Tatehan stared down at the nine black cores scattered across the ground, their dark glow almost hypnotic in the harsh Martian sunlight.

Weapon Enhancement Cores.

At first glance, the concept might seem useless or unimportant, just another minor upgrade in a world full of dangers that required immediate, practical solutions. But the more Tatehan thought about it, the more he realized how valuable these cores actually were.

How much more effective would his normal sword become after upgrading? The blade had served him well so far, it was sharp, balanced, and had proven capable of cutting through creature hide and even some lighter armor materials. But what if it could be better? What if the enhancement made it capable of cutting through those crystalline scales Riven had mentioned on the Serpent? What if it could slice through the metallic teeth of the Iron-Jaw Scavengers without being deflected?

The possibilities were intriguing.

And his chakrams, those spinning blades had already proven their worth in combat. They were precise, deadly when thrown correctly, and the fact that they returned to his hand made them incredibly efficient weapons for dispatching multiple enemies quickly. But what would enhanced chakrams be capable of? Greater speed? Better penetration? More devastating impact force?

Even his pistol, which he'd been using only once, could potentially benefit enormously from enhancement. The weapon was already powerful, capable of causing internal energy explosions that tore creatures apart from the inside. But what if that destructive capacity could be amplified? What if each shot became even more devastating?

The more Tatehan considered these possibilities, the more excited he became about the discovery.

These weren't just cores. They were potential force multipliers that could significantly increase his combat effectiveness and survival chances on this hostile planet.

Suddenly, words flashed across his retina in the familiar system interface:

[Weapon Enhancement Cores Detected: 9]

[Function Analysis: These cores can be integrated directly into existing weapons to enhance their fundamental capabilities]

[Enhancement Effects Include:

Increased structural integrity and durability

Enhanced edge sharpness and penetration capability

Improved energy channeling and force amplification

Aesthetic transformation reflecting upgraded status]

[Note: Each weapon requires a specific number of cores for successful enhancement. Core requirements vary based on weapon complexity and size]

[Warning: Enhancement process is permanent and irreversible. Choose wisely]

Tatehan nodded to himself, processing the information. The system was essentially confirming what he'd been thinking—these cores could genuinely transform his weapons into significantly more powerful tools.

He walked methodically to each of the nine Iron-Jaw Scavenger corpses, crouching beside them and carefully extracting the black cores from where they'd been embedded in the ground. Each core felt strangely dense for its size, with a weight that seemed almost unnatural, as if it contained compressed potential energy.

One by one, he willed them into his inventory, watching as they materialized as glowing icons in his mental storage space.

[Weapon Enhancement Cores: 9 acquired]

Now came the exciting part.

Tatehan decided to start with his sword—his primary melee weapon and the tool he'd used most consistently since taking it from kael. He summoned the blade from his inventory, and it materialized in his hand with its familiar weight and balance.

The sword was simple but effective: a straight, double-edged blade approximately one meter in length, with a basic cross-guard and a wrapped handle that fit his grip comfortably. It looked like something between a longsword and an arming sword from medieval Earth, but constructed with materials he didn't fully understand.

He focused his intention on the weapon, mentally accessing the enhancement system.

Words appeared across his vision:

[Weapon Selected: Standard Combat Sword]

[Enhancement Available: Yes]

[Cores Required: 3]

[Proceed with enhancement?]

Three cores. That seemed reasonable for a primary weapon.

Tatehan mentally confirmed his choice.

[Enhancement Initiated]

The moment he agreed, three of the black cores materialized from his inventory, hovering in the air around the sword. They began to orbit the blade slowly, their dark glow intensifying with each rotation.

Then, all at once, they shot forward and made contact with the metal.

The effect was instantaneous and dramatic.

The cores seemed to melt into the sword's surface, their dark energy spreading across the blade like living ink. The metal began to shimmer with that same deep, light-absorbing glow. The entire weapon vibrated in Tatehan's hand, and for a moment he worried it might shatter from the energy coursing through it.

Then, with a flash of brilliant dark light that seemed paradoxically both bright and shadow-like, the transformation completed.

When Tatehan's vision cleared, he was holding a completely different weapon.

The sword had transformed into something that looked incredibly powerful.

The blade was no longer simple gray metal—it now had a deep, dark finish that seemed to shift between obsidian black and steel gray depending on the angle of light.

The edge itself looked impossibly sharp.

The cross-guard had become more elaborate, with curved extensions that would better protect his hand. The handle had transformed as well, now wrapped in what appeared to be the same material as his armor—dark, flexible, and perfectly molded to his grip.

But most impressively, the entire weapon felt different. It was somehow both lighter and more substantial at the same time. When he gave it an experimental swing, it cut through the air with almost no resistance, producing a faint whistling sound.

Tatehan stared at the transformed weapon in amazement.

"Holy shit," he muttered aloud.

This wasn't just an upgrade. This was a complete transformation into something that looked like it belonged in the hands of a legendary warrior, not a guy who'd only been on Mars for a few months.

He was so focused on admiring the sword that he almost missed the new system notification:

[Enhancement Complete: Combat Sword → Shadow-Forged Blade]

'Uh…,Shadow forged? Generic name for a sword.'

[New Capabilities:

Edge Sharpness: Increased by 400% - capable of cutting through most armor materials

Deflection Capability: Blade can now deflect energy-based attacks.

Durability: Enhanced structural integrity - almost indestructible under normal combat conditions

Weight Manipulation: Blade can shift between light and heavy states based on user intent

Penetration Power: Can pierce through materials previously resistant to standard blades]

[Combat Effectiveness: Drastically Improved]

Tatehan read through the enhancements with growing excitement. This weapon was now leagues beyond what it had been before.

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