The boys followed Mr. Lee down a narrow, dimly lit corridor, the walls humming faintly with unseen energy. Van spoke hurriedly, concern laced in his voice.
"Kenji's in danger," he said. "Whoever's after him… they might not stop. If they sent one Aetherbrid, they might send another—stronger, faster… deadlier."
Mr. Lee paused, then turned slightly, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"So you need my help to fend them off, huh?" he asked, eyes gleaming with an unreadable spark.
He said no more as they reached the end of the corridor. With a wave of his hand, a hidden panel slid open, revealing a vast chamber that took the boys' breath away.
Rows upon rows of mystical items lined the walls—enchanted blades glowing with runes, ancient staffs humming with elemental power, advanced alien gear that looked straight out of another dimension, and orbs swirling with unknown energy. It was a fusion of sorcery and technology—an armory fit for gods and warriors of legend.
"Welcome," Mr. Lee said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "To the Vault. I'll help you—but only if you can pick a Veyweapon."
"COOL!" the boys shouted in unison, eyes wide with excitement.
In seconds, they scattered like kids in a toy store—each diving into a different corner, marveling at the arsenal of incredible artifacts, trying to find the weapon that resonated with them
As the boys wandered the vast chamber, their eyes sparkled with wonder. The room itself felt alive—glowing artifacts pulsed with ancient energy, mystical weapons hovered ever so slightly above their pedestals, and runes carved into the walls flickered like they recognized the newcomers.
Mr. Lee's voice echoed across the hall like that of a seasoned sage, drawing their attention.
"These weapons," he began, his tone calm yet powerful, "are not of this world. Many of them were forged in the heart of dying stars, some created by alien craftsmen with knowledge lost to time. Others—though made here on Earth—were born from the hands of mages and enchanters, beings who manipulate energy in ways even I can't fully comprehend."
He walked past a shimmering halberd, a whip coiled with lightning, and what looked like a staff humming with cosmic power.
"A few of these weapons are Beyblades," he said, gesturing to a corner where ancient spinning tops rested, dormant but radiating faint auras. "They may seem like toys, but once, they were used to slay dark entities—beings your ancestors called demons… and vampires."
Van, Kenji, and Dame paused, absorbing every word.
"The weapons you choose today," Mr. Lee continued, "will determine your survival when the Red Skulls strike. These aren't just tools. They're your partners. But beware—some are sealed for good reason. Even I haven't uncovered all their secrets."
With that, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of a massive obsidian blade etched with glowing red runes. The moment it left its resting place, fire engulfed the sword with a roar, illuminating Mr. Lee in a silhouette of flame.
The boys took a step back, eyes wide in shock and awe.
"Now," Mr. Lee said, his voice steady and commanding, "choose wisely. Once you have your weapons, you'll face another Mechaman… one far stronger than the last."
Van ran his fingers across the cold metal of the weapon that had caught his eye—a pair of sleek, curved dual swords nestled together like fangs ready to strike. The design was both deadly and elegant, the steel glimmering with a greenish-black hue that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
A small notification flickered before his eyes, courtesy of the system:
[Venoclaw]
[Type: Dual Swords | Origin: Advanced Beast core – Venogantis]
[+5 Damage]
[+3 Strength]
[Unique Skill: Venomic Shock – (Active)]
A thin, venomous vapor leaks from the blades themselves, infecting anything it touches with a deadly and lingering poison.
[Cooldown: 24 Hours]
"Woahhh..." Van muttered, eyes wide as the blue glow of the system screen shimmered before him.
[System Skill Unlocked: Inspect]
Inspect allows host to scan and receive detailed information about any person or object.
[Skill Level: 1]
System skills are unlocked when the host attempts or desires to perform an action instinctively, or when in dire situations.
Van blinked in surprise. "So I can basically analyze anything just by wanting to?"
[+100 EXP Gained: First Use of Inspect Skill]
Van chuckled. "Even now... I'm getting stronger."
He clenched his fist, feeling that subtle surge of power running through him. Without wasting another moment, he turned and stalked deeper into the chamber, his eyes scanning for another weapon—something that might hold an even greater secret.
Then—SHRINGGG!
A wicked, sharp sound cut through the chamber like lightning.
The boys froze and turned
.
You seem to like daggers, Kenji… it suits your speed," Mr. Lee commented, his tone casual but observant.
"I don't know much about those daggers," Mr. Lee continued, watching closely. "Other than the fact that they improve one's speed… significantly."
Suddenly, shrrk—shrrk—shrrk!
Slashing sounds echoed through the chamber as Kenji moved fluidly, cutting through the air with rapid, almost invisible strikes. Each slash was swift, precise, and deadly. The blue runes pulsed brighter with each motion.
"Damn…" Dame muttered, eyes wide. "He's moving even faster than before…"
But Van?
Van's mind was somewhere else entirely.
A faint digital ding echoed in his ears as a translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes—only visible to him.
[Stormfangs]
[Type: Dual Daggers]
[Tier: Legendary]
[+5 Strength]
[+5 Speed]
[Active Skill: Fury Slash]
—For every successful hit, increase speed by 5%
[Active skill: plague]
Grants the user Wind and Lightning Affinity—enabling wind-based and lightning-based attacks.
[Cool down timer : 30 minutes]
"Yep, I've gotta get me one of those…" Dame muttered, eyes fixed on Kenji's new daggers, a flicker of jealousy in his voice.
He crossed his arms and scoffed. "Hmph. Showoff."
Van heard that and smirked.
"Make that two of us—and fast," he said, eyes gleaming with excitement as he resumed his search through the arsenal like a predator locked onto prey.
Back at Oakville Orphanage, a blond-haired boy with striking features paced restlessly across the courtyard. His movements were quick, but there was a rhythm to them—like someone battling nerves yet trying to stay composed. Every few minutes, he would stop, sigh heavily, and drop onto a nearby bench, only to stand up again seconds later.
He looked like he was deep in thought—worried, expectant.
Then, a soft ding echoed from his sleek, high-tech smartwatch. Without hesitation, he tapped the screen, and a glowing holographic map projected above his wrist, flickering with shifting blue lights.
Kuvin's eyes narrowed as he scanned the map.
"C'mon, Kenji," he muttered under his breath. "You better be here soon, buddy…"