The Weapon Genius: Anything I Hold Can Kill

They didn’t speak right away.

Even as the last of the debris settled and the smoldering ground cooled, no one said anything. Not out of fear or uncertainty, but sheer exhaustion. The kind that sank into your bones and made every breath feel like work.

The monster was gone. That part was clear.

Aestros had disappeared beneath the rubble it left behind, its final words to Jin echoing faintly in his mind like a lingering hum: Come visit when you get the chance.

Now, in the silence that followed, they stood scattered across the ruined city street. Rooftops half-collapsed. Roads split like cracked porcelain. Buildings hollowed out by roots and fire.

It wasn’t quiet, how could it be, when the wind still carried the scent of ash and scorched wood? But it was the closest thing they’d had to peace in the last few hours.

Jin sat down on a chunk of broken concrete, elbows on his knees, blade still loosely in one hand.

Seul didn’t sit, just stood there, arms crossed, staring at the horizon where the first colors of dawn were creeping into view. Pink and violet streaks against the dying dark.

"I think it’s over," she murmured.

"For now," Echo added, rolling his shoulder. "Until something worse crawls out of the cracks."

Joon chuckled weakly. "Why’d you have to say that out loud?"

Jin sighed. "Because he’s probably right."

Still, he let the moment stretch, he let himself breathe. Even Hanuel was still, for once, leaning his head back against a scorched lamp post, eyes half-shut. Areum crouched nearby, her glass blade crumbling slowly in her hand as her power retracted.

It wasn’t a victory in the traditional sense of beating it ourselves.

But they survived and that’s all that mattered

Eventually, Jin pushed himself up. "Alright," he said, voice quieter than usual. "We need to get back. The school should be safe, and we’ve got people waiting there."

Seul nodded. "Rest. Then planning."

"Hopefully no more monsters for the rest of the day," Joon muttered.

The ring kid flicked a small disc between his fingers, already opening a new portal. "Back to the school, yeah?"

Jin gave him a short nod. "Yeah."

The golden shimmer opened up across the street, round, glowing, faintly humming like before. Without needing to be told, the group began moving. One by one, they stepped through.

Jin paused at the edge of the ring, giving the ruined skyline one last glance.

They’d done it.

And yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t an ending.

He stepped through.

The school was quiet.

Not silent, not untouched, there were marks on the outer walls from previous encounters, the faint hum of defensive wards, the soft buzz of the system still working—but it was standing. That alone was something.

The ring closed behind them.

Then, Jin’s system pinged.

[Territory Quest Completed]

[Processing Contributions...]

[Distributing Rewards...]

A rush of golden text bloomed in front of him, and he heard the others react around him—Seul, Echo, Joon, Areum, and Hanuel all straightening slightly as the light took shape.

No one else.

The detective raised an eyebrow. "Guess it meant go to your territory," he said. "You all were the only ones from this territory. Makes sense your rewards would show here."

Seul frowned slightly. "But what about the rest of you?"

Chul stepped forward, already adjusting the straps on his gear again. "We’ll head back to the station. Ring kid?"

The boy—still nameless—glanced up. "Uh yeah, I can do that. Just... where am I sending you?"

"Just outside the outskirts west of the city. We’ll walk from there."

Seul took a step forward. "You sure? You’re still recovering, you could stick around..."

"I’m fine," Chul said quickly. Then, softer, "I still need to get stronger. That hit I landed... it wasn’t enough. I can’t let that be my peak."

There was no argument after that.

Jin’s reward message opened fully.

[Special Reward for Territory Leader: Ancient Seed – "Lifebound Origin"]

[Item Rank: Unknown]

[Description: A sealed seed taken from the first tree, long dormant. It pulses faintly in your hand. Its potential is tied to growth.]

He stared at the message for a long moment.

Then blinked, as another system screen opened.

[Echo Yoon – Reward Acquired: Skill Item – Sonic Disks (x3)]

[Each disk can amplify or redirect sound. Can be thrown, manipulated mid-air, and resonate with base skill.]

Echo let out a low whistle. "Okay. This? This is dope."

He tossed one of the disks into the air, catching it easily. It vibrated faintly between his fingers.

Areum’s reward followed.

[New Skill Acquired: "Full Counter"]

[Reflects a portion of damage taken back at the attacker. Activation requires moment of contact and concentration.]

"Nice," she murmured. "Good luck hitting me now."

Seul’s screen flickered.

[New Skill Acquired: "Gravity Borne"]

[Allows user to manipulate their weight more efficiently, enabling brief flight or extended aerial control.]

She didn’t smile, but Jin caught the small gleam of satisfaction in her eyes.

Joon grunted as his reward came through.

[New Skill Acquired: "Chain Reaction"]

[Your energy attacks can now trigger an overload pulse on impact, chaining to additional targets within range.]

"Alright," he muttered. "Now we’re talking."

Areum raised an eyebrow. "Figures they give the bomb more bombs."

Hanuel’s reward came last.

[New Skill Acquired: "Shadow Bypass"]

[Allows strikes aimed at a target’s shadow to damage them directly. Bypasses traditional armor and shields.]

Jin glanced over, and Hanuel met his gaze.

"Don’t worry," he said calmly. "I’ll only use it for good."

Jin didn’t laugh, but his shoulders eased a bit.

They were stronger now.

And they’d need to be.

The ring kid stood off to the side, quiet, fiddling with a ring fragment between his fingers.

Jin glanced over. "Hey. You never gave us your name."

The boy blinked, then scratched the back of his neck. "Oh. Uh. Right. It’s Min."

"Just Min?"

"Just Min," he said, shrugging. "I don’t really... do names."

The detective chuckled. "Well, Min, for someone who doesn’t do names, you sure made one for yourself today."

Min flushed, but said nothing.

Jin turned away, the seed notification still lingering at the corner of his vision.

He didn’t know what it meant yet.

But it didn’t feel like an ending.

It felt like the start of something much bigger.

The detective turned first. "Let’s get moving."

Min nodded, stepping forward and activating another portal with a flick. A shimmer of golden light unfurled again. Jun-taek gave a brief wave.

"You’ve got a good crew, Jin, treat ’em well," he said.

Jin managed a small smile. " I will, don’t worry."

The detective nodded, then stepped through without another word.

Chul lingered. His clothes were scorched, his eyes were tired, but his back was straight. He met Seul’s gaze for a second, then looked to the rest.

Chul said nothing more, just turned and stepped through the ring.

Min turned and then walked quietly over to Seo Yewon and her generals. He didn’t need to say anything. She gave him a short nod, then faced Jin.

Seo stepped forward as Min activated the final portal. The golden light spilled across the courtyard, softer now against the early morning haze. The generals stood behind her, all carrying the marks of battle but standing firm.

Jin stepped up to her.

"Thank you," he said. "For showing up. For fighting with us. You didn’t have to."

Seo’s gaze didn’t waver. "You would’ve done the same."

"We will," Jin said. "If you ever call."

Her lips lifted just slightly. "That’s what allies are for. No need for thanks."

He nodded, the weight of shared understanding hanging between them.

One by one, her team moved toward the portal. Daeho, then Seungmin, Kyungjoon, and finally Min. The younger boy paused beside Jin, then gave a quick nod before following the others.

Seo was the last to leave. As she passed Jin, she added, "Take care of that seed. It’s not just a gift."

"I will."

She stepped through, and the portal collapsed behind her with a quiet hum.

The school was quiet again.

No more system lights. No more enemy signatures. No more tension waiting to snap.

Only the dull ache of used-up adrenaline and the smell of scorched stone.

Echo flopped down onto a step with a groan. "I never want to see another tree again."

Areum laughed, too tired to make it more than a breath. "Give it a day."

Hanuel closed his eyes where he stood. "Still breathing. That’s a win."

Joon nodded, arms crossed loosely. "We actually made it."

Jin looked at each of them. Not just teammates now — they were his people. His territory. His responsibility.

Seul stood and brushed the dust off her legs. "I’m going to check in on the recruits," she said. "They’ll be waking up soon. Someone should let them know we’re still alive."

"Good idea," Jin said. "They’ll want answers."

She turned without another word, heading toward the dorm hall where the newcomers had been kept during the fight.

Jin waited until she was gone, then rolled his neck with a slow sigh.

"I’m gonna take a nap," he muttered. "A real one this time."

"Don’t die in your sleep," Joon called after him, smirking faintly.

"No promises," Jin said.

He headed down the hall, boots quiet against the cracked tile. There were empty classrooms everywhere, rows of desks turned into makeshift beds, corners piled with scavenged supplies and patchwork repairs. The world had fallen apart, but here — this little ruined school, was holding on.

He passed a shattered window where morning light filtered in, soft and golden. His hand drifted to his inventory, the weight of the seed lingering at the edge of his thoughts.

Later.

He’d figure it out later.