"So… it chose you," Marcus said, a hint of astonishment in his voice.
After a moment, the room returned to normal.
"It chose me?" Ryan frowned.
"Yes," Marcus replied calmly. "Here, weapons choose their masters."
"The moment you held it… it evaluated your potential."
Hearing that—
Ryan immediately looked at the weapon in his hand.
A long black staff.
Simple.
About one meter in length.
But the moment he held it—
It felt…
Right.
Like it had always belonged to him.
"Dad… why does this feel like it was made for me?" Ryan asked, giving it a light swing.
Marcus answered without hesitation.
"When a weapon chooses its master, it achieves perfect compatibility."
"That's why it feels like it was tailor-made for you."
A brief pause.
"Now focus on it," Marcus continued. "Try to understand its features."
Ryan nodded.
He tightened his grip.
Focused.
For a second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A faint golden glow appeared.
Ancient patterns slowly spread across the black surface…
Like something waking up.
Ryan's eyes widened.
"What…?"
A thought surfaced in his mind—
Change.
The staff trembled.
Then—
SHHHH—!
It extended instantly.
From one meter—
To nearly three.
Ryan staggered back.
"It… it grew?!"
Marcus didn't react much.
"Again."
Ryan swallowed.
"…Shrink."
In an instant—
It returned to normal.
Perfectly fitting in his hand.
Ryan's breathing became uneven.
"I didn't even say it…"
Marcus nodded.
"It responds to your thoughts."
Ryan stared at the staff.
Amazed.
But before he could process it—
A sudden weight pressed down on his arm.
"—!"
His knees bent slightly.
"T-this… it just got heavier!"
"It can change its weight too," Marcus said calmly.
Ryan's eyes widened.
"How much?"
"As much as you can handle."
Ryan gritted his teeth.
Tightened his grip.
Slowly—
The weight decreased.
Then increased.
Then decreased again.
Little by little—
He adapted.
But that wasn't all.
When Ryan swung the staff again—
A faint golden trail followed.
The air trembled.
Like space itself was being disturbed.
Marcus's expression turned serious.
"That staff…"
A pause.
"…is not just a weapon."
Ryan looked at him.
"Then what is it?"
Marcus met his gaze.
"A relic-type weapon."
Another pause.
"One that grows with its master."
"As you become stronger… it becomes stronger."
Silence.
Then—
"Now," Marcus said, stepping back, "let's begin training."
He paused.
Then glanced at the staff.
"But before that…"
Ryan looked up.
"Give it a name."
"…A name, huh?"
Ryan lowered his gaze.
The room fell quiet.
Too quiet.
The golden patterns pulsed softly—
As if waiting.
Ryan tightened his grip.
"…Monarch's Reach."
The moment the words left his mouth—
The staff trembled.
The golden patterns flared—
Then faded.
But something had changed.
Ryan felt it.
The connection—
Stronger.
Deeper.
Marcus nodded once.
"It accepted."
Ryan looked at the staff.
"…Monarch's Reach."
This time—
It felt natural.
Marcus stepped back.
"Good."
"Now… try to feel the innate fighting technique within it."
Ryan inhaled slowly.
"Innate… technique?"
Marcus nodded.
"A relic doesn't just grant power."
"It carries experience."
"Echoes of its path."
"If you're compatible enough…"
"It will guide you."
Ryan looked at Monarch's Reach.
For a moment—
Hesitation.
Then—
He tightened his grip.
"…Alright."
He closed his eyes.
The world faded.
Silence.
Then—
A pulse.
From the staff.
A deep vibration traveled through his arm…
Into his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
A heartbeat.
Not his.
Something ancient.
Something vast.
Suddenly—
His vision changed.
"—!"
His eyes snapped open—
But he wasn't in the room anymore.
A black void stretched endlessly.
Beneath his feet—
Golden patterns formed a glowing circle.
"…Where am I?"
No answer.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Far ahead.
Tall.
Still.
Holding a staff.
Ryan's breath caught.
Its face was hidden.
But its presence—
Overwhelming.
Ancient.
Like a king at the end of time.
Without a word—
It moved.
SHHHH—!
A single swing.
Simple.
Clean.
Yet—
Ryan's pupils shrank.
That strike—
Bent space.
The void rippled.
"What… was that…?"
Again.
The figure stepped forward.
Another strike.
Faster.
Flowing like water—
Crashing like thunder.
Ryan's body reacted.
Instinctively.
His grip tightened.
And then—
He moved.
"…!"
No thought.
No decision.
Just—
Movement.
Step forward—
Swing—
CLANG—!
A shockwave exploded.
The void trembled.
Ryan's eyes widened.
"I… did that?"
No.
Not him.
It felt like…
Memory.
The figure paused.
Then—
Shifted its stance.
Lower.
Sharper.
Acknowledging him.
Ryan's heart raced.
"…Again."
This time—
He moved on his own.
The staff spun.
Smooth.
Controlled.
Then—
STRIKE!
A golden arc tore through the void.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Each clash—
Shook space.
Faster.
Sharper.
Cleaner.
Ryan's breathing grew heavy—
But his eyes—
Focused.
Burning.
He wasn't learning.
He was remembering.
Step.
Turn.
Strike.
Flow.
Everything connected.
Like it had always been his.
Then—
The figure vanished.
"—!"
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
Deep.
Ancient.
Everywhere.
"First Form…"
A pause.
"…Heaven's Descent."
Ryan's grip tightened.
Instinct surged.
He moved.
Raised the staff.
Perfect alignment.
Body.
Breath.
Strength—
All focused.
The ground beneath him flared gold.
Then—
He brought it down.
BOOM—!!!
The void shattered.
A massive pillar of golden force descended—
Like the sky collapsing.
White.
—
Ryan's eyes snapped open.
"—HAH!"
He staggered back.
The room returned.
Marcus stood there.
Still.
But the floor—
Cracked.
A golden mark stretched outward.
The air trembled.
Ryan stared at his hands.
"…What… was that?"
Marcus looked at him sharply.
"You felt it, didn't you?"
Ryan nodded.
"…A technique."
Marcus exhaled.
"As expected of a relic."
He glanced at Monarch's Reach.
"Now?"
Ryan looked at it.
The patterns pulsed softly.
He tightened his grip.
"…First Form."
A faint smile appeared.
"Heaven's Descent."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Good."
A pause.
Then—
His gaze hardened.
"But don't get excited yet."
Ryan looked up.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Using it once and mastering it".
"are completely different things."
Pressure filled the room.
Ryan tensed.
Marcus picked up a wooden staff.
"Come."
His voice turned cold.
"Show me what you actually learned."
Ryan swallowed.
Then—
Raised Monarch's Reach.
Golden patterns flickered.
His stance stabilized.
"…Alright."
Marcus moved first.
FAST.
Ryan's eyes widened—
CLANG—!
The staffs collided.
And just like that—
The real training began.