Loreia kept pacing in front of the cage, eyes locked to Zephyron's massive wings.
"No, seriously. Fifty ters? That thing could block out the sun."
Luna nodded, arms folded. "And it's packed with elental energy. Wind and lightning together?"
Liora stood nearby, watching quietly.
Loreia turned toward her. "So, was it actually hard to beat?"
Liora shrugged. "It would've been. If I wasn't stronger."
"Yeah, yeah," Loreia muttered.
"Always so casual about stuff like this."
Luna leaned slightly toward the cage. "Its presence alone is even heavier than Dreadmaw's."
Loreia pointed at the beast. "And you said it fired so massive thunder lance? Like, end-the-sky level?"
Liora nodded once. "Its final attack was big enough to destroy half a mountain."
Loreia looked over her shoulder. "And you tanked it with a ch?"
Liora gave a short smirk. "One hit. Shattered it."
Liline, standing just outside the cage, smirked.
"Strong as it is, I'm still better."
All three turned to her.
Luna blinked. "You're kidding."
"I'm not," Liline replied with a faint smile.
"I am the spirit guardian of Luxoria Castle. This place exists because I hold it together."
Loreia raised her eyebrow. "So you could beat that thing if it got loose?"
"I wouldn't need to fight it."
Liline said simply. "It would kneel."
Liora raised her brow but said nothing.
Luna tilted her head, amused. "Arrogant as ever."
Liline gave a light curtsy. "Confident. There's a difference."
Loreia crossed her arms. "You've never fought sothing like that, though."
Liline didn't respond. She just smiled.
Before another word could be thrown, Lucius appeared before them.
Everyone turned imdiately.
He stopped a few paces from the cage and looked up.
Zephyron stood perfectly still inside.
Lucius smirked. "Well, well… Liora. That's a big flying beast."
His eyes locked into its massived wings and the arcs of electricity on them.
"From its size and elental resonance alone…"
He paused. "It seems stronger than Dreadmaw."
Liora gave a nod. "It is."
Lucius stepped forward. "Good."
He looked back at her. "I assu it surrendered?"
"It had no choice."
Luna stepped to the side, smiling faintly. "Welco back, Master."
Loreia grinned. "You're just in ti. Liora brought ho a thunderstorm."
Lucius looked at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering just a second longer on Liora.
Then he turned back toward the cage.
Zephyron wasn't moving. But its eyes were locked onto Liora.
Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly. "It's looking at you."
Luna tilted her head. "Yeah. It's doing that weird 'I-want-to-say-sothing' stare again."
Loreia whispered, "Is it about to explode?"
Liora crossed her arms. "No. It wants to talk."
Lucius glanced sideways. "You understand it?"
Liora shook her head. "Not exactly. But Leon made sothing that can."
Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Leon made what?"
"A translator," Liora said.
Lucius blinked. "...It made a translator?"
Liora smirked. "Master, Leon can form tanks, bazookas, and an entire ch suit mid-air. A translator's nothing."
Lucius looked genuinely intrigued for a mont. "I see. Then make one for all of us."
"Of course."
Liora raised her hand.
Silver fire flickered across her palm. Four small, silver earpieces ford instantly.
She tossed them—one each—to Lucius, Luna, and Loreia, then clipped one into her ear.
Lucius caught his midair, inspected it, then slid it behind his ear. "Hmph. Efficient."
Loreia tapped hers, unsure. "Wait. This won't explode or fry my brain, right?"
Luna smirked. "You'd survive. Probably."
Liora ignored them. "It's synced to Leon's field. You'll hear Zephyron if it speaks again."
Liline stepped beside the group, hands behind her back.
"No need for ," she said with a smile.
"As a guardian spirit, I already understand all beast dialects."
Loreia turned to her. "Okay, seriously? Why are you so overpowered?"
Liline blinked. "Because I was designed that way."
Lucius gave a low chuckle. "Then let's hear what our thunderbird has to say."
Everyone turned back toward the cage.
---
Zephyron glanced toward Liora.
"You rember the deal."
Liora's gaze sharpened. "I do."
Lucius glanced sideways. "What deal?"
Liora spoke without turning. "It told before surrendering—it would only allow itself to be sold to soone worthy."
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Worthy?"
"It wants a tar who can match its strength."
Lucius stepped forward, eyes fixed on Zephyron. "I see."
He clasped his hands behind his back, posture relaxed. "So… a strong tar, then."
Zephyron stood still, wings slowly folding in.
Lucius smirked. "Don't worry about that."
He took another step toward the edge of the platform.
"Our auction will be the best this city has ever seen."
Luna let out a quiet breath of amusent. "It already is."
Lucius continued, "Powerful tars from every region will be there. Not the arrogant kind, not the spoiled kind—true masters."
Loreia nodded quickly. "Real beast kings. Not the wannabes who cry when a C-Rank roars."
Lucius glanced at Zephyron. "There will be so who deserve you. I promise that."
Zephyron didn't respond—but it lowered its head slightly, sparks fading from its wings.
Luna adjusted her earpiece. "Guess that ans it accepts the plan."
Liora crossed her arms. "It better. It already lost."
Loreia grinned. "I still can't believe you dragged that thing here in one day."
Liline tilted her head. "Should I start preparing the main stage, Master?"
Lucius gave a small nod. "Yes. But before that..."
He turned toward Zephyron, smirking.
Then he shifted to face Liora.
"I have a new plan."
Liora stepped forward. "What kind?"
Lucius glanced toward Liline before turning back to her.
"Take the ten new Vornis and hunt so beasts around our castle."
Liora raised her eyebrow. "Alive or dead?"
Lucius shook his head. "Alive."
Liora frowned. "We're capturing wild beasts?"
Lucius nodded once. "Exactly. Bring them back. Just bring a lot."
He paused, eyes gleaming.
"I have a really good plan."
Liora studied him for a second. "Auction-related?"
Lucius didn't answer. He just smirked.
Luna stepped in. "You're building sothing."
Lucius smiled slightly. "You'll see."
Loreia leaned closer to Luna. "He's definitely building sothing."
Luna whispered back, "Probably a new layer of psychological warfare."
Liora turned to go. "Ten Vornis. Wild captures. Understood."
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