OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 68  Arcadia's Bazar

With his augmented suit combat mode on, Emir carefully made his way down the stairs, his eyes scanning the dimly lit surroundings for any signs of danger. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The musty air filled his nostrils, and the sound of his footsteps echoed off the walls as he descended further into the underground labyrinth.

As he reached the bottom, he paused for a moment to take in the terrain.

'Nothing unexpected.'

The walkways leading to the various shops were narrow, and the ceilings were low, giving the impression that the weight of the earth above was pressing down on him.

With his enhanced senses, he could hear the distant and incredibly subtle sounds of creatures scurrying around in the shadows.

'This close?!' He thought tightening his grip on his assault rifle, ready for whatever may come.

Emir then slowly made his way through the abandoned mall, the dim lighting and empty stores giving him an eerie feeling.

But as he walked by each shop, some of the functioning holograms flickered to life, revealing the shops' past glory.

[What?! Weren't they supposed to be offline? Is the information package I bought outdated?] He asked, flinching in alarm.

[No, it seems to be a rare occurrence, but some other hunters experienced this as well,] she replied promptly.

[You don't need to worry about it.]

Knowing that Lyra wouldn't lie about anything that would endanger his life, he continued exploring while still on edge.

But soon his demeanor underwent a subtle change.

Solely due to the environment, he found himself in…

It was like stepping back in time, and he felt a sense of awe.

Emir saw holograms of stores that sold everything from designer-like clothes to the latest gadgets, and he marveled at the technological advancements of the past.

The holograms were so realistic that he could almost feel the luxurious fabrics and smell the fresh electronics.

Walking forward, he stumbled upon a hologram of a store that sold books.

The hologram displayed a book that caught his eye, and he couldn't resist the temptation to take a closer look.

'This looks incredible…' He thought as he reached out to touch the hologram, and unsurprisingly, his hand went right through it.

With a snicker, he moved on to the next set of stores while he kept looking around for relics.

But just then, the holograms began flickering at a rapid rate, causing Emir to step back in alarm.

[LYRA?!] He questioned, instantly looking around his surroundings while searching for anything that might threaten his life.

[Do you see this? Why the hell is this happening?]

But just before she replied the holograms returned to nothingness as if announcing her words to be true.

[This is normal, it could be that either the AI manager responsible for this ruin caused this, or the power lines connecting to them are in need of repair.]

Sighing out loud Emir continued on his way while keeping the same vigilance. He then noticed the posters plastered on every available surface, advertising sales and new products.

Clothing stores displayed images of fashionable outfits, sporting goods shops showcased the latest gear, and electronics stores presented shiny gadgets that were the envy of the old world.

Many of them had faded with time, but a few still retained their vibrant colors and eye-catching designs.

Some of the posters were for products that were completely unfamiliar to him, while others were for items that he had only heard stories about.

It was like stepping into a time capsule—a glimpse into the world that was before the Great Catastrophe.

He couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to live in such a society, where people could walk into such a place without watching out for death at every corner, but he knew that those days were long gone, replaced by a world where survival was the only priority.

And despite being impressed, he didn't fail to notice the feeling of hollowness that pervaded the atmosphere, a sense of emptiness.

It was as if everything was just going through the motions, without any real emotion or passion behind it.

The shops and displays were all meticulously arranged, but something was missing—something that made it feel cold and lifeless.

It was then that Emir realized why the place was named Arcadia.

It was supposed to be a paradise, a place where people could escape from the drudgery of everyday life and indulge in the pleasures of shopping and entertainment.

But to him, it felt like the opposite.

It was a place that had lost its heart, a place where everything was calculated for maximum efficiency and profit.

The holographic displays and stores were grand, but they lacked the warmth and authenticity of the real world.

It was like looking at a painting of a beautiful landscape but never being able to step foot in it and feel the breeze on your face.

He wondered if this was all that was left of humanity—a cold and calculated world where technology had taken over and emotions were nothing but an afterthought.

Letting go of those thoughts, he continued moving.

Some of the shops were completely blocked by seemingly new piles of rubble and debris, making it impossible to enter without destroying the entire place.

Others had dim lights flickering overhead, barely illuminating the dusty shelves that were once filled with merchandise.

The ruins of the old mall had certainly seen better days, but there was something oddly fascinating about the decaying remnants of the past.

Emir navigated his way through the maze of shops, occasionally coming across areas where the roof had caved in, and the walls were crumbling.

With the radar on his HUD constantly scanning, he made his way through the rubble-filled shop, scavenging for any relics left behind.

Unfortunately, his efforts proved fruitless, as he found nothing of value.

The same fate awaited him in the other shops he explored, leaving him feeling disheartened.

But Emir shrugged off those feelings and pressed on deeper into the mall.

The darkness surrounding him was almost suffocating, and the only sounds he heard were the crunching of debris under his foot and the occasional cry of monsters some distance away.

The growls were slowly encroaching in on his position with each echo, almost as if they knew where he was.

He remained unfazed however as he soon reached an open area, lit up by an unknown light source.

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