As they continued descending through the hidden corridor—
the sound of music slowly became louder.
Heavy bass echoed through the underground halls while flashing purple and crimson lights illuminated the darkness ahead.
Soon—
the corridor finally opened.
And Jasmine froze slightly.
The underground beneath Valorheim looked like an entirely different world.
A massive hidden club stretched endlessly beneath the city.
People danced wildly beneath neon lights.
Alcohol spilled across crowded tables.
Smoke filled the air.
Cheers and screams echoed constantly from deeper inside the underground district.
Meanwhile—
toward the center—
a massive fighting pit drew most of the attention.
The atmosphere felt lawless.
Chaotic.
Dangerous.
Honestly—
it was exactly what someone would expect from a true black market.
Noctis calmly walked past the crowds while observing everything silently.
Then eventually—
his eyes landed on a marketplace area nearby.
Rows of illegal artifacts.
Weapons.
Drugs.
Even chained slaves being auctioned quietly in the corners.
Tch.
Meanwhile—
behind one of the counters—
sat a woman wearing a black cat mask.
The moment she noticed them—
a playful smile appeared beneath her mask.
"Oh my~"
"Are you two newcomers?"
Noctis ignored the question completely.
Instead—
he calmly placed a pouch of gold coins onto the counter.
"We're here to buy identification cards."
CLINK.
"Two hundred gold."
The cat-masked woman glanced at the coins briefly.
Then—
she giggled softly.
"Oh sweetie…"
"…it seems you have no idea how the black market works down here."
Noctis narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Meaning?"
"Money means nothing here."
Jasmine frowned beside him.
"Then what exactly does?"
The woman leaned forward slightly.
"Miras."
"The only currency accepted within the underground."
"And how do we gain these 'Miras'?"
The woman giggled once more.
"Well~"
"There are many ways."
"Selling slaves."
"Trading forbidden artifacts."
"Assassinations."
"Smuggling."
Then slowly—
she pointed toward the massive fighting pit deeper inside the underground.
"And the easiest method…"
"…would be the Black Pit."
Noctis quietly walked closer toward the edge of the arena.
Then glanced downward.
Inside the pit—
two men stood facing each other with swords drawn.
Blood already stained the floor beneath them.
The crowd above screamed wildly for entertainment.
Noctis eventually returned toward the counter.
"So all I need to do…"
"…is win fights here?"
The cat-masked woman laughed softly.
"Haha~"
"'Win' might not be the correct word."
Her masked gaze slowly shifted toward the massive timer above the pit.
"You must kill your opponent before the time runs out."
Jasmine's expression slightly darkened.
"And if the time runs out?"
The woman's giggle became louder.
Meanwhile—
the screams from the arena suddenly intensified.
"Well…"
"…you can see for yourself."
DING!!!
The timer above the arena hit zero.
Inside the pit—
both injured fighters immediately panicked.
"WAIT—!"
"PLEASE—!"
Then suddenly—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The arena gates burst open.
And Noctis' eyes widened slightly.
A gigantic basilisk-like creature crawled into the arena.
Massive jaws.
Black scales.
Glowing crimson eyes.
The two fighters screamed desperately—
but it was too late.
Within seconds—
the monster devoured both of them alive as the crowd above erupted into cheers.
Beside Noctis—
Jasmine gasped in horror.
Meanwhile—
the cat-masked woman simply smiled behind her mask.
"Welcome…"
"…to the Black Pit."
I slowly glanced back toward the cat-masked woman.
Beside me—
Jasmine immediately narrowed her eyes.
"…Surely you aren't thinking of—"
"Sign me up."
Silence.
Even the cat-masked woman looked slightly surprised.
Then slowly—
she tilted her head.
"Oh my~"
"Young one…"
"…you might be getting ahead of yourself."
Soon—
the nearby people began noticing the conversation.
And one by one—
their attention shifted toward Noctis.
Mercenaries.
Killers.
Smugglers.
Veteran pit fighters.
All of them quietly observed the unfamiliar newcomer standing beneath the neon lights.
Meanwhile—
Jasmine stepped closer toward him.
"Noctis—"
"We can find another way to get the identification cards."
"I don't have time."
His voice remained calm.
Cold.
"Sign me up."
The atmosphere around the underground market slowly shifted afterward.
Then suddenly—
the cat-masked woman laughed softly.
"My name is Lynn."
"And due to your confidence…"
"…I'll personally sponsor you."
CLANG!!!
She suddenly rang a massive bell beside the counter.
Immediately—
the underground club became quieter.
Dozens of eyes shifted toward her.
Then Lynn spread her arms dramatically before shouting loudly.
"Everyone!"
"This newcomer thinks he's the strongest one here!"
"And apparently…"
"…he's ready to take on any of you dumbasses!"
Instantly—
the atmosphere exploded.
Cheers.
Laughter.
Mockery.
Several fighters standing within the shadows narrowed their eyes while staring directly at Noctis.
Most of them were enormous men covered in scars.
Experienced killers.
The kind of people who survived countless battles within the Black Pit.
And now—
all of them stared at the newcomer with dangerous interest.
Meanwhile—
Lynn looked back toward him with excitement.
"Very well then~"
"Tell us your name."
Silence.
Obviously—
he couldn't use Noctis here.
For a brief second—
his eyes quietly shifted toward the black blade resting against his back.
Nocturne Veil.
Then calmly—
he answered.
"…Nocturne."
Lynn's grin widened instantly.
"Very well~!"
"Nocturne has officially entered the Black Pit!"
The underground crowd erupted into cheers immediately afterward.
"And I myself…"
"…will place two hundred Miras on him!"
Soon—
multiple warriors began stepping forward from the crowd.
Some carried massive swords.
Others held spears or dual blades.
The atmosphere around the Black Pit grew increasingly violent as people began shouting bets from every direction.
Meanwhile—
Lynn grinned excitedly behind her cat mask.
"Before you head in…"
"…lemme explain the rules, Nocturne."
She raised a single finger.
"No artifacts inside the pit."
"Named weapons are also forbidden."
Noctis' eyes narrowed slightly.
"You fight with ordinary weapons only."
Then Lynn's grin widened further.
"And most importantly…"
"…no mana."
Jasmine blinked slightly hearing that.
Lynn leaned closer toward Noctis afterward.
"No affinities."
"No enhancement."
"No flashy powers."
"Only raw swordsmanship."
Interesting.
Then slowly—
Lynn pointed toward the massive timer hanging above the arena.
"You get five minutes."
"If your opponent is still alive after the timer runs out…"
Her masked gaze shifted toward the dark gate where the basilisk had emerged earlier.
"…well."
"You already know what happens."
Noctis silently nodded.
Then—
heavy footsteps suddenly echoed through the underground.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
A massive bulky man pushed through the crowd carrying an enormous heavy sword across his shoulder.
His body looked less human and more like a beast built from pure muscle and fat.
Scars covered his arms while rotten teeth showed through his grin.
The crowd instantly erupted seeing him.
"THE BUTCHER!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
"THIS'LL BE GOOD!"
The giant man laughed loudly while pointing his sword toward Noctis.
"Lynn!"
"Is this the newcomer trash?!"
His laughter echoed throughout the underground.
"HAHAHA!"
"Seems like it's my lucky day!"
"Move aside you fuckers!"
"This two hundred Miras is mine!"
The crowd roared even louder afterward.
Meanwhile—
Lynn giggled softly beside Noctis.
"Oh dear~"
"Seems like you attracted a big one."
"That man is called The Butcher."
"Twenty-three wins in the Black Pit."
"He's famous for crushing newcomers."
Beside him—
Jasmine stepped closer with sharp eyes.
"Noctis."
"Seriously."
"Listen to me."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"You could actually die out there."
Noctis quietly stared toward the arena below.
The screams.
The laughter.
The smell of alcohol and blood lingering through the underground.
Everything about this place felt rotten.
Meanwhile—
The Butcher slammed his massive sword against the ground while grinning viciously toward him.
"WHAT?!"
"You scared already, brat?!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
But Noctis simply remained calm.
Then slowly—
he glanced toward Jasmine.
"…Die?"
His voice sounded almost curious.
Like the concept itself barely mattered anymore.
Jasmine's expression tightened slightly hearing that tone.
"Noctis—"
"You can't use mana here."
"You can't use your named weapon."
"This isn't like your other fights."
She stepped closer.
"And those people…"
"…they kill for entertainment."
Noctis silently looked toward the fighting pit once more.
Only swordsmanship huh.
Honestly—
that was fine.
Maybe even preferable.
Because ever since arriving in this world—
everyone relied too heavily on affinities and mana.
But swords?
Swords never lied.
Then slowly—
a faint smile appeared on his face.
Without another word—
he began walking toward the arena entrance.
The crowd immediately erupted seeing him move.
"HE'S ACTUALLY GOING!"
"THIS KID'S INSANE!"
"THE BUTCHER IS GONNA TEAR HIM APART!"
Meanwhile—
Lynn watched with visible excitement.
"Oh my~"
"This might actually become entertaining."
Soon—
a worker threw a plain iron sword toward Noctis.
CLANG.
Noctis caught it silently.
The weapon felt horribly unbalanced compared to Nocturne Veil.
Cheap.
Heavy.
Inferior.
But it didn't matter.
A sword was still a sword.
Then—
the arena gates slowly opened.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
The underground crowd erupted into deafening cheers.
The Butcher stepped into the pit first while dragging his massive blade behind him.
Meanwhile—
Noctis calmly walked in afterward.
Compared to the giant before him—
he looked small.
Young.
Fragile even.
The perfect prey.
High above—
the timer slowly lit up.
05:00
Lynn's excited voice echoed throughout the underground.
"WELCOME EVERYONE~!"
"Tonight's match!"
"The undefeated butcher of the Black Pit—"
"VERSUS!"
"The mysterious newcomer…"
"…NOCTURNE!"
The crowd exploded into screams and laughter.
Meanwhile—
The Butcher slowly raised his heavy sword while grinning viciously.
"You should've run while you still had legs, brat."
Noctis quietly lifted the ordinary iron sword afterward.
The blade felt cheap in his hands.
Unbalanced.
Inferior.
But it didn't matter.
Then—
slowly—
his head lowered slightly.
And the next moment—
a grin appeared on his face.
Not a normal smile.
Not confidence.
A completely maniacal grin.
The kind that instantly made the atmosphere feel wrong.
His eyes gleamed beneath the underground lights while excitement slowly spread across his face.
For the first time since entering the pit—
emotion finally appeared within him.
And it wasn't fear.
It was excitement.
The Butcher's grin slowly faltered.
Because instinctively—
his body screamed at him.
The thing standing before him…
…wasn't prey.
It was a monster pretending to be human.