The prismatic beam of light that represented the Store's entrance shined through the broken ceiling of the ruined building, illuminating the survivors hiding within. Noah stood up, intending to be abducted by the alien merchant on board the Pylon hovering above the fiery clouds. Suddenly, Josh gripped his arm to prevent him from stepping into the light.

"Do you hear that?" Josh asked.

That's when Noah noticed a muted alarm inside his mind. He realized that it had been at the edge of his awareness since being cut by the poisoned arrow. He was interrupted from his attempt to focus on the alert by tiles collapsing from the roof.

The moment the prismatic beam touched Noah, he was immediately illuminated by orange-light, leaving his body to reform into an Amber butterfly. Instantly the alarm in his mind started blaring with painful clarity. He clutched his head in agony as he stumbled forward while his vision became hazy. The Pylon emitted a blinding pulse of white light to eliminate the Amber butterfly in a shower of glowing sparks. As his surroundings turned dark, Noah heard an announcement from the System.

[Atomic anomaly detected. Temporal interference neutralized. Timeline divergence threat level: minimal. Mustering nearby Soulless forces to redress the situation.]

[User has entered the Store.]

[A merchant has been summoned and shall appear presently.]

[Current Merit value: 1,600]

『Welcome, valued customer. Oh, Omega Role? Very interesting! Hmm… only grade two. Was your [Rite of Allocation] recent? I guess that it is a respectable achievement for a domesticated aboriginal. Wait a moment. Is that an attuned body I detect? You are indeed an interesting specimen...』the alien merchant excitedly rambled.

"I need a potion of healing immediately. I'm about to lose consciousness," Noah interrupted as his vision was becoming blurry. He would have collapsed had he not been inside the zero-space dimension, where there was no gravity.

『Ah, yes. Excuse my rudeness. I was excited after meeting such a unique specimen. An attuned body enhancement is the rarest natural System-item to form. Of the more than one hundred settlements I have visited, I have only encountered three individuals such as yourself since Arrival. None of you is comparable to one another. The first was amusing. She had attuned a tier-three fire-element body. Her grade zero clothing was reduced to ash anytime she lost her temper. She entered the Store with only the flames to preserve her modesty. Luckily she had enough Merit to purchase System-crafted items.』the merchant apologized then continued to speak as the vaguely lit humanoid silhouette slightly bowed toward Noah.

A light containing a [Grade 1 Potion of Healing] appeared before being automatically administered to Noah as he began to lose focus on the alien merchant's speech.

"Will I also need to buy System-crafted clothing? By the way, you seem different to the last System merchant I met," Noah said as his condition stabilized almost instantly after the potion.

『It would depend on the characteristic of your attunement. The first customer I spoke of had a higher-tier elemental body with a destructive aspect. A wind-element body is unique to each User while less aggressive by nature than fire, and yours holds a cloaking aspect. There are many merchants employed by the System. We each visit many worlds to trade. It is improbable that we have met before in this sector. Our identities are hidden from each other by the System. I am supplied information recorded in your [System Interface] for our transaction duration to better tailor the selection available for purchase. Are you ready to see it?』the alien merchant asked.

"Show me," Noah instructed.

[Current Merit value: 1,590]

[Grade 1 Rations] cost 1 Merit

A synthetic tasteless cube approximately 1cm³. Restores the full stamina of a grade one user, also satiates hunger and thirst.

[Grade 1 Potion of Healing] cost 10 Merit

Accelerates the healing process of a life form, inferior to the same grade healing abilities.

[System Crafted Weapon] cost varies, minimum of 25 Merit

A weapon crafted by the System to the specifications of the user.

[System Crafted Armour] cost varies, minimum of 50 Merit

Armour or clothing is crafted by the system to the specifications of the user.

[Augment Equipment] cost 10 Merit

An item crafted by the System, augmented with an Origin Crystal containing an ability supplied by the User. Allows the User to utilize the ability. This is an optional add-on for System-crafted items.

[Pocket Dimension Item] cost varies, minimum of 100 Merit

An item containing a pocket dimension which can store objects within which can fit through the opening. If the bag is destroyed the items contained within will appear in its place. 100 Merit per 1m³ of space.

[Tier One Ability Upgrade] cost 15,500 Merit

Promotes the User's lowest ability by one tier, increasing the effect. To a maximum of tier 5 - Mythos.

[Tier One Ability Evolution] cost 27,100 Merit

Evolves an ability of the User's choosing by one tier, increasing and changing the effect. To a maximum of tier 5 - Mythos.

[Augmented Armour: Tier two ability Stone Skin] cost 6,620 Merit {in-stock:1}

Armour or clothing using a grade one origin crystal containing the tier two ability [Stone Skin] as material crafted by the System to the specifications of the user. [Uncommon Earth Element ability: Stone Skin. The User’s becomes made of stone while active and is unable to move for the duration.]

[Augmented Weapon: Tier two ability Water Whip] cost 7,450 Merit {in-stock:1}

A weapon using a grade one origin crystal containing the tier two ability [Water Whip] as material crafted by the System to the specifications of the user. [Uncommon Water Element ability: Water Whip. A whip formed with water can extend from the User to be utilized as a weapon.]

[Grade 2 Potion of Healing] cost 100 Merit

Greatly accelerates the healing process of a life form, inferior to the same grade healing abilities.

"I can't afford most of this. Why did you show it to me?" Noah asked the merchant.

『There are other means of payment. Origin crystals are the most obvious, or perhaps you have System-items to sell. Another would be information on your current location or the temporal anomaly detected upon your entrance.』 the alien merchant replied.

"Why do you want Origin crystals so much?" Noah asked.

『To be perfectly honest with you, considering how it must be common knowledge by now. They are far more valuable than Merit. The System sets the Store's exchange rate to entice merchants to trade with low-grade aboriginals. It is not worth the price when you factor in their ability to increase a User's lifeforce, but we are restricted from offering their real value while trading inside of zero-space. I have shown you this information in the hopes that you could inform me of the origin of the temporal disturbance. The more specific you are, the more Merit I can award you in exchange.』the alien merchant informed him.

"I don't know the exact cause, only that a butterfly formed of lifeforce prevented me from dying. Then the beam of light forced it from my body and destroyed it. After that, the poison in my body returned," Noah said.

『That sounds like its effect belongs in the physical-healing category, not time. For the ability to only restrict the toxins in your body without curing, it means that it should have been no more than a tier one. I wonder what caused it. How unusual you are. I have not met another like you in the millennia that I have acted as a System merchant. The information has been valued at nine-hundred and fifty-eight Merit by the System. Have you decided what you wish to purchase?』 the alien merchant asked as it tilted its head within the beam of light obscuring its features from view.

[Current Merit value: 2,548]

"I will buy a grade two potion of healing and ten grade one potions of healing. How much will a full suite of System crafted armour cost? I wish to augment it with an Origin crystal," Noah replied.

『I have completed the first part of your transaction. It depends on how much movement and visibility you wish to retain and what grade materials to be used for the armour.』the merchant responded as two rays of light appeared in the darkness in front of Noah. Inside the beams were the potions.

"I need the armour to cover my torso with the highest grade materials I can afford. If I have enough leftover, then focus on the rest of my body."Noah said.

『The torso made of grade-two materials will be one-thousand nine-hundred and fifty Merit along with augmentation. Full-coverage of each appendage costs another four-hundred Merit or two-hundred for each segment. You cannot afford that. There are two options. Craft it from grade-one materials, which is one-hundred Merit per appendage, or purchase fewer grade-two segments. I would suggest the latter.』

"I will get the torso and two grade-two forearm bracers. Here is the ability origin crystal and another grade-one crystal to help pay for it all," Noah said.

He withdrew the glowing red-and-gold origin crystal belonging to the unnamed hero out of his [Zero-Space Dimension Ring], along with one of the dull-white crystals from the garden of horrors. He presented them to the alien merchant in an outstretched hand, leaving the alien taken aback.