Black Market

I left the house, closing the door with a dull thud that echoed through the quiet building. The cool morning air enveloped my senses as my footsteps echoed on the asphalt streets.

The sun was barely peeking through the clouds, casting a faint light on the roofs of the houses and buildings. The breeze carried with it a mixture of aromas, from the delicious smell of freshly baked bread from the bakery next door, to the distinctive scent of flowers on the windowsills.

As I walked, I tried to remember the route to the black market. My memory struggled to bring the exact details to the surface, but it all seemed blurry, like a distant dream. I mentally scrolled through the memories, trying to unravel the confusion and remember the correct path.

Until finally I remembered the way. I hailed a cab and, after half an hour's drive, I arrived in a more humble part of town, where ordinary people wouldn't try to approach. I turned right, vaguely remembering the way to the black market. The urban skyline stretched out before me, an amalgam of buildings that hid the place I was looking for among its alleys. Doubts mingled with excitement, knowing that the black market awaited me in that web of clandestine buildings.

The sound of the city, the bustle of people and the buzz of early morning activities blended together, creating a peculiar symphony. Finding the market required patience and cunning. I wandered deeper, relying on my intuition to guide my steps to the target.

Until I finally encountered two imposing guards guarding the entrance. I assumed I was in the right place because these two guards emitted an aura of a 6-star Awakened, matching exactly what I had written in the novel. But I knew I needed a password to get in.

The password consisted of 4 phases, where the guard would ask me a question and I would have to answer, and then the other guard would ask me another question and I would also have to answer. So, determined, I swallowed my breath and approached the guards.

But just then one of the guards said to me in a threatening tone, 'Kid, are you lost?' At that moment I knew I needed to keep my cool because if I showed a hint of doubt I would never get in. So I said, 'No, you know what I'm coming for.'

The guard laughed and said: 'Let's see if it's true.'

 -What is the melody of the shadow?

I answered in a firm voice:

 -The silence in the darkness.

Then the second guard asked:

 -What is the dance of the hidden?

And again I answered in a firm voice:

 -The footsteps without a trace.

Right after I answered, the guards nodded to each other and began to open the doors for me. But before entering, one of them took out a mask from his storage ring and handed me a mask, telling me: 'Here, put this on so you'll avoid stares from people, you don't know what kind of people might be in there.'

With an inward sigh, I grabbed the mask and put it on, thanking the guard. Once the mask was on, the guards stepped aside, allowing me entry into this clandestine world. With a mask hiding my face, I entered a labyrinth of dark corridors, full of whispers and secrets. Every step I took, I could feel my heart racing, a mixture of excitement and fear for the unknown that awaited me.

The tents were adorned with exotic relics, from swords and daggers to shields and storage rings. Each object, a story in itself, waiting to be unraveled. I stopped in front of a collection of weapons ornately carved with intricate engravings, polished blades and hilt decorated with glittering gems. The temptation to possess each one was almost overwhelming.

But I knew I could only afford a single inexpensive weapon. The selection process was meticulous. I examined each weapon, weighing its weight, feeling its balance in my hand and visualizing its use in combat. I settled on a sword that was not only formidable in its appearance, but also seemed a natural extension of my being.

The name of the sword was 'Bright Dawn', it was a 1 star ranked sword. My intuition told me that the sword would not last long, but it would at least hold up for a few 1-star dungeon raids. Even as a 1-star sword, it ate up half of my equipment budget, about 5500 Luminas.

Once I bought the sword, I decided that my next destination would be a potion store. There were many stores, but all of them had exorbitant prices. Besides, it had to be taken into account that they were potions of medium and high quality, so their price was somewhat justified.

After several minutes walking through the market, I stopped in front of a small potion store that offered prices that fit my budget. The potions, with their bright colors and tantalizing promises of power, captivated me. I took my time, evaluating their effects and pondering which ones would be most useful in the upcoming trials. Each choice represented a strategy, an investment in my survival in the challenges to come.

In the end, I settled on 2 potions of minimum healing rank and 2 of minimum mana rank. These 5 potions alone had taken another 2,500 Luminas.

Money was quickly draining out of my pocket. As expected, the exorbitant prices of each item were daunting.

So my 12,500 Luminas were disappearing faster than I imagined. I silently complained about the price oppression, but each acquisition was a critical piece in achieving my goals.

Finally, I headed to a storage ring store. There were rings of all kinds, bracelets, bangles, etc. Also absurd prices that were beyond my budget. After deciding on several rings, I settled on one that was 35m2, which cost me 4000 Luminas, leaving me with only 500 Luminas in my bank account.

Fortunately, I knew that 1-star dungeon fees were 500 Luminas or so, so with the money I had I could get into some dungeon.

Now, with a sword in my hand, a storage ring on my finger and potions, I prepared for the next stage: the dungeons. I was ready to explore the unknown and face the uncertain, armed with the hope of reaching a new level of power and being able to survive.

My heart was pounding as I headed for the dungeons. The black market was behind me, full of secrets and glittering possessions that I now carried with me. The road to the dungeons was filled with anticipation and nervousness, a heady mix of excitement and apprehension.

Upon arrival, I was met with a series of entrances marked by massive doors and adorned with ancient inscriptions. Each door carried with it a promise, a challenge, and possibly an opportunity to strengthen myself in this unforgiving world.

Names like 'The Crypt of Shadows', 'The Lost Labyrinth' or 'The Cave of Destiny' adorned the entrances to these dungeons.

I looked around, assessing the options. My limited range of one star limited my choice. I had to carefully select the dungeon I could tackle with my current skill level. I didn't want to risk too much, but I also couldn't choose an option that was so easy that it didn't present a challenge.

After careful consideration, I opted for a dungeon that seemed to offer a balance of risk and opportunity, its name was 'The Cave of Fate'. I approached the entrance, ready to pay the necessary fee to enter. The dungeon stood before me, defiant and promising.

With a sigh, I paid the required fee, watching all my luminescence fade away. It was a necessary investment for advancement in this world filled with mystery and adversity.

The dungeon doors creaked open, revealing the darkness that loomed beyond. A sense of anticipation mixed with anxiety coursed through me. I didn't know what awaited inside, but I was determined to face it.

With a firm step, I entered the dungeon, prepared to challenge the limits of my own power and endurance, eager to discover what hidden secrets and challenges lurked in its depths.

The dungeon, inside, was a labyrinth of lighted corridors and chambers that seemed twisted by magic. Every step echoed in the overwhelming silence of the place, and every corner hid a promise or a danger.

My senses were alert, every muscle tensed, ready for any eventuality. With each step, I plunged deeper into the depths of this unknown world.

Time passed and the tension increased. Every corner offered the possibility of finding what I was looking for or falling into a death trap. As I wandered the corridors, I stumbled upon a secret door covered with vines that emitted a peculiar glow.

There I met my first enemy.