**Thepm, thepm**
The journey from the abandoned building to the city was not long, but to Kirito, it felt like crossing an invisible border between two worlds.
During the trip, the landscape gradually changed: the scattered junk and debris of the Peripheral District gave way to more organized structures, fiber optic cables hanging between poles like glowing vines, and digital traffic signs flashing warnings in archaic Japanese mixed with characters that did not exist in his time.
And then he saw it.
The entrance to the city rose before him like a metal and neon arch. In the center of the arch, engraved in characters glowing with a soft emerald hue, were the words:
[AKIBAHOLLOW]
**Thepm, thepm**
Kirito stopped several meters away. He looked up at the arch and let the flow of users pass around him without paying attention.
**Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh**
Polished androids, Elves, Beast types moving agilely through the crowd. They all knew where they were going.
**Fzzzz—plin**
(—"Akibahollow. A city of rookies... and I am the biggest rookie of all...")
{—"I must see the details. The system gave me information. And I need to understand it."}
Kirito nodded slightly. He closed his eyes for a moment and mentally reviewed what the system had explained to him before leaving the rooftop:
---
RARITY CLASSIFICATION — NEOSPHERE
Trivial (Gray): Common elements.
Standard (Green): Frequent elements.
Uncommon (Blue): Moderately difficult to obtain.
Rare (Purple): Scarce.
Epic (Orange): Very scarce.
Legendary (Red): Extremely scarce.
[Perfect] Ultra Rare (Gold): Exceptionally scarce.
---
**Fzzzz—tin**
Kirito opened his eyes. The table was clear in his memory, as if he had studied it for years. His second mind had processed it instantly.
{—"Gray, green, blue, purple, orange, red, gold. Seven levels. Seven colors. Mine is gold... or it should be."}
—"Lip Reading was classified as Ultra Rare. Perfect. That's gold."
{—"Yes. But the system also said something else. It said it couldn't classify it correctly at first."}
Before Kirito could respond, he felt a tingling in the palm of his right hand.
A soft vibration, as if the air itself was solidifying between his fingers. He looked down and saw small particles of golden light beginning to concentrate on his skin.
**Fzzzz**
The sound was barely a whisper. The particles joined together, compacted, and in a matter of seconds formed a solid rectangle: a card.
It was flat, the size of a playing card, but its surface was not solid: it was composed of a matrix of golden light that pulsed gently, as if breathing.
Thin lines of neon circuits ran along its edges in a constant flow, tracing geometric patterns that lit up and dimmed to the rhythm of an internal pulse. Small bursts of energy, like digital sparks, occasionally broke off from its corners before fading into the air.
**Krrrk—shhhh**
Kirito held it between his index finger and thumb, instinctively turning it to the side to hide it from passersby. He didn't know if others could see it, but he wasn't going to take the risk.
**Sssshhh—tin**
On the surface of the card, engraved in sharp characters glowing with a neon sheen, appeared the following text:
---
[LIP READING]
Rarity: Ultra Rare (Gold)
Domain: Perfect (100%)
Utility: Mundane (Category G)
Status: Active
---
(—"Here it is. My first skill...")
{—"Watch it closely. Don't blink."}
Kirito frowned. He was about to ask what that meant when he saw it.
The golden color of the card wavered.
For a fraction of a second —so brief that an ordinary user would not have perceived it—, the golden glow completely extinguished and the surface turned black. Black like the void between stars. Black like a sealed record. Black like the category that should not exist.
[EX]
Then, as quickly as it had disappeared, the gold returned. The card shone warmly again, displaying "Ultra Rare" as if nothing had happened.
(—"...!")
**Doom—doom—doom**
Kirito stood frozen. His digital heart pounded fiercely.
(—"I just saw it correctly, didn't I?")
{—"I saw it. For zero point two seconds, the card turned black. The system hasn't registered it. It didn't send any alerts. But I saw it."}
**Fzzzz—mm**
Kirito pressed the card against his palm and completely concealed it. His eyes scanned the arch of Akibahollow, the floating screens, the users coming and going, ignoring the level one Human who had just held something impossible.
(—"Gold and black. Ultra Rare and EX at the same time. What the hell does that mean?")
{—"It means the system doesn't know what I am. It knows I have something that shouldn't exist, but it can't classify it without contradictions. It's... hesitating. And while the system hesitates, I have the advantage."}
**Fssss—shhhh**
Kirito raised his open hand and contemplated the card one last time. One thought was enough.
The card disintegrated into a flurry of golden and black particles that spun for a moment in the air before fading away. It hadn't been stored in any pocket: it had returned to the inventory, governed by his own will.
**Themp**
He took the first step under the arch of Akibahollow. The scanner lights bathed him in blue and let him pass without incident.
Officially, he was just another rookie.
Officially, he was not a threat.
But as he walked into the city of beginners, with thirty Neurons in his pocket —the official currency of NEOSPHERE, whose symbol was a capital '₦' engraved on each piece— and a consciousness swinging between two, Kirito felt his mind already plotting the next move.
{—"I need more data. More information. More skills. And I need a place to start looking."}
—"The market."
{—"Exactly. Let's go."}
*****
The hustle and bustle of the Akibahollow market was a wall of sound that hit Kirito as soon as he crossed the third street.
**Thump—thump—thump**
They were not footsteps. They were hammers. Or something like that. The sound of metal against metal mixed with hundreds of voices shouting prices, heated haggling, and the constant buzzing of payment terminals processing transactions.
The market was not in an enclosed square: it stretched across an entire avenue, partially covered by fiber optic tarps that filtered artificial light into changing hues. The streetlights were not glass, but cylinders that illuminated the ground with circuit patterns, as if the asphalt itself were alive.
**Thepm, thepm**
Kirito slowed his pace and let his eyes absorb the chaos.
The first thing he noticed was the diversity of races.
There were huge Androids, two meters tall or more, with shells that looked like military armor. Some had multiple arms. Others had wheels instead of legs. But there were also small, stocky figures of reduced height haggling with surprisingly deep voices and firm gestures.
(—"Dwarfs... Or something like that.)
Their metadata did not identify them by that name, but Kirito found no better word.
Chimeric Beasts were the majority among the males. Not just men with ears and tails: there were figures completely covered in fur, with defined snouts and claws resting naturally on the market tables. Their clothes were a strange mix: futuristic fabrics with civilian cuts, but adorned with combat shoulder pads, tool belts, tactical bracers. As if they were ready to negotiate and fight at any moment.
The women, on the other hand, leaned more towards the human —or elfin—. Slender silhouettes, delicate features, androids with softer lines. But even among them, there were exceptions: a Beast woman with feline traits ran a robotic components stall, her white fur marked with scars, her eyes two golden slits that followed each customer with feline coldness.
Everyone dressed differently and yet the same.
Nanofiber jackets with civilian cuts, reinforced pants, explorer boots, gloves with touch interfaces. The fashion seemed like a chaotic democracy where no one could agree and yet everyone fit in.
Some carried close combat weapons: alloy swords with barely vibrating edges, staffs with energy cores pulsing in blue tones, folding blades in their forearms that deployed with a metallic snap.
Others preferred ranged weapons.
Kirito saw precision rifles with holographic sights floating above the barrel, projecting trajectories and wind data in real time. Energy shotguns with cartridges glowing orange before each discharge, as if the weapon were holding its breath. Compact electromagnetic pulse pistols that fit in the palm of the hand and hummed quietly in their magnetic holsters.
Someone carried a nitrogen-cooled plasma cannon over their shoulder, its core emitting a green glow so intense that passersby stepped aside without thinking.
In contrast, a smaller figure carried needle guns on each thigh: small weapons, almost toy-like, capable of firing projectiles the size of a pin at supersonic speeds.
The mix was absolute.
{—"Interesting. This is like someone mixed SAO with GGO and put it in a blender with futuristic traits."}
Swords next to rifles. Energy shields next to digital percussion revolvers. Carbon fiber bows next to wrist-mounted rocket launchers. Kirito even spotted a combat hammer with a gravitational generator in the head, which emitted a deep buzz every time its bearer set it on the ground.
There were those who went light, just in their street clothes, consulting floating panels while walking. And there were those who looked like walking fortresses, loaded with enough firepower to take down a building.
Civilians and warriors. Buyers and sellers. All different and all the same under the flashing lights of the Akibahollow market.
(—"It's a mix... Passing people and mission-driven people...")
And Kirito noticed it effortlessly.
The second thing he noticed was that everyone was at a higher level than his.
Each user displayed their level on a discreet indicator over their shoulder, visible only if you looked directly. Kirito saw numbers: 15, 22, 31, 47. A level 58 Android passed by, and the crowd parted slightly for him. No one paid attention to Kirito. Or well: no one looked at him with respect.
The third thing he noticed was how they looked at him.
Out of the corner of their eye. Over their shoulder. For a fraction of a second, before looking away with a gesture he knew all too well.
(—"Contempt. Or pity. Or both...")
—"Human..."
The word floated over from a nearby stall. It was spoken by a short Android while he sifted through a pile of damaged circuits. He didn't say it loudly. But Kirito heard it. And he also heard his companion's response, an Elf who didn't even look up:
—"Another..."
—"I don't know why they come to the market. They can barely buy junk..."
—"Leave it. He's not even leveled. Look."
**Thepm, thepm**
Kirito didn't stop. He didn't turn his head either.
{—"I've counted twelve looks of disdain and eight murmurs in the last three minutes. All with the same word: 'Human'. It's not just racism. It's something deeper. Let's investigate."}
There was no need to formulate a complete question. His second mind was already processing. And Kirito, without needing commands, sent a quick query to the system with a simple thought.
[—"Query: number and percentage of Human race users in NEOSPHERE."]
The answer was immediate. A floating panel appeared before his eyes, visible only to him:
[—"Human Race: 2.1% of the total NEOSPHERE population. Estimated amount: 67,200 active users out of a total of 3.2 million. The Human race is the least selected. Lower initial attributes. Higher growth potential. Note: Most Humans do not exceed level 20."]
*,Thump**
(—"Two percent... Out of three million users, only sixty-seven thousand are Humans. And most don't exceed level twenty?")
{—"Now I understand the looks. It's not just racial hatred. It's something deeper. But there's still a piece that doesn't fit."}
Kirito frowned as he moved through the crowd. Something grazed his mind, an unease he couldn't quite articulate. He looked at a Beastman haggling at a nearby stall. Then at an Android checking his floating panel. Then at an Elf laughing with another of his kind.
(—"How is it possible for a Human to disdain another Human?")
{—"I'm following you."}
(—"If this world is connected to the real world, and the users are flesh-and-blood people like me, then all of them —Beastmen, Androids, Elves— are humans on the outside. They are Japanese or from any other country, connected through a Neuro-Linker. Humans who choose not to be Humans here. Humans who disdain other Humans. Why?")
{—"Good question. The system should be able to clarify that."}
Kirito sent a second query. This time, his mental tone was sharper.
[—"System: of the 3.2 million active users, how many are biological Humans from the real world and how many are native digital entities?"]
...
There was a pause. Longer than usual.
[—"Note: It is not possible to provide exact figures due to privacy policies. However, it can be asserted that a significant proportion of the avatars belong to entities whose Fluctlight does not have a biological human origin. They are digital beings native to other virtual environments that have migrated to NEOSPHERE in search of better living conditions, economic opportunities, or personal development."]
**Crrrk—shhhh**
Kirito stopped dead.
(—"Virtual souls... Or Fluctlights")
{—"Like Alice. Like Yui. Like the inhabitants of Underworld. Beings born in digital worlds who now have the chance to earn real money, to improve their lives, to exist beyond their original world."}
(—"And when they arrive here, they don't choose to be Humans. They choose to be what they already were. A wolf Beastman chooses to be a wolf Beastman. An Android chooses to be an Android. Because that's what they are. And when they see a Human...")
{—"They see someone who doesn't belong to their world. Someone who chose the weakest race. Someone who is probably a novice from the real world who doesn't know where they've entered. It's not racial hatred: it's caste disdain. The digital native against the flesh-and-blood immigrant."}
**Themk—themk—fzzzz**
Kirito resumed walking. His expression remained neutral, but inside he was boiling.
(—"And the few Humans that exist... probably most are real users who chose to remain so. But since the Human race is the hardest to develop, they stagnate. They don't exceed level twenty. And the others trample them...")
{—"Exactly. The Human has no initial bonuses. No claws, no scales, no hacking circuits, no spectral vision. Their advantage is growth potential, but that potential only activates if you know how to exploit it. And most don't know how."}
(—"Maybe I do.")
Kirito moved through the crowd, feeling the weight of the looks that no longer paid him attention. But now those looks had a different meaning. They were not just disdain. They were the certainty of beings who believed themselves above him.
(—"If I'm of the weakest race, then no one will see me as a threat. That's an advantage.")
{—"Exactly. They ignore you because they think you can't do anything. But you've already done something they can't do. And we're just getting started."}
(—"This world is more than a game. It's a melting pot of realities. Human souls, digital souls... all competing for the same thing.")
{—"And I'm right in the center. Without anyone realizing it yet."}
**Themk—themk**
Kirito kept walking, lost among the crowd, a level one Human in a world that despised Humans.
He felt he understood the rules a little better.
They weren't the rules of the system. They were the rules of the living.
Kirito refocused on his surroundings.
The market stalls lined both sides of the avenue. Kirito mentally categorized them as he walked:
Street stalls: Blankets on the ground or makeshift tables. Low-level vendors selling Trivial or Standard quality components. Junk, rusty tools, loose data fragments. Prices in two-digit neurons.
Established shops: Covered premises with counters, authenticity scanners, and guards at the door. There, items of Uncommon rarity or higher were sold. Weapons, armor, and combat knowledge. Prices in thousands or millions of neurons.
Kirito didn't bother looking towards the big shops. With thirty neurons (₦30), the guard would probably block him before he could even ask a question.
(—"That's...")
But something caught his attention.
Among the street stalls, one stood out from the rest. Not for being large or luxurious, but for the opposite and its owner.
It was a Beastman.
Tall. Robust build, but not overly muscular. His fur was ash brown, sprinkled with data scars that ran along his arms like burned tattoos. His triangular, alert ears moved slightly with each sound from the market. His yellow eyes were fixed on his merchandise with an expression Kirito recognized instantly: that of someone who no longer expects to sell anything but remains there out of habit.
His clothing was a mix of civilian jacket and explorer greaves. He had a sheathed sword at his belt, but he didn't touch it. He looked more like a retired adventurer than a merchant. His level was visible: [Level 41.]
**Thamp**
Kirito stopped in front of his stall.
The Beastman's blanket displayed a disordered assortment:
· Second-hand robotic components.
· Data fragments encapsulated in opaque glass jars.
· An extraction tool with a cracked handle.
· Various pieces of metal junk labeled as "Unclassified."
· And in one corner, something that glimmered faintly under the light of the data streetlamps.
—"Mmmm?"
The Beastman looked up. His yellow eyes settled on Kirito with an expression that was not hostile... but neither was it friendly. It was evaluative.
—"Human..." —he murmured, more to himself than to Kirito—. "I haven't seen one around here for days. What are you looking for, novice?"
His voice was deep, tired, and a bit disdainful.
The Beastman squinted his yellow eyes. His triangular ears leaned forward, as if picking up a frequency only he could hear. He scanned Kirito from head to toe, stopping at the level indicator above his shoulder.
[Level 1.]
His expression changed. It wasn't fury. It was something subtler: a mix of annoyance and resignation, like someone watching a customer approach who has nothing to offer but will still waste his time.
—"Level one..." —he murmured, stroking his muzzle with a claw—. "Look, kid, if you came to ask just for the sake of asking, I'd appreciate it if you went to another stall. It's not a day for tourism."
—"..."
Kirito didn't respond immediately. His attention was no longer on the vendor's face but on what was glimmering on the blanket.
It was an object. The size of a fingertip. Its surface was a matte bluish-gray, with beveled edges reflecting the light from the data streetlamps at precise angles. But what really caught his attention was what was at the center: a translucent core that pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat trapped in crystal.
**Krrrk—tin**
Kirito recognized that shape.
He had seen it hundreds of times. In SAO. In ALO. Every player had one.
A prism.
(—"This is... It can't be. It's almost identical to that from SAO...")
{—"It's not identical. The shape is similar, but the function seems different. Observe the name. It's engraved on the surface."}
Kirito tilted his head and read the small letters etched at one end of the prism:
[MECHANICAL BEAST EVALUATOR]
Rarity: Trivial (Gray)
Domain: Fragmented (12%)
Utility: Support (Category E)
—"That." —Kirito pointed at it—. "How much does it cost?"
The Beastman followed the direction of his finger. When he saw what Kirito was indicating, his shoulders slumped.
—"Haaaah..."
He let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the entire day.
Sssshhhh—
—"That? Really? Kid, tell me you didn't come all this way just to ask about an Evaluator..."
—"Is it bad?"
—"It's not that it's bad. It's just... common. Very common." The vendor scratched his neck and grumbled under his breath—. "Have you never seen one?"
—"No."
Kirito shook his head as if it were obvious.
—"Of course. Of course not. You're level one... Haaaah"
Another sigh. This time more tired—. "Look, what you see here is owned by the vast majority of users. It's a Mechanical Beast Evaluator."
**Krrrk—fzzzz**
**Sssshhh—tin**
He took the prism with disinterest and held it up. The central core glimmered faintly under the light.
—"What it does is examine the beasts you encounter in the wild. It tells you what element they use, what their data structure is like, their strengths and weaknesses. This way, you can prepare a strategy before attacking."
Kirito felt his second mind firing up like an engine.
{—"It tells you the weaknesses of any beast. That means it contains a structural analysis protocol. If we can break down that protocol, we could apply it outside of beasts."}
(—"Not just for beasts. If it analyzes data structures, maybe it could adapt to other things...")
—"And you say it's very common?" —Kirito asked, keeping his tone neutral.
—"Yes. Too common. But especially used by novices. Those who are adventuring for the first time."
**Click—shhhh—tok**
**Fzzzz—mm**
The seller left the prism on the blanket and crossed his arms.
—"When you level up and start hunting the same beasts over and over, you stop needing it. You know the patterns by heart. You visualize the beast by its shape, remember what element it uses, and that's it. Your own brain becomes a walking library. This..." —he pointed to the prism— "...ends up being a nuisance. It takes up space in your inventory and doesn't provide anything new."
Kirito nodded slowly.
—"I see."
{—"No. I don't see it that way. They memorize patterns of known beasts. But if we improve this device, we could analyze any data structure. Not just beasts. Anything."}
—"But for a few like you..." —the seller continued, looking at him with a mix of pity and realism— "...it's something very valuable. I won't argue that. When you're level one, any help counts."
(—"I have to buy it one way or another...")
Kirito thought and at that moment said to the seller:
—"How much does it cost?"
The Beast Man watched him with his yellow eyes.
**Tick—pling—shhhh**
His tail, which Kirito hadn't noticed until now, moved slowly behind him.
—"Tell me how much you have, kid."
—"Fifteen neurons."
Kirito lied without changing his expression one bit.
The seller blinked.
—"Fifteen? Only fifteen?" His tone became rougher—. "So, you've already spent the other fifteen the system gives you at the start. You're making it hard for me."
Kirito didn't flinch.
—"It's what I have."
But in his second line of thought, he was already calculating:
{—I already know what this is about. If I say thirty, he will take almost all of it. However, this way I ensure that doesn't happen.}
—"Fifteen neurons... A pittance. But..." The seller leaned forward, hands on his knees. His shadow covered part of the blanket—. "Look, I'll be frank. I haven't sold anything all day. So I'm going to do something I normally wouldn't: if you give me the fifteen, I'll accept. All or nothing."
Kirito raised an eyebrow.
—"But you said it was very common."
**Krunk.**
The sound was dry, like a fist hitting a shell. Metaphorical, but Kirito could swear he heard it. Right to his pride as a merchant.
—"I and my mouth... It's true. I said that." He huffed—. "Look, kid, I haven't sold anything all day. You need the Evaluator. I need to close a sale. 13 neurons. All yours. You can take it."
Kirito tilted his head. His expression remained friendly, but his eyes sparkled with a different glimmer.
—"Ten."
The Beast Man blinked.
—"What?"
—"I offer you ten."
**Grrrrr—fzzzz—mm**
The seller's ears flattened back. His yellow eyes narrowed, and a low growl escaped his throat.
—"Hey... Are you taking advantage of my kindness? After I explained to you how it works, what it's for, and even told you why veterans no longer use it? And you're bargaining with me?!"
Kirito didn't flinch. His smile remained in place, soft and professional.
—"I'm grateful for the explanation. Really. But business is business. And as the merchant you are... I'm sure you understand that better than anyone, right?"
—"Ah..."
The seller opened his mouth. Closed it. His fingers drummed on his knees, and his tail whipped behind him with impatience.
—"You're a rookie... but you have the tongue of an old merchant." He huffed—. "Twelve. That's my final offer. You take it or leave it. And I'm serious, kid."
...
Kirito let a second pass. Two. The perfect pause for the seller to believe he was thinking. Then, with an even friendlier smile than before, he nodded.
—"I accept. Deal done."
The Beast Man frowned. His expression shifted from satisfaction at closing the deal to uncomfortable confusion. Something didn't add up. Something in the way the Human had said "I accept" made him feel a tingle at the nape of his neck.
—"I feel like I've been scammed somehow..." —he muttered through clenched teeth, scratching his jaw with a claw—. "...but I don't know what it was."
Kirito said nothing. He simply maintained his smile.
**Fzzzz—shing—Whirrr**
He opened his inventory with a thought.
Twelve pieces of Neurons (₦12)—small metallic disks engraved with a capital N in copper—appeared in his hand. Without taking his eyes off the seller, he tossed them in the air.
**Fzzzz—tin, tin, tin**
The coins spun in a careless arc to one side. The Beast Man didn't look at them. His hand moved instinctively, quick as a spring, and caught them in the air with a closed fist.
**Shhhh**
But before he could lower his hand, something shot out from the blanket.
The prism.
The seller had thrown it in the same fraction of a second.
**Tink**
And Kirito, without diverting his gaze from the seller's yellow eyes, raised two fingers and caught it in the air.
...
Silence.
The Beast Man's eyes widened further. His ears perked up. He looked at Kirito's fingers, then his face, then back at the fingers. The prism was perfectly held between his index and middle finger, motionless, as if it had always been there.
—"Wow..." —he murmured—. "Looks like you have some skill after all."
—"A little." Kirito stored the prism in his inventory—. "Thanks for not looking down on me as much as others."
—"Ha, ha, ha..."
The seller let out a short, tired laugh.
—"I'm too old for that race nonsense. At least you've entertained me for a while. And you've left me ₦12. That's more than I had five minutes ago."
—"And I have an Evaluator. We all win."
—"Yeah, sure. We all win." The Beast Man shook his head, still frowning—. "Although I still think you somehow scammed me..."
—"It's just your imagination..."
Kirito shrugged as he said it.
—"Well, I'm off. Thanks again..."
—"Yeah, goodbye and good luck, kid. You're going to need it."
**Thepm, thepm**
Kirito nodded and walked away from the stall with the [Mechanical Beast Evaluator] in his inventory, twelve Neurons poorer but with something no market seller would have considered valuable.
{—"A Beast Evaluator. They say it's useless. They say it only serves for rookies. But what they don't know is that this little prism contains a structural analysis protocol."}
(—"If I understand how it works, maybe I can replicate it. Or improve it...")
Kirito got lost in the crowd of the market, feeling like he had just bought much more than a rookie tool.
*****
**Thepm, thepm**
The Akibahollow market faded behind, but the hustle and bustle didn't diminish. If anything, it changed tone: fewer street vendors and more murmurs of serious business. Larger shops with guards at the door became more frequent. Passersby no longer carried junk but data briefcases and sheathed weapons of visibly higher rarity.
Kirito moved north, following the directions the system had given him before he left the rooftop. He remembered them clearly:
[—"If you wish to trade high rarity knowledge, head to the 'Cervantes' Auction House. It's the largest exchange institution in Akibahollow. There you can register your knowledge and put it up for sale."]
[Cervantes]
The name sounded familiar. He couldn't place it. Perhaps an ancient writer. Or maybe someone important in the history of this world. It didn't matter now. What mattered was getting there.
As he walked, his mind reviewed the coins he had left. ₦18. 18 copper coins with a ₦ engraved in the center.
{—"I spent almost half of the initial balance on an object that everyone despises."}
(—The object is worth more than they think.)
{—"True. But now we need liquidity. Let's review the monetary system. I saw it in the system files while we walked."}
Kirito nodded to himself and let the information flow through his mind as if it had always been there. His second memory processed it and returned it in ordered fragments:
---
[NEOSPHERE MONETARY SYSTEM]
Currency Material Equivalence
Copper Neuron Digital Copper ₦1 = ¥1 Initial balance, minor sales.
Silver Neuron Digital Silver ₦100 = 100 Copper Accumulating 100 Copper. Converts automatically.
Gold Neuron Digital Gold ₦10,000 = 100 Silver Accumulating 100 Silver. Medium-level transactions.
Platinum Neuron Digital Platinum ₦1,000,000 = 100 Gold Accumulating 100 Gold. High-level transactions.
Crystal Neuron Data Crystal ₦100,000,000 = 100 Platinum Only used in elite auctions and government transactions.
---
Kirito mentally whistled.
(—"One hundred million yen in a single Crystal coin... And I need those for the body...")
{—"You don't need to save. You need to sell. And you need to be paid. That's why I'm going to Cervantes."}
The building appeared before him at the end of the avenue.
It was impossible not to see it. While the rest of Akibahollow had an improvised air, like a city that had grown too fast and had been patched up, Cervantes was something else.
A seven-story structure with a facade of black panels and golden details. The windows were not windows: they were floating screens that displayed real-time active auctions, the prices bid, and the items for sale. A constant flow of users entered and exited through its automatic doors, and above the threshold, in neon letters that changed color according to the time of day, it read:
[CERVANTES — AUCTION HOUSE]
(—"This is Akibahollow. The city of rookies. What will the city of experts be like?")
{—"Don't get distracted. Focus on what's in front of you. Then we'll dream about the rest."}
He shook his head and approached the entrance.
**Thepm, thepm**
Two guards flanked the main door.
They were colossi. Androids over two meters tall, with armored shells shining in black and bronze tones. Their faces were expressionless, just a V-shaped indentation where their eyes should be, from which a faint blue glow emanated.
But what caught Kirito's attention was the third one.
He was an Ogre.
Not like the ones from old movies. He wasn't a deformed or grotesque creature. His skin was a grayish-green, yes, and his lower tusks slightly protruded from his lip, giving him a formidable air. But his features were proportional, almost human. Square jaw, wide nose, small but intelligent eyes. His build was robust, with broad shoulders and thick arms, but he wore an immaculate uniform and bore a badge on his chest identifying him as Security Captain.
Kirito noticed he wasn't the only Ogre. Alongside the Androids, there were other large figures: Beasts with heavy features, a Golem type, and even a female Ogre. She was as tall as the captain, but her features were softer. Her gray skin had a pearlescent sheen, and her large, clear eyes looked at the line of entrants with professionalism.
Still, they all looked at him. The word floated in the air like a barely audible whisper:
—"...Human..."
The pronouncement came from one of the Androids. The tone was the same as the one he had heard in the market. Contempt. Pity. Misunderstanding.
But they did not stop him.
—"..."
The captain gave him a two-second glance. He saw his level. He saw his race. And looked away, as one discards a leaf blown by the wind. With a gesture of his hand, he indicated for him to proceed.
**Tap, tap, tap**
Kirito crossed the doors without saying anything.
And the interior of Cervantes was lavish.
White marble floors with golden veins that looked like circuits. Tall columns with integrated screens displaying real-time auction statistics. A central fountain—not of water, but of data particles dancing in the air like fireflies—marked the meeting point for buyers and sellers.
The side windows were not ordinary showcases: inside floated objects suspended in containment fields. Kirito saw a weapon of Epic rarity surrounded by an orange glow. A Legendary armor, with its red shine, occupied the center of a reinforced display case.
**Glup**
Kirito swallowed.
(—"This is impressive...")
{—"Yes. But it doesn't matter right now."}
The people attending to the customers were Sirens.
Kirito observed them as he advanced toward the main counter. They all had stylized feminine features, slender bodies with pearlescent scales on their cheeks, arms, and calves. Their ears did not end in points but in small translucent fins that glowed faintly when they listened to customers. And they walked. They did not crawl or float: they had two perfectly functional legs.
(—"How? Aren't Sirens supposed to live in water?")
{—"Probably an active racial ability. When they're out of the water, they adopt a bipedal form. Or maybe it's the other way around."}
They were kind to everyone. Kirito saw them interact with Elves, Beasts, Androids, anyone. Professional smiles, elegant gestures, patient explanations. No contempt.
Until he approached one of them.
She was a Siren with silver hair tied in a high bun, with light blue scales on her cheekbones and aquamarine eyes. Her uniform was white and fitted, with golden details matching the Cervantes logo embroidered on her chest.
When Kirito stopped in front of her, the receptionist's smile faltered.
It was just a moment. A slight twist at the corner of her lips. A glimmer of surprise that morphed into something akin to disappointment. Then, with impeccable professionalism, she recomposed her smile. But it was too late.
Kirito had seen it.
{—"Her microexpression lasted zero point eight seconds. Surprise, then distaste, then forced professionalism. She has classified us as low-priority clients."}
(—"I know. I saw it.")
—"Welcome to the Cervantes Auction House," the Siren said with a melodic voice that didn't quite sound sincere. "How can I assist you?"
Kirito smiled.
Despite the Siren's twisted gesture, he smiled. Calmly. Softly.
—"Nice to meet you," he said, slightly bowing his head. "I would like to auction something. A skill."
The Siren's eye twitched.
It was just an irregular blink, an involuntary contraction of the muscle under her pearlescent scale. Her professional smile tightened like a string about to snap.
{—"She blinked asymmetrically. Her facial expression indicates skepticism combined with growing irritation. She thinks we're going to waste her time."}
(—"I know. But I'm not leaving.")
—"A skill...?" the Siren repeated, dragging out the words. "And what would that be...?"
{—"She assumes we have something Trivial. Gray. Trash."}
—"Well," Kirito shrugged nonchalantly, "I can't show it here. It would be inconvenient."
The Siren's smile twisted again. Now it was harder to maintain. Her fingers drummed on the counter once.
—"Is... it necessary?"
—"Yes. It would cause certain inconveniences if I took it out in this place. I think it's very valuable."
Before the Siren could respond, a voice cut through the air from the side.
—"Valuable?"
**Thamp, thamp**
Kirito turned his head. A group of three users had approached the counter. There were two robust Androids and a sharply featured Elf, all above level 30. Their clothes were of high quality, with armor plates and sheathed weapons that shone with Uncommon rarity.
**Thamp**
The one who spoke—the Elf—stepped forward. His gaze scanned Kirito up and down with the slowness of someone examining an insect.
—"Your skill? Valuable?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "If you're barely level one... Human, heh, heh..."
He let out a short laugh that his companions echoed.
—"Look, rookie, people of your kind don't get far in this world. Don't you see you're wasting the lady's time?"
One of the Androids crossed his arms. His voice sounded metallic and deep.
—"Humans don't last long. Level twenty at most, and then they disappear. Move along."
—"We don't want your kind here. You give a bad impression," added the other Android, waving his hand as if shooing a fly. "Come back when you're leveled up, if you even make it."
The Elf smiled smugly and turned to the Siren.
—"Apologies for the inconvenience, ma'am. Please attend to us when you can. We have real business."
The chuckles multiplied among the curious onlookers.
The Siren seemed relieved, as if the group had lifted a weight off her shoulders. Kirito remained unmoved. His eyes were still kind. His posture, relaxed. But inside, something was burning.
It was not anger. It was something colder.
{—"Interesting. Very interesting."}
(—"What thing?")
{—"I just noticed something. Your internal emotional state and your external expression are completely dissociated. Earlier, in Underworld or SAO, such a provocation would have tightened your jaw or ignited your eyes. Now... nothing."}
(—"Is that bad?")
{—"I don't know yet. But it's useful. They see a rookie who doesn't react."}
Kirito brought a hand to the back of his neck and scratched wearily.
—"I just want to do business..." he murmured. "Why do they complicate everything for me...?"
—"Don't you get it? We want..."
The Elf from the group was about to add something else when a voice resonated from the entrance.
—"SHUT UP!"
The shout was like a whip. It was an order. A single word, spoken with the calm of someone used to being obeyed.
...
The entire lobby froze.
The laughter died instantly. Heads turned toward the main entrance. The group of Androids and the Elf slowly turned, their expressions of smugness transforming into something very different upon seeing who approached them.
**Thump... Thump... Thump...**
The footsteps resonated with a defined cadence. It was not the clattering of ordinary soles. It was an elegant, firm sound coming from white combat boots with red reinforcements. Each step made the silence tremble.
And then Kirito saw her.
His first impression was:
(—"A human...")
She had no pointed ears. No scales, no fur, no visible circuits. Her silhouette was that of a human woman with extraordinary proportions. But something was off. There was something in the way the light bent around her body. Something in the paleness of her skin, almost supernatural. Something in her eyes, too intense a red to be human.
Her hair was white. Not an aged, dull, brittle white. It was a youthful, natural white, with a pearlescent shine that caught the light and returned it in silver reflections, as if each strand were woven with moon filaments. It reached her waist, grazing the base of her backside, and moved with each step like a waterfall of liquid silk. Two shorter strands framed her face on either side, giving her a fresh look.
Her eyes. Red. Of an intense red, like ripe pomegranates under the sun. They sparkled with a sharp intelligence. The kind of gaze that assesses everything in seconds and forgets nothing.
Her skin. White. Very white. Almost brushing the tone of a vampire legend, but not sickly. A pearlescent, healthy paleness, like living porcelain. And on that skin, Kirito noticed something strange: light bent slightly when passing near her body, as if an invisible barrier enveloped her.
Her face was a paradox. Defined cheekbones, a sharp jaw, but with a youthful roundness that made her seem younger than her stature suggested. Lips of natural pale pink. And an expression that combined innocence at rest, cunning in motion, and a flash of sensuality when she squinted her eyes.
Her body. Slender yet powerful. Proportioned shoulders, straight back, impeccable posture. Her waist, narrow, tightened by a technological corset that created an hourglass curve. Her chest, generous, cup D brushing E, enhanced by the corset without being vulgar.
Her legs. Long. Framed by a skirt of white and red tones with a side slit that revealed her right thigh. And the boots: high-calf to just below the knee, white with red reinforcements, thick sole with internal heel. Designed to fight and walk with an elegance that made them seem like they had stepped off a runway.
At her hip, two curved daggers. One white with pearlescent reflections. The other red. Blood red. A deep red, almost black at the edges. They gleamed with a brightness that betrayed their high rarity.
On her shoulder, the number:
[Level 150.]
{—"I have analyzed her features. Very slightly pointed ears, hidden among her hair. Mixed bone structure. She is not Human. The system classifies her as Half-Elf. But it is clear that her human blood is dominant."}
(—"Half-Elf. With dominant human blood. I thought I had found another person like me...")
{—"She is not."}
Kirito maintained his neutral expression. He showed no surprise. He showed no disappointment.
—"!..."
—"!..."
—"!..."
The group that had scorned him, however, paled. The Elf who had mocked him opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was a thread of trembling voice.
—"Miss... we were just..."
—"What were you just?" The Half-Elf's voice was silky, almost kind. But there was something beneath that surface that made the three users take a step back. "Disregarding a client? In my presence?"
**Glup**
One of the Androids swallowed.
—"No, we..."—he stammered—"We were just saying that... that Humans..."
—"That Humans what?"
The phrase was not a question. It was a trap.
...
The silence that followed was so thick it could be cut.
**Thump**
**Themp, thepm, themp**
She took a step toward them. Just one. The three retreated three.
She pointed first at the three of them and then at the exit, as she said:
—"You three. Out. Now. Before I decide I want to entertain myself."
**Sssshhh—themp, themp**
**Sssshhh—themp, themp**
**Sssshhh—themp, themp**
No need to repeat it. The group disappeared through the main door as quickly as their legs allowed, stumbling over each other.
Then she turned to Kirito.
Her red gaze swept over him. For a moment, her expression changed. The hardness softened, and a light, genuine smile appeared on her lips.
—"I've heard you have a skill," she said, in a soft but firm voice. "And I must admit I'm interested in knowing what kind it is."
Kirito raised his eyebrows. He recovered quickly.
—"It's true."
—"And? What kind of skill?"
—"I can't show it here. It would cause inconveniences. That's why I asked to see it privately... but the person attending to me still hasn't let me do so..."
—"!..."
The Siren seemed to shrink into herself. The Half-Elf didn't even look at her. Her red eyes remained fixed on Kirito's blue ones, and in them sparkled a curiosity she didn't bother to hide.
—"I can't show it here..." she repeated, savoring the words—"That implies it's something out of the ordinary. Am I wrong?"
—"No, you're not wrong."
Kirito gestured with his hand that he agreed.
—"Good. Then I'll see to it that you are attended to as you deserve."
**Thump**
She turned to the Siren, and her expression changed. The smile vanished.
—"Find the one in charge here. Now."
**Fzzhhhh—krkkk**
The Siren trembled. A visible shudder ran through her scales.
—"Y-Yes... Right away..."
**Themp-themp**
She ran off. Kirito followed her trajectory and shook his head.
—"This was unnecessary..."
—"Don't you think I didn't notice?"
**Thamp**
Kirito jumped. The voice had come from behind his ear. He turned and found her too close. Her smile was different: sharper, more playful.
—"You used me to get your way."
—"You can forgive me... No one wanted to attend to me here. And I felt you were someone a bit more willing to..."
—"Listen to a Human? To a level one Human?"
A small laugh escaped her lips. She covered it with her hand, as if wanting to hide it, but it was too late. The curious onlookers stared in disbelief. She noticed and scanned the lobby with a sharp gaze. Like magic, everyone returned to their business.
Then she turned to Kirito. And she moved.
**Shhh—**
*Temp**
In less than a fraction of a second, she covered the distance and grabbed him by the shirt.
—"You're going to have to show me that skill," she said, her face dangerously close—. "You made me act. And that skill of yours... I want to see it in person."
—"Haaah..."
Kirito sighed. He didn't struggle.
—"Alright. But could you give me my personal space?"
She raised an eyebrow. Then the other one.
—"Wow... You're the first one who wants me to back off."
—"Is that bad?"
—"No. It just makes me more interested."
**Pap**
**Themp**
She let go of him. She gave him a slap on the shoulder —hard enough to make him stumble— and took a step back.
—"Alright..."
—"Thanks for everything...."
**Tsss**
Kirito straightened his shirt. His mind was racing.
{—"She moved in less than zero point three seconds. Even though I could follow her with my eyes easily, with this body I had no chance to react."}
(—"I know. But I need that kind of speed, and more. We'll get it.")
{—"First things first."}
—"You're welcome, but I have my own reasons too..."
She responded with a hint of sadness.
{—"It seems like she has a very bad past."}
(—"True, she has a look I've seen hundreds of times in myself.")
Kirito noticed and thought about it for a moment, but he didn't want to intrude too much since they were still strangers. So he just said:
—"I understand."
**Themp, themp**
Some hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway. The Siren returned, still pale, and bowed so deeply that her fins brushed the ground.
—"Sorry for the wait... The lady is expecting you in the Private Room. Please, follow me."
—"Let's go..."
**Themp, themp**
**Thump, thump**
The Half-Elf nodded and started walking. Kirito followed alongside her.
—"Sorry for not introducing myself. My name is Kirito. It's a pleasure. Can you tell me yours?"
**Thump**
She stopped mid-step. Her head tilted slightly, as if the word had just echoed in some corner of her memory.
—"Kirito...?" —she repeated, savoring the syllables with a curious expression—. "It sounds a bit strange. Did you choose that name?"
Kirito smiled. It was one of those smiles that has been used many times, the type of smile that appears when someone asks the same question again and you already have the same answer prepared.
—"It's a mix of my real name. But everyone knows me by that. And yes, I chose it."
—"Interesting in your own way..." —she murmured, resuming her walk—. "Though... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before."
Her red eyes sharpened for a moment. It wasn't a threatening look. It was the gaze of someone rummaging through a mental file without finding the exact data. Her fingers drummed unconsciously on the hilt of her white dagger.
—"I don't remember where. But I'll look into it later."
—"..."
Kirito said nothing. He simply nodded.
{—"She has recognized the name. She doesn't know from where, but she has stored it. That means 'Kirito' is not a forgotten name in this world."}
(—"The copy. The false Kirito. If he existed for decades in the real world, his name has left a trace.")
The Half-Elf turned slightly. Her smile returned, widening a bit.
—"Well, it's my turn. Everyone already knows me, but seeing as you're level one and a newbie... I'll tell you. After all, you'll find out anyway."
She paused. Her red eyes shone.
—"My name is Shiratsuki... Kirito."
Kirito repeated the name in his mind. Shiratsuki. White Moon. It fit with her hair, her posture, with the light that seemed to bend around her.
{—"Shiratsuki. Japanese name. It means 'White Moon'. That implies she has Japanese ancestry. One of her parents or both. It's a minor detail, but reveals something important."}
(—Half-Elf. Dominant human blood. Japanese name. Level 150. This woman is a box of surprises.)
—"Shiratsuki... It's a nice and beautiful name."
—"I know. My mother gave it to me," —she said, and her smile changed. It was still a smile, but now it contained something more. A mix of happiness and sadness intertwined without erasing each other—. "Now come on. Let's not keep the boss of this place waiting... Kirito."
—"Sounds good... Shiratsuki..."
**Themp, themp**
**Thump, thump**
Kirito nodded and quickened his pace to match her height.
This was the way and the beginning in which Shiratsuki and Kirito met in their lives.
A relationship that would last longer than they ever thought at that very moment.