Infinity, The Arcade Age

Name: Tarma's Head (Metal Slug World)

Type: Consumable (Brilliant Silver Grade)

Effect: Increases Strength Cap by +10 and grants a random skill from Tarma.

Description: "Enhanced through special means, even Tarma himself would be shocked at how tough his head has become."

Name: Cyclops' Head (X-Men World)

Type: Consumable (Brilliant Silver Grade)

Effect: Increases Spirit Cap by +10 and grants a random skill from Cyclops.

Description: "This head, capable of emitting laser beams, has grown even more potent in death, its energy refusing to fade."

Qin Ming stared at the two heads in his hands, hesitating for a moment before deciding to fuse Tarma's head—this master of firearms—with his revolver.

The other head, Cyclops', he intended to use on himself to address his weakness in Spirit.

As a brilliant flash of light engulfed the revolver and the silver-grade head, the transformation began. When the light faded, the revolver's attributes had undergone a complete overhaul.

Name: Hyena's Fang

Type: Weapon (Dim Gold Plotline)

Effect 1: Fixed Attack Power: 10–15

Effect 2: Call of the Hyena (Summon Tarma to assist in combat).

Description: "A unique revolver infused with Tarma's soul, binding the powerful plotline character as its servant."

Excited, Qin Ming raised the revolver and fired a shot. With a loud bang, the summoned figure materialized before him.

A muscular man with short, disheveled hair, sunglasses, and a camouflage uniform stood tall. A backpack and light machine gun completed his look. He yanked the bolt on his weapon and saluted crisply.

"Lieutenant Tarma Rovin of Peregrine Falcon Squad's First Regiment, reporting for duty, Commander! Awaiting your orders!"

Name: Tarma Rovin

Strength: 15

Constitution: 15

Agility: 40

Spirit: 10

Skills:

Vehicle Driving & Modification (B-grade)Heavy Firearms Mastery (B-grade)Close Combat (C-grade)

Equipment:

H-Type SMG (Silver Grade, 500 rounds included)Demolisher Grenades (Blue Grade, 24 units)Military Pistol (Blue Grade, 300 rounds included)Combat Knife (Blue Grade)

Description: "One of the four main characters from Metal Slug, a master of heavy weaponry and mechanics!"

Qin Ming couldn't help but grin as he took in Tarma's impressive attributes. After testing the recall function, he found that the head could be detached from the gun and reused as an accessory.

Curious, he attached Cyclops' head to the revolver and summoned him. After comparing the two, Qin Ming ultimately chose Tarma.

While Cyclops' overall stats and versatility were superior, his abilities overlapped with Qin Ming's combat style. Cyclops primarily fought in close to mid-range combat, with only one ranged attack—his laser blast, which had limited range.

Qin Ming already dominated the mid-range battlefield and didn't need assistance there. Instead, he needed a reliable long-range partner to complement his strengths. Tarma, with his firearms expertise, fit the role perfectly.

Additionally, Qin Ming's Strength was already nearing the Stage I limit at 19 points, so gaining an additional 10 Strength would only provide a net increase of 5 points due to diminishing returns. Enhancing his Spirit, a weaker attribute, offered greater value.

Using Cyclops' head on himself, Qin Ming's Spirit jumped from 10 to 20, hitting the Stage I cap. This even surpassed his Strength, his secondary primary attribute.

Most importantly, the fusion granted Qin Ming one of Cyclops' skills:

Name: Infrared Perception (C-grade)

Effect: Automatically generates thermal imaging, revealing enemy locations even behind cover.

Though he hadn't gained a B-grade skill like Cyclops' laser beam, Qin Ming considered the ability useful for locating enemies in concealment.

With his five skill slots now filled and no option to fuse them due to level restrictions, Qin Ming resigned himself to carrying this moderately useful skill for now.

His gear and attributes optimized, Qin Ming left 10,000 points as a contingency fund, ready for emergencies that could arise during missions. Then he returned to the real world for some much-needed rest.

For Qin Ming, returning to reality was the only way to truly relax and escape the oppressive Nightmare Space, even if the reprieve would only last a month at most.

Extending this rest period would cost 2,000 points per month—a luxury Qin Ming wasn't willing to afford, especially with an impending contract-bound mission.

One month later, he found himself back in the Nightmare Space, preparing for the advancement mission.

Qin Ming meticulously sorted his belongings. In addition to his gear, he carried the emergency Frog Orb and 6,500 points worth of Medieval Gold Coins.

Rather than converting the coins to points, he decided to keep them. After all, wealth could open doors in ways that points couldn't, particularly when dealing with plotline characters. Their potential value far exceeded their numerical worth.

Once everything was in order, Qin Ming exhaled deeply, steeling himself for the challenge ahead.

Opening his door, he found a familiar figure leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed.

It was Ghost Lady, his partner for the upcoming mission.

Their next target: The Advancement Mission.

(End of Chapter)