Alex turned around.
Rex.
Standing there.
Face dark.
Sneering.
"One month."
"Paid upfront."
Alex’s eye twitched.
This guy again.
"400 a day."
Alex said quickly.
Rex smirked.
"800."
"1000."
"1500!"
Rex slamd a card on the counter.
"AND—"
He pointed at the boss.
"I want to buy your most valuable treasure!"
"As a favor!"
The boss’s eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"REALLY!"
Rex pulled out five more cards.
Slamd them down.
"I’M BUYING THE WHOLE SHOP!"
"EVERYTHING IN IT!"
"NA YOUR PRICE!"
The boss stood up.
Excited.
Alex looked at the cards.
Then at Rex.
Then back at the cards.
...
This idiot.
This shop sells chamber pots.
Alex raised his hands.
"You win."
Turned around.
Walked out.
Rex laughed.
"THAT’S RIGHT!"
"RUN AWAY!"
"LOSER!"
Alex was already gone.
Not worth it.
Let him waste his money.
Alex walked down the street.
Still grinning.
Rex just bought a chamber pot collection.
Classic.
He passed a pretty girl.
Short skirt.
Long hair.
She smiled at him.
He nodded.
Kept walking.
Then—
He passed the sa girl again.
Sa spot.
Sa smile.
Alex stopped.
...
Wait.
He looked back.
She was gone.
He looked forward.
I walked straight.
In a line.
How...
His heart sank.
What’s going on?
He stood there.
Brain racing.
Then—
It hit him.
Rex.
How did Rex recognize ?
I’m wearing the bra mask.
My face is covered.
How did he know it was ?
His hands went cold.
Unless...
He looked around.
The street.
The stalls.
The people.
When did this start?
When did I enter this?
His breathing quickened.
Illusion.
This is an illusion.
Shit.
He started running.
Fast.
Down the street.
Turned left.
Sprinted.
Passed shops.
Stalls.
People.
Then—
Back at the sa spot.
The sa girl.
Smiling.
"No..."
He ran right.
Full speed.
Past the vendors.
The lights.
Everything.
Back to the sa spot.
No no no.
He tried another direction.
Sa result.
Every path.
Every turn.
Led back here.
Alex stopped.
Breathing hard.
Trapped.
He looked at the people.
Walking past.
Talking.
Laughing.
He reached out.
Grabbed soone’s shoulder.
"Hey—"
Poof.
They vanished.
Like smoke.
Gone.
Alex stumbled back.
He ran to another person.
Touched them.
Poof.
Disappeared.
He ran to the pretty girl.
"Help—"
Touched her arm.
Poof.
Gone.
Alex stood alone.
The street.
Empty now.
No people.
Just him.
Shit.
Shit shit shit.
The sky darkened.
Faster than natural.
Blue to gray.
Gray to black.
The lights.
One by one.
Started going out.
Click.
One stall’s lantern died.
Click.
Another.
Click.
Click.
Darkness spreading.
Like a wave.
Swallowing everything.
Alex’s heart pounded.
He looked around.
Trying to find an exit.
Any exit.
Then—
He heard it.
Footsteps.
Far away.
Slow.
Heavy.
Thud.
Thud.
Getting closer.
From the darkness.
Alex turned.
Stared into the black.
Couldn’t see anything.
But the footsteps.
Kept coming.
Thud.
Thud.
Closer.
Closer.
More lights went out.
The darkness closing in.
Only a small circle of light left.
Around Alex.
Getting smaller.
Thud.
Thud.
The footsteps.
Just outside the light now.
Alex could see movent.
In the shadows.
A shape.
Tall.
Very tall.
Moving toward him.
His hands shook.
What is that?
What the hell is that?
The last lights.
Started flickering.
Flicker.
Flicker.
The shape got closer.
Almost at the edge of the light.
Alex backed up.
But there was nowhere to go.
The circle was too small.
Thud.
One more step.
The thing was right there.
Just beyond the light.
Alex could feel it.
Watching him.
Waiting.
Then—
The last light.
Flicker.
Flicker.
Started to die.
"No..."
Alex whispered.
The light went out.
Complete darkness.
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps.
Right next to him.
Thud.
Alex couldn’t breathe.
Couldn’t move.
Sothing was there.
Right there.
In the dark.
With him.
Alex tried to summon his sli.
Reached for his system bag.
Nothing.
His eyes widened.
What?!
He tried again.
Focused hard.
Still nothing.
No connection.
No sli.
No inventory.
I can’t access anything!
Panic hit him.
Just my body.
Just physical strength.
That’s it.
He swallowed hard.
Looked at the shadow.
Tall.
Looming.
In the darkness.
Then—
Shing.
The shadow drew sothing.
A blade.
Massive.
Glowing faintly.
Blood dripping from it.
Drip.
Drip.
Alex’s heart dropped.
Fuck.
The shadow raised the blade.
Right then—
System notification.
[Three Options Available!]
[Option One: Who dares draw a blade before ?! Fight him head-on and teach him a lesson!]
Reward: dium spiritual power
[Option Two: Kneel and beg for rcy. Say you’ll do anything he wants if he spares you.]
Reward: Sli skill "Charge" 1
[Option Three: Use ANY ans necessary to attract backup!]
Reward: Sli "Gigantification" 1!
Alex’s eyes scanned.
Option One?
Are you insane?
I can’t even use my sli!
Option Two?
KNEEL?!
Never!
His eyes locked on Option Three.
Attract attention...
ANY ans...
Fuck it.
He loves "any ans!"
He took a deep breath.
He turned.
RAN.
Full sprint.
And—
Started screaming.
"OOH OOH AH AH!"
Monkey sounds.
"SQUAWK SQUAWK!"
Bird sounds.
"OW! WOOF! MOO!"
Every animal he could think of.
Loud.
Very loud.
Running and screaming.
Behind him—
The footsteps got faster.
THUD THUD THUD!
Chasing.
Alex kept screaming.
"ROAR! RIBBIT! BAAAA!"
Ran left.
Ran right.
The blade.
WHOOSH!
Passed by his neck.
Missed by inches.
Alex ducked.
Still screaming.
"QUACK QUACK! NEIGH!"
WHOOSH!
The blade again.
Right past his ear.
Alex zigzagged.
"HISS! CHIRP! OINK!"
His voice getting hoarse.
But he kept going.
The shadow right behind him.
So close.
WHOOSH!
Blade scraped his shoulder.
Alex stumbled.
"ELEPHANT NOISE!"
He didn’t even know what sound that was.
Just yelled.
Outside the illusion.
The chamber pot shop.
The boss stood over a bed.
Alex lying there.
Eyes closed.
Unconscious.
The boss held a knife.
Transparent.
Glowing.
Spiritual blade.
He smiled.
Raised it.
Aid at Alex’s forehead.
"Finally..."
"A wanted boy’s soul and body..."
"Worth so much..."
He brought the knife down—
Alex’s eyes shot open.
Grabbed the boss’s wrist.
"OOH OOH AH AH!"
Still making animal sounds.
Eyes wild.
Thrashing.
Rolling off the bed.
Boss stumbled back.
"What—"
Alex on his feet.
Eyes still closed.
Flailing.
"SQUAWK! MOO! RIBBIT!"
Crashed into furniture.
Knocked over chamber pots.
CRASH!
Loud.
Very loud.
Outside—
People turned.
"What’s that noise?"
"Soone in trouble?"
Boss’s face went white.
No no no!
He raised the blade again.
Rushed at Alex.
Faster.
But Alex—
Still flailing wildly.
Dodged by accident.
"WOOF WOOF!"
Crashed into more pots.
CRASH! BANG!
Even louder.
Boss gritted his teeth.
Aid again—
WHOOSH.
A figure appeared.
In the shop.
Instant.
One hand.
Grabbed the boss’s throat.
Lifted him.
Wilson.
Eyes cold.
Sharp.
"Grade 8..."
His voice low.
"And you dare do this?"
"Soul extraction?"
He squeezed.
Boss gasped.
Couldn’t breathe.
"Who sent you?"
Boss’s face turned purple.
Shaking his head.
Can’t speak.
Wilson’s other hand.
Changed.
Beca translucent.
Ethereal.
Reached forward.
Passed through the boss’s chest.
Like mist.
Boss’s eyes went wide.
"Really?"
Wilson’s voice colder.
"You won’t say?"
He squeezed.
Slightly.
Boss scread.
Silent scream.
No sound ca out.
His face twisted.
Pain.
Pure pain.
"Last chance."
Wilson’s eyes.
Glowed faintly.
"Who."
"Sent."
"You."
Boss’s mouth opened.
Trying to speak.
But—
His lips moved.
No words.
Eyes filled with terror.
Not refusing.
Can’t speak.
Wilson saw it.
"Ah."
"A binding curse."
Wilson’s hand still gripped the heart.
He looked at the boss.
Then at Alex.
Still flailing.
Still screaming animal sounds.
"I’ll take you in."
Wilson said coldly.
"City Hall has ways."
"To break binding curses."
"You’ll talk."
"One way or another."
He started pulling the boss toward the door.
The boss’s eyes.
Went wide.
Wider.
Terror.
Pure terror.
Not just fear.
Horror.
His body started shaking.
Violently.
Tears stread down his face.
Snot running.
Sobbing.
"No..."
He choked out.
"No... please..."
"They’ll... they’ll..."
Wilson frowned.
"They’ll what?"
The boss’s pupils dilated.
His whole body convulsed.
"I’m sorry..."
He whispered.
"I’m so sorry..."
Then—
His eyes went black.
Completely black.
No whites.
Just darkness.
Wilson’s expression changed.
"No—"
BOOM!
The boss exploded.
Not blood.
Not flesh.
Black mist.
Thick.
Dark.
Like ink in water.
It burst outward.
Wilson jumped back.
Released him.
The mist swirled.
Gathered.
Ford a cloud.
The boss’s body.
Gone.
Nothing left.
Just the black smoke.
It hung there.
For a mont.
Then—
Shot upward.
Through the roof.
Like a rocket.
Into the night sky.
Wilson stood there.
Watching it go.
His face dark.
"Suicide curse."
The mist disappeared.
Into the darkness above.
Gone.
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