Weapon of choice?

The sky grew dark.

Devon showed his true colors after the visitors hurried on their other plans, leaving him alone with his closest companions.

He giddily rushed to grab Lime with him towards their grand scheme. Pane could discern excitement from his clumsy demeanor.

"Dad, I'm borrowing Lime tonight." His voice resonated following their rapid stomps upstairs.

Pane's face brimmed with concern, "Look at your steps, Devi!"

Looking at their rushing backs, the man was again isolated in the living room. His face donned a helpless yet doting expression.

He looked around and saw the clutter of the trio. He was left with no choice, but to clean after them. After ensuring everything was in place, he quietly went to his study room.

When he passed by Devi's room, he realized, "A sound barrier, huh."

"The two are really having fun without me." Pane smilingly closed the doors of his room, ensuring it was locked. He sat on his seat and smoothly inserted a small rod into his core— a chip secretly given to him by Rafiel.

Without delay, his screen flooded with data and displayed varied sizes of massive black voids on the outskirts of Camati, where their villa is situated.

He scanned the voids distances from his house, "None was close for now."

Each of the holes exhumes black gas, sucking the life out of those in contact with its dark dust. However, some unfortunate beasts and plants were not immediately unalive but had their genetic information reprogrammed.

His eyes were filled with fear looking at the other images. "They mutated into a rabid abomination."

According to the files, the affected radius would depend on the void's activity level. An active hole causes a more rapid expansion of the contaminated area.

Fortunately, those that were identified by the main were reportedly dormant, so the infection was contained. Even the mutated species, which could potentially be a mass-weapon, were trapped inside.

"We are safe for now."

He thought of evacuating as soon as possible, but he had no idea where. His worry came from the thought of madmen, like the main, intentionally triggering the voids and bringing greater madness to Camati.

Pane fell into a deep thought. 

His mind was filled with the possibilities and alternatives that only Devon could accomplish, but he was also painfully aware that the solution to their base's ordeal would cost his freedom.

His entire existence, his origin, would be laid bare to everyone, and his decision would not matter in the eyes of the main chamber.

For them, he was a failed sample that would finally have its use.

"It's his predestined duty, they say." His eyes wandered to the lights coming from the windows of his only housemate, clearly seeing the agenda they were doing inside.

"I could only make things easier for him, but I cannot prevent it."

-------

After ensuring that his room was securely shut, Devon enabled the sound barrier to prevent any leakage of their secret operation, as Lime projected a virtual 3D copy of Rafiel's metal bow in the middle of the room.

With the core's assistance, they managed to analyze the prominent and hidden details of the weapon, including its lethality, durability, materials, and the amount of energy capsule used on every strike of the bow.

Rafiel's gigantic weapon absorbs an unrefined small-sized crystal to produce an unlimited 24-inches-arrow for two hours.

"… Like Rafiel's words, the capsule concept is like with batteries or electricity. It powers the weapons."

However, Devon also realized that the crystal-powered weapon's duration and quality would vary depending on the size and purity of the capsule. It would be taxing to find one, especially from where they currently live.

The robot and the kid brainstormed for hours. But, he's not a genius to immediately produce his device and he's not a weaponsmith.

He understood the ingenious architecture behind the weapon, but Devon didn't want to imitate it. In addition, this type of heavy-handed weapon would be useless when combined with his weak body.

And so, the journey of searching for any books, blueprints, or documents that could spark inspiration and guide him in a better understanding of Camati weapons has begun.

But it was hopeless.

It was hard to assemble things from such minuscule resources they have. He needs the help of someone who has a plethora of scientific references. Realizing the solution, Devon unlocked the door and barged into Pane's room. But he was nowhere to be seen inside.

"Lime, where is dad?" The robot then directed him to the study room, where he found Pane straightly staring at him the moment the door opened.

Devon was caught offhanded. "Why do I feel like you knew I would come?"

"Because I knew you would." He gestured him inside and pointed at the window, where he could see the vague projection of their so-called secret event.

"D-dad, we were just---." Pane hushed him with an index finger and proceeded to an old inventory beneath one of the bookshelves. A startling noise was heard, as an old large box was brought to light.

"I thought you'd spend the night with Lime?" Pane teased, while his fingers slid along dusty black leather and a brief click echoed. The particles floated in the air, as the cover was lifted.

"Dad, What is that?" But didn't get a reply from him.

Pane just proceeded to uncover the unidentified thing was thoroughly safeguarded by multiple protective layers, until he reached the last inner seal and revealed a black cylindrical container.

"Oh, this?" He lightly touched the center of the cylinder, and a blue streak of light originating from his finger spread all over, like a root, and morphed into a sniper's rifle.

"…"

He went out of the stupor and gawked at the gun, "You made this, Dad?"

"My gift to you." He showed me the intricate craftsmanship of the weapon. "Something I made when I was in my teens."

"How did it morph into this? Can it morph into another weapon? How much crystal do I--?"

"Hold on, Devi." The gun morphed back and stored in its original container with a bang.

His feet moved to hide the weapon behind him, "Let's start with that body of yours first."

Devon, whose sight was obstructed, loudly sighed in reluctance.

The next day, he was greeted with varied foods that Lime had prepared. He was expected to finish all of those, which he delightfully devoured. He went with the flow of whatever was planned by his father.

Except.

He groaned unwillingly when it came to physical matters and exercising. But his feet followed behind Pane, who could not bear to disagree with his request.

He spent the days of the first week taking walks outside their house but within their territory.

In the following weeks, his strolling progressively turned into running and stretching. Then, it transitioned to physical training focused on his core muscles, particularly his legs, back, and arms.

Fortunately, his body was able to adapt to the program. He knew Pane was helping him condition his body to handle the weapon.

"Fortunately, I did not overly tone my muscles. I… I do not like how it looks." Devon whispered as he checked his body in front of the wall mirror.

"Like mine?" Pane behind him was in shock.

He quirkily looked back and replied, "No comment."

Within 6 months of self-discipline, Devon managed to gain weight and improve the muscle tone of his legs and arms.

"But I still don't have abs." Devon maintained a white, slender waist with no sign of it appearing.

Pane chuckled, "Just take your time, Devi."

He slowly turned his back on him and his real feelings slowly appeared on his face. His brows scrunched, as he sent a message:

It's already 6 months. Where are all of you?