Chapter 10: Weapons of Choice

  Leo tossed and turned in his bed, sleep eluding him as his mind churned with possibilities. The concept of being untethered from karma fascinated him. If what Altan said was true, he possessed an immunity that few in this world could claim.

  But how do I actually use this in cultivation? he wondered, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. Would I somehow inflict bad karma on opponents during fights? Create karmic debts that can't touch me? The concept feels too abstract.

  He rolled onto his side, watching moonlight stream through his window. Two moons cast twin shadows across his floor, reminding him how far he was from home.

  Altan always speaks in riddles and hints. He shows me possibilities without telling me the path.

  Images from the gambling house replayed in his mind, Altan casually manipulating the wheel, completely undetected by the karma charms. The implications were profound.

  I'm beginning to see the bigger picture. First Brother must have used this quality to revolutionize cultivation. I need to find my own way to apply it.

  When morning finally came, Leo rose with purpose. His mind settled on one practical step, if he couldn't yet harness his unique quality through cultivation, he could at least develop physical skills. The practice sword Renzo had given him reminded him there was more than one way to grow stronger.

  The morning air felt crisp against his skin as he walked toward Fourth Brother's forge. Steam and smoke billowed from the chimney, indicating Kaelin was already hard at work despite the early hour.

  Leo approached the heavy wooden door, hesitating before knocking. His interactions with Kaelin had been minimal so far, limited to awkward nods and the occasional grunt.

  How do I even start a conversation with someone who barely speaks?

  He knocked three times, the sound barely audible over the rhythmic hammering from within. When no response came, he knocked again, louder.

  The hammering stopped. Silence fell over the forge, stretching into uncomfortable seconds. Just as Leo considered leaving, the door swung open.

  Kaelin filled the doorway, his massive frame blocking the light from within. His thick beard was flecked with soot, and heat radiated from his body like a furnace. His eyes, deep-set beneath heavy brows, studied Leo with an unreadable expression.

  "Fourth Brother," Leo began, suddenly unsure how to phrase his request. "I was hoping you might have weapons I could use for training. Swords, spears, anything suitable for a beginner. And maybe some guidance on how to use them?"

  Kaelin stared at him without blinking. Leo shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the silence growing more uncomfortable with each passing moment. Sweat beaded on his forehead, partly from the heat radiating from the forge and partly from the awkward interaction.

  "I... I can come back later if you're busy," Leo offered, already taking a half-step backward.

  Kaelin finally moved, placing his hammer on a nearby anvil with surprising gentleness. His massive shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath before he wiped his hands on a cloth tucked into his apron. The meticulous care with which he treated his tools contrasted sharply with his gruff demeanor.

  Without a word, he gestured for Leo to enter. The massive blacksmith moved with unexpected grace for someone of his size, leading Leo through the main forge area. The space was a testament to organized chaos—tools hung in precise arrangements on the walls, materials sorted by type and size, yet the floor was littered with metal shavings and coal dust.

  Glowing furnaces radiated intense heat as they passed. Tables held projects in various stages of completion: a delicate chain of interconnected metal links no thicker than fishing line; what appeared to be a gauntlet with tiny gears visible beneath its surface; a simple-looking knife blade that somehow drew the eye despite its unremarkable appearance.

  They approached a heavy door at the back of the forge. The wood looked ancient, reinforced with metal bands and marked with symbols that reminded Leo of circuit diagrams.

  "Don't train," Kaelin stated flatly, his voice a rumbling bass that seemed to vibrate the air. His thick fingers traced one of the symbols, which glowed briefly at his touch.

  Leo nodded in understanding, relieved to finally receive clear communication. "That's fair. I wouldn't want to impose. I can figure out the basics myself."

  Kaelin gave him a look that Leo couldn't quite interpret, perhaps approval, perhaps merely acknowledgment. Then he pushed the door fully open, revealing a darkened space beyond.

  Light bloomed without apparent source as the door swung wide, illuminating a vast chamber that defied physical possibility. The room stretched at least three times the external dimensions of the entire forge building, with ceilings so high they disappeared into shadow. The walls seemed to curve slightly at their edges, creating an impression of standing inside an enormous sphere.

  Weapons, countless weapons of every imaginable design, lined the walls in meticulous arrangements. Swords, spears, axes, and implements Leo couldn't even name hung in organized rows, each gleaming as though recently polished despite the apparent absence of regular use. The air felt different here too, cooler, drier, and charged with subtle energy that raised goosebumps on Leo's arms.

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  This place is massive. It must be enhanced with spatial techniques like the ones Second Sister uses.

  The sight of so many weapons took Leo's breath away. He stepped into the armory, turning slowly to take in the overwhelming collection.

  "Anything," Kaelin said from the doorway, his voice so unexpected that Leo nearly jumped.

  "I can choose any of these?" Leo asked, eyes wide with wonder.

  Kaelin nodded once, then turned and walked away, leaving Leo alone among the countless weapons.

  The door closed with a soft thud, leaving Leo in stunned silence. He hadn't even noticed Kaelin leaving, so captivated was he by the vast arsenal surrounding him.

  This isn't just a storage room. It's an armory fit for an entire army.

  Leo walked slowly along the first row, fingers trailing near the hilts of swords that varied from simple and functional to elaborately decorated. He lifted one with a plain steel blade, surprised to find it felt practically weightless in his hand. The balance was perfect, as though the weapon had been crafted specifically for him.

  Near the back of the room stood several metal training dummies clad in various types of armor. Leo approached one, testing the sword's weight with a few experimental swings.

  If it's this light, I should be able to move faster with it.

  With a confident motion, he struck the armored dummy. The impact sent vibrations racing up his arm so intense that he nearly dropped the sword. The metal rang with a clear tone, and the dummy remained unmarked.

  "Incredible," Leo muttered, flexing his tingling fingers. "Better be cautious with these."

  He replaced the sword and continued exploring, testing different weapons as he went. A broadsword with an ornate hilt. A slender rapier that moved like an extension of his arm. A massive battle axe that should have been impossible to lift but felt like a feather in his grip.

  While testing the broadsword with a particularly enthusiastic swing, Leo nearly knocked over an entire shelf of smaller weapons. He steadied himself quickly, heart pounding.

  Steady hands, Leo. Wouldn't want to destroy this place after the trust Kaelin placed in me.

  The variety bewildered him. One section held weapons he'd never seen before: metal fans with razor edges, gauntlets with protruding blades, whips made of linked metal segments, and chains with weighted ends.

  Leo picked up one of the fans, opening it with a flick of his wrist. The metal leaves spread to reveal intricate engravings. He struck a dramatic pose, pretending to dance while wielding the deadly accessory.

  "No way I want to use these," he laughed at himself, carefully returning the fan to its place.

  The spear section caught his attention next. Dozens of polearms lined the wall, from simple spears with steel tips to elaborate halberds with curved blades and decorated shafts. Leo lifted one, marveling at how the lengthy weapon felt no heavier than a broomstick.

  This must be because of Kaelin's craftsmanship. No ordinary blacksmith could create weapons like these.

  He tested the spear with both hands, spinning it in front of him like he'd seen in movies, pretending to deflect imaginary attacks.

  Overwhelmed by choices, Leo wandered deeper into the armory, absently picking up a shorter spear that seemed oddly proportioned. The shaft was barely longer than his arm, with a slender blade at the tip.

  This seems too short to be useful. Maybe it's defective?

  The moment the thought formed in his mind, the spear began to change. The shaft extended smoothly, growing longer in his hand. Leo watched with amazement as it stretched to twice, then three times its original length, continuing until it reached nearly six meters.

  "Stop, stop, stop!" he exclaimed in panic.

  The growth ceased immediately. Leo stared at the weapon, now impossibly long yet still balanced perfectly in his hand.

  Return to the original size, he thought cautiously, not speaking aloud.

  As if responding to his mental command, the spear contracted back to its previous dimensions. Leo gasped in delight, testing the transformation again with his thoughts. The spear extended and retracted perfectly each time.

  This is incredible. A weapon that responds to thoughts alone?

  Leo spent several minutes testing the spear's capabilities, finding he could control not just its length but also the precise rate of extension. He could make it grow gradually or snap to full length in an instant. The balance remained perfect regardless of its configuration.

  Despite his excitement, Leo hesitated. The choice of a weapon shouldn't be made on novelty alone.

  I should try everything before deciding. This might not be the right fit for my fighting style, whatever that turns out to be.

  He reluctantly set the transforming spear aside and continued his exploration of the armory. A section of curved blades caught his attention, scimitars and sabers with elegant lines that promised swift, flowing movements. He tested several, finding each perfectly balanced but none that spoke to him quite like the extending spear had.

  Next came a wall of exotic weapons, three-sectioned staffs, meteor hammers, and bladed chakrams. Leo carefully lifted a chakram, admiring the deadly beauty of the circular blade.

  These require specialized training. I'd probably cut my own fingers off trying to use one.

  He returned to the more conventional weapons, methodically testing daggers, short swords, and even a massive war hammer that felt impossibly light in his hands. Each weapon had unique qualities, but none offered the versatility of the extending spear.

  After nearly an hour of comparisons, Leo found himself drawn back to the spear that had first captured his interest. He picked it up again, feeling its comfortable weight in his palm.

  This gives me range, versatility, and surprise. An opponent wouldn't expect the sudden extension.

  He ran through a series of experimental movements, lunging and retreating while extending and contracting the weapon. The mental control felt natural, almost as if the spear were reading his intentions before he fully formed them.

  If I'm going to learn a weapon from scratch, why not one that offers advantages others don't have?

  Leo performed one final test, rapidly extending the spear toward a distant dummy, then contracting it in the same fluid motion. The movement felt right, like the weapon had been waiting for him.

  This is it. Even if there might be more powerful weapons here, this one suits me.

  Decision finally made with careful consideration, Leo carried his chosen weapon back through the armory. The vast collection of arms seemed to watch him pass, like silent sentinels acknowledging his choice.

  He found Kaelin at his anvil, hammering a glowing piece of metal into shape. The rhythmic strikes echoed through the forge, creating a hypnotic cadence that seemed to bend time itself.

  "Thank you, Fourth Brother," Leo called out, raising the spear for Kaelin to see. "Your armory is amazing. So many powerful weapons, but this one speaks to me."

  Kaelin paused his work, studying the weapon in Leo's hands with an intensity that made Leo momentarily question his choice. The blacksmith's deep-set eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts.

  "All trash."

  Leo paused, looking down at the remarkable spear in his hands. "This is trash?"

  Kaelin didn't respond, focused entirely on the metal taking form beneath his hammer. Leo stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

  If this is what Kaelin considers trash, what must his masterpieces be like?

  Leo gave the spear an experimental twirl, watching with satisfaction as it extended slightly at his mental command. Whatever Kaelin thought of it, Leo had found his weapon.