The argument in the middle of the obsidian walkway was growing louder by the second. Two hooded Crystos stood barely three feet apart, auras flaring dangerously. The taller one — a man with a jagged scar across his left cheek and a glowing red crystal shard embedded in his right palm — clutched a rolled-up parchment in his fist. The shorter one, a woman with silver streaks in her dark hair and wind-manipulation crystals humming around her wrists, had her hand raised, small gusts already swirling around her fingers.
"You cheated me!" the man roared, voice echoing off the purple crystal ceiling. "That map was mine by right! I dove the Mariana Trench for three weeks to get the clue that led to this!"
The woman laughed bitterly. "Right? You lost the bid fair and square in the last auction. This map shows the location of the Void Heart Crystal — one of the rarest echoes left in the deep. Whoever finds it first gets power that even the top Crystos organizations would kill for. And now it's mine."
The man stepped closer, the red shard in his palm flaring brighter. "Hand it over or I'll burn this entire walkway down."
Kairos stood a safe distance away, arms crossed, the Space Bag slung lightly over his shoulder. He watched the scene with quiet interest, gray eyes flicking between the two fighters and the rolled parchment. The map looked ancient — edges frayed, ink glowing faintly with aether veins. Even from here he could feel something powerful radiating from it.
The interface suddenly lit up in his vision — clean, silent, and completely invisible to everyone else.
[Anomaly Detected — Rare Cartographic Echo]
[Map contains precise coordinates to an undiscovered high-tier crystal shard: "Void Heart Crystal."]
[Copying data…]
[Map Copy Successful. Location now stored in your Archive. No one will know.]
Kairos blinked. Once. Twice.
He looked at the two fighters still shouting at each other.
Then back at the glowing interface text.
Then back at the fighters.
Then back at the interface again.
His head actually tilted slightly like a confused puppy.
The interface stayed perfectly still, as if waiting for him to process the sheer audacity of what had just happened.
Kairos rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath in pure disbelief.
"Let them fight," he said softly to himself, a small amused smile tugging at his lips. "What's it to me? They can tear each other apart for that paper. I already have the coordinates."
He turned and started walking away casually, boots clicking on the obsidian floor, the new short-sword at his hip swaying gently. The argument behind him grew even louder — now with actual sparks flying as the man's fire crystal ignited and the woman's wind gusts pushed back.
Kairos shook his head, still smiling.
After a few steps he glanced sideways at the floating interface and asked in a low, genuinely curious voice,
"You have a copy skill too? Seriously?"
The interface pulsed once, almost proudly.
[Affirmative. Map Copy is a basic function of the Genesis Archive at Level 1. I can duplicate any non-living data I scan within range.]
Kairos raised an eyebrow, still walking.
"Level 1? So it's weak right now?"
[Correct. At higher levels I may be able to copy living abilities, memories, even crystal bonds. But that requires significant quest progress and resonance growth.]
Kairos let out a low whistle, grinning to himself like a kid who just found out his toy had cheat codes.
"Mere paas to bahut achhi cheez aa gayi yar…"
He kept walking, the purple crystal veins above pulsing in time with his steps. The fight noises faded behind him. After another ten seconds he spoke again, half-laughing.
"Alright, since you're showing off new tricks… give me a quest. Something useful."
The interface paused dramatically for two full seconds — as if pretending to think.
[Very well. Since you're insisting so much… I will grant you one.]
A new window unfolded, glowing softly.
[New Quest: Date Night Directive]
[Objective: Take Aria Voss on a proper date today. Location and activity will be guided. Make it memorable.]
[Reward: +12% Resonance Unlock | Emotional Insight Fragment | Veil Alliance Advancement]
Kairos stopped dead in his tracks.
He stared at the text.
Then looked around the underground market — hooded figures, glowing stalls, purple crystal ceiling.
"Bro… right now? Aria isn't even here."
The interface flashed again — this time with a clearly amused tone.
[Look ahead, genius.]
Kairos turned his head slowly.
And there she was.
Standing at the end of the walkway, bathed in the soft purple glow of the market's ceiling crystals, was Aria Voss.
She looked completely different from the elegant leader he had met at the terrace. Tonight she wore a stunning midnight-black dress that hugged her figure perfectly — sleeveless, with delicate silver threads running through the fabric like frozen starlight. A thin silver mask covered the upper half of her face, leaving only her striking violet eyes visible. Her raven hair cascaded freely down her back, catching the purple light in soft waves. The mask gave her an air of mystery, but the moment their eyes met, he knew it was her.
The same graceful posture. The same faint jasmine scent that somehow reached him even across the walkway. The same small, knowing smile playing on her lips beneath the mask.
Kairos felt his heart skip a single beat.
Aria took one step forward, the silver threads on her dress shimmering.
To be continued...