Chapter 5: The Final Bargain
The war culminated in a climactic battle at the Edge of Existence, a realm where reality itself was fragile. The Void Merchant challenged Akira to a duel—not of weapons, but of commerce.
The terms were simple: each would create a marketplace in the barren realm. Whoever could attract the most customers and generate the most value would win. The loser would be absorbed by the winner's system.
Akira poured all his resources into crafting a thriving market, offering fair deals and innovative products. The Void Merchant, in contrast, used deception and greed to draw desperate customers.
In the end, Akira's market flourished, built on trust and fairness. The Void Merchant's empire crumbled under the weight of its own corruption.
As the duel ended, Akira absorbed the Void Merchant's fragment, purging its corruption and unlocking the final form of his system: The Universal Nexus, a marketplace that connected all realms, promoting harmony through trade.