After a few hours of walking, I finally arrived in the city of my destination, Belnar, a sprawling metropolis teeming with life but laced with an undercurrent of tension. The streets were packed with people bustling about, their heads low, shoulders tight, eyes constantly darting. In this world, you never knew who was going to cross you—or end you. Tall stone structures loomed over the narrow streets, their worn facades whispering stories of past battles and forgotten sorrows. Dark alleyways ran between the buildings, offering unseen threats or opportunities, depending on how strong you were.
I made my way through the crowded market, barely paying attention to the vibrant stalls. The vendors sold everything from exotic potions to enchanted weapons, but I didn't care. It was all noise. What use were trinkets in a world where power spoke louder than any object you could buy?
I kept walking, straight toward my destination: a six-story building on a quieter side of the city. It was one of those unremarkable places that blended into the scenery, unassuming to any passerby. To the average eye, it was just another corporate building, neatly placed behind a fenced gate with a large lawn in front. The grass was well-manicured, which struck me as pointless—who cared about appearances when you lived in a world where strength was all that mattered? But this place was a front, a cover for something much darker beneath the surface.
I passed the guards at the gates without a word, though I could feel their eyes on me. They were probably wondering if I belonged here, but I didn't stop to chat. My mind lingered on the city behind me—the hopelessness that seeped into the air. The architecture of Belnar always reminded me of a place designed to keep people trapped, hemmed in by tall walls and narrow paths. The streets wove together like a maze, intentionally confusing, as if to make it easier for the authorities to control or corner people. Freedom here was an illusion, but only those strong enough saw through it.
The inner gates came into view, with a few more guards stationed there. One of them briefly stopped me, his tone polite but firm. He asked a few questions, the kind meant to verify my business, but it didn't take long for him to let me pass. I was expected. After a short conversation, I was inside, ascending the stairs to the fourth floor. The narrow stairwell smelled faintly of dust and old wood, a far cry from the sterile streets outside.
The building's interior was colder, more clinical. The corridor I stepped into was filled with researchers in white coats, some holding clipboards, others in deep discussions about things I didn't care to understand. The atmosphere was different from the streets below—calm, calculated, and deliberate. The people here weren't survivors—they were creators, manipulators of the world in ways the common man couldn't imagine. A part of me resented it, knowing they held a power different from my own but dangerous all the same.
I knocked on a door, and before I could even wait for a response, it swung open. A young man, dressed in a white lab coat like the others, stood before me. His eyes flicked over me in surprise, unsure of who I was or what I wanted.
"Can I help you?" he asked cautiously.
"I'm here to see Sally. Is she in?" My voice was as flat as my expression, betraying nothing.
"Miss Sally?" He repeated, almost startled. "She did say she was expecting a guest. Uh, alright, come in."
The lab was a mess—papers scattered about, machines of all kinds buzzing softly, and an array of magic crystals glinting under the dull lights. The smell of chemicals lingered, not strong enough to be unsettling, but present enough to remind me that this place wasn't entirely safe.
The young man led me through the room until we reached a back door. He gave a quick nod before opening it.
"Sally, you have a guest," he announced as he peered into the room.
Sally looked up from the papers in her hand, her eyes lighting up with recognition when she saw me. Her face broke into a wide smile, one of genuine excitement.
"Michael! You came!" she said, her voice smooth but tinged with excitement.
Sally was a woman in her mid twenties with long bland hair and thin waist, her eyes wear a light green and her fascial features were that of a beautiful young woman. Her voice was low but smooth and her lab cot hugged her huge mounds on her chest tightly.
Sally was my good friend who was a researcher for a private company that made, medicine for customers on demand, but as the sly girl she is. That's not all she does.
The medicine was just a ploy to avoid detection from authorities, it was only a cover up and a way to gain customers. In actuality, sally was a custom black market dealer. She made weapons, drugs, and potions for people with ties to the underworld. Many people like high ranking knights, nobles, and criminals all get some of the weapons custom made by her. She and her team usually divide and cooperate, to make different types of services. This whole company was bought by her to act as a ploy. S way to meet some of the clients she gets. Though probably most people who work here don't know that.
Devices like the phone and mostly high ranking potions are sold on the black market for high prices, this has given her a pretty large sum of money over the years.
I entered the room with an unchanged expression and responded. Morning , it's good to see you after all this time. I said with a calm expression. Yeah yeah just get in and sit down. I placed the bag on the table in front of me ….."I've brought your package". Yey goodie . Alright . She waved the man who directed me here a goodbye and paid her full attention to me.
So how'd you manage to get do fast? At most I thought it would take you about 3 months but you managed it in less than 1. It wasn't really anything difficult. I responded with a sir of nonchalant . I grabbed my bag and took out the box inside. I also produced a key which I then handed to her. She quickly opened it and her smile grew wider at seeing the contents of the box.
It was a pair of crystal glass blocks in pairs of three. Totaling six in the box. They looked clear as water and had a prism Luke appearance. They had a very faint magic signature betraying there true value. This was refined and purified malachite. Something very hard and expensive to get your hands on. Especially one this pure. If observed by a normal person, they would dismiss this as just a clear block of crystal. But in reality, one of those was worth more than a kilo gram bar of gold. To me, they honestly had no apparent use, there value lost in my hands. But to a researcher like sally, this was literally more valuable than gold. I personally had to pay the equivalent of 10000 gold coins for it.
Thanks for bringing it. It's very expensive to get here and god does it take a long time. You wouldn't believe the amour of money they charge just for an ounce and how long I have to wait. We're did you get it from? She inquired.
I found it on the black market auction near the Gistave. You're lucky it was the last they had in stock.
"What are you going to do with it". My voice laced with curiosity . Ha? Why you even asking? It's or Luke you'll even understand. Despite her saying this she went on a torrent talk about how the crystals are used for precise magic ditection. Which is the same thing used on my phone screen. Due to the scarcity of the material, it's hard to conduct proper research on it.
After talking for a while. I started to ask own question. "So did you finish with it"? Yeah it's ready just gold one. She got up and went to her safe. We're she had previously placed the crystals for safe keeping. And grabbed and miniature briefcase.
I looked at the case placed on the table and opened it. Sally sat on the opposite side on the table watching me tentatively.
What was in the box was a handgun. But unlike any regular handgun, this was one made by magiteck. Unlike normal guns that used gunpowder to fire the round, these used compressed magicules stored within specialized cartridges.
Instead of relying on an explosive charge, the gun drew from the magicules stored in each round, converting them into kinetic energy with flawless precision. The result? A projectile fired with staggering force, capable of tearing through barriers and armor that normal bullets couldn't even dent. It produced a cracking sound instead of the conventional boom.
It had a small magic circle that when activated by the trigger, would convert The energy. The sheer force the gun had was lethal. In fact, I'd say I child with this gun is more dangerous than a trained knight with a sword, a reminder that this weapon operated on a level far beyond traditional firearms.
Guns like this were being sold for a heavy price on the black market. However this was a modified one capable of delivering much more force than common pistal. And considering it was not common to find someone using a gun as there main weapon, it gave me a major advantage.
I picked up the gun in my hand feeling the weight in my hand. I've always preferred using guns in a fight. There quick, deadly and it keeps my skills and techniques hidden.
Feels like it can do some real damage, what do you call it? Asked Michael with a hint of excitement in his voice. "Its called a desert eagle".
It took me a while to make but, I did mange to make it more efficient. You should be able to fire it without making much noise, and it's easier maintenance now.
On the side of the gun was a mag. I took it and proceeded to load it in the gun. As sally continued to explain to me the improvements.
"That mag holds ten rounds, and I've taken the liberty of making a large batch of cartridges for you since I know we won't be seeing each other for a while." She flashed a smug grin. "You're welcome."
"How many did you make?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sally tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Hmm…about ten thousand rounds. Should be enough to last you, right?"
My eyes widened slightly. "Ten thousand?"
She chuckled at my surprise. "I told you—I'm efficient. Once I nailed down the process, it was easy. But…" Her tone turned teasing as she leaned forward, "you'll have to compensate me for all the magisteel and resources I used for this. It wasn't cheap."
"Yeah, no problem," I replied, already running mental calculations in my head. Magisteel wasn't exactly the cheapest material, and creating cartridges with compressed magicules took time and skill. But it was worth it. Speaking of which.
I'm almost out of potions. Do you have any full potions? Asked Michael calmly. Mmmmmm, full potions are hard to make and take a long time, I thought you would be here in three months so I didn't have that much time to prepare, but rest easy, I still got something for you, sally said this as she walked down the stares in front of Michael. Thanks, Michael said while starring at her ass as it wiggled up and down while she walked. Sally, unaware of this just proceeded to speak. "I've also got an improved version of the communication device, this one with more range and the audio is much clearer. Can you test run for me?
Yeah sure, said Michael with a sly smile.
After walking for a while, in conversation, we arrived at a secret chamber deep in the building. Walking inside, I saw a bunch of crate boxes with stacked on each other, there were so many they took up almost the entire room. And near one of the stacks was a table with some glowing liquids inside, potions probably.
Alright,here are your mags, this is 10 000 mags in here? I said as I moved closer looking at the many boxes, yeah that's all I could make, I'm sure that will be enough right. Yeah that's plenty, 10 000 mags, that would mean I would have about 100 000 bullets. Yep,I'm not running out of ammo ant time soon.
As I thought about how I'll manage all this, sally gestured to me saying here are a few potions I have right now.
I moved to the table and observed the potions, there was a few A Grade potions and 5 full potions. I smiled and said is this all you have right now. Yes this is all I have.
Potions are dividend into 6 grades. E to S, with S being the most potent. This were further divided into healing injuries, diseases, curses, for better efficiency. Most of the potions here we're for healing injuries, and a few were for curses. Full potions were the exception, as they could be used as an A Grade for all scenarios.
E-Grade potions are the weakest and can only heal superficial injuries like minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises. These potions are best suited for low-level adventurers or civilians looking to recover from small wounds. The effects are gradual, typically over several hours, providing a small boost to the body's natural healing processes. However, they are ineffective for any serious injuries such as broken bones, deep cuts, or internal damage.
D-Grade potions offer slightly more potency, capable of healing moderate wounds like small fractures, deeper gashes, or mild internal bleeding. They work faster than E-grade potions, with visible healing occurring within hours, but they still fall short of mending major injuries or stopping significant blood loss.
C-Grade potions are the standard for adventurers and warriors, known for their ability to heal severe wounds like deep lacerations and cracked bones. These potions begin to work within minutes, rapidly closing wounds and repairing minor internal damage. They are effective in stabilizing individuals in dangerous situations but lack the strength to fix critical injuries such as major organ failure or limb loss.
B-Grade potions are far more advanced, capable of healing life-threatening injuries and severe trauma like broken bones, punctured organs, and excessive blood loss. They act almost instantaneously, allowing individuals to recover from near-fatal injuries in minutes, though they still cannot regenerate lost limbs or organs.
A-Grade potions are incredibly potent, able to heal extensive internal damage and repair almost all forms of trauma, including organ failure, torn muscles, and shattered bones. Their effects are nearly immediate, with most injuries healed in a matter of moments. These potions, however, cannot regrow limbs or body parts but can mend nearly any other injury, making them invaluable in high-stakes battles.
S-Grade potions, the most powerful and rarest of all, possess miraculous properties. They can regenerate lost limbs, restore organs, and heal even the most catastrophic injuries. Their effects are almost instantaneous, capable of saving someone on the verge of death by fully restoring their body, including lost parts. These potions are exceedingly rare and usually only available to the most powerful individuals, as they are difficult to produce and incredibly valuable.