The Black Merchant[2]

The clash of swords against the iron claws of the beast sparked light in the dark as Ryo and Jin moved in harmony, a dance of death choreographed to perfection. Every step was calculated, every strike executed with lethal precision.

Jin (rushing toward the creature): "Ryo! This thing moves faster than I expected!"

Ryo (calmly): "Watch its movements carefully. It reacts more than it attacks. We have a chance!"

The beast, a hybrid of a dragon and serpent, let out a thunderous roar that shook the underground market. Purple energy emanated from its body, making the air heavy and their movements sluggish.

System (sharply): "Warning: Hostile energy intensifying. Risk of injury is high!"

Ryo (murmuring): "I know… no need to remind me."

Ryo stepped back, observing the creature intently, his eyes narrowing as if seeing what others could not.

Ryo (confidently): "Jin, watch its tail. That's its weakest point. Every time it uses its energy attack, its defense drops there."

Jin (wiping sweat from his brow): "So you want me to distract its head while you aim for the tail? As always, I'm the bait."

Ryo (with a faint smile): "No one does it better than you."

Jin rushed at the creature again, his strikes more forceful than before, though he knew the beast wasn't his real target. With each attack, he drove it away from Ryo, creating the opening they needed.

Jin (with a sarcastic shout): "Hurry up, Ryo! I don't want to be dinner tonight!"

Meanwhile, Ryo moved silently, his eyes fixed on the creature's tail. Every step was deliberate, as if dancing on the edge of a blade.

System: "Analysis: Chance of a successful surprise attack is 67%. Failure may result in severe injury."

Ryo (softly): "That's good enough for me."

While Jin kept the beast occupied, Ryo leaped high, using the shadows of the market as cover. In mid-air, he gathered all his strength into a single, focused strike.

Ryo (shouting): "Jin, now!"

Jin dodged the beast's final swipe, clearing the way for Ryo, who plunged his blade directly into the creature's tail. The beast let out a deafening screech, one that seemed to pierce the mind.

System: "Successful hit. Weak points exposed: 3."

Ryo (smirking): "Game over."

Despite its injuries, the beast refused to surrender. The purple energy around it began to swell dangerously, signaling an imminent destructive outburst.

System: "Warning: Hostile energy accumulating. Probability of a massive explosion: 89%."

Ryo (sharply): "Jin, get back!"

Jin immediately retreated but stayed within sight.

Jin (anxiously): "Ryo, don't do anything reckless!"

But Ryo had already decided. He charged toward the wounded creature, using every ounce of his remaining strength.

Ryo (calmly): "If you're going to explode, I'll make sure the damage is all yours."

Ryo drove his blade into the creature's final weak point. Just as it was about to detonate, the shadows around him surged, enveloping the explosion and containing it entirely.

System (in a neutral tone): "Complete absorption of hostile attack. User has sustained significant injury."

As the smoke cleared, Jin stood on the edges, scanning the wreckage for Ryo.

Jin (shouting): "Ryo! Where are you?"

From the debris, Ryo emerged, his steps slow and his shoulder bleeding. Despite this, his smile remained intact.

Ryo (with a smirk): "I told you, I don't die that easily."

Jin let out a short laugh before walking toward him.

Jin (seriously): "You keep taking these insane risks. One day, your luck will run out, Ryo."

Ryo (calmly): "If it means saving the day, I'll always take the risk."

With the fight over, the underground market lay in ruins, and the cult had suffered a significant blow. The boy, who had witnessed everything, approached Ryo timidly.

Boy (in a soft voice): "Thank you, Ryo… I never thought anyone would fight for me."

Ryo crouched down in front of him, placing a reassuring hand on his head.

Ryo (with a warm smile): "That's what I do. You have a new home with us now."

System (calmly): "Phase complete: Slave Market. Next mission: Uncover the cult's true roots."

As the night faded into a pale dawn, the aftermath of the battle was evident on everyone's faces. The ruins of the underground market groaned under the weight of destruction, and the scattered bodies bore silent witness to the brutality of the clash. But the heroes had no time to catch their breath.

Gathering After the Battle

Ryo, barely able to stand due to his deep wound, sat on a cracked boulder while Jin cleaned his sword. The young boy, his face still etched with fear, watched them in silence.

Jin (looking at Ryo with concern): "Ryo, we need to take care of your wound immediately. The bleeding won't stop if you keep moving."

Ryo (his voice low but steady): "There's no time to rest. The cult is still operating in the shadows. The underground market was just a front."

Boy (hesitantly): "But… didn't you destroy everything here?"

Ryo turned toward the boy, his eyes narrowing as if reading between the lines.

Ryo (calmly): "Not quite. These were just tools. The real hands pulling the strings are still out there. And we won't leave them be."

System (in a calm, robotic tone): "Alert: User experiencing acute fatigue. Energy levels critically low. Rest is advised to restore minimal combat efficiency."

Jin (mocking): "Finally, the system says something useful."

Ryo (with a faint smile): "Even the system's worried. I must really be in trouble."

System: "Note: Trouble that could result in loss of life."

Ryo (muttering): "I heard you."

Elsewhere, deep within a forest, a dilapidated mansion hidden among thick trees served as the cult's meeting place.

Shadow Leader (in a gravelly voice): "Sigor has failed, but this does not mark the end of our plans. The underground market was only the beginning. We have other operations spread across the empire."

Subordinate (anxiously): "But sir, Ryo… He's dangerous. He defeated Sigor and foiled our plans here. If he continues to interfere, he might bring everything down."

Shadow Leader (calmly, with an eerie tone): "If he's dangerous, we'll eliminate him. Send the messages. Gather the forces. Let's see how strong this 'hero' really is when faced with an army."

Ryo and Jin decided to head toward a small village rumored to house another cult base. The boy, now inseparable from Ryo since his rescue, silently followed them.

Jin (glancing at the boy): "Are you sure he should come with us? This isn't a place for a child."

Ryo (calmly): "He's already seen worse than any child should. Now, he's part of our lives, whether we like it or not."

Boy (hesitantly): "I'll be useful. I won't be a burden."

Ryo stopped and crouched down to meet the boy's gaze.

Ryo (with a warm smile): "You don't have to prove anything right now. Just stay close, and I'll handle the rest."

As they entered the small village, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. The villagers avoided the strangers, their eyes filled with fear.

Jin (in a low voice): "Something's off here. This place gives me the chills."

Ryo (observing the villagers): "The cult is here. I can feel it. We need to find their location before they make their move."

System: "Alert: Hostile energy levels increasing in the surrounding area. Probability of cult leaders being present: 78%."

Ryo (with a faint smirk): "Then we're in the right place."

As the heroes prepared to investigate the village and uncover the cult's schemes, shadows began to gather. Danger loomed closer, and time was running out.

System (in a calm tone): "Next mission: Confront the cult leaders. Warning: Survival not guaranteed."

Ryo (whispering): "It never was."