Kael didn't go straight to the Silk Serpent. He wasn't stupid—attacking a fortified position while exhausted would be suicide, System or no System.
Instead, he found an abandoned warehouse in the dock district and settled in to rest. His Void Body's enhanced regeneration would heal his wounds, but he needed time to restore his Void Energy and process everything that had happened.
As he sat against a crate, he pulled up his full Status screen:
[COMPREHENSIVE STATUS]
Name: Kael Draven
Level: 5
Class: Void Initiate (Unique - Evolves at Level 10)
Title: None
Attributes:
Strength: 16 (+8 from base)
Agility: 20 (+8 from base)
Vitality: 18 (+8 from base)
Intelligence: 17 (+6 from base)
Wisdom: 15 (+6 from base)
Void Affinity: MAX
Health: 200/200 (Base: 100 + Vitality×10)
Void Energy: 15/125 (Base: 50 + Level×15)
Experience: 175/500
Abilities:
Void Step (Rank F): Teleport up to 15 meters. Cost: 10 Void Energy. Cooldown: 3 seconds. Void Drain (Rank F): Absorb life force and energy. Efficiency: 15%. Can target multiple enemies with concentration. Void Pulse (Rank F): Release shockwave. Cost: Variable. Max range: 10 meters. Void Burst: Detonate Void energy on physical strike. Damage scales with energy invested. Void Grasp: Manipulate and redirect projectiles. Cost: 10 Void Energy per object. Merciful Strike (Rank F): Deal subdual damage that incapacitates without killing. Reduces lethality by 80%.
Passive Skills:
Void Body (Rank F): Immune to mortal poisons/diseases. Regenerate 1% HP per minute out of combat. Void Sense (Rank F): Detect hostile intent and life force within 20 meters. Language of the System: Understand all System communications.
Active Quests:
Vengeance Begins: 6/12 targets eliminated (6 days, 18 hours remaining) The Merciful Path: 7/10 enemies spared
Inventory:
35 Gold coins Assassin's dagger (poisoned - Nightshade extract) Crimson Hand guild marker (from Dren's corpse)
Kael studied the numbers. Level 5. In traditional cultivation terms, he'd progressed further in a few hours than most people did in months. The System was accelerating his growth at an impossible rate.
But he was still weak compared to what he'd face. Vorcen was reportedly a third-tier mage, which in standard cultivation rankings meant at least Level 15-20. The gap was enormous.
He needed more power, and he needed it fast.
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: THE SHADOW MARKET]
Objective: Locate and infiltrate the Shadow Market to acquire resources
Reward: 200 EXP, Access to rare items and information
Note: The Shadow Market appears only at midnight in locations known to those who seek it.
Kael accepted the quest. The Shadow Market was legendary in Valdris's underworld—a traveling bazaar where illegal goods, forbidden knowledge, and darker services could be purchased. He'd heard rumors of it during his time with the Crimson Hand but never had the connections to find it.
Now, apparently, the System was guiding him there.
A sound at the warehouse entrance made Kael's Void Sense flare. Someone was approaching. Multiple someones. But they didn't register as hostile—more cautious, curious.
"I know you're in there, Voidborn," a woman's voice called. Lyra Ashford, the talent scout from the Azure League he'd met briefly at the arena. "I'm coming in. I'm not armed, and I'm not here to fight."
Kael considered his options, then decided to hear her out. "Come in slowly. Keep your hands visible."
Lyra entered, her silver hair catching the moonlight streaming through broken windows. Behind her came two others—a massive man in plate armor carrying a greatsword, and a hooded figure whose face remained hidden.
"Relax," Lyra said, raising her hands. "This is Brutus, my bodyguard, and Shadow, my information specialist. We're here to talk business."
"I'm not interested in joining your League," Kael said flatly.
"I know. I watched you fight six Crimson Hand assassins and the current pit champion in one night. You're not looking for structured training—you're looking for blood." Lyra smiled. "But that doesn't mean we can't help each other."
"I'm listening."
"The Crimson Hand controls significant portions of this city's underworld. If you actually manage to kill Vorcen, there'll be a power vacuum. People like me, who operate in the gray areas, we'd prefer that vacuum be filled by someone... reasonable." She pulled out a map and spread it on a nearby crate. "I can give you intelligence. Guard rotations. Safe houses. The location of Vorcen's personal treasury. Even the names of city officials he's bribed."
"In exchange for what?"
"When you take over the Crimson Hand's operations—and yes, I'm confident you will—the Azure League gets preferential treatment. Protection for our fighters. Reasonable rates on fight-fixing. Access to your distribution networks." Lyra met his eyes. "I'm betting on you, Kael. Don't make me regret it."
The hooded figure—Shadow—spoke for the first time, voice distorted by magic: "We also know where the Shadow Market will appear tonight. That's information worth quite a bit."
Kael considered. He didn't trust them, but their offer had merit. Information was power, and he needed every advantage.
"Fine. But I'm not taking over the Crimson Hand. I'm destroying it."
"Even better," Lyra said cheerfully. "Destroying the old order creates more opportunities than maintaining it. Shadow, show him."
The hooded figure produced a small crystal that projected a three-dimensional map of Valdris's merchant quarter. Red markers indicated Crimson Hand positions.
"Vorcen has forty-three active members currently in the city," Shadow explained. "Twelve are combat-trained. Five are mages of various circles. The rest are enforcers, collectors, and support staff. His inner circle consists of seven lieutenants who meet at the Silk Serpent every three days. Their next meeting is tomorrow night."
Perfect. Seven targets in one location.
"What about security?" Kael asked.
"The Silk Serpent has three entry points," Brutus rumbled, speaking for the first time. His voice was like grinding boulders. "Front entrance, service entrance, and a hidden tunnel from the adjacent building. All are guarded. The main floor is public—brothel operations. Second floor is private rooms. Third floor is Vorcen's personal quarters and meeting room."
"Wards?" Kael knew most criminal operations employed magical defenses.
"Standard detection wards on all entrances," Shadow confirmed. "They'll alert to hostile intent and weapons. But they're keyed to traditional magic. Your Void abilities might not trigger them—they're looking for elemental signatures."
That was useful. The Void existed outside normal magical classifications.
"And the Shadow Market?" Kael pressed.
Shadow pulled out a second map. "Tonight at midnight, it'll manifest in the old Temple District. Look for the black door that appears in the ruined temple of the Forgotten God. Knock three times, wait for the eye to appear, then state your purpose. Don't lie—the door knows."
[QUEST UPDATE: THE SHADOW MARKET]
[Location revealed: Temple District, Ruined Temple]
[Time until manifestation: 4 hours]
"Why help me?" Kael asked. "You don't know me. I could take this information and turn on you."
Lyra's smile turned cold. "Because I'm an excellent judge of character, and you're exactly what this city needs right now—a force of nature that doesn't care about politics or power, just revenge. You'll tear through the Crimson Hand like a storm, and when the dust settles, someone has to rebuild. I'd rather be your friend than your enemy."
"And if I fail?"
"Then I'm out some information and a small wager. But I don't think you'll fail." She rolled up the maps. "Shadow Market opens in four hours. I suggest you get there early—the best items sell fast. Look for a vendor named the Whispering Merchant. Tell him Lyra sent you. He'll have items specifically useful for your... unique situation."
The three visitors left as quietly as they'd arrived, leaving Kael alone with new information and new possibilities.
[Void Energy: 45/125 - Regenerating]
He had four hours until the Shadow Market opened. Time to meditate, restore his energy, and prepare for whatever came next.
As he settled into a meditative stance, the Void whispered to him, showing visions of power that could be his. Abilities beyond what he currently possessed. Techniques that would make his current skills look like parlor tricks.
But power required sacrifice. The question was: how far was he willing to go?
[Quest Available: Path of Shadows]
[Warning: Accepting this quest will influence your evolution]
[Rewards: Unknown]
[Consequences: Unknown]
Kael stared at the prompt. The System was offering him choices, paths that would shape not just his abilities but his very nature.
He dismissed it for now. First, the Shadow Market. Then, answers.
Then, blood.