After the incident at the Black Market, an uproar had swept through 'Iron-Cliff City.' Everyone was talking about that golden "Dollar."
Lady Scarlet summoned Vikram to her private laboratory. She was watching footage from the Black Market on a screen, witnessing how Dollar had decimated everything in a single second.
"You mentioned that 'Shadow Sect'," Scarlet asked, turning toward Vikram. "Is this 'Dollar' a senior member of your sect?"
Vikram breathed a sigh of relief internally. His plan was working.
"I... I am not sure, My Lady," Vikram said, feigning fear. "But there was a prophecy in our sect that when a disciple is in trouble, a 'Golden Shadow' will come to protect them."
Scarlet's eyes gleamed. "Interesting. That means if you are in danger, he will appear again."
She ordered with a cruel smile, "Tomorrow, you will enter the 'Death Maze.' There is a 'Crystal Beast' there whose heart I require. If you die, then you were simply weak. And if 'Dollar' comes to save you... then we will capture him."
The Next Morning – In the Barracks
Before leaving for the mission, Vikram drank the 'Gene Solution' he had looted from the Black Market while posing as Dollar.
As the solution slid down his throat, his body felt like it was on fire. The Base Structure of his 'Super God Body' began to strengthen.
[Origin Gene +10]
[Origin Gene +15]
[Current Origin Gene: 45/100]
[WARNING: Due to the increase in Base Body strength, the time limit for 'Origin Spirit God Body' has been updated.]
[New Time Limit: 50 Seconds]
Vikram clenched his fists. "Only an increase of 20 seconds. But at this level, every single second counts."
He focused his consciousness on 'The Story of Genes'. He needed a new technique that could make him dangerous even without 'God Mode.' He recalled the 'Coin Toad' technique from his previous world.
"There is no Coin Toad here," Vikram thought. "But with 'The Story of Genes', I can mold my energy in the same way."
He merged his 'Yin' and 'Yang' energies and compressed them into the shape of a small coin. It wasn't easy, but soon, an invisible, heavy coin of energy formed on his palm.
Afternoon – Death Maze
This was an ancient tunnel built beneath the city. Vikram was moving forward alone, but he knew that Scarlet's Spy Drones were watching him.
Suddenly, smashing through the wall, a gigantic beast emerged.
[Armored Rhino – Primitive Level (Peak)]
The Rhino charged at Vikram.
"I have to hide my true strength, but I must kill it too," Vikram thought.
He used the 'Super Spank' footwork. He drifted in the air like a leaf and jumped right off the Rhino's horn.
The Rhino's armor was too thick. Ordinary swords were useless.
"Yin-Yang Blast!"
Vikram placed his palm on the Rhino's back. Instead of inflicting external damage, he sent his energy inside the Rhino's body as 'Yin' (soft power) and then converted it into 'Yang' (explosive power).
Boom!
An explosion occurred inside the Rhino. It stumbled, but didn't fall. This beast was too strong.
Just then, Vikram felt a chill run down his spine. It wasn't fear of the Rhino. It was something else.
A thin shadow emerged from the darkness. It was a 'Void Assassin'—a killer sent by the Duke to eliminate Vikram. And the worst part was, Scarlet's drones couldn't see into this dark corner.
The Assassin's speed was far superior to Vikram's 'Base Body'.
Slash!
A deep wound appeared on Vikram's shoulder. If he hadn't sensed the danger beforehand using the 'Dongxuan Sutra', his head would have been severed from his body.
"You're going to die, boy," the Assassin laughed.
Vikram looked around. Far from the drone's view, there was a blind spot.
He stumbled and ran into that dark corner.
"No use running!" The Assassin leaped after him.
But as soon as the Assassin reached the dark corner, Vikram was gone.
There was only a golden light.
[Origin Spirit God Body: Active]
[Mode: Dollar]
Before the Assassin could understand anything, an armored figure appeared before him. The figure's feet were not touching the ground.
"You... who are you?" The Assassin trembled.
"God," Dollar's mechanical voice echoed.
The Assassin attacked with his dagger. But the blade passed right through Dollar's body, as if striking smoke.
[Physical Attack Effect: 0%]
Dollar raised his hand. Between his index finger and thumb was a glowing coin.
[Imagination Becomes Reality: "This coin is as heavy as a mountain."]
Dollar flicked the coin onto the Assassin's chest.
As the coin hit the Assassin's armor, it turned sticky and adhered to it.
"What kind of joke is this?" The Assassin laughed. "A coin?"
But the next moment, his laughter turned into a scream.
Crack-crack-crack!
The Assassin's knees shattered. He collapsed to the ground. He felt as if the entire sky had fallen upon him. The coin wouldn't budge, and its weight was increasing every millisecond.
"Infinite Weight..." Dollar said softly.
Then, Dollar vanished. He didn't walk. Faster than the speed of light, he teleported behind the Assassin.
[Elimination of Distance]
"Time is up," Dollar said.
He used the 'Sonic Thunder Punch', but amplified with the power of the 'God Body'.
BOOM!
The Assassin's body was vaporized. Nothing remained—no blood, no bone.
[Time Remaining: 15 Seconds]
Vikram immediately deactivated his 'God Mode'. He reverted to his true (injured) state and lay on the ground as if he had been knocked unconscious by the Assassin's attack. He positioned himself to make it look like Dollar had saved him and vanished.
A While Later
When Scarlet and her soldiers arrived, they saw the Rhino lying dead (from the Yin-Yang Blast) and the Assassin completely erased. Vikram was unconscious, and near him, a gold coin was embedded in the ground.
Scarlet picked up the coin. It was still so heavy that Scarlet had to use her Gene Power just to lift it.
"Dollar..." Scarlet's eyes held both fear and excitement. "He really came. And he erased the Duke's best assassin as if he never existed."
She looked at the unconscious Vikram. "Take this boy to the hospital. He is no longer just a slave... he is the key to summoning Dollar."