A Gunslinger’s System in a World of Magic

"You're controlling them?" Henry asked Angus as the two Warlocks began casting spells tinged with the same purple energy inside the Vinculum.

"Yes, Henry," Angus said, "Yes, I am. And it feels incredible."

Angus closed his eyes and spread his arms while he directed his face toward the night sky as the Vinculum on his chest glowed a brighter shade of purple and let out a ravenous aura.

It delighted in the taste of two minds subjugated to its will and it craved for more. At that moment, Angus could feel himself becoming a part of something more. He went from being a person harnessing the abilities of a magical Item to becoming its host and quickly edging closer to becoming a vessel for the item to do with as it pleased.

Angus wondered if there was going to be a line drawn somewhere or if he was just going to be helplessly assimilated into the Item until he completely lost himself. But then, he felt the tentacles of the item dig even deeper into his body and grip harder against his insides as their bond solidified and all that thought was gone.

He just reveled in the power that swelled within him and flowed intensely through him.

His mind swelled and he found himself feeling capable of much more than he had ever been able to do.

A Vyker managed to break past the two Warlocks then.

"Don't get why those two are acting weird but I'm willing to bet it has to do with you!" The Vyker yelled with his arm growing larger and scaled in a level of Feral Meister Mutation Henry had never seen until now.

Henry pulled out his gun but he knew he was going to be too late. The attack was going to hit.

The thing was, Henry had seen Angus in action. He had seen his Stats and knew the Gang Leader was very capable and might have dodged the coming attack if he had not been standing still with his arms spread and an almost goofy smile on his face.

Henry made to call out but the attack was already inches away from Angus' stagnant body.

And then…

*Bam!*

The blow hit a shield.

Henry blinked and looked over at the two Warlocks. They were fending off four Vykers at the moment and did not look capable of multitasking.

'It's not them,' Henry realized and his eyes returned to Angus whose eyes were still closed.

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The scaled Vyker looked stunned but recovered quickly and drew back his fist before his body moved so fast that he blurred as he twisted away and struck at a kick to Angus' side only to be stopped again by the shield that rippled at the impact.

"I've faced shields before," The Vyker said confidently, "I'll break it."

The Vyker struck out a flurry of blows after that. Each was packed with so much force that their combined impact was a powerful wind that blew against Henry who was watching the development with wide eyes.

And then…

*Crack!*

… The Shield splintered and then shattered like Glass.

Delighted to have succeeded, the Vyker made to punch at

Angus but a wind barrier suddenly appeared and slammed him away.

*Bam!*

"Hmph!" The Vyker said as he went flying and hit the ground and started to roll for a few feet.

Angus finally opened his purple eyes and with an impassive expression, he conjured a spear cracking with dark energy and tossed it.

The Vyker had just managed to stop his roll and get to his feet when the spear came charging at him. Unable to dodge it, the Spear tip struck him, broke through his protective scales, and tore into his ribs as it released powerful crackling energy that forced him to his knees.

"Arrgghh!" The Vyker yelled in pain.

Angus conjured a second spear and held it tight in his hand as he walked toward the downed Vyker.

'What the hell is this?' Henry asked in his head, 'Since when could he wield Magic like that?'

Henry was just about to call magical energy to his eyes and activate <Insight> to investigate this anomaly when his ever-spread Perception warned him of an incoming attack.

Yet another Vyker had broken past the Warlocks.

The Vyker's special ability was fire but unlike many of the others he shared this ability with among Maude Aleric's Vykers, he used his flames in close combat battles. Similar to the Vyker named Urn who Henry had killed many weeks ago.

Anyway, a flaming kick came striking at Henry who couldn't react fast enough to raise his gun and fire an intercepting shot.

But just then, right before the kick made contact, a loud whinnying sounded out as Nyx leaped forward and slammed her head against the Vyker's leg, sending him spiraling many feet away where he slammed into the Manor's black-stoned wall.

"-I've got this!-" Nyx told Henry and galloped toward the prone Vyker aiming to finish the job.

Henry watched the Vyker get back to his feet and take on a fighting stance. He held out a palm with a fist drawn back. Both flaming with fire conjured with magic.

When Nyx arrived, barreling fast and looking like she lacked any real control, the Vyker waited and at the last second, his feet flared with fire, boosting his speed and allowing him to leap to the side.

He believed Nyx would careen and slam her head against the wall and prepared to deliver two quick flaming strikes against her side.

Unfortunately for him, Nyx could tell what he intended. After all, it wasn't the first time an enemy tried to use her speed to take advantage. The last time it happened, Henry had told her to pivot and Nyx remembered those instructions.

She stopped short with her front hooves and with them for balance, she swung her entire backside until it slammed into the Vyker and sent him sliding away.

Feet still burning with his magical fire, the Vyker managed to remain standing, leaving two long scorch marks on the ground but when he raised his head toward Nyx, all he saw was a dark shadow barreling toward him.

It traveled too fast for him to react and by the time the shadow became clearer to see, two hooves were striking at the Vyker's chest and hit with two consecutive hits…

*Bam!*

*Bam!*

*Crack!*

… That not only sent the Vyker flying for the second time in this altercation but also fractured his sternum so violently that he spat out blood.

Eyes stinging, a frail of blood running down the corners of his lips, the Vyker hurried to recover but Nyx wasn't letting up and was back on him with more hoof strikes he struggled to react to thanks to her skill <Shadow Dash>.

Meanwhile, Henry turned his attention back to Angus;

[Activating <Insight Lv.1>]

——————

[Name: Angus Dionisio]

[Race: ~Hybrid~ (Vyker)]

[Class: ~Hive King~, Spellbinder]

[Job: Gang Leader, Bond-Breaker/Maker]

[Health: (300) ~400~]

[Mana: (400) ~500~]

[Strength: (80) ~90~]

[Agility: (60) ~70~]

[Stamina: (80) ~90~]

*[Remarks: A Vyker who has lost his Creator but has gained new life thanks to a powerful Magical Item called 'The Vinculum'.

He has stepped back onto the path of Evolution and has embraced further assimilation with the item, granting him increased physical and magical might as well as newfound abilities.]

——————

Henry had many questions after looking through that Stat screen so he started tapping on tabs to open up descriptive windows;

[Race: ~Hybrid~

One who has become one with the magical item 'Vinculum'. No longer quite Man or Item but a part of a collective. A part of something more.]

[Class: ~Hive King~

The Nexus of a growing hive.

Grants the Unique Skill '~Hive-Mind~']

[Unique Skill: ~Hive Mind~

A skill that Connects all members of the Hive, bolstering their abilities while in turn granting the ~Hive King~ all the abilities and knowledge they possess to wield and use as he sees fit.]

Henry looked from the descriptive windows to Angus who was now in front of the injured Vyker holding a crackling dark spear he had conjured with magic he only had access to through the ~Hive Mind~.

The Vyker made to move but Angus raised his free hand and a wind barrier formed and slammed the Vyker flat against the ground. Leaving him prone to be stabbed through the heart with the Dark crackling spear.