Chapter 68: A Violent Shopping Trip – A Visitor Straight from Knockturn Alley_Fantasy Realm

Alex and Rishi arrive at the mall. As Alex attempts to park in the expansive lot in front of the mall, Rishi stops him: “Park over there between those smaller buildings by the wall. It’s closer, and if we need to leave quickly, those extra seconds might be crucial. See thatdder? We may also want to get onto the roof at some point. This way, we’ll have an easy exit route to escape down.”

 A bit overwhelmed by the thought of the situations Rishi has apparently anticipated, Alex follows his directions and parks the car where Rishi indicated. They exit and head toward the mall, spotting a few people rushing in and out, looting what they can.

 “Are you sure we should go inside, Rishi?” Alex questions, ncing warily at the looters. “Seems risky. We don’t gain anything from taking down random looters.”

 Rishi remains calm. “It’s fine, Alex, only a bit longer than half an hour until the first ping goes out that will reveal everyone’s location on the map. We’ll want to be in arge area with lots of exits when it happens. In a big mall with plenty of people, we’ll be hard to pinpoint, and we can use the chaos to either escape or retaliate if necessary.”

 Inside, they stroll around without a set direction, surveying the mall’s chaotic state. Alex spots a smaller store that has been boarded up and looks untouched. Judging by the sign above, it seems to sell phones and electronics.

 “Think we should go inside?” Alex suggests, nodding at the store. “A couple of hundred new iPhones are probably worth close to a hundred grand. I’d be fine swapping out some of the medical supplies I grabbed for something like that.”

 Rishi nods, interested. “Good spot, why not?”

 Together, they pry apart the hastily nailed wooden boards and shatter the ss to break inside. The store rm starts ring, but neither of them pays it any mind. After around twenty minutes, they’ve managed to gather a collection of high-end phones, filling whatever inventory space remains with the valuables.

 Alex checks the time. “Just three minutes to 2 AM. Should we get closer to the exit? I think we’ve gotten all we can in this apocalyptic-looking mall.”

 Without warning, Rishi’s expression changes, and his usual look of enjoyment slips. He gives Alex a serious, cautioning look and whispers, “My innate skill lets me see and read the auras of others, remember? I can see an aura approaching us from the store’s 10 o’clock direction, but there’s no person in sight… The enemy is likely cloaked by an item or some ability. Don’t look over there. Act natural. I can’t see them, but I can see the aura slowly moving closer.”

 Alex stays calm and whispers back, "Could be that woman with the hood… maybe she’s waiting until we all get distracted by the system update in…” he checks, “two minutes. I remember she looked like some kind of rogue-witch hybrid. Could she have an invisibility skill?"

 Rishi gives a calm, calcted smile. "I’ll tap the ground once when her aura approaches the store and twice if she enters it. After that, be ready to defend yourself—she’ll make her move soon."

 Alex subtly draws his [Barbed Dagger] from his inventory, positioning it carefully. The weapon hasn’t seen much action, but its design makes it ideal for a fight like this.

 [Barbed Dagger]

 World: Final Fantasy 9

 Quality: Light Green

 Type: Dagger 

 Required Stats: AGI - 5

 Durability: 30/30

 Damage: 6-12

 Effect: Devious barbs – Increases the chance to cause a bleeding and enhances both it’s damage and duration by 20% 

 Note: A rather ordinary-looking dagger, aside from the cruel, vicious barbs lining the de.

 Right as the clock strikes 2 AM, Alex hears Rishi’s soft footstep, a single, intentional sound. Then the system notification pops up.

 [It is now 2 AM. Remaining yers’ locations will be revealed in 5 seconds for the duration of 60 seconds.]

 Just as the message appears, Alex hears Rishi tap the ground twice in quick session. With heightened awareness, Alex listens and strains his senses. He can’t see anything, but there’s a faint crunch near the entrance, someone stepping on the broken disy close to where they’re standing.

 Deciding not to wait any longer, Alex takes the initiative. In one swift motion, he pulls out his [Sword of Pluto] and makes a broad, powerful sh toward the area where he heard the sound.

 Simultaneously, Rishi leaps back in the opposite direction, anticipating Alex’s move and creating distance for himself as a rangedbatant.

 Alex senses a shift in the air before him, but his sh meets nothing but empty space. Suddenly, he hears a woman’s voice chanting boldly, "Expelliarmus!" The spell’s impact is instant, and his sword flies from his hand,nding several meters away in a disy case filled with phones. A woman materializes directly in front of him, shedding her invisibility—a Disillusionment Charm from Harry Potter, Alex realizes. She holds a wicked-looking dagger and lunges at him.

 But Alex is faster. Instinctively, he activates Sealions Icewing Embrace lvl 2, and a frosty mist envelops him, solidifying his armor with icy spikes. Her dagger hits his armor, unable to prate, and she cries out as her arm gets pierced by the spikes, leaving it bloodied.

 Icewing Embrace Durability -1

 You have dealt 25 damage to yer Nr. 2

 Seizing the advantage, Alex drives his [Barbed Dagger] into her shoulder, causing an immediate bleed and additional cold damage.

 You have dealt 13 damage to yer Nr. 2

 You have dealt 14 damage to yer Nr. 2

 You have caused a bleeding to yer Nr. 2

 Shocked, the woman stumbles back, attempting to flee. But Rishi has anticipated her move and slips behind her, pressing his gun to the back of her head. "Surrender now," he says icily. "One wrong move, and it’s over. Drop the dagger."

 Reluctantly, she lets the dagger fall. Alex picks it up and inspects its stats.

 [Poison Enchanted Dagger]

 World: Harry Potter

 Quality: Light Blue

 Type: Dagger 

 Required Stats: AGI - 7, MNA - 7, PHY - 5

 Durability: 45/50

 Damage: 12-14

 Effect 1: Poisoned de - Deals 20 Poison damage over 1 Minute

 Effect 2: Poison Enhancement - Increases the effect & duration of poisons applied to this de by 30%

 Note: A dagger purchased by Mr. Borgin in 1986 from a shady witch at Borgin and Burkes for 25 Galleons, resold dayster at a tenfold profit. The de not only produces poison but also amplifies it.

 Alex whistles. "Not bad, a light blue dagger from Borgin and Burkes and able to cast two powerful spells from the Harry Potter world. You were right, Rishi; she’s formidable."

 Rishi grins, whispering, "You deserve nothing less than death for that assassination attempt, but I can offer you a different path. A way to live, despite your misdeeds against us." He takes a contract from his pocket. "Sign this, and I promise not only your survival in this mission, but I’ll also grant you a chance to be a long-term assistant."

 The woman, torn and intimidated, replies coldly, “Kill me. I’d rather die than end up as a ve.”

 Rishi hides his anger behind a smile. “How about you cut the self-righteous nonsense and actually read the contract? It’s more than fair, given the situation. If you’re too dense to recognize that, then maybe I should retract my offer since you’re obviously not worth taking under my care if that’s really the case.”

 The woman quickly scans the contract, while Alex, retrieving his sword, stands guard in front of her, alert for any suspicious movement. A glimmer of hope shes in her eyes, and Alex smirks, analyzing the situation. "Rishi’s a sharp one. He probably knows he’ll gain more from her as an ally—bound by restrictions, but with enough freedom to live her life. That he had this contract ready means he’d already anticipated a scenario like this, nning to catch a useful asset. What a maniptive monster."

 With a bite to her thumb, she presses it onto the contract, sealing it. Rishi lets out a triumphantugh and lowers his gun. “Wonderful! You’ve made a smart choice.”

 Alex res, sword still raised. “Can I trust her not to go rogue?” he demands, still wary after the assassination attempt.

 “You can,” Rishi reassures him with a calm tone.@@novelbin@@

 Alex curses, furious at the attempted ambush and frustrated at having missed critical information. He strikes a shelf in the store with his icy [Sword of Pluto], shattering part of it and freezing the remnants in ce. “Damn, I was so focused on that ambush that I missed the map reveal. Now we have no idea where the other yers are.”

 Rishi’s smile softens, this time genuine. “Don’t worry, I caught a glimpse. No one’s in New Springville or anywhere nearby. The other yers were further north, closer to the bay. We can rx for now.”

21Novel

Chapter 68: A Violent Shopping Trip – A Visitor Straight from Knockturn Alley