Chapter 9: Marketplace

The corridor lead to a doorway painted with a barrel and hammer. 

Moira opened the door to reveal a dark abyss. 

She stepped through the door confidently.

Gene stopped walking at the edge of the doorway. 

“Maybe-“

He was cut off as the Caretaker ran into him, pushing him screaming into the void.

Gene closed his eyes and let out a scream.

He did not fall this time.

He opened his eyes and saw Moira standing with her hands rubbing her temples. 

Gene stood up and his words be came stuck in his throat because the name “market” was not accurate.

This was more of a mall the size of a city.

Floating platforms stretched endlessly into the sky, connected to the ground by bridges of light. 

Stalls hovered in midair, some selling weapons, some held spells and artifacts.

There were even a few of them containing what seemed like living constructs sealed in glass spheres. 

Countless numbers of Summoners moved through the market.

Most were in groups, their companions trailing behind them like shadows. 

A few of them rode on magical contraptions or a mystical creature.

Some of them resembled elegant ladies and heroic knights.

Others were towering beasts made of flame and bone.

One figure even walked past him with a floating swarm of mechanical constructs orbiting them like small satellites.

Gene looked down and felt very, very underdressed.

“This is where summoners interact?” he asked.

“Yes,” Moira said. “And also to trade a variety of items.”

A glowing banner blinked above a nearby stall.

⸻

POINT EXCHANGE HUB

Convert Points → Resources

Convert Items → Points

Convert Resources → Domain Expansion

Convert Summons → Points

⸻

Gene’s brain clicked.

“So everything is tied to points.”

“Correct.”

“And points come from fighting?”

“Primarily.”

Gene exhaled slowly.

“So this is basically… competitive world-building.”

Moira gave him a small nod.

“That is one interpretation.”

A loud crash echoed somewhere in the distance.

Gene turned.

Two summons were fighting on a lower platform.

A towering stone golem swung its arm down at a winged beast made of bones and black smoke. 

The impact shattered part of the platform, sending glowing fragments into the air.

A crowd quickly developed as everyone watched casually.

Like this was a normal occurrence.

Gene swallowed.

“People really just… do this all the time?”

Moira answered calmly.

“Yes, usually it happens inside an arena nearby.”

“And nobody dies?”

“Summoners are protected by this domain’s ancient laws.”

Moira reached out and handed Gene a small brochure.

“You can’t truly die here, but you will receive a penalty if you do. Summoners will spawn back in their own domains and receive a countdown depending on the reason for your death.”

“That does not really give me the reassurance I am looking for.”

Moira glanced at him.

“It shouldn’t.”

Gene rubbed his face.

“Okay…So my points let me upgrade my domain, my summons, and my survival chances.”

“Yes.”

Gene flipped through the brochure, “And if I run out?”

“You can become prey for the others.”

Gene looked back at the fighting.

A summoner raised a hand in victory as the stone golem exploded into fragments of light.

The crowd cheered.

Gene felt something settle in his chest.

Not exactly fear.

Not excitement either .

It was more of the conclusion that this place was nothing like the world he once lived in. 

“This world seems to run on imagination,” he murmured.

Moira heard him.

“Precisely.”

Gene looked at her.

“Then I’m totally going to win.”

Moira raised an eyebrow.

“You sound awfully confident for someone who just arrived.”

Gene smiled faintly.

“I wouldn’t be if I came here alone.”

He glanced back at the Caretaker, who stood silently behind him, head tilted slightly as he watched everything and nothing at once.

Gene turned back toward the marketplace.

“By the look of the summons I’ve seen so far, I don’t think this world is ready for the kinds of stories I know.”

A new notification appeared in his vision.

⸻

DOMAIN LINK STABILIZED

NEW OBJECTIVE UNLOCKED:

SURVIVE YOUR FIRST SUMMONER CONFLICT

REWARD: 2000 POINTS + DOMAIN UPGRADE PACKAGE

⸻

Gene read it once.

Then twice.

“Moira,” he said.

“Yes?”

“I think your world just gave me homework.”

She leaned over to look at the notification.

Her expression tightened slightly.

“Then you will need to prepare.”

Gene exhaled.

“Yeah,” he said softly.

“I think I will.”