The chaotic murmurs of the underground market resumed their deafening volume as Leon approached the heavy wooden exchange counter located near the side of the stone stage.
The masked auctioneer stood behind the thick reinforced desk wiping nervous sweat from his forehead with a dirty rag.
He eyed the towering rugged man with a mixture of deep greed and profound terror knowing the Eclipse Syndicate was currently watching their every move from the raised balcony.
Leon did not waste time with pleasantries.
He activated the spatial storage ring on his finger and casually dumped a massive mountain of gleaming gold coins directly onto the sturdy wooden counter.
The sheer weight of the heavy metal caused the thick desk to groan loudly in protest. The auctioneer’s eyes bulged as he stared at the small fortune representing more wealth than most minor noble houses saw in a decade.
"The payment is exact," Leon stated projecting his heavy Intimidation Aura to ensure the corrupt merchant did not attempt any sudden hidden tricks.
The auctioneer frantically nodded his hands trembling as he pushed the glowing wooden lockbox across the counter. Leon grasped the iron handle feeling the intense blistering heat radiating from the Bloodfire Core safely secured inside.
He turned around and began walking toward the dark exit tunnels located at the rear of the cavernous chamber. He wanted to return to the Sterling estate before dawn to ensure Seraphina had ample time to absorb the massive magical energy.
Lady Valeriana materialized from the shadows joining his side as he entered the dim winding corridors leading back toward the surface.
Her black silk gown swished softly against the rough stone floor and she carried a lingering scent of sweet purple smoke mixed with a heavy trace of genuine anxiety.
"You just painted a massive bloody target on your back Leon," Valeriana murmured keeping her dark eyes focused on the empty tunnel ahead. "Lord Malakor is a Tier Two Grandmaster. He is not going to let you walk out of this labyrinth with that crystal."
"I was counting on it," Leon replied smoothly keeping his dark magnetic eyes focused on the path ahead.
He utilized his newly acquired advanced Aura Tracking skill feeling the dense suffocating wave of corrosive dark mana rapidly closing the distance from behind them.
They reached a wide circular stone intersection located deep beneath the city streets. The heavy iron torches lining the walls suddenly violently flickered before extinguishing simultaneously plunging the underground corridor into near total darkness.
Leon stopped walking resting his large hand casually on the hilt of his colossal star iron greatsword. His perfect Night Vision easily pierced the gloom revealing six slender figures wearing heavy black hooded cloaks blocking the path forward.
Lord Malakor stepped out from the center of the assassin formation twirling a pair of jagged throwing knives that dripped with glowing purple venom.
"I warned you stranger," the Syndicate boss sneered his voice echoing off the damp stone walls. "You should have kept your mouth shut and stayed out of Syndicate business. Hand over the lockbox and I will grant you a fast painless death."
"Your customer service is severely lacking Malakor," Leon murmured projecting a calm magnetic confidence that instantly irritated the seasoned assassin.
The crystal bell chimed playfully in his mind projecting a glowing pink text box right in the center of the dark corridor.
[Quest Issued: The Protector’s Charm]
[Context: A violent bloodbath is about to occur and a beautiful spy is standing in the crossfire. A true warlord ensures his women are safe while delivering romantic lines.]
[Objective: Push Valeriana gently against the stone wall behind you, lean in close, and whisper that she looks away from the violence.]
[Reward: +20 Endurance, Skill ’Kinetic Shock Absorption’, 650 Shameless Points.]
[Failure Penalty: The Host will suffer a violent localized muscular spasm causing him to aggressively skip like a joyful child every time he attempts to run into battle.]
Leon read the deeply humiliating penalty and instantly decided a little romantic physical shielding was far better than skipping his way into a lethal fight.
He reached out with his left hand and firmly grasped Valeriana’s soft bare shoulder. He smoothly pushed her backward pressing her athletic curves gently against the cold damp stone wall.
The beautiful spy gasped her breath hitching erratically as his towering muscular frame heavily caged her in the dark.
"Look away Valeriana," Leon whispered softly leaning his handsome face dangerously close to her flushed cheek. "It will get a bit messy."
Her lie detector aura flared wildly projecting an intense confusing wave of heavy breathless arousal. She obeyed his dark magnetic command fluttering her dark eyelashes shut and melting helplessly against the stone wall.
[Quest Completed Successfully!]
[Your combat footwork remains perfectly brutal and highly dignified.]
[Distributing Rewards: +20 Endurance, Skill ’Kinetic Shock Absorption’ Acquired, 650 Shameless Points.]
A sudden refreshing surge of raw physical resilience flooded his nervous system elevating his Endurance to monstrous new heights.
Leon turned his back to the beautiful spy and drew his colossal star iron greatsword with a smooth deadly grace.
He channeled his massive two hundred and fifty points of Strength allowing a dense suffocating wave of pure white kinetic energy to aggressively bleed from his heavily scarred muscles.
Lord Malakor roared in pure violent fury ordering his five elite subordinates to attack simultaneously.
The Syndicate assassins blurred into motion utilizing their refined shadow movement techniques to merge with the dark corridor. They launched themselves forward aiming their poisoned blades directly for Leon’s vital organs.
Leon did not attempt to dodge. He aggressively activated his new Aura Hardening skill solidifying his dense kinetic mana into an impenetrable armor just beneath his skin.
The jagged poisoned daggers violently struck his chest and shoulders only to shatter instantly against his invisible kinetic armor with a loud crisp crunch of breaking steel.
The assassins widened their eyes in pure horrifying disbelief realizing their lethal weapons could not even scratch the magicless servant.
Leon casually swung his heavy greatsword in a brutal sweeping arc activating his Kinetic Repulsion skill at the exact point of impact.
The colossal dark metal blade slammed heavily into the leading three assassins generating a massive concussive shockwave that echoed violently through the underground tunnels.
The immense raw physical force shattered their ribs and forcefully launched their broken bodies backward. They crashed heavily into the stone ceiling before dropping lifelessly to the damp floor.
Lord Malakor stared at the gruesome display his confident assassin facade aggressively crumbling into a mask of pure cold terror.
A man with zero magical presence had just effortlessly obliterated three elite Syndicate killers with a single careless swing.
"Who are you?" Malakor whispered taking a desperate trembling step backward.
"I am the man who outbid you," Leon replied chillingly resting the heavy greatsword against his broad shoulder.
He activated his Aura Step folding the spatial distance to materialize directly in front of the Syndicate boss. Leon raised his heavy leather boot and delivered a devastating front kick directly to Malakor’s chest.
The Tier Two Grandmaster was violently launched down the dark corridor crashing heavily through a thick wooden support beam.
Leon casually dusted off his pristine dark suit and turned back toward the beautiful spy waiting patiently against the wall.
He knew he had the physical advantage but if the Grandmaster should wholeheartedly engage him, he would be fucked.
They needed to leave while he was still confused.
He offered her a confident smirk and pulled her away knowing her criminal underworld would never look at him the same way again.
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