After speaking to his mother, Leo learned more about the ancient remnant. It turned out that this dimensional zone was quite different from the others. Within this zone, there were ancient relics of lost civilizations. If one was lucky, they could come across a cultivation art, which, if brought back, could be converted to an evo-art. That wasn't all - this dimensional zone had a risk-reward system. Once you killed a beast, you would be rewarded, but as a consequence, you would not be able to obtain the beast's gene core.
Leo was fascinated by all this. He had a feeling that this trip of his was going to be a very profitable journey for him. He got back to his room, a simple abode in which he had been staying for the past six months. As he got to his bed, he quickly logged into the ether-verse.
Since the creation of the made gods, humans had long since advanced past the need to use devices to connect with the ether-net. After all, every human above the age of sixteen dwelling in the city had a neuro-link in their brain, making life more easier. The internet, now called the ether-net, had a virtual reality where one could do all manner of tasks - gaming, selling, and buying. Even prostitution was possible here.
Leo had tried going to the virtual reality once before, and that was when he found out that the sword in his consciousness wasn't all for show. It could sense treasures and ancient relics. Due to this, Leo had purchased himself a lot of goods. An example of that was a chain that he always wore on his neck, called Seraphim's Tears. Apparently, it was a one-time-use item, a second life, which had the ability to revive its bearer no matter the circumstances, as long as their soul hadn't exited the body.
There were three to four other items that Leo had also gotten, though not as incredible as Seraphim's Tears, they were still very useful in their own right. Right now, Leo had decided to try his luck one more time. After all, for this journey, he was about to make, he needed to be as prepared as possible.
As he activated the neural link, his surroundings began to shimmer and dissolve. The physical world melted away, replaced by a swirling vortex of digital data. The sensation was seamless, as if he was simply stepping through a doorway from one reality to another. Within moments, he found himself standing in a bustling cyberpunk marketplace.
The air buzzed with the hum of neon signs and the chatter of vendors hawking their futuristic wares. The sky above was a chaotic tapestry of dark clouds and brightly lit advertisements, casting an ever-changing glow over the scene. Stalls lined the narrow streets, each one a riot of colors and lights. Vendors, both human and augmented, called out to passersby, displaying an array of goods that defied the boundaries of the physical world.
Holographic displays shimmered and shifted, showcasing exotic merchandise from distant planets and virtual realms. The ground beneath his feet pulsed with energy, illuminated by intricate circuits that wove through the cobblestones like veins of light. Every step he took left a faint, iridescent trail, adding to the dynamic tapestry of the marketplace.
Characters of all shapes and sizes bustled around him, their attire a fusion of futuristic tech and eclectic fashion. Some sported cybernetic enhancements that glinted in the neon glow, while others wore augmented reality glasses that projected additional layers of information over the scene.
In the heart of the market, a massive holographic screen towered over the crowd, broadcasting news, entertainment, and advertisements in a dizzying array of languages and symbols. The entire atmosphere was alive with the thrill of discovery and the promise of endless possibilities, a perfect embodiment of the cyberpunk aesthetic.
As Leo wandered through the market, he was always in awe of how far humans had come. To think, they had reached the realm of perfectly converting matter to energy. Yes, that's what humans did in this market - all the goods here could be directly brought with you after exiting the virtual reality. There was no need to wait for delivery after purchase.
This was why the sword was able to react to these treasures, because these were their physical bodies. Leo was just wandering through the bustling market when the sword hummed. Leo immediately paused in his tracks as he looked at the store nearby. It was a small store that was quite empty, the merchant a gaunt-looking man with a pale white body.
On seeing a customer, the man's eyes lit up as he quickly went to welcome Leo, introducing all his goods with their prices. As Leo glanced through the man's stock, what caught his attention was an onyx black mantle that seemed to emit a dense, shadowy aura. He could feel the sword humming violently within. This was the first time Leo had gotten such a reaction from the sword.
He asked the merchant casually for the price, trying not to show how much he valued it, so the merchant wouldn't try to call a huge price in the fear of scaring him off. On seeing what Leo pointed at, the man's eyes glinted ominously as he looked at Leo, stating, "This is a very valuable treasure. I'm really not supposed to sell this, but I have no choice. Give me 80,000 credits, and you can have it."
Leo was shocked at the price; it was too expensive. But looking at the man's rigid expression, he knew there was no way the price would go any lower. He had no choice; he used all his cash savings to purchase the mantle.
Immediately after purchasing it, Leo had no choice but to exit the ether-verse, as he spent all his money on the mantle. Returning to reality, Leo waited patiently as the mantle unveiled itself from the atmosphere, returning to its physical state. Leo watched as the onyx black mantle began to materialize before him, emerging from the shadows like a wraith.
It radiated a shadowy aura that seemed to absorb the light around it, casting an eerie yet captivating presence in the dimly lit room. The air crackled with energy as the mantle unveiled itself, transitioning from a mere digital apparition to a tangible, physical state. The fabric of the mantle was sleek and smooth, with an almost liquid-like texture that flowed seamlessly over his fingers as he reached out to touch it.
As he draped the mantle over his shoulders, it conformed perfectly to his form, enhancing his already imposing presence with an aura of enigma and power. Turning the mantle over, Leo's keen eyes caught sight of some characters meticulously stitched into the back. The symbols, written in an ancient script, glowed faintly with an otherworldly light.
As he focused on the characters, he realized they spelled out the word "Assassin" - a fitting tribute to the mantle's dark and mysterious nature. The onyx mantle, now fully realized in the physical world, seemed to pulsate with latent power, its shadowy aura enveloping Leo in an air of lethal grace.
Unable to hold himself back, he quickly tried to get information on the mantle from the sword, but what happened next was shocking. On understanding the ability of the cloak, he couldn't help but burst into a fit of laughter. It seemed lady luck was really on his side.