The following day dawned with a crackle of energy in the air, as if the anticipation of the upcoming auction had electrified the entire city. Even the dragons seemed more animated, their chatter echoing through the halls as Yin Xie and I made our way to the grand auction chamber.
The venue itself was an awe-inspiring sight: a circular hall carved from a single colossal gemstone, its walls refracting light into a kaleidoscope of colors. Dragons of every size and shape filled the seats, their humanoid forms blending seamlessly with their draconic essence. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, whispers of rare items and potential bids floating through the air like currents.
"Try not to embarrass yourself this time," Yin Xie said, her tone laced with amusement as she adjusted the sleeve of her flowing black-and-silver gown.
"I don't embarrass myself," I shot back, straightening my jacket. "I just… make bold moves."
"Boldly stupid, you mean," she quipped, earning a glare from me.
The auction began with a flourish, the elven auctioneer stepping onto the stage with the kind of grace that made everyone pause. Her voice rang out, melodic yet commanding, amplified by the room's acoustics.
"Welcome, esteemed guests, to the second day of the Grand Auction! Today's items are treasures of unparalleled value—artifacts, relics, and power beyond imagination. Let us begin with something to whet your appetites!"
The first item was revealed: a gleaming set of armor forged from celestial metals, shimmering with an inner light. It was said to be unbreakable, capable of absorbing and redirecting mana attacks.
"Starting bid: 5,000 mana crystals!" the auctioneer declared.
Dragons and other bidders immediately raised their paddles, the numbers climbing fast. Within moments, the price had soared to 50,000 mana crystals.
"I could use that," I murmured, tapping my chin.
Yin Xie gave me a side-eye. "You? In that armor? You'd look like a tin can."
"Better than a roasted marshmallow," I muttered under my breath.
The bidding war was intense, the final price settling at an eye-watering 120,000 mana crystals. The winner, a smug-looking dragon with emerald scales, leaned back in satisfaction as the next item was unveiled.
---
The excitement ramped up when the third item was brought out: a sword that seemed to hum with barely-contained energy.
"This, dear bidders, is the Stormblade," the auctioneer announced, her voice reverent. "Forged in the heart of a thunderstorm, it channels lightning with every swing. Starting bid: 20,000 mana crystals!"
The room erupted into chaos as paddles shot up. Lightning dragons were especially eager, their eyes practically glowing as they vied for the weapon.
"I'll admit," I said, leaning forward, "that's a cool sword."
"Don't even think about it," Yin Xie warned.
But I was already raising my paddle. "30,000 mana crystals!"
A hush fell over the room as heads turned toward my private booth. Yin Xie facepalmed.
The bids escalated rapidly. "40,000!" "50,000!" "70,000!"
I hesitated, but Brandi's earlier words echoed in my mind. Connections. Alliances. Power.
"100,000 mana crystals!" I shouted, ignoring Yin Xie's groan of exasperation.
The room buzzed with murmurs, but then, a deep, rumbling voice cut through the noise. "One Phoenix Feather."
The bidder was a towering dragon with obsidian scales, his golden eyes fixed on the auctioneer. A Phoenix Feather was far more valuable than mere crystals.
Yin Xie smirked. "You're out of your league."
"Am I?" I muttered, raising my paddle. "Two Dragon Heart."
The room erupted again, the tension palpable. The obsidian dragon frowned but didn't counter. When the hammer fell, the Stormblade was mine.
"You're insufferable," Yin Xie muttered.
"Bold, remember?" I replied with a grin.
---
The climax of the auction arrived when the final item was unveiled: a small, unassuming orb glowing faintly with shifting colors.
"This, esteemed guests, is the Prism Core," the auctioneer announced, her voice tinged with awe. "A relic of unimaginable power, capable of enhancing any artifact it is fused with. Starting bid: 50,000 mana crystals."
The room fell into a tense silence before the bids started flying.
"100,000!"
"150,000!"
"200,000!"
I leaned toward Yin Xie. "What's the deal with this thing?"
She frowned. "A Prism Core can elevate even a mediocre artifact into something legendary. If you attach it to that Stormblade you just bought…"
"Say no more," I said, raising my paddle. "300,000 mana crystals!"
The tension was unbearable as the bids climbed higher and higher. A silver dragoness with icy blue eyes countered with a bid of 400,000 mana crystals.
I hesitated. "This might bankrupt me," I muttered.
"Then don't do it," Yin Xie said, though there was no small amount of amusement in her tone.
"A dragon heart!" I shouted, ignoring her.
The silver dragoness paused, considering her options, but then, with a flick of her wrist, she withdrew.
"Sold! To the bold bidder in the private booth!"
The room erupted in applause as the auctioneer banged her gavel.
Yin Xie shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Bold indeed."
As the Prism Core was delivered to me, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of accomplishment—and impending doom. But for now, I had the treasures, the connections, and the attention of the dragons.
Chapter: A World Within a Globe
With the tension of the earlier bidding wars still buzzing in the air, I leaned back in my seat, cradling the Prism Core in one hand and the Stormblade's hilt in the other. My winnings so far felt monumental, but the day wasn't over.
Yin Xie sipped her tea calmly beside me, her demeanor suggesting she was far too used to my antics. "Let me guess, you're already planning on doing something stupid with that core and blade."
"Not stupid—strategic," I corrected, grinning. "But first, I need to recover from spending two dragon hearts in one day."
"Good luck with that," she said dryly.
The lights in the room dimmed, and the auctioneer stepped forward again, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade.
"Esteemed bidders, for our next item, we present something truly unique—an artifact so rare, even dragons have scarcely seen its kind. Allow me to introduce… the Globe of Existence."
A collective gasp filled the hall as the next item was brought forth. It appeared to be a small, perfectly round orb no larger than a human's head, hovering above a velvet cushion. Within the glassy sphere was a miniature world—a vibrant, thriving ecosystem of forests, mountains, oceans, and tiny lights suggesting civilizations.
"This," the auctioneer continued, her voice reverent, "is a self-sustaining microcosm. An entire world resides within this globe, complete with living beings and functional ecosystems. It can serve as a hideout, a retreat, or even a sanctuary. But be warned—this world will react to the emotions and will of its owner."
Yin Xie's interest was immediately piqued, her eyes narrowing. "That's not just an artifact. That's a realm—a place where time and reality bend to its holder. Dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands."
"Sounds perfect for someone like me," I said with a grin.
"Or catastrophic," she countered.
---
"Starting bid: 1 Dragon Heart!" the auctioneer declared.
A ripple of excitement surged through the crowd. This wasn't just an artifact—it was a potential game-changer, and the bidders knew it. Paddles shot up instantly.
"Two Dragon Hearts!"
"Three!"
"Four!"
The bidding was escalating quickly, and the tension in the room was almost palpable. I leaned forward, considering my options.
"You're not seriously thinking of bidding on this," Yin Xie said, exasperated.
"I am," I admitted. "A pocket-sized world? Come on, how could I not?"
"Because you're already in debt to half the dragons here?"
Ignoring her, I raised my paddle. "Five Dragon Hearts!"
The room went silent for a moment, and then the bidding resumed with renewed vigor.
"Six!"
"Seven!"
"Ten Dragon Hearts!" I shouted, earning audible gasps.
"Are you insane?" Yin Xie hissed.
"Probably," I muttered, keeping my eyes on the auctioneer.
---
The bidding war reached its peak when a sapphire-scaled dragon stood and declared, "Fifteen Dragon Hearts and an Essence Crystal!"
The room erupted in whispers. An Essence Crystal was an incredibly rare item, capable of amplifying one's mana tenfold. Even I hesitated.
"Well?" Yin Xie prodded.
I weighed my options. The Globe of Existence could be a strategic asset—a hideout, a retreat, or even a controlled environment for experiments.
But at what cost?
"Ten thousand Dragon Hearts!" I called out.
The room fell silent again, every dragon turning to stare at me. Even the sapphire-scaled dragon seemed taken aback. He hesitated, his expression conflicted, before slowly sitting down.
The auctioneer's voice rang out like a bell. "Sold! To the bold bidder in the private booth!"
---
As the Globe of Existence was delivered to me, I couldn't help but marvel at its intricate details. Tiny clouds floated above the mountains, miniature rivers glimmered under an unseen sun, and tiny pinpricks of light moved about as if life itself were bustling within.
Yin Xie leaned closer, her curiosity outweighing her earlier disapproval. "You really did it. What are you even going to do with that thing?"
"Vacation home," I said with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her intrigue. "Let's just hope you don't break it. Or worse, get trapped inside."
"Relax," I said, cradling the globe. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Before I could delve further into my thoughts, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Brandi, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Well, Ace, looks like you've made a move," she said with a grin. "But you know this isn't over. The real game starts now."
I raised an eyebrow, sensing something more was at play. "What do you mean?"
Brandi's smile faded slightly. "You just bought something that others will want. That Globe of Existence? It's not just a vacation spot. It's a prize. And there are people here who'd do anything to get their hands on it."
A chill ran down my spine as I looked down at the globe. She was right. I'd just opened a door to a world I wasn't entirely prepared for.
The auction had ended, but the real challenges were only beginning..
------------
Dragon heart: 1,019,655 units.
Boundless Wealth:
Slot 1: Phoenix blood vials
(363 unit. ) | [+181 unit the next day. ]
Slot 2: advanced storage ring
(2 unit. ) [+2 unit the next day. ]