Dual Destiny: I Am The Special One

Luke led Kyoji out of the office and down the hallway, their destination a mystery to Kyoji as he trailed behind.

As he walked, Kyoji finally had a chance to really look at the renowned weaponsmith. Luke was tall, about six feet, but his back was slightly hunched. He was thin, not in a concerning way, but not what one might expect from someone who had forged countless weapons throughout their life.

Luke stopped abruptly, almost causing Kyoji to bump into him.

"Here we are," he muttered, pulling open a massive door and ushering Kyoji inside.

The room was cavernous and bare. Hard metal encased the floor and walls, leaving no windows. Bright bulbs illuminated every corner.

"Let's see it," Luke said.

"Hmm," Kyoji murmured with a nod, summoning his spatial ring. With a soft pop, the enormous carcass of a frog-like mutant materialized on the floor.

"Wow, that's a big one!" Luke grinned, pushing his goggles over his eyes. He crouched beside the mutant's body, examining it closely.

Not wanting to interrupt, Kyoji stepped back and watched as Luke seemingly conjured tools from thin air. Some he used to prod the beast's hide, others for purposes Kyoji couldn't even guess.

An hour flew by before Luke finally straightened up, turning towards Kyoji.

"Come with me," he said, leading him back towards his office.

Luke muttered to himself as they walked, like a man possessed by his craft. Kyoji wisely chose not to interrupt, simply following in his wake.

Back in the office, Luke settled into his chair and began making adjustments to the sketches he had shown Kyoji earlier, even adding new ones to the pile. Two hours later, he finally pushed the stack of blueprints across the table.

"Take your pick," he said, then moved towards a fireplace in the corner. With a pair of tongs, he retrieved a glowing piece of metal and began hammering it with practiced ease.

Kyoji stared at the blueprints in shock. Every single one, even the original design, had been elevated to a Unique level weapon. This was unheard of. The mutant he had brought in wasn't even a fully Corrupted level mutant yet.

Kyoji had killed it before it could fully transform, making it merely quasi-Corrupted.

One should know that a unique level weapons typically required a corrupted level mutant corpse.

'It really pays to work with a master,' Kyoji thought, a wave of gratitude washing over him.

'I owe Frederick one for this.'

With his shock gone he carefully examined the blueprints, searching for the perfect set.

His eyes finally settled on a design for full body armor, complete with strategically placed spikes for added protection and offensive capabilities. A matching sword and pair of daggers completed the set. He gathered the chosen blueprints and approached Luke, intending to show him his selection.

Luke, however, was completely absorbed in his work, waving Kyoji off without even looking up. Kyoji chuckled to himself and returned to the table. He placed the rejected blueprints in a neat pile and weighed down his chosen designs with a heavy book, ensuring they wouldn't be disturbed. Then, he scribbled down his contact information for Luke before quietly slipping out of the office, which was now uncomfortably warm from the furnace.

By the time Kyoji exited the Ironrune Hunter's Guild building, the sun was already high in the sky. He had spent several hours with Luke, and it was now well past two in the afternoon.

Kyoji hopped onto his motorcycle and headed straight for the Human Alliance headquarters in the inner city. He needed to register as an official chosen, recognized and protected by the government.

He had already undergone the Blessing Ritual, which automatically placed him under the Human Alliance's jurisdiction. However, there was still paperwork to fill out and details to finalize to avoid complications in three months when he applied for his Hunter's license.

With his registration underway, Kyoji made his way to Bastion Academy. His application, delayed due to his hospital stay, needed to be submitted. Fortunately, the recent beast horde attack had pushed back the academy term by a month. This gave students time to recover, both physically and emotionally, from the traumatic event.

By the time Kyoji finished his errands, evening had descended upon the city. He arrived home as the sky began to fade from a brilliant blue to a dusky purple. After a quick refreshment break, he joined Courtney and Jasper for dinner. The meal was a quiet affair, and soon, Kyoji excused himself and headed to his room for a good night's sleep.

He noticed several skill books neatly stacked on his bedside table, courtesy of Butler James. It seemed his note from earlier had been received. However, fatigue outweighed curiosity, and Kyoji slipped under the covers, drifting off almost immediately.

The next morning, Kyoji woke up and went about his usual routine – a rigorous workout followed by a refreshing shower. Donning a fresh set of clothes, he settled on the edge of his bed and began examining the skill books Butler James had procured.

The first book he picked up contained an F-tier skill called [Kinetic Redirection]. This passive skill allowed the user to slightly alter the trajectory of incoming attacks by manipulating their own momentum. While not strong enough to completely deflect or redirect a blow, it could mean the difference between a crippling hit and a glancing blow.

'A good defensive skill for weaker attacks,' Kyoji thought, setting the book aside.

The second book also detailed a passive skill, this one a D-tier ability called [Adaptive Physiology]. This intriguing skill enabled the user's body to slowly adapt to challenges and hardships. For example, prolonged exposure to cold would increase cold resistance. Surviving a powerful blow would gradually toughen the skin. Enduring intense heat would build fire resistance, and so on.

'Nice,' Kyoji mused, impressed.

This was a skill with tremendous potential, though not widely used. The reason was simple: [Adaptive Physiology] demanded a great deal of mental fortitude. The process of adaptation involved pain, sometimes excruciating pain. However, Kyoji understood the value of such an ability. With enough willpower and endurance, one could theoretically reach incredible levels of resilience.

Setting the [Adaptive Physiology] book down, Kyoji moved on to the third, which contained an E-tier skill called [Echo Strike]. As the name implied, this active skill allowed the user to unleash a weaker echo of their physical attacks. Imagine a phantom punch or a delayed kick, mirroring the user's movements.

The final book contained an E-tier scouting skill called [Augmented Senses]. This skill allowed the user to temporarily heighten one of their senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch – to an almost supernatural level. However, this enhancement came at a cost. While one sense was amplified, the others were slightly dulled.

Kyoji nodded in satisfaction, pleased with the assortment of skill books before him. He wasn't overwhelmed with quantity, but they covered a good range – attack, defense, and utility. Now, all he needed was equipment to enhance his agility. With limited energy reserves, he had to be strategic about his fighting style. After all, having multiple skills without the energy to fuel them was like owning a luxurious car with an empty gas tank – impressive but useless.

Content with his current acquisitions, Kyoji turned his attention to learning the new skills. Picking up one of the books, he focused his mind on its pages. Almost instantly, a screen materialized before his eyes.

┏༻❁༺┓

SKILL BOOK DETECTED:

[Kinetic Redirection (F-tier)]

Would you like to learn?

[Yes/No]

┗༻❁༺┛

Without hesitation, Kyoji mentally selected "Yes." The book erupted in a burst of white flames, quickly turning to ash that scattered in the gentle breeze flowing through his room.

He repeated the process for the other three skill books, each one vanishing in a similar blaze of light.

With the skill books absorbed, it was time for Kyoji to focus on his next objective – exploring the depths of his newly awakened talent.