Raze woke to afternoon sunlight streaming through the warehouse cracks. His body ached. Every muscle protested movement. The skill core absorption had taken more out of him than he'd realized.
But he felt different. Sharper.
He sat up slowly. Kael and Aslan were already awake. The alchemist worked at his table, grinding something in a mortar. Aslan sat nearby, reading one of his books.
"You're up," Kael said without looking. "How do you feel?"
Raze stood. Tested his balance. His enhanced perception tracked the room. Every detail crisp. Clear. He could see dust motes floating in the sunlight. Could hear Kael's breathing from across the room. Could sense the spatial dimensions around him in a way that felt alien but useful.
"Different. Better." He moved to the table. "The skills integrated properly."
"No neural damage? No rejection symptoms?"
"None that I can tell." Raze flexed his hands. "Combat Reflex is constant. I'm aware of everything around me now. Scarlet Leap feels like potential energy in my legs. Ready to release. And Instant Transmission..." He concentrated. Felt the spatial fabric. "I can sense jump points. Calculate distances. It's disorienting but manageable."
"Good. Because we have problems." Kael set down his mortar. "News is spreading about the Thornwell robbery. Five skill cores stolen. The city guard is investigating. And the Syndicate is offering a reward for information about unusual individuals operating in the area."
"How much?"
"Ten gold for information leading to capture. Twenty for actual capture." Kael's expression was grim. "That's enough to motivate a lot of desperate people."
Aslan spoke up from his corner. "I heard talk in the streets this morning. People describing someone with white hair. Blue eyes. Asking if anyone's seen him." Those silver eyes fixed on Raze. "They're looking for you specifically."
Raze felt cold settle in his stomach. His appearance was too distinctive. Too memorable. In a city where most people had brown or black hair, white stood out like a beacon.
"I need to change my appearance," he said quietly. "At least temporarily. Until the heat dies down."
"Hair dye," Kael suggested. "I have some. Black or brown. Your choice."
"Brown. Less dramatic change. Won't look like I'm trying too hard to hide." Raze moved to the wash basin. "How long until it's ready?"
"Give me ten minutes."
While Kael prepared the dye, Raze checked his Status window. The new skills were listed clearly. Combat Reflex C. Scarlet Leap C. Instant Transmission D. But his core was still Fragmented. Still limiting his overall growth.
"Tomorrow we gather materials for core reconstruction," he said aloud. "I can't wait any longer. The fragmentation is getting worse."
"Worse how?" Aslan asked.
"I can feel it. The pathways breaking down. Mana flow is sluggish. Harder to channel." Raze closed his Status window. "If I don't fix it soon, I'll drop from Initiate to Mortal. Permanently."
"Then we prioritize that." Kael finished mixing the dye. "Sit. This will take an hour to set properly."
Raze sat. Let Kael work the dark brown dye through his white hair. The alchemist's hands were steady. Professional.
"Where do we get the materials?" Aslan asked.
"Three things," Raze listed. "Celestial Dew from Moonbell flowers. They grow in the old cemetery on the northern edge of the city. Only bloom at night. I'll handle that harvest myself tonight."
"And the other two?"
"Phoenix Ash. Extremely rare. I know a black market dealer in the Harbor District who might have some. Silas. He specializes in cultivation materials." Raze paused. "The problem is cost. Phoenix Ash runs about twenty gold per ounce. We need three ounces."
Kael's hands stopped moving. "Sixty gold? We don't have sixty gold."
"I know. Which is why we're going to negotiate." Raze kept his voice calm. "Silas is a businessman. He deals with criminals and cultivators. He'll accept alternative payments. Services. Information. Something we can provide."
"What kind of services?"
"I won't know until we talk to him. But I have some ideas." Raze thought about the game. Silas had been a minor merchant NPC who gave quests. Usually retrieval missions for rare items. "He's always looking for specific materials. If we can source something he needs, we can trade."
"And the third material?"
"Void Crystal fragments. Those are actually easy. The Mage Guild sells them for research purposes. About two gold per fragment. We need five." Raze did the math. "Ten gold total. That we can afford."
"So we need sixty gold for Phoenix Ash, plus ten for Void Crystals." Kael resumed applying dye. "And we have maybe eight gold left after your clothing purchase yesterday."
"Which means we're short by sixty two gold." Raze closed his eyes. Let Kael work. "But we'll figure something out. We always do."
Silence fell. The warehouse was peaceful. Safe. But Raze knew it was temporary. The Syndicate was hunting them. The city guard was investigating. Time was running out.
An hour passed. Kael finished the dye application. Rinsed Raze's hair with clean water. The white disappeared. Replaced by dark brown.
Raze looked at his reflection in a polished piece of metal. The change was dramatic. His striking white hair was gone. The brown made him look more ordinary. Less noticeable.
"Better," he said. "Not perfect, but better."
"You still have the face," Aslan observed. "The features. Those are distinctive even without the white hair."
"I know. But it's harder to describe someone as 'the pretty boy with brown hair.' Less unique. More people fit that description." Raze ran his fingers through the dyed hair. "It buys us time. That's all I need."
Kael cleaned his supplies. "When do you meet Mariabel again?"
"Tomorrow afternoon. Same tea house. Same time." Raze stood. Tested his mobility. "I'll have the dye washed out by then. She needs to recognize me."
"You're going to walk back into the upper district? Where the guard is most concentrated?"
"Yes. Because Mariabel expects me. And if I don't show, we lose our best combat asset." Raze met Kael's eyes. "She's Expert rank with an Authority awakened. We need her more than we need safety."
"Assuming she actually agrees to help."
"She will. I gave her exactly what she wants. A challenge. Recognition. A chance to prove herself." Raze moved toward the door. "Now I need to see Sophie. Check on her recovery. Then tonight I harvest Moonbell flowers. Tomorrow morning we visit Silas. Tomorrow afternoon I meet Mariabel. It's all timing."
"You're moving too fast," Kael warned. "Pushing too hard. Your body needs rest after absorbing three skill cores."
"My body can rest when Sophie and forty two other children are cured. When the Syndicate is shut down. When the corruption stops spreading." Raze opened the door. "Until then, I keep moving."
He left before Kael could argue.
The afternoon city was busy. Merchants closing shops. Workers heading home. Normal life continuing.
Raze kept his hood up. His brown hair hidden. His distinctive features shadowed. Just another poor kid crossing town.
His enhanced Combat Reflex tracked everyone around him. His perception caught details he'd have missed before. The guard watching from the corner. The suspicious looks from a merchant. The gray cloak two streets over.
Gray cloak.
Raze's heart rate spiked. He kept walking. Steady pace. Not running. Not drawing attention.
His Instant Transmission hummed in the back of his mind. Ready if needed. Jump point calculated. Fifteen feet into an alley.
The gray cloak didn't follow. Just watched. Possibly didn't recognize him with the brown hair.
Raze turned a corner. Breathed easier.
The Healing Hall appeared ahead. White stone gleaming. Beautiful and corrupt.
He pushed through the doors.
Beatrice looked up. Didn't recognize him at first. Then her eyes widened slightly.
"Mr. Dragonheart?"
"The hair is temporary," Raze said quietly. "Is Sophie available for visitors?"
"Yes. Room fourteen. She's been asking about you." Beatrice's expression softened. "Her recovery continues to amaze everyone. The head healer is baffled."
"Good."
Raze climbed the stairs. His new perception tracked every sound. Every movement. The building felt different now. More detailed. He could hear conversations through doors. Could sense people moving in adjacent rooms.
Room fourteen. He knocked gently.
"Come in!"
Sophie's voice was strong. Clear. Nothing like the weak rasp from days ago.
Raze entered.
Sophie sat in bed. Not lying down. Actually sitting up. Reading a book. Color in her cheeks. Life in her eyes.
She looked up. Blinked. "Raze? You dyed your hair!"
"Temporary disguise." He closed the door. Moved to her bedside. "How are you feeling?"
"Amazing! Look!" She held up her arms. The black veins were completely gone. Her skin showed healthy pink. "Miss Helen says I'm the fastest recovery she's ever seen. The head healer keeps coming in to examine me. He looks angry about it."
Raze smiled. "I bet he does."
"Why are you hiding? Did something bad happen?"
Too perceptive. Always too perceptive.
"I'm taking precautions. Some people are upset about your treatment. About the medicine we used." Raze sat in the chair beside her bed. "Nothing for you to worry about. Just me being careful."
Sophie studied his face. Those blue eyes seeing too much. "You're in danger because you saved me."
"I'm in danger because I'm fighting corrupt people. Saving you just happened to upset them." Raze took her hand. "But I'd do it again. A thousand times."
"The other parents keep asking Miss Helen about the medicine. They want it for their children too." Sophie squeezed his hand. "Will you help them?"
"Yes. We're preparing more treatment now. A few more days and we'll start curing the others."
"Good." Sophie smiled. Genuine and bright. "You really are a hero, Raze."
The word twisted in his chest. Hero. He wasn't a hero. He was a gamer exploiting knowledge he shouldn't have. Playing a game with real lives as stakes.
But looking at Sophie's trusting face, he couldn't say that.
"I'm just someone trying to help," he said instead.
"That's what heroes are."
They talked for another half hour. Sophie told him about the other patients. About a boy named Thomas who'd started getting better after hearing about her recovery. About Miss Helen teaching her to read medical texts. About her dreams of becoming a healer herself someday.
Normal conversation. Happy conversation. The talk of a child who expected to have a future.
Eventually visiting hours ended. Raze had to leave.
"Be safe," Sophie said as he stood. "Please. I don't want to lose you."
"You won't. I promise."
He left before emotion could overwhelm him.
The hallway was empty. Most visitors had already gone. Raze walked toward the stairs.
Then heard voices. Around the corner. Coming closer.
"...white hair. Blue eyes. Distinctive features. Could be using disguises now."
City guard. Asking about him specifically.
Raze's Combat Reflex kicked in. Tracked the voices. Two guards. Moving this direction. Thirty seconds until they rounded the corner.
His Instant Transmission calculated jump points. But teleporting in the middle of a hospital would be noticed. Suspicious. Dangerous.
Instead he moved quickly. Down a side hallway. Into an alcove. Pressed against the wall. Hood up. Face shadowed.
The guards passed. Their conversation continued.
"...Syndicate wants him badly. Must have done something significant."
"Five skill cores stolen. That's significant enough."
"True. Keep looking. He's in the city somewhere."
They moved on. Down the stairs. Gone.
Raze waited another minute. Then emerged. Moved quickly toward the exit.
Made it outside without further incident.
The afternoon was fading to evening. He had hours before the Moonbell harvest. Time to plan. To prepare.
Time to visit the Harbor District. Scout Silas's location. Figure out how to negotiate for Phoenix Ash without gold.
The Harbor District smelled like salt water and fish. Docks stretched along the river. Warehouses crowded together. This was where illegal goods moved. Where questions weren't asked. Where people like Silas operated.
Raze navigated carefully. His enhanced perception tracked everything. The suspicious looks. The dangerous individuals. The gray cloaks that seemed to be everywhere.
Silas's shop sat between a tavern and a ship repair yard. Narrow building. Unremarkable door. A sign that simply read "Acquisitions."
Raze didn't enter. Not yet. Just observed. Watched who came and went. Noted the security. The patterns.
Three customers in an hour. All looked like cultivators. All carried themselves with the confidence of people who had power.
Finally, as evening fully settled, Raze approached.
The door opened with a soft chime. Inside was cramped. Shelves lined every wall. Filled with bottles, jars, dried herbs, crystals, bones. Anything a cultivator might need.
Behind a counter sat an older man. Sixties. Gray hair. Sharp eyes that missed nothing. He looked up as Raze entered.
"Welcome. Looking for something specific?"
"Phoenix Ash," Raze said directly. "Three ounces."
Silas's eyebrows rose slightly. "Direct. I like that. Phoenix Ash is expensive. Sixty gold for three ounces. Do you have the funds?"
"No. But I have something else you might want." Raze approached the counter. "Information. Services. A trade."
"Interesting." Silas leaned back in his chair. "What makes you think I need anything from a young man with freshly dyed hair and desperation in his eyes?"
So much for the disguise working perfectly.
"Because you deal in rare materials. Which means you need people to source them. And I can source things most people can't." Raze met his eyes. "I have knowledge. Connections. Skills. What do you need that you can't easily get?"
Silas studied him for a long moment. Then smiled. "You're bold. I'll give you that. Alright. I'll entertain this negotiation. There is something I need. Something dangerous to acquire. But valuable."
"What is it?"
"Void Serpent scales. From the sewers beneath the city. There's a nest in the deep sections. Very deep. Very dangerous." Silas pulled out a ledger. Made a note. "Bring me ten scales. Intact. Undamaged. And I'll give you your Phoenix Ash."
Raze's game knowledge activated. Void Serpents. Level twenty enemies in the game. Fast. Venomous. Hunted in packs. Their scales were valuable for armor crafting and certain alchemical processes.
Extremely dangerous for someone at his level.
"How deep in the sewers?" he asked carefully.
"Past the Blight Rat territories. Past the Syndicate's extraction points. Into the flooded sections where normal people don't go." Silas's smile widened. "Hence why I'm willing to trade. Most cultivators won't risk it. The reward doesn't match the danger."
"But you think I will."
"I think you're desperate. Desperation makes people brave. Or stupid. Sometimes both." Silas leaned forward. "So. Do we have a deal?"
Raze calculated rapidly. His Absolute Genius processing scenarios.
The sewers. Deep sections. Void Serpents. With his current skills, he had a chance. Not a great chance. But a chance.
Combat Reflex would let him see their attacks. Scarlet Leap would give him mobility. Instant Transmission was the ultimate escape tool. And his B rank Endurance meant he could take hits and keep going.
It was dangerous. Possibly suicidal. But he needed that Phoenix Ash. Without it, no core reconstruction. Without core reconstruction, certain death against the Syndicate.
"Deal," Raze said. "Ten intact scales. When do you need them?"
"Soon. Within three days." Silas made another note. "After that, I have another buyer lined up. So don't waste my time."
"I won't. And Silas?" Raze turned to leave. Paused at the door. "One question. Why take this risk? You could just sell the Phoenix Ash for sixty gold. Why trade for something dangerous?"
Silas's smile was knowing. "Because, young man, I've learned to recognize when someone is about to do something significant. Something that changes things. And when that happens, it's profitable to be on their side." He gestured to the door. "Good luck. Try not to die. Dead customers can't bring me scales."
Raze left. The evening air felt colder now.
Void Serpent scales. Deep sewers. Syndicate territory.
This kept getting more complicated.
But he had a path forward. That's what mattered.
Tonight: Moonbell harvest in the cemetery.
Tomorrow morning: Void Serpent hunt in the deep sewers.
Tomorrow afternoon: Mariabel recruitment and getting Void Crystal fragments from the Mage Guild.
Day after tomorrow: Core reconstruction.
Then the Syndicate raid.
Simple. Impossible. Necessary.
Raze started walking back toward the warehouse. His mind already planning. Already calculating.
The game had taught him something important: sometimes the only way forward was through the danger. Not around it. Through it.
Time to prove that lesson applied to reality.
Behind him, the Harbor District continued its nightly rhythm. Deals made in shadows. Illegal goods changing hands. The underground economy that powered half the city.
Raze disappeared into the crowd. Just another desperate kid with impossible goals.
But he'd survived this far. That had to count for something.