An Equal, A New Weapon

"Ah, yes… The group that Father hated so much… It is of no concern to me, I care not for the conquest of lands..." replied Zenos, as he sipped his tea.

"Then what do you desire, Prince of Darkness?" questioned Ayame, refusing to look at the Viceroy as she tipped her head into a semi-bow.

The Viceroy raised an eyebrow at how bold this mere tea lady was to give such a question—either that, a high disregard for her life for questioning a higher authority.

"What I crave is an opponent who can provide me with a truly exhilarating and challenging fight—someone who embodies the same fierce spirit and relentless drive that I possess."

"It becomes unbearably monotonous when the adversaries before me either cower in fear or succumb too easily to my blade. I yearn for a worthy rival who can push me to my limits, stand firm against me, and match my strength, skill, and intensity."

"Only through such a challenge can I find the excitement and satisfaction I seek," explained the Viceroy as he felt his heart pump faster.

"Essentially, you yearn for an equal on the battlefield," answered Ayame as she left the table.

"Indeed... And that dragon girl is definitely a candidate."

The duo finally found a narrow alleyway to rest and stretch, away from the prying eyes of both locals and guards. After triple-checking their surroundings, Mavislin laid out her mat and began organizing her weapons for the upcoming assault.

Though her preference leaned toward her scythe, the gleam of her superior's gift tugged at her heartstrings—a symbol of trust and strength.

Alongside it lay an array of other weapons, spoils collected from fallen foes over countless missions, each with its own story etched in blood and steel.

"I heard that Beast managed to get his hands on that sniper rifle. Abyss told me that it was quite peculiar as it requires no bullets and it's tailored to your fighting style."

"That's the main reason why Beast bestowed that fine piece of metal on you," explained the bunny as he set up his own mat.

"Oh? That would be the first I heard. The weapon is made for my fighting style?" questioned Mavislin, her little white dragon tail swishing about in happiness.

"That's right; the gun itself was forged with mana crystals that can channel our mana directly into the bullets, firing them without the need for physical rounds or gunpowder," Mattheos explained, his fingers lightly tracing the sniper rifle's intricate design.

"But there's a catch—it shouldn't be used alongside our regular spells, or it'll drain our mana too quickly. The real beauty of this weapon lies in something special: the wilder and more chaotic your emotions, the stronger the shot becomes while conserving mana."

"That's exactly why Beast chose it for you."

The weapon gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen, its body forged from dark, gunmetal gray steel. Streaks of deep purple flowed along the length of the weapon like veins of amethyst, subtly illuminating its surface with a faint, otherworldly glow.