CHAPTER 44: EMPORIUM OF THE DAMNED

The whistling echoed through the silent prison. A cheerful melody that seemed completely at odds with the oppressive atmosphere that had dominated the floor just moments before.

Jack followed the sound, his footsteps echoing off the ancient stone as he made his way toward what he assumed would be the entrance to the next floor.

System, any idea where that whistling is coming from?

[Unknown. The melody appears to be originating from the direction of the floors transition point.]

[Additional note: The tune sounds suspiciously like a tavern drinking song from the pre-imperial era.]

Jack couldn’t help but crack a small smile despite his exhaustion. Only the God of Death would whistle drinking songs in an ancient prison. As he rounded the final corner of the central chamber, Jack stopped dead in his tracks.

Where there had been nothing but empty space before, now stood what could only be described as the most bizarre shop Jack had ever seen. Its walls were constructed from what appeared to be crystallized darkness, while the roof was made of some substance that looked like frozen starlight.

A hand-painted sign hung above the door reading:

"Emporium of the Damned, If We Don’t Have It, You Don’t Need It."

The whistling was definitely coming from inside.

’Well, this is unexpected,’ Jack thought as he approached the impossible structure. ’I was expecting maybe a simple shop interface or a magical vendor. Not whatever this is.’

The door swung open with a pleasant chime before Jack could even reach for the handle, and the unmistakable voice of the god of death called out from within.

"Come in, come in! Don’t stand there gawking like a tourist. We’ve got business to discuss!"

Jack stepped through the doorway and immediately felt like he’d been transported to an entirely different realm.

The interior of the shop was vastly larger than the exterior suggested, with impossibly high ceilings that disappeared into shadowy heights. Shelves lined every wall, stretching up into the darkness and filled with weapons, armor, and artifacts.

But it was the figure behind the counter that truly caught Jack’s attention.

The God of Death had traded his intimidating armor for what appeared to be a simple shopkeeper’s apron. Though the apron was black as midnight and embroidered with tiny silver skulls.

The god’s massive frame looked almost comical, bent over what appeared to be an accounting ledger, his skeletal fingers holding a quill that was definitely made from some kind of phoenix feather.

’God of Death?’ Jack asked, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice. ’You’re... the shopkeeper?’

The god looked up with glowing eye sockets that somehow managed to convey amusement. "What, you were expecting some underpaid skeleton? Please. This is my shop, my rules, my inventory. Nobody handles my precious merchandise but me."

He gestured grandly at the impossible array of items surrounding them. "Besides, customer service is a dying art. Literally, in most cases down here."

Jack found himself grinning despite everything. There was something about the God’s irreverent attitude that made even this surreal situation feel almost normal. ’So... how does this work exactly?’

"Simple!" Hades slammed the ledger shut and vaulted over the counter with surprising grace for someone his size. "You’ve got death tokens, I’ve got merchandise. We make deals, everyone goes home happy. Well, except for the things you’ll be killing with my merchandise, but that’s rather the point, isn’t it?"

The god began walking through the shop, gesturing at various sections with the enthusiasm of a used chariot salesman. "Now, let’s see what caught your eye. Basic equipment is over here. Swords, spears, armor, the usual mundane nonsense. Prices start at about 500 tokens for something basic."

Jack followed Hades deeper into the shop, his senses picked up the subtle magical auras emanating from each piece of equipment. Even the "basic" gear felt more powerful than anything he’d encountered back home.

"Here we have the good stuff," Hades continued, stopping before a section where weapons seemed to shimmer with barely contained power.

"Rare-quality weapons. These babies will serve you well through the middle floors of the Spire. See that spear there?" He pointed to a weapon that seemed to be forged from crystallized lightning. "Lightning Blade. Perfect for someone with your particular talents. Only 5,000 tokens, and it’ll amplify your electrical attacks by about 30%."

Jack’s eyes widened as he examined the weapon. The system immediately provided details:

[Lightining Blade]

[Rank: Rare]

[+30% Lightning damage]

[+15 Magic Stat]

[Price: 5,000 Death Tokens]

’That would be perfect for me,’ Jack thought, his mind already calculating how much more effective his attacks would be with a weapon like that. ’But 5,000 tokens is nearly a fifth of what I have.’

’I’ll take it,’ Jack said, his voice steady despite the excitement coursing through him. He couldn’t wait any longer. Having his own weapon would be beneficial.

"Excellent choice," Hades grinned, his skeletal fingers dancing over an invisible ledger.

"One Lightning Blade, fresh from the forges of the Spire’s deeper levels. That’ll be 5,000 death tokens, please."

He stuck his skeletal hand out and waited for the tokens as he grinned wide.

Jack mentally confirmed the transaction. But the moment the payment was processed, the weapon’s display case dissolved with a soft chime.

[Purchase confirmed: 5,000 Death Tokens spent]

[Lightning Blade acquired]

[Current Death Tokens: 22,200]

The spear materialized in Jack’s hands, and he immediately felt the difference. Where his father’s Spear had been well-crafted steel, this weapon was pure magical artistry.

The blade crackled with contained lightning, and he could feel his own electrical magic responding eagerly to its presence.

His magic seemed to resonate through the weapon, amplifying everything.

Store in system inventory, Jack thought and the spear vanished seamlessly into his dimensional storage.

"Just so you know," the God of Death mentioned casually, polishing another weapon with a cloth that seemed to be made of compressed starlight.

"That little beauty would be considered a treasure up in Elysium. All weapons and armor forged in Tartarus are leagues beyond anything your kingdom’s smiths could produce. The magical density down here, the materials, the techniques. It’s like comparing a campfire to the sun."

Jack nodded, understanding dawning on him. No wonder the chosen ones were so powerful. They were armed with weapons that nosy people would never touch in their lives.

"And over here," he said, moving to an even more impressive display, "we have the unique-quality items. These are where things get interesting."

The weapons in this section practically hummed with power. Jack could feel their magical signatures from several feet away, each one radiating the kind of energy that spoke of legendary craftsmanship and ancient enchantments.

"That beauty there," he pointed to a spear that seemed to be carved from a single piece of obsidian, "is called Voidpiercer. It can punch through any armor, magical or otherwise. Bit pricey at 25,000 tokens, but worth every skull-shaped coin when you’re facing something that thinks it’s invulnerable."

[Voidpiercer]

[Rank: Unique]

[Ignores all armor and magical defenses]

[+25 Strength, +20 Magic]

[Special Skill: Dimensional Strike | can hit incorporeal enemies]

[Price: 50,000 Death Tokens]

Jack whistled low. This weapon would transform his, but it represented major investments. He was about to ask about payment plans when the God of Death led him to a section that made his breath catch in his throat.

"And here," the god said with obvious pride, "we have the legendary-quality items. These aren’t just regular weapons, they’re game-changers."

The legendary section was smaller than the others, with only a dozen or so items on display. But each one radiated such power that Jack could feel his lightning magic responding to their presence.

The weapons seemed almost alive, their magical auras shifting and pulsing like heartbeats.

"Storm’s Heart," he said, indicating a spear that appeared to be forged from compressed thunder clouds.

"It was wielded by the first Lightning God before he... Well, let’s just say retirement wasn’t voluntary. This baby doesn’t just amplify your magic, it grows with you. 250,000 tokens, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better weapon for someone with your particular gifts."

[Storm’s Heart]

[Rank: Legendary]

[+100% Lightning damage]

[+50 Magic, +30 Agility]

[Special Skill: Spear constantly radiates electricity. ]

[Note: Grows stronger with wielder’s power]

[Price: 250,000 Death Tokens]

Jack stared at the weapon in awe. It was beautiful, terrifying, and completely beyond his current budget. But just knowing it existed, knowing that such power was within reach if he could gather enough tokens, filled him with determination.

"Of course," he continued with a theatrical sigh, "if you want to see the really special stuff, you’ll need to look over there."