The cold night air wrapped around Elric as he navigated the twisting alleys of Sub-City 4. The adrenaline that had fueled his escape was starting to wear off, leaving behind a dull ache in his muscles and the ever-present weight of exhaustion. The city lights flickered above, casting dim shadows that stretched and twisted along the worn brick walls. Every step felt heavier now, his body reminding him of just how close he had come to death.
But he couldn't stop. Not yet.
The device in his pack felt heavier than it should have, its presence a constant reminder of the risk he had taken. Whatever it was, it had been worth more than just a simple cargo exchange. The shadow manipulator, a Rank 2 with C-rank talents, had come for it. That fact alone was enough to make Elric wary. He knew he was out of his depth.
Still, the system pulsed faintly in the back of his mind, a quiet, comforting presence. It had been his only ally in the madness of the night, and it would continue to be his advantage in a world where power ruled.
Elric moved through the narrow streets, keeping his hood pulled low. He couldn't afford to be seen, not yet. The city's population had thinned out this late into the night, but there were always eyes watching, always someone lurking in the shadows, looking for an opportunity. He'd learned that lesson early.
He stopped at a corner, pressing his back against the cool stone wall and peering around it. The street beyond was quiet, save for a lone couple walking in the distance, their footsteps echoing faintly. Elric's fingers unconsciously brushed against the edge of his pack, the weight of the device pressing against his back. He needed to find a safe place to hide for the night. Somewhere he could lay low and figure out what to do next.
Marlow's words echoed in his mind: It's worth more than your life. He hadn't been exaggerating. Elric had no illusions about that. But now that he had the device, he needed answers. What was it? Why was it so valuable that a Rank 2 would risk attacking within the city?
And, more importantly, what did it mean for him?
He moved quickly, slipping through the familiar back alleys and avoiding the main streets. His destination was a small hideout he had prepared long ago, nestled deep within the underbelly of Sub-City 4. It wasn't much, just a rundown room in an abandoned building, but it had kept him safe before, and it would have to do again.
After several minutes of careful navigation, Elric arrived at the building. It was a decrepit structure, one of many that had been left to rot as the city expanded and grew. The lower levels had long been abandoned, and Elric had claimed one of the rooms as his own. He slipped inside, the door creaking softly on its rusted hinges.
The room was just as he had left it—bare, with little more than a makeshift bed and a few supplies he had stashed away. The walls were cracked, and the ceiling sagged in places, but it was quiet and out of sight. That was all that mattered.
Elric dropped his pack onto the floor and collapsed onto the bed, his body finally relaxing after the tension of the night. The faint light from the window barely illuminated the room, casting long shadows across the walls. He stared up at the ceiling, his mind racing even as his body screamed for rest.
The system pulsed again, gently nudging him. He couldn't ignore it any longer.
With a deep breath, Elric sat up and focused. The familiar translucent screen appeared before his eyes, the system waiting patiently for his input.
[Creator System Menu]
Soul Points: 0
Talents:
Spark of Burning Blood (E-Rank)Healing Blood (F-Rank)
He had no soul points yet, no way to enhance his abilities further, but the system's capabilities intrigued him more with each passing day. The Spark of Burning Blood had saved him tonight, allowing him to escape the shadow tendrils with a burst of power. But it wasn't enough. Not yet. If he wanted to survive in this world, he needed more. More power, more knowledge, more control.
His eyes flicked toward his pack, where the stolen device rested. That was the key. Whatever it was, it had the potential to change everything. Elric couldn't shake the feeling that this was bigger than just a black-market deal gone wrong.
He reached into his pack and pulled out the device, turning it over in his hands. The metal was smooth, almost too smooth, and the circuits etched into its surface glowed faintly in the darkness. It was clearly military-grade, but beyond that, Elric couldn't tell what it did. He wasn't a tech expert, but he had seen enough high-tech gear in his time to know this was special.
But what did it do?
The question gnawed at him, but there was no easy answer. Elric frowned, his fingers tracing the edges of the device. He needed more information, and there was only one place he could get it—Marlow. The old man had been the one to send him on this mission, and he had clearly known more than he had let on.
Elric's jaw tightened. He hated being kept in the dark. The system gave him power, but it didn't give him answers. If Marlow had known the risks, he should have warned Elric. He should have told him exactly what he was walking into.
But that was the problem with people like Marlow. They only ever gave you what they thought you needed to know. Never the full picture.
Elric let out a slow breath, pushing the frustration aside. He couldn't afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment. Not now. He would deal with Marlow soon enough, but first, he needed to understand what this device was.
He stood up and moved to the small desk in the corner of the room, setting the device down carefully. It was time to get to work. He didn't have the tech skills to crack it open, but he could start by observing it, by letting the system analyze it for any clues.
With a thought, he activated the Appraisal Function of the system, his eyes focusing on the device as the system's energy flowed through him.
[Appraisal Function Activated]
Name: ???
Rank: 3 – Low
Description: Unknown technology. Origin unknown. Capabilities unknown. Requires further analysis.
Elric's frown deepened. The system had given him little to work with. A Rank 3 device, powerful but enigmatic. Its origin and capabilities were a mystery, and Elric knew better than to tamper with something he didn't understand.
Still, the fact that it was Rank 3 meant it had the potential to be extremely valuable. And extremely dangerous. Whoever had sent the shadow manipulator after him wasn't just after any ordinary piece of tech. They had wanted this specifically, and they had been willing to kill for it.
Elric leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. He needed to find out more, but that would take time. Time he wasn't sure he had. The shadow man was still out there, and he would be looking for Elric. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
For now, Elric decided to rest. He would need his strength for what came next. But as he lay down on the bed, his thoughts drifted back to the device, to the mysteries it held, and to the power it could unlock.
The game had begun, and Elric was determined to win—no matter the cost.
End of Chapter Twelve