The Weapons had little in the way of rules—whether in how they lived, how they fought, or what they were.
Elian Reed, the original Forged, commands both Living tal and the Dominator variants. Everything he does with them is recorded—mories etched into tal, preserved forever.
This ant that anything Elian had done before, Living tal could do again—easier, faster, stronger. Such mory inheritance was the foundation of both Charade and the gear Elian used. But more importantly, it allowed the entire faction to evolve collectively.
Sons and Daughters of tal and Soul were an innate talent given to every Weapon. The first of them, Fluffy, was a natural at changing her form. It was she who shed the body of the Snow Wolf in favor of humans.
Fluffy smiled, blood steaming off her knuckles. She let the groaning bodies slump to the floor and began striding toward Elian and Bianca—each sway of her hips punctuated by the echo of whispers.
"Yo, are those two involved with Tails? She doesn’t seem hostile to them."
"Maybe they are heavy hitters in the faction like Ned Patel and Silas Dornevale?"
"They look plain, though?"
The wolf girl in front of Elian and Bianca ca closer, her tail swishing from side to side.
Fluffy pulled from two of Elian’s mories—Heaven’s Fist and Bianca’s anatomy—and sculpted herself into an 8-foot-tall Bianca, now with wolf traits.
Imposing, sensual, and full of mischief, the Firstborn Weapon remade herself into a monster that was both familiar and alien at the sa ti.
"Who are you two? You seem strong. Fight ; you can play with my body if you win," Fluffy sensually pointed to Bianca as she added, "I especially like you. If I win, I’m taking you to bed, sweetie. And I am going to drown you in affection even if you beg to stop."
Crack!
Everyone twitched when a small tremor ca from the ground. Everyone except Fluffy. As if she expected the reaction, her eyes narrowed in delight.
"I am going to have to stop you there, miss. The only bed my wife will be taking is mine."
"Ho? But you have yet to marry, no?" Fluffy approached and made exaggerated thinking gestures as she observed Lucian Alvestra. "You are scrawny, poor, ugly, and frankly, you seem stupid. Wouldn’t she fare better if I were her lover?"
Elian clenched his jaw, but could no longer speak calmly: "Yes, she is too good for . But no one is taking her from . Not even you, you mangy mutt."
Fluffy twirled as her tail curled up behind her, "Big talk. The bastards here cannot even satisfy . If you can beat , I might even join the two of you in your bed."
"You won’t. I will spank you and tie you to your kennel, then leave you out in the rain," Elian snarled.
"Oh, my. How heartless. Do I not interest you, at least?"
Bianca had a exasperated expression and rolled her eyes. They wanted to preserve their identities; thus, they couldn’t suddenly break out of character. And the little gremlin in their family was trying very much to ruffle Elian’s feathers.
But before anything else can happen, the ground shook. Slight tremors made the earth shake as an extrely tall figure moved.
A silvery, masculine voice ca from the giant who towered over everyone present.
"Daughter, enough. Your unit calls for you. Go to them."
His enormous fra cast a shadow so large that he seed like a building. He had black hair and extrely pale skin the color of ash. He lacked a tail and ears and was just a really tall human.
"Eh, but Dad... I..."
Yet he simply remained in place, looking at her nacingly. Overpowered by his presence, "Tails" shoved her hands into her pockets and stord off.
"Tsk. You’re all no fun."
An eagle-sized black swallow landed on her shoulder. She turned and glared at the bird. "No one likes a snitch, you bird-brained piece of crap!"
Yet the bird shrugged its wings and replied, "You should be thanking , Ms Fluffy. Sir Elian looked just about ready to tear you apart limb from limb."
The wolf girl crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks in displeasure, "Tsk. And you think I minded? Apart from him, none of the bastards in this place can take seriously."
"Why do you even need to? The entire exercise has no aning, my lady."
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP, YOU OVERGROWN FIRESTARTER!"
Ignoring the bickering couple, Bastion turned around and gestured to Elian and Bianca.
"You two, the guild master has called for you. Chiara and Lucian Alvestra, correct? The border guard called earlier with your recomndation. We have been expecting you. Follow ."
Elian and Bianca said nothing and rely followed. The onlookers all scratched their heads in confusion.
"The border guard recomndation has such weight? Maybe I should go there and ask for a recomndation!"
"Maybe it can fast-track our application to the Weapons! Co on!"
Although the general public drew its own conclusions, no one from the Weapons corrected it. In an instant, the crowd halved, with one side racing to the guards and the other remaining in place.
As Elian and Bianca followed Bastion, he led them through the guild building. With him as their escort, no other human could even approach them.
Bianca, who bead, tried to catch up to Bastion and tugged at his arm.
"How are you adjusting to your smaller body, Dad? You look handso, by the way. Why aren’t you using white hair like Mom and Fluffy?"
Bastion sighed as he gingerly brushed Bianca’s head with a massive hand. "It is easier to manage than my actual body, but walking on two legs is quite difficult. As for the hair, I will use white when your mother returns."
"I see. That is good,"she answered with a smile. "Kids used to call nas before for having white hair. I am so happy everyone now has the sa hair color. It really feels like we’re family!"
At her words, Bastion grunted. Then, in an instant, his hair shifted colors from black to white. He took a lock of hair from his head to inspect the change. He then gazed back at his daughter and hugged her gingerly.
Bastion said nothing. But Elian could feel Bianca’s mood improve.
"Father-in-law, I have news of mother-in-law."
"..."
Although the giant before him said nothing, Bastion’s eyes betrayed his calm façade. His eyes quivered as if they would bore holes through Elian if he didn’t start talking.
"She is alive. We lost ten. The targets have run away using artifacts. As far as I know, she shouldn’t have gotten any injuries. Or more like the ones she did get are of no significance."
"I see. Thank you."
Bianca tightened her arms around Bastion as she asked, "Father, I was so scared. Why didn’t you tell earlier?"
"Your mother made swear, Daughter. But do not worry. I told her I would only allow this one assault. I will be with her for all succeeding ones. That was our agreent."
"Oh? How did you get her to agree to that?" Bianca asked as she tilted her head.
Bastion paused, then answered, "I told her the next ti she did it without , I would find the biggest enemy stronghold and attack it alone. I would repeat this until I died or she ca ho."
The woman giggled as she nodded, "Yep, that would definitely work. So that is how Fralha handles consequences."
"Yes. The best way to shackle a Snow Wolf is to weaponize its worry about your freedom. Do not worry about your mother. I will never allow her to face such dangers alone ever again."
In high spirits, Bianca hugged her father even tighter and cheered, "Hehe! Dad is so smart! That should show Mom! I am so glad you are here, Dad!"
"Mmm..."
Although still emotionless, Bastion’s face softened as he brushed Bianca’s back.
Bastion turned to Elian and asked bluntly, "You are not going after them? I half expected you to lead the charge."
"I have bigger fish to fry. I need to get my two marks as soon as possible. The humans can wait."
"Hmm... okay. Then go and fight without worry. We will secure this position and strengthen the faction. By the ti you call, we will be ready."
Elian nodded in approval and made a slight bow, "Thank you, father-in-law. Once we secure Earth, we will go to secure Fralha next."
"Okay. Let us go et the Guild Master. Sunny and Flare also wish to speak with you."
"Understood."
Bastion led Elian and Bianca toward a large, gaudy-looking office. Books, graphs, and charts littered it ssily. At the center were three beautiful won discussing at length; a handso man was preparing tea to the side.
"Guild Master, Sunny. Ms. Charlotte, I have brought them."
Katri imdiately bowed her head towards Bastion and answered respectfully, "Lord Bastion, there is no need to call Guild Master. I am of much lower stature and power. Just call Katri."
"Child, why aren’t you that respectful to ? Do you have a weakness for pretty n? Aiming for Silent’s husband is an express ticket to becoming a Weapon, you know?"
"Please forgive her, Ms. Sunny. To those who have been lonely for so long, even the shred of attention married n give them fills their heads with nothing but fantasies," Charlotte confessed with a shrug.
"Oh my how pitiful... being a human sounds hard."
Katri smacked Charlotte in the butt with a ruler and retorted, "This little harlot! You were single too, not long ago! Stop patronizing !"
Elian couldn’t help but smile wryly at the official leadership of his faction. Yet despite their eccentricities, Elian knew that the group here was far more reliable than any other.
"Right. Ti to get to work."
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