The crowd's unease was palpable, rippling through the air like an invisible tide as Arthur stepped closer to the platform.
His immense form seemed to grow larger under the lantern's flickering glow, the eerie blue light dancing across his white scales. The sharp click of his claws on the glass casing echoed through the chamber, cutting through the silence like a dagger. The sound made the crowd flinch, a ripple of primal fear spreading through the room.
"Enough games." Arthur said, his deep voice carrying a chilling finality. His cyan slit eyes swept the room, the faint luminescence within them casting a ghostly reflection on the terrified faces before him. "You believe this is an auction, a mere spectacle to line your coffers. But you're mistaken."
Zephyra, who had been pacing with poise moments before, faltered.
