Alden sat in his seat, arms crossed, his black eyes scanning the auction hall with quiet amusement.
The masked crowd around him moved with a mixture of anticipation and calculation, their whispered conversations blending into a low murmur.
At the center of the stage stood the auctioneer, a man dressed in a black and gold robe, his expression polished and professional.
"Our next item—an enchanted dagger, forged in the flames of the Crimson Wastes."
A servant stepped forward, presenting a sleek, curved blade encased in a transparent mana barrier. Its black edge shimmered, exuding a faint blood-red glow.
"This dagger enhances the wielder's speed and allows for minor mana concealment. A perfect tool for assassins and scouts alike."
"Starting bid: 50 gold."
Immediately, several masked figures raised their placards.
"60 gold!"
"75 gold!"
"100 gold!"
Alden leaned back. "A million credits for a dagger... as expected from a place like this."
Still, it was nothing compared to what was about to come.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"Hmph."
From within his sword, Kurenai's voice echoed.
"Overpriced. I could shatter that blade in one strike."
Alden smirked. "Of course you could."
On his shoulder, the small white fox, Shiranui, flicked her tail lazily.
"This is getting boring. When do we steal things?"
Alden chuckled quietly. "Patience."
---
The auction continued, showcasing items of increasing value:
A ring imbued with elemental resistance sold for 250 gold.
A pair of enchanted gauntlets that doubled grip strength went for 120 gold.
A mana-infused bow that could fire arrows of pure energy was purchased for 370 gold by a masked elf.
Then came the real treasures.
The auctioneer raised his hand, and the hall fell into silence.
"Now, honored guests… we move to the highlight of tonight's auction."
Servants wheeled in a large glass case.
Inside, more than fifteen different artifacts, potions, and rare relics lay, each radiating a distinct magical aura.
Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd as the auctioneer gestured dramatically.
"These are our premium items, available only to the most powerful and wealthy among you."
He motioned toward the first item, an emerald-green potion shimmering under the light.
"Behold—the Elixir of Awakening. This rare potion can increase the mana rank of the drinker by one level and enhance the growth of stats… but only for those below C-rank."
A moment of stunned silence.
Then—chaos.
"400 gold!"
"550 gold!"
"700 gold!"
"1,000 gold!"
Alden leaned forward slightly, intrigued. A potion like that could allow weaker individuals to break past their limits—but at what cost?
Kurenai scoffed. "Cheap shortcuts."
Shiranui stretched. "Still, useful."
The bidding war raged for another minute before the potion was sold for 1,500 gold (15 million credits).
---
The next few items were just as fascinating:
A mythril-forged longsword, its blade enchanted with elemental shifting properties.
A high-grade stealth cloak, capable of erasing both mana presence and sound.
A mana-absorbing talisman, which allowed users to recover energy faster in battle.
A mysterious obsidian ring, its properties unknown but brimming with forbidden energy.
Each of them fetched prices in the thousands, and the competition grew fiercer.
Alden, however, remained silent.
His eyes weren't on these treasures.
He was waiting for something else.
As the final artifact was about to be presented—
BOOM!
The entire auction hall shook.
Cracks spidered across the walls, and screams erupted from the audience.
Alden exhaled, tilting his head slightly.
"So, it finally started."
Above them, the ceiling trembled, and the once-opulent chandeliers swayed dangerously.
A deep, eerie chanting echoed from the entrance.
The demon worshipers had arrived.
---
To Be Continued…