The alley leading to the Dimensional Experience Center had begun to lose its usual stillness. Though Astoria's golden sun continued to pour its hellish heat onto the rooftops, a cold breeze—strange and illogical—seeped from beneath the door of Leon's shop.
Inside, Leon sat behind his counter, sipping the last of his Ashen Tea. His senses, now honed to the "Rank 1 Apprentice" level, alerted him to a rhythmic clanging approaching; the sound of heavy metal and military footsteps that knew no hesitation.
[System Alert: Entity "Baros" has arrived. Power Level: High Warrior – Rank 4. Status: Hostile/Investigative.]
The door swung open violently, and a massive man encased in full silver plate armor, bearing the crest of the "Radiant Guard," stepped inside. Behind him stood two soldiers, shivering—not from fear, but from the sudden drop in temperature within the shop. Baros, the captain known for his iron-fisted rule in the Fourth Sector, looked around with disdain.
"Are you the whelp selling illusions?" Baros roared, his booming voice vibrating the shop's glass. "One of my warriors, a man named Cale, came to me trembling, babbling about a 'demon with a hammer' and a 'refreshing death.' Are you using black magic to drug the minds of my soldiers?"
Leon didn't budge. Thanks to the "Host Protection" system, he felt none of the spiritual pressure Baros was attempting to impose. "Captain Baros, welcome. In my shop, we do not sell drugs, nor do we practice black magic. We sell 'Truth'—the kind Astoria hides behind this deceptive light."
"Truth?" Baros laughed mockingly, taking a step that made the floorboards groan. "I am a Rank 4 Warrior; I have slain beasts you haven't even seen in your nightmares. What truth could a boy like you possibly show me?"
Leon pointed coldly toward the metallic capsule. "This machine is your gateway to the world of Lordran. If you are confident in your armor and rank, then step inside. One hour for 10 magic stones. If you emerge and claim I am a fraud, I will close the shop and hand you the keys."
Baros hesitated for a moment. His pride urged him to crush this boy, but curiosity—and that chilling scent emanating from the machine—was stronger. He tossed a pouch of stones onto the table and sat with arrogance. "I will enter. But remember... if this is a mere trick, I will have your head before you even blink."
Deep Within Lordran: The Fall of Pride
The moment darkness enveloped Baros's consciousness, he felt not fear, but rage. "Where am I? What kind of illusion is this?"
He opened his eyes to find himself in a dismal stone cell. Looking down at his body, he let out a roar of fury; his shimmering silver armor was gone, replaced by a tattered shirt and pale skin. The immense strength that allowed him to shatter boulders had vanished completely.
"This is impossible! My magic... my spiritual energy!" He tried to summon a "Light Burst," but his hand produced nothing but a cold tremor.
Baros stormed out of the cell in a frenzy. When he encountered the first "Hollow," he tried to engage with bare fists. "I am Baros! Commander of the Fourth Sector!" he shouted, throwing a punch.
But the monster cared nothing for his rank. The rusted sword pierced his abdomen, and Baros felt a pain he hadn't experienced in twenty years. A pain that was real, cold, and humiliating.
[YOU DIED]
He woke up at the Bonfire, trembling. It was the first time Baros had ever felt "helpless." "This place... it strips you of everything but your soul," he muttered, staring at his shaking hands.
Baros advanced again, but this time with caution. His ancient warrior instincts began to awaken—not as a dominant force, but as prey trying to survive. When he reached the Asylum Demon's courtyard, his jaw dropped in shock. The beast Cale had described stood before him; its hammer looked like a mountain about to collapse upon him.
Baros died 20 times in the first half-hour. He was crushed, stabbed, and tossed aside like a ragdoll. With each return, his arrogance eroded, and in its place, a new "Insight" emerged. He began to realize that his movements in Astoria were "flashy" and unnecessary, and that true power lay in "Timing" and "Composure."
Return to Reality: The Birth of a New Ally
The hour ended. The capsule hissed open, and Captain Baros emerged. He did not come out shouting or threatening; he was utterly silent. His hair was disheveled and his face pale, but his eyes shone with a terrifying clarity.
Baros stood up, and his two soldiers rushed toward him in panic. "Sir! Are you alright? Shall we arrest this boy?"
Baros raised his hand, and the soldiers fell silent instantly. He looked at his palms, closed his eyes, and inhaled the shop's cold air. Suddenly, mana erupted from his body—but it wasn't the chaotic golden mana from before. It was now denser, shimmering with a silver hue, and seemed to "press" against the room with twice the intensity.
"Sir... your energy... it has surged?" one soldier stammered in awe.
Baros turned toward Leon. Instead of drawing his sword, he inclined his head slightly—a sign of respect he had never shown to anyone but the Emperor.
"Owner... I apologize for my ignorance," Baros said in a deep, steady voice. "This place... Lordran... is no illusion. It is a mirror that shows you how foolish and weak you are under that false light."
Baros pulled out three additional magic stones and placed them on the table. "Give me that tea Rakan spoke of. I need to stabilize what I have seen today."
Leon poured the tea coolly, as if he had expected this outcome. "Of course, Captain. Lordran is not unfair to anyone; it simply rearranges our souls."
Baros sipped the tea, feeling tranquility flow through his veins. "Listen well, lad. I will send you the elite of my men tomorrow. And anyone who tries to disturb your shop will have to answer to my blade first."
Baros exited the shop with confident strides, leaving his two soldiers in a state of bewilderment.
[System Alert: You have gained the protection of the "City Guard." Reputation reached: Upper Class. 'VIP Room' opening soon.]
Leon smiled as he cleaned the cup. "Captain Baros has become our first 'Patron'... Now, let's see how the noble families react when they hear their ruthless commander has bowed to a boy in the Alley of Oblivion."