WHUMP.

A familiar little girl with her golden hair made in the ponytail way bumped into Kratos as he was buried in the manhwa in his hand. The book fell to the ground.

"I’m sorry," the little girl immediately apologized as she bent to pick up the book.

"Can’t you watch your steps?!" Kratos howled, his gentle voice betraying the intent behind his tone. "I better find the page I’m in right away; if not..."

"She already apologized, Kratos," Tony halted, looking unassumingly calm as he turned to the side. "Who on earth... in this world even reads while walking by the street?"

Kratos’ face turned grim.

"Besides, can’t you see she’s just a kid? Do you never know how to pay attention to details?" Tony continued, slightly bending over to collect the book the little girl held in both hands like she was protecting a life.

"Cinderella!" a familiar woman called, her high-pitched voice echoing off the street. "Come on. Stop staying behind."

Tony caressed the little girl’s hair and nudged her slightly forward.

"Go meet your mom, girlie."

Then he watched as the girl scampered off, a strange feeling settling in his chest.

In his previous world, he didn’t get the chance to witness familial care even in the slightest. While his parents were still alive, his father has always been the man who was emotionally absent but physically present. For him, he feels like perfection had always been the fundamental method of raising a child, pushing him to his limits to represent their family and take over their engineering business. For him, love feels earned through grades, behavior, and character in general.

While his mom? She was not exactly the opposite. Although she always smothered him with ungiven attention, even when there was no need for it. It was just because, just like his father, she needed results from him but used a different strategy.

Tony exhaled.

During those moments as a child, Tony simply understood that his feelings didn’t matter to them. All they cared about was for themselves and their so-called reputation. It was like no one was with him anyway.

That was why, sometimes in his lonely moment, he wished he had company — a younger sibling or even a reasonable older one, a sister or a brother — who could understand the way he felt.

’Who would think I would end up following in their path?’

Due to how Tony was treated, he developed what he often called an unassuming ambition towards engineering, always thinking of taking that profession to a different level that is unmentioned of.

That was also why he didn’t agree to live with his grandfather after his parents were no more and decided to fend for himself while managing the business. Tony didn’t know love.

She saw girls who tried to flock around him as...

"Oh, well, well... seems like we’ve found a good shop to buy stuff," Kratos’ gentle voice served as a wake-up call for Tony.

Tony’s mouth flung ajar. How long had he been standing without making a move? No, he was actually moving alongside Kratos but had been so lost he didn’t realize...

"Are you some kind of all-over-the-crowd guy or something? Why are they staring so much at you?" Kratos said casually, closing the last page of the manhwa he had come along with and sending it to the side bag at his right.

Tony looked around, and indeed, plenty of girls and guys alike were staring at him.

He could have surmised that it should be natural, considering the previous Tony had such a famous story to his name. However, some of their attention was also drawn to... Kratos.

"Hey dear, can I have your contact?"

"Hi... I’m not that type of girl, but I’m active on snaps."

Different girls with different notions, all gathering around Kratos all at the same time, shoving their smartphones in his front.

Tony saw this scene and gulped.

’They are probably avoiding me because of Sarah,’ he surmised. ’Not like I care why though.’

At that moment, a fluid pumped in his heart, causing a strange feeling to set in, extending to the physical to plaster a blush on his cheek.

’I shouldn’t think about her, gosh. Sooner or later, she’s going to...’

"That was easy peasy. Now Tony, when do we get me a smartphone? I can’t go about turning these beauties down all the time now, can I?"

Tony looked down on the one who had drawn his attention. Something about him felt very off.

Was he really who the system had described as a battle maniac? Why is he even interested in these girls?

Memories flashed, and the image of his mother came to his mind. ’Aren’t all girls the same after all?’

To avoid suspicion, he dismissed his thoughts immediately and turned to his left. Across the road is the shop Kratos had found. It was wedged between a tailor and a food stall.

A small wooden board hung above the door with the words ’Monday’s Arsenal’ painted in bright silver letters.

Crossing over, with Kratos walking grudgingly some steps behind him, they reached the door of the shop in seconds and were about to step in when Kratos held Tony’s hand.

’Huh?’

Tony looked back, then down to see the latter’s head lowered, leaving the middle of his silver-white hair bare for Tony to gaze upon.

"Little brother..." His eyes flashed with shiny stars on them. "...I can’t keep losing those beautiful girls."

Tony pulled back, then took his hands off the grip on them.

"Okay," he answered bluntly and turned back to the shop’s door.

One step closer, and the door of the shop automatically opened itself to reveal a man behind a counter. He didn’t look old in the least, but the grumpy beards around his jaw made him look like one. Then, added to his features were green hairs that looked dyed, broad shoulders, and an overloaded average-weighted body that made him look like he was in his fifties.

Tony walked in, followed behind by a disappointed version of Kratos.

The man stood up at the sight of his to-be customers, leaving the counter and walking towards them, a smile appearing on his face.

"Welcome to Monday’s Arsenal," he welcomed, and without taking a breath for words, continued. "I am Mr. Monday. We have a bunch—"

"—skip the brochure, Mr. Monday," Tony cut in, scanning the wall of blade behind him. There were those made of steel, crystal, and even bone.

Some were humming with flashy energies on them. Tony scanned them with interest before shifting his gaze to the section where other artifacts were stationed, then he returned his ball eyes to the man.

"I need a sword that won’t shatter the first time I hit something that hits back. Actually, that will never shatter."

Mr. Monday’s smile didn’t flicker. If anything, it sharpened. "In that case, save us both time."

He snapped his fingers, and the weapon racks along the wall rotated, bringing a dozen swords forward on velvet mounts. Each one cast its light, its heat, its weight in the air.

"Kratos, can you please help me here?" Tony said, only to look back and see the careless expression on his subject’s face.

"Fine. You will get what you’re asking for; unfortunately, that will be delayed. The money in my account is solely for the purpose of getting myself a sword."

Monday continued to look at the duo as they exchanged words. This was truly the first time he was seeing young men who looked this attractive... and Tony?

Everyone surely knew Tony because of his identity, and everyone knew that he was a handsome young man in the initial start, if not for uncertainties that befall people at times.

Was it the awakening? Probably not since it didn’t show on the others.

"Sarah is surely taking care of you," the man interrupted their discussion.

Kratos looked up to Tony with realization.

Tony seemed indifferent; instead, he changed the subject immediately.

"Why don’t you help me get a sword, Kratos?"

"Fine by me," Kratos accepted, his disappointed face turning to a flashy grin at once.

Then, he crossed his arms toward the floating racks before them.

Monday stopped at a longsword mounted third from the left. The blade was matte black, but thin lines of silver ran through it like veins. It looked dead to the eyes and, at the same time, hungry for drawing blood.

"This," Monday said, unhooking it with one finger. "Is a Whispersteel. Forged during the last mana storm battle of some great Players. It whispers your enemy’s name back to them right before—"

Kratos reached for the sword and pulled it from Monday’s grip.

"We have no time for your sermon, old man," he said and walked over to the counter. Placing the sword to allow half of its blade exposed on the counter’s surface, he unsheathed his own sword from its sheath at his back, its steel glistening in the bright room.

Monday’s eyes widened. ’What is he planning to do? Don’t tell me—’

SNAP.

The matte black blade of the sword broke in half at just a simple swing of Kratos’ sword.

Kratos sent his sword back into his sheath and looked up to Monday.

"And this happened to be the best sword among the others," his eyes flashed, and his gaze turned to the section where there were other artifacts.

"Oh yeah, little brother, we’re forging your sword ourselves."

———

Keep the powerstones coming. Thanks for the support.