Ethan Kane stumbled out of the portal, the Neon Market's chaotic roar crashing over him like a tidal wave. The air was thick with the mingled scents of molten metal from nearby forges, the sharp tang of fried noodles from a toppled stall, and the acrid bite of smoke from Twitchy's bomb. The Overlord Trial's Phase 2 arena had dissolved into the market's neon-lit streets, the cobblestones trembling under the Overlord avatar's towering presence. Its humanoid form loomed, a silhouette of shadow and light, red eyes unblinking, casting an eerie glow that painted the fleeing crowd in shades of crimson. The fifth knight advanced, its blank screen a silent threat, its blade gleaming with a cold edge that promised swift death. Scarface and the Greedrats charged from the shadows, their knives crackling with static, the net trap snapping shut around a nearby vendor as a diversion, his cries echoing briefly before being drowned out by the chaos. Ethan's WealthCore screen hovered before his eyes, its holographic text a lifeline and a warning: Cash Balance: $795.00. Objective: Earn $1,000 in 24 hours or face deletion. Time Remaining: 22 hours, 30 minutes. The word "deletion" pulsed in his mind, a shadow heavier than the mist he'd left behind, hinting at a fate that might erase more than his account.
Cobalt staggered beside him, their cracked visor flickering with static, a second plasma blade drawn despite the blood seeping from the wound in their shoulder. The armor's golden runes dimmed, a sign of their waning strength. "Phase 2's no joke," they muttered, their modulated voice strained, a rare crack in their usual composure. "Stay alive, Kane." The Overlord avatar raised a hand, and the market's walls rose from the ground, neon signs warping into a cage of light that trapped them in a makeshift arena. The hum of drones overhead intensified, their red beams scanning the chaos, while vendors shouted and players scattered, their footsteps a frantic rhythm on the stone. Ethan's tattoo pulsed, a sharp pain radiating up his arm, and WealthCore whispered: Phase 2 Active. Objective: Defeat Overlord Avatar and Guardians. Reward: $500 + Vault Access. The stakes had escalated, and the Greedrats' ambush added a deadly layer to the Trial.
The fifth knight lunged, its blade aimed at Ethan's chest, the air parting with a sharp whistle. He activated Resourceful Dodge, grabbing a discarded market stall pole—its wood splintered and warm from the sun—and deflected the strike, the impact jarring his wrists with a jolt that shot up to his elbows. His balance dropped to $785.00, and he rolled aside, the knight's blade embedding deep into the cobblestone with a crunch. Scarface roared, "Get him!" his voice a guttural snarl, as Buzzcut and Twitchy flanked, their knives glinting like predator's teeth. Ethan ducked a swipe from Buzzcut, the blade grazing his jacket, and his heart pounded, the market's chaos—shouts, sizzling food, drone hums—fading into a tunnel of focus. A memory flashed—his mom, dodging a creditor's fist in their cramped apartment, her laughter a rare melody despite the bruises. "Stay light, Ethan," she'd said, her eyes bright with defiance. He clung to that, his movements fluid as he sidestepped Twitchy's giggling lunge.
Cobalt engaged the knight, their dual blades clashing with a shower of sparks that illuminated the arena's jagged edges, the heat brushing Ethan's face. "Find cover!" they shouted, their voice cutting through the din. Ethan darted behind a stall, its canvas fluttering in the breeze, the fabric torn from the Greedrats' earlier rampage. He scanned for options, his breath ragged, and a holo-ad for "Quantum Stocks" flickered on the wall, its colors dancing. A prompt appeared: Interact with Ad? Risk: 10% chance of enemy alert. He tapped "Yes," and the ad morphed into a temporary shield generator, its hum filling the air as it activated, costing $30. His balance fell to $755.00, and a barrier formed, blocking Buzzcut's next knife thrust with a satisfying clang. The Overlord avatar's voice boomed, resonating through the arena: "Phase 2: Dominion. Subdue or perish."
The Greedrats pressed their attack, Twitchy giggling maniacally as he tossed a second smoke bomb, the market filling with acrid gray clouds that stung Ethan's eyes and throat. He coughed, his vision blurring, and activated Defensive Bargain for $50, a shimmering wall materializing to deflect Scarface's strike, the knife's static crackling against the barrier. His balance dropped to $705.00, and he stumbled back, the shield generator flickering under the strain. Cobalt slashed at the knight, their blades sparking, but the wound slowed their movements, a groan escaping their modulator. "We need a plan!" Ethan yelled, his voice lost in the smoke, his lungs burning.
A vendor with a cybernetic arm emerged from the haze, his metal fingers glinting, muttering, "Crazy kids—take this!" He tossed Ethan a rusted grenade, its surface pitted and its pin intact, the weight heavy in his hand. A prompt flashed: Use Grenade? Cost: $20. Risk: 15% friendly damage. Ethan nodded, pulling the pin with a click that echoed in his ears, and lobbed it at the knight. The explosion rocked the arena, a deafening boom followed by the scatter of shrapnel, the heat washing over him. The knight staggered, its armor dented, and Ethan's balance fell to $685.00. Cobalt finished it with a dual strike, their blades carving through the weakened armor, and the knight dissolved into mist. Fifth Guardian Defeated. But the Overlord avatar remained, its eyes flaring with renewed intensity.
Scarface lunged through the smoke, his knife aimed at Ethan's throat, the blade's static crackling inches from his skin. He dodged with Resourceful Dodge, using a crate to trip the Greedrat leader, who crashed into Twitchy with a yelp, the two tumbling in a heap. Buzzcut snarled, charging with a wild swing, but the shield generator held, its energy waning with a high-pitched whine. Ethan's tattoo burned, and WealthCore glitched: New Skill Unlocked: Tactical Haggle (Rank F).
Tactical Haggle (Rank F)
Negotiate with enemies for temporary truce or resources. Cost: $40 per use. Success rate: 20%.
A prompt appeared: Target: Buzzcut. Offer truce? Ethan shouted, "Back off, and I'll pay $100!" his voice raw. Buzzcut hesitated, her knife pausing mid-swing, her scarred face twisting in thought. The roll succeeded, and she retreated, dragging the groaning Scarface and Twitchy back into the smoke. His balance dropped to $645.00, and the air cleared, revealing the Overlord avatar advancing with deliberate steps.
Cobalt panted, their visor dark with cracks, their breathing labored. "It's not just fighting—it's control. Distract it," they urged, wiping blood from their chin. Ethan nodded, approaching the avatar, his legs shaky. "What do you want?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest. The avatar's voice rumbled, deep and resonant, "Your wealth, your soul—submit." A prompt flashed: Negotiate with Overlord? Risk: 30% soul bind. He tapped "Yes," offering $200, his hands trembling. The roll failed, and the avatar's hand glowed, a binding energy wrapping around him like icy chains. His balance fell to $445.00, and his tattoo seared, a new mark appearing: Soul Debt: $500 due in 72 hours. The pain was excruciating, a burning that sank into his bones.
The market shook, the ground cracking, and the hooded figure appeared, their cloak billowing in the sudden wind. "The loan's interest, Kane," they rasped, their voice a gravelly whisper that sent chills down his spine. "Pay, or you're mine." Ethan's phone buzzed—the debt collector, now silent, replaced by a new message: Loan Balance: $1,200 + $500 Soul Debt. The Greedrats regrouped, Scarface limping with a gash on his arm, and the avatar raised its hand, summoning a sixth knight from the portal's edge, its armor bulkier than the last. Cobalt slashed at the binding, their blade cutting through the energy with a hiss, freeing Ethan. "Fight or flee!" they urged, their stance wavering.
Ethan grabbed the rusted sword, its weight a familiar anchor, his balance at $445.00, and faced the sixth knight. He used Tactical Haggle again, offering $50 to delay it, his voice cracking with desperation. The roll succeeded, and the knight paused, its blade hovering, giving him a momentary reprieve. His balance fell to $395.00, and the Overlord avatar laughed, a sound that echoed through the arena. "Your tricks amuse me, mortal," it intoned, its form flickering. The market's walls cracked further, players fleeing in panic, and a vendor shouted, "The Overlord's taking over—run!" Ethan's tattoo pulsed, a flashback hitting—his mom, whispering, "Find your strength," as she faded in the hospital bed, her hand cold in his. He steeled himself, the sixth knight advancing.
Cobalt's blades clashed with the avatar, their energy flaring in a dazzling display, the heat washing over Ethan. He dodged a strike from the knight, using Resourceful Dodge with a stall pole, the wood splintering as it deflected the blow, his balance at $385.00. The Greedrats charged again, but a market faction—led by Vex—intervened, their cloaks fluttering as they clashed with knives and staffs. "We owe you, Kane," Vex said, their scar glinting under the neon, their voice steady. The avatar's binding weakened, and Ethan slashed with the sword, the blade chipping its ethereal form, a shard of light breaking away. A prompt flashed: Critical Hit. Continue? He pressed on, his arms burning with the effort.
The sixth knight fell, its armor crumpling, Sixth Guardian Defeated, and his balance rose with a glitch to $595.00 due to an unexpected reward from Vex's faction. The avatar staggered, its form flickering like a dying hologram. "Phase 2 Incomplete," it intoned, its voice weakening. "Return or perish." The portal reopened, its edges sparking, and Scarface fled with the Greedrats, vowing revenge with a snarl. The hooded figure vanished, leaving a note fluttering to the ground: Soul Debt Due: 72 hours. Interest: $50 per day. Ethan and Cobalt limped toward the vault, its door ajar, a new knight's shadow within, its screen glowing with a sinister red.
A market elder approached, his face lined with age, muttering, "The vault's a trap—only the worthy survive." Ethan's phone buzzed—a message from an unknown number: Soul Debt Reminder: $500 + $50 interest due in 71 hours. His tattoo throbbed, and WealthCore glitched: New Objective: Clear Vault. Risk: Permanent deletion. The Overlord avatar reformed partially, its eyes locking on him. "Your soul is mine, Kane," it whispered, its voice inside his head. Cobalt drew a deep breath, their visor repairing slightly. "We go in together," they said. Ethan nodded, the rusted sword in hand, and stepped toward the vault, the shadow knight's blade gleaming.
The vault's interior was a cavern of gold and shadow, coins embedded in the walls pulsing with energy. The new knight charged, its screen reading Vault Sentinel (Level 20), and Ethan activated Tactical Haggle, offering $100 to stall it. The roll failed, and the knight's blade slashed, grazing his arm, blood staining his jacket. His balance fell to $495.00, and he stumbled, the pain sharp. Cobalt engaged, their blades clashing, but the Sentinel's strength was overwhelming. A prompt flashed: Use Power Node? Risk: 40% enemy boost. Ethan tapped "Yes," and a node in the vault flared, boosting his speed but empowering the Sentinel. The battle intensified, coins falling like rain.
Ethan dodged with Resourceful Dodge, using a gold coin to distract the Sentinel, his balance at $485.00. The Overlord's voice echoed, "Sacrifice or submit." A flashback hit—his mom, counting coins, her smile fading. He roared, slashing with the sword, and Cobalt struck simultaneously, the Sentinel faltering. Vault Sentinel Damaged. The vault trembled, and a chest appeared, its lid creaking. Ethan opened it, finding $300, his balance rising to $785.00, but the Sentinel rose again, its eyes red. The Overlord avatar loomed outside, its laughter filling the air. "Phase 2 continues," it intoned, and a seventh knight emerged, its screen blank.