Apache Revolver

There was no way that he could feel safe here. Magic, even his Sacred Demon Slayer Magic, had no power in this place - the Neutral Grounds, where any and all truly were neutralized to this magic-less being. Since Jariel grew up with somewhat of a magical atmosphere - with all the jinns floating about near his home back in Desierto and whatnot - this was new to him. And with anything else that was new to the adventurer, he had to be cautious of it lest it surprises him with a hidden status as hostility.

But he came here for a reason; to even out the weakness of not having magic here.

WC: 113

There was an announcement that caught his eyes when Jariel was returning from Hargeon Town where he got his passport. A gunshop was having a huge sale here in the Neutral Grounds, and while Jariel had never wielded such a weapon before, he was informed that it required no magic power to wield and use. If he ever got into trouble where his magic would fail him, why not wield a gun? It was fast, effective, served its purposes and wasn't heavy. Definitely better than wielding an axe.

He still had to find the exact gunshop, for they didn’t appear to be scarce in this strange town…

WC: 107
TWC: 220

One of the gunshops appeared to have a multitude of different guns that shot out swords. Yes, swords. What kind of gun was able to shoot swords? Never mind that question; the real question was why? Why would people make a sword like this- no, a gun like this? It was so confusing... and yet, it kind of had a cool aesthetic to it that drew JJ closer. Shooting a sword from your wielded gun was usually far more destructive than throwing it yourself, depending on your own throwing skill and strength... but then again, it wasn't a real gun at that point, was it?

Nah, he needed a classic. Something discreet but true to the old ways of what a gun consisted of; a barrel to load bullets in, trigger and handle, perhaps a small optic or scope, and voila.

WC: 141

Another gun met his eyes. This one was coated in silver, a revolver-form and a work of art for the Demon Slayer. Hopefully, its shot was as impressive as its design, btu he would have to take that up with the gun-shop owner.

Picking up the revolver did grab the attention of the snoozing gun-dealer who approached him. “H-Hey, there! You’re supposed to pick up one of the holsters!” He quickly grabbed the advertisement product from JJ and put it back in place with a grin, “But I guess you really want one of these? Here, take one of the holsters and try it out… y-you do know how to wield and shoot with a gun, I assume?”

“… I… I see no fault in trying.”

WC: 126

It was a good idea to try it out, because shooting a revolver like this was different from casting a spell. JJ did possess long-range, projectile spells made of the holy light from his Demon Slayer Magic, but… this revolver was only boosted by gunpowder and an ignition Lacrima. It felt like an actual, external source of force that he had to test out a handful of times before his hand got used to it.

He managed to shoot… about 30 shots before the gun owner commented: “O-Okay, okay, I think you got the hang of it now! Why don’t you just buy it and some ammo, so you can test it back at home?”

“… I may as well.”

WC: 120

It was only then that JJ felt like obtaining information in form of a verbal explanation to why the Apache Revolver had a knuckle duster attached to it like this. He glared at the gun owner and gently asked: "If you don't mind, I have a question... it's about the knuckle duster-"

"Ah, confused, aren't you? Isn't it convenient to wield the knuckle duster like this?" the gun owner asked back rather rhetorically before picking up the revolver and wearing the knuckle duster on his fist, "That way, you can quickly jab at people who get too close, and if they underestimate your fighting skills, then you can surprise them - like this!"

He quickly flicked the weapon and suddenly held it like a revolver, all in the blink of an eye. JJ was impressed by the move, so if that was all, then he was ready to purchase it with the jewels that he had saved up from his Officer duties in Dies Irae.

WC: 165

Once he walked outside again, he felt like he had accomplished something great. Gaining your very first weapon was a rite of passage, and it solidified him as an adult who knew how to handle one. While his Demon Slayer Magic was impressive, holding a gun like this wasn't bad. He already imagined that he could catch a lot of wizards by surprise if he used a non-magical tool like this one.

And it appeared that he got the chance to test it out against live targets, for a random purse thief pushed him to the side in an attempt to flee a lady and her kid who were charging towards him and screaming, you guessed it, 'thief'. JJ had been toppled off of his feet, but he quickly turned and fired the Apache Revolver right before hitting the ground, seeing the bullet open a small crater on the thief's leg.

WC. 151

The thief rolled across the granite floor in pain, giving JJ enough time to get up on his feet and judge the situation. The injury on said thief's leg wasn't as severe as he thought to begin with - the crater was some effect caused by the outburst of yellow dust from the bullet. The thief was alright, just having some stinging pain travel through his knee.

JJ simply held the gun pointed straight at him the entire time. He approached the fallen thief, picked up the purse, then simply tossed the purse back at the woman who had pursuited him. She managed to grab it with both arms, while her child watched in awe at the scene.

JJ still had to deal with the thief in front of him, for he wasn't going to get away with any of this. He didn't reek of any magic, so perhaps just tying him up and sending him to the city's authorities would suffice for today. The thief barely talked, though...

WC: 169

For that occasion, JJ unleashed a new spell of his - one that spawned a chain of bright, blinding light strong enough to keep pedestrians away from sating their curiosities about the tied up criminal. He flung the chain around the thief's arms, then around his legs, then ended it with a tie around his neck. Now, he wasn't able to move at all... hopefully.

And now, JJ could return to his room in Amber Island with his new found.

WC: 80

The thief behind him was picked up by random guards of the town who would report it back to their headquarters, while the person who tied the criminal up was nowhere to be found. With only a burn mark on the thief's knee, the two guards were curious as to who had run into the scene and taken the law into their own hands, and the lady whose items were stolen only held few ideas of the vigilante's appearance. Because of the favor, they simply brushed it aside as friendly, outside help from a famous guild and went on with their day.

WC: 102

JJ had found an alleyway where he decided that it was the best area to try out something new with the revolver of his. He had already used it on a live target, but how quickly could it be reloaded? He opened the barrel and saw that it could hold 5 orbs of something yellow... something that smelled nasty upon a closer look. He didn’t know what this substance was, but it was in a powder-like form. Given by the reaction earlier with the thief’s left, it was definitely flammable too.

He has to be careful.

Maybe if he took the weapon back to the Throne Hall, then he could figure out what the substance was… but he could always go back and ask the gun dealer about this strange ammunition. It was yellowish and dusty… and it smelled bad. Was it a kind of bad spice?

JJ quickly loaded the Apache Revolver and shot down on the floor to test it out again. An orb of compressed dust was sent out, which then expanded upon impact to form a yellow dust cloud. Upon smelling it, however… even JJ had to step back.

WC: 97

What was that aroma? Why did it just happen to smell so terribly? Maybe it was a part of the weaponry; a means to confuse the opponent by damaging their senses... but it really came off as grotesque to the person with heightened senses like the Demon Slayer right in front of it. He stepped back a few steps and held his nose until the smell dissipated.

He should try some other ammunition than the sulfur... maybe some braze bullets would work as well?

He didn’t have any braze bullets on his person at the moment. As far as he remembered, the gunowner didn’t possess such wares, so he would have to find another source of metallic ammunition. It didn’t have to be braze, for iron bullets could prove efficient too… or perhaps Desiertan steel…

He would have to think more about this later on. For now, though, he set his destination back to Amber Island… and this time, he wouldn’t allow himself any distractions on the way back. He had gotten what he wanted, and the disrupted sense of smell was worth it.

...

No. In the end, the Demon Slayer remembered a type of ammo that could prove useful. A type of ammo that a certain shop was selling nearby, which would otherwise close very soon if he didn't hurry on his way towards the location. Indeed, he should hurry up, or the special ammunition would have to wait for tomorrow... in which he would be forced to find a place to stay for the night, lest he waste more time returning back to Amber Island and then all the way over here again.

It was worth it...

He had been gallopping towards the place where he thought he saw the shop before, making sure not to step on anyone's toes on the way. His light-toed approach was faintly boosted by mana, a small act of exercise that he had been taught from his superiors in Dies Irae. Since mana and his magical prowess boosted the front of all his wizardous capabilities, he were to practice in those areas at all times.

WC: 74