The next day.
As Vincent descended the stairs in his usual attire, complete with his Shifting Visage mask, his gaze met the ever-stoic bartender of the Newcomer's Lounge, Rednetrab. The man was dutifully wiping down a glass, as if the act were a sacred ritual.
"Seems you had a fun night, eh?" Rednetrab remarked. Though his tone was devoid of overt emotion, Vincent couldn't shake the feeling that there was a teasing undertone lurking beneath the words. Hidden by his mask, Vincent managed a wry smile, unwilling to confirm or deny the implication.
The morning had been an interesting ordeal, to say the least.
When Vincent woke up and took his first step, his body betrayed him, and he nearly collided with the door. His reflexes barely saved him from a humiliating crash. He realized, once again, just how unaccustomed he was to his recent power surge. Navigating his own movements felt like learning to walk all over again. If not for his quick reflexes, the tally of bruises and broken furniture would have grown significantly.
The drastic leap in his power had left him struggling to control his newfound strength. He knew he needed to adapt quickly, or more accidents would follow.
"I apologize for the racket last night," Vincent said in an apologetic tone of voice.
Rednetrab, however, didn't respond. He simply continued cleaning the glass in his hand, his focus unwavering.
'Does this guy ever run out of glasses to clean?' Vincent mused internally before retrieving ten Origin Crystals from his storage ring. "This should cover the damages to the room," he said, tossing the crystals toward Rednetrab.
Unfortunately, his casual throw sent the crystals flying at an alarming speed. They embedded themselves into the bar counter with a loud crack, creating several deep fissures. Moments later, the counter split cleanly in half, leaving Rednetrab wide-eyed as he stared at the destruction while still holding the glass he was cleaning.
Other patrons turned their heads, startled by the commotion.
Stunned by his own strength, Vincent froze. He really needed to figure out how to manage his power better. Awkwardly, he walked forward and gently placed another handful of Origin Crystals next to the bartender. He didn't dare toss anything again, worried he might accidentally kill someone next time.
After settling his debt, Vincent left the lounge and headed toward the Novice Center. However, instead of taking the usual main road, he decided to explore the outer district's market.
The market was bustling with activity. Origin Warriors filled the streets, browsing through countless stalls brimming with goods.
"Selling uncommon-grade Spire Horn Staff! Only 4,000 Crystals!"
"Get your Lesser Pyre Drake Leather Armor here!"
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"Rare items from the Vicious Violet Forest—don't miss out!"
The shouts of vendors echoed across the market, but nothing particularly caught Vincent's attention. Just as he was about to leave, a voice called out to him.
"Kind sir, care to check out my wares?"
Vincent turned to find a cloaked figure whose face was obscured. Judging by the voice, the person seemed to be middle-aged.
Out of habit, Vincent activated his Heaven Eyes skill to gauge the individual's strength.
Hyktor Deus — Tier 2 (5★).
'Another Peak Tier 2 Origin Warrior?' Vincent thought. That made three he had encountered so far, including Caelius and Old Bone.
"I just got some fresh stock this morning," Hyktor said, pulling aside a cloth to reveal a square cage beneath.
"Take a look."
Inside the cage were several unusual creatures: red, chick-like beings, blue-feathered sparrows, and an overweight, gray rabbit that seemed oddly out of place. Curious, Vincent examined them using his Heaven Eyes.
Ruby Chick — Tier 1 (1★)
Type: Winged Primal Pet
Potential: Tier 3 (2★)
Blue Cloud Sparrow — Tier 1 (1★)
Type: Winged Primal Pet
Potential: Tier 3 (3★)
Pig Fate Hare — Tier 1 (1★)
Type: Unknown
Potential: Unknown
Vincent's eyes widened beneath his mask as he absorbed the information. While the potential of the first two creatures was impressive, the gray rabbit's unknown potential intrigued him even more.
"Unknown?" he muttered. "What does that mean?"
The vendor noticed Vincent's interest and seized the opportunity. Rubbing his hands together, he said with a sly grin, "What do you think, kind sir? These adorable creatures make perfect gifts for a girlfriend or someone special."
Ignoring the pitch, Vincent asked, "What's a primal pet?"
Momentarily taken aback, the vendor quickly recovered and explained, "Primal pets are tamed primals meant to be companions rather than fighters. Even as adults, they have minimal combat abilities."
Vincent nodded thoughtfully. "How much for them?"
Hyktor's eyes lit up with excitement.
"For the Ruby Chick, just 2,000 Origin Crystals! It's a steal, considering its fire affinity makes it a popular choice among young girls. Its natural warmth makes it a perfect cuddle companion."
Without pausing, he added, "The Blue Cloud Sparrow is priced at 4,000 Crystals. It's favored for its potential as a flying mount, though it rarely grows large enough to carry a person. Plus, it's highly intelligent—far more so than the Ruby Chick."
Vincent stroked his chin, feigning consideration.
"Hmm... 4,000, you say?"
Finally, he pointed at the gray rabbit. "And that one?"
The vendor hesitated, his expression momentarily dubious. 'Why is he interested in that useless rabbit? It's practically a waste of space,' he thought. Still, he maintained his composure.
"That one?" Hyktor said with a forced chuckle.
"It's nothing special. All it does is eat. But if you're interested, I'll throw it in for free if you buy one of the others."
Vincent remained silent, lost in thought. He suspected the vendor was unaware of the rabbit's true nature.
Hyktor, mistaking Vincent's silence for hesitation, quickly made a new offer.
"Alright, how about this? Instead of 6,000 Crystals for the two, I'll give you all three for just 5,800."
Vincent raised an eyebrow. "5,000."
"That's way too low!" Hyktor protested. "5,700."
"5,100," Vincent countered.
"5,600!"
"5,200."
The back-and-forth continued until finally, the vendor sighed in defeat. "5,400! That's as low as I can go."
"Deal," Vincent said nonchalantly, shaking the vendor's hand to seal the agreement.
He handed over the Origin Crystals and received the cage containing the three primal pets. Before leaving, he asked, "Is there anything I need to know about taking care of them? And how do I bring them out of the Origin World?"
Hyktor, now gleefully counting his earnings, replied, "To bond with them, just feed them your Origin Energy. Once they accept it, they'll recognize you as their master. As for food, they can eat almost anything, but they especially love Origin Crystals."
"So they like eating money," Vincent muttered dryly.
Hyktor chuckled. "And to bring them out of the Origin World, you'll need either a Primal Pet Storage or a Capture Ball. But just so you know, both are expensive and rare—especially here in the outer district."
"So you sold me pets I can't even take out of this world," Vincent remarked.
Hyktor shrugged with a sly grin.
"Hey, no one forced you to buy them."
He simply ignored the Vendor and left the market.
"Thank you for your business, kind sir!" the vendor called after him, waving cheerfully. Once Vincent was out of sight, Hyktor glanced at the bag of Origin Crystals and smirked.
"Hehe, another day, another fool," he muttered, planting a kiss on the bag.