Nightmare Mythos

The passing days felt very fast. It was really fast to the point that it will make an individual might've travelled to the future. One time, it was already a week. Then another Cesar had noticed a month had already passed.

Shocking. Not really. Most of their time was focused on self-study, more on reading textbooks, and less on communication with the instructors. From time to time, those teachers found a way to attend and teach students but it wasn't enough.

However, this is not surprising, really. Most of the students feel even glad that they were able to do this kind of resting where they only get to review workbooks and manage their new power dwelling within them.

There was a time when Cesar and the fourth-years spent a whole three months on their third year with only combat fighting styles, warfare tactics, different ways to eliminate a Nightmare, and more harmful ways to fight back the enemies of humanity. It was put to a test a month later when everyone was tasked to fight with their opponent.

So this situation was kind of a relief.

However, this false situation had to end now since there were only a couple of classes left to manage regarding the selection. Soon, the situation will turn back to normal.

It didn't take too long enough.

"How is everyone holding up?"

Arnold's complexion seemed to be coming back after weeks of busily managing the selection. Now, he was mostly relieved, gladdened even as if he was thinking this pressuring situation finally calming down.

Everyone gave different kinds of answers that made the class clamor noises that Arnold immediately put to a stop. After the class quieted down, he began setting up for the next part of the class.

"Right, today we'll be doing practical tests. It is a recurring assignment actually, something you've done already. But as always, we'll teach you everything that has to know. Actually, I'm not a big fan of it myself but whatever we can use will be used," Arnold paused, "Let's practice your marksmanship. Everyone gather up and move to the shooting range,"

Once the practical test was mentioned, almost everyone present groaned. Now that they have powers that can be called on their own while just practicing a bit of their Essence to ensure that their abilities might work, it should be the one they're focusing on.

Even Arnold finds it tedious, except for some people, Cesar included.

Once the marksmanship was mentioned, Cesar's eyes glinted with delight.

…

Humans are a very adaptable species hence they keep finding solutions to every problem they face. A millennium ago, Cesar read that the most powerful weapon in the entire world was a nuke. Something that can threaten a country by just pushing a piece of a button.

Now, even something like that didn't threaten Nightmares or Shaded. Well, Low-level Shaded might receive minor injuries but higher-level Shaded will be able to deflect that kind of damage, even suppress it. Worse of all, overpower something explosive.

Nukes are still being built today but they are means for defense.

Though it is absurd to say that they are going to practice nukes in a shooting range.

What other weaponry they are going to practice were specialized guns made by different people who are the expertise of their job making one called, Artificers.

"All right, listen. I'm going to brief you for a moment to refresh your mind,"

Arnold presented a board of specialized weapons inside of a glass box. Others were interested, taking their sweet time watching those expensive guns being used for demonstration while the other half were only listening to Arnold, knowing it would be disrespectful if they appeared not concentrating.

Cesar was the former.

After showing his students about the specialized guns, Arnold explained, "These are a few examples of specialized weapons that are helpful in combat. Different kinds of handguns, rifles, submachineguns… I'll just point my fingers at it. M-16, Ak-47, Heckler & Koch Ump, Steyr AUG… actually, screw it. it's just guns named derived after their original weapon so that it doesn't sound overbearing."

He paused, "Now, I'm sure that you know how to carry a normal gun or two. You've been exposed and trained to it. You even get to allow to shoot. But do you know what makes mundane weapons different from specialized guns? That training was for this moment after all,"

Arnold looked around, "Anyone? Someone?"

Some actually didn't know what to answer while others were trying to avoid Arnold's question by whispering amongst themselves or looking through above the high ceilings.

Arnold pretended to be clueless as he moved a little bit further and finally spotted someone who was engrossed in listening to such topics, evident within his eyes on listening and appeared to have an answer stored.

Though he was not raising his hands.

'I sometimes wonder whether you really are socially inept or not,' Arnold mused with a defeated chuckle before he called the person, "Cesar Sparrow. Care to tell me the difference?"

Surprised that he was called making Arnold think it was rather comical, Cesar got all the attention he received from his classmates, who completely ignored them.

Scratching the back of his head, Cesar let out a dry cough, "The difference between the two is the use of bullets. Mundane weapons can only use mundane bullets. Specialized weapons, on the other hand, can utilize both the mundane and specified bullets,"

"Correct. Thank you for the answer, Cesar," Arnold nodded before focusing on the topic at hand, "That's right. You might've known about guns such as how to use them, proper usage, or even arrange one but today, we're tackling the use of bullets,"

Arnold grabbed a wooden briefcase from below and put it on a stand where everyone would be able to see it. He unlocked the locks inside which were heavily sealed before showing it to his students.

"There are already various bullets invented with the use of emerging ingredients that spawned around the world. These bullets are its products. It is tested, manufactured, and globally used. I'm lucky enough to be able to show these to you,"

What is properly arranged in the wooden briefcase is the stacking order of intricately designed bullets. They omit an irresistible and eerie aura, presumably a result of countless experiments to perfect such a product. Each row came to have different kinds of colors, looking deadly and ready to be shot.

"These are called Demon Hunting Bullets. The military mostly monopolized it so that they could hand it over to ordinary soldiers. You thank all the big minds who were able to create something like this. One of these bullets will definitely be helpful for you. Each color had a name with a different purpose so be mindful of what to shoot or not."

Arnold then pointed his finger at the black demon hunting bullets before he continued pointing to different kinds of bullets.

"These dark bullets are called Piercing Shells. These yellow on the other hand is Sleeping Shells. Green for Poison Shells. Blue for Delirium Shells. Lastly, the red shells are called Burning Shells,"

Arnold then shook his head, "Anyone here who had common sense what those bullets meant but for practical purposes, I'll hand out materials for what they meant later. Let me see you guys shoot now."

Arnold moves around and gets another wooden briefcase which is slightly different since it wasn't sealed. He placed them right beside the demon-hunting bullets and showed the practice guns they were going to use which were all a real deal.

Five sets of intricately designed specialized revolvers are shown. Arnold picked up one revolver very carefully as if his life depended on it before looking for someone to use it for practice.

Nobody seemed interested until he landed on Cesar once again whose demeanor shifted very slightly, portraying that he wanted to try it first rather than anyone else.

He could understand his underlying excitement, knowing Cesar uses revolvers as one of his main weapons, setting his expertise in daggers aside.

'All right, you don't need to give me your silent enthusiasm. I was about to pick you anyway since your marksmanship is uncanny unlike others,'

Arnold then called out to his class, "Cesar Sparrow, would you like to do the honors?"

Cesar immediately stood up, surprise manifested on his clueless face once more before he let it be, knowing he had a job to do. Dashing towards Arnold, he immediately grabbed the revolver in his hand.

'Fascinating,'

Upon closer look, the revolver didn't resemble a normal gun. It was seven inches wide, and the muzzle appeared to be the mouth of a monster. Its barrel felt hard enough and can even be used to hit someone. The underlying precision of such creation used to create the weapon was phenomenal.

"Give me the bullets,"

Arnold chuckled, "Uhm, I have mundane bullets for you. These demon-hunting bullets… I had to pull some strings just to get it and managed to… you know, just show it to you guys."

Letting it pass through his ear onto another, Cesar grabbed one Piercing shells, feeling a shiver in response as if those bullets were alive.

Clank—!

Putting it on the cylinder, he clicked the hammer down before swiftly pointing it at a target mark meters away from their position.

Using two of his hands to assist himself, Cesar entirely put all his attention on the target for a brief moment before pulling the trigger.

Bang—!

All the happenings didn't take a minute before Cesar hit the bullseye mark. It was decisive, all action, less talking, showing that his skills regarding marksmanship didn't become rusty.

In fact, he felt it was even more powerful with this weapon and a bullet to be used for him as if he was deisgned to wield one.

'Can I exchange this with a few contribution points?'

Cesar wanted to let his thoughts out but after carefully considering it, he didn't ask Arnold.

After all, if he were ever to get something like a revolver when he'll about to waste resources, it's better to get something for his own.

'Though I don't mind having this for free,'

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