1,000 gold coins," his voice bellowed through the entire auction hall from the top seat, his hand pressed against the magical formation that amplified his voice for all to hear.

Instantly, the audience burst into noise.

"1,000 gold coins?"

"Did someone really just say 1,000?"

"We were at 700 a moment ago!"

"Who throws 1,000 gold on a sword that isn't even an artifact?"

Thousands murmured in disbelief.

Across the VIP rooms, several powerful figures frowned, wondering who was insane, or rich, enough to do that.

Inside another VIP room, the count stiffened. His face twisted with irritation. He needed that sword, no, the material hidden inside it, and he had planned everything down to the last coin. He'd been denied extra funds. Every remaining piece of gold was from his own pocket.

Still, he grit his teeth and wrote:

"2,000 gold coins."

That would crush any competition. No one would bid above 2,000 for a sword worth barely 500.

Except,

"2,100 gold coins."

The same voice from earlier.

Gasps exploded across the hall.

"Who IS this person?"

"Why this sword?"

"Why that much?"

The count slammed his fist into the table.

"3,000 gold coins!"

Silence fell. Even the auctioneer hesitated.

But Raze didn't.

"3,010 gold coins."

Just ten more.

The count trembled with rage.

"3,500!"

"3,510."

His hands shook. The audience was half-convinced this was some new form of comedy show.

"4,000!" the count barked, voice cracking.

"4,010."

Laughter and shock echoed around the hall.

Inside Raze's room, Ella stared at him with wide eyes.

"Raze, what are you doing!? You can buy a better sword for cheaper!"

"I sense something inside it," Raze said calmly.

"That sword isn't normal."

She was even more confused. This was absurd money—for anyone.

The count, desperate and furious, forced out:

"4,500!"

Raze went silent.

The hostess hesitated.

"Going once…"

Maybe the count had finally won.

"Going twice…"

Ella sighed in relief.

"4,600."

The hall erupted.

Now they were sure: the bidder in VIP room six was playing with the other guy like a toy.

Inside the opposing room, the count was at his limit. He had nothing left, he'd spent everything to fulfill the plan. He turned to his guards, but none had enough gold to help.

Then he saw it:

A ring on his finger. A gem worth at least a thousand gold on its own.

He ripped it off.

"6,000 gold coins!"

The auction hall froze.

This was madness.

A heartbeat passed.

Then Raze's voice cut through the room like a blade.

"6,100 gold coins."

Ella's jaw dropped.

"Raze! You CAN'T, this is insane, it's not even an artifact—"

He ignored her completely, eyes fixed on the sword.

The hostess swallowed before shouting:

"Going once!"

In the count's room, panic filled the air. He had nothing left. Not a coin. Not a gem. Not even pride.

"Going twice!"

He slammed his fists into the table until they bled.

"Going thrice!"

"SOLD, to the bidder in VIP room six!"

A roar erupted across the building.

Raze leaned back casually in his chair.

He would collect the sword at the end of the auction…

And pay the ridiculous price of 6,100 gold coins.

After that, Raze simply leaned back under Ella's confused gaze and waited for the auction to end. She still didn't understand why he paid such a price for the sword, but she didn't press further. She'd come to know that Raze always acted with a reason, even when his reasons made no sense to anyone else.

When the auction finally ended and people slowly began leaving, a knock came at the door of Room 6.

Raze opened it.

A hostess stood there holding the sword, and beside her was a guard, standard protocol to prevent bidders from running without paying.

Without hesitation, Raze pulled out exactly 6,100 gold coins and placed them on the tray the sword rested on.

The hostess tried, and failed, to hide the shock on her face at how effortlessly he paid such a ridiculous amount for a sword worth a fraction of the price. Both she and the guard bowed and left.

Raze lifted the sword.

Black metal. Obsidian layered over black steel.

A fine blade… But nowhere near its price tag.

He sheathed it without another look.

"Let's go, Ella," he said.

She followed him out into the cold night, the two of them heading back toward the academy.

"I still don't understand why you got that sword," Ella admitted.

"Soon you'll understand. Maybe I'll tell you later," he replied.

They crossed the dim streets, moving toward a narrow alley that acted as a shortcut. But the moment they stepped inside, Raze stopped.

A lone figure stood at the far end of the alley, waiting.

Raze exhaled.

"I should've seen this coming."

"Seen what?" Ella asked, squinting at the shadowed figure.

"Well… anyone who wanted that sword badly is bound to come after it."

As he spoke, another figure dropped down behind them, armored and blade drawn.

"You mean whoever was bidding against you sent them?" Ella asked.

"Definitely."

"How do you know? It could just be someone else."

"No. The same reason I bought the sword is the same reason they wanted it. And they desperately need it."

She nodded slowly, even though she understood none of it.

"I'll handle one," Ella said, "you take the other."

"That sounds like a good plan."

Raze drew his bat, and weighed it in his hand before lunging forward.

The man blocking the alley didn't expect the sudden attack, but he reacted quickly, bringing down his sword to parry. Sparks erupted as metal clashed with hardened steel.

The man's hand went numb instantly. How could a kid generate that kind of explosive force?

Raze grinned.

"I've been wanting to use this bat, let's see how it performs."

He shoved the sword upward, then thrust the bat into the man's chest. Even with armor, the impact threw the man off his feet, launching him across the street and into the side of a house, cracking the wall on impact.

Raze twirled the bat and took a stance.

"Come at me."

The man staggered to his feet. Retreat wasn't an option, the count had ordered them to stall Raze and Ella until reinforcements arrived.

He charged, sword raised. Raze parried effortlessly and kicked him in the ribs, the crack echoing through the alley as the man flew backward. Before he landed, Raze was already on him, bringing the bat down like a hammer.

Boom.

Stone cracked beneath the force.

The man didn't die, but he wasn't getting back up anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Ella faced the second attacker.

He lunged, sword glinting under the moonlight, but Ella's hands lifted, fingers flicking lightly.

Three flame arrows appeared, spell-less.

They shot out instantly.

The man froze, shocked that she was a mage, but before he could react, all three arrows slammed into his chest and launched him down the alley.

Ella didn't stop, a fireball the size of a human head burst into existence and thundered toward him. He had just begun to rise when it slammed into him, detonating against the wall behind him.

She stepped out slowly, gaze icy.

"Did you really think you could stop us with such weak force?" she asked, staring down at the groaning man.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.