The weapon floated down from midair, and with great reluctance, Jax raised his hand to grasp its handle. But to his surprise, this crossbow was enormous and heavy, dwarfing the other two he had obtained. Even holding it for a brief moment left him drained, his energy sapped by its sheer weight.
"A heavy crossbow this time, huh?" Jax muttered, his face turning grave. He adjusted his grip, holding the crossbow with the handle resting atop the weapon, as if designed to be lifted at waist-level.
First was a crossbow, then a light crossbow, and now a heavy crossbow...
Jax's mind reeled as he tried to wrap his head hard around the bizarre string of misfortunes that seemed to be plaguing him.
With a deep, resigned sigh, Jax's gaze fell upon the heavy crossbow. But his eyes locked onto it with a mix of awe and incredulity. His heart skipped a beat, and his grip on the crossbow tightened involuntarily. As he stared at the imposing weapon, his expression turned grave, and he swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry.
How intimidating.
As Jax's gaze roamed over the crossbow, his mind conjured a beastly ox with horns as twisted as its temperament. The crossbow's limbs sprouted from its body like the ox's horns, robust and unyielding. Two great horns, reminiscent of an elephant's mighty ivory, protruded from the crossbow's front, curving upward in a menacing sweep, their tips sharpened to a deadly point. And at the flight groove's terminus, two smaller horns curved outward, like the gleaming tusks of a primal boar, guarding the path of the bolts with ferocious precision.
The heavy crossbow radiated sheer strength, unbridled power, and unrelenting destruction, its very existence seeming to serve a singular purpose.
To bring forth wailing cries of destruction and agony.
However, the massive crossbow was indeed a behemoth of its kind, its enormity matched only by its unwieldy weight. It was a struggle to maneuver, its bulk making every movement a laborious effort. Jax couldn't help but wonder if he'd be able to run with the cumbersome weapon in hand, or if it would prove to be a hindrance in the heat of battle.
If its sheer bulk threatened to impede his every move, How could he possibly wield it effectively? Wouldn't its cumbersome size render him a sitting duck, vulnerable to even the most basic of attacks?
Jax frowned. He better check its description first before he made any more pointless assumptions.
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Name: Wailing Siegebow
Rarity: Forbidden
Grade: Forbidden
Rank: Forbidden
Description: Seeking for destruction, this heavy crossbow can bring forth power many times greater than a ballista. Bolts loaded onto this bad boy are blessed by the giants as they can grow in size and deliver massive destruction.
Once its heavy bolt lands, it will shrink back to its original size and cause a shockwave that reaches up to a hundred meters radius. The bolt will disappear and its shockwave can inflict fear on all living creatures within its range. Anyone affected by fear will have a portion of their energy and life stolen.
____________________
Jax's palms grew sweaty as he read the description. If the description was already this insane on paper, he could only imagine what the actual thing could do.
Jax's pent-up excitement and curiosity finally broke free. He took aim, his grip on the crossbow tightening as he pulled the trigger with a fierce intensity burning in his eyes.
Click!
The crossbow's trigger clicked harmlessly, and only then did Jax's excitement give way to realization: he hadn't loaded a bolt yet.
"Ah, now that I think about it, how do I even load this thing? And where can I find a bolt to..." Jax muttered, still pondering the crossbow's mechanics. But before he could wonder further, the white quiver strapped around his waist swung open, and one of the bolts nestled within it levitated into the air.
Jax's eyes widened in surprise and bewilderment as he stared at the bolt. Its hue was so black that the surface seemed to absorb the light around it to an unsettling degree. As far as he could recall, his quiver only stocked with white bolts before, making this dark projectile all the more mysterious.
Jax's gaze drifted back to the quiver, and his confusion deepened as he saw the black bolts now interspersed among the white ones. There was also a single golden bolt mixed in that caught his attention, deepening his confusion even more.
Jax shrugged his shoulders, rising in a helpless gesture as he struggled to make sense of the sudden, inexplicable change.
After a short moment, the bolt slid into the flight groove, loading the crossbow with an eerie sense of autonomy. Jax's eyes widened in surprise, but his wonder quickly turned to doubt as he eyed the tiny bolt — it seemed too small for the heavy crossbow.
But as Jax's doubts swirled, the bolt underwent a surreal transformation, expanding to fit the crossbow's substantial frame and snugly settling into the flight groove. For a moment, Jax's jaw dropped in stunned silence, but then a wide, exhilarated grin spread across his face.
"Good job, Quinncee. You're the best," Jax said with a grin, his eyes flicking to the quiver strapped around his hip, and he gave it a playful wink, as if sharing a secret with an old friend.
The quiver quivered slightly. Its body shrunk back as the lid snapped shut with a soft click, as if it had accepted Jax's praise with a shy, endearing modesty. The motion speaking volumes about the peculiar bond between the master and his enchanted gear.
Jax averted his eyes, and his gaze snapped to the path ahead. His bright smile twisted into a malicious grin, hinting at a darker intention. His eyes gleamed with an anticipation that seemed to sharpen his very focus.
Then, as Jax's finger closed around the trigger, his excitement surged. But the heavy crossbow refused to yield to his eagerness. He realized then that it demanded time and patience, requiring him to hold the trigger and channel his energy into the casting process. The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation as Jax's power was slowly drawn into the bolt, the crossbow humming with building tension.
"Damn, this is troublesome," Jax grunted, but the smile on his lips remained unwavering, a testament to his determination to unleash the crossbow's might. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his brow, yet he persisted, driven by curiosity and a hint of recklessness.
Click!
Finally, the sweet click of finality echoed through the air as Jax's waning strength met its limit. And instantly, a triumphant smile reclaimed his lips, the heavy crossbow's voracious hunger for his energy finally sated.
Knowing what would happen next, Jax said, ''Die!''
Swoosh!
The bolt shot out, its trajectory a blur as it spun wildly, churning the air into a miniature whirlwind that swirled in its wake, leaving a trail of turbulent air in its furious departure.
As it cleared its initial trajectory, the bolt explosively expanded. Its massive form still spinning with reckless abandon, shredding the air and obliterating everything in its path with an unrelenting fury.
It seemed almost unstoppable.
Trees splintered like twigs, and boulders shattered like fragile stone. They offered no resistance as the bolt's unyielding path carved a swath of destruction, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
***
Meanwhile...
King's face twisted in a mixture of confusion and annoyance as Jax's aim locked in his direction. His furrowed brow a picture of puzzled irritation, silently asking, "What the hell is this kid's problem now?"
Why was he pointing his weapon in his direction now? King was certain that Jax wouldn't be able to notice his presence there. He was certain that he didn't know that he was watching him from there.
Well, that could also be a coincidence. That little brat must be aiming at something else.
Still, King couldn't shake the feeling that something annoying was ready to happen at any moment.
Swoosh!
King narrowed his eyes as he finally saw Jax released the bolt. He was complacent at first, not giving it any care.
But his complacence didn't last too long when the bolt suddenly ballooned in size, growing as big as a coconut tree. Its massive form loomed like a gargantuan spear, now an unmistakable threat to fill his vision.
King's eyes widened for a moment. However, the surprise didn't end there. The giant bolt plowed forward, effortlessly shredding through trees and pulverizing rocks. Its destructive path unwavering as it bore down in King's direction with unrelenting fury.
Caught with a stunned shock, King failed to react on time. But thankfully, the bolt didn't hit him. It whizzed past him, its proximity sending a chill down his spine. His breath caught in his throat as the rush of displaced air ruffled his hair and clothes.
Slowly, he shifted his gaze to the side, tracking the path of the bolt, which was still etched in the air like a lingering scar.
"That little punk..." King muttered under his breath, his anger simmering as he clenched his fists, barely resisting the urge to charge over and give Jax a good beating.
Luckily, the bolt had narrowly missed him. If it had hit, King doubted he'd be standing, the sheer force of it would've been devastating.
Kyaaaahhh!!!!
A sudden cry shattered King's thoughts, and his heart skipped a beat as he whipped his gaze towards the sound. That voice seemed eerily familiar. Did it come from the direction the bolt had hurtled towards?
King's frown deepened as he squinted into the distance, and his gut twisted when he spotted a humanoid figure. To his shock, it was someone he'd rather not see, but fate had other plans.
King's expression turned grim as he assessed the scene. It seemed like the humanoid creature tried to intercept the gigantic bolt, either by instinct or desperation, using its bare body as a shield against the massive projectile.
"...As expected," King murmured, his expression unreadable. His thoughts clicked into place as he added under his breath, "Guess Elemental Mermaids really are made of sterner stuff."
That humanoid creature was, of course, a mermaid.