The Night Hunt in Myr
By day, Myr was a spectacle of wealth and trade.
By night, it was a hunting ground for predators.
Kael moved through the narrow alleys of the Lower District, where Myr's true underworld thrived.
No guards patrolled these streets.
Here, gold spoke louder than law.
And one mistake could cost more than just money.
The Black Market wasn't a place for fools.
It was a place for those willing to pay… or kill… for what they wanted.
And Kael needed answers.
He had a name.
Oris.
According to Daren, this man knew about the Scarlet Sect.
The problem?
Men like Oris never gave information for free.
This would end in negotiation… or blood.
Kael was prepared for both.
The Descent into the Black Market
The air was thick with the scent of cheap incense, rusted iron, and roasted meat as Kael followed Daren's directions through the twisting alleys.
The Black Market wasn't out in the open.
It was below the city.
Literally.
Kael found the entrance hidden within the ruins of an abandoned building.
Two armed men stood at the entrance—gatekeepers of the underworld.
One of them eyed Kael with suspicion.
"Business or trouble?"
Kael smirked.
"Trouble is a type of business."
The guards chuckled.
But they didn't move.
They wanted payment.
Typical.
Kael pulled a small leather pouch from his belt and tossed it to one of them.
The clink of silver was enough.
They stepped aside.
In Myr, the first move was always gold.
But Kael knew the last move would be made with steel.
He descended the damp stone staircase, stepping into the true heart of the underworld.
The Black Market: Where Everything Has a Price
Beneath the city, ancient tunnels had been converted into a thriving underground bazaar.
Everything was for sale.
Poisons. Weapons. Slaves. Secrets.
Everything had a price.
And if you weren't careful—
You were the product being sold.
Kael moved through the narrow corridors, listening.
Cultivators with dangerous eyes bartered over spiritual artifacts.
Mercenaries auctioned their swords to the highest bidder.
Spies whispered secrets in exchange for favors.
This wasn't just a market.
It was a world of its own.
And now, Kael was part of it.
He followed Daren's instructions to a tent of crimson velvet, isolated at the end of a narrow corridor.
Inside, he found Oris.
The Man Called Oris
Oris didn't look dangerous.
But Kael knew appearances lied.
He was a thin man, his hair streaked with gray, his sharp eyes glinting like blades.
His clothing was fine but discreet—the type of man who thrived in the shadows.
Oris smiled as Kael entered.
"Daren said you'd come."
Kael wasn't surprised.
In the underworld, secrets moved faster than gold.
He took a seat across from the man.
"I need information on the Scarlet Sect."
Oris didn't answer immediately.
He studied Kael, measuring him.
Weighing whether he was just another curious fool… or a real problem.
Finally, he sighed and poured himself a glass of dark wine.
"And what makes you think I know anything?"
Kael tilted his head.
"Because if you didn't… you wouldn't be trying to hide it."
Silence.
Then, a small, amused smile flickered across Oris' lips.
He recognized Kael's game.
And he accepted the challenge.
The Scarlet Sect's Secret
Oris took a sip of wine before speaking.
"The Scarlet Sect isn't just a group of assassins."
Kael had expected as much.
"Then what are they?"
Oris glanced around, ensuring no one was listening.
Then, he lowered his voice.
"They are part of something bigger. A cult tied to an ancient prophecy."
Kael frowned.
He hated that word.
"Prophecy?"
Oris unrolled an old parchment, spreading it across the table.
The symbols were ancient, faded by time.
But Kael's eyes locked onto one in particular.
A black lotus, wreathed in crimson flames.
A perfect match for his Dark Lotus Spirit.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What does this mean?"
Oris tapped the symbol.
"This represents the Shadow Flame. The sect believes that, in every generation, a person is born with this power. And that killing them will awaken… something greater."
Kael exhaled slowly.
This wasn't just a contract on his life.
They didn't just want him dead.
They believed he was part of something far greater.
And that meant…
They would never stop coming.
Kael leaned back in his chair.
"So they want to kill me… to awaken this power?"
Oris nodded.
"Exactly."
For a moment, Kael was silent.
Then, he chuckled.
Oris raised an eyebrow.
"What's funny?"
Kael rested his elbows on the table, smirking.
"They think death will awaken this power?"
He tilted his head.
"What if… the true power is in surviving?"
Silence.
For the first time, Oris looked genuinely caught off guard.
Kael already knew what came next.
If they were hunting him—
Then he would hunt them first.
He stood.
"Where can I find them?"
Oris hesitated.
But then, he slid another parchment across the table.
A name.
A location.
A target.
Kael picked up the paper and tucked it away.
The real hunt was about to begin.