Chapter 58: Preparations-2
[Calamity Impending: 21h:14m:31s]
Roy glanced at the ticking timer wistfully. Deep down, he was nervous. It was as though no matter how highly prepared he was, it wouldn’t be enough.
The looming sense of doom was stifling, and his sense of urgency was at an all-time high. He was resolved to use every resource in his capacity to win this fight.
"Master, we’re all here!" Richard’s voice rang out, breaking him from his thoughts.
Before him stood all high personnel under his command...
The five police captains.
His own K-9 companion Alpha (who wasn’t called, by the way, but liked staying around his master regardless).
The treasurer Ashley.
And the head of prisoners, Dio.
Yes, Dio was counted among his inner circle. All prisoners, willing or not, were undergoing the same drill as police officers. Resources were also being spent on them to raise their levels — after all, in the battle to come, even they would be participating.
"Good. I called you all here today for something very important."
Pausing for a bit, he continued, "In the upcoming battle, you all are going to be invaluable assets in the field — both taking commanding roles and powerhouse roles.
In short, losing any of you wouldn’t bode well for morale.
In light of this, I’ve decided to equip you all with special high-end weapons and equipment."
Roy’s words brought visible reactions from the bunch, their eyes lighting up with gleeful anticipation.
"So first of all, you guys will be donning these." Roy brought out a series of full-tech body armors.
All cast in different shades, pulsing with glowing inscriptions grafted across their surfaces.
This was one of the must-have items for this battle. Ethan had created bulks of full-body armors for the officers and the prisoners, as they would be at the forefront of battle.
He had gotten all the info the system had to offer on Variants, and one of their most dangerous factors — the system continuously warned him — was the fact that they were carriers of corruption.
According to the system, corruption was a force drastically parallel to ether.
Ether was a force for creation and life, and corruption was a force of endless destruction, chaos, and death.
These two forces were nemeses of each other, and both couldn’t dwell in the same shell. One would always override the other — and sadly, it was always ether that was eradicated if there ever was a struggle.
This caused the situation where a single bite, scratch from creatures of corruption, or even absorbing minuscule amounts of corruption would cause immediate stripping of all ether — along with rejection from the ether plains.
In short, if you got bitten or scratched, or if a direct energy attack plunged into your system, the Hunter or Lord in question would be immediately stripped of all rights to the ether plain — we’re talking Orders, inheritances, ether, territories — everything would be gone.
Which was why means of prevention had to be made. His whole army had to be protected from head to toe because of this very factor.
Roy quickly handed out all armors to their designated owners. Each armor was fully and thoughtfully chosen before being purchased by Roy — considering factors like Dio’s enlargement when transforming.
"Good. Now we have to arm you guys. First of all, a must-have weapon for all of you." Roy spoke as he brought out a series of plasma guns.
Weapons that could shoot out high-intensity beams — no need for ammo, just a steady ether supply and one would be good to go.
He gave them this first because unlike other guns, this was akin to unlimited ammo — as long as they remained in the confines of his territory, where his ether blessings would ensure running out of ether was almost impossible.
"And now, first — Richard, this is yours." After they each took their plasma guns, Roy brought out a massive LMG.
[Epic LMG: Holger of Disastrous Rain]
It was the fully automated light machine gun Holger — a beast in battle. This was a weapon built to be a mobile turret, spitting huge caliber bullets, with high mag capacity, unmatched damage dealing, and of course, an equally disastrous recoil.
This weapon Roy bought from the shop for a whopping 256,089 JP!
And it was worth it. He specifically chose this weapon for Richard, as the inheritor of the Legendary Machine Demon General — it specifically suited him.
Especially since he had a skill that stacked buffed damage during rapid fire.
Richard accepted the weapon with a beaming smile, his teeth in full display.
During his first battle, he could barely operate a machine turret without passing out. But now he had a chance to redeem himself. This was different from the past — his Lord fulfilled his promise and made him more than a mere builder, gave him a chance — and he would make sure that he never let his Lord down.
His grip around the heavy metal weapon tightened. Most Lords had never even gotten the opportunity to wield an Epic weapon — but here he was. Indeed, Boss is Mighty!
"Ashley, this is for you..." Roy had spent time thinking, and he couldn’t think of any weapon more fitting for her.
[Epic Shotgun: KRM Blazing Glory]
One of the weaknesses of a shotgun was its low fire rate and poor fire range. Aside from these, from its caliber to its absurdly high damage, the shotgun was an absurdly overpowered weapon — even back on Earth.
This was one of the categories of guns Roy loved so much.
Now paired with Ashley’s Blessings of Double — doubling the fire range, doubling the fire rate, doubling the damage... In short, the pair would be a menace.
And one shouldn’t take Ashley lightly. During the intense training and leveling session, she was among the few who broke past level 30 and was now at level 32. Added with her daily doubling perk... it was safe to say she was among the strongest in this bunch — only a bit short of Dio’s and Alpha’s unreasonable stats.
Ashley accepted the weapon with a beam, her eyes shining with resolve to battle. She had made a covenant with her Lord before he let her come under his banner.
And that promise — she intended to keep.
Her fair hands embraced the cold metal of the shotgun, and she felt it — her comprehension stirring along with her skill, Sun Burn Divine Scripture (SS). This weapon... it was perfect for her.
Roy eyed the gun meaningfully, pain hidden at the depths of his gaze. Just like that — 198,746 JP was gone!
Ah... my pocket... my heart... they hurt... so badly.
He sighed, turning his gaze onto Dio. "Your turn..."