Luna kept staring at the status screen in front of her, eyes flicking line by line.
---
[Na: Nebelis]
[Species: Mist-Fused Sovereign Beast]
[Rank: Sovereign-Tier]
[Elent: Wind, Ice and Dark]
---
[Stats:]
[Str: S]
[Vit: S]
[Agi: S]
[Int: S]
---
[Abilities:]
[Mist Field Generator – Spreads a thick fog that blocks sight, scent, and magic tracking. Makes Nebelis nearly impossible to detect.]
[Illusive Pulseform – Creates realistic clones inside the mist. They feel real, confuse senses, and hide the real body.]
[Mistbound Arsenal – Forms weapons from mist—blades, spears, scythes—that strike from any angle.]
[Precision Drift – Moves freely through terrain using mist currents. Can strike from any direction.]
[Sovereign Mistlink – Boosts Silphra, Mistvex, and Velgrith. They attack in sync, hide deeper, and beco stronger.]
[Fogbound Surveillance – Senses everything inside the mist—movent, sound, even through walls. Can't be ambushed.]
---
Luna finally exhaled and turned toward Lucius. "This… is going to be very hard."
Lucius raised a brow, watching her calmly.
"The forest already had mist," Luna continued.
"Now we're throwing in this thing and hundreds of boosted mist beasts?"
She shook her head. "No way anyone gets through casually."
Loreia stepped up beside her. "It's basically a maze filled with illusion traps and invisible predators."
Liora crossed her arms. "Good."
Lucius nodded. "Exactly."
He turned, hands behind his back as he gazed at Nebelis through the glass.
"Only tars who can overco this deserve to face Zephyron. No gimmicks. No lucky bids."
Luna glanced at the Sovereign Mist Beast. "You're not just selling a beast. You're hosting a survival test."
Lucius smirked. "No. I'm filtering the weak."
Loreia raised her eyebrow. "So… only the real monsters get to raise their paddles, huh?"
Lucius's voice was cool and final.
"Only those strong enough to walk through hell deserve to own what we sell."
He turned to Liline without looking away from Nebelis.
"It's already midnight. So of the early challengers may be on the move."
He raised a hand slightly.
"Go. Release all the mist beasts into the forest. Every last one."
Liline bowed. "As you command."
She vanished into the wall without another word.
Loreia looked over. "So… should we announce this? Post it on the site? So kind of warning?"
Lucius shook his head imdiately. "Of course not."
He turned back to the girls, a faint smirk curling at his lips.
"Let it be a surprise."
Luna chuckled. "A deadly one."
Loreia gave a short laugh. "Brutal."
Lucius walked past them slowly. "They chose to co here thinking it was just another auction."
He paused. "They'll realize it's not the mont they step into the forest."
Luna looked toward the window, where the dark mist was already creeping toward the castle edges.
"I wonder how many will actually make it."
Lucius didn't stop walking.
"Fewer than they expect."
---
The mist clung low to the ground, creeping between trees like it was alive.
So of the S-Rank tars had already entering the mist forest.
Three figures also moved with practiced formation.
Each one of them were already ard with gear and already fused with their beasts.
Alaric walked in front, adjusting his cloak as he glanced ahead.
"This mist's unnatural. Can't see a damn thing past thirty ters."
Colan followed behind, scanning the area.
"Not just unnatural. I tried casting a light spell ten minutes ago. It barely pushed past my palm."
Dario exhaled, twirling a throwing blade between his fingers.
"Whatever. Doesn't matter. We're here for the auction."
Alaric smirked. "Yeah. And I want to see what kind of beast Luxoria's hiding this ti."
Colan nodded. "They kept everything locked down. Not a single leak."
Dario grinned. "That just makes it better."
Alaric raised his eyebrow. "You guys think the rumors are true?"
Colan glanced at him. "Which ones?"
"That the beast that they sold this ti will be a flying one."
Dario shrugged. "With Lord L? Wouldn't be surprised."
Colan muttered, "Still… they're making us walk through a fog-choked forest just to attend."
Alaric narrowed his eyes. "Yeah. That's the part that bothers . This isn't just for show."
Dario tilted his head. "You think it's a test?"
Alaric stopped, crouching slightly. "I don't know about that."
He pressed his hand against the ground. "But the pressure here... it's heavier than it was a few days ago."
Colan scanned the trees around. "This isn't natural fog. I feel sothing different."
Suddenly, blades of wind sliced through the mist.
They were sharp, fast, and aid straight for them.
"Move!" Dario barked.
He ignited his throwing knife midair, fla coiling around the blade.
He launched it forward.
Clang—BOOM!
The fire-coated knife exploded against the incoming wind slash, canceling the force.
The blast shook nearby branches.
Alaric stood imdiately. "What was that?!"
Colan spun. "I didn't see anything. No sound or even heat signature."
Dario frowned. "There's a beast out here. But I can't sense it. I felt the intent, not the presence."
Alaric grit his teeth.
He had already fused with Direfang, his beast.
He now had enhanced scent, reflexes, and vision.
He sniffed the air once.
"…Nothing. I can't sll anything."
Colan muttered, "Alright, my turn."
He closed his eyes briefly, his aura glowing pale gold.
"Skyflare Ward."
A radiant burst of light pulsed out from his body, washing over the area in a quick do.
The trees lit up. The fog glead white.
But nothing moved. No silhouettes. No heat trails. Just mist.
Dario clicked his tongue. "It's not hiding with illusions?"
Colan shook his head. "Then it's sothing worse."
Suddenly, Colan's eyes widened. "Behind you, Dario!"
Dario spun instantly, blade drawn. "Co on, then!"
SLASH!
His blade cut through the air and hit sothing solid.
Mist disappeared and for just a mont, the beast's form appeared.
A semi-transparent panther. Body wrapped in wind and haze.
Its eyes locked with Dario's.
"Silphra…" Colan muttered. "No way."
Dario didn't lower his sword. "You know that thing?"
Colan stepped forward. "I fought it before. Two weeks ago. Before going to the first Luxoria Castle auction."
Colan then frowned. "But it wasn't like this."
Alaric narrowed his eyes. "You're saying this is a stronger version?"
Before anyone could respond, the Silphra vanished again, lting into the fog like it was never there.
Dario lowered his blade slightly, breathing out. "So Lord L's gone and made this forest a battlefield."
Colan tightened his grip on his staff. "We're not even deep in yet. This was the entrance."
Alaric stood straight again. "He doesn't want bidders."
Dario scoffed. "No. He wants survivors."
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