Sharp jagged edges of obsidian crystals scraped against Maxine's leather boots. Crimson light pulsed from the cracked walls of the mine, casting long, jagged silhouettes against the damp earth. Heavy air clung to his lungs, smelling of ozone, dried copper, and old rot. Deep within the abandoned shafts of the Crimson Shard Mine, silence was a luxury he rarely enjoyed, but today the tunnels felt unusually abandoned. Whispers of wind filtered through the upper shafts, carrying the distant, guttural growls of subterranean beasts. Maxine ignored them all, his gaze locked on a glowing vein of dark red crystal embedded in the rock face before him. Crimson iron ore. This was the primary reason he had bypassed the safer grinding zones of the starter village. Reaching out, his pale fingers brushed the jagged surface of the mineral node. Glowing blue text materialized in his field of vision, hovering in the dim space. System notifications pulsed gently, requesting confirmation for his specialized command. Without hesitation, he whispered, "Extract." Blue light flared from his palm, wrapping around the mineral vein like hungry vines. Ten-thousandfold amplification triggered instantly, sending a violent shudder through the stone wall. Pure Divine Blood-Iron filled his inventory slots in massive, glowing stacks, their quality elevated to heights normal players wouldn't see for years. With a cold smile, he watched the numbers skyrocket, his mind cataloging the materials with mechanical precision. Suddenly, a soft rustle broke the quiet hum of the mine, a sound too light to be a monster. Footsteps echoed from the darkness of the main tunnel, deliberate and synchronized. Six figures stepped into the crimson-lit cavern, their weapons already drawn and glinting in the dark. Maxine slipped backward into the shadow of a massive crystal pillar, his breath slowing to an absolute stop. They wore matching sets of iron-trimmed leather armor, a rusted fist emblem embossed on their chest plates. Iron Pact mercenaries. Julian's early-game syndicate was already hunting him, reacting with terrifying speed to the regional broadcast. A scarred man leading the group raised his hand, signaling the others to halt. "He's in this sector," Logan muttered, his voice echoing off the damp stone. "Find him and end him before he can use that spatial skill again." Maxine analyzed them from his hiding spot, his eyes scanning their equipment. Every single one of them was between level 12 and 14, possessing optimized gear meant for hunting elite targets. Standing silently, he felt no fear, only a cold, clinical curiosity about how much their stats would yield. Julian must have mobilized his forces the second the regional broadcast went live, eager to snuff out any threat. Instead of running, Maxine stepped out from behind the crystal pillar, his expression entirely blank. Glint of the Void was already primed in his mind, the cold energy swirling through his veins. "Look no further," Maxine said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. Startled, the mercenaries spun around, their weapons raised in a defensive posture. "Sovereign!" Logan sneered, a wicked grin spreading across his face. Before Logan could even issue the order to attack, Maxine disappeared. Darkness swallowed his form as he slipped into the void, leaving behind a faint scent of ozone. Reappearing directly behind the group's archer, Maxine drove his dagger deep into the man's throat. A wet gasp was the only sound the archer made before his health bar depleted to zero. Before the body could dissolve into digital pixels, Maxine placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "Extract," he commanded. System windows flashed in a rapid succession of neon blue. Ten-thousandfold multiplier applied to the extracted targets. Divine God-Fiend Spear Mastery flooded his consciousness like a torrential downpour of ancient memories. An unbelievable surge of physical agility racked his frame as his Agility stats multiplied ten-thousandfold. Time slowed to an absolute crawl. Dust motes suspended in the air froze in place, and the falling blood droplets hung suspended like glass beads. Instincts he had never possessed suddenly felt as natural as breathing, mapping out the entire cavern in his mind. Grabbing the heavy ash-wood spear from the dissolving hands of the dead archer, Maxine shifted his stance. His grip tightened on the shaft, feeling the perfect balance of the weapon as if he had trained with it for a thousand lifetimes. Four mercenaries remained, their movements looking like sluggish insects trapped in amber. With a single fluid step, Maxine closed the distance to the nearest shield-bearer, the ground cracking under his feet. He lunged forward, the spear point transforming into a streak of blinding crimson light. A heavy iron shield shattered like cheap glass under the sheer velocity of his strike. Piercing through the metal, the spear point drove deep into the mercenary's chest. "Extract," Maxine whispered, touching the dying man's shoulder. System notifications chimed in his mind once more, updating his interface. Unbreakable Adamant Aegis talent unlocked and multiplied. Strength stats soared by another massive margin, multiplying ten-thousandfold. Every muscle in his body thrummed with the power of a minor deity, the sheer pressure causing the cavern walls to groan. Violent shockwaves rippled outward from his feet, cracking the solid stone floor of the mine. Sweeping the spear in a wide, devastating arc, he unleashed a wave of compressed air. Splintered rock and dust exploded outward, tearing the next two mercenaries to shreds before they could even scream. Blood painted the cavern walls, mixing with the glowing crimson shards. "Extract," Maxine muttered, his voice dropping to a dangerous quiet. More stats, more talents, more power flowed into his body, expanding his capacity. Standing amidst the digital ash and blood, Maxine looked down at his hands, watching them remain perfectly steady. Looking closely, he realized his heart rate hadn't even elevated. No adrenaline surged through his veins, nor did his breath catch in his throat. His chest rose and fell in a slow, perfectly mechanical rhythm. Human lives were no longer lives to him; they were merely raw materials to be harvested. A chilling realization settled in his chest, cold and heavy. He was actively losing his humanity, replacing it with a cold, calculating machine. This realization didn't bring him fear; it brought him a profound sense of satisfaction. Walking slowly toward the last surviving mercenary, Maxine dragged the spear behind him, leaving a thin trail in the dust. Logan cowered against the cavern wall, his legs shattered by the previous shockwave. Blood dripped from Logan's lips as he stared up at Maxine with wide, terrified eyes. "Who ordered this?" Maxine asked, his eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction. "Tell me everything, and I might make your death quick." Spitting onto the cold stone, the man laughed. The dying mercenary leader sneers, coughing up black blood: "You think you're ahead? Julian already purchased the deed to this entire valley in the real world."

Chapter 4: Blood in the Crimson Shards