The Vindicator

"What's this?" Arnold saw a new tab next to the <FORGE > tab. He selected the tab and it was called as <MODIFICATION >. Inside the tab, there was a single blueprint called [SWIPE SHOT] but it was greyed out. No details were given either. When he tried to select it, a message popped up.

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<Error! >

Level and rank requirements not met. Please increase your level before using this modification on your weapon.

Level requirement : 65+ (not achieved)

Rank requirement : B+ or above (not achieved)

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"Level 65! You got to be kidding me." He nearly got killed and could only level up to 30 and this modification required him to be 65, more than twice his current level! "So this was the second random reward for defeating the boss. But it looks like I won't be able to use this modification for a while. Good thing I've got my enhancement skill, at least I will be able to do some improvements to the weapons by using it."

He then opened the <FORGE > tab, and thankfully, [VINDICATOR] wasn't greyed. A detailed description of it was given there as well. He selected the blueprint and the interface changed immediately, and was replaced with a big blue circle with 3 black squares hovering around it and below them was a list of different items.

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Items required to construct a [VINDICATOR] :

• Steel (1.9kg)

• Aluminum (0.75 kg)

• 15 <basic beast> crystals

• 1 <Red soul> crystal

<Only the items stored in inventory can be used during forging process>

<Some of the required items are available in shop>

Important information :

<Basic grade> Enchanted bullets are available in the shop and can be bought after forging : [VINDICATOR]

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"You never informed me I had an inventory!" he exclaimed, "I can find most of the materials like steel and aluminum easily in the guild's storage. Looks like I can't make the bullets myself for now, though there must be some kind of blueprint for it as well, the shop is the only way to obtain them for now. Basic beast crystals are easily available too, I even have 6 of these in my personal storage and with the money I have, I can either buy the rest online or from the black market. The only thing is... I don't know where the hell I can find a <Red soul> crystal."

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<Red soul> crystal can be obtained by slaying monsters having Rank A or above.

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Arnold's face turned pale. He had defeated an A ranked monster, so it must have dropped one of these crystals. The only problem was that it must have been picked up by someone like the other crystals and most probably the person who picked it has already sold it to the guild or to someone else.

As he was lost in the thought, Alice and EL entered his hospital room. Alice was wearing a black tank top coupled with blue Jeans while EL was wearing a red jacket over his white T-shirt and black ripped jeans.

"Good morning Arnold." Alice said cheerfully, "How are you feeling today?"

"Oh, I'm good. The doctor informed me that I can leave in the evening." Arnold smiled back at her.

"That was quick, considering the situation you were in." EL said.

"Guess I'm lucky after all. What are you carrying by the way?" Arnold asked EL.

"Actually it's something for you." he replied, handing Arnold the silver colored spherical container. "The monster dropped it after we defeated it, so I picked it up."

Arnold opened the container and saw something red inside it. He immediately used his [PROBE] skill on it.

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OBJECT : <Red soul> crystal

TYPE : Beast crystal

GRADE : A

REMARK : Extremely rare beast crystal, can only be obtained by killing a beast/monster of rank A or above. Important component in many weapons and armours.

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"Consider it a gift for saving my life, and don't worry. The vice president has no issues with you having it. Crystals like this are quite rare you can earn quite a fortune if you auction it." EL continued, "So what are you planning to do with it?"

"Um... I think I'll keep it as a keepsake to remind me of my first dungeon experience as a warrior." Technically, Arnold wasn't lying. He'll use it to forge the [VINDICATOR] and planned on keeping it with him for a very long time.

"A... keepsake huh?" EL's mouth twitched, to him it felt like he wasted a rare treasure by giving it someone who didn't care for the importance and the value of it but he kept this to himself and carried on, "If you ever change your mind just let me know, I know a guy who'll pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for it."

Hundred thousand dollars! what he wouldn't be able to buy from that kind of money! He wouldn't even need to worry about Nicole's medication anymore either... but then he'll be able to earn the money by clearing the dungeons and having a weapon would help him a lot. Both had their pros and cons. However after thinking for a while he decided he won't sell the crystal and make the weapon. After chatting for a while, EL thanked him once again and left the room.

"You're not leaving?" Arnold asked Alice.

She shook her head and replied, "Dad told me to help you get your stuff into your new apartment. A car is waiting for us outside, I'll just go and ask the doctor if you can leave now."

"Thanks but really, you should go. There's not much stuff for me to carry either way."

"No matter what you say, I'm coming with you and that's final." She said with a pouted face.

"Alright alright, I'll get ready." he smiled.

*****

AN HOUR LATER

"And that's the last box." Arnold said putting the last box of his belongings into his new apartment.

"And here's the box of materials you wanted." Alice replied handing the materials to him. "I'm still confused why do you need these? If you want a weapon the guild can provide it to you."

While he was collecting his things from his old shack, Arnold had asked Alice if she could get some steel and aluminum plates from the guild's storage, to which she happily agreed and left. After arranging his belongings, he then went to Jacob and bought 9 basic beast crystals from him for 540 dollars. After the purchase he headed towards the address Alice had given him.

"Nothing special. Thanks for the help though!"

"Don't mention it. Since you're all set, I'll take your leave. See you tomorrow, bye!"

"Bye." Arnold replied and closed the door and looked around.

From the outside the apartment looked lavish. It was built with brown bricks and had brown stone decorations. Many tall, rounded windows added to the overall style of the apartment. The apartment was equipped with an old-fashioned kitchen and two bathrooms, a small living room, two bedrooms, and a large dining room.

The building was shaped like an L. The extension extended into a covered patio reaching until the end of that side of the apartment. The high and rounded roof was covered with brown wood shingles. One large chimney sat at the side of the house. All in all, it looked like a mansion when compared to his previous shack.

He opened his inventory and placed the steel and aluminum inside the small black circle. He had already added the beast crystals, his ability books and affinity scrolls to his inventory. After this he opened the <FORGE > tab, selected the [VINDICATOR] blueprint and added the materials in their respective blocks and started the forging process.

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Proceed to forge : [VINDICATOR]?

• Yes or • No

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"Yes."

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Forging has been started.

Estimated time to complete forging : 5 hours.

You'll be notified once forging is completed. The crafted items would be stored in your inventory.

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After seeing the confirmation, Arnold went outside to finish his daily quest.