[ DING! Host has defeated his First Dungeon! Host is Rewarded with Soul Weapon Choice! ]

Albedo’s breath slowed as he read it. The Dungeon had entered its 24 hour cooldown until the monsters respawned. An exit portal swirled ahead, giving Albedo his pathway out.

However, Albedo remained focused on the System. Tapping on the reward given to accept it.

Once he accepted the reward, the light twisted around him. The clearing, the portal, the ashes all disappeared.

Sound vanished, scent vanished, even his sense of weight and direction seemed to dislodge from reality.

When Albedo opened his eyes again, he was standing in a void. There was no ground or sky, just an endless darkness stretching to infinity.

Then, they appeared, hundreds or thousands of floating weapons surrounded him. Each of them glowed faintly, pulsing as if asking Albedo to choose them.

From swords with runes burning blue, spears that shimmered in moonlight, battle axes, bows and more, all hovered, waiting.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Host has earned the right to manifest a Soul Weapon. Choose what fits your Will, and it shall be forged from your very essence. ]

Albedo stood silent for a moment, scanning the sea of armaments.

Soul Weapons were extremely rare in the Novel. Of course, despite being ‘rare’ all the main characters gained one throughout the Novel, but aside from them, barely anyone had Soul Weapons.

These kind of Weapons were firstly indestructible, and couldn’t be stolen. They were much more powerful than average weapons at the same tier, and increased in power alongside the wielder.

Most people couldn’t choose the form of their Soul Weapon, as it just matched what weapon they were destined for, so Albedo’s choice here was very important.

As he walked around the void and inspected some of the weapons, he noticed some that were cool.

Blades that would amplify his flames, polearms that would channel the Crimson Moon’s wrath. He even spotted a gauntlet that looked eerily like it could shatter planets with a punch.

But none of them felt right.

None of them… resonated.

Until he saw them.

Two weapons floated at the far edge of the void. Smaller than the others. Sleeker. Black and magenta, matte and deadly, glowing with an aura that felt… familiar.

Guns.

Guns were certainly a thing in Pandora, but were relatively unpopular for a variety of reasons. In the Novel, none of the main characters used guns, as they were seen as weaker weapons for many reasons.

Firstly, they didn’t pair well with most Mana Techniques, which already meant 90% of people would never be able to use them effectively.

Secondly, even if they paired well with a technique, they’d take 10x more effort to reap the same reward due to how they were designed.

Previously, guns used to have magazines back in previous eras, but blacksmiths realized this was an error, as it would essentially leave the handler without a weapon if they ran out of bullets.

So, all guns now use Mana from the user to charge bullets. However, this meant that wielders would run out of mana extremely quickly, meaning only those with an overwhelming Mana Pool could use guns.

But these issues wouldn’t apply to Albedo. His Crimson Moon Primordial Technique could fit any weapon, and his Mana Pool was massive considering his rank due to his physique and technique, meaning he could get the most out of the weapon.

Plus, these Twin Pistols seemed to be calling for him.

One with a deep, matte-black finish and jagged silver engravings coiled along the barrel.

The other, a sleek magenta piece, with a glimmering sheen like crystallized venom. Both pulsed with restrained violence.

Albedo’s breath caught and he reached out for them.

The moment he touched them, the void reacted.

A storm of energy surged around him. Thousands of weapons shivered, fading away into mist as if recognizing the choice had been made. The pistols shone like twin suns.

Then, came the names.

Etched into the sides of the weapons in ancient languages. Yet somehow, Albedo could read and understand the language.

HAVOC: The Black Pistol, heavy, brutal, and cold like judgment.

RUIN: The Magenta Pistol, sleek, mocking, beautiful and terrifying.

[ SOUL WEAPON SELECTED! Dual Soul Pistols: HAVOC & RUIN have been bound to Host’s soul. ]

[ Soul Weapon Perk: “Twin Tyranny” – Weapons can freely shift between five unique combat Modes. One mode per pistol. Host can swap modes during battle using his thoughts, no cooldown on mode swap. ]

Soul Weapon Modes:

Each pistol may shift into one of the following forms:

1 – Infernal Mode

Ammunition Type: Crimson Apocalypse Flames

Effect: Shots ignite upon impact, releasing explosive fire that swarms targets hit. Excellent for AoE destruction.

2 – Graviton Mode

Ammunition Type: Compressed Gravity Slugs

Effect: Bullets cause localized gravitational collapse. Small implosions that pull enemies inward like a gravity well.

3 – Mana-Drain Mode

Ammunition Type: Mana-Draining Shots

Effect: Bullets siphon enemy Mana on hit, refreshing Albedo’s Mana Pool based on damage dealt.

4 – Abyssal Mode

Ammunition Type: Anti-Abyssal Bullets

Effect: Bullets deal much increased damage to Abyssal Monsters and Abyssal Worshippers.

5 – Execution Mode

Ammunition Type: Special Death Bullets

Effect: Combines both pistols into a super sniper that only has 4 shots but deals massive damage. Each shot tracks enemies until they are hit or manage to dissolve the attack. The 4th shot is perfectly crafted, executing enemies who are injured enough.

***

After reading the effects of the weapons, Albedo smiled. Once he opened his eyes, he was back standing in the field of ash, the aftermath of the dungeon still around him.

However now, he had a pair of dual pistols in his grip. They didn’t feel like weapons, they felt like limbs, extension of his personal will, designed to do massive damage.

He holstered them at his sides and they vanished into dark light, stored within the soul space that only he could access.

Once he was done with everything, he entered the portal, going to pick up Gwen and head home.

***

LATER THAT DAY

Albedo and Gwen arrived home by the time the sun was beginning to go down, and the three moons were rising into the sky.

“Home sweet home,” Gwen sighed, stretching her arms above her head as they stepped inside.

Albedo tapped their mana lock, and the door opened with a soft click.

She kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the couch with a groan, “Wake me when it’s time to take over the world.”

Albedo chuckled, “Sure. I’ll leave a note.”

While she lounged, Albedo walked over to the compact desk nestled in the corner of the living room, activating his ManaMail Crystal, a floating, disk-shaped orb that pulsed once with blue light before displaying his inbox in a semi-holographic projection.

Dozens of minor notices appeared: Dungeon taxation laws updated… local Guilds recruitin

But one stood out immediately.

[ From: Zephyr Academy Administration ]

Subject: Entrance Exam Details – Albedo Neverwinter

Received: Today, 3:41 PM

He tapped the message, and the rest expanded into view:

Dear Mr. Albedo Neverwinter,

Congratulations on successfully completing your Awakening. We have received your request to apply for Zephyr Academy’s Fall Admissions.

Your entrance exam has been scheduled for:

Date: 14th July

Time: 8:00 AM

Location: Zephyr Academy Campus, Academy Testing Grounds

Please bring your official Awakening Record. The entrance exam will consist of the following:

– Combat Evaluation

– Theory Exam

Good luck, and may the stars guide your path

From: Zephyr Admissions Council

***

After having read the message, all Albedo could feel was excitement.

Two weeks, that was when the exam was, giving him more than enough time to get more control over his powers and get ready for it.

He knew he had to ace the exam. The students ranked the highest got the most resources which further increased the gap between them and the lower ranks.

It was truly a rich gets richer situation, and Albedo wasn’t about to let himself fall behind.

Plus, Zephyr Academy was where the plot took place, heck, it was in the title of the Novel.

The Protagonist, the villains and the heroines, most of them attended the school, and Albedo performing well in the exam would directly place him in their crosshair.

And this time, Albedo wouldn’t be a forgotten name in the background, but he didn’t care about that, to him, he needed this power to complete his vengeance.

With Havoc and Ruin in his arms, he was ready for any challenge!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep