The massive circular chamber resembled a colosseum forged entirely from black alloyed steel and illuminated crystal panels.
Towering walls curved endlessly around the arena while 10s of floating holographic screens rotated through the air in synchronised patterns, constantly displaying statistics, purchase histories, bloodline rankings, and fluctuating market values.
Suspended surveillance drones hovered silently near the ceiling. Their crimson optical lenses rotated with chanical precision while invisible scanners swept across the audience.
Hundreds of people filled the lower sections of the arena.
Wealthy businessn wearing glowing cybernetic monocles reclined comfortably in levitating chairs while beautiful won dressed in luxurious synthetic fabrics rested beside them, their dresses shimring beneath the holographic lights like liquid glass.
Augnted humans with tallic limbs casually drank glowing liquids from transparent cylinders while discussing transaction values.
The sound of countless voices echoed throughout the colossal hall.
The atmosphere felt predatory.
As though countless monsters sat quietly in the dark, observing livestock before purchase.
Yet above all of them... far above the lower audience floors... six colossal curtains hung vertically from the ceiling toward the ground like divine banners overlooking mortal existence.
Every curtain towered over the arena with oppressive grandeur, their surfaces covered in glowing symbols that pulsed faintly through the darkness.
α
β
γ
δ
ε
ζ
Each symbol emitted rhythmic waves of energy through the chamber.
Beneath every curtain stood hidden figures concealed behind dark, transparent barriers.
Their appearances remained obscured behind shifting holographic mist, yet faint silhouettes could still be seen through the distortion.
So sat calmly with crossed legs while others leaned forward slightly, observing the arena below with visible interest. One figure slowly tapped tallic fingers against an armrest while another swirled glowing wine inside a crystal glass.
Quite a spectacle for a slave auction.
Then suddenly...
BEAAAMMMM!!
The centre stage erupted with blinding white light.
Music exploded throughout the auction hall as digital fireworks consud the ceiling in waves of neon blue and silver.
A feminine voice echoed across the entire chamber.
"WELCO... DISTINGUISHED GUESTS... TO TONIGHT’S PREMIUM ACQUISITION EVENT."
The crowd imdiately erupted into cheers and applause.
A figure slowly descended from above through a pillar of light.
It was a woman wearing an elegant black outfit fused with reactive holographic fabrics that shifted colours every few seconds. Silver cybernetic lines glowed faintly beneath her skin while dozens of miniature drones floated behind her like chanical butterflies. Her heels clicked softly against the tallic stage as she landed gracefully at the centre platform.
She smiled toward the audience with practised perfection.
"Good evening, distinguished guests~"
Her amplified voice flowed smoothly across the colossal hall while the drones behind her projected her enlarged image onto every floating screen inside the chamber.
"Welco once again to Nexus’s Premium Live Auction."
The woman’s smile deepened slightly as holographic files rotated beside her.
"Tonight’s inventory includes fresh acquisitions from the outer regions, newly discovered bloodline, enhanced species candidates, combat-adapted survivors, neural-compatible servants, and several highly unusual specins personally approved for upper-floor review."
The mont she said that, countless gazes imdiately shifted toward the six chambers above.
Clearly... the true monsters sat above.
"Now then..."
The woman gracefully extended her hand toward the massive door standing at the end of the glowing pathway, where the slaves waited behind the door. Hydraulic locks imdiately released with a deafening tallic hiss while red warning lights flashed across the edges of the corridor.
The holographic screens instantly shifted.
Rows of glowing numbers rotated rapidly through the air before stopping one by one with sharp digital clicks.
[ENTRY No. 001]
One slave stepped out from the doorway hesitantly, his movents stiff and uncertain as his frightened eyes wandered across the colossal arena surrounding him.
The overwhelming lights, the floating holographic screens, the countless silhouettes watching from every direction... everything crushed against his senses at once.
The slave flinched violently and instinctively tried to step backwards.
Before he could retreat, the two red-striped black ch-suits stationed behind him imdiately grabbed his arms before dragging him toward the centre of the stage.
As if he were the star of the show.
The man trembled violently while countless holographic screens enlarged his appearance for every buyer to inspect in microscopic detail.
His face, heartbeat, muscle density, breathing pattern, and even stress levels beca public information floating across the air. Several buyers casually zood into specific body parts through private interfaces.
The hostess smiled elegantly before speaking once more.
"Ladies and gentlen... allow to present one of the finest acquisitions secured during this year’s outer-region operations."
Her smooth voice flowed naturally across the chamber while holographic drones projected rotating scans around the trembling man.
"A rare subject carrying traces of a draconic bloodline."
Instantly, several holographic screens zood closer toward the slave while streams of glowing information flickered beside his enlarged image.
[Bloodline Purity: 3.7%]
[Muscular Growth Potential: High]
[Primitive Fla Adaptation: Detected]
[Combat Survival Rate: 61%]
The audience imdiately beca noisier.
So buyers leaned forward with visible interest while others casually scanned the floating information panels before whispering toward assistants standing beside them.
The hostess slowly circled around the frightened slave.
"Captured from an active outer-region conflict zone," she explained smoothly. "Physically healthy. ntally stable enough for integration procedures. No major internal damage detected."
The slave trembled harder as hundreds of eyes observed him like rchandise displayed inside a glass cage.
Sweat rolled slowly down his neck while the hovering scanners continued analysing him from every angle.
"While the dragon bloodline remains weak..."
The hostess paused briefly before smiling faintly toward the audience.
"Even diluted draconic traits possess extraordinary market value when cultivated properly."
The red-striped black ch-suit standing behind the slave slightly nudged him forward before lowering its tallic helt near his ear.
*Co on... show them sothing.*
*If soone from the upper floor notices you, your entire life changes tonight.*
Hearing those words, the slave suddenly turned stiff. His breathing beca uneven as his fearful eyes slowly rose toward the six colossal curtains hanging above the arena.
The slave swallowed nervously before giving a small, trembling nod. Slowly, he closed his eyes.
For a brief mont, the arena beca strangely quiet.
Then his eyes snapped open.
His pupils transford instantly into sharp dragon slits glowing with faint golden light. Cracking sounds echoed from beneath his skin as thick scales rapidly spread across his body from head to toe.
The audience watched through enlarged holographic projections as scales crawled across his arms, neck, chest, and face with terrifying realism. His fingers partially sharpened into claw-like shapes while faint heat waves distorted the air surrounding him.
Several buyers imdiately stood from their seats in shock.
The hostess nodded her head, sensing that everyone got curious even more,
"The starting bid is 100 Aevum."
Instantly, bidding windows exploded throughout the audience floors.
"110 Aevum!"
"150 Aevum!"
"200 Aevum!"
"250 Aevum!"
"270 Aevum!"
Voices echoed endlessly throughout the arena as glowing numbers continued climbing higher and higher across the floating displays.
Above them...
The six curtains remained completely silent.
Watching everything below in utter silence.
Then suddenly...
"500 Aevum."
No further bids appeared afterwards.
The slave’s expression slowly changed.
His pale face turned toward the lower audience section where the winning bidder’s identification signal glowed faintly.
It was not one of the upper floors.
Not one of the monsters above.
His trembling eyes slowly shifted toward the red-striped black ch-suit beside him, desperately searching for answers behind the emotionless tallic visor.
Was he going to be alright...?
*Pathetic.*
That was the only thing the ch-suit said coldly.
The hostess gently raised her hand toward the audience.
"500 Aevum going once..."
A soft chanical sound echoed through the hall as floating transaction systems confird the active purchase.
"Going twice..."
Above the stage, a gigantic holographic hamr slowly materialised from countless crimson light particles.
"Sold."
BOOOOM!!
The massive holographic hamr struck downward with explosive force. Crimson sparks burst across every floating screen while the arena lights flickered violently for a split second.
The crowd erupted into loud applause as transaction notifications echoed throughout the lower floors.
The ch-suits imdiately grabbed the slave before escorting him away toward a separate glowing corridor behind the stage.
The man looked both terrified and relieved at the sa ti. His trembling eyes glanced backwards toward the arena before the tallic gates slowly closed behind him.
The hostess gracefully turned back toward the audience while another glowing number began rotating across the massive holographic displays above the arena.
[ENTRY No. 002]
"Now then..."
Her smile deepened slightly while floating drones repositioned themselves around the stage.
"Let us proceed to the next acquisition~"
anwhile, inside the waiting platform behind the arena, transparent digital screens floated around the tallic walls displaying the rotating number 002 in glowing blue letters.
Lackey watched as the red-striped black ch-suit stepped back inside.
Hydraulic locks hissed softly as the armoured figure removed his helt.
He spoke casually while wiping sweat from his neck.
*That guy was chosen by a powerful faction. His life from now on is going to be better than any of yours.*
The mont those words entered the room, nearly everyone breathed in relief.
To them... this was salvation.
If that trembling barely dragon could rise into a better life, then perhaps the rest of them still had a chance, too.
A future.
Freedom.
Status!
and... Perhaps even power!
Several slaves imdiately began whispering among themselves.
The wolf man suddenly put on his helt again.
*However... You’d better show your worth out there. Otherwise, you’ll end up inside so research lab as disposable experint material.*
Everyone visibly shivered.
The ch-suit glanced toward the glowing numbers etched onto the tallic cuffs around every slave’s wrist before calling the next participant.
"Entry 002. Move."
A young man imdiately stood up and walked toward the exit corridor with forced confidence.
As he disappeared alongside the guards, the remaining slaves slowly turned toward one another and began speaking in hushed but serious voices.
"This is our chance, guys..."
"Yes... If that half-baked dragon can survive out there, then I definitely can. I carry a pure Elven bloodline."
A handso silver-haired man smirked proudly while touching his chest.
"I’ll shine far brighter than him."
"Haha... exactly."
Another slave laughed while stretching the small wings folded behind his back.
"With my aerial abilities, they’ll fight each other just to buy ."
The atmosphere inside the chamber gradually changed. Fear remained... but greed and ambition had started mixing into it.
Every slave now imagined themselves walking away chosen by so powerful faction, rising above slavery into luxury and influence like the ch-suit guard standing before them.
anwhile, Lackey remained completely silent.
He stayed seated quietly against the tallic wall without attempting to join their conversation.
Even when others laughed or fantasised about freedom, he simply watched them silently through half-lidded eyes.
Ti slowly passed.
One entry after another disappeared through the glowing corridor.
[ENTRY No. 032]
...
..
[ENTRY No. 050]
...
..
[ENTRY No. 102]
The atmosphere inside the auction hall shifted instantly the mont the next slave stepped onto the stage.
"A pure Orc bloodline..."
The hostess’s voice echoed smoothly throughout the chamber as several holographic screens zood toward the massive grey-skinned figure standing beneath the scanning lights.
The orc towered over the ch-suits surrounding him, his bulky muscles resembling compressed steel beneath rough grey skin. Long fangs extended from his jaw while fierce yellow eyes glared toward the audience without fear.
Streams of glowing information flickered beside his enlarged image.
[Bloodline Purity: 100%]
[Muscular Growth Potential: Extre]
[Combat Survival Rate: 90%]
[Bone Density Rating: Exceptional]
The audience imdiately beca louder.
The hostess smiled gracefully while slowly circling around the enormous orc.
"Physically powerful. ntally stable enough for ongoing tournant participation. Extrely resistant to pain conditioning procedures."
Then she smirked slightly toward the audience.
"And who knows..."
A holographic image of a brutal combat arena suddenly appeared behind the orc.
"You might even win the Tournant with him fighting under your banner~"
Instantly, countless eyes widened with greed.
Just hearing those words caused excitent to spread throughout the lower floors like wildfire.
Wealth, influence, territory rights, military contracts... the rewards tied to that tournant were monstrous.
The hostess elegantly raised her hand once more.
"The starting bid is 500 Aevum."
Instantly, bidding windows exploded throughout the audience floors.
"550 Aevum!"
"600 Aevum!"
"700 Aevum!"
"800 Aevum!"
"900 Aevum!"
"910 Aevum!"
The lower floors erupted into chaos as bidding windows exploded across the arena one after another.
Voices echoed from every direction while glowing numbers rapidly climbed higher above the stage.
"1000 Aevu..."
!~🛎️~!
A sharp, crystalline notification suddenly echoed throughout the entire chamber.
One of the upper chambers flickered softly.
The massive curtain marked with the symbol ’δ’ emitted a deep crimson glow that spread across the surrounding darkness.
Imdiately... silence consud the lower sections.
Several lower buyers quietly withdrew their bids without the slightest hesitation. Others straightened nervously inside their seats while avoiding direct eye contact with the glowing upper chamber.
Even the floating drones shifted backwards slightly as though respecting an invisible boundary.
The hostess’s smile widened ever so slightly.
"Oho~"
Her smooth voice echoed playfully through the hall.
"It appears the honourable Delta Division has taken an interest in this specin."
A massive crimson holographic number slowly materialised above the arena.
[10,000 Aevum]
The crowd erupted instantly.
"10,000?!"
"They actually want him?"
"Is he even worth that much?"
"Damn... I could buy five seaside villas for that amount."
"Seriously, all this for a re orc?"
"No... Delta Division must’ve detected sothing else."
"Maybe hidden combat traits..."
The whispers spread endlessly through the lower floors while countless eyes stared upward toward the glowing ’δ’ chamber with awe and fear mixed together.
The hostess gave a soft, elegant laugh while resting one hand gently against her cheek.
"How generous~"
Several floating drones rotated around her while displaying the finalised bid amount across every screen inside the arena.
"As expected from one of the Empire’s Six Divisions."
The orc slave slowly lifted his head toward the glowing ’δ’ curtain.
No further bids appeared.
Nobody dared compete anymore.
The hostess gracefully raised her hand once more.
"10,000 Aevum going once..."
A soft chanical sound echoed through the hall as floating transaction systems confird the active purchase.
"Going twice..."
Above the arena, the gigantic holographic hamr slowly materialised again from swirling particles of crimson light. This ti, however, the effects surrounding it appeared far grander than before.
"Sold."
BOOOOOOMMMM!!
The holographic hamr crashed downward with overwhelming force. A violent explosion of crimson sparks erupted across every floating screen while massive waves of light spread throughout the arena ceiling.
The crowd applauded even louder than before. So buyers clapped out of excitent while others simply watched with envy burning inside their eyes.
The ch-suits imdiately surrounded the orc slave before escorting him toward a separate glowing corridor behind the stage. Thick security barriers opened one after another as ard drones descended from above to accompany the transfer personally.
Clearly... a purchase made by one of the Six Divisions received entirely different treatnt from ordinary buyers.
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