The Forbidden Encyclopedia wasn't a book made of paper. When the Archivist opened it, the pages were made of pure, solidified light. Omar felt a strange resonance in his chest—the System inside him was vibrating in harmony with the ancient text.
"Read," the Archivist whispered, his voice fading into the background. "But remember: Knowledge is a debt that can never be fully repaid."
Omar placed his hand on the glowing surface. In an instant, his consciousness was pulled out of the Library and into a void filled with shimmering geometric shapes and lines of code that looked like golden veins.
[Synchronizing with the 'Origin Core'...]
[Accessing Restricted Files: The Merchant Initiative.]
A vision flashed before his eyes. He saw thousands of worlds, all connected by invisible threads. He saw "The Architects"—beings of pure energy who created the Systems to prevent the Multiverse from collapsing.
But then, he saw the truth. The Systems weren't just "tools" to help people. They were "Seeds."
"The System isn't here to serve me," Omar whispered, his eyes wide with shock. "It's using me to gather the most valuable resources from every realm... to fuel them."
Every time Omar sold an item, a small percentage of its "Essence" was being sent back to the Architects. He wasn't just a merchant; he was a Collector for the Gods.
But there was more. A specific file appeared, labeled with his name: [Subject: Omar - Earth-01].
Reason for Selection: High "Emotional Debt" Resilience.
Hidden Trait: Ancestry linked to the 'Nomads of the Void'.
System Type: The Greed-Breaker (Experimental).
Omar realized why he was chosen. It wasn't because he was "lucky." It was because his ancestors in the Moroccan desert were part of an ancient bloodline that once traded with the stars. His poverty, his struggle as a porter—it was all a "stress test" to see if he could handle the power without losing his soul to greed.
Suddenly, the vision fractured. A dark, distorted voice—the same one he heard from Malakor's Syndicate—echoed through the void.
"So, the little bird has learned he's in a cage. What will you do, Omar? Will you keep being a slave to the Architects? Or will you join us and become a God yourself?"
Omar pulled his hand back, gasping for air. He was back in the Library, sweating and shaking. Laila rushed to his side, but he barely saw her. He looked at the Archivist, who was watching him with a sad, knowing smile.
"Now you know," the Archivist said. "The System is a contract you signed the moment you opened that door in Marrakech. You can either be their pawn, or you can find the 'Glitch' in the code and rewrite your own destiny."
[Warning! The Architects have detected 'Unauthorized Awareness'.]
[System Update Initiated: 'The Loyalty Trial'.]
[New Objective: Sacrifice your most loyal ally to unlock Level 10.]
Omar's blood ran cold. He looked at Laila. She had sacrificed everything to follow him—her guild, her safety, her life. And now, the "System" was asking him to kill her for power.
Laila noticed his expression. "Omar? What did you see? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Omar clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. He looked at the glowing blue screen in front of him.
"System," Omar said, his voice dripping with defiance. "I am a Merchant. I don't follow rules I didn't write. If you want a sacrifice, find another host. Because I'm about to break the contract."
[Error! Host is showing signs of 'Rebellion'.]
[Security Protocol: 'The Dark Sector Syndicate' has been granted your exact coordinates.]
"Laila, we have to move," Omar grabbed her hand. "The Library isn't safe anymore. The people who made this System... they just sent a hit-squad to finish us."
Outside the library windows, the sky with three moons began to crack. Dark portals were opening, and thousands of mechanical eyes—the mark of Malakor—were pouring through.