⊙---Ascension Auction Exchange

"I need help selling these items," Kael explained to Mylar.

After his meal with Lira, he had sought out Mylar to discuss the spoils from his recent hunts. He needed guidance on the best way to turn his earnings into profit.

Mylar's eyes widened as Kael laid out his loot. "T-this... Did you take these down on your own?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Kael nodded. Among the spoils, the most valuable items were the monster cores he had obtained from level 5 monsters, along with a few high-tier drop rewards, which he decided to keep.

Level 5 monsters were considered mini-bosses, and defeating them was no small feat. 

Unlike lower-tier creatures, mini-bosses always dropped monster cores—rare, highly sought-after materials used in crafting and refining equipment.

Mylar stroked his chin, considering the best course of action. "I'd advise you to hold onto the monster cores for now. They're valuable, and if you sell them at the Ascension Auction Exchange, you'll get a much better price."

Kael frowned. "Ascension Auction Exchange?"

With Limo nowhere to be found, he was unfamiliar with the term and had no system guide to rely on for answers.

Mylar, noticing Kael's confusion, took a moment to explain. "The Auction Exchange is where items can be auctioned off to the highest bidder. It's a secure marketplace, but they take a commission from every sale."

Kael listened carefully as Mylar continued.

Mylar leaned forward, explaining patiently. "Anyone, regardless of level, can participate—as long as they register for a spot."

He gestured as he spoke, emphasizing his point. "The auction itself is conducted online through the system, which means complete anonymity. No one knows who's selling or buying."

"Once an item is submitted, an official auction representative inspects it for authenticity. If it's verified, the auction proceeds."

Mylar smirked. "And here's the best part—once your item is delivered and received, you get paid instantly to the account. No delays, no risks."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "And the auction representatives handle the deliveries themselves?"

"Exactly. It's designed to prevent fraud and ensure seamless transactions. No haggling, no scams—just pure, competitive bidding."

Kael leaned back, considering his options. 

The Ascension Auction Exchange sounded like the best way to maximize his profits, but it also meant stepping into a larger marketplace—one where high-level players and powerful factions might take notice.

Still… if he wanted to grow stronger, he needed resources. And for that, he needed coins.

He glanced at Mylar. "Alright. How do I register?"

********

Kael followed Mylar's advice and registered for a spot on the Ascension Auction Exchange.

A sudden system chime echoed in his mind.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:]

Registration complete. You are now a verified seller on the Ascension Auction Exchange.

Without wasting time, Kael listed five monster cores for sale. Four were level 5 cores, and one was level 6—a rare and valuable find.

[Items Listed:]

Shadow Wolf Alpha Core (Lv. 6)Aether Snake Core (Lv. 5)Tiger Fang Core (Lv. 5)Fire Mantis Core (Lv. 5)Blackwidow Core (Lv. 5) x2

Once he submitted the details, another notification flashed.

[System Alert:]

Ascension Auction Representative has contacted you. Incoming message…

Kael opened the message.

The representative stated that an in-person inspection was required before finalizing the sale and requested a private meeting.

Kael provided a location, ensuring it was within the safer parts of Greythorne. Moments later, the representative confirmed.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:]

Inspection appointment confirmed. Auction Representative will arrive tomorrow morning to verify and collect listed items.

Kael exhaled, closing the interface.

Tomorrow would be an important day. 

************

Kael made his way to the outskirts of Greythorne once more, hunting monsters—and if luck was on his side, perhaps even some Darkspawns. But unlike before, he wasn't alone.

His sister, Lira, walked beside him, taking in the rugged terrain with keen interest.

"So this is where you've been leveling up?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise. "Alone?"

Kael nodded. "I need to reach level 10 if I want to join a guild."

Lira's brows furrowed. "You're planning to join a guild? Is there one you have in mind?"

Kael shook his head. "It doesn't matter. As long as I'm in a guild."

Lira stopped walking and looked at him, disapprovingly shaking her head. 

"Kael, you can't just join any guild. Choosing the right one is important for your future. A good guild can protect us, provide resources, and grant access to better quests and system rewards."

Kael fell silent, considering her words. He hadn't put much thought into it before—he just saw it as another step forward. But if choosing the right guild was this important…

His gaze shifted to Lira.

If we were in the same guild, I could protect her better.

He turned to her. "Then what guild are you in? If we join the same one, I can protect you too."

Lira gave a soft smile and pulled out a small silver badge etched with an intricate insignia.

"I'm with the Ascendants Guild," she said, holding it up for Kael to see. "In the guild, there are ranks. Right now, I'm R3 role member, which means my badge is silver. It's the same as my Awakener's Pass. The highest role member will be the leader, who is an R5."

Kael studied the badge with quiet fascination. "A silver-ranked member…" he murmured.

Lira nodded but let out a small sigh. "Getting in isn't easy. The guild has high entry requirements. It's one of the Top 10 guilds in the entire Ascension System. And…" she hesitated before continuing, "…its leader and core members are all Ascendants."

Kael's brows furrowed. "Ascendants?"

Lira glanced at him, realizing he truly didn't know. "To even apply, you need to be at least level 15," she added.

Level 15? That was a significant leap.

But something else gnawed at him. "You mentioned Ascendants… What are they?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Lira's expression turned serious. "Ascendants aren't from Erendath. They're the originators of the Ascension System—heroes from another realm." She paused before adding, "They're powerful, Kael. Almost untouchable. They can't die. Even if they do, they… come back. As if they were reborn again."

Kael felt a cold chill run down his spine.

Wait… They can't die?

His mind raced, piecing the information together. Is she talking about the players from my previous life? The ones from Earth?

His frown deepened, and his thoughts must have shown on his face, because Lira chuckled softly.

"You look confused," she teased. "You should be. Even if I explained it to you before, you wouldn't have understood. But now that you're normal again—now that you're Awakened—you'll start to grasp it soon enough."

She gave him a knowing smile. "Your guide should be able to explain it to you as well."