The Luminous Horror's final form shuddered and colpsed, its bioluminescent body dissolving into particles of light that scattered across the cavern floor. The Guardian of Floor 4 had been formidable, changing shapes and controlling swarms of infected cave creatures, but the team's coordinated strategy had prevailed.

  "Everyone still in one piece?" Alexander asked, sheathing his weapon as the system notification appeared, confirming their victory and granting access to Floor 5.

  "Mostly," Riva replied, examining a tear in her sleeve where one of the infected creatures had nearly caught her.

  Elijah moved through the group, checking for injuries and applying healing where needed. When he reached Lyra, she waved him off.

  "Save your energy. Just scratches." She was already examining a fragment of the Guardian that hadn't dissolved, her eyes bright with curiosity. "The bioluminescent properties could be replicated in our equipment. Might be useful in the next dark zone we encounter."

  "Let's move," Alexander said after everyone had recovered. "Floor 5 has the first major trading post. We should stock up while we can."

  The transition between floors was marked by a shimmer in the air and a subtle shift in environment. The custrophobic caverns of Floor 4 gave way to an expansive area dominated by massive pnt life. Enormous flowers towered overhead, their petals forming natural canopies above wide clearings. The air was heavy with the scent of medicinal herbs and flowering pnts.

  Following the main path, they soon heard the unmistakable sounds of commerce – voices haggling, the clink of currency exchanging hands, the general bustle of a marketpce.

  "Medicinal Gardens," Alexander said, consulting the information that had appeared in his interface. "Floor 5's primary challenge involves resource identification and gathering. The trading post is called Herbalist's Hollow."

  As they crested a hill, the trading post came into view – a sprawling market built within and around a massive crater, with terraced levels descending toward a central pza. Stalls and small permanent structures lined the terraces, while rger pavilions occupied the pza below. Pyers and NPCs alike moved through the spaces, creating a lively atmosphere unlike anything they'd experienced in the Tower so far.

  "I didn't expect this many people," Elijah said quietly, his eyes tracking the movements below.

  "Best behavior," Alexander reminded them. "This is a neutral zone, but that doesn't mean it's safe. Stay alert, and stay together." His eyes lingered meaningfully on Lyra, who had already begun drifting toward a stall dispying technical components.

  They descended into the market proper, immediately enveloped by the sights and sounds of commerce. Alexander led them with the confident stride of someone born to navigate social hierarchies. Valeria kept close to him, her posture perfect, eyes constantly scanning for threats or opportunities. Elijah followed a few steps behind, taking in the diverse gathering of pyers with quiet curiosity. Marcus Tullian maintained a protective position, his hand never far from his weapon. Riva's attention darted between various crafting stalls, mentally cataloging resources. And Lyra, despite Alexander's warning, kept being drawn to anything technical or mechanical.

  "We'll split into pairs," Alexander announced when they reached the central pza. "Valeria with me – we'll handle the general supplies and information gathering. Elijah, you and Marcus check the medicinal section – we need to replenish our healing supplies. Riva and Lyra, focus on technical components and gear upgrades."

  As the group separated, Alexander added, "Meet back here in two hours. Don't wander off alone, and don't draw unnecessary attention."

  Alexander moved through the market with natural authority, approaching the merchant stalls with the practiced ease of someone accustomed to being served. The NPC merchants, programmed to respond to social cues, treated him with deference.

  "These healing herbs are substandard," he said to a robed merchant dispying various pnt specimens. "I can see discoloration on the leaves. I'll take the fresh batch you're keeping below the counter."

  The merchant's eyes widened slightly. "You have a discerning eye, young master. Indeed, I do have a superior selection." He produced a bundle of vibrant green leaves from beneath the counter. "But these command a premium price."

  Alexander smiled thinly. "Of course they do. Let's not waste time – I'll give you eight experience fragments, and you'll include information about where these can be gathered."

  "Twelve fragments is the fair price," the merchant countered.

  "Ten, and I'll recommend your stall to other pyers from my sector."

  The merchant considered this, then nodded. "A fair arrangement."

  As Alexander completed the transaction, Valeria leaned close. "You're overpaying. These NPCs are programmed to accept much lower offers."

  "I'm not just buying herbs," Alexander replied quietly. "I'm buying reputation. Word spreads among NPCs just like among pyers. Treat them fairly, and they remember."

  In the medicinal section, Elijah moved slowly from stall to stall, examining the various pnts and preparations with genuine interest. Unlike Alexander's approach, his interactions with merchants were gentle and inquisitive.

  "This is whisperleaf, isn't it?" he asked an elderly herbalist NPC. "I've read about its properties, but I've never seen it in person."

  The old woman smiled, clearly programmed to respond positively to knowledge and respect. "Indeed it is, young healer. Few recognize it in this form. Its primary use is for calming the mind, but when combined with crystal water..." She unched into a detailed expnation that wasn't part of her standard dialogue.

  While listening, Elijah's attention was drawn to a group of pyers across the marketpce. They moved with the coordinated precision of a well-established team, their equipment marking them as having progressed from higher floors – possibly Floor 7 or 8. What caught his interest was how other pyers reacted to them, moving aside respectfully or watching with obvious admiration.

  "That's the Phoenix Bde team," the herbalist commented, following his gaze. "They've made quite a name for themselves. Cleared Floor 8 in record time."

  "Are there many teams that successful?" Elijah asked.

  The old woman's smile turned sad. "Few make it past Floor 10, young healer. The Tower becomes less forgiving with each ascent."

  At the technical pavilion, Lyra moved like a child in a toy store, her usual caution momentarily forgotten as she examined devices and components she'd only dreamed of accessing in Sector 17.

  "Look at this," she said to Riva, holding up what appeared to be a simple crystal. "It's a programmable memory matrix. In the right configuration, it could double our equipment's efficiency."

  Riva raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that? Those are restricted components, usually only avaible to Privileged-css technicians."

  Lyra hesitated, then shrugged. "I read about them. My mentor had... access to unusual information."

  Before Riva could press further, Lyra moved to another stall where a merchant was dispying what appeared to be standard light sources. But her eye caught something different – a modification possibility others might miss.

  "These could be adjusted to emit specific wavelengths," she muttered, mostly to herself, already envisioning the applications.

  The merchant, who had been ignoring them in favor of more obviously wealthy customers, suddenly focused on Lyra. "You have a technician's eye. These are indeed special units – the casing allows for specific frequency modifications."

  As they discussed the technical specifications, Lyra noticed several nearby pyers watching their conversation with undisguised interest.

  "Don't look now," she whispered to Riva when the merchant turned away to find additional components, "but we're being observed."

  Riva casually scanned the area. "The team at the weapon stall? They've been watching us since we entered the pavilion."

  "Why would they be interested in us?" Lyra asked.

  "Word travels fast in the Tower. Our team has cleared four floors without casualties – that's unusual for a new group. People notice."

  When the team regathered at the central pza two hours ter, they exchanged observations while organizing their purchases.

  "The pricing algorithms are fascinating," Alexander noted. "They adjust based on perceived social css. I was quoted higher initial prices than most pyers, but had more negotiation room."

  "I noticed something simir with information access," Elijah added. "Some merchants would only discuss certain topics after determining my knowledge level."

  "Technical components are heavily restricted," Lyra said, dispying her modest haul of parts. "Most of the advanced items were reserved for pyers with specific css markers in their interface. But I found workarounds." She smiled slightly.

  "We're being watched," Marcus Tullian interjected, his voice low. "Three different teams have been tracking our movements. Your brother's reputation precedes him." He nodded toward Alexander.

  Alexander frowned. "Reputation can be an advantage or a liability. We need to be careful about drawing too much attention."

  As they spoke, a group of pyers approached – three young men wearing equipment that marked them as fellow new entrants, though their gear suggested Worker-css backgrounds.

  "Excuse me," the leader said, his voice hesitant but determined. "You're the Voss team, right? The ones who took down the Tunnel Serpent on Floor 2 with just five people?"

  Alexander straightened, his expression neutral. "We are."

  The young man nodded. "Impressive. Most teams lose at least two or three members there." He extended a hand. "I'm Dren. Our team is preparing to face the Garden Keeper on this floor. Any advice would be appreciated."

  For a moment, Alexander looked surprised at being approached by a Worker-css pyer. Then his expression softened slightly. "The Garden Keeper uses poison effects that stack over time. Focus on taking out the support pnts first, rather than attacking the Guardian directly."

  Dren nodded gratefully. "Thanks. That might save some lives." He hesitated, then added, "They say you have an Unaligned on your team. Is that true?"

  All eyes turned to Lyra, who stiffened slightly.

  "We have the best team for the job," Alexander replied smoothly. "Css designations are less relevant than skill in the Tower."

  Dren seemed impressed by this response. "Progressive thinking. Rare for an Architect."

  After the group departed, Valeria frowned. "That will only increase the attention on us. An Architect-css team with an Unaligned member is... unusual."

  "Good," Alexander said simply. "Let them talk. Reputation can be useful."

  As they prepared to leave the trading post, Lyra paused at a small book stall near the exit. The merchant, a hunched figure with spectacles, was dispying various guides and manuals.

  "Looking for anything specific, young technician?" the merchant asked.

  "Just browsing," Lyra replied, but her eyes had already locked onto a thin volume titled Advanced Neural Interface Modifications.

  "Ah, an excellent choice," the merchant said, noticing her interest. "Though perhaps beyond your clearance level."

  Lyra touched her neural interface self-consciously. "Maybe I could just look through it?"

  The merchant studied her for a moment, then gnced at the rest of her team waiting nearby. "Interesting companions you keep. Very well." He handed her the book. "The personal library system will store it for 24 hours. Use it wisely."

  Lyra felt the book dissolve into her interface, becoming accessible through her personal library. She thanked the merchant and rejoined her team, feeling the weight of the book in her mind – knowledge that should have been restricted from someone of her status.

  As they departed Herbalist's Hollow, moving toward the challenge areas of Floor 5, the atmosphere among the team had shifted subtly. The market had reminded them of the world beyond their small group – of reputation and status, of the watchful eyes of other pyers, and of the resources and knowledge that might make the difference between survival and failure in the floors to come.

  "We should pn to visit every trading post we can," Alexander said as they walked. "Information is as valuable as equipment in this pce."

  "Some information is more valuable than others," Lyra replied quietly, thinking of the book now stored in her personal library – a book that might help her understand her unusual neural interface reactions... and perhaps Elijah's strange whispers as well.

  Ahead of them, the massive medicinal gardens of Floor 5 stretched out, beautiful and deadly – the domain of the Garden Keeper Guardian they would soon face. But for now, they moved forward with replenished supplies, new information, and the growing awareness that their reputation was spreading through the Tower, for better or worse.