Read Novel Full Chapter 542: Gasps In the Auction?
Chapter 542: Gasps In the Auction?
Once the last paddle for the current product fell, which was the Monster Shard of a precariously large tortoise, it was time for the main products of the evening.
Skipping on stage and twirling around, the Auctioneer danced, still clearly jubilant from the amount of bids made for the last product.
He then stood still and gestured towards the red curtains behind him that began to be pulled open.
"Well, everyone! I’m sure that you’ve been waiting for this specific product for a while. And it’s rather rare we get products of this Rank and quality."
Behind the curtains was a terrifically large screen that flashed on, displaying a poorly recorded video from what may have been a phone.
The video revealed that the holder of the phone was on the deck of a large airship, a blimp to be specific, that was stuck in horrific weather.
They were also shown to be hiding around a corner, struggling to balance themselves as the blimp shook constantly, before recording the appearance of a dramatically large monster resembling a multi-winged hawk with horns that was surrounded by a spinning storm of wind.
With two pairs of wings - that glowed with an iridescent light - wind bursted out from beneath its feathers as its horns channelled the streaks of electricity zigzagging around them, almost like they were lightning rods.
Lillian, who was keenly watching the video, squinted as she spotted something in the corner of the screen.
’Millis!’
Within a split second, Lillian managed to catch the top of Millis’s head; her purple hair fluttering violently as she launched an attack against the gigantic avian with a group behind her.
Before Lillian could watch more, the screen turned off.
The Auctioneer, switching off the screen, spread his arms out dramatically.
"The monstrous assailant of the recently attacked blimp, a creature seen to wield both air and electricity, the [Storm-rendering Winged Tempest! A terrifying B-rank beast of the skies that had managed to form, not three, but FOUR! You heard it, folks, FOUR MANA SHELLS!"
He then gestured for a trolley to roll in, carrying a glass cage that held a luxurious-looking ring that was encrusted with gems; it was carefully placed onto a small red cushion.
Standing in front of the trolley, the Auctioneer yelled:
"Since the corpse of this beast was too large to fit on the stage of this theatre - surprisingly, I know - it shall be held within this spatial ring for easier portability. Now then, the starting bid shall be 1 million Semis with an increment of 20,000 Semis! Let the war begin!"
With the Auctioneer’s roar, a wave of both paddles and hands flew up energetically; the bidders roaring out their bids to try and claim the corpse for themselves.
It wasn’t every day that one would be able to find the corpse of a Rank B monster. And if they were, it would usually belong to the frontlines, immediately repurposed for tools for soldiers.
Lillian looked towards the Gardener and found him rubbing his chin, or the area closest to it; it was rather difficult to tell with his plague doctor mask in the way.
"Aren’t you interested?" Lillian asked.
The Gardener glanced at her.
"Potentially... But I feel as though I am in no need of anything that could be created with its body. Nor am I sure whether or not it has its Mana Core, which is a key defining factor here." The Gardener thought for a moment before shaking his head, "The need to waste any further money on something I didn’t come here for would be pointless and illogical."
Lillian nodded slowly, ’So that must mean he must be here for the Leviathan’s corpse.’
Although Lillian wasn’t quite sure why he might prefer the leviathan over the hawk.
Thinking for a moment, Lillian thought about what the Gardener said.
’The Mana core is the key defining factor...’ Lillian’s eyes then widened, ’Could it be that the leviathan I killed still had its Mana Core?!’
If so, how does the Gardener know?
’Connections, I suppose...’
She then thought about one more thing.
’I wonder when they’re gonna bring out the Gate...’
When the bidding war finally came to an end, with the winner going to Box #5 at the price of 3.3 million, the Auctioneer was about to announce the new product, but was suddenly contacted through his earbud.
At first, he was annoyed that he had to pause his auction for a moment, and so was his audience, but his face soon transitioned through countless expressions as he was told something that caused him great shock.
Suddenly, the ground behind him opened as something ascended carefully.
Seeing this, the Auctioneer nodded and began to announce the newly appeared product.
"It appears we have a newly added product in our auction roster!"
Everyone’s eyes shifted towards what seemed to be a marble stand for a glass cage that held a singular plain ring inside; a spatial ring, to be exact.
Lifting the glass cage and taking the ring out, the Auctioneer held it up for everyone’s confused gazes to see.
"This, my friends, is a spatial ring. But not just any old and boring one, but a spatial ring that holds a Gate inside! What Rank you may ask? It’s actually the most rare... The most valued and attainable Rank B!"
Gasps escaped the audience’s mouths as they whispered amongst each other.
"A Rank B gate? What on Earth is it doing here?!"
"What kind of fool wouldn’t use it for themselves?"
"I know, right? Think of the abilities you can get with that if you complete it..."
"I heard, you would automatically shoot several leagues in your Tier, depending on what the ability was..."
Hearing the gasps and whispers of the audience, the Auctioneer grinned widely inside. He was currently holding a ring that was worth millions! 2 million? 3 million? No... Possibly, even 4 million!
And he was sure it would sell for that much!
As the Auctioneer was about to start the bidding war...
BANG!
A gunshot resounded.
Having been shot from Gods knows where, it travelled over the heads of the people, eventually reaching the Auctioneer and colliding with the ring that was pinched in between his fingers.
Without even being able to react, the Auctioneer felt the bullet fly past his cheek, causing a shallow cut to appear before realising...
"Huh?"
That the ring...
Thunk...
Had flown out of his hand.
Watching as the ring landed on the ground, fear flashed across the man’s face as he took an immediate step back; everyone also prepared to get out of their chair in fright.
But then.
"Nothing?" The Auctioneer muttered, unconsciously in Ancient Keri, before wiping the sweat on his forehead. "False alarm, everyone! It seemed this ring is of quite the higher quality!"
Watching as the guards of the auction left to go search and apprehend the mysterious shooter, the Auctioneer sighed as he walked, leaning down to pick up the ring until—
"Huh?"
—He found a stone eye looking at him, having coincidentally escaped from the ring when he neared.
He stared at the stone eye, shock taking over him as he was too paralysed. He watched as it gradually glowed a deep and concerningly bright red.
Then, in a matter of seconds, the eye exploded out into a swirling gaseous portal of a deep greyish colour.
Everyone immediately got out of their seat, screaming as they rushed to the exit. Contrary to their earlier thoughts about it, they didn’t want to be sucked into a Trial!
The Auctioneer fell onto his rear, his legs going completely weak as he tried to crawl back; his body shaking as fear gripped his heart.
He felt the world go cold and the air brushing against his skin; goosebumps appeared all over the surface of his body.
He didn’t want to go into a Trial! He was but a Tier 1 mage; he was far too unprepared for a Rank B Trial! And even if he was prepared, he doubted he could even last a day in there!
As he was crawling away, he discovered something.
Why wasn’t the portal pulling anything in?
The remaining audience inside the theatre discovered this too.
Where was the powerful suction from the open gate?
In their moment of confusion, eruptions of both stone, debris, and—
"ITS AN OUTBREAK!"
—Screams resounded.
From the portal, spears made of pure stone exited with immense speed, crashing into the walls and causing an explosion of sharp debris to fly everywhere.
Not only that, butthey had also managed to skewer countless people, some even being able to skewer five people at once.
And just like that, around 30 people had lost their lives in that instance.
The red carpet that decorated the flooring was now stained in a dark red gradient, which grew ever so slightly as the blood from the people’s bodies leaked out of them.
The mages that were within the room, having broken out of their shocked stupor, immediately leapt towards the swirling grey gate, manifesting their abilities and weapons.
But then—
SWOOSH!
"PUAGHK!" x 10
—They were skewered by stone spears that appeared exactly the same as the ones that were thrown out of the gate earlier.
With blood dripping over them, the spears began to nudge and move ever so slightly forward from the gate, revealing the hands that wielded them.
And slowly but surely, the boots of the attackers emerged from the gate, stomping and marching forward heavily.
Stones soldiers, each around the height of 6ft to 6ft5 emerged with absolute bloodlust in their glowing red eyes.