Chapter 10: The Market Executioner
The gate closed behind Aiden with a deep metal groan, echoing through the black chamber like the sound of a coffin lid sealing shut.The air on the other side was colder than the plaza outside—heavy, sharp, and filled with the copper scent of old blood.
A torch flickered to life above him, then another, then dozens more along the walls, each flame burning a dim, unnatural blue.
Shade lowered its body, hackles rising, breath turning into thin mist.
Aiden scanned the room.
The chamber was massive—circular, with a high ceiling lost in shadows. The floor was engraved with long, curved lines that resembled claw marks, as if something enormous had been dragged across the stone again and again.
In the center of the chamber…
Chains rattled.
Aiden tensed.
Something stood there—tall, massive, hunched.Wrapped in black cloth and iron restraints.Its arms bound by thick, spiked cuffs attached to chains that ran into the ceiling.Its head covered by a rusted executioner's mask with a single slit down the middle glowing faint red.
A voice oozed from behind the mask.Low. Heavy.Tired.
"…another climber. Another fool looking for drops."
The Executioner lifted its head.The mask split open—just slightly—and the glimpse of teeth inside flashed like metal.
Shade pressed closer to Aiden's side, tail low.
Aiden didn't speak.He didn't ask questions.He watched.He waited.
The system chimed.
[BOSS: The Market Executioner (Rank B)][HP: 19,800][Special Trait: Blood Debt – Damage increases with each kill on this floor][Warning: Boss is enraged]
Aiden raised a brow. "Enraged before the fight starts? That's new."
Shade growled sharply.
The Executioner pulled at its chains—once,twice,the metal groaning—then snapped them.
Both chains whipped upward, tearing free from the ceiling like paper.
Dust rained down.
Aiden didn't move.He waited until the last second.
The Executioner charged.
The First Clash
The boss swung its massive cleaver sideways—a blade of chipped black steel taller than Aiden.
Aiden ducked under it, barely.The air pressure alone sent dust flying and left a fresh crack in the wall behind him.
Shade shot forward, frost forming under its paws, and lunged for the Executioner's leg.
"Shade! Aim higher!"
Shade shifted instantly—its instincts reacting to Aiden's voice—leaping upward toward the Executioner's arm.
Ice formed around Shade's fangs as it bit into the Executioner's elbow joint.
The Executioner roared, swinging its arm violently.
Shade was flung across the room and crashed into the wall.
Aiden's heart clenched—but Shade stood again, shaking off debris.
"Good."He exhaled."Stay alert."
Aiden activated his skill.
[Drop Maker – Weak Point Mode Activated]
Lines of faint yellow light appeared across the Executioner's body.Some behind armor plates, some on the joints, some on the back.
The Executioner lifted its cleaver again.
Aiden ran forward.
Shade followed.
Break Through or Die
Their rhythm clicked into place:
Aiden struck low.Shade struck high.And through the chaos, the Executioner swung hard enough to break the floor.
A giant vertical cleave dropped toward Aiden.He rolled left.Stone shattered beside him as the blade hit.
Shade leaped at the boss again, biting into a weak point glowing on its shoulder. Frost spread across the boss's armor.
The Executioner roared, steam rising from its mask.
Aiden saw the opening.
He sprinted toward the boss's leg and stabbed the glowing weak spot behind its knee.
His dagger sank deep.
The Executioner collapsed to one knee.
"Shade—now!"
Shade launched, slamming into the Executioner's side, ice exploding outward. The boss staggered.
Aiden pulled his dagger free—
But a thick iron chain whipped across his vision.
He tried to duck—
Too late.
The chain smashed into his ribs, sending him flying.
He hit the ground, lungs emptying, head spinning.
Shade snarled and rushed to stand between Aiden and the boss.
Aiden coughed blood, pushing himself up. "I'm fine. Move."
His ribs throbbed.Breathing burned.But he stood.
He always stood.
The Executioner lifted both cleavers now—one old, one newly formed from its own blood that hardened into a blade.
Its mask glowed brighter.
"…you struggle well… good. Good prey deserves a clean death."
Aiden gripped his dagger. "Not today."
Aiden's Counterattack
The boss charged again.
Aiden didn't dodge this time.He ran toward the attack.
Shade bolted to his left, ice trailing behind it.
At the last moment, Aiden dropped to his knees and slid across the floor, ducking between the Executioner's legs.As he passed underneath, he stabbed upward into the glowing weak point under the boss's armor.
The boss screamed and toppled forward.
Shade seized the moment.The wolf leaped onto the Executioner's back, biting into the weak point near the base of its skull.
Frost spread again—thick and fast this time.
Aiden climbed onto the Executioner's back, dagger raised.
The Executioner thrashed wildly.
Aiden held on with everything he had.
"Hold it, Shade!"
Shade buried its fangs deeper, freezing the boss's movement slightly.
The Executioner tried to stand.
Too slow.
Aiden stabbed downward—once,twice,three times—until the mask cracked and a burst of red mist shot out.
The Executioner staggered.
Its cleavers fell from its hands—
And with a final, earth-shaking groan, the boss collapsed face-first into the stone.
The floor trembled.
Silence fell.
Then—
[BOSS DEFEATED][You have slain: The Market Executioner (Rank B)][EXP Gained: 188,400][Level Up: 22 → 23 → 24][Drop Maker Activated – 3 Drop Choices Available]
Aiden got off the corpse, breathing hard.
Shade limped toward him and pressed its head against his leg, whining softly.
Aiden knelt and checked its injuries. "You'll be fine. Just rest."
Shade curled beside him.
Aiden opened the drop list.
The Drops
Three items hovered before him in glowing windows, each spinning slowly:
Executioner's Mask (Rare – Armor)
Blood Debt Cleaver (Weapon – Trait: Pain Echo)
Executioner's Contract (??? – Sealed)
Market Key Fragment (Floor Progression)
He blinked.
"Four options? But the system said three—"
Another message popped up.
[Bond synergy detected. Companion contributed 41% of total boss damage.][Bonus drop granted.]
Aiden looked at Shade.
"You're doing well, aren't you?"
Shade puffed out a tired, proud breath.
Aiden considered his choices.
The weapon? Too big for him.The mask? Useful but common.The key fragment was required, so that was one.
The Contract, however…It glowed red-black, pulsing slowly, almost like it was alive.
A question formed in his mind."System. What is the 'Executioner's Contract'?"
The answer appeared instantly:
[A sealed oath left behind by ancient executioners.][Can be merged, consumed, or reforged.][Unknown potential.]
Aiden's lips twitched.Unknown meant potential.
"I'll take the Key Fragment… and the Contract."
The two items dropped into his inventory in flashes of red light.
The system chimed again.
[Drop Maker – Hidden Condition Met][New Feature Unlocked: Drop Fusion (Basic)]Combine two compatible drops to form a new item.
Aiden froze.
"Fusion…?"
Shade wagged its tail excitedly.
"Oh, you like that?"
Shade barked—an icy, sharp sound.
Aiden smirked.
"Good. Then we'll use it soon."
He reached down and rubbed the wolf's head gently. "You did good. Let's move."
The chamber door opened by itself.
Light poured inside.
Aiden stood.
Shade followed.
They walked forward together, their shadows stretching long behind them.
And the tower's voice echoed:
[Floor 1 Cleared][Prepare for Floor 2 – The Fractured Arena]
Aiden exhaled slowly.
"Another fight, huh?"
Shade growled in agreement.
Aiden tightened his grip on his dagger.
"Good.Let them come."