A few minutes earlier.
While Noah was still negotiating inside the Magic Gold jewelry store, two men were sitting on the terrace of a café right across the street.
Their cups were almost empty.
Their eyes, however, never left the storefront.
“I swear, brother, getting crystals is becoming more and more complicated.”
The man speaking wore a dark jacket worn down by years.
“I’ve been stuck at the third Node for two years.
Two years.
It feels like I’m smashing myself against a wall.”
His companion nodded.
“I get you.
The big agencies monopolize every worthwhile Hole.
We need crystals too, damn it.”
“Then why don’t you join them ?”
The other burst out laughing.
“Because they love rare abilities and exceptional profiles.
And especially because they demand too much discipline.”
He emptied the rest of his coffee.
“And honestly, I hate Holes.”
“Why ?”
“Because they’re dangerous.”
His gaze darkened.
“And because some monsters are truly disgusting.”
He shivered.
“And nothing guarantees that getting a crystal will actually let you advance.
Some people progress in a few weeks.
Others keep crystals for years without forming a single additional Node.”
He shook his head.
“These things aren’t worth the fortunes people ask for them.”
His companion smiled.
“You have to take risks to get what you want.
That’s the law of this world.”
Then his gaze settled on the jewelry store door.
Noah had just come out.
A bag over his shoulder.
Looking hurried.
The man’s smile widened.
“Finally…”
“What ?”
“We can also wait for some sucker to bring a crystal directly into our hands.”
The second man followed his gaze.
Then he understood.
A disturbing smile appeared on his face.
“Ah.”
“There is indeed that method.”
A few minutes later, Noah entered the ice cream shop.
The bell chimed above the door.
He chose a table near the window.
“A strawberry cup, please.”
The waitress took his order before walking away.
Noah sat down.
His gaze drifted toward the street.
‘I’m not sure about their intentions.’
‘But they wouldn’t cause an incident in the middle of downtown…
would they ?’
He discreetly observed the passersby.
No one.
No familiar face.
No suspicious behavior.
‘Then what ?’
‘Am I becoming paranoid ?’
He frowned.
No.
Something had bothered him in front of the window.
A sensation.
An impression.
As if someone were watching him.
As if a gaze followed each of his movements.
‘The manager ?
He looked a little shady.’
After all, only the manager and his assistant knew he had just bought a crystal.
But why would they do that ?
They had already received his money.
The logic did not fit.
“Your order.”
The waitress’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Thank you.”
The cup of ice cream was placed in front of him.
Noah took a first spoonful.
Then a second.
Very slowly.
Ridiculously slowly.
‘If I stay here long enough…’
‘Maybe they’ll give up.’
Or maybe no one was really following him.
Maybe all of this was only a product of his imagination.
One hour later.
The sun was disappearing behind the buildings.
The shops were beginning to close.
Noah checked his watch.
“I have to go.”
The last train would not wait much longer.
He paid the bill, then left the ice cream shop.
The evening air was cooler.
Calmer.
A few hundred meters farther, he heard a sound.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Regular footsteps behind him.
His heart accelerated.
He turned around.
No one.
The sound had vanished.
Silence immediately reclaimed the street.
Noah remained still for a few seconds.
‘I definitely heard something.’
He resumed walking.
One minute later.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
This time, the footsteps were more discreet.
As if their owner was being careful.
As if someone was deliberately trying to stay outside his field of vision.
The shops continued closing.
The street grew silent.
Every sound stood out more.
Noah inhaled deeply, then noticed an alley.
An idea immediately took root.
‘Let’s try.’
His hand plunged into his bag.
His fingers found a syringe, then he abruptly accelerated.
He turned into the alley.
The sound behind him changed at once.
The footsteps accelerated.
‘Perfect.’
Noah pressed himself against a wall at the entrance, motionless.
He waited.
Three seconds.
Four seconds.
Then the sound reached him.
Without hesitation, he stabbed the syringe in front of him, into empty air.
Or at least what he thought was empty air.
“Argh !”
The syringe met resistance.
Human resistance.
The air rippled.
A silhouette appeared.
A thin brown-haired man.
Eyes wide.
Noah blinked.
‘Damn, I really poked someone?
But what is this…
Invisibility ?’
‘No…
optical camouflage ?’
‘Doesn’t matter.’
The syringe was lodged in his shoulder.
“How…”
He staggered back clumsily.
“How did you know ?”
Noah slowly released his breath.
“I suspected it was an invisibility ability.”
In reality, he had not been sure at all.
It was simply the most logical hypothesis.
The man clenched his teeth, then tried to raise his fist.
His arm was already trembling.
“What did you inject me with ?”
Noah shrugged.
“Honestly ?”
He thought for a moment.
“I don’t know.”
‘He stressed me so much I just grabbed the first syringe my hand found in the bag.’
The pursuer’s face froze.
“What ?”
“I was in a hurry.
It could be a sedative.”
He raised one finger.
“Or formalin.”
Then a second.
“Or a neuroleptic.”
The man’s expression darkened.
The silence lasted one second.
“You sick bastard !”
The man dropped to one knee.
His eyes were already losing focus.
Noah smiled. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“Good night.”
A few seconds later, the stranger collapsed unconscious.
Noah crouched.
Checked his pulse.
Still alive.
“Phew.”
He straightened.
‘I could finish him.’
The thought crossed his mind.
Cold.
Practical.
Final.
He looked at the unconscious man.
A simple pressure on the throat.
An additional product.
One more injection.
No one would know.
The problem would disappear forever.
Noah looked away.
‘No.’
‘I’m a researcher.’
‘Not a murderer.’
Then he shook his head.
No.
He was not a murderer.
This man had attacked him.
But that did not justify murder in the eyes of society.
He put his bag back over his shoulder, then headed toward the station.
A few minutes later.
The station finally appeared ahead of him.
Noah was beginning to relax when a whistle cut through the air.
Fuiiiish !
Pain exploded in his leg.
“Aaaargh !”
He collapsed onto one knee.
A dagger protruded from his thigh.
Two silhouettes emerged from the darkness.
The first was massive.
Broad-shouldered.
Bad look in his eyes.
The second…
Noah immediately recognized his former pursuer.
The thin man had already recovered.
The big one sighed.
“Victor.”
His voice was filled with contempt.
“How did you get caught by a guy like that ?”
Victor grimaced.
“I let my guard down.”
His gaze settled on Noah.
“I took him for a beginner.”
Noah clenched his teeth.
‘Shit.’
He had underestimated an Ascendant.
Victor was a third-Node Ascendant.
His body eliminated toxins much faster than a normal human.
A stupid mistake.
He had not taken that into account.
Victor turned toward his companion.
“Fred.
You’re sure he has the crystal ?”
The man narrowed his eyes.
His pupils shifted slightly in color, then he smiled.
“Yes.”
His gaze seemed to pass straight through Noah’s bag.
“The crystal is in there.”
Noah understood immediately.
A perception ability.
Probably some form of vision through matter.
‘So it wasn’t the manager.’
Fred pointed at Noah.
“Now listen carefully.”
Victor cracked his neck.
“You’re going to hand over that crystal nicely.”
Noah straightened despite the pain.
“I paid for it.
It is mine”
A predatory smile appeared on Victor’s face.
“You can resist too.
Actually, I’d prefer you to resist”
His gaze turned icy.
“The syringe you stuck in me earlier left a bitter taste.”
Noah’s heart raced.
Victor took one step forward.
Then another.
“And now…”
His smile widened.
“You’re going to pay for that.
I will crush you, you four-eyes bastard”