> "In places where stars blink out, trade is the last language left." — Archive of the Astral Merchants
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[Location: Hollow Concourse – The Interdimensional Trade Nexus]
Imagine a city stitched between void cracks and nebula strands. Skylines rearranged themselves based on cosmic tides.
This was the Hollow Concourse, the great trading floor beyond realms.
It buzzed with voices—not spoken, but encoded: smells, pulses, languages of heat, memory, even gravity.
Aric entered with Myra and Caelum.
He had one goal: establish his first Void Trade Pact, granting access to cross-realm supply lines and Summon Essences beyond known ranks.
His guild's new reputation—after the Warshade Duel—opened the gates.
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[System Update – Trade Interface Activated]
> Guild Authorization Detected: Concord of Bound Realities
Trade Rank: D+ (Pending validation)
Number of Trade Channels Unlocked: 3 (Limited-tier)
The trio were met by a Trade Auditor, a silver serpent in a suit of floating rings.
"My name is Suvrax. Offer wisely. The Void does not refund ambition."
He placed a contract key into Aric's hand.
> System Notice: Pact Formation in Progress
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[Pact Options Revealed]
1. Bloodroot Compact (E-Rank): Grants access to enchanted flora trades, good for potion crafting. Price: Spirit Residue.
2. Silent Ember Guildline (D-Rank): Weapon blueprints from fallen civilizations. Requires: Deeds of Value (high-tier missions).
3. The Ashen Vault (C-Rank, Locked): Currency exchange for temporal shards. Requires: Rank B- minimum or trusted recommendation.
But a hidden fourth appeared:
> [Glitched Option Revealed: Whisper Market: Rank — Unknown]
Price: ??? (Requires mystery offer)
Aric, of course, chose the fourth.
He offered one memory of his first fear—something even the Nexus hesitated to analyze.
> Trade Accepted. Pact Formed with: Whisper Market
Suvrax blinked.
"You'll either die penniless… or own kingdoms uncountable."
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[Whisper Market Interface Unlocked]
Aric gained:
Silent Bid Protocols – Letting him buy information and summoning materials through metaphysical currency.
Phantom Crate Delivery – Items appear in dreams and shift into reality upon awakening.
Void Ledger – Track all black-tier trades without detection.
The pact came with its own drawback:
> "Any item bought via Whisper Market may carry echoes… intentions… or watchers."
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[Meanwhile – Riftseed Outpost, Shadow Hemisphere]
Deraz stood before his master, kneeling.
The Riftseed general, encased in armor woven from fallen timelines, laughed.
"They made the pact, didn't they?"
Deraz nodded.
"Then we just need to intercept the first delivery… and fracture what he thinks is secure."
A glowing coin spun into the void between them.
"The war for reality's trade has begun."
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[End of Chapter 25]