Nate flew in from the lowlands on a flying sword as he spotted the market of the Starbreaking Guild in the distance. Wrapped around him were layers upon layers of protections and illusions, a requirement laid down by Kiri if Nate was to be the one to go instead of her. That had been a long debate, with Kiri putting forward that the risk to her was lower than him as—between the two of them—she was the one more likely to survive if discovered.

Nate had to acknowledge she did have some good points. She was more durable than he was and could actually come back from death. Nate hadn’t managed to push his own Abilities that far yet. He could recover from grievous, even life-threatening wounds but he needed to be conscious to activate Art Imitates Life. He knew Kiri didn’t have that limitation. Her body could be obliterated and, as long as her Soul Sanctuary survived and she had enough Divine Energy, she was coming back no matter what. While true immortality might be a myth, Kiri, in Nate’s view, came about as close to it as was possible within Reality’s rules.

That thought made him smile, since he knew for a fact Reality’s rules weren’t immutable. He bent them all the time. Acknowledging his bending of the rules led to the next realisation which was the cause of his subsequent frown. He wasn’t the only one capable of messing with Reality’s rules and that truth was a factor in why they were forced to visit the Starbreaking Guild in disguise.

The key factor, however, was ‘the plan.’ They were, as a team, fairly confident they could’ve walked into the Starbreaking Guild’s southern market where they had met Dorin, and walked out again without an issue. But doing so felt like they would send the wrong message. Being so open and brazen would scare off the weaker teams that would have normally been willing to target them. Additionally, it would also make any traps they laid for the stronger teams seem kind of obvious.

Instead, they were sneaking Nate in. He’d do a little trading, mostly buying information with the Low and Mid Divine Artifacts they had found, while appearing secretive. That way, when the Starbreaking Guild sold the information about where they were headed, the buyers wouldn’t be as spooked. That was the thinking that Nate had, anyway. Whether he was right was yet to be proven.

Still, it was a risk, going in alone. That was why Kiri and Wulfgar were hovering up above the clouds on the Solaris, with some newly minted cannons pointed at the market. If he had to run, they would provide cover. Nate just hoped that it would be enough if he needed to make a quick getaway.

Tucking his helmeted head down, he sped closer to the market with his swirling rainbow eyes on the prize.

*************

Kiri stood with a foot on the Cannon of Last Rites. She, of course, had named it. Nate had wanted to call it a Shaped Destruction Separation Cannon. Her brother, Reality love him, was still terrible at naming things in a way that didn’t just reflect the core Sigils he used. No, Cannon of Last Rites was what this thing was. While it might only reach the level of a Low-Divine Artifact, it would be more than enough to get the attention of anyone not behind some Divine protection. And that was only the first cannon.

“I vote we just fire it,” Frick chimed in excitedly. “Come on, Kiri! Lemme send a warning shot!”

Kiri shot a glare at the rambunctious goblin-spirit. It was growing hard to view him as Nate’s Familiar as their Paths continued to diverge.

“These cannons are Nate’s escape insurance. If you fire the Cannon of Almighty Boom before I give the order, then you better start running because I’ll jam you into the tube and make you part of the second barrage!”

Frick twitched and Kiri tried not to sigh. She was no Big-Ankh, but she was pretty sure that Frick was showing the early signs of a Divine Vessel. He was nowhere near the finish line yet, but the feeling coming off him hinted at more. The problem was that his more was tinged with Chaos. He needed to find a way to get his spiritual head on straight before he truly crossed a line there was no coming back from. She’d speak to Nate about it when he returned.

“No one fires till I say so,” she repeated more calmly.

“No worries, lass. But if we don’t find an excuse to fire it this time… can we find something else to test it on?” asked Wulfgar, his hand stroking the extra-large barrel of the third cannon.

Kiri just sighed.

“Sure.”

Then she ignored how Wulfgar eyed the camp, still stroking the Cannon of Heaven’s Fist and the Gravity runes covering it.

*************

Nate landed calmly, the flying sword that was taller and wider than he was vanishing into his spatial zone. He walked forward with purpose, the black metal assassin’s armour coating his entire body. Unlike his appearance beneath, which was layered with barriers and an illusion along with concealment runes, the armour was his Regalia reshaped.

Dorin walked away from one of the nearby shop entrances, still dressed in the same flowing purple and dark blue robe. For the second time, Nate marvelled at the way the dwarf’s beard sparkled like constellations.

“Welcome to the Starbreaking Guild’s Reaping Bazaar. My name is Dorin Starbeard and I would be happy to show you around.”

Nate repressed a snort. Even the greeting was similar. A rehearsed response like any salesman.

“I’d like to buy information,” he stated. “A private exchange.”

His voice sounded different, muffled by a Sound rune within the Regalia. It was higher than normal and with a singsong lilt not too different from the elves of the Dynasty of the Heavenly Serpent.

“Right this way, then,” replied Dorin, turning on his heel and ushering Nate towards a building that looked kind of like a large, black box. Nate took the time to examine the building with Conceptual Sight as they approached. The Concepts involved were extensive but the core functionality seemed based around the idea of Rebuff. Nate sensed lesser Concepts like Sight, Smell, Hearing, Mana, and even Soul. They must be feeding off the core Rebuff Concept, he decided. As a method for preventing anyone listening in on their conversation, it was quite well done and built, but ultimately only at the Mythic level.

As they stepped inside and the door behind them closed, Dorin took a seat on the other side of the table, sitting down and motioning to a bowl in the centre.

“As you wished for a private conversation, this is as far as The Starbreaking Guild is willing to go on our own. If you provide two units of Divine Energy, in the form of an artifact or directly, the secondary enchantments will activate, warning us if anyone attempts to or succeeds at breaching the protections in place.”

Nate nodded and placed a Low-Grade Divine Artifact in the form of a nut in the bowl. They’d taken it from a tree on their flight here as they raided the place for everything that his Bowl of Divine Seeking could find. The nut was useful, carrying the Concept of Hardness, but ultimately, it was weak and they’d decided to use it for trading. Especially after he’d found out that when a Peak-Grade Divine Artifact that aligned with his Divine Vessel’s Concepts was used, it was twice as effective. A glance at his Status reminded him of the benefits.

Kiri had been incredibly envious and he’d promised that the next Peak-Grade Artifact they found that didn’t align with either of them, they would try and trade for one that was based on Soul or Enduring. Alternatively, something adjacent to those Concepts would do.

Around Nate, the room lit up as the bowl drained the Low-Grade nut and fed the secondary enchantments that had been hidden behind the first. Those secondary enchantments sent veins of gold through the walls as the enchanting circuitry lit up like they were inside a fractured gem and the light outside was trying to get in.

“Truly secretive, then,” commented Dorin, leaning backwards and pulling out one of the slates used by the Starbreaking Guild. “What information do you desire?”

Nate let his Regalia morph away from his head, revealing his face. He took a moment to enjoy the look of surprise on Dorin’s face. Before he could begin asking for anything, Dorin was standing.

“Apologies, Lord Weber. Your Low-Grade will be refunded. If you would do me the favour of covering and concealing yourself again, Head Merchant Wu To’sama requested to meet you should you visit our humble bazaar once more. I am to convey to you that he is willing to pay for the privilege.”

Nate leaned back and tried not to chew his lip. No plan survives first contact was his first thought. The second was that if Kiri thought something was up, she was going to start firing and Nate really didn’t want to be nearby when those cannons went off. The problem was, he was intrigued. Was this a trap? It seemed unlikely since the Starbreaking Guild declared their supposed neutrality in such things.

Of course, they could be lying, and they were merchants. Everyone had their price. Well, almost everyone. He’d never betray Kiri no matter what was offered and he knew she would act the same. But these people weren’t family. Their entire enterprise and, to an extent Path, was based around the accumulation of wealth.

Then again, maybe it was something else. Maybe they just wanted to gather more information on him to sell. If that was the case it kind of played into their existing plan. Normally, Nate would’ve said no to the offer and bid a hasty retreat. But with three cannons pointed at the camp from on high and a painting ready to go to reposition himself onto the deck of the Solaris, he was willing to take the risk and see what this was all about.

“Alright,” he agreed, the paint of his Regalia subsuming his head again as the helmet and mask reformed.

“It’ll only be a few minutes,” promised Dorin, quickly exiting the building and having the door close behind him.

Nate lamented the fact that he couldn’t get up and start studying the enchantments in the walls more closely. He was confident that, if he did, he would be able to detect some new Concepts or how the Concepts were interacting. The problem was that would, of course, send Divine Energy his way, which he very much doubted these walls were capable of concealing. At that point, he might as well erect a giant flag on top saying ‘Second Evolution Divine right here’.

Instead, he waited patiently.

Two minutes later, the door reopened and a bald, old-looking human walked into the black box room alone. He took a seat calmly across from Nate and produced a small, dark red ball that emanated a weak Divine signature.

“Low-Grade possessing the Concept of Clotting. Somewhat disgusting, if you ask me but I believe your surviving bodyguard makes use of a Blood Path. I, unfortunately, couldn’t find anything on short notice that would suit you or Lady Beaufoy. Partially, because we’re not entirely sure what Paths you each follow.”

So that was it, thought Nate. They’re fishing for information on our Paths.

Even beneath the Regalia, something must’ve given him away through his body language, as no sooner had Nate had the thought and the Head Merchant was attempting to placate him.

“I can understand your paranoia, Lord Weber, but rest assured, the Starbreaking Guild wishes to have a long and prosperous relationship with you, Lady Kiri, and the Risen Sun Sect. I was merely attempting to explain why the gift I brought was not directed at either of you.”

“Why?” asked Nate.

“Why do we wish for a good relationship with you?”

Nate nodded, having kept his Regalia covering his head so far. After all, the secondary Barriers on the inside should protect him from an assassin or anyone else that might have been snuck into the room. He hadn’t detected anyone, but his senses weren’t infallible. The right Path, with the right Concepts, and a Peak-Grade artifact or two could likely fool him.

“Normally, I would not be this blunt but I feel your situation warrants it. Your team received six-hundred points each from the Bloodthirsty Demons - Fifth Hell System Challenge. Our teams that locate System Challenges also enter them to gather the appropriate information for sale. I’m aware of what that Challenge was meant to entail and its previous incarnations in other World Reapings. It’s always an army of some sort filled with Mythics, with a selection of Lesser Divine Champions led by a Greater Divine. The maximum points one can earn, should they defeat all the Mythics and Lesser Divine Champions, is two-hundred points.

“That’s a big number for a System Challenge by any measure and has only been accomplished a few times. I know your team managed to kill the Greater Divine leading the army. Something that should be impossible for a five-man team. There were only three of you on the Leaderboard afterward, though. Did the Alchemist not enter the Challenge or did she not survive the battle?”

Nate licked his lips beneath his mask in thought. How far should he take this? Wu To’sama had stated he knew. Not suspected. Even if he was lying, the information the Head Merchant had available to him likely led to his confidence on the matter. And they hadn’t even started talking about the Challenge of Balance yet.

“She died. Wulfgar executed her after she joined forces with the Greater Demon.”

Nate smiled as he saw for the first time a look of shock on the older man's face, brown eyes widening.

“She betrayed you?”

“She was more of a prisoner than a servant. I guess she thought she had a better chance of survival if she agreed to serve the Demon Lord. Wulfgar had been looking for an excuse to kill her for months. We didn’t see a reason to hold him back. Kiri and I dealt with the Greater Divine ourselves.”

Wu To’sama’s lips thinned to a line at Nate’s confirmation.

“I see. Given your current capabilities, I have made the decision, which will be supported by the higher-ups, that we would like to invest in your future. I can tell you that we have significantly raised the prices for any information regarding both you and Lady Beaufoy. To the point where such information is simply unaffordable to anyone participating in the World Reaping.”

Nate nodded, “Thank you, but I need you to do the opposite of that.”

“...what?”

“The top teams have to come after us. If they don’t, Kiri and I are a lock for first and second. We might even be able to keep Wulfgar in third. All the best rewards would go to us. So, they have to remove us for a shot at the prizes. They’ll gang up on us. It’s going to happen one way or another and I am here to make sure that, when it happens, it happens on my terms. So, Head Merchant Wu To’Sama, can you help me?”

Nate leaned forward, letting his Regalia retract around his head so that the old merchant could look him in the eye.

“Oh, Lord Weber, I believe we can help each other. The winds of fortune are about to blow in our collective direction,” replied To’Sama, and Nate saw the glint of avarice in the old man's eyes.