A New Edge

Kalem stood there, his chest rising and falling with each breath, **adrenaline still surging through his veins.** He looked down at the dagger in his hand—its **edge still faintly glowing** before cooling down to its regular metallic sheen. 

*"I was never this skilled before,"* he muttered to himself, flexing his fingers around the hilt. 

Every movement he had made in that fight had been **sharp, precise—almost instinctual.** His body had reacted before his mind could catch up, **every dodge, every strike executed like second nature.** 

*Must be some kind of bonus power from ShuShu.* 

His eyes flicked toward **Max, who was still groaning on the ground.** The info broker clutched his ribs, **his ugly grin from earlier now replaced by sheer panic.** 

Kalem crouched down and **grabbed him by the collar.** "Alright, whatever your name is," he said, his voice low and firm. "Transfer **everything** you and your buddies have. Now." 

Max swallowed hard, his hands shaking as he fumbled with his **wrist-bound datapad.** His fingers danced across the holographic interface, inputting a series of commands. A moment later, **Kalem's own datapad vibrated.** 

**Transaction complete.** 

Kalem took a quick glance at the amount—**not bad, but not great either.** Still, it was **more than enough** to cover some short-term expenses. 

"Good boy," he said, before swiftly **slamming his fist into Max's temple.** The info broker's eyes rolled back, and he **collapsed onto the alley floor, unconscious.** 

Kalem didn't waste time. He dragged Max and his two goons over to a **rusted metal grate** at the edge of the alley. With a grunt, he pried it open, revealing the **dark, putrid waters of the underground sewer system.** 

A small smirk played on his lips as **memories flooded back**—memories of a **close call in these very sewers**, when he was just another street rat trying to stay alive. 

*"Almost died down there once,"* he muttered, tossing the unconscious bodies into the muck below. 

The sewer **swallowed them whole**, the only sound being the faint splash of their landing. **They'd wake up in filth.** Fitting. 

Sliding the grate back into place, Kalem dusted off his hands and turned toward the city streets. 

**Next stop—Selena.**

------------------------------------------------------------

Kalem slipped into the old arcade, keeping his **hood low and his steps light.** The place was quiet—**too quiet.** The usual flickering neon lights, the nostalgic hum of retro machines, the faint chiptune melodies—all **gone.** Instead, darkness loomed in the space, broken only by the faint glow of a single exit sign near the back. 

His muscles tensed. Something was off. 

He moved carefully through the stillness, navigating past old consoles and dusty cabinets before stopping at the **back room door.** He rapped his knuckles against the metal **in a familiar rhythmic pattern.** 

Then he waited. 

And waited. 

Seconds stretched into a minute. 

Kalem's mind began **spinning with possibilities.** Was Selena in trouble? Had someone gotten to her before him? Was this a trap? 

He was just about to reach for his dagger when **the door cracked open.** 

Light spilled out, **warm and unexpected.** And then— 

**Selena.** 

Kalem's thoughts **short-circuited.** 

The Selena he knew—**the hoodie-wearing, energy drink-chugging, keyboard warrior with unbrushed hair—was gone.** 

Instead, **standing before him was a woman who looked like she had just stepped out of a high-end club.** 

A sleek, **form-fitting black dress hugged her curves,** her toned legs visible beneath the slit in the fabric. Her **usual glasses were gone, replaced by subtle eyeliner and striking golden eyes.** Her lips, usually caught in a mischievous smirk, were now **painted a soft crimson.** 

She blushed, folding her arms as she leaned against the doorframe. **"Took you long enough."** 

Kalem blinked. Then blinked again. 

His brain was still buffering. 

Selena's lips twitched into a knowing smile. **"Oh? What's this? The great Kalem at a loss for words?"** 

Finally snapping out of it, Kalem cleared his throat, trying—and **failing**—to act nonchalant. **"You... uh, you expecting someone?"** 

Selena's blush deepened for just a second before she **tilted her head, grinning.** "Maybe. **Maybe not.**" 

She stepped aside, motioning for him to come in. "Well? You gonna stand there drooling, or are you coming inside?" 

Kalem **rubbed the back of his neck** before stepping into the room, **enthralled and completely oblivious** to the fact that Selena had been **waiting for him.**