The sirens blared, a high-pitched wail that cut through the chaotic noise of the Underground Market. My heart hammered against my ribs as Silas shoved the remaining gold coins into a hidden compartment beneath his counter.
"Run, kid! If the Association catches a Zero like you here, they'll lock you up in a mana-dampening cell before you can say 'System'!" Silas hissed, pointing toward a dark narrow alleyway behind his stall.
I didn't need to be told twice. I bolted into the shadows, my legs moving with the enhanced speed of my Level 1 Awakened status. Behind me, I could hear the heavy thud of combat boots and the crackle of magical restraints being activated.
[System Notification: Stealth Mode Suggested.]
[Skill 'Mana Concealment' temporarily granted by the System.]
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine as a faint veil of energy wrapped around my body. Suddenly, my footsteps became silent, and my presence felt like a ghost in the dark.
Two men in sleek, silver tactical gear—the hallmark of the Government Awakened Association—sprinted past the alley where I was hiding. Their scanners were beeping rapidly, searching for any unregistered mana signatures.
"Target lost," one of them growled into his comms. "He was just here. A high-energy signature for a Zero-Rank. Keep searching!"
I waited until their footsteps faded into the distance. My hands were shaking, but not just from fear. It was adrenaline. I had just traded gold for real money, survived a raid, and now I was being hunted by the very people supposed to protect the city.
I pulled the black card from my pocket. It was glowing faintly red.
[New Urgent Mission: Escape the Perimeter]
[Objective: Reach the surface without being identified.]
[Reward: Level Up to Level 2 & Mystery Item.]
I looked up at the ceiling of the old subway. I couldn't go back the way I came. I had to find another way out, and I had to do it fast.