The vendor hesitated for a long moment before finally, with a reluctant sigh, handing over the spice jar. His hands trembled as he gripped it tightly, as if letting go would cost him more than just the jar.
One of the thugs grinned, snatching it from his grasp.
"Haha! A new item for us. See? Wasn't so hard, was it, old man?"
Just as the thug was about to tuck it away, a small, quick hand shot out from the side—
SNATCH!
The spice jar was gone.
The thug blinked, his hands suddenly empty. His gang turned in shock, searching for the culprit.
"There! A damn thief!" one of them shouted, pointing toward a small figure weaving through the crowd.
Elias caught a glimpse—a kid, no older than ten, dressed in patched-up clothes, darting through the marketplace like he'd done this a hundred times before.
The thugs snarled. "Find him! Now!"
Elias, standing at the side, raised an eyebrow. "Well, this just got interesting."
Activating OS – The Eyes of the Beast
As soon as Elias focused on the fleeing thief, something inside him stirred.
His OS energy surged, his vision sharpening instantly. The world around him slowed as his eyes shifted—his pupils narrowing into vertical slits, like a cat's.
And suddenly, he could see it.
OS energy.
It shimmered around the thief, faint but distinct, leaving behind a trail of movement. Elias could see the exact way the kid's energy pulsed—where he was heading, how fast he was moving, and even the slight shifts in his weight as he ran.
A smirk crept onto Elias's face. "So, that's how this works."
Without hesitation, he bolted after him.