The warehouse was cold at night. Raze sat on a wooden crate, watching Kael arrange their supplies by lamplight. The alchemist's hands moved with methodical precision, sorting vials into neat rows.
"We need fighters," Raze said quietly. "People who can actually hold their own against Adept rank enforcers."
Kael paused, a half-filled vial suspended in his grip. "And where exactly do we find people like that? The city guard won't help us. Most mercenaries are already on the Syndicate's payroll. We're nobodies with no money and very powerful enemies."
"I have two suggestions." Raze leaned forward. "Both unconventional."
"Unconventional." Kael set down the vial carefully. "That's a polite way of saying insane, isn't it?"
"Maybe. But we don't have conventional options."
Kael sighed and sat on a crate across from him. "Alright. I'm listening. Who are these unconventional allies?"
Raze took a breath. This required careful presentation. He couldn't reveal too much about how he knew, but he needed Kael to understand the importance.
"Tell me what you know about the human experiments case. Five years ago."
The color drained from Kael's face. His hands clenched into fists.
"Why are you asking about that?"
"Because I think one of the subjects is still alive. And I think we can recruit him."
Kael stood abruptly. Started pacing. "That's... you can't possibly... how do you even know about that case?"
"I told you. I've been researching. Reading. Following leads." Raze kept his voice steady. "I came across mentions of it in old medical journals. Reports that were supposed to be sealed but weren't stored properly."
"Those reports were sealed for good reason." Kael's voice shook with anger. Not at Raze. At the memory. "Five hundred children. Do you understand that number? Five hundred children taken from orphanages, from poor families who were told their kids would receive education and training. Instead they were used as test subjects for alchemical experiments."
"The goal was to create superhuman warriors," Raze said quietly.
"Using Mercury as the primary catalyst." Kael's jaw clenched. "They flooded those children's bodies with corrupted mana bound to Mercury compounds. The theory was it would enhance strength, speed, resilience. Make them into living weapons."
"What happened?"
"All five hundred died. Horrible, painful deaths. Their bodies couldn't handle the energy. It tore them apart from the inside." Kael resumed pacing. "The alchemists responsible were executed. The case was closed. A tragedy swept under the rug by people who didn't want the scandal."
"That's the official story," Raze said carefully. "But what if it's not entirely accurate?"
Kael stopped. Turned to face him. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying the experiment didn't fail. It succeeded."
Silence fell like a hammer.
Kael stared at him. "That's impossible. All the subjects died. There were autopsies. Documentation."
"Four hundred ninety nine subjects died," Raze corrected. "One survived. One became what the alchemists were trying to create. The apex of their work."
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Because he's still in the city. Hiding. And he's been leaving traces." Raze pulled from his carefully constructed cover story. "Unexplained incidents in the warehouse district. Reports of a young man with silver eyes who appears during violent altercations, ends them instantly, then vanishes. Witnesses describing impossible strength. Bodies of thugs and criminals found torn apart."
Kael's eyes widened. "I've heard those rumors. Most people think it's ghost stories. Urban legends."
"It's not. It's him. The survivor. His name is Aslan."
"Aslan." Kael repeated the name slowly. "And you want to recruit a failed experiment who tears people apart?"
"Successful experiment," Raze corrected. "And yes. Because we need his strength. More importantly, he needs us."
"Needs us how?"
Raze leaned forward. "The experiments created something they called Mercurians. Named for the Mercury used in their creation. When a Mercurian's adrenaline spikes, the energy in their body erupts. They manifest a silver aura. Their strength surges beyond human limits. Muscles harden. Bones feel no strain. Wounds don't slow them down."
"That sounds like exactly what we need."
"There's a cost." Raze's voice dropped. "When they transform, they stop feeling pain. Stop feeling fear or exhaustion. They stop thinking entirely. For several minutes, they become mindless engines of violence. Their body moves on pure instinct. Even mortal wounds won't stop them. Even decapitation. Their body keeps fighting until every drop of that silver energy burns out. Then they collapse."
Kael sat back down slowly. "That's horrifying."
"It is. And Aslan hates it. He's not some bloodthirsty monster. From what I've gathered, he's actually extremely shy. Gentle. Completely different from what he becomes during transformation." Raze met Kael's eyes. "He escaped the facility five years ago. Killed several guards in the process. And some of the other experimental subjects. Children like him. He's been living with that guilt ever since."
"How do you know all this?"
"Because I tracked the pattern. The incidents always happen in areas where the Syndicate operates. Where criminals prey on innocents. Aslan intervenes, loses control, and people die. Then he disappears. He's trying to do good but his condition makes him a danger to everyone around him."
Kael processed this. His alchemist mind working through the implications.
"You said he needs us. Why would he need us?"
"Because he's searching for a cure. A way to control or eliminate the Mercurian transformation. He wants to be normal. To stop being a weapon. To stop killing." Raze leaned forward. "We offer him that. Tell him we're working on a solution to his condition."
"But we're not."
"Not yet. But we could be." Raze's Absolute Genius had already worked through the theory. "The Mercurian energy is just unstable mana binding. Similar to the corruption causing Black Cough, but more aggressive. More integrated into the body. With the right combination of alchemical compounds and mana regulation techniques, it should be possible to stabilize it. Let him access the strength without losing control."
Kael's eyes lit up with understanding. "A dampening agent. Something to regulate the energy release instead of letting it flood his system all at once."
"Exactly. It's theoretically possible. Difficult, but possible."
"And you think he'd help us if we promised to work on a cure?"
"I think he's desperate enough to try anything. He's been living in hiding for five years, terrified of himself, carrying the guilt of children he killed. If we offer him hope? Real, tangible hope backed by alchemical theory?" Raze nodded. "He'll help."
Kael stood again. Started pacing, but this time with purpose. Thinking through logistics.
"Where would we even find him?"
"Abandoned warehouse district. Eastern edge. He's been spotted there multiple times. Probably has a hideout in one of the collapsed buildings." Raze had memorized the game's map. "I can give you the exact area."
"Me?" Kael stopped. "Why me?"
"Because I need to handle the second recruitment. And because you're better at this than me. You're a healer. You saved Sophie. You have credibility. I'm just a desperate kid." Raze met his eyes. "Aslan needs to believe the cure is possible. That requires someone who understands the alchemy. That's you."
Kael nodded slowly. "What do I tell him about the job? About why we need his help?"
"Tell him the truth. We're going after people who poison children for profit. Who create disease and suffering to make gold. Who experiment on the innocent." Raze's voice hardened. "Tell him we're stopping them. And we need his strength to do it."
"You think mentioning children will motivate him?"
"I think it will hurt him. But yes. He carries guilt about the kids who died during his escape. This is a chance to balance that. To use his power to save children instead of harm them."
Kael absorbed this. Then nodded once. "Alright. I'll find him. Try to recruit him. But if this goes wrong, if he goes berserk and attacks me..."
"He won't. Not if you approach him correctly. Make it clear you're there to help. Use the word solution early. That's what he's searching for. A solution." Raze stood. "And Kael? Develop a sedative. Something specifically designed for Mercurians. Just in case."
"In case he loses control during the raid?"
"In case he needs reassurance that we can stop him if necessary. Show him we're serious. That we've thought this through." Raze moved toward the door. "It'll help build trust."
Kael watched him carefully. "You're very good at this. Reading people. Knowing what motivates them. Where did you learn that?"
"From watching people fail at it." The answer came easily. True enough to be believable. "My whole life I've watched people make mistakes because they didn't understand what others needed. I learned to pay attention."
"And the second recruitment? You said you needed to handle that one personally."
Raze paused at the door. This was the difficult part.
"Mariabel Valtee."
Kael's laugh was immediate and incredulous. "You're joking. Please tell me you're joking."
"I'm not joking."
"Mariabel Valtee. Daughter of the disgraced Valtee noble family. The woman they call the Succubus." Kael shook his head. "You want to recruit her?"
"Yes."
"She's insane. Unpredictable. She follows handsome men into dangerous situations on a whim. She has no loyalty, no sense of self preservation, and absolutely no filter."
"She also has an awakened Authority," Raze said quietly. "Flame Authority. And she's Expert rank despite being only in her early twenties."
That stopped Kael's protests. His expression shifted to shock.
"An Authority? Are you certain?"
"I'm certain. She awakened it recently. Within the last few months. That's why she hasn't made a bigger name for herself yet. But in time..." Raze chose his words carefully. "In time, people will call her the Witch of Annihilation. Her destructive power is exceptional."
"How do you know this?"
"Because I pay attention to rumors. To patterns. The Valtee family's manor had a fire three months ago. Officially blamed on a servant's carelessness. But witnesses reported seeing flames that burned blue. That moved with intelligence. That responded to emotion." Raze met Kael's eyes. "That's not normal fire. That's Authority manifested fire."
Kael processed this. "An Authority awakened at her age. That's incredibly rare. And incredibly valuable."
"Exactly. We need her power. An Expert rank practitioner with an Authority could turn the entire fight in our favor."
"Assuming she doesn't burn us all to death first." Kael crossed his arms. "How exactly do you plan to recruit someone like her? She's not like Aslan. She doesn't need a cure. She doesn't need money. From what I've heard, she's bored. Restless. Looking for excitement because her family's disgrace means she has no real prospects for marriage or position."
"That's exactly how we recruit her." Raze moved back into the room. "We offer her what she wants. Excitement. Danger. A challenge worthy of her power. And a chance to make a name for herself beyond her family's disgrace."
"And the part where she only listens to handsome men?"
Raze felt heat rise to his face. "That's... I'll handle that part."
Kael studied him for a long moment. Then understanding dawned in his expression. "You're going to use yourself as bait."
"I'm going to introduce myself. Make an impression. Present the opportunity." Raze kept his voice steady despite his discomfort. "My appearance is... noticeable. That should be enough to get her attention. Then I present the Syndicate raid as something exciting. Something dangerous. Something only someone with real power could survive."
"You're going to manipulate a noble daughter into joining our criminal enterprise by appealing to her vanity and attraction to pretty faces." Kael's tone was flat. "This is your plan."
"Do you have a better one?"
Silence.
"I hate that you're right." Kael sighed. "We need her power. And if using your face gets us that power, then..." He trailed off. "I just hope you know what you're doing. Mariabel Valtee isn't someone you want as an enemy."
"She won't be an enemy. She'll be an ally. Unpredictable and dangerous, but on our side."
"If you say so." Kael didn't sound convinced. "Where will you find her?"
"She frequents a tea house in the upper district. The Silver Lotus. Goes every other afternoon. Tomorrow is her day." Raze had spent the evening gathering information from various sources, piecing together patterns. "I'll intercept her there."
"You'll need decent clothes. You can't approach a noble looking like a dock worker."
"I know. I'll handle it."
"With what money?"
Raze pulled out Mary's pouch. Counted the remaining coins. Eight gold left after purchasing some supplies.
"I'll borrow from our funds. Buy something simple but presentable. Return it after if possible."
Kael nodded. "Just... be careful. Mariabel might seem frivolous, but an Authority awakened is always dangerous. Don't underestimate her."
"I won't."
They stood in silence for a moment. The weight of what they were planning settling over them.
"Two recruitments," Kael said quietly. "A failed experiment who becomes a mindless killer and an unpredictable noble with fire powers. This is really our plan."
"Unless you have better options."
"I don't. Which is the problem." Kael moved back to his supplies. Started preparing materials. "I'll search for Aslan tonight. Make the approach. If I'm not back by morning, assume he killed me."
"He won't kill you."
"You sound very confident about someone you've never met."
"I'm confident about desperation. Aslan is desperate for normalcy. For control. For redemption." Raze moved toward the door again. "That desperation makes him predictable. Safe, even. He wants to be saved. We're offering salvation."
"And Mariabel?"
"Mariabel is bored. That makes her dangerous but also malleable. We're offering entertainment." Raze opened the door. "Different motivations. Same result. They help us raid the Syndicate."
"Assuming everything goes according to plan."
"Plans never go perfectly. But we adapt." Raze stepped into the night. "Good luck with Aslan. I'll handle Mariabel tomorrow."
The door closed behind him.
The city streets were dark and quiet. Most people had retreated indoors. Only guards and criminals walked the night.
Raze kept to shadows. His F rank Perception was useless for spotting danger, but his Inspect skill pinged whenever someone came close.
Ding. Ding.
Two drunks stumbling home. A guard on patrol. A street vendor closing up late.
No gray cloaks. Not yet.
The inn appeared ahead. Warm light glowing from windows. The sound of conversation and laughter from inside.
Raze slipped in through the side door. Climbed the stairs to his tiny room. The familiar creak of old wood. The smell of mildew and old sweat.
He collapsed onto the straw mattress.
His body ached. The day had been long. Exhausting. And tomorrow would be harder.
But first, he needed to address his own weakness.
Raze pulled up his Status window.
The translucent blue screen materialized in the darkness.
[Status Window]
Name: Raze Dragonheart
Age: 17
Rank: Initiate (Peak)
Core: Fragmented
His eyes fixed on that word. Fragmented.
The core issue. Literally. His cultivation pathways were broken. He couldn't advance properly. Couldn't access his full potential. Against Adept rank Syndicate enforcers, he was drastically outmatched.
But he knew how to fix it.
The game had included a hidden quest chain. One most players never found because the requirements were obscure and the procedure was dangerous. But Raze had studied the wiki obsessively during his three month binge.
Core Reconstruction.
The method required three rare materials:
Celestial Dew. Collected from Moonbells, flowers that only bloomed at night in specific locations. He knew where they grew. The old cemetery on the city's northern edge.
Phoenix Ash. Extremely rare. Expensive. But available on the black market if you knew who to ask. And he did. The game had featured a black market dealer named Silas who operated from the Harbor District.
Void Crystal fragments. Used to stabilize mana pathways during the reconstruction process. These were actually the easiest to obtain. The city's Mage Guild sold them for research purposes.
The procedure itself took twenty four hours and was excruciatingly painful. The materials had to be ingested in a specific sequence while the practitioner meditated, forcing their shattered core pathways to reconnect. The Void Crystals prevented the pathways from collapsing entirely during the process. The Phoenix Ash provided the energy needed for regeneration. The Celestial Dew acted as a binding agent, holding everything together.
If it succeeded, the core would reconstruct. The practitioner could advance normally.
If it failed, the core shattered completely. Permanently. The person became a Mortal. No cultivation. No mana. Forever.
The risk was enormous.
But staying Fragmented meant certain death against the Syndicate.
Raze made the calculation. High risk, high reward. Standard gamer logic.
He'd need Kael's help. An alchemist to oversee the process. Monitor his vital signs. Intervene if something went catastrophically wrong.
Timeline: Five days until the raid.
Day one and two: Recruit Aslan and Mariabel.
Day three: Gather materials for core reconstruction.
Day four: Undergo the procedure.
Day five: Recover. Hopefully reach Blooming stage if the reconstruction succeeded.
Day six: Raid the textile mill.
Tight. Dangerously tight. But possible.
Raze dismissed his Status window. Stared at the dark ceiling.
There was one more thing he needed. Something to improve his combat ability immediately, without waiting for the core reconstruction.
A skill core.
These were rare crystallized skills that could be absorbed directly. Granted instant ability without training. Expensive and usually only available to wealthy practitioners.
But Raze knew where to get one without paying.
Lord Marcus Thornwell. A minor noble with connections to the Syndicate. Not directly involved, but taking bribes to look the other way. He collected skill cores as a hobby. Had half a dozen in his personal vault.
The game had featured a stealth quest where you could rob his manor. Raze had done it twice. Memorized the layout. The guard patterns. The weak points in security.
The skill core he wanted: Enhanced Combat Reflexes.
It would boost his Agility significantly. More importantly, it would improve his Perception. Let him read attacks. Spot dangers. React faster.
Critical for surviving the raid.
The theft would need to happen tomorrow night. After recruiting Mariabel. While Kael was working with Aslan.
Simple in theory. Dangerous in practice. But everything they were doing was dangerous.
Raze closed his eyes. Let exhaustion pull him toward sleep.
Tomorrow: Recruit a noble with fire powers. Tomorrow night: Steal from another noble. Day after: Find a Mercurian experiment.
Simple.
His last thought before sleep took him was of Sophie. Her smile. Her trust. Her belief that he was a hero.
He'd make sure that belief wasn't misplaced.
Even if it killed him.