STORY DESCRIPTION:In a world ruled by magic and swordsmanship, he brought a gun.
Paul Wayne is an orphan with no military background, no noble lineage, and no flashy magic—just a mysterious Stigma etched into his left hand.
Everyone at Diamond Academy, the world's most elite Hero training institution, ridicules him. Guns are considered outdated. Weak. Useless.
But Paul's Stigma allows him to create weapons from mana, manipulate time, and see through his enemies' moves.
He may be quiet. He may look average.
But in a battlefield where monsters roam and only the strongest survive...
One shot is all he needs.
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Chapter 1 – The Gun Among Blades
Diamond Academy.
A fortress of towering spires rising from the sea, bathed in light and mystery. Built on the artificial island of Diamond, it was home to the most elite training program in the world—where magic, science, and combat blended into something far beyond the ordinary.
Within its shining walls, cadets trained to become the next generation of Heroes.
And I… was just trying to stay invisible.
I sat near the back of the Veritas Class lecture room, watching in silence as students filled the seats around me. All of them carried the air of experience—graduates of military academies, heirs of powerful bloodlines, children of noble guides or Hero associations.
Me? I was none of those.
The classroom door opened with a sharp hiss.
A tall man walked in, coat fluttering behind him like a cape, his presence heavy enough to silence the room instantly.
"I'm Park Leon," he said. "Instructor for Veritas Class. I'll be in charge of breaking, building, and training you this year. If you're here to play Hero, leave."
No one moved.
"Good," he continued. "Follow me. Weapon selection begins now."
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The Weapons Room was vast—cold steel walls lined with racks of magical and physical weapons, each glowing faintly with infused mana.
We entered in silence, the pressure heavy.
"Choose wisely," Park Leon said. "The weapon you pick today defines your path."
One by one, students stepped forward.
Rachel Queen, sharp-eyed and graceful, picked a gleaming rapier.
Mira Roodes, calm and calculating, tested the strength of a mana-threaded whip.
Louis Hall, arrogant and composed, took a double-edged twinblade.
Saul Mayne, confident and focused, grabbed a classic longsword.
Lila Dawn, quiet and precise, chose a sleek, silver-edged bow.
Then it was my turn.
I walked up to the far wall. Ignored the blades, staves, and spears.
And reached for a black rifle.
A gun.
Whispers filled the room.
"A gun? Seriously?"
"Is he trying to get kicked out early?"
"They barely dent monsters unless you're crazy skilled."
I ignored them.
Park Leon raised a brow. "You sure about that?"
I nodded once. "Yeah."
For a moment, his eyes lingered on my gloved left hand—where the Stigma pulsed faintly beneath the fabric.
"…Fine," he said, turning. "Let's see if you survive long enough to prove why."
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Elsewhere, in the academy's archery range, Lila Dawn loosed an arrow that struck dead center.
"Perfect again," came a voice from behind.
She turned. Saul Mayne approached, arms crossed.
"We've got another sharpshooter in class," he said.
"You mean Paul?" she asked, lowering her bow.
She sighed. "I think he's already given up on becoming a Hero."
Saul frowned. "You don't know that. Everyone has their reasons."
She glanced away. "And if you're not here to train, Saul, get off my range."
He smiled. "Fine. Just thought you should know."
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Back in the classroom, I sat at my desk, hand casually brushing my ear.
Somewhere, someone had mentioned my name. I felt it.
"Hm…" I muttered, smirking slightly. "Talking about me, huh?"
The Stigma on my hand pulsed again, faint and blue.
Just a whisper of power…
Enough to tell me the game was already starting.
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End of Chapter 1