Chapter [219] The Black Market.

A vile place. A Cruel Place, a disgusting, humanity-defying, heartless place.

And yet also the place that was important for the economy...that was important for the world.

"Beautiful girls for sale! All virgin!"

*Tok*Tok*

It was a place that Elijah despised, yet he now had to walk through it...

"You look like a healthy young man sir, Do you want to have a go?"

A slave trader approached him...and 'suggested'.

Elijah stopped...his cloak hiding his popping veins...his enraged face...his desire to kill this filth.

Heat emerged from his body...the flames of rage...a rage that sprouted seeing the hopeless faces of anyone, male or female that was reduced to this state...to this cla.s.s.

"No."

He responded...and made his way towards his destination.

He knew...he could not make a mess here...no matter what unless he wanted to be overpowered and killed.

The black market was not something to be messed with...absolutely not.

It was an international organization that was the backbone of the economy, the place even the Government depended on somewhat, along with the a.s.sociation.

He walked through the Black market...his eyes wandering to numerous places as he looked at all the wares the people were selling.

The black market was also a place of solace and trade for smaller merchants...who could not gain any authorization from the a.s.sociation to sell their magic items.

From the smallest magical items, materials, and ingredients to slaves and monsters.

"KRUK!"

Elijah looked at a lizard-type beast being suppressed by awakened employees, It was thrown into a cage and a harness was placed upon it which quietened it up, preventing it from opening its mouth, and then its tail was restricted as well.

Elijah could hear his blood boil...his drake blood boiling in rage...but he had to suppress it...

He hated, loathed his weakness...and gritted his teeth until blood seeped out.

He calmed himself down and continued to go, seeing all manners of inhuman actions being committed...some rather 'crazy' awakened doing it to slaves out in the open.

He lowered his hood even further and finally...he arrived at a particular building.

[Arora Brokers.]

An Agency that housed various types of unauthorized brokers...and his brother was someone that worked there taking all manner of requests from any Client...no matter what it was.

He would get it done.

Elijah took out a red dragon mask from his Inventory and put it on before entering the building.

Heading to the reception, he took out a card and handed it to the receptionist.

The woman, who was also wearing a mask that covered her eyes took out a phone and soon a guard came to Elijah and guided him to his brother's office.

[Number 23].

"Please have a successful interaction."

The guard said and left and Elijah looked at the golden engraving on the door.

'...it was silver before.'

He definitely remembered his brother's office being ranked silver...but in the time he was not here...his brother had advanced to become one of the Agency's most prized brokers...

Elijah gritted his teeth and opened the door.

He entered a lavishly decorated office, which had a small bar on one side, displaying the alcoholism of the owner.

The owner...an incredibly handsome man whose features could be seen even through the mask he was wearing which covered half of his gorgeous face. Bright orange hair and scarlet eyes, reminiscent of Elijah's hair and eyes...a man who behind his table was sitting in an electronic wheelchair.

The man's eyes widened in surprise as he saw his...unexpected customer. The mask Elijah was wearing could not stop him from recognizing his little brother.

Elijah Ardor...stared at his big brother, Elton Ardor...and said.

"We need to talk."

****

Elton Ardor, the first child of Micheal Ardor and Maria Ardor. Possessing a unique blend of both their features and is an incredibly intelligent man.

He was once the pride of the Ardor Family until Elijah was born. But that did not mean his parents mistreated him in any way...Micheal and Maria loved all their children equally.

He was a bright young man. Someone that everyone liked. Someone that was kind, nice, and Caring. Who loved his little brother and sister very much.

Although he wasn't as talented being an Awakened because of his low mana reserves and poor mana control.

Although he wasn't talented as an Awakened like his father was, he didnt really care for being an Awakened. He was intelligent and handsome. That alone had many many perks. He helped his family out in their own business and was the one everyone liked.

He lived a nice quiet life... a life his father very much supported.

He knew of his little brother's talent and wasn't jealous of it in any way. He had dreams of starting a company after graduating from University.

A Dream, an ambition, a life, and a family that was all ruined because of one Event.

The demonic invasion of Aror city.

****

Sirens were heard,

the roars of monsters shook the earth and the screams of the people brought about despair. The city resembled an apocalyptic sight, with destroyed buildings, and corpses, torn and eaten on the ground filled with their own blood. The raging calamity that was wreaking havoc upon the city. Awakened being killed left and right, Monsters being killed left and right, Blood and guts everywhere.

A true scene of h.e.l.l.

"hhuuuhhh"

Elton breathed heavily as he lay on the ground, his body numb as his face licked the blood-covered streets.

'What happened?'

Elton thought...his consciousness fading. It seemed as if the world had slowed down for him...

"CLAs.h.!.+CLANG!"

He heard faint sounds, sounds that rang in his ears continuously as he wondered what was going on...until he suddenly remembered.

Ah...a demon had attacked Aror.

A vicious, vile demon covered in a black aura and wielding a bladed whip.

A demon that brought hordes upon hordes and reaped the lives of many...and was continuing to do so.

He could hear the sounds of fire, of explosions, of a tiger's roar in the distance yet his head, and his body felt heavy.

He tried to move his body but could not, he could only move his neck. And so he did.

And saw the scene of a young boy, a boy he recognized, in front of the very same demon that wreaked havoc in the city.

Eli?

He tried to speak, yet no words came out.

He saw the figure of the boy, bleeding and the demon slowly advancing as he prepared t kill the boy.

Run...Eli run.

He tried to speak but no words came out. H felt helpless...his body felt heavy and then he tried to move...he attempted to save his brother. But then.

He saw why he could not move.

He saw why he was numb,why his body felt nothing, why everything looked blurry why everything looked hopeless.

His legs, from the knee down, crushed under large debris. Compleely turned into mush.

He saw it...and then as if he could not accept it. As if his brain could not process it...could not comprehend it. He fell unconscious...despite his best attempts to try to save his brother...to move...to ignore it.

His world went dark.