121 THE THIRD CORE
Dan unleashed everything.
A shockwave of Thunder Crush exploded outward, vaporizing sand and breaking the Deacon's stance. The creature reeled back, screeching.
Dan's fists moved faster—each blow accompanied by crackling arcs of lightning and soundwaves that shattered the night air.
Finally, the last sliver of sunlight vanished beneath the horizon.
The twin suns were gone.
And with that, the Deacon's golden armor dimd. The molten glow beneath its skin flickered. It couldn't heal anymore.
Dan smirked. "Now it's my turn."
"Drain."
The essence of the Deacon of Ra burst out in a spiral of blue fire, drawn into Dan's body like a storm collapsing into itself. The air shook from the pull.
The Deacon of Ra is gone.
Monts later, with a resounding sonic wave, the rest of the Sun Scorpions recoiled in panic, vanishing beneath the desert sands—they were creatures of daylight, not born to fight under night's shadow.
Dan sprinted to Zalira.
She was lying on the sand, her body half-burned, steam rising from her wound. "Zalira! How are you? We'll get you back to the fortress…." he asked, kneeling beside her, his voice raw.
Her lips trembled. "No… it's too late for ."
"No! We'll save you," Eryn cried, clutching her mother's hand, crying.
But Dan already knew.
The plasma of the Deacon was lethal to half-bloods—its heat poisoned their very blood. Without armor like his, Zalira's body was already breaking down.
Soon, her breaths ca short and thin.
"I'm dying soon…" she whispered. "Dan… promise —protect Eryn."
Tears slid down Dan's face as Eryn shook her head, refusing to believe it. Zalira's hand rose weakly, brushing her daughter's cheek one last ti.
Then, with sudden resolve, she pressed her palm to her own chest.
"Mother, what are you doing!?" Eryn scread.
Zalira's hand glowed as she drew sothing from within her—a radiant blue crystal, pulsing with her life force. "My… Core of Blue Blood," she whispered. "Take it. You'll need more of these to suppress your curse… It's all I can give you now."
"I can't—" Dan's voice broke.
"You must. You can't protect her unless you conquer the curse," she said, and with a faint smile, the light in her eyes dimd.
Her body stilled.
Eryn collapsed beside her, sobbing. "It's my fault… if I hadn't insisted on coming here, you'd still be alive…"
Dan said nothing. His silence was heavy with guilt too.
"If I hadn't brought them out of the mountain…"
But there was no ti to grieve. The desert was quiet, but danger could return at any mont. He steadied himself, his eyes on the glowing blue crystal.
"Assimilate."
The Core dissolved into blue mist, rging into him.
"Blue Blood Suppression Level 1 activated — Active Cores: 2/3."
Power surged through his veins—burning, cleansing, and reshaping him.
The he rembered. He moved to the dead body of the Deacon of Ra and tore through his heart. To his surprise there was another Core of Blue Blood.
Dan assimilated the Core of Blue Blood imdiately.
"Blue Blood Suppression Level 2 activated — Active Cores: 3/3."
"Level 2? These cores can improve to new levels…if that is the case if my Blood core is improved enough, I won't be afraid of the curse anymore?" Dan thought.
Dan lifted Zalira's body onto his shoulder, carrying her and the weeping Eryn as he turned toward the distant fortress lights.
He did not look back.
-----
[The Aukouma Auction Hall]
The grand hall of the Aukouma Auction shimred with gold lights and murmuring voices. Representatives from the major houses filled the tiered seats, their eyes drawn to the glittering alien artifacts displayed beneath crystal dos.
It was the fourth major auction in months — a series of special auction announced by the Aukouma family: a rare batch of alien cores and ta materials was available.
Since Fortress Myrone had stopped supplying the noble houses, the cities had been starved of these resources. Everyone wanted to know the sa thing — how the Aukouma managed to obtain them?
"Where do you think they got their hands on these cores?" Garius Zetheris asked, leaning close to Valtor Veyran. His jeweled fingers drumd against the armrest.
"Since Myrone cut us off, no one's been able to acquire fresh alien material," Valtor muttered. "Could be their secret hoard. The Aukoumas always kept sothing in reserve."
Quest Snow frowned. "We may be pressing too hard on Fortress Myrone. If we resu our supply to them, they might resu their shipnts to us. Choking them further risks everything."
Garius's eyes narrowed. "Quest, don't forget our pact. The families agreed to pressure Myrone until they yield. We're close. They can't hold out much longer without our support. If we ease off now, all this effort is wasted."
Valtor rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Still… it's strange. Without our weapons and supplies, Myrone should've fallen by now. Yet they're still resisting. Sothing's not right."
Quest looked around. "Speaking of strange — has anyone seen Arom Aukouma lately? He's been missing for a month."
"Our agreent to squeeze fortress Myrone was with Arom, not his brother. Did Zolan find out his brother was secretly dealing with us and stopped him?"
"Zolan sent him to Silver City, apparently, to start a new auction house," said Garius.
"Then Zolan's the one hosting this auction?" Valtor asked.
Garius shrugged. "Even if Zolan were foolish enough to deal with Fortress Myrone, he doesn't have everything they need — weapons, drones, elixirs, nutrition packs. Myrone can't survive without us."
Before they could continue, the chandeliers dimd. A hush fell over the hall as spotlights flared across the stage. The chief auctioneer, wrapped in silken black, strode forward.
"Welco, esteed guests, to the Aukouma Industry's Grand ta Auction!" he announced. "Tonight, you will witness artifacts beyond imagination — alien cores, armors, bones, and living fragnts of the storm beasts themselves!"
The hall erupted in murmurs.
"Frankly," Quest whispered, "our stock of ta materials is already drying up. I must win sothing tonight."
"Are you the only one who needs them?" Garius smirked.
"The first item!" the auctioneer declared, unveiling a luminous skeletal structure thrumming faintly with energy. "A complete alien exoskeleton from the Annunakin swarm. Starting bid — five million aurs!"
A collective gasp was heard from the hall.
"What?" Garius shot to his feet. "These materials were worth eight hundred thousand last season! Have you lost your mind?"
The auctioneer bowed slightly. "Master Garius, as you know, supplies have dwindled. These are the last of our family's special reserves. Surely you would not wish us to sell at a loss?"
Garius slamd his fist onto the chair handle, scowling. "That bastard Zolan is squeezing us because he knows we're desperate!"
Valtor chuckled darkly. "As expected of the Aukouma. If I had spare stock, I'd raise the price tenfold myself."
"Should we start bidding?" Snow asked.
"Five million and ten thousand aurs
Reviews
All reviews (0)