Chapter 7: The Auction of Li Gags
Arrangements were finalized, and Li Gags, once a formidable figure, was now prepared to be sold like a commodity. Word of his capture had spread like wildfire, quickly drawing both prominent and obscure clans from neighboring kingdoms to the Hunters' Forest. Each one came with their own agendas, eager to get a glimpse of the prisoner whose reputation had preceded him. Once an unstoppable force, now he was nothing more than an object of trade, a prize to be claimed by the highest bidder. To some, he was a symbol of power, a creature who could bend the world to his will. To others, he was a piece of property to exploit, a tool that could be used and discarded at whim.
The clearing around the makeshift prison had become a chaotic gathering place. Clansmen, traders, mercenaries, and curious onlookers stood shoulder to shoulder, their whispers floating through the air like a storm of rumors. The sound of their conversation was a mixture of awe, curiosity, and disdain. Some of the spectators had traveled from great distances, eager to see the infamous warrior whose powers had been feared and revered for so long. Others had come for darker reasons—sought by those with enough wealth to bind such power to their own will.
When the prisoners were finally brought out, the crowd grew silent. The shackles they wore ran from their necks to their feet, heavy iron chains designed to ensure no chance of escape. One by one, the captives were marched forward, their faces a mixture of defeat and defiance. Li Gags was the last to emerge. He was flanked by over fifty armed hunters, each one keeping a careful eye on their prize. Every step Li Gags took was laden with the weight of humiliation. His once-proud figure, now shackled and bound, was a far cry from the unstoppable warrior he had been. The chains around his limbs clinked ominously with each movement, their sound cutting through the air, signaling his fall from grace.
The transformation in Li Gags was impossible to ignore. His eyes, once vibrant with the unmistakable green hue that marked his power, were now dim and lifeless. He was still the same man, but the power that once surged through him seemed muted, locked away. Stripped of his once-mighty abilities, he could do nothing but move forward, led by the unyielding chains that bound him. He felt the sting of frustration in every fiber of his being, questioning himself repeatedly: Why can't I fight back? Why can't I break free? But no answer came, and with each passing moment, the sense of helplessness grew stronger.
The crowd watched in awe, murmuring amongst themselves. Even in his subdued state, Li Gags' imposing presence was undeniable. There was something about him that commanded attention, even as he was led to the platform. Despite the chains, despite the collar around his neck and the shackles on his wrists, the aura of power that had once defined him still lingered in the air. His defiance, even in the face of capture, was palpable.
As the hunters' master, a towering figure with an air of unshakable authority, took his position on the platform, the atmosphere shifted. The once-chaotic crowd grew hushed, awaiting the commencement of the auction. Li Gags was dragged onto the stage for all to see. He was no longer the warrior they had heard tales of; now, he was merely a possession, up for sale to the highest bidder. The master cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the excited murmurs of the onlookers.
"Let the bidding begin!" he declared with an air of finality.
Immediately, voices rang out from the crowd, eager to make their offers. The first bid came quickly, shouted boldly by a clan leader sitting on a lavish chair. "Twenty thousand!" he called, his voice full of confidence. His bid was met with a few murmurs of approval, but no one seemed willing to settle for such a modest sum. Another voice rose from the back of the crowd.
"Forty-five thousand!" the voice declared, and the bidding war had begun.
The price quickly began to climb, each bid outpacing the last. Wealthy spectators, clan leaders, and high-ranking warriors vied for ownership of the infamous Li Gags. Each bidder seemed eager to claim him for their own reasons—some sought the power he once wielded, while others simply wished to break him, to strip him of his dignity and make him a puppet for their use. The bids soared higher, until the figures were so astronomical that even those with vast fortunes exchanged glances of disbelief.
The auction seemed to have reached its peak when a voice rang out, cutting through the noise like a blade. "Six hundred thousand!" A hush fell over the crowd as all eyes turned to the source of the voice.
Sitting among the bidders was a figure cloaked in regal authority—King Vision of the White Clan. His presence seemed to dominate the room, an undeniable aura of power and control radiating from him. His bid was so far above the others that it brought a momentary silence. The crowd, awestruck by the sheer audacity of the offer, was stunned into stillness.
"Six hundred thousand," the auctioneer said, his voice trembling slightly. He slammed his staff onto the ground, signaling the end of the bidding.
The moment the bid was sealed, the master of the auction stepped forward, bowing his head slightly in deference to the king. King Vision gave a slight nod of approval, his demeanor calm and measured. Beside him sat a young woman in a white dress, her beauty ethereal, her presence captivating. She wore a golden crown that shimmered in the light, her eyes fixed on Li Gags with a mix of curiosity and something else—something that stirred something deep within him.
Li Gags, still shackled and barely able to lift his head, couldn't help but notice her for the first time. Their eyes met, and in that brief exchange, something unspoken passed between them. A strange connection, as if they shared an understanding that transcended words. Her gaze was not one of pity or judgment but of something more profound—perhaps empathy, perhaps something else entirely. But in that fleeting moment, Li Gags felt a spark of hope. It was a fleeting feeling, one that he would cling to as the events of the day unfolded.
As the auction ended and the crowd began to disperse, the hunters began to prepare for the next phase of the transaction. They would escort Li Gags to the White Clan's stronghold, where he would be further examined, perhaps trained, or perhaps simply kept as a trophy. For now, the once-feared warrior was a prisoner, bound for an uncertain future.
Yet, amidst the humiliation and the uncertainty, Li Gags could not shake the memory of the girl in the white dress. Who was she? What was her connection to King Vision and the White Clan? And why did he feel as though she was speaking to him without words? He knew that she was no ordinary figure, but what role she would play in his fate, he could not yet understand.
But just as the hunters were preparing to depart, the air shifted once again. The arrival of King Miller of the Black Clan, known as the Ruthless King, cast a dark shadow over the proceedings. His lateness to the auction was not the cause of his anger; no, it was the fact that Li Gags had already been sold. And that was a slight that King Miller would not tolerate.
"Who dares defy the Black Clan?" he roared, his voice thunderous, sending ripples of fear through the crowd. His warriors stood behind him, their eyes cold with rage. There was no mistaking the power in his voice, the fury in his presence. The earth seemed to tremble beneath him.
Without hesitation, King Miller strode toward the auctioneer's platform. His eyes locked onto the hunters' master, and his voice boomed through the air. "You sold him without my consent. For that, you will pay the price."
The confrontation was swift, brutal, and unrelenting. King Miller's warriors moved with deadly precision, their swords flashing through the air as they cut down the hunters one by one. The forest became a battlefield, the sounds of steel clashing and the cries of men filling the air. Blood stained the ground as the Black Clan's forces swept through the hunters with terrifying efficiency.
King Miller's eyes were wild with rage as he towered over the hunters' master, who was now bleeding and barely able to stand. "Any last words?" he demanded, his voice like the rumble of thunder.
The master, weakened and gasping for breath, could hardly speak. Before he could form another word, King Miller raised his hand. A dark, pulsing energy emanated from his palm, and with a single motion, he tore the man's soul from his body. The master crumpled to the ground, lifeless, his body falling like a puppet whose strings had been severed.
With his vengeance complete, King Miller stood tall, his rage still simmering. "Burn it all," he commanded, his voice filled with finality.
At his command, the Black Clan's forces set the forest ablaze. The trees, once full of life, were consumed by fire. Smoke billowed into the sky, the flames licking at the heavens as the Hunters' Forest was reduced to an inferno. The message was clear—King Miller's wrath would not be contained, and anyone who dared to cross him would be met with total destruction.
As the forest burned, Li Gags was transported to the White Clan's kingdom, bound and broken. His mind was consumed by the chaos he had left behind. The memory of the girl in the white dress lingered in his thoughts, a beacon of hope amidst the madness. He knew that the story of his life was far from over. What role would she play in his fate? Could she be the key to unlocking the answers he so desperately sought? Only time would tell.