The market dimmed.
Nyra stood alone at its center, the faint glow of the contract mark still burning on her palm.
She flexed her fingers slightly.
It didn't hurt anymore.
But she could feel it—
A presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…Abyss Market," she muttered under her breath.
Above her—
Ren Kairo observed in silence.
She adapted quickly.
No panic.
No wasted questions.
Good.
"Your first task," Ren said calmly,
"is survival."
Nyra's eyes sharpened.
"…that's it?"
"Not quite."
The air shifted.
A map appeared in front of her.
A section of the city.
Dark.
Layered.
Alive.
Red dots began to form.
Moving.
Closing in.
Nyra's expression changed.
"…they found me already."
Ren's voice remained steady.
"They never lost you."
Silence.
Her jaw tightened.
"…how many?"
"Five," Ren replied.
A pause.
"All stronger than you."
Nyra exhaled slowly.
"…figures."
Her hand moved to her blade.
Then stopped.
"…you wouldn't bring me here just to die."
Ren didn't answer directly.
Instead—
Another object appeared before her.
A dagger.
Simple.
Dark.
Unremarkable.
But the moment she looked at it—
Something felt wrong.
[Item: Echo Dagger]
[Effect: Repeats the last successful strike within 3 seconds]
[Cost: Gradual loss of sensory perception]
Nyra stared at it.
"…and the price?"
Ren's voice echoed.
"You already paid."
Her fingers hovered over the weapon.
Then—
She grabbed it.
The moment she did—
Her vision flickered.
Just for a second.
"…tch."
She steadied herself.
"Understood."
No hesitation.
No complaints.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
She's exactly what I need.
"Leave," he said.
The market opened.
A tear in space.
Nyra didn't look back.
She stepped through.
And vanished.
The hall fell silent once more.
Ren leaned back slowly.
[Agent Deployed]
[Monitoring Active]
A faint screen appeared before him.
Nyra's perspective.
Dark alleys.
Narrow paths.
Fast movement.
She was already running.
Outside — Lower District
Nyra landed silently on the rooftop.
Her body moved on instinct.
Jump.
Roll.
Recover.
Behind her—
Voices.
"She's close!"
"Spread out!"
Five of them.
All trained.
All hunting her.
Nyra's breathing remained steady.
Five… stronger than me.
Her grip tightened on the dagger.
"…then I don't fight fair."
She dropped down into the alley.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
One turned the corner—
Too slow.
Nyra moved instantly.
Slash.
Clean.
The blade cut across his throat.
He fell—
But before his body even hit the ground—
The dagger pulsed.
A second slash appeared.
Same motion.
Same force.
The man's body split deeper.
Nyra's eyes widened slightly.
"…so that's what it means."
No time to think.
Another came.
She moved again.
Strike.
Echo.
Two hits.
One motion.
Faster.
Deadlier.
But—
Her hearing dulled.
Just slightly.
"…already?"
She clicked her tongue.
So that's the trade.
Two down.
Three left.
The remaining hunters slowed.
"…something's wrong."
"…she's not this strong."
Nyra smirked faintly.
Good.
Let them hesitate.
Fear was a weapon too.
She disappeared into the shadows again.
Inside the Market
Ren watched everything.
Every movement.
Every strike.
Every reaction.
[Combat Efficiency: High]
[Item Compatibility: Stable]
He leaned forward slightly.
She's wasting no motion.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Perfect.
Below—
Nyra stopped.
Three remaining.
They regrouped.
Smarter now.
Careful.
"…surround her," one said.
Nyra exhaled slowly.
Her vision flickered again.
Her hearing… dulled further.
Time was running out.
"…then I end it fast."
She stepped forward.
Not running.
Not hiding.
Walking.
The hunters froze.
"…she's coming to us?"
Nyra smiled faintly.
"Yeah," she said quietly.
"Let's finish this."
She moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
The dagger flashed—
Strike.
Echo.
Chaos exploded.
Inside the Market
Ren's eyes remained locked on the screen.
Not just watching.
Learning.
Adapting.
Because this—
Was more than survival.
This was data.
Experience.
Value.
And through her—
He was growing.
Not just stronger.
But smarter.
More dangerous.
Ren Kairo leaned back slightly.
A faint smile forming once again.
Because now—
The market wasn't waiting anymore.
It was acting.
Expanding.
Hunting.
And soon—
The world would realize—
The Abyss Market…
Was no longer something you find.
It was something that finds you.