got a very rough idea of a gunsword idea I had for that visual novel I'm working on
the reciprocating bolt and charging handle is the crux of the weapon's existence in the story. at first the love interest gives the weapon to the protagonist because it's a beautiful yet fragile and complex thing, like the protagonist. later in the story, the two fight and the love interest overpowers the protagonist and the two do that stereotypical sword clash pose of guard to guard and rather than firing the gun to hit something, the protagonist fires it to use the force as a way to force his opponent's blade out of the way so that he could strike, essentially a gunpowder powered parry which couldn't happen with a different mechanism
plus the bolt moves forward due to had blowback or something lol, makes sense bc if it moved back the quillon wouldn't be very effective as a sword strike would likely move it back
I feel like this is slightly autistic but it seems cool and it's for a good plot point and moment, as the backhanded gift the love interest have the protagonist ends up being his death as the protagonist's qualities he was highlighting are what allowed the protagonist to think of using the sword in that way
and it goes further where the counter slash hits his neck only for the love interest to recover and thrust in a dying attempt to kill the protagonist, who swivels up to block before thrusting the blade into the love interest's heart and pulling the trigger, bursting his chest open and killing him instantly
no idea how I'm going to draw any of this but it sounds cool in my head