After appraising his acquired junks, Jack then shifted his gaze to Reina's items.
The first object was... a tarnished silver medallion. Jack aimed his [Eyes of Judgement] to appraise it.
[Name: Medallion of Protection]
[Status: Heavily Damaged. Unfixable.]
[Extractable Materials: Black Pearl (Rare Material)]
[Description: A defensive amulet, once capable of deflecting minor curses. Its protective wards are shattered, but the embedded pearl retains its mystical essence.]
"A Black Pearl." Jack confirmed. "Rare material. Quite Good." Jack could use it for steamrune crafting. Making a simple, yet useful equipment for Reina.
Then, the next object was a small ring with demonic carving. It was...
[Name: Ring of Insanity]
[Status: Heavily Unstable. Unusable Unfixable.]
[Extractable Materials: None]
[Description: A cursed ring, infused with the chaotic energies of a mad sorcerer. Its power is unstable and its material utterly worthless. Prolonged exposure causes mental degradation.]
"A Ring of Insanity?" Jack read and raised his eyebrows. "Who the heck want to wear that kind of thing? Thank God it was unusable. And worthless."
Reina sighed. "I thought it would be valuable as it didn't seem to be damaged at all. Should have picked other things."
Next was a broken three-pronged buckler.
[Name: Forcefield Buckler]
[Status: Heavily Damaged. Unfixable.]
[Extractable Materials: Thunderbolt Core (Rare Material)]
[Description: The main part of an arcane force shield generator. While the device is ruined, its power source, a condensed lightning crystal, is still potent.]
"Thunderbolt Core. Rare." Jack announced. "Another good find, Love." Electrical energy was always useful for Jack Night's engineering work.
The next one was a small, white bird sculpture. But it was missing one wing and had large cracks
[Name: Mystic Sparrow Sculpture]
[Status: Heavily Damaged. Unfixable.]
[Extractable Materials: Mystic Ivory Pearl (Extremely Rare Material)]
[Description: A relic of ancient runic artistry, carved from a material that resonates with ambient magic. Its shape allowed it to channel energy for minor spells, but it is now beyond repair.]
"Mystic Ivory Pearl. Extremely Rare." Jack said. Pleased. "Two extremely rare materials. This trip was a great success, Love."
"Iknow this one would be good." Reina chuckled happily.
Mystic Ivory Pearl would be invaluable for steamrune crafting. Especially for objects designed for high-tier magical sensitivity.
Lastly, it was a small cool looking jug with many cracks...
[Name: Jug of Blessing]
[Status: Heavily Damaged. Unfixable.]
[Extractable Materials: None]
[Description: Once filled with holy water, this jug is now empty and cracked. It holds no residual power or valuable components.]
"Another dud." Jack concluded. "Still, not a bad haul."
He summarized their combined findings. One fixable artifact: the Compass of Fortune. Then, after the extraction, they would get... One epic material: Rebounder Steel. Two extremely rare materials: Heavy Tungsten and Mystic Ivory. Two rare materials: Black Pearl and Thunderbolt Core. And one Blank AI Chip.
Out of ten objects, seven were valuable. And only three were duds. That was a phenomenal ratio for a random junkyard trip.
And that was not even all. Jack still had one more acquisition. He extended his hand. And from his system inventory, a small, shimmering object. Materialized in his palm.
It was a sphere. Crackling with electricity. No bigger than a thumbnail. It looked like a miniature lightning star trapped in crystal.
He activated [Eyes of Judgement] on it.
[Vessel Spark: A pure fragment of primordial creation energy, capable of fundamentally evolving and transforming any object into a supernatural mount. It establishes a profound mental link between the vehicle and its owner, enabling the wielder to instantly retrieve the mount into a personal, pocket dimension; and with a mere thought, summon it forth once more to serve its tasks.]
[Warning: Once used, the spark is consumed. Choose your vessel wisely.]
Jack read the description twice. Primordial creation energy. Supernatural mount. Mental link. Interesting. This could be a game-changer.
His gamble had paid off spectacularly. This [Vessel Spark] was exactly what he had hoped for. Not an immediate, direct upgrade. But a latent and convenient potential. Evolution and summoning-retrieval functions. He had thought of one object to use this for... his recently completed armored hoverbike.
Why? Well... the only incarnation that required mount was just Jack Night. Racer Jack and Jack Mystery didn't need it. And imagining Judge Jack riding any vehicle... It was just weird.
...
Jack and Reina moved to the huge wall mirror. A ripple disturbed its polished surface as he activated his [Mysterious Mirror World] trait.
They disappeared into his Mirror Space. Leaving the comfort of their home. Entering a quite messy mechanical workshop. With his new armored hoverbike in the midst of it. A tough-looking mass of blackened metal plates. And glowing steamrunes.
It was a sturdy machine. Utilitarian and powerful. Designed for brute force rather than elegance. It hadn't been remodeled into more aesthetically pleasing visual. But from the functions, it was already finished.
Jack retrieved the [Vessel Spark]. It shimmered in his ghostly hand. A tiny, pulsating spark of pure, concentrated energy. He held it above the hoverbike. Then plunged it into the vehicle's chassis. Right into the heart of its steamrune engine.
The spark met the metal. There was no explosion. No excessive special effect with flash of light. Just a hum of the activated engine that vibrated through the floor.
And then... the hoverbike began to glow. A soft, ethereal white. Its form began to shift. The heavy plates smoothing. The blocky angles softening into sleek curves.
The mundane black of its frame deepened into a midnight blue. Edged with lines of crackling, contained lightning. The glowing steamrunes brightened. Now pulsing with an inner electric current.
The transformation was silent, rapid, and absolute. Within seconds, the hulking armored hoverbike was gone. Replaced by something with much better visuals. It was still tough looking. But it was leaner. And seemed undeniably faster... even at rest.
The twin thrusters at the rear thrummed with subdued power. All of its body seemed to be crackling with electricity. This was the Lightning Hoverbike.
Jack activated his [Eyes of Judgement]...
[Name: Lightning Hoverbike]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Durability: Extremely High]
[Top Speed: Very High]
[Handling: Very High]
[Special Ability: Forcefield Shielding]
[Special Ability: Lightning Coating]
[Special Ability: Sonic Cannon]
[Special Ability: Instant Storage and Recall]
[Description: A legendary level transportation artifact born of the infusion of primordial Vessel Spark. Forged for speed and unwavering protection, it moves like a storm across the land.]
It was stronger. More stylish. And judging by the stats, immeasurably faster. This thing wasn't just a vehicle. It was a powerful weapon. At least for Jack Night.
Racer Jack and Jack Mystery didn't need vehicles. And picturing Judge Jack on a bike was actively absurd.
...
Two days later...
Jack was in his Racer Jack form. Doing his daily patrol. A blur of grey and white. Streaking through the industrial streets of Lonestone Capital.
The Industrial District of the city spread out as usual. A labyrinth of brick and steel. Churning with the smoke of progress.
Factory districts belched black plumes. Mingling with the crisp sea air from the docks nearby. While further away, the spires of the more elite districts caught the afternoon sun.
The speed of his wind chasing flight was exhilarating. A constant rush of wind against his goggles. Criminals rarely stood a chance when a toddler-sized kamaitachi with lightning-fast movements decided to intervene.
A quick slash here. An annoying sarcastic remark there. And the problem was usually solved.
But then, it happened...
BOOM!
A deep, concussive boom ripped through the air. Shaking the air and the ground. A cloud of black smoke, tinged with an ominous purple, mushroomed into the sky. Directly over the classic spires of the Noble District.
Jack didn't hesitate. He floated higher. And changed direction. Charging quickly to the source of the problem.
He arrived swiftly. The source of the explosion a gaping hole in the side of what looked like a newly renovated manor. But the damage was almost secondary to the bizarre scene unfolding before him. It wasn't a crime he was witnessing. It was a goddamn war.
Three distinct factions were clashing in the ruined courtyard. Their energies were sparking against each other. Spells and raw force were tearing at the very air.
On one side, a contingent of robed figures were arrayed in a defensive formation. Their robes were adorned with the insignia of three orthodox faiths. The primary force wore the golden sigil of the Church of Prosperity.
Roaring commands at their vanguard was Father Mountaine. A man of imposing stature, bald and broad-shouldered. Jack encountered the head priest during the case involving the Emissary of Wealth.
He was now flanked, not just by the acolytes of his Prosperity Church, but also from those of Justice Church and Redemption Church. Their combined holy might manifested as shimmering barriers. And bolts of radiant energy.
Opposite them, was a disciplined line of uniformed transcendent individuals. These were the City Enforcers. The city's official law enforcement.
Their leader this time was not Commander Thorne. But a thick-mustached nobleman with a long mane of black hair tied back. He barked orders. His sword was already drawn and crackling with arcane energy.
The City Enforcers were attacking the church barriers. Their melee weapons struck the barriers. Their crossbows shot repeatedly. Their few mages were chanting.
The third side was the most unsettling. A cluster of individuals cloaked in deep purple robes. Their faces were obscured by shadowed hoods. They moved with an unnerving, almost ritualistic precision.
They weren't people from criminal organization. Nor evil cultists. They were something else entirely. These were the members of the Mystic Researcher Society. A legitimate organization within the kingdom. Focusing of the pursuit of esoteric knowledge.
Their leader was a hunchbacked old man. His gnarled hands weaving complex gestures that manipulated elements that targeted both the church barriers and the leader of the City Enforcers..
Jack watched the chaos speechlessly. An eyebrow was raised under his goggles. This wasn't some petty gang war. Or fight against a cult summoning.
These were three legitimate organizations. Pillars of Lonestone City's society. Tearing each other apart in broad daylight? What the hell caused this?