After a hearty meal and a night's rest, Akira made his way to the village blacksmith's shop.

The blacksmith, a rugged older man with calloused hands and a beard flecked with silver, introduced himself with a firm handshake.

Blacksmith: "I'm Rurik. Heard you handled that Death Stalker with some real skill. Welcome to my forge."

Akira: "Akira. Thanks. I heard you're the one to see if I need something crafted."

They exchanged a nod of mutual respect, and without delay, Akira presented Rurik with blueprints for a weapon he'd been developing: the "Attache Shotgun." Rurik raised an eyebrow as he studied the designs.

Rurik: "This is... quite advanced for something pieced together from scraps and salvage. You're serious about making this thing?"

Akira: "Dead serious. I'll be able to 3D print some of the smaller components, but for the big stuff, I'll need your forge and whatever parts you have lying around."

With a grunt of agreement, Rurik set to work, gathering scrap metal, old firearm parts, and anything else that looked like it might have a place in Akira's vision.

Together, they began crafting the Attache Shotgun, their combined expertise flowing in a rhythmic pattern of hammering, welding, and fitting. Akira's 3D printer buzzed alongside them, shaping intricate pieces that snapped into place on the weapon's frame.

Just as they were about to make final adjustments, a loud explosion shattered the quiet hum of the forge. Both men looked up sharply, their attention drawn to the billowing smoke rising from the village's edge.

Rurik: "That's the Branwen Tribe! Those bandits won't leave us anything but ruin if they get their way."

Akira gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. He glanced at the unfinished weapon on the workbench, then back at Rurik.

Akira: "Finish the Attache Shotgun. I'll hold them off."

Without waiting for a reply, Akira grabbed his Attache Calibur and bolted toward the source of the commotion.

As he sprinted through the village, he saw bandits in dark armor, tearing through homes and scattering terrified villagers.

Among the chaos, a few were already lying injured on the ground, caught in the crossfire.

His expression hardened as he activated his Attache Calibur.

Attache Calibur: "Blade Rise!"

With a shimmer, the sword extended from its case form, emitting a soft, dangerous hum as its edge glowed faintly.

Akira wasted no time, charging forward with precision strikes, his blade cutting through the ranks of bandits.

Sparks flew as metal clashed, and with each swing, Akira dispatched a foe, driving them back from the center of the village.

In the midst of the fighting, a commanding voice rang out.

Raven: "Well, well… you're not like the others here, are you?"

Turning, Akira saw her—a woman with a fierce gaze, clad in dark armor and wielding a katana.

Her posture exuded confidence, but her eyes held a calculating curiosity as she sized him up.

Raven: "You have skill. I could use someone like you in my tribe."

Akira: (coldly) "I'm not interested in joining bandits who prey on the weak."

Raven's expression flickered with amusement, though her tone turned serious.

Raven: "It's survival of the fittest, boy. Only those strong enough to take what they need deserve to live."

Akira clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on the Attache Calibur.

He glanced around, spotting the village chief's fallen body among the debris. The sight steeled his resolve.

Akira: "Spare me the philosophy. I'm done listening to your kind."

With that, he took a deep breath, his free hand shifting the Calibur back into Attache Mode.

Attache Calibur: "Charge Rise!"

Energy surged into the blade, building to a crescendo as he flicked it back into Blade Mode.

Attache Calibur: "Full Charge!"

A powerful aura enveloped the blade as he prepared for a "Kaban Strash."

He dashed toward Raven, who blocked his swing with her katana, the clash sending out a shockwave. They exchanged a rapid series of blows, each testing the other's strength and speed.

Akira managed to slip a small tracker onto her armor amid the skirmish, hoping to use it to locate her later.

Their fight escalated, and for a moment, Raven gained the upper hand, knocking the Calibur from Akira's grasp.

She sneered, raising her katana for a finishing strike, but before she could bring it down, Rurik's voice cut through the fray.

Rurik: "Akira! Catch!"

The blacksmith hurled the freshly completed Attache Shotgun toward Akira, who caught it mid-air, flipping it open as it announced its activation.

Attache Shotgun: "Attache Shotgun! Attache case opens to release the incredibly powerful shotgun."

He pulled the trigger, firing a barrage of energy bullets that sent him skidding back from the recoil, but it was enough to create distance between him and Raven.

Raven's eyes narrowed, a glint of intrigue mixed with frustration.

Raven: "You're better than I thought. But remember this, Akira—next time, you won't be so lucky."

With a flourish, she created a portal and vanished, leaving the battered village behind.

Breathing heavily, Akira steadied himself, the Attache Shotgun smoking in his hands.

Around him, the villagers slowly emerged from their hiding spots, relief evident on their faces.

Rurik approached, placing a hand on Akira's shoulder.

Rurik: "You saved us, lad. Don't think we'll ever forget that."

Akira nodded, his gaze distant as he considered Raven's parting words.

He'd survived this encounter, but he knew this was far from over.

For now, though, the village was safe—and that was enough.

Author Note:

I do read the reviews and will be answering some now:

1. Grimm Progrisekey ask by UnseenUrge:

This a interesting idea and will be working on this idea

Huge Edit:

My deepest apologies to UnseenUrge i missed read the email notifications