With May leading the way, they descended into the underbelly of the crumbling district—a sprawling maze carved beneath the city's ruins. The underground market buzzed with relentless energy: vendors shouting their wares in hoarse voices, blacksmiths hammering molten steel with rhythmic clangs, and the murmur of countless footsteps pressing against the cold stone floor.
"This is it," May said, glancing sharply around. "The armory market. But—" she pulled the pouch of silver coins tight in her fist, "—five thousand silver won't buy you much here."
Shadow's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, unfazed by the din. "It's not about what I want. It's about what I need. Some protection is better than none."
They approached a merchant's stall—a cluttered table piled high with battered helmets, rusty swords, and scraps of armor. The merchant was an older man, his gloves stained black with soot, eyes flicking up from the half-finished chest plate he was polishing. The moment he saw Shadow, he nearly stumbled back, knocking over a small pile of metal scraps.
"A shadow… without a body?" His voice cracked. "This can't be real... I must be seeing things."
May stepped forward, her smile calm and easy. "Long time no see, old man."
The merchant blinked, struggling to process what he saw. "May? Is that really you? You look… well. What brings you here?"
"Just passing through," she replied smoothly. "And this guy here needs gear."
The merchant glanced from May to Shadow and back, as if trying to find sense in the impossible. "You better watch yourself. Monsters have been tearing through the region. A whole village was wiped out last week alone."
May's smile faded, voice lowering. "I know. Heard the rumors."
She lifted the pouch. "We've got five thousand silver. What can you offer?"
The merchant sighed, rubbing a hand over his rough beard. "Five thousand silver? That's barely half a thousand gold in these parts. Maybe a cloth robe and a light helmet—if you're lucky."
May's gaze flicked toward a lightweight helmet resting near the edge of the stall. "What about this?"
The merchant's eyes followed hers. "Light, yeah. Doesn't block much. But it lets you move without feeling like a sack of bricks."
"Fine," May said, voice firm. "We'll take it."
As May bargained, Shadow's attention drifted. His gaze locked onto a pair of reinforced knuckles resting on a dark velvet cloth, their metal cold and dense under the flickering torchlight. He lifted them, feeling the weight settle into his palm.
"I'll take these, too. Should be within budget."
The merchant's expression shifted to one of cautious awe—almost fear. "You're no ordinary shadow. You really are one of those… demons from the shadow realm."
May stepped between them, voice low but resolute. "He's not a demon. Not in the way you think. Just… complicated. Let it go."
The merchant's hands trembled as he wrapped the helmet and knuckles carefully, as if handling fragile relics.
Outside, Shadow's hands traced over the thin fabric of the robe and the smooth curve of the helmet. The material was light, almost fragile-looking. He frowned. "This won't hold up against Lynx's bodyguards. It's barely more than cloth."
May crossed her arms, a teasing edge in her voice. "You're the one who said any protection is better than none. If you want something tougher, you're gonna have to fight for it. Win more matches."
He slipped the robe over his shoulders. The shadows around his form flickered as if alive, the fabric rippling unnaturally. When he lowered the helmet over his head, the dark folds of the cloth seemed to dissolve into his shifting shadow form. The boundary between armor and Shadow blurred until they were indistinguishable.
May blinked, a mixture of surprise and unease in her voice. "Did you just… merge with it? That's weird… but honestly kinda cool."
Shadow adjusted the strap beneath his chin, already turning away. "Enough talk. Let's head back. When night falls, we're going back to the tournament. More fights, more coins."
They moved along the narrow path leading to the dojo's edge, the air growing cooler and heavier as the trees thickened. Shadow's steps slowed abruptly. His breath hitched. The hairs on his neck prickled.
"We're being watched."
Two figures emerged from the shadows between the trees. A man and a woman, both clad in tight, matte black outfits that seemed to drink in the moonlight. Each held a pair of sai, their blades gleaming coldly.
The man twirled one sai casually between his fingers, a confident grin spreading across his face. "You were right, sis. Lynx said he's got sharp senses."
The woman cracked her neck, eyes narrowing with excitement. "Instincts are one thing. Skill's another. Let's see if he can back it up."
Shadow's voice was steady, edged with steel. "Don't waste time. Come at me."
The woman smiled darkly and lunged forward. The sharp tips of her sai aimed for Shadow's chest.
He shifted his weight, slipping sideways with a faint whoosh. His knuckle-clad fist shot up in a fluid arc, connecting with a harsh crack against her jaw. She staggered back, a startled grunt escaping before she hit the ground.
Before he could recover, the man was on him. His knee slammed into Shadow's gut, the blow knocking the breath out of him. Two rapid stabs followed, sai blades piercing the air near his ribs.
Shadow gasped, staggering, but when he glanced down, no blood marred his skin.
May's voice was sharp and disbelieving. "He got stabbed! But… there's no blood?"
Shadow's eyes narrowed. He didn't have time to think. With a surge of motion, he lunged at the man, fists hammering in a rapid storm.
The woman recovered quickly and dove in from behind, her sai aimed low for his ankle.
Shadow leapt, twisting his body midair to avoid the strike.
The man spun with precision, his leg arcing in a brutal kick that sent Shadow crashing to the dirt.
The cold earth bit into Shadow's skin as he rolled, pushing himself up.
May whispered urgently, "Come on, Shadow… don't lose now."
The man sneered, stepping closer with a cruel glint in his eyes. "Looks like Lynx was wrong. No threat at all."
The woman grinned, voice dripping with malice. "Let's finish this."
They moved in perfect tandem, a lethal dance honed by years of training.
Shadow dodged the man's sweeping strike, pivoting sharply to avoid the woman's stab.
With a burst of speed, he leapt upward, spinning his body in a swift arc and drove his helmet into the woman's temple.
Her body crumpled instantly, collapsing in a heap.
The man's expression twisted with fury. "You dare lay a hand on my sister!"
His sai flickered in a rapid, uncontrolled barrage. Shadow dodged as much as he could, weaving through the strikes, but a sharp pain flared as one blade pierced deep into his shoulder.
The man laughed, voice raw and triumphant. "Got you now!"
Shadow's gaze hardened. His voice was low and deadly calm. "No. I got you."
He grabbed the man's collar, yanking him in close, and slammed his fist hard into his jaw.
The man staggered, dazed.
Shadow didn't relent. His fists became a blur—a merciless flurry of uppercuts, hooks, and jabs, punctuated by crushing headbutts. Each blow landed with precise, punishing force.
The man's legs wobbled, eyes rolling back, until he collapsed beside his sister, unconscious.
Shadow stood over the fallen, chest rising and falling beneath the thin robe. His breaths were heavy but controlled, the faint scrape of fabric audible with each movement.
May stepped forward, her eyes softening as she exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Thank goodness… you had me worried for a second there," she said quietly, a hint of relief threading through her voice.
Shadow muttered, eyes blazing, "What's your goal, Lynx? Tracking me wherever I go? Or is this something bigger?"
He clenched his fists, muscles taut with resolve. "Whatever it is… I'll get strong enough to stop you. I'll avenge Kenji. And I'll take back my body."
Far away, in the shadowed halls of a shattered tower, Lynx's cold eyes glimmered as he watched through a swirling scrying crystal. His cloak rustled in the chill air.
"The more he fights, the stronger he becomes," Lynx murmured. "He's getting… interesting."
He turned toward a hulking figure standing silently in the corner—a massive man whose arms looked like boulders, veins pulsing beneath thick skin.
"Brick," Lynx said with a calm voice. "Go see how our shadow handles brute strength."
A low rumble echoed as Brick cracked his knuckles. "Finally. I was getting bored watching. Time to crush that weakling."
Heavy footsteps pounded the stone floor as Brick disappeared into the darkness.