[The Real Man’s Revolver]
[Classification: F-Grade Rule Artifact.]
[Chambering: .44 Magnum.]
[Effect: To initiate a duel, the wielder must designate a living target within ten meters, maintain direct sight of the target, know the target’s full name, and declare the target’s full name followed by: "I challenge you to a real man’s duel." The duel begins only if the designated target verbally agrees; no specific wording is required, and any response recognized as acceptance will suffice. Once both parties are bound to the duel, each may wager anything they genuinely own, whether physically present or not, including money, property, abilities, physical attributes, reputation, lifespan, life, or other forms of recognized ownership. The total value of all stakes is converted into the power of the revolver’s single live round—the greater the combined wager, the more powerful that round becomes. The revolver contains six chambers and one live round. Participants take turns placing the muzzle against their own heads and pulling the trigger. Each participant must pull the trigger at least once during their turn, but may choose to pull it multiple times before passing the revolver to the other participant. The revolver cannot be used to attack anyone else; any attempt to aim or fire it anywhere other than at the current wielder’s own head will be resolved as though it had been aimed at that wielder’s head. Whoever fires the live round receives its full power. The rules of a real man’s duel will be upheld with absolute fairness. No favoritism, exemptions, or special treatment will be permitted. The revolver may be reused once the duel has concluded.]
[Manufactured by Real Man Co.—the manliest company in the universe.]
Lin Yan barely hesitated.
"I’ll take it."
A rule weapon that could turn something he couldn’t overpower directly into a wager?
He wasn’t passing that up.
And most importantly—
"I’m a real man too."
The System was silent for a moment.
[Trollblood I is no longer equipped.]
Lin Yan’s face darkened.
"...What’s that supposed to mean?"
[Nothing.]
"Fuck you."
[Reward selected: The Real Man’s Revolver.]
[Rank 1 rewards claimed: 2/2.]
Warmth surged through Lin Yan’s entire body.
It spread from his chest into every limb, sinking deep into muscle, bone and organ. His joints loosened. His breathing became deeper and smoother. Years of tiny aches, stiffness and accumulated fatigue disappeared one after another.
His whole body seemed to wake up at once.
Every movement felt effortless. Every breath felt clean. Even standing still felt ridiculously comfortable, as though his body had finally been adjusted into exactly the state it was supposed to be in.
Lin Yan rolled his shoulders, flexed his fingers, then took a deep breath.
For a moment, he genuinely understood why people wrote stories about ascending to immortality.
[Earthborn Foundation applied.]
"Holy shit..."
Lin Yan exhaled slowly.
"This feels fucking amazing."
A silver-and-black revolver materialized in Lin Yan’s free hand.
It settled into his palm with a dense, satisfying weight. The frame was solid metal, finished in a matte, finely textured surface that swallowed most of the light instead of reflecting it. His fingertips caught the faint grain of the finish as they moved across it—cool, dry and slightly rough, with none of the slickness of polished steel.
The cylinder and barrel were gunmetal black, while the edges and a few recessed sections showed muted silver beneath the matte finish.
There was no serial number or manufacturer mark anywhere on it.
There were, however, two words engraved along the barrel.
REAL MAN.
Lin Yan turned the revolver slowly in his hand.
"Damn. That’s beautiful."
He swung the cylinder open.
All six chambers were empty.
Lin Yan gave the cylinder a spin before snapping it shut.
[The Real Man’s Revolver acquired.]
He tucked the revolver securely into the back of his waistband, rested Gorak’s hammer against his shoulder, and pressed the button on the radio at his waist.
"Jason."
Static crackled.
"Yeah?"
"Tell everyone to come out. Have them head out on their own."
There was a short pause.
"It’s really over?"
"Yeah."
"I’ve still got something to take care of. You guys go ahead."
"Got it."
Lin Yan released the radio button.
Before leaving the platform, he opened the Contribution Shop.
A personal interface unfolded in front of him.
[Contribution Shop]
[Current Contribution Points: 9,500.]
[The Contribution Shop may be accessed at any time outside an active convergence.]
So there was no rush.
He could go through it properly once he got home.
Right now, there was something more important to deal with.
Lin Yan glanced toward the surveillance camera above the platform.
The station had recorded far too much tonight.
Time to fix that.