MM - Chapter 213 - A PATH OF GOLD

The holographic display shimmered, revealing a thick, full-body shield adorned by a demonic skull—its fanged mouth opened wide and menacing.

[Bulwark of Reaper’s Revenge (Shield): (Chaotic Gold - LVL 25) (Defense +125) (Health +250) (PTC +80) (ACU +80) (PHY +80) (Durability 275/275) (Innate Skill - Decree and Punishment: Absorb 25% of physical, celestial, and demonic damage and force - up to a maximum of 1000% wielder's Defense. Absorbed damage and force may be released at will. Additionally, kills will absorb the souls of those slain, instantly charging Decree and Punishment by 200%)]

The auction’s live chat, previously a sluggish river of bored commentary, erupted into a promissory bloodbath. Threats carrying the weight of superguilds no less magnificent than the Phoenix Clan fell like snow in a storm. It was no surprise. Raine knew for a fact that his shield was the most powerful weapon listed in the entire auction. By positioning it immediately after the mountain of low-level equipment, Mason proved that he knew his clientele well. In a matter of seconds, boredom had been replaced by a rabid desire to win.

Raine’s replacement shield was a full ten levels higher, and still wasn't a match for the Bulwark's attributes or skill. When the bidding abruptly spiked past six hundred thousand gold, drool formed at the corner of his mouth, his eyes practically turning into shimmering gold coins. Two weeks from now, he’d be lucky to sell it for a thousand.

Rich corpo brats think they'll be turning billions of credits into gold tomorrow. Only a fraction of his internal laughter leaked out into their spacious room, drawing his friends’ attention.

The bidding and threats raged, escalating to the point where generational blood feuds were being sworn. The price suddenly jumped a full twenty percent, slamming to a halt at 1.2 million gold, a sum no doubt inflated by a thoroughly battered, youthful ego. A notification flashed on the display: Winning bidder: #8711203. Raine jumped from his seat with a victorious shout.

“Something good happen?” Constantine nudged his way into Raine’s personal space, eyes fixed on the display.

Pretending like he’d just remembered the man was in the room, Raine took his seat. Leaning back, he laced hands behind his head with an air of supreme nonchalance. “Nothing special. Just got a better price than I was expecting.”

Constantine snorted, not buying the act for a second. “Nothing special, huh?” He read the notification on the display, then glanced at his daughter, raising a skeptical brow. “Is 1.2 million gold a lot?”

Celeste nodded sharply. With her LinQ, she had already cross-referenced the current exchange rate. With news spreading rapidly across the globe, the price per gold had settled to two thousand credits. Her voice was a strained whisper. “Only about six billion credits…”

The crystal tumbler slipped from Constantine’s fingers. In a blur of motion too fast to properly track, Raine’s hand shot out and snatched it from the air. Not a single drop spilled. He held it out to the stunned mob boss, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Bringing your people into ZionLine isn’t looking so bad all of a sudden, is it?”

Constantine couldn’t form a reply. The realization that the man chasing his daughter was a multi-billionaire took the wind right out of him. A trembling hand retrieved his drink like it was a precious artifact before he sank into a plush leather seat. His eyes were glued to Raine’s back, unable to look away. Celeste was equally struck, but her shock was laced with horror that rapidly crept through her flesh in a quest to destroy her from within. 

The numbers whirled through her thoughts—the same sickening calculation on repeat. CronGate had stolen 5,000 pieces of equipment in the ambush. Based on the prices Raine had just commanded for the low-level bundles, she was responsible for a 125,000 gold loss. At the current exchange rate, her mistake, her failure, came to a gut-wrenching 625,000,000 credits.

[That can’t be right. No-no-no.]

No matter how many times she did the math, the result remained stubbornly, monstrously the same. A searing heat flooded her chest, a panic so profound it felt like drowning. She couldn’t look at Raine, couldn't bear the sound of his triumphant voice. Every sight, every sound, was filtered through the devastating lens of her failure.

A flicker of her inwardly-turned killing intent caused Raine to turn and meet her gaze. She flinched away, refusing to meet his eyes. He frowned, assuming she disapproved of the blunt, forceful way he was strong-arming her father.

Well, too bad. It's for his own good, and yours too.

Over the next half hour, the rest of Raine's listings sold amidst rising fury within the chat. None reached the stratospheric heights of the shield, but each piece fetched far more than its normal market value. By the end, his ZionLine balance was a hair over 8,000,000 gold, a figure inflated by the 2.5 million gold contribution from The Phoenix Clan.

What a steal! All because I triggered the update early, forcing the servers to close before anyone could discover the weekly gold exchange limitations. It won't last long, maybe not even till the end of the auction. But by then, that might play into my favor as well. As they say, cause and effect are the daughters of luck.

“Dear patrons,” Mason’s voice boomed from the hologram, “join me in entering a realm of the mysterious and unknown. The following items could contain invaluable secrets or be as ordinary and worthless as they appear. Who among you will test your fortunes, and who will curse their folly?”

The first item Raine had his eye on materialized.

[Sunstone: (Marvelous Gold) A mysterious stone that remains cool to the touch even when bathed in intense flames]

Its appearance was as simple as its description: a palm-sized, perfectly smooth black stone. Mason announced an opening bid of a paltry 2,000 gold. His attempt to build hype around its mysterious nature fell flat. After only a handful of hesitant bids, Raine decisively raised the price to 2,500 gold and won. 

The fools in the other booths would one day regret not spending the hundreds of thousands the stone was truly worth. The description’s hint was subtle, but it was there. When bathed in the fires of a soul flame, the stone would absorb and replicate 80% of the flame’s properties, creating a copy that could be passed to another. It was, as far as Raine knew, the only way to transfer a soul flame.

As the auction continued, Mel moved to sit behind Raine and peered over his shoulder. She tried hard not to disturb him—staying utterly silent and still. Her rigid tension ended up more distracting than any sound. Raine grabbed her hand, massaging her palm in soothing circles until she melted into relaxation. “If you’re curious, just ask.”

Mel’s gaze lifted slowly, lingering on his lips. “Mkay,” she murmured, her gentle voice laced with a deep yearning that lit Raine’s nerves on fire. He cleared his throat, tearing his gaze back to the following item.

[Sarlak Sedative: (Marvelous Gold) A stick of specialized incense that, upon ignition, releases a soothing aroma]

Raine secured it without a fight, inwardly cheering his luck. Pamalaiha leaned in from the other side, her eyes narrowing with intrigue as she studied the description. "That sedative... it reminds me of,” her eyes flickered to Constantine, then back to Raine, “common herbs. Is there something special about it?”

He smirked, hiding a chuckle. “Let's just say it's for taming what can't be easily reached.”

Mel’s excitement sparkled as she tilted her head, face flushed from their earlier moment. “Taming? Are there beast-taming classes?!”

“There are, but that’s not what this is for. This is just a key to a door.”

Pamalaiha arched a brow, leaning closer with a sly grin creeping across her face. “And beyond that door?”

Raine let the chuckle out, though now it was laced with a touch of evil. “Something the enemies of Astra will not appreciate.” Both girls realized their proximity was turning his thoughts away from answering their questions coherently. They shared a secretive smile, relishing Raine’s attraction, then backed away.

[Spirit Seat Scroll: (Marvelous Gold) A blank scroll deserving of a master's hand]

The last item of interest in the mystery section was a beautifully embossed, yet blank, wall scroll. With the right calligrapher, it could be empowered to grant a permanent buff to whichever building it was hung in. While not particularly rare or valuable, it would make a fine addition to their completed guild hall.

Mason’s holographic form reappeared with a flourish, his arms sweeping to embrace thousands of patrons worldwide. “Esteemed bidders, we have danced with enigmas and flirted with the shadows of the unknown. Now, it is time to prepare your coffers and steel your resolve! We ascend to the pinnacle of tonight's treasures—the jewels of ZionLine, where power awaits those bold enough to claim it. These are no mere trinkets; they are the keys to dominion, the sparks that ignite legends; let the true bidding wars begin!”

Mason vanished, replaced by an intricate, rolled scroll circled in swirling lines of ethereal, pulsing energy.

[Scripted Squall: (Array Schematic - Adept) Contains the requisite knowledge to craft the Array of Scripted Squalls]

[Array of Scripted Squalls: (Marvelous Gold - 6 Users) Conceals mild energetic signatures within a 50-meter radius, preventing detection by external forces]

The auction's live chat, which had simmered down during the mystery section, stirred anew. 

“What’s an array?” 

“Energetic signatures? What even is that?”

Bolder claims followed from those pretending expertise. Mason, ever the showman, leaned into the hologram with a conspiratorial grin. “My discerning friends, behold a relic from the arcane depths of ZionLine! This schematic contains the secrets to energies unseen, a veil against prying eyes. And as we know well, hidden knowledge is the blade that topples empires!”

Raine's pulse quickened. He knew the truth: arrays were a currently untapped frontier that could layer protections or enhancements over structures, and even entire zones. In the past, they were the essentials of superguilds who hoarded them as fiercely as martials hoarded the secrets of advancement.

The Scripted Squall was a concealment array to mask what must remain hidden in his warehouse. Raine had to possess it no matter what, for it would become the linchpin of Astra's expansion. Of all the items in the auction, it was the one he would spend nearly everything he had to acquire.

The opening bid started low at 50,000 gold, drawing tentative raises from a few intrigued parties. Raine held back, watching the price creep to 100,000 as a fierce debate heated up. So far, no major powers had voiced a desire for the item. Yet, the price crept higher and higher, the increments turning aggressive.

Finally, the threat Raine dreaded arrived.

“The Phoenix claims this item.” As the first major mover to fully commit to ZionLine, there could be no question as to their dominance. The counter-bids instantly dried up.

Not today. Raine swore. His fingers twitched, commanding the interface to counter with 200,000, then 250,000 when they volleyed back. 

The chat exploded: “Someone has a death wish!” 

“Smells like a whale. They’re gonna regret it.”

“So glad I came tonight!”

Pamalaiha didn’t miss Raine’s participation or intense gaze. Her voice was silk caressing his ear. “Some kind of stealth tech? How do these Arrays work?” Her interest in being useful shone through the provocatively delivered questions.

Raine nodded faintly, focus unbroken. “Think of a live circuit board held together by multiple people, each needing to move and alter the flow of energy as needed. But that’s just the activation, turning blueprints into copies is another thing entirely and might be more up your alley.”

After a short delay, The Phoenix countered with 400,000. Raine instantly raised to 500,000. No doubt furious by now, they doubled to a full million. Raine was relentless: 1.5 million. His heart was pounding from the calculated risk; a bluff at best, suicide at worst. Silence stretched, even the chat slowing to a crawl. An eternity ticked by before the notification arrived: Winning bidder: #8711203.

A triumphant exhale escaped Raine. It was well over market value—adept arrays should fetch no more than 400,000 in a mature economy—but to Raine, it was a priceless acquisition. Now, Astra's secrets would remain buried beneath scripted storms.

Celeste had been pulled in by Raine’s thundering thoughts during the high-stakes exchange. With it over, the internal turmoil deepened by the knowledge of yet more gold flowing away from him and Astra—gold that amplified the weight of her failure.

An unsurprising threat restarted the chat. “The Phoenix will remember this slight.”

How much more pissed would they be if they knew I used their own gold to outbid them?

Usually, Raine would feel a touch of concern. Not even Romaxillions could keep his identity hidden from a truly determined Phoenix Clan. However, the next listed item had more than enough potential to change his status in the eyes of Mason.

[Abenaki Powder: (Lustrous Blue) This powder is prized for its effectiveness at reinforcing the hulls of vessels during the final phase of shipbuilding]

Instantly, several guilds from the coastlines of Vaateaire began to fight like sharks in chum-filled water. Raine steepled his fingers, leaning back to enjoy the show.

Mel lifted her chin toward the display, curiosity bubbling over. “Shipbuilding? I didn’t even know there were oceans in ZL. That’s… a lot of angry people. Is a little powder really that big a deal?”

Pamalaiha’s sharp eyes scanned the rapidly flowing chat, not missing anything. “Depending on the quality of the reinforcement, they think it could make a fleet unbreakable. Is that important to Astra Infernum?”

Raine chuckled softly, more interested in the escalating price than the chat. His tone was casual, evasive. “A third of all Travelers are clustered on coasts and islands. Ports, trade routes, naval power, that’s all those guilds care about right now.“

Mel's eyes widened. “A third?! How have I not caught a whiff of that on the forums?”

“The forums are region-locked.”

At least until the teleportation networks come online.

Raine leaned forward as the bidding intensified. Currently, Abenaki Powder was the only shipbuilding durability booster in all of ZionLine. This rarity inflated its value, but also raised questions about its efficacy. The price eventually topped out at 500,000 gold, much more than the 5,000 it would eventually be worth.

Raine had listed eight and withdrew seven, knowing Mason wouldn't miss the hint of more. Selling them all now would tank the illusion of rarity. Additionally, any serious guilds worth negotiating with would hold their capital back to see the results of the first use. Still, he’d made his point. The Desolate Broker was a cred-printer just waiting to happen. Only two items remained that Raine was willing to fight for. He enjoyed the girls’ company while waiting.

[Sendari War Engine: (Engineering Schematic - Master) Contains the requisite knowledge to craft a prototype version of the famed Sendari war engines. While sturdy, this war machine lacks mobility and remains unfit for mass production as it requires a prohibitively rare and costly power source)]

A fierce but brief bidding struggle was ignited at the prospect of what an engine of war might mean in a world dominated by skills and elemental powers.

“War engines? Like catapults on steroids?” 

“This changes everything! Guild sieges incoming!”

“Could this allow a smaller guild to actually fight back against a superguild?”

Everyone knew war was inevitable as ZionLine’s user base exploded into the millions and resources became stretched. Yet the expected frenzy for the war engine sputtered out almost as quickly as it flared, strangled by urgent whispers rippling through the chat—rumors of a hard cap on the gold exchange. In seconds, bids stalled, egos deflated, and the competition vanished before it could blaze.

As the chat turned to scathing condemnation of the Desolate Broker, Raine swooped in to claim what was by all rights a gamble. If the power source he had in mind was insufficient for the engine, then the 200,000 gold he just sank into the schematic would be a cringeworthy memory for years to come.

Mason appeared a final time, announcing the last item. It was certainly something special that Raine wanted, but he wasn’t willing to spend an exorbitant sum on it.

[Shadow Weaver Mask: (Compatibility Check Required) Upon successful attunement, grants access to a rare, unique class specializing in illusion and stealth]

As Pamalaiha read the description and gleaned insight through Raine’s thoughts, she sucked air through her teeth. In the past, Nyxara had risen to infamy with his unique class—a spectral assassin who sowed chaos across multiple continents. His living shadows were the stuff of nightmares, weaving deadly traps that made illusion arrays look tame.

Despite the leaked truth of the gold exchange, the fight was intense. Eventually, the auction’s final item was claimed for half a million gold. It was much more than Raine was willing to spend. Still, Pamalaiha’s hitched breathing as she leaned ever closer to the central display was a perfect counterpoint to her sharpening murderous intent. Raine had never felt her mental ability so keenly. Its wicked edges and writhing form left no doubt that the class was calling to her.

With a final bid, Raine locked in yet another powerhouse that would tip the scales in wars yet to come. Pamalaiha would become the third of Astra’s Pillars, an inevitable end to all who threatened what she claimed. They would call her: The Lurking Abyss.

As the auction thundered to its close, Constantine approached with heavy steps, his face etched with resignation. “My people will be at Belehorn Tower before dawn.”

“Good.” Raine offered a curt nod, his sharp gaze burrowing into the man before sweeping the room. Celeste lingered on the fringes, a hollowed-out specter, her posture crumbled.

Now isn’t the time. Whatever’s bothering her, it will have to wait a couple more hours.

Raine locked onto them one at a time, voice firm and unyielding. “Mel, Celeste, head back to Belehorn. Get things ready for Ronexzera’s arrival. Pamalaiha, you’re with me. We have some loose ends to tie up. This time, it will be in the dark, just like you wanted.”