Part I — The Crystal That Shouldn’t Exist Morning arrived quietly over Ashhaven.
Unlike the endless twilight of the Dead Ruins, sunlight bathed the city in warm gold, reflecting from the towering Guild Headquarters that overlooked nearly every district.
Hunters dressed in polished armor crossed the streets with confident strides while merchants hurried to open their shops before the morning crowds arrived.
Drake stood on the roof of an abandoned apartment building overlooking the Hunter Exchange.
He had been there for nearly twenty minutes.
Watching.
Observing.
Thinking.
The cloth pouch containing the Mana Crystal rested inside his jacket.
It felt far heavier than its actual weight.
Doctor Ellis’s words echoed repeatedly inside his mind.
*Forty-eight hours.* That was all Luna had left before the hospital transferred her into permanent Mana Preservation.
He couldn’t afford to fail.
Yet he couldn’t afford to act carelessly either.
The relic remained unusually quiet.
Finally…
It spoke.
“You hesitate.” Drake’s eyes never left the massive building below.
“I’ve never sold something like this before.” “You know it’s different.” Silence.
Then…
“Affirmative.” Drake slowly removed the crystal from the pouch.
Morning sunlight struck its flawless surface.
Unlike ordinary mana crystals, whose energy appeared cloudy and unstable, this one seemed almost alive.
Blue currents flowed beneath its surface like liquid trapped inside perfectly transparent glass.
Even Drake, who knew almost nothing about mana crystals, could tell the difference.
It was beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
“How valuable is it?” The relic remained silent for several seconds.
Then…
“Insufficient market data.” Drake laughed softly.
“So even you don’t know.” “No.” “But analysis indicates…” Another brief pause.
“This crystal should not exist.” Drake slowly frowned.
“What does that mean?” “It originates from an era preceding current mana crystallization.” His heartbeat slowed.
“…Ancient.” “Affirmative.” The crystal wasn’t simply old.
It belonged to the civilization buried beneath the Dead Ruins.
If anyone realized where it came from…
Questions would follow.
Questions Drake could never answer.
He carefully wrapped the crystal once again.
“I’m not taking this directly to the Guild.” The relic remained silent.
Drake nodded to himself.
“If I walk in carrying an ancient crystal…” “I’ll never walk back out.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Amey_Pagare_1898 this chapter is small now I will introduce new character which will not be a hero or a villain it’s will be some one who will be more dangerous