Chapter 16 - "The Grand Auction"

Ashok watched the two Awakeners from afar, perched casually on the edge of a rooftop. Down below, the task force of the government cleared away any trace of the disorganized syndicate with ease. The two who commanded the operation—the one moving objects with an invisible force, the other operating with augmented physical ability—were effective, but unimpressive.

Glitch hovering next to him yawned and extended his arms."Alright, time to use that."

Ashok raised an eyebrow. "That?"

Glitch rolled his eyes. "Don't play dumb. You already know."

Something in Ashok's head snapped. He exhaled. "Fine."

The moment he willed it—

His vision shifted.

It was seamless. No dramatic flashes, no unnecessary effects. The world around him simply became clearer, sharper, more structured.

Then—data appeared.

[Combat Scan: Active]

Target Identified: Unknown

Rank: C

Ability: Telekinesis

Threat Level: Low

Target Identified: Unknown

Rank: C

Ability: Enhanced Physical Strength

Threat Level: Low

His eyes narrowed slightly as more data flowed in. Every step, reaction time, posture—everything was programmed to categorize and analyze instinctively. Instinctive combat awareness to the ultimate extreme.

A system.

Glitch smiled. "Cool, isn't it? And that's only one ability."

Ashok smirked, fingers flexing. "What else?"

[Unlocked System Functions: 5/5]

1. Combat Analysis – Provides sight that analyzes a friend or foe's combat skill.

2. ??? – [Locked to Readers]

3. ??? – [Locked to Readers]

4. ??? – [Locked to Readers]

5. ??? – [Locked to Readers]

Glitch laughed at his response."Not telling. Figure it out yourself."

Ashok exhaled sharply, letting the Combat Scan fade. The world normalized, but the information was still etched in his mind.

He spun on his heel. "Not bad."

Glitch folded his arms. "'Not bad'? That's all you're gonna say?"

Ashok disregarded him, reading on his communicator. Another message.

[The Grand Auction is starting soon.]

He smiled.

"We have somewhere to be."

Ashok went to his assigned quarters on Erebos.

Ashok faced a floor-length mirror, smoothing his cuffs. His black suit, perfectly tailored, was sleek, understated, yet unmistakably sharp. A dark overcoat draped over his shoulders, unbuttoned, and polished leather gloves covered his hands. Every inch of his attire screamed elegance, but not excess. He finished with a half-wolf mask on his face.

Glitch, hovering idly alongside him, tilted his head. "So, let me get this straight… We're heading to some ultra-exclusive event where people throw ridiculous amounts of money at mysterious objects?"

Ashok smirked. "More or less."

The Grand Auction.

Unlike regular auctions in which an items catalog had been circulated beforehand, the Grand Auction was an exercise in complete secrecy. No one had a clue what was for sale. Not even the senior guests. Only the VVIPS—the very select group attached to Zyphorion's government—had prior information about what would be sold.

And even they didn't get to know much.

The sole guarantee? All that was being auctioned off was legendary in some way.

Glitch outstretched, his small cloak flapping. "Why do I have the feeling that this entire process is rigged?"

Ashok tightened his tie, smirking. "Because it is."

The Grand Auction was more than an event. It was a spectacle, a battleground, a high-stakes fight of riches and power. The world's wealthiest, most influential individuals came here not only to buy unique items—but to declare dominance.

Winning an auction was not merely buying something. It was about sending a message.

The venue for the Grand Auction was a towering structure at the heart of Zyphorion's most exclusive district—The Sovereign's Spire.

A masterpiece of design, the Spire was a towering black monolith, lined with gold-embossed accents and radiating veins of arcane circuitry. It stood as if a monument to power, a location where the elite decided the fate of nations with a single bid.

Security was tight.

Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, their weapons hidden but always at hand. Drone surveillance circled overhead, sweeping each visitor with accuracy. Every entrance boasted biometric authentication, and even artifact-level detection fields—guaranteeing no unwanted guests made it through.

Only the worthy could enter.

And tonight, Ashok was one of them.

Glitch stuck his head out of Ashok's coat pocket, looking up at the doorway. "Too much security for an auction this simple."

Ashok smirked. "The items being sold aren't simple."

At the door, a voice greeted him.

Sorin Veltre.

The agent leaned casually against a pillar, clad in a perfectly pressed three-piece suit. His tinted lenses glinted with the golden lights of the Spire. "Took your time."

Ashok slid his hands into his coat pockets. "Style matters."

Sorin chuckled, straightening his tie. "Fair enough. Come on, Sentinel has VVIP seating."

With that, the two moved past the last security checkpoint, and the imposing doors of the Grand Auction swung open before them—into a world of unspoken treasures, concealed battles, and high-stakes games yet to be played.

The VVIP chamber doors slid open with a smooth, near-silent hiss. Phantom stepped inside, his movements slow but deliberate. The room, though lavish in its architecture, was devoid of excessive ornamentation—Sentinel never indulged in pointless extravagance. Everything here was refined but practical.

Warm, golden illumination fell off glossy black surfaces onto fine engravings on the walls—signs of power, influence, and secrecy.

Yet, despite the luxury, something felt off.

Phantom's eyes searched the room as he stepped in deeper. There were only two figures that stepped in.

Phantom. Sorin.

And that was it.

Phantom's steps slowed, and an unsettling realization crept into his mind. Where is the Sentinel's branch leader?

He shifted to his right, the golden eyes closing behind the elaborate half-wolf mask that adorned half of his face. Not only was it meant for incognito, it was a token—a presence one couldn't deny or ignore.

His voice was smooth, controlled, but laced with an underlying sharpness.

"So… you're the branch leader of Sentinel?"

Sorin, reclining comfortably, didn't even flinch.

Instead, he just smirked, fiddling with the rim of his tinted glasses.

"You catch on fast."

Phantom exhaled through his nose. Not shocked. But it was still annoying.

He had worked with Sentinel previously. He had fought with them, done their work, and played by their rules.

But now, he was in a room with one of its top leaders.

And that changed everything.

The Auction Begins – The Power Players Assemble

Outside the chambers, the auction house buzzed with whispers of anticipation. Tension hung thick in the air—a silent war waged with wealth rather than swords.

Masked figures filled the central hall, their dress ranging from extravagant to minimalistic. Some wore glittering masquerade masks bedecked in jewels, proclaiming their riches. Others had matte, plain designs, the type that belonged to those who didn't need to advertise their power—it did so for itself.

But every single individual within this hall is dangerous.

Standing at the podium was the auctioneer, wearing a well-fitted black suit. He had an otherworldly calmness to him—someone who had witnessed titans going head-to-head over wealth a thousand times before.

Then—

The first batch of goods started coming through.

A Blue prism-tier Artifact, with the ability to produce an anti-magic field.

Grabbed in a matter of seconds for an amount that could pay for an entire country's military for a year.

A preserved Awakener Beast Core—extracted from a species long thought extinct.

Auctioned off by a hooded bidder clad in a red robe, their face unseen.

An experimental Elixir rumored to grant a second Awakener ability.

A ruthless battle of offers broke out, as agents for rival factions brawled numerically.

The atmosphere intensified with every offer. The tension rose.

Fortunes were being thrown around like loose change.

And yet, the VVIPS did nothing.

And Phantom did not move.

He just watched. Figuring. Breaking down.

Next to him, Sorin reclined, his expression at ease.

"Having fun?"

Phantom smirked beneath his mask.

"This is just foreplay."

And he wasn't wrong.

Because soon—everything changed.

The Weeding Process – Separating the Worthless

The First Cut – Casuals Removed

The initial group of guests was escorted out.

Rich entrepreneurs, foreign investors—those who had attended a spectacle but did not have the brute strength to remain. Even those who had wasted ridiculous amounts were let go.

They had played their part. Now, the true game was on.

The Second Cut – VIPs Eliminated

Then came the next purge.

The VIPs, those who considered themselves powerful, were sent packing. Some protested. Some attempted to negotiate. But the rules were absolute.

Now, only five VVIP groups remained.

These weren't just billionaires.These were world-shakers.

Beings so influential that entire nations bowed to their might.

The Final Item – A Mystery Beyond Value

Then—the moment arrived.

The tone of the auctioneer changed.

The energy in the room changed.

The room's energy altered.

The lights softened ever so slightly.

From under the stage, a huge obsidian-black containment case was slowly raised into sight.

Even through its multiple layers of fortified security, some presence inside emitted power.

For the first time since the auction started—

There was complete silence.

No whispers.

No quiet calculations.

No panicked exchanges between delegates.

Nothing.

The gravity of the moment suffocated the air.

The auctioneer fidgeted with his cufflinks, then cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen… this is a once-in-a-century moment."

A classified relic.

No name. No description. No preview.

Nobody had any idea what was in that containment.

No information had leaked. No research findings. No rumors.

Only five groups were even permitted to see this.

And the price?

It didn't start in the millions.

It didn't even start in the billions.

It started at a figure incomprehensible to the average mind.

Seated across from Phantom, Sorin exhaled softly, steepling his fingers together.

Phantom remained still. But his mind was already working.

Glitch, unseen within the ring, whispered—

"Interesting."

The war for the most mysterious artifact in history began.