."
Arthur gave him a thumbs-up.
"Gotcha."
Azzmina nodded.
"Alright."
Enbi simply nodded enthusiastically as usual.
Micah smiled.
"Glad we got that out of the way."
He gestured behind himself with his thumb.
"Now go on and get ready."
Micah stepped toward the security panel beside the door.
He pulled out his access card and swiped it across the reader.
Beep.
A mechanical lock disengaged.
Click.
The reinforced doors separated with a deep mechanical hiss.
"Go ahead."
Nichola and the others stepped through.
The moment they entered, they stopped.
The sheer size of the armory immediately caught them off guard.
Rows upon rows of equipment stretched across the massive room. Reinforced display cases contained weapons of different shapes and functions, while racks held specialized armor, combat equipment, mechanical tools, and various pieces of Wingarde technology.
Everything looked meticulously maintained.
Nothing appeared ordinary.
Even the equipment that looked deceptively simple carried some kind of mechanical refinement.
Arthur's eyes widened.
Azzmina's jaw dropped.
"WOAH!!!!"
The two practically exclaimed at the same time.
Enbi's eyes seemed to sparkle as she stared at the countless pieces of equipment surrounding her.
Nichola, meanwhile, slowly walked toward one of the displays.
His attention settled on a mechanicalized handaxe.
He carefully picked it up and examined the weapon from different angles.
The metal construction was precise. Small mechanical components were integrated into the body of the weapon, giving it a level of engineering far beyond anything Nichola had handled before.
He turned it slightly in his hand.
"...Now this is..."
His eyes narrowed with genuine fascination.
"Tip-top grade, alright..."
He gave the weapon one last look.
"Hot damn."
Nichola carefully returned the mechanical handaxe to its display.
Then he turned toward the rest of the armory.
There was still an entire room of equipment waiting to be explored.
The gang saw an overwhelming variety of weapons and equipment spread throughout the Wingarde Family's armory.
It wasn't simply a room filled with weapons.
It felt more like an entire technological arsenal compressed into one massive facility.
Rows upon rows of equipment were arranged beneath bright overhead lights, each section carefully organized according to its purpose. The standard racks held the Wingarde Family's mass-produced equipment: their classic swords, shields, spears, handaxes, daggers, and handguns. Everything looked uniform at first glance, but even the standard-issue equipment carried a level of craftsmanship far beyond ordinary military gear.
The swords had reinforced edges and lightweight cores. The shields were built with layered impact-resistant materials. Spears could be disassembled for easier transportation, while some of the handaxes contained small mechanical mechanisms designed to improve their weight distribution.
And that was only the basic equipment.
Further inside were the specialized weapons.
Heavy greatswords reinforced with mechanical joints. Experimental spears with adjustable lengths. Shields equipped with deployable barriers. Electrified melee weapons. Compact pistols with unusual firing mechanisms. There were rifles, shotguns, long-range sniper weapons, and even several enormous railguns resting inside reinforced weapon mounts.
Some weapons looked like they belonged in a military arsenal.
Others looked like someone had taken a weapon apart, rebuilt it from scratch, and decided to see what happened.
Beyond the weapons were entire sections dedicated to protective equipment.
Combat uniforms made from flexible, rain-resistant materials.
Lightweight armor designed to protect vital areas without restricting movement.
Heavy armor intended for frontline operations.
Specialized gloves, boots, belts, harnesses, utility pouches, protective plating, masks, communication devices, medical equipment, climbing gear, ammunition carriers, and countless other pieces of equipment filled the shelves.
The Wingarde Family clearly didn't believe in sending its members into the field with ordinary equipment.
They built their equipment around the people who used it.
And that was exactly what the four newcomers began doing.
They started choosing.
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Arthur was the first to finish assembling his gear.
He found himself a pair of flexible, good-grip fingerless combat gloves that fit snugly around his hands without restricting his fingers. He then equipped a sturdy combat belt lined with several large utility pouches, followed by another flexible pouch strapped securely around his right thigh.
But what really caught his attention was sitting inside a specialized weapons rack.
A retractable technological impact bat.
Arthur picked it up and gave it an experimental swing.
The weapon extended with a sharp mechanical click.
He paused.
Then his grin widened.
The bat's reinforced body suddenly locked firmly into place, activating its impact mechanism.
A small control button sat near the handle. With a press, the weapon could retract back into its compact form.
Arthur gave it another swing.
"Okay..."
He grinned.
"Hell Yeah. This is definitely mine."
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Azzmina didn't spend nearly as much time searching.
She found exactly what she wanted.
A reliable pair of fingerless combat gloves.
At first glance, they looked fairly simple. The gloves were reinforced around the wrists and knuckles, allowing her hands to remain flexible while protecting them from impact.
But the knuckles contained a small technological system.
When activated, the mechanism generated a concentrated electrical shock through the reinforced striking points, allowing every punch to carry an additional burst of impact.
Azzmina slipped them onto her hands and clenched her fists.
A faint electrical crackle flickered across her knuckles.
"Heh."
She smiled.
"This is all I'll need."
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Enbi's selection was considerably more specialized.
She immediately found a pair of featherweight combat sneakers designed specifically for mobility.
They were flexible, lightweight, and built with a specialized grip that allowed the wearer to move quickly without sacrificing traction.
They suited her perfectly.
But the real prize came afterward.
A pair of specialized daggers.
Her left dagger contained a concealed internal compartment within its handle and blade assembly. Depending on what was loaded into it, the mechanism could coat the blade with a lethal poison, a flammable compound, or another specialized substance.
Her right dagger was even stranger.
Its blade was constructed around a concentrated energy system, creating what was essentially a laser-like cutting edge. It wasn't simply designed to stab or slash flesh—it could potentially pierce and cut through common and even uncommon types of metal.
Enbi carefully tested the weight of both weapons.
A small, satisfied smile appeared on her face.
Apparently, she had found what she wanted.
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As for Nichola, his search for equipment took considerably longer.
He started simple.
First came a pair of thin, flexible fingerless gloves. They were firm enough to protect his hands without restricting his movement, allowing him to maintain the dexterity he needed for close-quarters combat.
Next, he found a set of flexible armor plates designed to be strapped around his shins and knees. Once secured beneath his pants, the plates were almost completely invisible, leaving his usual appearance unchanged while providing additional protection and impact reinforcement to his legs.
For footwear, Nichola chose something different from the standard rain boots worn by most of the Wingarde personnel. He found a pair of comfortable, waterproof formal shoes that provided enough grip and durability without sacrificing his preferred movement.
Then came the difficult part.
The weapon.
Nichola moved from rack to rack, testing sword after sword.
A straight sword—reliable, balanced, and common throughout the Wingarde arsenal.
Too ordinary.
A shortsword—fast and lightweight, but the limited reach bothered him.
Good speed. Bad range.
He tried a few greatswords next.
The reach and sheer power were impressive, but the weight made them far too cumbersome for the way he fought.
Too damn heavy.
Then came rapiers and sabers.
Nichola gave them several swings, but the precise, fencing-oriented movements simply weren't his style.
He tested a katana afterward.
His grip was acceptable.
His technique wasn't.
An odachi was even worse.
Nichola stared at the oversized blade for a moment before returning it to its rack.
"Nope."
Still, he kept looking.
There had to be something.
Eventually, while passing a collection of older equipment crates, something caught the corner of his eye.
A weapon was partially sticking out of one of them.
Nichola stopped.
He crouched down and pulled it free.
It was sleek.
Long.
Thin.
And an unusually dark red.
At first glance, it barely looked like a sword at all.
The handle was unusually long and slender, almost reaching the length of a short polearm's grip. The supposed blade was just as strange. Rather than possessing the clean profile of a conventional sword, its structure was thicker and somewhat blunt, yet portions of its edge were unmistakably sharpened.
A strap was already attached along its body.
Then Nichola noticed something embedded within the center of the weapon.
A circular mechanical chamber.
He stared at it.
Inside was a cylindrical mechanism clearly designed to hold something resembling 12-gauge shotgun shells.
His eyebrows slowly rose.
"...What the hell?"
Near the handle were two small trigger mechanisms.
And then he noticed the strangest feature of all.
The upper section of the weapon's blade appeared to be mechanically segmented.
It could split and lift upward, exposing a concealed barrel beneath it.
The entire weapon suddenly made sense.
It wasn't simply a sword.
It was a sword-shotgun hybrid.
A bizarre combination of a retractable blade and a single-shot shotgun mechanism, engineered into one weapon.
Nichola turned it over in his hands.
He tested the grip.
Adjusted his stance.
Rotated the weapon.
Opened and closed the upper blade mechanism.
Something about it felt...
Kinda right.
He honestly couldn't explain why.
He had never used anything quite like it before, yet his hands seemed strangely comfortable around it.
Almost as if his instincts already understood the weapon.
Nichola looked down at it again.
"...I think I can use this."
Decision made.
He grabbed a considerable handful of shotgun shells from the nearby ammunition supply and stuffed them into his pocket.
Whatever this strange weapon was...
He was gonna try to make it work.
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Eventually, the group was finally equipped, armed, and ready to leave.
Arthur adjusted his new equipment.
Azzie flexed her hands.
Enbi quietly inspected her daggers.
And Nichola stood there with his newly acquired weapon strapped across his back.
The others stared at it.
Silence.
Azzie slowly looked toward Arthur.
Arthur slowly looked toward Azzie.
Then both turned toward Nichola.
"Nicky...?" they said simultaneously.
Nichola blinked.
"Hmm?"
Arthur pointed at the weapon with an expression of genuine confusion.
"What's that?"
Nichola blinked once again.
"Hmm?"
Azzie's eyes widened.
"WHAT EVEN IS THAT WEAPON?!"
She pointed dramatically at the strange red weapon strapped across Nichola's back.
Enbi, meanwhile, had already stepped closer.
She rubbed her chin thoughtfully while examining the weapon from different angles.
Nichola removed it from his back and held it with both hands.
"It's... uh..." He examined it again. "Seems to be some kind of unique long sword... I think?"
Azzie immediately pointed at the weapon's strange proportions.
"It's proportions and structure are pretty inconsistent with a longsword."
"And the blade isn't even properly sharp!" Arthur added, pointing toward the weapon. "It's more blunt than anything! And what's with that chamber in the middle of the so-called blade?!"
Nichola stared at the weapon.
He honestly had no answer.
He slowly strapped it back onto his back.
"Dude, I don't even know."
He gave the strange weapon another glance.
"It looks uniquely cool, and I felt weirdly confident holding it."
He shrugged.
"So how about we just call it a Specialized Unique Longsword Hybrid and leave it at that?"
Azzie and Arthur stared at him.
"Uh-huh..."
"If you say so."
They exchanged another confused glance.
Enbi simply nodded along with them.
And with that, the four finally began making their way out of the armory.
The Wingarde Family's arsenal was far more advanced and bizarre than Nichola had expected.
And somehow, he had walked out carrying one of the strangest weapons in the entire room.
For now, though, he was satisfied.
He had found something that felt like it belonged in his hands.
As they stepped outside, they noticed several of the remaining members of Section 7 finally arriving at the armory.
Vice Captain Micah immediately directed them toward the entrance.
"You guys are all set?" he asked, giving Nichola and the others an approving glance. "Good choices. Those should serve you well."
He then gestured down the corridor.
"Head straight forward. Third room on the left. That's Planning Room 3."
Micah glanced toward the incoming members before continuing.
"I'll catch up with you once everyone else is ready."
Nichola and the others nodded.
"Thank you!" The three replied in unison.
As Enbi gave her usual quiet but respectful nod.
The four then headed down the corridor together, leaving the armory behind.
Ahead of them waited Planning Room 3...
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