Ning Shan's journey toward the nearest elevator was uneventful. Nathan regretted having to leave abruptly, yet he had no choice. Some matters required his attention, and he couldn't afford to stay any longer now that his location was known to the broader world.

  There were no teary-eyed goodbyes, however. Nathan merely invited Ning Shan to join him on the 20th level, even promising to hire him as his personal bodyguard, something Ning Shan promptly declined. The offer simply didn’t align with his own goals. He had no wish to be restricted to a small corner of the Cradle when a wider world awaited him.

  “I still can’t believe you let him leave just like that. Shouldn’t you have thought about it more before turning him down?” Sera asked, unable to hide her disappointment.

  “So I can latch on to his success?" he scoffed before walking away. "I imagine there are already enough trying to do just the same. Refusing would probably be seen as refreshing."

  “You have no idea how hard life can be here," she replied, her tone slightly harsher. Ning Shan could clearly feel it was laced with her own past experiences. Still, he wasn't inclined to ask.

  “Living life is already hard," he said, if slightly uncaringly. "Anyone's struggles don't make them any more special than others."

  “You’re heartless,” she spat.

  “Not any more than most,” he shrugged. “I’m just as selfish as everybody else.”

  Without a word, she followed suit. While they had their differences, Ning Shan was the only one she knew now, the only one still willing to associate with her. Although she knew the dangers that came with this man of unknown origins, she figured the rewards would be worth the risk.

  “What now?” she asked.

  “I doubt Nathan's influence will last long," Ning Shan pondered out loud. "Sooner or later, whoever was behind those drones will come strolling back to finish the job, and I need to be ready for that day. In any case, my course of action is clear."

  Ning Shan strolled away from the southern elevator, going eastward. The Cradle was separated into different layers, each over a mile apart. With the constant darkness, one could only see the vague glow of the above layer, shining down, barely illuminating the layer below. However, this dim light was enough for most people to live their lives. After all, this darkness was all they had ever known.

  Each layer was a circular ring fastened on the crater's wall by countless anchors. It was also kept afloat by countless generators producing some sort of anti-gravity field, allowing each layer to levitate in place.

  In each ring's centre was an enormous gulf that spread from the crater's top, allowing The Pillar to pierce through, down to the dark abyss below while The Pillar hovered midair, reaching only up to the fifteenth layer. As for why the lower layers possessed the same shape despite not needing to, even Sera had no idea. She only believed things to be the way they were.

  In each of the four cardinal directions was a large elevator spanning the whole height of the crater. However, according to Sera, those elevators stopped at the sixth layer, unable to go further. There seemed to be only two options to reach the bottom: pass through the government checkpoint or simply jump down, hoping you'd survive the fall. While Ning Shan was interested, he had no intention of doing something he couldn't undo.

  There was no elevator on the east side. Instead, a giant fissure spanned the length of the wall, from the top down to the bottom. People merely speculated about how it came to be, as there was no tangible evidence. All that was recorded was that one day, the Pillar shook with such force that it opened a fault line within the rock, almost destroying the Cradle in the process.

  Ning Shan raised his head and couldn't help but wonder how much force would be necessary to create such a large wound on the stony surface. After all, the cliff was strong enough to support the entire weight of multiple city layers. To carve such a deep crevasse within the earth was beyond mortal means. Only a natural disaster could achieve such a thing. Still, this very crevasse was his target.

  “Are you intending to enter the Shaft?" Sera asked, frowning slightly. "I must warn you. It is much more dangerous than people make it out to be. Countless people get lost each year, disappearing without any traces."

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  "You don't have to come with me, you know?" he replied, yet his stride didn't falter.

  He had braved much more dangerous environments in his youth, from hidden battlefields lost within closed-off dimensions to the ruins of bygone empires teaming with the spectres of ages past. This mere labyrinth wouldn't give him pause. He would conquer it just as he had done so many times before.

  Besides, he didn't have much choice. He needed currency to achieve his plan, and his best chance was to gamble. Ever since his arrival in this world, one thing had been on his mind. Without the existence of qi to sustain him, would he begin to age? Would he begin to walk further toward death?

  It had been so long since he had to think of his own mortality. Somehow, he had missed the feeling—this feeling of urgency. He couldn’t remain still. If his time was now limited, he knew he couldn’t afford to waste it anymore.

  Back then, he would have taken his time, choosing the most secure course of action, allowing for the greatest chance of victory. But now? He would need to bet it all on a single opportunity to make it big, and this Shaft was his one chance. After all, many others took those same chances and emerged victorious, changing their lives. He could only bet that he could do the same. Still, this was merely one of the reasons he needed to go.

  “Of course, I’ll go!” Sera blurted, yet couldn’t hide her nervousness.

  Ning Shan couldn't help but chuckle, yet didn't push further. If anything, he was glad she chose to come with him. Until now, her input had been invaluable, allowing him to take an informed stance, which he couldn't have taken otherwise. Still, he wondered how long this would remain and how long he would accommodate her. He believed this trip would grant him such an answer.

  After less than a ten-minute walk through the winding streets of the 9th layer, both arrived before the entrance to the Shaft, standing beneath the large fault in the rock. Ning Shan could Imagine its magnificence should light be shone upon its surface, illuminating its depths. Still, it was even grander from up close.

  The Fault was over twenty meters wide and seemed to stretch on for miles, creating a makeshift road through the rock. On each side were countless stores, restaurants, inns, and even brothels catering to a specific demographic. In fact, such a demographic could be seen nonchalantly walking the streets, prominently displaying large weapons in their hands, yet none seemed to bat an eye.

  This seemed like a different world than the order they knew on the other side, almost as if the world had changed its rules to match the new environment. Still, it seemed to suit the people here. They were much more unrestrained than back onto the 9th layer.

  Whore didn't hide within the back alleys but prominently advertised themselves to the highest payers from the numerous balcony of their very stores, enticing potential customers. The stores sold anything one could ever dream of, from deadly weapons to highly addictive drugs to numb the sense or enhance them, but also people themselves. In fact, slavery seemed to be thriving.

  Ning Shan even spotted an individual who looked strangely similar to Sera. He possessed all the same characteristics a human would, yet his skin had scales resembling a lizard. Even his eyes seemed reptilian. In fact, he could even see a long tail emerge from a small hole in the back of the man's trousers.

  Ning Shan glanced at Sera, only to see she had put on her mask and hidden her hair beneath her hood. He checked just to make sure, but the concentration of red dust was abysmally low, and none of the other patrons had their masks on. He couldn't help but shake his head, yet he chose not to say anything. Instead, he approached the nearby stall where the lizard man was waiting, only for Sera to follow him reluctantly.

  "Greetings," Ning Shan said to the shopkeeper, trying to look amicable. "I must admit, this is my first time seeing one of his kind. Do you mind if I ask a few questions?”

  The shopkeeper eyed him up and down, a slight frown on his face, yet no words came out of his mouth. Still, Ning Shan was undeterred. His smile remained as he made a small gesture for Sera to step forward. Bewildered, she didn't know how to react, yet Ning Shan's actions surprised her even more. His voice grew harsher, and his smile faded as he looked toward her.

  “How long are you going to make the good man wait?” he snapped.

  Taken aback by the change, her body shook slightly, if only unconsciously. Still, it was then that she noticed the slight glint in his eyes. Her mind raced as her gaze shifted from Ning Shan to the shopkeeper, trying to find the meaning of his action. It was only when she took the time to calm down that realization hit her.

  Slowly, she reached within her clothes, taking out a small glowing red crystal no bigger than the size of one phalange. Still, the look in the shopkeeper's eyes changed, and a smile crept on his face. She placed the crystal on the counter, only for the man to snatch it when it hit the hard surface. Sera had to do her best to stop herself from trying to snatch it back.

  “What do you wish to know?" the man asked, suddenly more amicable.

  “I couldn’t help but be attracted to the specimen over there,” Ning Shan said, trying his best to sound like a highborn fool experiencing the world for the first time. “Am I to understand he is for sale?”

  “Sale?! Lord, no!" the man exclaimed, yet Ning Shan felt his tone was too exaggerated. "I'm sure you are aware that slavery has long been abolished by the government. I wouldn't dare to sell such merchandise! This thing is merely trying to sell his services for a modest price."

  Ning Shan looked closer at the lizard man but could barely stop himself from laughing out loud. Despite his words, the shopkeeper barely even tried to mask his intent. After all, the scaled man was bound at the wrist and ankles with thick heavy chains, disallowing almost all movements. There was even a flashing ring strapped to his neck. One could easily assume the purpose of such an item.

  “Is he a mercenary, then?” Ning Shan replied, showing an oblivious smile, which only prompted the man to become even more devious.

  “But of course!" he said. "Should you buy his services, he will listen to all orders without fault, even disregarding his safety in the process. You won't find a more obedient worker than him."

  “Interesting,” Ning Shan said, leaning slightly closer. “Tell me, where did you find such a fine specimen?”

  “The poor soul’s last employer went missing in the shaft, leaving only him behind,” the shopkeeper said, also leaning forward, talking in a hushed tone. “Rumour said he spent a week roaming alone until hunters found him and brought him back to the surface. To repay this life-saving debt, he chose to sell his services here. Isn’t it such a sad story?”

  "Quite," Ning Shan replied as he straightened himself.

  "How about it? I'm sure you might have a use for such a survivor," the man said, yet Ning Shan had already started walking away, completely ignoring the man. Taken aback, it took a few moments for the man to come to his senses, yet Ning Shan was already long gone.

  It seems the Shaft itself isn’t the only danger, Ning Shan thought, a slight smile on his face as he plunged deeper into the darkness.

  Rise of a Planeswalker, as well as 25 chapters of my new series Advent of Sorcery.

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