"We don't sell anything like that," the young man said.
Ares took a deep breath before forcing himself inside, his large frame pushing past the young man's attempts to block him. Asami followed closely behind, her eyes scanning the dim room. The air was thick with the smell of old boxes and dust.
The room was cluttered with stacks of crates and boxes, some labeled with strange symbols, while others were adorned with exotic logos. A few rickety tables were scattered about, covered in various contraptions and strange devices. A doorway to the left led to a narrow corridor, lined with doors to what appeared to be storage rooms or private offices.
The young man protested, "Hey, you can't just barge in here! I can offer you other products, though."
Ares' voice was firm. "I don't want anything but the Catalyst."
The young man's expression turned nervous. "This is a Black Market, but we don't sell anything like that."
Ares turned, staring down at the young man. "Do you know anyone who goes by the name, Gold Tooth?"
The young man hesitated before responding, "Y-yes. That'll be my master."
Ares' face broke into a wide grin. "Then I'm at the right place."
"You're mistaken, sir." The young man said.
"Please, do I look like I'm crazy to you?" Ares was starting to get annoyed.
"N-No."
"Good." Ares said. "Unless you want me to break everything in this house down, I swear you're gonna have to take me where I want to be taken."
The young man hesitated, fear crawling in his eyes. "I can't do that."
"Why?" Asami asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Because they'll kill me." The young man finally said.
Ares sighed. "But if you don't show us, we'll do far much worse."
The young man hesitated once more before pointing a trembling finger down the corridor. "T-there's another door... at the far end." He suddenly turned and sprinted out of the house, leaving Ares and Asami staring after him in curiosity.
Ares sighed and started walking down the corridor, pushing open doors and kicking them wide. Some rooms were filled with boxes and crates, while others were stained with blood on the walls. Which made him assume this was also a torture house? But he wasn't sure and he didn't care. He had one main goal, which was finding Gold Tooth.
Asami followed closely behind, her eyes scanning the rooms with a mixture of fascination and unease. Finally, they reached the door at the far end of the corridor. Ares pushed it open, but it wouldn't budge. He kicked it, but it still refused to yield. Ares rested his hand on the frame, and his eyes narrowed. "It's sealed."
Asami raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Ares took a deep breath. "Yes... which is kinda annoying. Let's go back."
Asami frowned. "Why? When we've come so far?"
Ares shrugged. "I don't want to break a freaking seal. It's too much work. And I was lazy back at the Academy... I don't remember being taught complicated magic."
Asami growled, her eyes flashing with annoyance. She couldn't believe he was really letting them go, not after they had a lead. She gritted her teeth. "You useless gizzard!"
She spread her hands, and her magic started to gather, pooling into purple streams of lightning. With a cry, she unleashed the bolt towards the door, where it collided with a defeaning thud.
Instead of the door cracking open the least, it started to glow and a piercing sound met her ears, it rang almost like it was screaming in protest. But instead of shattering, it seemed to absorb the lightning.
Ares' eyes widened at the realization of what was happening. It wasn't the first time going through something this messed up. "Now we're fucked..."
Asami's eyes locked onto his, and they both saw it - strings of darkness breaking from the wooden floor beneath, wrapping around them like tentacles before dragging them down, down, into the darkness.
*
Asami felt a little disoriented as she peeled her eyes open, her heart pounding in her chest. She jerked herself up, trying to find balance. Lifting up her eyes, she met with someone — it was Ares, who just leaned his back against the wall. They were in a tunnel, which seemed to stretch as far as their eyes could see in the darkness.
"What happened?" Asami asked, trying to figure out.
Ares scratched the back of his neck. "Well, we were dragged into this place....whatever it is."
"And?" Asami asked.
"If we don't get out, we might be trapped here for the rest of our lives." Ares said with irritation. "But don't worry, we'll figure something out."
Asami couldn't hold her breath. "Are you saying.... we're trapped!!!?"
"Yep." Ares smirked. "But, it's a minor. I've been through rough tracks like this before. We just have to defeat whatever is looming in this dark tunnel, and we are free to go."
Asami's insides tightened as the darkness wrapped around them, but she quickly regained her composure. She remembered the counteracting spell, how some people could place counteracting spells on seals to make them work as an offensive mechanism. A sly smile spread across her face. "I think I know what this is."
Ares cocked a brow. "Do you?"
"It's some sort of mental prison," Asami said confidently.
Ares nodded. "Something like that... It's just one real illusion."
But they didn't have time to waste. They felt it, the presence of something approaching, growling. The air seemed to vibrate with the creature's malevolent energy.
Asami took a step back, her hand instinctively going to her blade. She watched, transfixed, as the creature crawled towards them.
The ground shook beneath its massive feet. The air was heavy with the stench of rot and decay. The creature's greenish skin seemed to absorb the faint light, making it almost invisible in the darkness.
As it emerged from the shadows, Asami's breath caught in her throat. The creature was an Orc, its massive form looming over them like a specter of death. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural hunger, and its massive hand grasped a club that looked like it had been ripped from a tree trunk.
Ares chuckled, his voice low and menacing. "That's an easy kill... I'll let you take the win this time."
Asami protested, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know..."
Ares' grin widened. "That's an order, kiddo."
Not wasting time, Asami charged forward, her blade held tightly in her right hand. She wanted to end this as quickly as it had begun. She aimed a rough slash at the Orc's exposed chest, but the creature was too quick. It raised its massive club, and Asami was forced to dodge to the side to avoid the blow.
The club crashed into the stone floor, sending shards of rock flying in all directions. Asami took advantage of the Orc's imbalance and struck out with her blade. She aimed a direct thrust at the Orc's shoulder, but the creature's thick hide deflected the blow.
The Orc countered with a swipe of its club, and Asami was forced to leap backward to avoid the attack. She landed awkwardly, her foot slipping on the loose stone. The Orc sensed its chance and charged forward, its club raised high.
Asami scrambled to her feet, her blade flashing in the dim light. She aimed a desperate slash at the Orc's knee, hoping to cripple the creature. The blade bit deep into the Orc's flesh, but the creature's momentum carried it forward.
The Orc's club came crashing down, and Asami barely avoided the blow. She stumbled backward, her chest heaving with exhaustion. The Orc raised its club for the killing blow, and Asami knew she had to act fast.
She landed in a crouch-like stance, her blade extended, and her eyes blazing with predatory intent. "Godspeed!" she muttered, her voice barely audible. In that instant, the air around her seemed to charge with electricity. Asami felt the familiar surge of lightning coursing through her veins. With a gentle, deadly motion, she slashed her blade across the Orc's gut.
The blade sliced through the Orc's flesh, releasing a spray of blood and entrails. Asami landed behind the Orc, her chest still heaving with exertion. She turned to face the Orc, and her eyes widened in satisfaction. The Orc was collapsing to the ground, its massive frame crashing onto the stone floor with a deafening thud. Asami stood over it, her blade still trembling with the force of her attack.
Ares approached her, a grin spreading across his face. "Not bad, kiddo. Not bad at all."
She smirked. "Well, that was nothing."
"Well, it was something to m—"
They heard the unmistakable sound of someone clapping their hands. The applause was slow and deliberate, echoing off the stone walls.
Quickly, they turned to face the sound, and a figure emerged from the darkness. The air seemed to grow thick with tension as the figure stepped into the faint light.
Asami's hand instinctively went to the hilt of her blade, her eyes narrowing as she sized up the stranger. Ares, too, seemed wary, his eyes flashing with a mixture of curiosity and hostility.
The figure proved to be a man, tall and lean, with a gaunt face and sunken eyes. He wore a tall hat, a tailored suit black, and gloves that seemed to gleam in the dim light. A pair of eye spectacles perched on the end of his nose, giving him a somewhat owlish appearance.
The man's smirk grew wider as he approached them. "That was quite the show... I must say, I'm impressed."
Ares was quick to ask, his voice low and menacing, "Who the fuck are you?"
The man's smirk never changed, but his eyes seemed to gleam with predatory intention. "Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. My name is... Gold Tooth."