Greed filled the eyes of the Slave Hunters standing at the cave entrance. They had witnessed Vikram swallow that golden drop, but they didn't have the slightest clue what Vikram had just acquired.
Vikram scanned his system.
[WARNING: Information regarding the 'Origin-Source Gene' is Top Secret. There is no record of it in the Alliance or Spirits databases. You have discovered this only through a rare coincidence.]
Vikram's heart raced. "So that's it. These people think I consumed a 'Mutant' or 'Sacred-Blood' gene. They have no idea that this is the 'Fifth Element'—the true key to becoming a God. This secret must die with me."
Just then, a burly man emerged from the group of hunters. He was wearing a hideous armor painted in gold. On his back hung a cheap plastic cape.
"Hey, boy!" the man roared. "I am Dollar! The new God of this region. I will rip out the treasure you just swallowed, and that little 'Gun Girl' of yours will be mine too."
Vikram couldn't help but laugh. "This imposter? He is a stain on the name of Dollar."
The fake Dollar signaled his cohorts. "Kill him!"
Dozens of hunters charged at Vikram with weapons drawn.
"Spell," Vikram said in a calm voice. "Commence the cleanup operation."
Spell's (Gun Girl) eyes glowed with blue light. She raised both her Hand Cannons.
Bang-bang-bang-bang!
Her guns fired with machine-like precision. Blue energy bullets tore through the hunters' armor like paper. Chaos and screams filled the cave.
"That girl is a Mutant! Watch out!" the fake Dollar screamed.
Amidst the chaos, Vikram decided to test his new power. He activated the ability granted by the 'Origin-Source Gene'—'Void Walk.'
He didn't need to enter 'God Mode.' He simply took a step forward and dissolved into the shadows.
The next moment, he appeared in the middle of the crowd of hunters, yet no one even noticed him. He moved through them like the breeze.
Slash!
Vikram's dagger sliced across a hunter's neck, and he teleported away immediately, before the blood could even hit the ground.
[Void Walk Successful. Energy Consumption: Very Low.]
Vikram's eyes lit up. "This is amazing. The God Body consumes a lot of energy, but this 'Void Walk' allows me to fight for hours without tiring."
Walking through the shadows, he appeared directly behind the fake Dollar.
The fake Dollar was still yelling, "Where did that boy go? Find him!"
"Looking for someone?" Vikram whispered in his ear.
The fake Dollar jumped in fright and spun around. "You... how did you get here?"
Vikram ran a finger over the man's gold-painted armor. The paint was peeling off.
"Cheap knock-off," Vikram scoffed. "If you want to imitate Dollar, at least use real gold."
The fake Dollar turned red with rage. "I'll show you real power!" He hoisted a massive axe and swung it at Vikram.
Vikram didn't move from his spot. He used his 'Coin Technique' again, but this time without God Mode. He formed an invisible coin with his energy and affixed it to the fake Dollar's axe.
[Increase Weight: 1000 kg]
Suddenly, the fake Dollar's arms buckled. The weight of the axe increased so drastically that he couldn't control it. The axe crashed down onto his own foot.
Crack!
"Arghhhh!" The fake Dollar screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground.
The remaining hunters were stunned. Their boss, whom they considered a 'God,' had been taken down in a single move.
"Run! This boy is a monster!"
The hunters tried to flee for their lives, but Spell didn't let them go. Her precise marksmanship left no one a chance to escape the cave.
Within minutes, silence fell over the cave.
Vikram walked over to the fake Dollar, who was groaning in pain.
"Spare me..." the fake Dollar pleaded. "I only wore this armor to intimidate people. I thought the name of Dollar would make them easy to scare."
Vikram snatched his 'Space Bag.'
"There is a price for borrowing Dollar's name," Vikram said coldly. "And that price is everything you own."
He checked the bag. It contained plenty of 'Ordinary' and 'Primitive' Gene Solutions. This was a treasure trove for Vikram.
"Spell, let's move out," Vikram said, turning away.
But just then, a voice crackled from the fake Dollar's broken communicator.
"Hello? Unit 4, come in! Did you find that 'Old Man' who escaped from the mine? The Auction starts in one hour. If you don't bring him in, the Duke will kill us!"
Vikram froze.
"Old man?" Vikram turned back and grabbed the fake Dollar by the throat. "Which old man are they talking about? Is his name Acharya Yu?"
The fake Dollar began to tremble. "Y-Yes... that was the name. He was trying to escape the Auction House, but the Duke's men caught him. He's being sold tonight in the 'VIP Auction' as a Rare Item because he possesses knowledge of Ancient Gene Arts."
Vikram clenched his fist.
"Spell," Vikram looked at his Gun Girl. "Gear up. Tonight, we are going shopping."
Vikram knew that the auction would be attended by the city's most powerful people—Lady Scarlet, the Duke, and perhaps Lords from other cities. Going there was akin to walking into the jaws of death.
But now he had the 'Origin-Source Gene' and 'Spell.' And most importantly—the city needed a real Dollar.