NOVEL NEXT Chapter 87: Auction [4]
The beast snarled, blood dripping from its claws, its glowing eyes now locked onto the hooded figures. A moment of eerie silence passed—then the figures surged forward, weapons drawn and magic crackling around them. The hall shook as spells and roars collided.
Despite the beast's newfound power, the coordinated attacks of the figures managed to injure it—deep gashes tore through its hide, spewing dark, glowing blood that hissed against the floor.
Seeing it overwhelmed, one of the hooded figures raised a sigil, and with a flash of light and arcane symbols, the beast was restrained.
A second later, they vanished with the creature, disappearing into swirling shadows, leaving behind stunned silence and destruction.
Kai's eyes narrowed. He cautiously approached the spot where the beast's blood had spilled—thick, blackish-red, with the same eerie shimmer as the essence.
Something about it pulsed faintly, like it was alive.
That wasn't just blood.
It was tainted.
It was infused.
Without a second thought, Kai pulled out a small alchemical vial from his storage bracelet—black-stoppered and reinforced with rune etchings meant to hold volatile substances.
He crouched, dipped it into the blood, and sealed it tight. The fluid pulsed once, dimly, inside the glass.
Behind him, chaos resumed—panicked screams, nobles shoving past each other, attendants yelling for order, someone vomiting near a broken pillar.
Kai turned and made his way back to the noble, who was brushing dust off his clothes with an annoyed look.
"We should go," Kai said firmly, slipping the vial into his storage bracelet.
The noble gave a tired nod. "Yes. Before another monster drops by."
And with that, they exited the ruined auction house, slipping away into the chaos outside.
They rode back in silence; the road now was far quieter than the one that had brought them to the auction. Kai sat with his arms folded, thoughts tangled in everything that had unfolded—the beast, the blood, the mysterious figures.
Once they reached the outskirts of Bramwell, Kai headed straight for Dante's usual den—a quiet tavern with a hidden chamber below.
Dante lounged in his chair, a glass of wine in hand. His eyes gleamed as Kai handed him the sealed vial, while giving the report of his mission.
He uncorked it just a bit, enough to let the faint shimmer escape. A pleased smirk tugged at his lips. "It works too. Good."
Kai let out a small breath of relief.
"Your reward," Dante added, tossing him a pouch.
Kai caught it and opened it. His expression froze.
"…Fifteen gold?" he said flatly.
Dante chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "What? Didn't you buy items worth eighty-five gold during the auction?"
Kai stiffened, "Wait—so you never intended to let me keep those items for free?"
A devilish smirk curved across Dante's face. "Why would I let you have them for free, kid?"
Kai blinked. "You manipulative—"
"Careful," Dante said, grinning. "That mouth'll cost you another five gold."
Kai sighed, stuffing the pouch into his coat. "Next time, just rob me on the road. It'll sting less."
Kai stepped out of the hideout, still muttering curses under his breath about being robbed "legally" by Dante.
The cool evening breeze barely helped soothe his mood.
The cobbled streets gradually gave way to dirt paths, and soon he was surrounded by towering trees and rustling leaves.
The forest clearing, his usual training spot.
Then he began his daily training—footwork drills, mana circulation exercises, and shadow sparring with his beasts.
And also—
{Daily Task}
Push-ups: 120 ✅
Pull-ups: 120 ✅
Running: 12 km ✅
Crunches: 120 ✅
Plank: 12 min ✅
[<Ding!>]
[<You've completed your daily task.>]
[<Here are your rewards: 3 pts>]
{Current Gacha Points: 11/100}
----
Closing the panel, he took a deep breath.
"Alright… let's see if this helps you any," he muttered.
He summoned Drakelet.
The little beast looked up with bright eyes, its body still visibly strained, the limp in its movement a cruel reminder of the broken core inside.
Kai crouched beside it and pulled out the pendant he had drawn from the gacha earlier.
A pale blue gem sat at its center, pulsing gently—an artifact meant to stabilize beast cores under strain.
"Here. Try this," he whispered, fastening it gently around Drakelet's neck.
The beast blinked up at him, confused at first, then stilled as the artifact began to hum softly.
Its posture relaxed just slightly.
Next, Kai retrieved the vial marked Lesser Beast Bloodline Essence. The crimson liquid inside shimmered faintly like molten ruby.
He uncorked it and carefully held it out.
"Drink it."
Drakelet hesitated, then lapped at the contents. The moment it finished, a faint glow pulsed across its body—its claws trembled, its spine arched, but it didn't cry out.
It bore the pain in silence.
Kai checked his bond link. There was a slight improvement, a flicker of hope, but the core still remained fractured.
Kai exhaled, rubbing his face. "Still a long way to go, huh?"
Drakelet nuzzled his leg as if to say, 'We'll get there.'
Then he got up and began walking.
His steps were slow but steady as he walked back toward the inn.
Then he heard hurried footsteps.
He turned his head around and saw her.
Lina.
She came running from around the corner, her breath uneven, hair disheveled, eyes wide with panic.
Before he could react, she threw her arms around him, holding tightly, trembling violently, her breath hitching.
"Lina—?" he said, startled, frozen for a moment before he gently placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back to look at her face.
She looked up, eyes red, tears streaking down her face.
Her lips trembling as she tried to form words through choked sobs.
"Th-they took Elina…"
The world around him stopped.
His eyes sharpened. "Who?"
She shook her head, voice breaking. "I-I don't know—They came out of nowhere while we were walking… I-I tried to stop them but they were too strong—!"
Kai's jaw clenched as a cold fury began to rise.
"Where did it happen?" he asked, voice low, deadly calm.