Avryn had the blade held high, its energy reached its apex, and it came crashing down upon the boar splitting its entire body in half. They succeeded the gauntlet. Thirty seconds shy after the six minute record.

  Fyllbar turned to Avryn,

  “Such awesome power indeed. Even I can see it is first before my laser powered hammer,” he praised.

  Avryn stood up. His chest was heaving as sweat poured down from his back. He praised all the members for their roles in this victory. The simulation ended, and they went out with perfect scores.

  Harver was the first to greet Avryn,

  “Seems team Leifren has won again. I counted,” he said.

  “Oh, you can?” Avryn jested.

  The two shared a handshake for a job well done. Class ended after half an hour had passed. Avryn excused himself and went back to exploring the campus. He had something in mind. He pulled out his pistols Olga and Wiseman Jankins. He slung them around his fingers,

  “I think you two need a tune up, and I know exactly who I can call,” he looked towards the nearby classrooms.

  The support classes had just finished.

  “Just in time,” he stowed away his pistols before proceeding.

  He caught up with Jenki Kairos, the senior support class trainee. The two shared lunch together, sharing their stories. It was a lively scene to enjoy. Good food, good smells, and good mood factored into a delightful start to the afternoon.

  Avryn told Jenki of his proposal. He wanted to improve his pistols. He pulled out his twin pistols and laid it for Jenki to prepare. Jenki examined the pistols extensively.

  “Hmm, there is one way I could think of but--”

  “Let’s hear it,” Avryn answered for him.

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  Jenki could improve the pistols to have them shoot special magic bullets. Avryn also had a couple more specifications in mind. He wanted to increase the damage for Olga, while an increased magazine capacity for Jankins. Jenki took note of that.

  He told Avryn they could find free parts in his usual place: the slums.

  “You know where that is?” he asked.

  “I’ve been there before, yeah,” Avryn replied.

  “They have a junkyard, real big. We can find the parts we need there,” he pointed out.

  Avryn contemplated it. Free parts were better. He was tight on money right now. Jenki offered to do it for free. He liked the experience more than the currency. The two made their plans to go there in the morning.

  They met Haley as they arrived to the slums. Jenki introduced her to Avryn.

  “That’s alright, I know her already,” Avryn pointed out.

  “Oh, really?” Jenki was surprised.

  “We did each other a favor, long story” Haley reminisced.

  Jenki cleared his throat before he told Haley of their intentions here. She took a look at Avryn’s pistols.

  “They look good to me,” she observed its firing mechanism.

  “I’d like it to be better,” Avryn replied.

  “You should talk to the elder, they have the key to the junkyard,” Haley escorted them.

  The three successfully obtained the elder’s blessing and his key. They moved to the junkyard’s entrance and opened it. Jenki had a question in his mind since yesterday. He asked Avryn of his interest in magic.

  Avryn replied, his reasoning had multiple perspectives. He simply wanted to know how magic worked in this world plus, having the option to be able to use it was a good tactical option to have.

  “I’m no mage but I know having the most weapons at your disposal is always good,” he added.

  Jenki was satisfied with his answer. Haley stopped them from proceeding. She placed her finger on her lips. They all heard the rummaging and talking from another party. Nobody could enter the junkyard without the key, so someone must had come inside another way.

  “Fucking hell, we’ve been here for hours and still nothing,” a scavenger complained.

  “We’ve already made a hole in this place, there has to be something that’s worth doing this,” the second’s voice was filled with anxiety.

  “No one’s come yet, but we need to hurry up,” a third voice chimed in.

  Avryn turned to face Jenki, and they both nodded. A fight was to be had. Avryn touched his necklace and it transformed into gunblade form. Jenki pulled out his wrench. Haley saw this and searched for a pipe to help with the fight.

  Avryn stood up and ran to the source of the scavenger’s voices. His presence frightened them for a moment. They all pulled out their guns.

  “You’re outnumbered here, chum!” the first threatened.

  “Who says something about being outnumbered?” Jenki replied.

  He and Haley came up to flank them.

  “A fine hole you made there,” he gestured.

  A section of the fence housing the junkyard was ripped open by strong cutters.

  “We could charge you for trespassing,” Haley exclaimed.

  “Ha, and who would come to the help of slum rats like you?” the second scoffed.

  “I don’t know about you but me and my friend here are two bonafide students from the Academy,” Avryn touted.

  He charged straight ahead and gave one scavenger a flying knee. It knocked him out near instantaneously. Jenki knocked out the second one with a nice whack on the head. Haley straight up knocked the man out the same way.

  Haley wrangled up the scavengers to put them to justice. She said the elder will see to it. She left the two of them to their devicess. It took a few hours but it was enough to find the parts Jenki needed to upgrade the pistols. Avryn prepared to move but Jenki assured him he could upgrade it here, he had his toolbox readied.

  Avryn disassembled his guns. Jenki helped put it together with the new parts. He pulled out two magic bullets. These bullets had traces of the magic crystals mixed in. Avryn did the practice shots. Each shot encased a piece of junk in ice. The magic bullets left an almost flavored smoke as they got fired from the guns. It had a minty flavor to it. Avryn was satisfied. They bid goodbye to Haley as the scavengers were sentenced by the slums’ folks: community service by way of fixing the hole by the junkyard. A few heavies “persuaded” them to get to work.

  Avryn looked at Jenki’s handiwork. This would help him in future battles to come.