Last Gun Alchemist

Clank!

The bullet struck Aliya’s staff and deflected sideways.

The metallic sound rang sharply across the bridge.

”What?” Nathalia’s eyes widened. ”Don’t tell me that the staff was forged by an Alchemist.”

Aliya smirked, rolling her wrist slightly.

”My mum gave it to me before I left for this trial.”

Cognis surged from her star, flowing through her veins and into the staff. Pale lines flickered along its surface, like white veins lighting up beneath metal skin.

Across the bridge, Nathalia’s team stared.

”I didn’t expect her to have a top-grade Alchemy weapon,” Zack muttered thoughtfully, stroking his chin while adjusting his glasses.

”Damn... lucky Aliya,” Scott said with clear envy. ”I wish my family had thought of giving me something like that.”

Ezra watched quietly.

I didn’t pay much attention to that staff before, but who would’ve guessed it was an Alchemy weapon?

The reason everyone had stared at Aliya’s staff with both amusement and shock was simple, yet extremely important in the world of Alchemists. Unlike ordinary weapons forged by blacksmiths, normal forged weapons could not withstand Cognis. An Alchemist could not enhance or pass Cognis through an ordinary sword or rod without consequences; the moment energy flowed through it, cracks would begin forming beneath the surface, and within seconds the weapon would crumble into useless fragments. Only weapons specifically forged through Alchemy could safely channel Cognis enhancement.

However, weapon-based Alchemy came with its own hierarchy and complications—grading.

Guns created between first Grade and third Grade were notoriously unstable. Their lifespan was short, and their structural integrity declined rapidly under sustained Cognis flow. A first-Grade weapon, though superior in power, would often last no longer than a single day of heavy use before deteriorating. The same applied to second-Grade. A third-Grade weapon might survive for a week, if the wielder was careful not to overload it with excess Cognis.

From fourth Grade upward, however, the lifespan improved significantly, with each higher tier granting more durability and resistance. By the time one reached the upper grades, the weapon could endure extended battle conditions without immediate collapse.

Zero Grade weapons were another matter entirely.

They did not function properly at all.

They were regarded as disgraceful failures, proof that the Alchemist who forged them had either drawn a flawed Alchemy circle, mixed incompatible materials, or miscalculated the energy conversion ratio. In truth, creating a Zero Grade weapon required an embarrassing level of incompetence, as even basic practitioners understood the fundamentals well enough to avoid such catastrophic errors.

Which was why seeing Aliya wield an Alchemy staff—one clearly capable of channeling Cognis without fracturing, was not something to overlook.

’Seventh Grade Staff’

”Now... let’s end this,” Aliya said.

She rolled her staff once between her palms before holding it upright in front of her. Cognis surged from her star and traveled along her veins, flowing steadily into the weapon. White lines, like glowing veins beneath metal skin, stretched outward along the length of the staff.

With a subtle twitch of her wrist...The staff elongated instantly, it shot forward with a sharp metallic hum.

Nathalia’s eyes widened in panic. She raised her saber quickly to block... but the moment the reinforced staff collided with the blade...

Crack.

The saber shattered into pieces as if it had struck something far denser than steel.

”No...”

The staff slammed into Nathalia’s stomach with brutal force, lifting her slightly before driving her backward against the barrier that prevented fighters from falling into the lava below.

The impact echoed across the bridge.

”Cough! Cough!”

Nathalia spat out blood, her back pressing hard against the barrier as her breath left her body in violent bursts.

Before she could properly register what had happened, Aliya stepped forward without hesitation. She grabbed Nathalia’s revolver from her loosened grip, pulled a steel nugget from her own pouch, performed Alchemy at remarkable speed, and formed a bullet. The metallic shape solidified instantly. She slid it into the chamber and raised the gun, pressing the heated muzzle close to Nathalia’s temple.

The barrel vibrated faintly, heat radiating outward.

”Argh... the muzzle is buzzing with heat, you know...” Nathalia muttered weakly, coughing again.

”Surrender,” Aliya said firmly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her arms from exhaustion.

Nathalia stared at her for several long seconds.

Their eyes met.

Friend, Rival, Cousin and Enemy.

All in one moment.

”I warned you,” Nathalia said softly.

”I said he’s going to win,” Aliya replied without blinking.

Nathalia exhaled. ”Ahh... okay. Okay. It’s my loss.”

She raised her hand slowly. ”I surrender.”

** Winner: Aliya **.

The mechanical voice responded immediately, echoing through the cave.

”Yes!!”

Aliya pumped her fist into the air triumphantly...

And then her knees buckled.

The surge of Cognis she had forced through her body drained what little remained. Her vision flickered. The staff shortened automatically as her grip weakened.

She stumbled and dropped onto one knee.

”Take it easy,” Nathalia chuckled faintly while watching her breathe heavily, her own face pale from impact and internal injury.

”I’m fine,” Aliya insisted stubbornly, though sweat rolled down her forehead and her arms trembled uncontrollably.

** Vacate the bridge **.

Both girls forced themselves upright.

They walked slowly; each step heavier than the last.

”I hope your confidence in your crush is worth the watch,” Nathalia called out teasingly as she limped toward her cage.

”Wh-who’s crush?!” Aliya hissed sharply, her face instantly flushing as she struggled back toward her own side.

** The Score is Two to One **.

** Tie-Breaker Fight Initiated **.

** Last Fighters, make your way to the center of the bridge **.

The cage locks opened with a heavy metallic click.

”Ahhh... I’m sorry, guys,” Nathalia muttered as she entered her cage, lowering herself against the wall. ”I lost to her.”

She leaned her head back and exhaled.

Zack adjusted his coat carefully and straightened his glasses with measured precision.

”You did well,” he said calmly. ”Leave the rest to me.”

He stepped out of the cage.

The lock shut immediately behind him.

”Be careful, Zack!” Nathalia called out with the last of her energy. ”The way Aliya was confident about him... I don’t think this will be easy!”

”I saw him up close,” Scott sneered, crossing his arms. ”There’s nothing special about him.”

”I’m just saying...” Nathalia muttered weakly, closing her eyes briefly.

On the opposite side...

”Hehehe.”

Aliya stepped back into her cage, raising her hand in a small celebration. A smug expression sat on her face, though her body vibrated from exhaustion and pain.

Ezra stared at her silently.

Her smug look slowly faded.

Her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, panting heavily.

”Would it kill you to praise me properly for a job well done?” she whined, breathing unevenly.

”Good job,” Ezra replied flatly.

Aliya glared at him. ”Idiot,” she muttered.

Ezra smiled faintly, he stepped closer and gently rubbed her hair. ”Good job, Aliya.”

She froze, her eyes widening.

As Ezra stepped out of the cage and the lock sealed behind him, he waved casually.

Aliya remained kneeling for several seconds.

”Huh... Wha... what... he rubbed my hair...”

Her face turned bright red.

”Kyahhhhh!!”

She covered her face and rolled onto her side, giggling uncontrollably. ”I did well... Hehehe...”

Meanwhile...

Ezra walked toward the center of the bridge; Zack was already waiting.

The lava below glowed.

The air felt heavier.

The two stood facing each other in silence.

** Last Round **.

** Tie-Breaker **.

** Begin **.

”Wait, Ezra. If that’s even your real name.”

Zack raised one hand, signaling for pause before the round properly began.

”What?” Ezra looked at him expressionlessly, his posture relaxed, hands folding loosely across his chest as if he had all the time in the world.

”I want to ask you something,” Zack said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. The faint glare from the lava reflected across the lenses. ”And your answer will determine whether I cripple you... or simply give you a light beating.”

Confidence flowed from him. One hand rested casually inside his pocket while the other continued adjusting his glasses as though this were a formal discussion instead of a duel.

Would you look at this guy.

Ezra let out a small laugh under his breath.

”Ask away,” he replied calmly.

Zack’s eyes sharpened.

”What are your feelings toward my Lady... Lady Vera?”

”Huh? Feelings?” Ezra blinked, genuinely confused.

”Don’t play dumb with me!” Zack snapped, waving his hand irritably. ”Everyone saw you with her at the end of the third trial.”

He took a step forward.

”She stood on you and you were talking casually. Like you belonged there.”

Ezra placed a hand over his forehead and rubbed it slowly.

”That again...”

Heat rose faintly to his ears as memories replayed.

Her teasing.

Her strange way of cornering him in conversation.

”Not only that,” Zack continued, his tone rising, ”I heard she visited you in the infirmary while you were bedridden. Not once. Not twice. More than three times!”

His fingers clenched over the fabric of his shirt near his chest.

”And then I heard something dreadful,” he said, his voice shaking slightly. ”Something that made my heart feel like it would burst.”

Ezra stared at him.

Is this guy okay?

”Nina told me Lady Vera confessed to you... and you rejected her! The audacity!”

Zack’s fist tightened, and veins along his temple twitched faintly.

Ah. So that’s the problem.

Ezra’s expression shifted into mild understanding.

”You like Vera, don’t you?” Ezra asked, a faint mocking smile appearing on his face.

”What of it?” Zack replied instantly, refusing to back down.

Inside both cages, Nathalia and Aliya blinked at the same time.

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over them.

Didn’t something like this happen to us earlier?

They exchanged glances silently.

”Wow,” Ezra said, eyebrows lifting slightly. ”Straightforward answer. I respect that.”

He tilted his head.

”Then why don’t you confess?”

Zack let out a frustrated breath and pressed his hand against his forehead.

”Ahh... Ezra. Do you even know who Lady Vera is?”

His glare intensified.

”Do you know what happened to the last guy who confessed to her?”

”No, I don’t,” Ezra replied immediately.

I never attended noble gatherings. Not even my own tenth-year coming-of-age celebration. How am I supposed to know what happened at those parties?

His eyes narrowed slightly.

”Well, let me educate you,” Zack said, adjusting his glasses again, now speaking as though delivering a lecture.

”At the grand celebration held for all heirs, powerful nobles, and royal children during their tenth-year coming-of-age ceremony, the Fifth Prince of Britannia himself proposed to her.”

Ezra blinked slowly.

”A ten-year-old proposed?” he muttered, genuinely stunned.

”You know what my Lady did?” Zack demanded, pointing sharply at him.

”I can guess,” Ezra replied lightly. ”She made him cry.”

”She made him cry so hard he wet himself,” Zack declared with pride shining in his eyes.

Ezra stared. ”What?”

He paused, imagining it.

”That’s even crazier than I imagined.”

He rubbed his chin.

”Well... she’s definitely capable of making someone cry and piss their pants at the same time.”

A faint laugh escaped him.

Zack’s expression darkened.

”That’s exactly why I don’t understand!” he shouted, pointing again. ”I don’t understand why she would favor you even slightly. At first, I was happy when I heard my first obstacle had been removed.”

That’s Pamela’s brother, Ezra realized silently.

”But then you appeared,” Zack continued bitterly. ”And it’s worse. Yes, I admit, you have looks. Fine. But that’s all you have. You don’t look overwhelmingly strong. You don’t look especially intelligent. So why you?”

His teeth clenched.

”Tell me, Ezra. What do you think of my Lady? Who is she to you?”

His glare burned.

Ezra fell silent for a moment.

He thought back.

The first time they met, her unpredictable nature, the way she teased him relentlessly and the times they talked casually.

He scratched his chin.

”Well...”

He hesitated.

”I honestly don’t know.”

Even he seemed surprised by his answer.

”I definitely don’t like her. I don’t love her. But I don’t hate her either.”

He looked slightly upward as if organizing his thoughts.

”She’s not my friend, but she’s not my enemy either. We talk. Sometimes I enjoy our conversations. But I also dislike how she twists my words and annoys me constantly.”

He paused again.

”Honestly... I don’t know.”

”You... don’t... know?” Zack repeated slowly, staring as if he had seen a ghost.

”What? Is that a problem?” Ezra tilted his head slightly.

Zack suddenly burst into loud laughter.

”Hahaha!”

His laughter echoed over the lava.

”Ahhh... I was originally thinking of crippling you. But now?”

His eyes sharpened dangerously.

”I’m going to make sure I scar your face.”

Ezra’s expression cooled.

”You won’t be able to use your Cognis to heal the injury I will carve into your face.”

”Huh.” Ezra narrowed his eyes.

”It should be me, not you,” Zack continued rapidly, anger rising. ”I’ve been her first supporter since day one. Not some bastard who doesn’t even care about her or knows her like I do.”

The veins along his neck twitched visibly now.

”You’re going to get beaten to a pulp today.”

He adjusted his glasses one final time.