The underground Black Market of Artholius was not a place.
It was a world.
Hidden beneath the farthest edge of the city, carved into layers of steel tunnels and ancient infrastructure, it was where laws didn't exist—only price did.
Above, Artholius was burning.
Below, wealth flowed like blood.
Golden lights illuminated polished marble floors. Exotic creatures moved in cages. Weapons—plasma rifles, forbidden tech, illegal biotech—were displayed like art. Humans were sold. Killers were hired. Even BrainDead specimens were chained and auctioned for experimentation.
Anything could be bought.
Anything could be sold.
All you needed…
…was the price.
One Month Later
It had been one month since the attack.
And nothing had truly recovered.
Lanuk walked through the crowded underground corridors, his hood covering most of his face. His body had healed, but not completely. The scars remained.
Inside.
And outside.
He wasn't here to explore.
He was searching.
For something he couldn't even name yet.
Then—
A scream cut through the noise.
"PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME!"
The entire market turned toward the central arena.
But no one moved.
People watched.
Because this was entertainment.
In the middle stood a young girl, her body trembling, tears streaming down her face.
Surrounding her were armed men.
At the center of them all—
Jaspher Garcia.
The youngest son of the Garcia family.
Arrogant.
Cruel.
Untouchable.
He smirked as he stepped closer to the girl.
"You should feel honored," he said lazily.
"Not everyone gets noticed by me."
The girl fell to her knees.
"Please… don't take it…"
She held a small object tightly in her hands.
"This is my mother's last memory…"
"I beg you…"
Jaspher chuckled.
"This entire market belongs to my family."
"There is no one here who can go against me."
He leaned closer.
"So either you give it willingly…"
"…or I take it."
His men laughed.
One of them grabbed the girl by her hair and pulled her up violently.
She cried out in pain.
The thug raised his hand—
To strike.
THUD.
A kick landed on his face with brutal force.
The man flew backward and slammed into a metal pillar.
Silence.
Everyone turned.
A single figure stood there.
Lanuk.
Jaspher's smile disappeared.
Then anger replaced it.
"Well… well…"
"So the saying is true."
"When death comes for a jackal…"
"…it runs toward the city."
"You escaped death once."
"And now you came to me?"
Lanuk smiled.
But it wasn't a normal smile.
It was dark.
Dangerous.
"Let's see…"
"…if Garcia dogs only bark…"
"…or if they can bite."
Jaspher's eyes burned.
"Kill him."
His men charged.
What followed—
Was not a fight.
It was destruction.
Lanuk moved like a storm.
One strike—bone cracked.
Second strike—someone screamed.
Third—blood splashed across the marble floor.
Every attack had a reaction.
Every movement ended in pain.
He didn't hold back.
Didn't hesitate.
Within seconds—
All of them were down.
Broken.
Bleeding.
Breathing… barely.
Lanuk calmly pulled out restraints and locked their hands.
Then activated his comm device.
"Headquarters—"
Before he could finish—
Jaspher dropped to his knees.
"WAIT!"
His voice shook.
"Please… don't report this…"
"I made a mistake…"
Lanuk looked at him.
Cold.
Expressionless.
"You should have thought about that…"
"…before you touched her."
He stepped closer.
"Your family doesn't rule this city."
"They manage it."
"Power still belongs to the military."
Jaspher nodded rapidly.
"Yes… yes sir…"
Lanuk turned to leave.
Then stopped.
"Wait."
Jaspher froze.
Lanuk looked back.
"Compensation."
The girl stood silently.
Jaspher quickly threw a pouch toward her.
"1000 credits…"
"Take it…"
The girl hesitated.
Then accepted it.
Jaspher left.
But as he walked away—
His eyes burned with hatred.
Nyxara
Lanuk helped the girl stand.
She looked at him with gratitude.
"Thank you…"
Lanuk nodded slightly.
"What's your name?"
"…Nyxara."
Lanuk turned to leave.
"Thank you again!" she called out.
"If you ever need anything—"
"No."
Lanuk walked away.
But as he took a step—
A voice whispered in his ear.
"You need me."
He stopped.
The voice continued.
"You won't survive without me."
Lanuk turned slowly.
His eyes landed on a broken statue nearby.
It looked ancient.
Almost… alive.
A snake-like mythical figure, shattered and incomplete.
When he touched it—
The voice returned.
"Don't you want to save your brother?"
"…your friends?"
Lanuk froze.
"How do you—"
A hand landed on his shoulder.
Lanuk reacted instantly—
Almost attacking.
But stopped.
Behind him stood—
Master Sergeant Murker.
"Relax," Murker said.
"It's me."
Lanuk exhaled.
"What are you doing here?"
Murker smirked.
"Looks like we've got the same mission."
Lanuk frowned.
"…Food search?"
Murker nodded.
"All small battalions sent outside…"
"…are dead."
Silence.
"So now…"
"…it's our turn."
Lanuk looked down.
Thinking.
Behind them—
Nyxara smiled faintly.
"If you like that statue…"
"You can take it."
Lanuk shook his head.
"I don't need it."
He walked away.
But the voice whispered again—
"You don't need me now…"
"…but soon you will."
"…and when that time comes…"
"…you will come searching for me."
Lanuk didn't turn back.
But Nyxara watched him leave.
Smiling.
Central Office
The command center was chaos.
Officers rushed everywhere.
Screens flashed data.
Reports flooded in.
Then—
A soldier burst inside.
"Sir!"
"10th Army…"
"…has been completely wiped out."
Silence.
"And we only have food for fifteen days left."
Shock spread instantly.
"That team had advanced gear!"
"They were elite!"
"How is that possible?!"
The Global General stood.
"We need food."
"Any cost."
Then—
"Send Lanuk's team."
Suddenly—
A voice cut through the room.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Are you trying to kill him?"
All heads turned.
Captain Alaric.
His presence alone silenced the room.
"That mission is suicide."
The Global General stared back.
"And what do you suggest?"
"That we sit here and starve?"
"Were the soldiers who died not soldiers?"
Alaric's eyes darkened.
"They were."
"But sending more to die won't fix anything."
The General stepped forward.
"We won't send them unprepared."
"They will get every weapon…"
"Every resource…"
"…everything we have."
Silence.
Then the General turned.
"What about the new officer?"
"When is she joining?"
"Sir… her area is also unstable."
"She will take two days."
The General nodded.
"Fine."
End Credit
Flames.
Everywhere.
A hospital burned.
Screams echoed.
A woman in a doctor's coat stood trapped in fire.
Her face covered in tears.
"Run…"
She cried out.
"Run, my brother!"
"Save my children…"
"Please…"
The fire closed around her.
And her voice disappeared.