Feeling refreshed and his mind back at full power, Ash made his move. He took out a potion from his Soul vault and gulped it down, the cool liquid sliding down his throat and sending a sharp tingling sensation through his chest and limbs.
It was an invisibility potion whose effect lasted for only fifteen seconds, so he had no time to waste.
His body began to disappear, its edges fading first, and then his entire form shimmered until he was completely invisible.
With a silent, controlled motion, Ash teleported directly above the ground where the array lay.
Absolute Concealment was already activated, so he did not have to worry much about being sensed, and he relied on the invisibility potion to hide him from any form of magical or mechanical surveillance that might see him.
Even though it was not possible, he remained cautious.
1 Second.
Ash appeared above the ground, and as soon as his feet touched the ground, his hands moved with precise, practiced gestures. He channeled his mana carefully, initiating the movement of the nodes on the array. A faint hum resonated beneath him as the first nodes shifted, each one responding slowly at first, as if awakening from a deep slumber.
2 Second.
The nodes started moving more clearly now, resisting slightly as if rusted machinery finally turning its cogs.
They spun one by one, slow at the beginning, but gradually gaining momentum as Ash’s mana guided them with careful precision. Sparks of energy flickered along their edges, illuminating the array with faint, rhythmic pulses as it responded to his mental commands.
3 Seconds.
The nodes began to increase in speed, flowing along the path Ash had calculated. More than five moved simultaneously now, each one snapping into alignment with almost musical synchronization.
The process felt like watching a complex machine spring to life under a master’s control, every piece locking into place exactly where it should.
Their movement accelerated explosively, responding perfectly to Ash’s will, the nodes sliding into precise lines as if tracing invisible rails only he could see.
4 Second.
When the last node fell into position with a soft, metallic click, the array activated. Mana surged from within it like a contained storm breaking free, spiraling outward in bright threads of energy.
Ash vanished from his place, leaving only the faint hum of the now-active array behind him.
5 Seconds.
The world dissolved into swirling shades of violet and black, a familiar pressure twisting and folding around him, connecting and warping the space around his senses. The sensation was disorienting, a weight pressing against his chest and a vertigo that left his stomach queasy, yet he focused and remained calm.
Soon, the sensation vanished, and Ash appeared in a dark cave.
Small lamps were placed on either side, their flickering glow casting shadows that stretched unnaturally along the rough stone walls.
The dim light revealed the outline of the cave, enough to see the weapons pointed directly at him.
6 Seconds.
Ash had already expected something like this. He knew the weapons were not truly aimed at him but were reacting automatically to the array’s activation.
Perhaps a system had been triggered, designed to alert anyone in the vicinity when the array was disturbed without the key.
Two men held spears, their muscles tense under the dim glow of the lamps. Mechanisms that resembled guns and missile barrels were fixed towards him.
One of the men muttered as he pressed his watch, confirming Ash’s thoughts.
"There is no one here, damn it. You had me scared for a second there. The array must have malfunctioned. Call the damn array masters."
The men began arguing quietly, their voices low but sharp, tense with frustration. Ash ignored them, scanning the room carefully, noting the positions of the guards and the subtle hum of the automated devices.
7 Seconds.
He did not move but teleported again, sliding silently through the cave toward the exit. From this vantage point, the light at the end of the tunnel was visible, a promise of open air and freedom.
Within two precise teleports, he appeared outside the cave, landing softly on the uneven ground without disturbing a thing.
8 Seconds.
And a whole new world unfolded before him.
Damnation!!!
That was the only word that echoed in his mind as he took in the sight in front of him
***
What Ash witnessed was not some petty criminal organization, but rather a whole underground city that seemed to stretch endlessly before him.
Lanterns hung from ropes stretched high above, their flames swaying in the draft and casting uneven light across the crowded path below. The damp stone floor gleamed faintly, slick from moisture dripping down the jagged walls, and each uneven step echoed with the shuffle of boots and the low hum of voices.
Stalls pressed tightly against one another, their patched canvas roofs sagging under the weight of smoke and dust.
The displays were cluttered but rich with temptation. Piles of exotic fruit glowed like jewels in the firelight, jars of strange powders sparkled faintly as if alive, and rows of weapons gleamed with a sharpness.
In one corner, a butcher hacked at slabs of meat while steam rose from cauldrons nearby, filling the air with the thick, clashing scents of spice, grease, and iron.
The crowd moved in constant motion, cloaks pulled close, faces hidden behind masks or scarves.
Conversations came in quick, clipped exchanges, whispers drowned by the rattle of coins and the sharp crack of deals being made.
A man slipped a pouch of gold across the counter, while another vanished into the shadows with a bundle wrapped too tightly to reveal.
Nothing here lingered. Nothing here was safe.
Above it all, the cavern stretched into layers of stone walkways and bridges, where watchers leaned against railings, their eyes catching the lantern glow for only a moment before vanishing back into the dark.
They stood like vultures, observing the crowd below.
9 seconds.
In a single sweep, Ash took it all in, every shadow, every movement, every flicker of light, and his gut told him the truth.
What the hell is Black Market doing here.....?
The realization hit like a sudden chill running down his spine, sharp and undeniable.
10 seconds.
There was no time to linger. His invisibility would last only five more seconds. He teleported directly into one of the empty, shadowed streets, where darkness clung to the walls like a protective cloak.
11 seconds.
Appearing there, he immediately pulled a half black cat mask from his Soul Space and fitted it on his face. At the same time, a long black cloak draped itself over his shoulders, the hood pulled low.
The fabric was worn and frayed at the edges, softened from previous use, which was exactly the effect he wanted. Ash had prepared for all scenarios, and now he was glad he had. He carried more than ten cloaks, half new, half worn, like this one, each ready for a different situation.
12 seconds.
Ash waited until his concealment faded naturally, then stepped from the shadows and melted into the moving crowd.
His Absolute Concealment was not active, but it was unnecessary. Eyes naturally fell on him, but the Rune of Concealment in his body blocked any probing, leaving the gazes to vanish as if he had never been noticed.
People likely assumed he was stronger than they and returned to their own business.
This was normal here.
There were no rules in the Black Market.
Only one law existed: power and authority dictated everything.
He did not activate his concealment because it would do more harm than good. In a place packed with people, he was bound to cross into someone’s line of sight, and if they saw him but could not sense him, their curiosity would flare in unpredictable ways.
And that was the last thing he wanted.
Damn it, why is there a black market here...
It was not anger so much as annoyance born of hindsight.
The presence of the Black Market should not have surprised him; the Neutral Continent was exactly the kind of place that would attract one.
Even if the novel never mentioned it, that did not mean such a trade hub could not, or would not, exist here.
Logically, the Neutral Continent was a treasure trove.
Endless dungeons spilled monster cores, rare body parts, ancient herbs, veins of glimmering ores, and countless other commodities that could not be found anywhere else.
For everyone living in the neutral continent, the Black Market was the easiest and safest way to exchange such dangerous treasures. Anything worth value in this land inevitably passed through its shadowed halls, and the market made it possible to bypass the treacherous journeys that once crossed continents.
It was dangerous, chaotic, and utterly essential to survival and profit alike.
The market itself looked like something pulled from an old fantasy tale, with crooked wooden stalls, dangling lanterns swaying above crowded alleys, and lantern light reflecting off damp stone floors.
It was a living, breathing chaos, entirely opposite to the neat, modern fantasy bazaars he had witnessed.
He had once been to the black market in the human continent, and it was much more advanced than this one. Completely opposite would not be an understatement.
With no rules to hold anyone accountable, it felt like a volcano ready to erupt at any misstep, yet the trade ran smoothly on the surface because everyone knew who held the real power.
Whoever controlled the Black Market could banish a vendor, strip them of their livelihood, and force them to risk the dangerous borders and the massive Great Wall surrounding the Neutral Continent.
That alone ensured most crimes happened in shadows, executed with precision and silence.
If you committed a crime and were never caught, then in practice, it was as though nothing had happened.
Sigh, I should have realized it sooner...but it is even better that Black Market is here...
Ash’s lips curved into a slow, calculating smile.
His original plan had been simple: slip into the organization, steal treasures, and then leave unnoticed.
Now, however, the entire Black Market lay open before him, a chaotic trove of unimaginable riches.
The thought of what he could claim here made his pulse race and his body tingle with anticipation.
Each shadowed corner, each hidden stall, each whispered deal was a new opportunity, and the possibilities made his mind whirl with excitement.
My body is trembling just at the thought of what I will find in this place....
***