BXBX NOVEL Chapter 187: The 2nd Amendment [2/2]
At Claire's refusal, the rest of the group laughed hysterically. Warren took no offense and just smiled back. I checked the weapons, the boys took and analyzed our formation.
Scott, being a redneck, grabbed the biggest gun, the M60.
Joshua took the M24 as it benefited his introverted personality.
Mike grabbed the AR-15 and would function as a rifleman.
Warren armed himself with the MP5SD.
Santiago surprisingly chose the Winchester 1887.
I gave Claire the Ruger MK II as it should be the easiest to handle for a beginner.
"Santiago, carry the P30L as a backup. Warren, take the 629 for a stronger punch."
Angela juggled the M26 grenades without taking any of the weapons.
"Kimchi, you okay without a gun?"
"No thanks, mace good enough White boy, lets go already!"
Everyone took all the ammunition for their respective weapons. I then gave them the blessed bullets we just got.
"All right, let's divide this up, everyone gets at least 5 for their weapons and backups. We will use them sparingly. If we run into a dangerous situation, be ready to load these bad boys."
"Boss, I have heard these things were scams. You used almost 80,000 souls are you sure these are worth it?"
"Shut your mouth hillbilly! My sisters and I worked hard on them, they are worth every penny."
"Wow, this woman has a temper, no? Señorita, I am sorry, for formless people like us, 1,000 souls is a lot of money. The cowboy meant no offense."
"Hmph! Just be careful!" Claire scolded.
Just then, the door opened and Phillip entered. Looks like his talks with LLG were already over.
"Perfect, Phillip is here. Claire shoot me."
"Patron?"
"Limitless, is this some kind of kink play?"
"Shut up you monocled bastard. Claire, I need to show him {Rewind} and you need to learn how to use your weapon. I'm a Phantom, I don't die easily. "
"Ah but... Can't someone else do it?"
"Maybe next time then. Alright, all of you, shoot me."
"What?! WAIT PATRON!"
Without the slightest hesitation, my bodyguard squad pumped me full of lead. As if testing the limits of rewind, they deliberately tried to maim and dismember me.
The combined firepower blew off my left arm at the shoulder, while everything below my right elbow was blown away in a gruesome mess.
"That hurt you sick fucks," I complained as I nearly collapsed from the pain.
"Just following orders boss."
"Phillip, get me a cup," I ordered as I staggered towards him. A few rounds had pierced my thighs, making it painful just to walk.
As Phillip handed me a cup, I moved my severed right elbow over it. The blood that spurted from my limb quickly filled it. I felt myself slowly losing consciousness from the pain.
My body wasn't bruised that badly, but they poked enough holes in me that my chest felt like it was going to collapse.
"Good, this should be enough. {Rewind}."
Philip, who had seen my demonstration, dropped his jaw when he saw me reappear unharmed and full of life.
"Holy shit. Then {Reload} is not your {Fate}? You can heal any damage, no matter how severe? Is there a mechanism for using it?"
"I'll tell you later, I apologize for not telling you before."
"That's okay, everyone has secrets, it is better to keep such important information close to your vest. But since you showed it to me now, you must have something you want to accomplish."
"I have verified that {Rewind} can allow production saints to bless repeatedly."
"Well, that is... quite a big deal..."
"It is, I want you to help Yvonne, organize the saint division, and enforce confidentiality."
"Okay, my focus would be on keeping the secret from getting out and helping Yvonne maximize the blessings, right?"
"Yes," I nodded.
Having smart people was certainly a good thing. Leveraging the intellect of people around a leader was one of the hallmarks of a great one. I may not be smart but using anything I could was second nature to me.
"Understood. I will go find Ms. Yvonne after this. Will that be all?" Philip clarified.
"Fill out an army application here under my name. Let the seven of them here serve as a second squad. I read that when a squad belongs to an army they are allowed to go up to eight members, right?"
"Yes, that is the case, I guess the first squad will be for those coming tomorrow?"
"Yeah, they will be my personal squad. This 2nd squad will have another purpose."
"Understood, I already have the names of everyone except the lady from Golden Wick. Young lady, may I have your name?"
"I am Claire Knight," the Production Saint replied.
"Very well. Then I will take care of the paperwork, Limitless, what will this squad be called?"
"They will be called the 2nd Amendment."
"Interesting name, may I ask why?"
The members of the 2nd Amendment all eagerly awaited my answer. As Americans, they all knew what the 2nd Amendment stood for, even if they didn't know the exact words.
"The 2nd Amendment will be my symbol. It will be an army composed of the Formless and those who want to fight regardless of their {Fates}.
"Currently, Hellsgate was messed up, and those who wished to fight were unable to do so. I will correct that. Anyone who desires to bear arms may do so under my name."
The exact words of the 2nd Amendment were
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Surprisingly, it fit the current state of Hellsgate very well. The Formless were forced to become cannon fodder, horses, or whatever crappy job they could think of. Anyone without a combat-worthy {Fate} was similarly relegated to support roles.
Without Soulgears or Soularms, most were expected to die a miserable death. From what I saw, what made a warrior was not his {Fate}, but his heart and mind. And I will prove it on all seven battle fronts.
To keep Hellsgate standing, I will use everything at my disposal.
Using the Formless and the Non-Combat Manifested was just the beginning.
'After all, I am just getting started,' I vowed with a smile.