My new slave looked terrified and nervous as he knelt on his shaky knees. It didn't have to be this way if he had just been obedient on the first try. But still, wasn't he giving up too easily? I was sure I had to do it a couple of more times before he finally broke. But for him to fall so soon...
"How boring" I sighed.
Well, enough of that, I'd gotten my goods, it was time to get out of there. Judging by the time the auction started and the time spent, it should have been night already. I really wanted to go back to the hotel and enjoy myself, especially after having to endure such a boring event.
"Stand. We're leaving" I said, turning away from him.
I walked towards the entrance and Talia immediately left her corner and joined me. The slave I just bought stood slowly and hesitantly. He walked toward Talia and myself, uncertainty in his steps and caution in his movement. He walked behind us as we left the vault. I saw Julius waiting for us by the entrance.
"Are you done, sir?" He asked me with a tone of courtesy.
Ah, Julius, you never cease to amuse me.
"Yes. We'll be heading back now" I told him.
"Oh, it's gotten pretty late though, might I advise you to stay here for the night. Although it may not be as good as your current hotel, Imperius auction house provides high-quality accommodation and reception." He offered.
"No thanks," I said flatly.
"B-But, it's unwise to leave an auction so late and walk the dark streets, especially with the kind of item you purchased" He appealed.
This guy, he's pretty smart. I'm sure he had intentionally set up the time of the auction to begin in the evening, ensuring we would finish in the night. I was certain that most of the participants were currently lodged in the Imperius accommodation, for exorbitant prices no doubt. That was a good strategy for business, however. It won't work on me.
"That's not a problem. Besides, no one knows I'm the one who bought the wings," I said.
"But they can identify your slave. As long as they see him with you, they'll be able to tell," Julius argued.
True, my identity was hidden from everyone, so there was no way anyone would be able to tell that I was the current owner of the wings. But, that all changed since I also bought the new slave. Everyone knew that the same person who bought the shape-shifter was the one who bought the wings. Since the shape-shifter's face had been seen by everyone, merely walking with him would give me away. But...
"I can just have him transform into something or someone else," I smiled.
Julius was lost for words, he didn't expect that comeback. I knew he was well aware that I bid five billion on Talia's wings, a ridiculous amount. He must have thought that I didn't care about how I spent money since I had so much. It was partly true, money had never really been a problem for me. Well, for the most part. However, I hated being played.
"Oh, Julius." I smiled to myself.
It wouldn't be long now before everything fell into place.
The three of us left the auction house and decided to walk, after being unable to get any cart or carriage for transportation. Julius was also curious about the location of the fairy wings, which he eventually realized was inside root. I had the shape-shifter change his appearance, allowing us to blend in.
It was really dark out, with people still all around, the night market seemed lively as well. It seemed that the city never slept, however, there was no doubt that the night had very few people compared to the day.
I thought about certain things as we walked, including the way forward in a way that would include my new servants. I just enjoyed walking sometimes, it clears the mind and affords time for productive thought, though flying was better.
Suddenly, I saw a silhouette dash behind me. I looked back and then another one passed where I was previously facing. The silhouettes were fast, they didn't seem to be amateurs.
"Master, what's the problem?" Talia asked in a curious manner, while trying to look in the same direction as me.
"It's nothing. I just thought I heard something," I replied.
I decided to snap out of my thought and concentrate my senses. It turned out that I was right, we were being followed. The shape-shifter remained silent, not saying anything.
We kept walking until I couldn't stand it anymore. This had to end.
I intentionally took an alternate route, we ended up in an abandoned construction area. The woods creaked and the smell of fresh concrete was in the air. That should do it. I stopped walking and so did Talia and slave number two.
"That's enough! come out," I said, looking towards the direction I sensed that my enemies were hiding.
No response.
I said come out. Now!" I declared.
No response.
Well, I can't say I didn't try to be reasonable. They just didn't listen.
"HEX #33 Spatial Interference," I said.
Immediately, the hidden enemies appeared in front of me, while still having the same position as when they were hiding. Their eyes widened and looked surprised by what I had done. They were all dressed in black, having black masks as covering for their face, having swords on their right side and daggers on their left.
"You've been following me since I left the auction. What do you want?" I asked them calmly.
"The wings. Give them up!" The head of the bandits, or whatever they were, said to me in a harsh and impatient tone.
How dare he? I had half a mind to mete out punishment to him, but doing so would not benefit me. Besides, it was only a matter of time before their employer came into play.
"Or what?" I said defiantly.
"We'll make you!" The leader threatened.
The bandits drew their blades at me, prepared for an assault. I sighed, this was a waste of time, useless.
The total number of the thugs were thirty-five. By using Hex #33, Spatial Interference, I could manipulate the space within my range, as well as know everything and object within said range. That meant that currently, I knew the position, numbers and other in-depth details of everything within my range. Not only that, I could change the location and other details of such objects.
Thirty-five skilled assassins. This was a perfect opportunity.
"New slave, you're up," I said to the shape-shifter behind me.
"W-W-What?" He let out, completely surprised and caught off guard.
I smiled.
"It's time to prove your worth. I didn't buy you for decoration, you know?" I told him.
"B-But I can't." He said, looking anxious.
The shape-shifter wasn't wrong, but he wasn't right either. I could understand that he was indeed weak. For him to be captured in the first place showed a lack of strength. He definitely wasn't like Talia who was betrayed. However, there was something about this shape-shifter that drew me to him.
Do it" I told him.
"B-But I already told you..." He tried to explain.
"HEX 94, Orb of Protection," I said, generating a small orb that expanded into a small field surrounding Talia, the shape-shifter, and myself.
"With this, they won't be enough to touch us." I smiled
"Ah, what a relief," He heaved a sigh of relief.
I immediately snapped my fingers and suddenly he was outside the field. His eyes expressed shock as to what I did.
"What are you doing? Let me back in! It's not fair" He yelled, banging the transparent barrier blocking us. "I'll let you in, but only after you defeat them," I said to him.
"But how can I?" He whined.
"That's enough!" I said to him, shutting him up.
He looked surprised by my outburst.
Spatial Interference allows me to see the qualities and properties of objects within my range. As my slave, he was an object, and as such, I could see his properties as I please. Using this, I came to discover something about my slave. Perhaps this was the reason I felt drawn to buy him.
"You're not a shape-shifter. Are you?" I asked him.
His eyes widened in shock. His face told it all, like he was saying
"How did you know?"
"You're another variant of shifters. A Shadow shifter" I said.
"Y-You knew. H-How. Why would you?" He muttered.
"Oi, that's enough! You ignoring us uhn?!" An underling yelled, drawing close to my slave and raising his sword to strike him.
I wouldn't do that if I were you, small fry.
"Shut up" He muttered, immediately drawing spikes from beneath him, within his shadow.
The spikes pierced the entire body of the assaulter, who twisted and turned as he was ripped and drilled into by the sharp shadow spikes. Blood gushed out of the holes the spikes had pierced and from the mouth of the impatient bandit.
"Gurghhh" He finally let out, before being tossed aside by my slave's shadow and dying.
The other bandits grew apprehensive and cautious, taking a guarded stance.
"Fine. I just have to kill them all, right?" He finally resolved, turning away from me and facing the enemies.
"Yeah, make it quick," I told him.
"Understood," He said, almost mechanically.
I smiled, I knew I made the right choice buying him after all. Why?
Shadow shifters are beings who can basically manipulate their shadows. They are very rare variants of the shifter race. But that was not all. They were extremely weak during the day. However, the closer it got to midnight, the stronger they became. During the night they were nightmares and were phenomenally more powerful and unstoppable. And that worked perfectly well for me now.
"I'll end this quickly. Before it gets late" He said, glancing at all thirty four of his enemies.