After the battle with the Iron-Hide Wolf, Sebastian spent several hours in a state of strange numbness. Kaspar's restorative elixir acted gently, gradually stitching together torn muscle fibers and reducing the swelling in his ribs. Sitting on the floor of his cramped room, the boy stared at the level sixteen core pulsing with blue light in his palm. It wasn't just a trophy; it was proof that the System's hierarchy had cracks that one could slip through if their Luck attribute was high enough.
The world he lived in had long ceased to belong to nations or governments. After the Great Distortion, old borders collapsed, leaving behind only three massive conglomerates that ruled over the wreckage of civilization. The continent of Aldem, where Heloplex was located, was under the complete control of the "Aegis" corporation. It was a militarized giant that held order with a reinforced concrete grip, turning cities into multi-level hives. To the west lay the continent of Era, dominated by the "Neo-Flux" corporation. They specialized in mana-technologies and energy equipment. To the south lay the continent of Sameter, the domain of "Synthetix"—masters of bioengineering and the cultivation of artificial monsters.
These corporations were in a state of constant cold war. They didn't exchange embassies; they exchanged spies, sabotage, and raider squads in Distortion zones. To them, people were just resources or statistics. The Rotten Sector, where Sebastian lived, was for Aegis merely a gutter they tolerated as long as they could extract cheap labor. But Kaspar had mentioned The Wild Field—it was a free zone, an independent territory in the neutral zone between corporate spheres of influence. This place was considered dangerous, but it was where the System's rules allowed free hunters to reach true heights without corporate collars.
Sebastian understood that his Luck of thirty-nine units allowed him to see what others missed. The world around him was not a chaotic accumulation of events, but a complex mathematical probability that he could influence.
"If I stay here, Aegis will eventually make me their property," he whispered, clenching his fist. "I need to become stronger than their protocols."
—
The next morning, he headed to Bruno's shop. The money from selling the Rank E wolf core was to be his foundation for the big jump. When he entered the familiar basement, the old veteran didn't even stand up. His gaze instantly locked onto the package in Sebastian's hands.
"You're alive," Bruno stated, a shadow of surprise in his voice. "This morning in Sector C-1, they were buzzing about someone taking down an Iron-Hide Wolf right near the residential blocks. Don't tell me it was you."
Sebastian silently placed the core on the table. The blue glow filled the room, highlighting the numerous scars on Bruno's arms. The old man slowly reached out but stopped an inch from the core, feeling its powerful aura.
"Level sixteen," Bruno whispered. "You're at level ten. It's impossible even with your luck."
"A lot of things are impossible until they happen," Sebastian replied dryly. "I need equipment. And I need mana filters for my mother. The best you have."
Bruno was silent for a long time, studying the boy. He saw in his eyes the same steely determination that his own comrades-in-arms once had. For this core, he offered fifteen thousand credits, "A+" corporate standard mana filters, and free advice. He suggested going to Sector C-5, which was crawling with Shadow Hounds of levels ten to twelve. It was the perfect place to grind experience before transitioning to Rank E.
Sebastian nodded, taking the money into his electronic account. Now he had enough funds to ensure his mother's safety for several months ahead. But his true goal was different. He needed six levels. Six levels that separated him from the body transformation and the transition to the new league.
—
He didn't waste time resting. Leaving the filters at home and making sure his mother was well, Sebastian returned to the sewers, but this time he chose a different route — to Sector C-5. The air here was saturated with the smell of rotten mana and iron. His [Mana Resonance] skill showed dozens of small but very fast targets.
Shadow Hounds were dangerous opponents. They moved almost silently, using the dim lighting of the tunnels for camouflage. However, for Sebastian, their stealth was useless. His Luck of thirty-nine units made him incredibly sensitive to the moments when the probability of an attack became critical. The first group of three hounds surrounded him near an old reservoir.
[Target: Shadow Hound (Level 11)] x3
They lunged simultaneously. Sebastian activated [Shadow Step], passing through the body of one and ending up behind another. At that same moment, he felt the [Critical Surge] skill fill his blade with energy. When he struck, the knife hit directly into the mana node under the monster's shoulder blade. The blow was so strong that the hound simply disintegrated into particles before it even had time to cry out.
[Target neutralized: Shadow Hound (Lvl 11)]
[Experience gained: 520 XP]
The other two hesitated. Sebastian's Luck worked again — one of the rusty pipes above the monsters' heads burst, releasing a jet of icy water. The hounds flinched from the surprise, and that second was enough for Sebastian to finish the job.
[Target neutralized: Shadow Hound (Lvl 11)]
[Experience gained: 510 XP]
[Target neutralized: Shadow Hound (Lvl 11)]
[Experience gained: 535 XP]
He felt the experience filling him like warm water. Ahead lay a long road to level sixteen, but Sebastian Amaden was no longer afraid of the dark. He knew that every monster killed brought him closer to the moment when he could look down upon Aegis.