The ballroom held its breath. The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of ozone and ancient iron. Behind Omar, the shadows began to solidify, twisting into a towering figure that defied the laws of physics.
Kaelen stepped out of the darkness. The seven-foot specter didn't just stand there; his presence forced the high-ranking hunters in the room to their knees. The mana-pressure was suffocating.
"Master," Kaelen's voice was a guttural growl that vibrated through the floorboards. "Shall I reap their souls?"
"Not yet," Omar replied, his hands tucked calmly in his pockets. "Only the ones who don't know how to bid."
The Auctioneer panicked. "Fire! Kill them both!"
Five Shadow Market enforcers, hidden in the balcony, unleashed a barrage of mana-bullets. The glowing projectiles hissed through the air, aimed directly at Omar's head.
Omar didn't even blink. Kaelen moved with a speed that blurred reality. He didn't use a shield; he simply swung his massive, mana-infused greatsword in a circular arc. The 'Spectral Blacksmithing' skill he had learned from the Dwarves allowed the blade to absorb the mana-bullets, feeding the violet flames of his armor.
"My turn," Kaelen whispered.
With a single stomp, a wave of violet fire erupted from the stage, racing across the floor. It didn't burn the furniture, but it deactivated every piece of electronic and magical tech in the room. The MK-1 Mana-Disruptor—the Shadow Market's prize—shattered into pieces of useless scrap metal.
The room was plunged into chaos. The elites scrambled for the exits, but the doors were frozen shut by a thin layer of spectral frost.
Omar stepped toward the Auctioneer, who was trembling behind his podium. "Tell your masters in Europe that Casablanca is no longer an open market. From now on, every mana-infused item sold in this country must bear the seal of the Infinite Realm Emporium."
Omar reached out and grabbed the Elixir of Perfect Clarity from his briefcase. He held it up for everyone to see. "This elixir is a gift to the person who can tell me where the Shadow Market's main 'Portal Mine' is located. Who wants to live long enough to use it?"
Before anyone could answer, the ceiling of the ballroom exploded.
A figure descended through the dust, landing with a heavy thud on the stage. He was dressed in a sleek, white combat suit with a glowing katana strapped to his back.
[Warning! High-Level Threat Detected!]
[Name: Kenji 'The Blade of Lyon'.]
[Rank: A+ Assassin (Shadow Market Executive).]
[Current Status: Ready to Kill.]
"You talk too much, little merchant," Kenji said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. He drew his blade, and the air around him seemed to sharpen. "The Emporium dies tonight."
Omar felt the 60-second timer for Kaelen's presence outside the shop ticking down. [15 seconds remaining].
"Kaelen, take him," Omar commanded.
The two giants clashed—the spectral knight of the old world against the high-tech assassin of the new world. The shockwave of their first strike shattered every window in the ballroom.
Omar used the distraction to slip toward Laila, who was already fighting off two guards. "Laila! The Void-Grenade I took from the agents... use it to blow the back wall! We need an exit before the city's security forces arrive!"
"What about you?" Laila shouted over the sound of clashing steel.
Omar looked back at the fight. Kenji was fast, but Kaelen was a force of nature. "I have a shop to run. And I think I just found my next 'Premium' customer."
[System: Hidden Condition Met!]
[You have engaged an A-Rank Executive.]
[New Feature Unlocked: 'The Merchant's Contract of Forfeiture' — If you defeat an enemy, you can claim their skills as inventory!]
Omar's eyes gleamed with greed and determination. He didn't just want to survive; he wanted to put Kenji on the shelf.