The Weapon Genius: Anything I Hold Can Kill-Chapter 49: The Aftermath of Victory

The silence didn't last long.

A low, resonant hum echoed through the wrecked plaza — not like the usual sterile chime of system notifications, but deeper, almost reverberating through their bones.

Jin flinched at the sound, his chest rising and falling in sharp, uneven breaths as he lay sprawled against the rubble. His fingers still twitched around the staff, every inch of his body a shredded mess of pain.

The system's voice echoed through the space — calm, detached, yet oddly pleased.

[Event Completed.]

[Participants: 3 | Survivors: 3]

[Anomaly Detected.]

[Processing...]

Jin's heart skipped.

Anomaly?

Joon groaned, rolling onto his back like a dead fish. "Why," he wheezed, voice cracking, "does that sound bad?"

Seul coughed, barely lifting her head, blood streaking her chin. "Maybe we broke it," she muttered, collapsing again. "Maybe it'll self-destruct and leave us alone."

The voice returned — louder this time, almost amused.

[You performed beyond system expectations.]

[Survival Probability: < 0.1%]

[Calculation Adjustment: Successful.]

Jin dragged himself into a half-sitting position, squinting at the sky like he might actually see whatever was talking to them.

"Calculation adjustment?" he rasped.

The system ignored the question.

[Mythical Entity Eliminated: The Qī Shā (The Seven Faces of Death)]

[Combat Evaluation: Exceptional.]

[Combat Style: Erratic.]

[Tactical Approach: Reckless.]

Joon coughed so hard he almost passed out.

"Did... did we just get roasted?"

Seul wiped her face, grimacing. "I think we got insulted by a program," she muttered.

The system pulsed, its voice almost sharp.

[Correction: Results > Process]

[Victory Achieved.]

Jin let out a breathless, almost bitter laugh. "Guess it doesn't care how messy we were," he muttered.

The air shifted — and the system's tone dropped, almost thoughtful.

[Your survival was... unexpected.]

[Yet, it is not without consequence.]

[An anomaly persists.]

Jin's chest tightened, fingers curling around the staff. "Anomaly?" he echoed.

The voice seemed to hum, like it was contemplating the word.

[Entity: Jin Yeong]

[Potential: Infinite]

[Designation: Unclassified]

[Status: Under Observation]

Jin froze.

Under observation?

Seul turned her head toward him, her brow furrowing. "...What the hell did you do?"

Jin wiped the blood from his mouth, his pulse hammering in his ears.

"I don't know," he muttered.

The system didn't elaborate.

Instead, the notifications finally started rolling in — as if the voice had decided they'd earned it.

[Resource Transfer: Plaza Territory ➜ School Territory]

Food Supply Increased (+6 Weeks)

Weapons Cache Added (Basic to Mid-tier gear)

System Vending Units (Unlocked)

Joon squinted at the glowing text, his face twisted in confusion.

"Wait," he panted. "All that stuff... just went home?"

Seul groaned, dropping her head back against the ground. "We almost died," she muttered, "for loot we can't even touch?"

Jin let out a broken laugh, wiping his face with a shaky hand.

"At least we don't have to carry it," he said.

Joon rolled over, coughing. "If we get back and someone's raided the school, I'm just walking into the ocean."

Seul shot him a tired glare. "We're landlocked, idiot."

"Then I'll find a lake."

Jin dragged himself upright, his body protesting every movement, and squinted up at the sky.

"What do you want from us?" he rasped, voice rough.

The system didn't answer.

It just displayed the next notification — bright and looming, like it had been waiting.

[Skill Unlocks & Achievements Processing...]

Jin exhaled slowly, gripping the staff like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to the ground.

"Guess we see what's next," he muttered.

Seul groaned, rolling onto her side, clutching her ribs. "If it's another fight, I'm just letting it kill me."

Joon, still sprawled out, raised a shaky hand. "Same."

The system pinged again, the glow from the notifications casting sharp shadows across the wreckage.

[Skill Unlocked: Phantom Strike]

User: Jin Yeong

Effect: Bypass all defenses for one strike. Causes stat drain for 10 seconds after use.

Bound to: Limitless Weapon Mastery

Jin's eyes narrowed. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, blood streaking across his knuckles as he squinted at the text.

"...I got a cheat button," he rasped.

Seul pushed herself up on her elbows. "What?"

Jin let out a breathless, painful laugh. "One hit. Ignores all defenses. Costs me my stats after, though."

Joon let out a wheezing laugh from the dirt. "Oh my god. You're a boss fight."

Jin dropped his head back against the rubble, eyes fluttering shut. "Yeah. A boss fight that dies if you blow on him after."

Seul rubbed her face, wincing. "I mean... kind of worth it?"

Another notification flickered in front of Joon.

[Skill Unlocked: Magnetron Spheres]

User: Joon Kim

Effect: Summon two metal spheres, fully controllable with electricity. Can orbit, launch as projectiles, or arc lightning between them for area denial.

Integrated with: Arc Conduit

Joon squinted at the screen, blinking hard like he thought he might be hallucinating.

"...I got floating murder balls?"

Seul snorted. "Congratulations, you're a sci-fi villain."

Joon dragged himself upright, barely able to hold his hands out, but as he summoned a spark of electricity — two metallic spheres appeared, floating lazily above his palms.

His bloodied face split into a grin. "Yo."

Jin watched, still breathless, chest heaving. "You can use them to extend your attacks," he rasped. "Or set traps."

Joon twirled his fingers, the spheres hovering and crackling with static. "This is so much better than just zapping things."

Seul sat up, and her own notification unfolded in front of her.

[Skill Unlocked: Event Horizon Shield]

User: Seul Kang

Effect: Generate a gravitational shield that repels physical and energy attacks. Can collapse outward for a damaging pulse. Drains stamina rapidly.

Bound to: Gravity Manipulation

Seul's jaw went slack. "...I can make a shield?"

Jin tilted his head toward her, eyes half-lidded. "So you can finally stop using your face as a catcher's mitt."

Seul glared, lifting her hand like she wanted to hit him but didn't have the strength. "I hate you."

Joon leaned back on his hands, grinning. "No, that's actually insane. You can block attacks and throw people through walls now?"

Seul wiped blood from her chin, a tired smile creeping onto her face. "I'm invincible," she whispered, voice laced with awe.

The system pulsed again, the next notification glowing brighter.

[Achievement Unlocked — He Who Defies Fate]

Recipient: Jin Yeong

Description: Severed the threads of destiny and shattered the will of the Face of Fate.

Reward: Strings of Fate (Dormant)

Jin's chest tightened.

Strings of Fate?

He dragged his hand through his hair, staring at the words until they dissolved, the reward slotting into his inventory without further explanation.

He didn't know what it meant.

Didn't know why he'd gotten it.

But the weight of the name lingered.

Like a promise.

Or a warning.

Seul wiped her face, her voice still raw. "Strings of Fate? What the hell does that mean?"

Jin shook his head. "I... don't know."

Jin just sat there, listening to the sound of his own breathing.

They'd won.

They'd actually won.

The system dimmed.

The plaza quieted.