Chapter 14: The Underworld

The smell of oil, rust, and rot filled the air as Adam and Monica made their way through the narrow alley. The dim light from a few flickering streetlights barely illuminated their path, casting long shadows on the crumbling buildings that lined the streets. The city had once been a bustling metropolis, a place where people thrived and hopes ran high. Now, it was a wasteland. The remains of the past, scattered across the decaying streets, served as a stark reminder of how quickly everything could unravel.

Adam's eyes scanned the environment with military precision, his senses heightened from his earlier battle with the mutated zombies. His body still throbbed from the exertion, but the system was doing its best to heal him. His mind, however, was focused on the next objective. He had one goal in mind: the underground market.

The underground market, a network of shady deals, black-market traders, and power-hungry opportunists, was infamous among survivors. It was where you could find almost anything—if you were willing to pay the price. Weapons, food, medical supplies, and even information about the powerful energy crystals Adam had been hunting for. If he wanted to grow stronger, he needed to find this market, get the crystals, and—hopefully—gather more knowledge about how to upgrade his system.

But Adam knew better than to walk into the market without a plan. This place wasn't just a marketplace—it was a battlefield, and the dealers were just as dangerous as the monsters that roamed the streets above.

"Keep your eyes open," Adam muttered to Monica, his voice low but firm. "This place is crawling with people who'd sell their own mother for a couple of cans of food. Don't trust anyone."

Monica gave him a knowing look. "I know. I've dealt with scum like this before."

They reached a rusted steel door at the end of the alley. A single guard, a man with a weathered face and a scar running down his cheek, stood blocking their way. He was armed with a crude rifle, the kind of weapon that looked more like a makeshift tool than an actual firearm. His eyes narrowed as they approached.

"What do you want?" the guard grunted, his hand resting on the trigger.

"We're looking for the market," Adam replied coolly. "We've got supplies to trade."

The guard sized them up, his eyes lingering on Adam for a moment longer than necessary. There was something calculating in his gaze. Then, without a word, he gestured toward the door, stepping aside.

"You've got two minutes," the guard said gruffly. "After that, you're on your own."

Adam nodded, his grip tightening around the machete at his side. He didn't trust this place. Didn't trust anyone who made their living off the desperation of others.

The door creaked open, revealing a dark stairwell that led down into the depths of the city's underbelly. The moment they stepped inside, the temperature seemed to drop, and the stench of human sweat, decay, and stale air hit them like a wall.

They descended, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls as they made their way deeper into the earth. It was a far cry from the chaos of the surface, but it felt just as dangerous. The flickering light from a few overhead bulbs barely illuminated the long corridor ahead. As they walked, they passed by several makeshift stalls, each one manned by a variety of individuals—some human, some mutated, all with one thing in common: they were desperate.

"Keep moving," Adam whispered, glancing over his shoulder to ensure they weren't being followed.

Monica nodded, her eyes scanning every figure they passed. The last thing they needed was to be caught off guard in this labyrinth of shadow and deceit.

The deeper they went, the more the place felt like a living organism—alive with greed, fear, and violence. They passed by a woman haggling with a dealer over a container of water, a scrawny man trying to sell what looked like a broken radio, and a couple of heavily armed men negotiating over a crate of canned food.

"Welcome to the underworld," Monica muttered darkly. "It's worse than I remember."

Adam didn't respond. His mind was elsewhere, focused on finding the one person who could help him acquire what he needed: Professor Lee. The man was a walking encyclopedia of information, a former scientist who had managed to survive the chaos by peddling knowledge about the virus, the crystals, and the mutations. If there was anyone who could help him upgrade his powers, it was him.

They reached the far end of the corridor, where a large steel door stood. Two men stood guard, their faces hidden behind masks, the kind you'd wear if you were trying to stay anonymous in a world where secrets could kill you.

Adam approached cautiously. "We need to see Professor Lee."

The guards exchanged a brief glance, then stepped aside without a word. One of them opened the door, revealing a large room filled with shelves stacked high with strange contraptions, jars of unknown substances, and piles of documents scattered across tables. In the center of the room stood Professor Lee, a middle-aged man with thinning hair and sharp, calculating eyes. He was hunched over a desk, scribbling notes in a book as if nothing had changed in the world above.

When he looked up and saw Adam and Monica, he smiled faintly, as though he had been expecting them.

"Ah, the survivors. I wondered when you'd come," Professor Lee said, his voice smooth but laced with an undercurrent of something else—something darker.

Adam's eyes narrowed. "We need information on how to upgrade our abilities. Specifically, about the energy crystals and the mutations."

Professor Lee set down his pen and stood up, his eyes glinting with interest. "I have what you need. But, of course, nothing in this world comes for free."

Adam didn't flinch. "How much?"

Professor Lee chuckled, his smile widening. "You're in my world now, my friend. The question isn't how much—it's what you're willing to give up to get it."

The hairs on the back of Adam's neck stood up. There was something about the way the professor spoke that didn't sit right with him. This man wasn't just a source of information—he was a manipulator. And Adam would have to play the game carefully if he wanted to come out of this unscathed.