Edge was still getting used to the rhythm of creating Disruption surges, and it would be a while before he fully integrated them into his toolkit.

  However, after receiving Earl’s guidance, using surges in battle for the first time, and stopping back by the Forge to get some pointers from Ander, he had made enough progress to test out the scythe he’d taken from the Gardener—his first new weapon since the smith had crafted his chakram.

  He let the crew know what he was up to and walked into Trapper’s workshop, where he had enough room to take some practice swings but was out of sight of prying eyes. He wasn’t nearly as concerned with keeping his weapons and skills a secret now that the bounty board was out of commission, but he saw no reason to advertise the full extent of his powers to anyone who wasn’t participating in the settlement’s defense.

  Violet decided to join him, since she was curious to watch a monster-crafted weapon in action. Edge hadn’t spent enough time with the team’s quartermaster recently and was glad for her company. He reached into his vault and removed the scythe. It shimmered into existence with a pop of displaced air after he paid a sliver of mana to activate the rune.

  The hunter let out a whistle of appreciation as she walked over to inspect the weapon. “That’s a fascinating piece,” she said. “Even after Ander tweaked it, I can sense the hallmarks of the Gardener’s skills on it. It feels completely different from anything I’ve seen before—dark, sinister, and imposing as hell.”

  When he took a closer look, he thought he understood what she meant. The scythe felt primal and savage, like it was wreathed in an aura of bloodlust. The blade had once been a gigantic horn, and the inside had been tapered down and honed to a razor’s edge.

  The shaft was made of monster bone, wrapped with cured leather to provide a grip. Ander had removed the ragged strip of untreated skin that had served the same purpose, which was too gruesome for his tastes.

  Now that the weapon had been resized, its balance was perfect. It felt strikingly dissimilar to his naginata, since the blade was so much heavier and the way he swung it was completely different. He had to circle the scythe around his body to cut, although he could block with the shaft in a pinch. He ran a quick test to make sure Elemental Blade and Double Slash were compatible with the weapon and was happy when both skills activated without any problems.

  Once he had a feel for the scythe in his hands, Edge was ready to find out what infusing it with Disruption would do. He gathered his concentration, then opened the valve on his reservoir that sent magicytes surging into his field.

  Just like Ander had demonstrated, instead of momentarily expanding the layer of antimagic caressing his skin, all the energy was drawn into the shaft of the scythe like water flowing into a sponge.

  It traveled up the bone and into the blade, where the Disruption gathered along the cutting surface—thick enough to perceive with the naked eye. Instead of dissipating a fraction of a second later like a normal surge, the blade held its charge for a good five seconds before the field dispersed.

  “That’s incredible,” Violet said. “I’ve never heard of a modification that can mimic the effect of a Disruption-based skill so effectively. That scythe will be a nightmare for someone who is overly reliant on mana-based defenses—dramatically increasing your odds against opponents with spell-heavy skillsets.”

  “It has some defensive applications too.” Edge handed the weapon over to Violet to try. “The Gardener used it to cut straight through the Pillar of Flame spellshots I fired at her. The scythe canceled out the spells before they could deal full damage.”

  “That’s insane. Do you mind if I borrow it for a few hours? I want to run some tests to see if I can learn anything from how it was crafted.”

  “Help yourself. Leave it here when you’re done, and I’ll grab it later. Have fun.”

  Violet gave him a halfhearted wave—already absorbed by inspecting the scythe. Smiling at her antics, Edge left the lodge and started walking through the districts. He ran a few errands and chatted with several acquaintances he passed along the way. He stopped by Sakura’s house to touch base on their plans to defeat the kaiju, then went home to retrieve the weapon before making his way over to the north gate.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  While he walked, he perused the flurry of activity taking place along the ramparts.

  The crafters were in the process of fortifying both entrances to the settlement. While the wall was strong enough to keep out stage-three beasts, they had decided to rebuild both gateways from scratch after the north gate had been blown sky-high by the Crimson Claws, along with two of the town’s top-grade turrets. One device now guarded each gate, and an array of lesser weaponry was being installed to provide supplementary fire.

  The town’s defenders were confident the devices could repel a stampede the same size as the last without a problem. But with over three times that many beasts headed their way—not to mention the titanic squid that had Reanimated them—Edge was dead certain these defenses wouldn’t be enough to protect the town. However, Dialla and Earl planned to wipe out most of the horde before it arrived, which would make a considerable difference.

  That being said, in the end, it all came down to whether they could eliminate the kaiju—or at least injure it enough for the turrets to finish it off. He shuddered as he visualized the catastrophe that would ensue if the gargantuan cephaloid managed to breach the wall, letting a ravenous tide of undead critters into the districts beyond.

  We’ll find a way to bring the big bad down, he vowed. I can’t do it alone, but together, we will weather this storm and come out the other side stronger than ever. On that note, I’m sure it has something good to steal.

  Skill-Eater opened one eye at the prospect of devouring the creature’s powers. The ravenous lord didn’t say anything, but Edge could sense a complex blend of emotions flowing through their bond—hunger, regret, and what felt surprisingly like indecision. Then the moment passed, and the bound giant returned to slumber, leaving him alone with his thoughts once more.

  He spent a few minutes pondering his dilemma, but since there wasn’t anything he could do about it until he had time to investigate the information he’d uncovered in the temple, he shook his head and returned his attention to the task at hand—learning how to use the scythe before trying it out in live combat.

  When he climbed the staircase leading to the ramparts, Momo was standing guard with a small squad of peacekeepers, including a pair of the perception specialists who now patrolled the walls around the clock.

  She broke into a sunny smile when she saw him coming, running over to pull him in for a quick hug. The gesture wasn’t flirtatious at all—she just liked him, and the feeling was mutual. “Edge, it’s always nice to see you. Earl told me you’re looking for someone to teach you how to swing a scythe. I assume that’s why I have the pleasure of your company today.”

  “That’s right, although you should feel free to stop by the lodge anytime you like. I’ll fire up the grill and break out some bottles of beer. The rest of the crew would be thrilled to hang out with you too, especially Riller.”

  “That sounds nice. I’ll take you up on that offer, but it will have to wait until we put that tentacled menace in the ground. Let me tell the others that I’ll be busy for a while. Then we can move outside and find a spot where there’s room for you to fuck up without cutting a random bystander in half in the process.”

  He laughed, waited for a few minutes, and then followed Momo down the stairs and onto the north road, where the footing was good and there wasn’t anything that could get in his way. When they came to a stop, he pulled the weapon out of his vault and handed it over, listening carefully as the guardswoman began her explanation.

  “A farming scythe is swung level with the ground, but a war scythe is designed to incorporate other angles too. It’s not a practical weapon for dealing with armored opponents, although you can shear limbs and even heads with it once you know what you’re doing. Since you’ll mostly be using this beauty on spells, you won’t have to worry about catching the blade on anything solid and pulling it out of your hands.”

  As she spoke, Momo demonstrated a series of basic exercises that would teach him how to slice magic approaching from any direction.

  “You need to swing the shaft in a smooth circle with your body as the fulcrum, pulling the blade into your target as it comes into range. While it’s possible, this weapon isn’t well-suited for blocking or parrying. If you are forced to fight with it, press the attack and keep your opponent on the defensive.”

  The deputy handed the scythe over and let Edge try, offering gentle corrections until he got each motion right. Once he had learned the basics, Momo picked some fruit and foliage growing nearby and started flinging it his way, helping him practice his timing.

  It felt awkward as hell—especially when he incorporated the Disruption element—but with his present attributes, he was able to hit each target. It would be a lot harder in the middle of battle, when the consequences of missing could result in disaster, but with the bonuses from Mantle and Fear, he thought he would get the hang of it before too long.

  When his lesson was over, he walked Momo back to the ramparts, pulled her in for another hug, and then bid the friendly woman farewell. Edge had a date with Mel in a few hours, and he wanted to get his haircut, clean up, and change into something nicer first.

  He walked down the street with a spring in his step, looking forward to spending some quality time with one of his favorite people.