Black Market (2) [Extra]

It's an extra chapter for power stones

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Upon entering the skill section, Lyrium was greeted with a sight that made him momentarily halt in his tracks.

The hall stretched out before him, with rows upon rows of glass cases, each housing a variety of skills displayed for all to see.

The air was thick with the weight of untapped potential, the kind that could make a person powerful beyond belief.

Each crystal encapsulated a skill that could change the course of someone's life.

The skills were carefully arranged according to their rank, from [F] all the way to [SS].

As Lyrium took a deep breath, he could sense the sheer magnitude of the hall, the vast array of abilities that could be his if only he made the right choice.

He passed by the higher-ranked skills with little more than a passing glance.

The [S] and [SS] sections had their share of powerful abilities, but they didn't speak to him.

To most, these would be the obvious choice, the kind that promised immediate power and dominance.

But Lyrium wasn't interested in flashy displays of strength.

He wasn't in the Black Market to grab the first thing that shone.

No, he was here to find something that suited his needs, something practical.

"There's no need for a skill that just boosts power," he muttered to himself, as he walked deeper into the hall. "What I need is something that can make me smarter, more adaptable. Something with real versatility."

He wasn't looking for raw power; he needed something that complemented his strategic mind, something that would give him an edge.

So he moved towards the lower-ranked skills, where, in his mind, the hidden gems were.

While others would overlook them for their perceived weakness, Lyrium knew that the true strength of a skill lay not in its rank but in its potential when used by someone with the right mindset.

After a few minutes of scanning the lower ranks, he found what he was looking for.

There, nestled in the A-Rank section, was a red crystal that seemed to pulse with an energy all its own.

It stood out amidst the surrounding crystals, almost beckoning him to take a closer look.

Lyrium's eyes narrowed as he focused on it, a flicker of recognition crossing his mind.

The skill contained within was exactly what he needed.

A window appeared in front of him, the information glowing softly as it materialized.

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[A- Rank]

⟩Name: Ruler's Loathing⟨

• Upon activation, the user enters a heightened state where their instincts take over, allowing their body to move without conscious control.

• The user becomes singularly focused on a single task, unable to be distracted by anything else.

• Emotions, nervousness, and feelings are suppressed, while intelligence is enhanced, allowing for precise and calculated decision-making.

• When the skill deactivates, the user experiences mana fluctuations, resulting in temporary paralysis as the mana pathways become blocked by frozen blood vessels.

Duration: 15 minutes

Mana Fluctuations After Effects: 3 minutes

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Lyrium's eyes glinted with interest as he read the description of the skill. "Well, well, this one's definitely intriguing," he muttered to himself.

The idea of being able to move entirely on instinct, without hesitation, was an alluring thought.

And the mental boost, the suppression of emotions, and the increased intelligence all seemed like exactly the kind of advantages he was looking for.

For a moment, Lyrium imagined himself in battle, his body moving effortlessly as he instinctively dodged, attacked, and countered, while his mind processed every detail with unparalleled clarity.

But then his gaze drifted down to the last part of the description—the aftereffects.

The temporary paralysis that came after the skill's deactivation was a serious drawback.

Lyrium had heard of mana fluctuations before—how they could freeze blood vessels, block mana pathways, and leave the user in a debilitated state.

For a normal sage, the aftereffects could last up to a full day.

Lyrium frowned, considering the ramifications. "Three minutes isn't too bad," he finally decided, relieved by the relatively short duration of the side effect. "I can work with that."

After considering the pros and cons, he made up his mind.

The skill's potential far outweighed the minor inconvenience of the aftereffects.

He would buy it.

There was no question about it.

With his decision made, he turned to leave the section, but as he did, he found himself face-to-face with the middle-aged man who had greeted him earlier—Victor.

Victor, dressed in a dark suit with a hat perched atop his head, was standing near the counter, reading something on his wristband.

Lyrium approached him and wasted no time.

"Can I buy the skill: Ruler's Loathing, number 523?"

Victor glanced up from his wristband, his eyes scanning Lyrium's face for a moment before he nodded.

"You're sure about this? It's not a high-tier skill, but it's a unique one. Not many people would pick it."

Lyrium smiled confidently. "I'm sure. It's exactly what I need."

Victor didn't seem entirely convinced, but he didn't argue.

He turned and began walking toward the skill section, signaling for Lyrium to follow.

As they walked through the aisles of the skill hall, Lyrium couldn't help but wonder about Victor's reaction.

Most people would dismiss an A-Rank skill without hesitation, especially one that wasn't considered top-tier.

But Lyrium wasn't like most people.

Victor stopped in front of the display containing the red crystal, his cold eyes flicking to Lyrium before he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Here it is. Ruler's Loathing."

Lyrium stepped forward, standing beside him as they both looked at the glowing red crystal.

Victor seemed to study Lyrium for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Are you absolutely certain about this?" he asked again, his voice soft but firm.

Lyrium's face broke into a grin. "Yes. I want it."

He was growing impatient.

He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him.

This was the right skill, and he knew it.

Victor's gaze softened, though his face remained neutral. "Well, it's your choice."

He extended his hand toward the crystal, his wristband flickering as he used a subtle force to release the lock on the display.

The lock disintegrated in seconds, reduced to nothingness by the power of Victor's Null Element.

Lyrium recognized the technique immediately.

The Null Element, a rare and powerful force capable of erasing things from existence.

It was a frightening and mysterious power, one that could erase even the most solid of objects with but a thought.

Victor's use of the element to unlock the display was effortless, and Lyrium couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

Victor handed the red crystal to Lyrium, who took it without hesitation.

The transaction had been simple and efficient. "How much?" Lyrium asked, already pulling his phone from his pocket to make the payment.

"30,000 Uber," Victor replied casually, as if it was a standard fee.

Lyrium felt a brief twinge of frustration at the high price.

It wasn't unreasonable, but it wasn't exactly cheap either.

However, he had expected this. The price was fair considering the potential of the skill.

He quickly made the payment, and the transaction was completed in an instant.

Victor handed the crystal to Lyrium, who immediately stored it in his wristband. "Thank you," he said with a nod.

"No problem," Victor replied, his attention already shifting back to his wristband, where he resumed reading the article.

Lyrium then leaves the skill shop, but just as he reach as far away from the shop, an explosion rocked the entire building.

The force of the blast sent a shockwave through the air, rattling the walls and shaking the floor beneath his feet.

The sound of the explosion was deafening, followed by a wave of heat that washed over Lyrium's back as he turned toward the source.

His eyes narrowed.

The skill shop—the explosion had come from there.

The Black Market was a dangerous place, and such explosions were not uncommon.

Criminal organizations often targeted shops like this, especially those selling high-tier skills, as they were valuable and could be resold for a significant profit.

But Lyrium wasn't concerned about the explosion itself.

What worried him was the person inside the store—the person who could change the entire course of the protagonist's journey later on.

Victor.

If Victor had been caught in that explosion… If something had happened to him…

The entire plotline would be derailed.

Victor was a pivotal character, someone who would play a crucial role in assisting the protagonist during the Black Market arc.

Lyrium's heart raced. He couldn't let this happen.

He couldn't take the risk of the story being altered before it had even begun.

"I can't take any chances," he muttered, already turning back toward the blast site. "I'll go check just in case."

With that, Lyrium sprinted back toward the store, pushing through the crowds that had gathered in the aftermath of the explosion.

His mind raced as he tried to calculate the best way to approach the situation.

He needed to find Victor.

No matter what.

As he neared the wreckage of the skill shop, his thoughts were consumed by one thing—ensuring that the timeline remained intact, no matter what it took.

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