"Technically, the swords have designated names: Shizuka's is the Kagemitsu G1, Benkei's the G2, and Pitohui's the G3. However, since they're player-made, you're able to assign them custom names in the system. If you want to change them, feel free to think of something."
Later on, those names would be finalized: Shizuka's G1 became Yozakura (Evening Cherry Blossom), Benkei's G2 became Hakugin (Sterling Silver), and Pitohui's G3 was dubbed Kikoku (The Demon's Wail).
"Now, let's go over the functionality," Shana continued. "There's a sliding panel on the hilt near the guard. Inside, you'll find several toggle switches. Pito—don't touch anything yet. You're the most likely to accidentally dismember yourself."
"Oh, hush! I know, I know!" Pitohui pouted.
Following Shana's lead, the three of them slid the panels open to reveal the internal controls.
"Alright, hold the weapon out in front of you and press the top switch. It's essentially a 'thrust' command."
The moment they pressed the buttons, a secondary blade of light hissed out from the left side of the hilts.
"The color of the blade is customizable. If you want a specific hue, let Ikoma know later."
The three immediately began debating colors with childish glee. Shizuka eventually chose pink, Benkei opted for silver, and Pitohui, naturally, went with a blood-red.
"Okay, keep that stance and hit the next button."
When they did, the primary blade vanished, and a new one erupted from the bottom of the hilt.
"Whoa!"
"Th-that startled me..."
"So cool! But wait, can't we have blades coming out of both ends at once?" Pitohui asked.
"Unfortunately, the power output would drop too sharply to be effective," Shana explained.
"So... it is possible if you have two of them," Pitohui noted, her eyes drifting enviously toward the two cylinders hanging at Shana's waist.
Shana caught her gaze. "Even if you could, do you think you could actually handle a twin-blade setup?"
"Nope! Probably not! I just thought it would look stylish!"
"Fair enough." Shana moved on to the next feature. "The next switch adjusts the blade's length. Calibrate it to whatever feels comfortable for your reach."
Shizuka and Pitohui kept theirs at the default length for now, while Benkei shortened his blade significantly to match the handling of his preferred close-quarters weapons.
"Last one. Point the tip at that target over there and hit the bottom button."
As they followed the instruction, a bolt of light—looking like a miniature laser—shot from the tip of the blades, shattering the targets into digital fragments.
"Whoa!"
"Isn't that... a little bit like cheating?"
"You'd think so, right? Try it again," Shana said, setting up fresh targets.
They fired again, but this time, the bolts simply dissipated the moment they struck the targets.
"If the enemy has an active optical barrier, the projectile won't penetrate," Shana noted.
"I see. So it's not an 'I-win' button."
"Exactly," Shana added. "The power is roughly equivalent to a standard optical sidearm, so it's best used for suppression or as a distraction. Also, it's a massive energy hog. You only get five shots before the battery is completely tapped. If you empty the cells, the sword won't ignite either. Keep that in mind."
"So each shot costs twenty percent of the total charge," Benkei calculated.
"Precisely. Even with eighty percent left, you can still use it as a sword for about an hour. And I should mention: the physical blade itself isn't affected by barriers. You can cut right through a shield that would stop the laser."
"Got it!"
"Truly the ultimate weapon!"
"As for spare energy packs..." Shana glanced at Ikoma.
"Currently in development," the craftsman replied.
"Right. For now, there's a dedicated charging station in the armory. I'll show you where it is later. Make sure you check your charge levels before every sortie."
Shana paused, adding a final caveat. "Also, these are officially banned from the BoB. It wouldn't be fair. Well... I might allow it if someone decided to play the whole tournament with nothing but the sword and no guns, but otherwise, no."
"That's fair," Pitohui said breezily. As the only one among the three to have actually competed in the BoB, she seemed unbothered. "They're way too balanced-breaking for a tournament."
"Wait, you said 'generally' banned," Sinon noted. "Why?"
"Because I'm going to use mine against Subtilizer."
"Hey! Shana, that's totally unfair!" Pitohui protested.
"I'll fight him with normal weapons first. But after I beat him, I'm going to use these to absolutely overwhelm him. It's a two-stage plan for maximum satisfaction."
The group shared a collective dry smile at Shana's sudden display of childish competitiveness.
"Alright, everyone, start practicing."
"Hold on a second."
"Hmm? What is it, Sinon?"
Sinon pointed at the two cylinders at Shana's side. "You haven't shown us yours yet."
"Uh..." Shana hesitated, having hoped to gloss over his own upgrades.
"Oh, right!"
"Big brother, those two look extra special," Shizuka teased.
"Show us! Show us!"
"They're still prototypes, really..." Shana mumbled.
"Don't be a spoilsport, Shana! Out with it!" Nyangoro barked.
"Fine, fine, Sensei... These are the Kagemune X1 and X2. Codenamed AR and AL."
"What does that stand for?"
"Acht Right and Acht Left. I'm officially rebranding my M82 back to just 'the M82.' Everyone kept calling it that anyway, so the 'Acht-Faust' name was just getting confusing."
Pitohui's eyes sparkled. "Aha! Acht-Faust! I knew it!"
"I call the pair 'Acht X' when they're together," Shana added.
Sinon looked puzzled and turned to Pitohui. "Wait, Acht-Faust? Was that the nickname for his old M82?"
"It was Shana's signature weapon! I've got recordings of him using it; I'll show you later."
"Really? Yes, please."
"I want to see too!" Benkei added. "I've only heard the rumors."
"Me too!" Nyangoro and M chimed in.
"Alright, focus," Shana said, cutting off the tangent. He clicked the igniters on both hilts.
"Black blades..."
"You wouldn't even see those coming from a distance," Shizuka whispered.
"Even up close, in a dark corridor... they'd be invisible," Sinon added.
"That was the intention," Shana said.
"But that's not all they do, is it?" Pitohui grinned.
"No."
Shana pressed the pommels of the two hilts together. With a mechanical click, they locked into place, forming a double-edged staff—a beam naginata.
"Whoa!"
"That's exactly what I was asking for! Shana, you cheater!"
"I thought you said you couldn't handle a twin-blade?"
"I can't! But it's the principle of the thing!" Pitohui huffed. "How well can you use it?"
"Me? I'm... decent. Here, Pito, try to hit me."
"You asked for it! Here I come!"
Pitohui lunged at him. Shana spun the twin-blade with fluid, hypnotic grace, parrying her strikes with ease. Within seconds, he had redirected her momentum, knocked her weapon aside, and held one end of the black blade inches from her throat.
"Gah! I'm dead!"
"That's a incredibly tricky weapon to track," Sinon remarked.
"It has its moments."
"The sound is fantastic," M noted. "It's the ultimate 'enthusiast' weapon."
"Right? I knew you'd appreciate the 'cool' factor, M."
"You handle that thing with disturbing proficiency, Shana," Nyangoro observed.
Shana's gaze grew nostalgic. "To tell you the truth, Sensei... back in SAO, Akihiko-san was considering introducing a similar weapon type. He made me practice with a prototype for a while before they eventually scrapped the idea."
"I see! So it's muscle memory."
"Pito's just a bit rusty with a blade," Shana added. "Her movements were stiff."
"Yeah, yeah, I need to hit the training room!"
Shana separated the hilts and deactivated the blades. Then, he reconnected them—this time side-by-side in a parallel configuration.
"Don't tell me it turns into a giant broadsword..."
"No. It can already cut almost anything, so making it bigger doesn't add much utility. And the length is already adjustable."
"True."
"This is more of a 'tactical obfuscation' tool. By doubling the output, it enables a specific burst mode. The downside is I can't keep the blades active while using it. I can fire standard lasers, but when I do this..."
Shana hit a switch, and a wide-angle blast of optical energy sprayed forward like a shotgun.
"A shotgun blast?!"
"Yeah. If you aim it at the ground, it kicks up a massive amount of dust and debris. It's great for emergency extractions or repositioning."
"So it's for utility rather than damage," Sinon noted.
"Exactly. It's still just an optical weapon, so it won't do much real damage against armor. But it's much more efficient than carrying a dedicated optical shotgun. Most importantly, it catches people off guard."
At Shana's signal, Ikoma began handing out specialized goggles to everyone.
"And these?"
"Goggles designed to maintain visibility in low-light or high-debris environments—like the dust clouds Shana just mentioned. They don't provide any defense, but they're lightweight and don't take up much inventory space."
"Smart."
Finally, Ikoma distributed headgear and body protectors.
"This is our official team armor," Shana explained. "Ikoma lightened the load significantly, but the vital points are reinforced with the same alloy we used for the shields. The defense is top-tier. They also have integrated comms and a squad-tracking HUD."
"They have an auto-fit function," Ikoma added. "They look a bit oversized now, but once you put them on, just press the button at the collar."
"Wow... the weapons, the gear... you really are a mad scientist, Ikoma-kyun!" Pitohui cheered.
"Pito, that's rude," Shizuka scolded.
"No, no," Ikoma beamed, giving a thumbs-up. "In this line of work, that's the highest form of flattery!"
Pitohui returned the gesture with a grin.
"Alright, the men will change outside. Ladies, you take the room," Shana directed. He, Ikoma, and M stepped out into the hallway.
"We really got a massive gear upgrade all at once, didn't we?" Shizuka said as she began to undress.
"Yeah," Sinon agreed, following suit.
"I'm a little jealous, though. I want a cool custom weapon like those swords," Shizuka mused.
"What would you even use, Shinonon? Pito, any ideas?"
"Hangh on... can't get... thish off..." Pitohui's voice was muffled; she had managed to get her head stuck in her shirt.
Rosalia silently walked over and helped pull the garment free.
"Thanks, Rosalia-chan!"
"You're welcome."
Pitohui tapped her chin. "A melee weapon for Shinonon... maybe a bayonet? No, fitting one on the Hecate II would be a nightmare for the balance."
"How about a secondary weapon with a integrated blade?" Rosalia suggested. "Something that doesn't require high-tech skills."
"Swinging a gun around like a club? I could probably manage that," Sinon said thoughtfully.
"Well, we'll see what materials we find next."
Nearby, Rosalia and Nyangoro were speaking in lower tones.
"It's unlikely we'll be the ones on the front lines," Rosalia said, "but given the current atmosphere, it's best to be prepared, Sensei."
Nyangoro nodded. "It could very well turn into an all-out war. I'm just worried I'll be the one dragging the team down."
Shizuka overheard them and spoke up. "In that case, do you all want to hit 'Infinite Hell' tonight?"
"Infinite Hell? What's that?" Nyangoro asked.
"It's a high-density hunting ground we use. It's basically our private spot for power-leveling."
"Hoh? That sounds perfect. I'd appreciate the help."
"I'll suggest it to Shana when they come back in," Sinon decided.
The women finished fitting their new gear, adjusting the straps and checking the HUDs.
"Wow, it's so light."
"This is a lifesaver for someone with my stats," Rosalia noted. "I can actually carry extra supplies now."
"I'll go call the guys back in."
When the men returned, Sinon made the proposal for the night's hunt.
"Good idea," Shana agreed. "I don't think the 'Coalition' is ready to move yet, so we should take the chance to boost everyone's stats while we can."
"Count me in!" Pitohui cheered.
"I think this might be the first time in my life I've actually fired a gun," Rosalia admitted nervously.
"Me too!" Nyangoro added.
Shana selected two relatively simple-to-operate assault rifles from the racks and handed them over.
"Start with these. M, you're good?"
"Yes. I'll stick with my own gear. Also, Shana-san... as you suggested through Pito, I've been practicing shooting without the assist of the Bullet Circle. I did some intensive training while I was back in the States."
"Really? Nice work, M! I knew you had it in you."
"Thank you, sir!" M beamed.
"You'll get plenty of live-fire practice tonight, so don't hold back."
"Understood! I'll give it my all."
Sinon seemed to remember something and looked at Shana. "Hey, Shana."
"Yeah?"
"Is it possible to actually cut a bullet out of the air with those swords?"
Shana paused, considering. "In the real world? No way. But in this game... it might be possible."
"Really? Why?"
"Because GGO has the Bullet Lines—the prediction paths."
"Oh! Right!"
"If you can time your swing to intersect the Line, you could technically deflect the round. It's just a matter of reading the firing rhythm."
"Show me," Sinon challenged. "Right now."
"Don't just spring chores on me," Shana sighed. "But... fine."
Sinon drew her sidearm, stepped back, and fired a single shot toward Shana. In a blur of motion, Shana's black blade hummed through the air, and the bullet was swatted aside in a shower of sparks.
""""""""Whoaaaa!""""""""
"That was actually easier than I thought," Shana remarked. "I could probably handle a burst if I had to."
Naturally, the protests came immediately.
"No way! That's impossible!"
"I don't think I could ever do that..."
"Me neither! No chance!"
"I don't know," Shana said. "I think most people could do it with practice. Though..." He lowered his voice so only he could hear. "Kirito would probably be even better at it."
Nyangoro, watching his lips move, gave a knowing nod. Shizuka noticed the interaction and leaned in.
"Sensei? What did Shana say?"
Nyangoro whispered back in her natural voice. "He said: 'Kirito would be better at it.'"
"Ah. Yeah, Kirito-kun would probably make it look effortless."
"Quite right. I suspect those two are the only ones capable of such nonsense."
The group decided to disband temporarily to eat and handle real-life business, agreeing to meet back up at nightfall to descend into the depths of Infinite Hell.
-------------------------------
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