In a dusty antique store, Victor dusted off ancient looking shelves filled to brim with items of all sizes and types.

Bright sound resounded every once in a while from the wind chime outside, mixed with howling of wind and rain.

Overcast sky kept pouring out water like it was the end of days.

''I wonder if the precipitation continues till weekend... It truly is hard to keep up a small business at times like these.''

Victor walked to the window and gazed outside wistfully.

''I should finish up cleaning and close down afterwards... It might be better to just relax and try to write my amusement novel since there hasn't been any customers this week.''

Sighing out while looking the rainy streets, Victor went back to dusting the shelves.

Finally finishing the daily cleaning, he put the old feather duster back to its own place and sat down next to fireplace.

Pulling out slightly crumbled notebook from drawer next to the fireplace, Victor took out his quill and ink.

''Something is missing... Ah right, the tea.''

Setting the spacious and massive dining table as his writing comfort zone, he grabbed an old antique lamp from a shelf on his way

Brewing whole pot of tea, he took a cup and skillfully poured the piping hot tea for himself and sat down by the notebook.

Thoroughly prepared to write, Victor picked up his quill and dipped it into the ink.

''Why can't those fucking assholes just stop chasing me?''

Rob slashed furiously with his sword at the people blocking his way. Taking advantage of the narrow streets, he jumped on the walls of the building and started to run along the wall towards the rooftop.

The chasers quickly yelled orders to their comrades, trying to inform that their target was escaping.

''Don't let the Spider escape! He is carrying something that the boss desperately wants, block the whole neighborhood!''

Seeing that the chasing group would not let their prey go, Rob did somersault. Dropping right in the middle of the blocking party, he beheaded two of their party and threw poisonous needles at the others.

The chasing party did not fluster even at the sight of their team mates fall, and tried to re-organize their assault quickly.

''Use protection shields and if you are stung by needles, seal the part until the end of the operation! You have all seen the info, the target is adept at poison arts!''

Rob frowned at the level of preparation and took out special looking grenade from his overcoat, pulled the pin and started to escape towards the rooftop as quick as he could.

Reaching the rooftop, Rob heard loud bang and shock wave that followed.

''It should be done with that.''

Escaping from the scene quickly by jumping from rooftop to rooftop, only green purplish vapor could be seen if looked carefully.

''Hahah those assholes can never catch me with their level of mana.''

Feeling self satisfied while escaping, something pierced his ribs.

''What?''

Loud shot was heard afterwards, and Rob felt that in his moment of glee he was too careless.

''Fucking sniper. It is at least 3 kilometers away, I have to find a place to recover and hide.''

Taking out small vial full of unknown liquid from his belt, he unscrewed the cork and smeared it in his wound while gritting his teeth.

Knowing that rooftops are too dangerous, he went back to the alleyways and began to search suitable places for rest.

Finally after a short while, Rob found himself somehow attracted to the only shop that still had lights on.

''This will do for now.''

Walking up slowly to the door, Rob fixed his clothes to avoid suspicion.

Looking the old sign ''Open'' he placed his hand on the doorknob and pulled it downwards. Old bronze doorbell rang lightly and muddy water dripped on the store floor carried by the wind.

Looking around him, Rob saw items from every corner of the planet, some used for decoration, some for practical use.

''Who in the world would think antique store works in today's world. If people need antiques they can just buy them from the internet or auctions. This place is perfect for hiding since no-one would come...''

After brief moment of observing, Rob was startled when he heard a voice coming from his left side.

''Welcome to the -Ages past antique store- How may I help you Sir.''

Panicking slightly, Rob thought that he should have sensed the store owner beforehand but attributed it as his mistake resulting from the wound.

''Ah yes hello, I am just looking around.'' Rob replied politely to which the store owner nodded his head and went back to writing something on a black book.

''Black book? Why does it look like absorbing all the light near it.'' Rob thought to himself and went around the store, glancing outside from the windows every once in a while for pursuers.

Rob looked the items displayed with clear contempt, until he heard footsteps the shop owner was making, closing in to his position.

''This beautiful item here would look quite fitting on you. It would pair up well with your overcoat business look.'' The store owner took elegant walking stick from the shelf and held it in his hands as if to urge him to try it.

Rob could not understand why the shop owner would want him to try walking stick. He was in his late 30's and in perfect condition.

He mumbled in his own head cursing the shop owner, thinking that he was purposefully trying to humiliate him, the person listed in top 10 strongest masters of the city.

''Fine, I will humor you.'' Picking up the walking stick from the owner, he felt like an endless abyss was trying to devour him.

''Fuck fuck fuck fuck it was a trap all along. He is one of them, I should have realized.'' Trying to quickly release the walking stick from his right hand, only to find that he could not.

Robs eyes dazed and he felt like his soul was detached from the body, sinking into an eternal abyss.

Looking at his own spirit body, he still saw the walking stick in his hand.

Flickering with dark light, the stick started to resemble an ornate skull tipped staff.

The eye sockets in the skull started to flicker greenish light, transmitting information directly to Robs soul.

Feeling like his soul was torn apart, Rob tried to scream in anguish, but nothing came out. After hellish few hours of torment, he snapped out of it only to see the shopkeeper smiling slightly at him.

''Well then customer, I knew you would like it. This trusty walking aid would cost only very little for a fine gentleman like you. I can give you a discount for it commemorating your first time here.''

Still in daze, Rob took a look at his wrist watch.

''What the fuck happened? Only 30 seconds had passed while it felt like eternity, I can't even fathom how this was possible.'' Rob thought in panic.

He reminded himself that it can't be a dream, since there was new information engraved and injected into his very soul. New and strange theories about changing the mana itself into poison and much more.

Ecstatic from the new knowledge, he hurriedly changed his opinion of the store owner.

''He can't be a normal Joe... I have to buy this staff, and I don't think I have any saying in this matter anymore after the owner recommended it to me...''