The wax statue of a giant dragon loomed over Kai, its surface shimmering under the midday sun of Little Garden. Mr. 3 stood behind his creation, his hands trembling as he poured every ounce of his stamina into the masterpiece.
"Die in the name of art!" Mr. 3 screamed, the wax dragon lunging forward with its massive jaws.
Kai didn't blink. He stepped into the dragon's shadow, his [Merchant's Domain] vibrating. He wasn't looking at the wax; he was looking at the thin, frayed thread of spirit connecting Mr. 3 to his creation.
[Skill Activated: Soul Severance.]
[Cost: 40 Soul Coins.]
Instead of striking the dragon, Kai threw his violet dagger with a horizontal spin. The blade didn't cut the wax—it cut through the air, trailing a wake of soul-consuming fire. The moment the blade passed through the 'Spirit Thread', the massive wax dragon turned from a deadly weapon into a pile of cold, lifeless sludge.
"My art... it's gone," Mr. 3 whispered, falling to his knees as the backlash of the severance hit his mind.
[Ding! Target 'Mr. 3' Spirit broken.]
[Harvestable Soul Value: 150 Soul Coins.]
Kai walked through the melting wax, his boots splashing in the white liquid. He stood over the defeated agent, his golden eyes reflecting the man's terror. "You call this art? Art requires a piece of the soul, Mr. 3. You only gave it your greed. That's why your inventory is empty."
[System Notification: Harvesting initiated...]
[Total Balance: 289 Soul Coins.]
[New Item Unlocked in Shop: Wax-Spirit Essence (Allows temporary hardening of Soul Puppets).]
Silas and Vivi emerged from the trees, looking at the ruin Kai had left behind. "The giants are safe," Vivi said, her voice filled with a new level of respect. "But Kai... the Marines will come for this. You've just taken down an Officer Agent of a Warlord."
"Let them come," Kai said, looking toward the horizon where the next adventure waited. "I have a kingdom to buy, and my pockets are finally getting heavy."