RISE OF THE HOLY DEMONIC GOD Chapter 198 — Arsenal Reforged

[20th June]

The Capital was overflowing with excitent.

Today was the day the four greatest geniuses of the younger generation would battle for the First Rank.

The entire city was focused on the tournant.

anwhile, Rey was busy with matters of his own.

Inside Rastin's smithy, he sat quietly while examining the weapons he had commissioned shortly after arriving in the Capital.

Four weapons wrapped in bandages were laid out before him.

"Sir, here is the first weapon I created as per your description, a Round shield made out of several tals and the bones of the Stage 2 beast, making it reach the realm of Peak Stage- 2 as a whole.

Its durability and resistance to damage are enhanced by its round figure and slanting edges. You can hold it with both hands or one hand, if you have the strength.

And this Sword which I have created..."

Rastin enthusiastically explained each weapon one by one while Rey inspected them in his own way.

His system panels appeared before his eyes.

Instead of relying on Rastin's explanations, he carefully reviewed every weapon himself.

───◈◈◈◈◈───

[Ironbon Bulwark]

Rank: Stage 2 (Peak)

───◈ Item Description ◈───

A massive round shield forged from layered alloys and the compressed skeletal remains of multiple Peak Stage 2 beasts. Its outer surface is reinforced with overlapping bone plates, while the inner fra utilises dense tallic supports, creating a defensive weapon capable of enduring trendous impacts.

The beast bones retain a portion of their natural resilience, allowing the shield to disperse incoming force throughout its structure rather than absorbing it at a single point. Though considerably heavy, its balanced construction prevents it from becoming cumberso in battle.

A reliable defensive armant designed for warriors who prefer standing their ground against overwhelming force.

───◈◈◈◈◈───

[Twinedge Blade]

Rank: Stage 2 (Peak)

───◈ Item Description ◈───

A double-edged sword crafted from the refined bones, fangs, and core materials of nurous Peak Stage 2 beasts. The blade possesses exceptional sharpness and durability, retaining its edge even after repeated clashes against heavily armoured opponents.

Subtle traces of beast essence remain within the weapon, granting it remarkable cutting power against flesh, hide, and bone alike. Its balanced design allows swift strikes without sacrificing the force behind each swing, making it equally suited for duels and prolonged combat.

A weapon forged not for elegance, but for relentless efficiency.

───◈◈◈◈◈───

[Blood Set]

Rank: Stage 2 (Peak)

───◈ Item Description ◈───

A set of six daggers forged from carefully selected beast fangs, sharpened bone fragnts, and refined tals tempered repeatedly in concentrated beast blood.

The collection consists of two straight-bladed daggers and four curved blades.

The straight daggers were refined with the blood of paralytic beasts, allowing their wounds to induce a mild numbing effect in the victim's body. While insufficient to fully immobilise stronger opponents, repeated strikes can gradually hinder movent and reaction speed.

The four curved daggers feature serrated fang-like edges that tear flesh more effectively during slashes, making them particularly lethal in close-quarters combat.

Despite their differing forms, all six weapons were designed as a complete set, prioritising speed, concealnt, and precision.

───◈◈◈◈◈───

[Blackscale Spear]

Rank: Stage 3 (Low)

───◈ Item Description ◈───

A combat spear forged from the remains of a Low Stage 3 beast. The shaft is constructed from dense black material engraved with scale-like reinforcent patterns, providing exceptional stability and durability. The spearhead is ford from a refined fang-like structure, granting superior piercing capability and penetration efficiency.

The weapon possesses extrely high structural integrity, allowing repeated impacts against heavily reinforced targets without significant degradation. Due to the properties of its source materials, force transmission throughout the spear remains highly efficient, increasing the lethality of thrust-based attacks.

Suitable for direct combat, beast hunting, and armour penetration.

───◈◈◈◈◈───

After reading through all four panels, Rey couldn't help but feel impressed.

The craftsmanship was far better than he had expected.

At first, he wasn't entirely sure whether Rastin's claims about the weapon grades were true.

But after seeing the system's evaluation for himself, any doubts disappeared.

Every weapon had genuinely reached the stated grade.

By the ti Rey finished reviewing them, Rastin had also completed his explanations.

The blacksmith looked at him with a slightly nervous expression.

"Sir, you can rest assured. I guarantee everything is genuine."

Rastin suddenly bowed deeply.

"I have recently applied for the Stage 3 Blacksmith title through the Duke's House. Thanks to your commission, I finally managed to cross the boundary that had trapped for months."

His voice carried genuine excitent.

"I successfully forged a Stage 3 weapon."

"Before long, I should officially receive the title of Stage 3 Blacksmith."

He lowered his head even further.

"For that, I am truly grateful. I would never dream of deceiving the custor who gave such an opportunity."

Rey waved dismissively.

"There is no need for that."

His voice remained cold beneath the mask.

"I was simply checking the weapons."

"They are genuine."

"I'll be leaving now before it gets too late."

Rastin imdiately straightened up.

"Of course, Sir."

Rey reached toward the first weapon.

The heavy shield.

Although noticeably heavier than his previous shield, it remained within his limits.

The mont he touched it, the shield vanished.

Rastin was slightly startled.

But only for a second.

After all, he already knew this mysterious custor possessed a Spatial Storage.

One by one, Rey stored the shield, sword, and dagger set.

Finally, only the spear remained.

The nearly seven-foot-long weapon rested silently on the table.

Rey stepped forward.

His hand wrapped around the shaft.

Then he lifted.

Nothing.

The spear didn't move.

Not even slightly.

His eyes narrowed.

anwhile, Rastin imdiately noticed.

A smirk appeared on the blacksmith's face.

"Sir, the weight is rather excessive."

He scratched his head awkwardly.

"The spear was forged using several unusually dense materials. Lifting it with one hand is practically impossible."

Rey ignored the warning.

The muscles in his arm tightened.

Veins bulged slightly beneath his sleeve.

Then—

The spear slowly rose.

Rastin's expression froze.

The weapon actually left the ground.

He rembered the other owner of a Stage 3 spear.

Gravion.

Even Gravion had only managed to hold his spear with one hand for a few seconds before switching to both hands.

That alone had been impressive.

After all, the weapon weighed far beyond what an ordinary spear should.

The dense materials used during forging had pushed its weight beyond one hundred kilograms.

Even Rastin himself wasn't entirely sure how such a result had occurred.

Yet now—

This mysterious custor was holding the weapon in a single hand.

Ten seconds passed.

Then twenty.

Rastin could only stare.

anwhile, Rey calmly lowered the spear.

The weapon disappeared into his inventory the next mont.

From the outside, he appeared completely composed.

But hidden beneath his sleeve, his hand was trembling slightly.

That brief lift had required nearly all of his physical strength.

The spear was comparable to his hamr and greatsword in weight.

Perhaps even heavier.

For the first ti, Rey truly understood the difference a single stage could create.

A Low Stage 3 weapon was on an entirely different level.

"I'll take my leave now."

Rey stood up.

He had already spent enough ti here.

The longer he stayed away from the house, the greater the chance soone would discover his little secret.

Rastin personally escorted him to the entrance.

The sight imdiately attracted attention from nearby custors.

After all, very few people received such treatnt from the owner himself.

Especially not a mysterious figure hidden beneath a mask.

Rastin watched as his mysterious custor disappeared into the endless flow of people moving through the Martial Market.

For a few monts, he remained standing at the entrance.

Then he returned to his usual self.

"Careful with that!"

"Don't touch that weapon unless you're buying it!"

"Move aside if you're not a custor!"

His loud voice echoed through the smithy once again.

anwhile, Rey had already blended into the crowd.

Finding a quiet alley between two buildings, he activated his skill.

His figure vanished.

Monts later, only empty air remained behind.

His destination was clear.

Ho.

The tournant should already be reaching its climax by now.

The semi-finals were most likely ending, and the identities of the two finalists should be decided soon.

In Rey's eyes, there were only two possible winners.

Gravion.

Raviel.

The Chosen One and the Duke's Favoured Genius child.

A battle between them was practically inevitable.

'I'm curious who'll win.'

A smirk appeared beneath his mask.

'But that's their problem, not mine.'

He leapt across another rooftop.

'Both of them can handle themselves.'

The wind rushed past his ears as he moved through the city.

The sun had already climbed high into the sky.

It was well past noon.

Rey's expression gradually stiffened.

The longer he stayed outside, the greater the chance soone would check on him.

The butlers would eventually knock.

If he didn't answer...

The matter would definitely reach Hosric.

'Hopefully I'm not late...'

He accelerated.

Building after building flashed past beneath him.

Soon, the familiar outline of the Valemont residence appeared in the distance.

Without slowing down, Rey landed atop a neighbouring rooftop and carefully observed the surroundings.

Everything seed normal.

Good.

With a final leap, he landed beside his bedroom window.

He quietly opened it.

Slipped inside.

And imdiately locked it behind him again.

"Hah..."

A sigh escaped him.

"Looks like nobody ca."

The room remained exactly as he had left it.

The door was untouched.

The bed was untouched.

No signs of anyone entering.

Rey dropped onto the mattress and finally focused on the notifications that had been appearing repeatedly since leaving the smithy.

"What now..."

Several panels appeared before his eyes.

The mont he read them, his eyes widened.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

[Inventory has been scanned... Found Category: Weapon(s).]

[Ability, ⟪Dark Arsenal⟫, has detected compatible weapon slots.]

[Do you wish to bind the weapons to the Arsenal?

Note: Unbound weapons will not receive Arsenal effects.]

Rey instantly rembered the forgotten feature of his ability.

The very feature he had lost access to when his previous arsenal was destroyed.

His smile widened.

"Hmm... bind them."

"If this works, I'll be carrying around so terrifying toys."

[Binding in progress...]

[Arsenal registration completed.]

[Effects applied.]

───◈ Arsenal ◈───

Sword: Twinedge Blade {Stage 3 (Low)↑}

Dagger/Knives: Blood Set {Stage 3 (Low)↑}

Spear: Blackscale Spear {Stage 3 (Low)}

Shield: Ironbon Bulwark {Stage 3 (Low)↑}

Bow: Boneflex Recurve Bow {Stage 2 (Low)↑}

Greatsword: Howlcleaver {Stage 2 (High)↑}

Hand-to-Hand: Stormweave Gauntlets {Stage 1 (Mid)↑}

Gun: Ironbrand Pistol {Stage 1 (Peak)↑}

Hamr: Tremor Maul {Stage 2 (Low)↑}

Katana: Silent Fang {Stage 2 (Low)↑}

───◈◈◈◈◈───

Rey's grin beca impossible to suppress.

His shoulders trembled.

He nearly shouted.

"Four Stage 3 weapons..."

"Four Stage 2 weapons..."

"And two Stage 1 weapons..."

His excitent exploded.

"YAHOO!"

If Rastin knew what had just happened...

If he knew every Peak Stage 2 weapon he forged had beco a Stage 3 weapon...

The blacksmith would probably faint on the spot.

Rey suddenly rembered sothing.

Curious, he extended his hand.

A dark ripple erged from his shadow.

The handle of his newly upgraded sword appeared.

The mont Rey pulled it free, his eyes widened.

The weapon had changed.

Completely.

Its blade was noticeably longer.

The structure looked denser.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

The bandages wrapped around it had already split apart due to the transformation.

The sword now looked like an entirely different weapon.

A true Stage 3 armant.

Rey carefully brushed a finger across its edge.

A tiny cut instantly appeared.

A bead of blood surfaced.

Then vanished as his regeneration healed it imdiately.

His grin widened again.

"This thing is insane..."

He tried lifting the sword.

Then instantly realised another problem.

The weight had increased dramatically.

Using both hands, he managed to raise it.

His expression changed.

"Wait..."

The sword felt almost as heavy as the Blackscale Spear.

Before he could properly adjust—

His balance broke.

"Oh shi—"

The sword slipped downward.

Rey jumped back.

The floor survived.

The nearby shelf did not.

CRASH!

Wood exploded apart.

Items of the shelf scattered across the room.

The entire shelf collapsed.

Silence.

Rey stared.

Then looked at the destroyed furniture.

"Oh sh*t..."

He imdiately stored the sword away.

Footsteps sounded outside.

Fast.

Very fast.

A mont later, the door opened.

The Head Butler entered first.

Both servants followed behind.

"Young Master!"

"What happened?"

"Should I inform Lord Hosric?"

The Head Butler looked around the room with concern.

Rey imdiately pointed toward a dagger lying nearby.

"It was my fault."

"I was testing one of my daggers and accidentally hit the shelf."

The Head Butler looked at the destroyed furniture.

Then at Rey.

Then back at the shelf.

A long sigh escaped him.

"Hah..."

"Young Master, if you wish to test weapons, nobody is stopping you from using the underground training room."

"Master Hosric would probably have a heart attack if he saw this room."

Rey awkwardly scratched his cheek.

The bed sheets were hanging halfway off the bed.

The shelf was destroyed.

Items were scattered everywhere.

The room looked as though a storm had passed through it.

"I'll rember that."

"Can soone clean this up?"

"I'll go train downstairs."

Before anyone could say anything else, Rey slipped away.

The Head Butler watched him leave.

Then looked at the disaster zone.

"..."

He rubbed his forehead.

"Clean this ss."

"And bring a new shelf."

The servants imdiately got to work.

anwhile, Rey escaped downstairs before anyone could question him further.

As he entered the living area, he noticed the television was already running.

The tournant broadcast filled the screen.

Rey slowed his steps.

Then stopped completely.

His eyes locked onto the display.

The final match of the day was already underway.

And the two figures standing in the arena were enough to draw anyone's attention.

One wielded a spear.

The other carried enormous weights as weapons.

Gravion.

Ben.

Two of the tournant's greatest dark horses.

The battle raged fiercely across the arena.

And for the first ti in a long while—

Even Rey couldn't predict the outco.