[Extracting skill…]

[Extraction successful]

[Binding skills to selected item…]

[Binding successful]

Axton exhaled slowly as a faint glow pulsed around the Hell Blaze Armour. The air shimmered, distorting slightly as the fusion process came to an end. It had cost him a mountain of gold coins — enough to bankrupt several mid-tier players — but the result was worth every coin.

"Finally," he muttered.

*Click*

He pulled up his system window, scrolling through his new skill.

[Hell's Mist]

[Grade: 6-star]

[Level: 20]

[Description: Allows the user to release mana in the form of an aura mist that can be ignited into a conflagration covering 1,500m². Damage output is determined by a combination of base defense and attack stats. The mist may also be used to enchant targets without ignition. Duration: 20 seconds. (Cooldown: 10 minutes)]

[Drawback: Consumes 200 Mana Points]

[Note: Skill is upgradable. Each level increases range by 100m² until Level 30.]

Axton smirked. "So it scales with both defense and attack… That's nasty."

He didn't hesitate and spent the needed Exp for max level up.

*Ding*

[You have upgraded Hell's Mist to MAX Level.]

The mist's radius expanded dramatically.

Axton then did the same for another ability.

*Ding*

[Protruding Spears has been upgraded to MAX Level.]

The ground beneath him briefly trembled as the skill's energy stabilized. He could now unleash hundreds of earth spears at incredible distances. His offense had officially evolved from close combat brutality to devastating long-range control.

He smiled faintly, knowing full well that few warriors in New Eden could boast that kind of versatility.

His class, [Warrior], was meant for brute force and close-quarters brawling.

Players like him were supposed to rely on their swords, shields, and stamina, not spells and large-scale skills.

Yet somehow, Axton had turned himself into a hybrid — a juggernaut capable of attacking from afar like a mage or a ranger, but with the resilience of a frontline tank.

"Long-range, mid-range, close combat…" he muttered to himself. "I'm becoming a one-man army."

He opened his inventory next, examining the new gear he'd acquired during the Dragon Knight Trial — a longbow with matching arrows and a simple set of iron armor. Both were low-grade and dull in comparison to his current arsenal.

The bow, in particular, was useless to him.

His class didn't allow him to make proper use of ranged weapons, and archery wasn't a skill tree he could even unlock.

He turned the bow over in his hand, inspecting the faint cracks along its limbs. "It's worthless," he muttered.

Still, he didn't want to just throw it away.

Axton knew better than to discard loot without trying to enhance it first.

If he could raise its quality, even a little, he could sell it for a good price in the marketplace.

"Upgrade first, sell later," he decided.

He set the longbow down and began the enhancement process.

He was about to continue when…

*Ding*

[You have a message.]

"Huh?" Axton blinked. "Who's messaging me?"

He wasn't expecting any notifications.

He didn't socialize much with other players.

In fact, the only one he'd ever added to his friend list was Hart from the Dragon Claw Guild.

*Click*

The sender's name appeared on his screen.

Just like he thought, it was Hart.

Axton leaned back, one eyebrow raised.

He opened the message.

[Hart: May I ask what city you are in? If you don't mind, can we meet? We'd like to purchase some more items from you.]

The message was polite and to the point, but Axton couldn't help but feel suspicious.

He crossed his arms. "Just items, huh? Sure…"

Still, there was no harm in responding. He typed back.

[Khan: Atlas City.]

A few seconds later, another reply came through.

[Hart: Noted. You will be seeing us soon. Thanks.]

Axton stared at the screen for a moment, expression unreadable.

He couldn't tell whether they were planning a trade or something else.

******

Meanwhile, two figures were seated around a table.

The light from the hovering holographic interface of one of them illuminated their faces faintly.

"He replied," Hart announced, striding toward the table.

Across from him sat QueenBee.

Her posture was confident, yet the glint in her eyes betrayed her curiosity.

Sitting opposite her was a man whose very presence dominated the room — Trey, her elder brother and the Dragon Claw guild's high ranker.

Hart stopped beside them, bowing his head slightly. "He's in Atlas City."

Trey raised an eyebrow, his digital avatar projecting from the table in shimmering blue light. "Atlas City, huh?"

QueenBee turned to her brother. "You'll come with us, right?"

"Me?" Trey smirked, leaning back lazily in his seat.

"Nah. I've got a quest to finish in Star City. Some things can't wait."

QueenBee frowned. "A quest? Again?"

He chuckled. "Not just any quest. It's a chain mission from the Royal Knights… pretty high tier. Might lead to a rare mount if I play my cards right."

That was typical of him.

Trey was ambitious and strong.

His S-rank talent made him one of Dragon Claw's core pillars.

Even among the top players, his growth rate was frightening.

The guild had many A and B rank talents, but Trey's existence was on another level entirely.

QueenBee folded her arms. "Fine. But you know how I feel about dealing with Khan alone sometimes.

Trey's holographic figure smiled faintly. "Relax, little sis. You've got Hart and your team. Just remember what I told you."

QueenBee raised an eyebrow. "Which part?"

"The part about not showing weakness." Trey's tone deepened, his usual playful smirk fading. "Khan might be our ally now, but that guy is dangerous. He doesn't think like the others. Show weakness, and he'll take advantage of it. Maybe not out of malice, but out of instinct."

QueenBee's expression hardened. "I understand."

"Good," Trey replied. "Remember, alliances in New Eden are temporary. Only strength matters here."

He turned to Hart. "Keep an eye on her. If things go south, don't hesitate to pull back."

Hart nodded. "Understood, sir."

QueenBee sighed, resting her chin on her hand as the holographic image of her brother began to flicker. "You're overthinking this. I just want to negotiate a trade."

Trey chuckled. "That's what you think. But Khan isn't your average merchant."

And with that, his projection faded, leaving only faint ripples of blue light on the table's surface.

The room grew silent.

QueenBee leaned back, lost in thought.

She remembered the first time she'd encountered Khan — how his calm demeanor masked something far deeper.

He had the presence of someone who'd seen too much, done too much. Almost like an NPC but sharper, more calculating.

"Atlas City…" she whispered.

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