Alex slipped out of the Voss estate just after dawn, hood pulled low over his face. The servants were still stirring, and his brothers bound by the one-month silence bet—could only glare as he passed.
Giles gave him a knowing nod at the side gate, pressing a small pouch of extra gold into his hand.
"Be careful in the lower districts, young master. The markets bite harder than the arenas."
Alex smirked. "Good. I need the practice."
The capital's upper rings gave way quickly to the sprawling lower markets, a chaotic maze of wooden stalls, shouting vendors, and narrow alleys thick with the smells of spiced meat, forge smoke, and unwashed crowds.
Commoners brushed past guards. Street kids darted underfoot. In one corner, two grizzled men dueled on a chalk-drawn mini-arena, bets flying as their summoned skeletons clashed.
Alex kept his hood up and his noble bearing dialed down, no embroidered sleeves today, just plain brown cloak. He wanted to browse without drawing attention.
His goal: the card traders' row. With 1,200 gold and three Epic scrolls to barter, he could push his deck further before the tournament qualifiers.
He stopped at a stall draped in faded purple cloth. An old woman with rune-tattooed arms eyed him.
"Commons and Rares for sale. Epics if you've got something worth trading."
Alex slid two Epic scrolls across the counter without showing his face fully. Her eyes widened at the quality, not the buyer.
"For those… take your pick."
His gaze landed on a glowing card half-buried under others: Gremlin Bombard.
The image showed a battered wooden barrel packed with manic gremlins. Each clutched a bundle of crude firecracker bombs—bright red fuses already lit, sparks flying. Their grins promised chaos.
Cost: 3 Aether. Perfect for the cycle.
He traded one Epic scroll and 300 gold. The card warmed in his hand as ownership transferred.
The moment it settled into his deck, a chorus of high-pitched, overlapping voices erupted in his mind.
"New boss! Throw us! Throw us!"
"We got boom-booms ready!"
"Stick the crackers right in their tower—kablam!"
"Hey boss, you listening? We wanna explode today!"
Alex paused mid-step, closing his eyes briefly.
Easy, crew. Save the fireworks for when it counts. We'll get a good push soon—promise.
The voices quieted to excited mutters. "He talks back… nice boss…"
He'd started doing this instinctively after the first duel—treating the voices as teammates, not tools. The Shieldbearer had grumbled less. The Ravager charged harder. Even the Gremlin Horde fought smarter when he acknowledged them.
The old woman cackled. "Strong batch. Careful... they get sulky if ignored."
Alex pocketed the rest of his purchases, extra Common scrolls, and moved deeper into the alleys where black-market traders hid.
That's when he felt the tug on his coin pouch.
He spun and grabbed a small green wrist mid-theft. "Gotcha."
The thief yanked her hood back defiantly, revealing emerald skin, pointed ears, and sharp amber eyes. A goblin girl, sixteen maybe—lean and quick, dual daggers at her belt. A worn deck pouch hung beside them.
She glared, but recognition flickered across her face.
"You're… Elias Voss." Her voice was low, surprised. "Even with that hood... Scrying orbs showed your duels yesterday clear enough. Beat Cole in the Pits, then your own brother in the family garden. Whole lower district's talking about the 'Voss trash who finally woke up'."
Alex released her wrist slowly. "Word travels fast."
"Lira," she introduced herself curtly. "And before you call guards, I only lift from those who can afford it."
A sudden shout cut her off. Three burly men in gang colors shoved through the crowd.
"There's the little rat! Stole from the wrong crew!"
Lira tensed. "Great timing."
Alex stepped half in front of her. "Friends?"
"Debt collectors. I… liberated a card from their boss."
The men closed in, fanning crude cards.
Alex sighed. "New deal. You guide me to a real black-market dealer, one with Rare upgrade materials, and I'll handle these."
Lira stared like he'd suggested flying. "You'd fight for a goblin thief?"
"Not for free," Alex said, grinning. "You guide, I clear. Then we talk about that stolen card."
She hesitated only a heartbeat, then flashed a sly, fanged smile.
"Deal, Voss boy. But don't cry when they break your face."
The lead thug laughed, eyeing Alex up and down. "Look at this some pretty-boy thinks he's a hero now, stepping in to save his little goblin girlfriend."
Alex shrugged off his cloak just enough to reveal the glowing deck at his hip. "Three of you. One mini-arena. Quick version."
A chalk circle was scratched. Onlookers formed a ring, street entertainment.
No timer. First to destroy the practice tower wins.
The thugs rushed sloppily: Berserkers + Shadow Imps.
Five fur-clad maniacs burst forward in a roaring starburst, axes raised high, while a screeching cloud of leathery shadow imps dove from above, fangs glinting in the dim light.
Alex defended clean: Ward Post pulled the howling berserkers, Spear Throwers chipped the diving shadow imps, Gust Burst scattered the swarm mid-air.
Then he punished.
Boar Vanguard bridge.
Grimgut thundered forth, Kora whooping as they smashed through the berserkers—axes clanging uselessly off armored hide.
The crowd cheered.
Lira watched intently as Alex cycled, Gremlin Horde split pressure, Ravager cleanup.
For the finisher, he dropped the new Gremlin Bombard.
The barrel rolled silently across the dirt, fuses hissing softly. Then—KABOOM.
Six gremlins burst out in a shower of splinters and sparks, hurling firecracker bombs that exploded in bright red flashes around the remaining thugs' troops.
They swarmed the practice tower, sticking lit crackers directly into cracks and joints—chain reactions popping one after another.
"Boom for boss!" the voices cheered in his head.
The tower shattered in a final plume of smoke and embers.
Duel over in ninety seconds.
The thugs fled, cursing.
The crowd tossed coppers Alex's way.
Lira approached slowly, arms crossed, trying to hide how impressed she was.
"Not bad. For a noble."
Alex collected the winnings.
"Your turn. Black market?"
She sighed dramatically. "Fine. Follow me. But if you rat me out later, I'll haunt your nightmares."
As they slipped deeper into the shadows, Lira glanced sideways.
"Your gremlins… they fight like they want to be there. Not just following orders. I heard them cheering in the explosion."
Alex shrugged. "I talk to them. They talk back. Simple."
She went quiet, studying him.
"Nobles don't do that. They shout commands and ignore the voices. Treat us like tools."
"Us?"
Lira's ears twitched. "Gremlins. My tribe's from the Bone Wastes. Most summoners who get Horde or Bombard cards… they just see disposable swarm."
She kicked a pebble. "You actually listen. That's… new."
Alex didn't respond immediately. The Gremlin Bombard voices were still giggling in his head about the explosions.
Lira stopped at a hidden door in an alley wall.
"Black market's through here. But it's not cheap... or safe."
Alex nodded. "Lead on."
Behind them, the new Gremlin Bombard card pulsed warmly.
And among the chaotic chorus of voices, one was already sharper, more curious than the rest.
Watching him.
Waiting for the right moment to speak up.