CHAPTER 95: GOLDEN FORTUNE CITY

Golden Fortune City stood ahead like a jewel on the island. Tall golden walls wrapped around it, shimmering with protective runes. Guards in white and gold armor patrolled the gates, their levels so high Rhys couldn’t even see the numbers. Above them floated the banner of the Millennia Auction House—a crest of a phoenix rising from coins.

The crowd was endless. Players of every class, level, and guild streamed through the wide gates. Some wore fine enchanted armor that screamed wealth, others traveled in groups under guild flags, and a few lone wanderers carried strange pets or mounts that drew whispers.

"Damn," Rhys muttered, his eyes scanning the crowd. "This isn’t just an auction. It’s a gathering of the world’s sharks."

Bounce growled low, his golden eyes sharp as he padded close. Puddle clutched his sleeve, her rainbow glow dimmed down so she didn’t draw too much attention.

Inside the city, the atmosphere changed instantly. The chaos of the docks gave way to orderly streets paved with glowing stone. Merchants set up stalls on every corner, selling exotic food, rare scrolls, and even gambling games to bleed players of more gold before the bidding even started.

A system notice blinked.

[System Notice: Golden Fortune City is a Safe Zone. PvP, duels, and combat skills are disabled within the walls.]

That explained the confidence in the air. Normally half these players would be trying to kill each other. Now, everyone’s focus was on the same thing: the auction.

Rhys made his way toward the main plaza, where the Auction House towered like a palace. Its gates alone were taller than most fortresses he’d seen. Guards checked each player’s Auction Seal before letting them inside.

Even from outside, Rhys could hear the buzz—dozens of players boasting about how much gold they had prepared, others whispering about rumored items:

"I heard there’s a Mythic beast egg this time."

"No way, it’s probably fake."

"I bet a god-tier skill book will drop. My guild master said he’ll spend a million gold if it shows up."

Rhys smirked. He didn’t care what they had. He wasn’t here just to throw gold—he was here to claim something no one else could.

He held up his Auction Seal. The guard scanned it with a glowing crystal, then stepped aside. "Confirmed. Welcome, participant."

The gates opened.

Rhys stepped into the Millennia Auction Hall.

The hall was massive—like an arena crossed with a theater. Rows of seats stretched upward in a full circle, all facing the central stage. A glowing crystal orb hovered above the stage, projecting images of items as they appeared.

Hundreds of players were already seated, some in groups under guild banners, others alone in private boxes. At the very top sat the VIP tier—private suites shielded by magic, where only the richest or most powerful players could sit unseen.

Rhys found an empty row and sat, Puddle taking the seat beside him while Bounce curled at his feet like a living wall.

[System Notice: The Millennia World Auction will begin in 10 minutes.]

A hush fell across the hall. The anticipation was thick. Everyone’s eyes were on the stage, waiting to see the treasures that would decide the future of guilds, players, and entire wars.

Rhys leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His lips curved in a thin smile.

"Alright then," he murmured. "Let’s see what’s worth buying."

The crystal orb above the stage flared to life. A hush swept across the hall as golden light rippled out.

A tall NPC in ceremonial robes appeared at the center stage—an Auctioneer, his voice magically amplified so every corner of the hall could hear.

"Welcome, challengers and champions, to the Millennia World Auction," he said smoothly. "Today, fortunes will rise, alliances will be tested, and legends may be born. May the most determined bidder claim the treasures within."

A cheer erupted, but it was short-lived. Everyone knew this wasn’t about excitement—it was about war by coin.

The orb shimmered, and the first item appeared in projection above the stage.

[Lot #1: Dragonbone Saber (Epic Rank)]

— Forged from the remains of a young wyrm. Attack power +600.

— Passive: Dragon’s Might (+10% intimidation against weaker foes).

Starting Bid: 50,000 gold.

Immediately, the crowd stirred. Hands shot up.

"Fifty-five!"

"Sixty!"

"Seventy!"

Rhys leaned back, unimpressed. Epic rank weapons were nice—but nothing he needed. Verdant Scholar still outclassed it by leagues.

Beside him, Puddle tilted her head. "They’re fighting over that? Master already has better."

Bounce snorted, his silver mane flickering.

The bids climbed until it finally sold for 120,000 gold to a guild officer from the Iron Talons.

The Auctioneer raised his hand again, and the next projection shimmered into place.

[Lot #2: Phoenix Feather Cloak (Legendary Rank)]

— Grants immunity to Burn status. Once per day, auto-revives wearer at 30% HP.

Starting Bid: 200,000 gold.

Now the hall erupted. Guild banners lit up with signals as officers scrambled to make bids.

Rhys’s eyes narrowed. Now that’s something worth considering. Not for him, but as leverage. Items with revival effects could swing wars.

Bids shot up fast. "Two-fifty!" "Three hundred!" "Four!"

By the time it sold at 600,000 gold to the Dawnlight Guild, the tension in the air had sharpened. Players glared at one another across rows, already tallying grudges.

Rhys smirked. And this is only the start.

The orb shifted again.

[Lot #3: Beast Egg – Shadowfang Wolf (Rare Rank → Evolves to Epic)]

— Hatchable companion beast. Natural affinity: Dark.

Starting Bid: 80,000 gold.

Puddle blinked. "Oh! Another wolf, like Bounce."

Bounce growled low, clearly unimpressed.

This time, a group of rogue tamers erupted into a bidding war with a mid-tier guild. The egg finally went for 200,000.

The auction rolled on—rare herbs, enchanted armor, scrolls of forgotten spells. Prices climbed higher and higher.

But Rhys didn’t move. He stayed quiet, hands folded, letting the waves pass.

Then came a shift in the atmosphere.

The orb shimmered, but this time the projection wasn’t just an item. It was a chest—sealed with six locks, glowing faintly with runes.

The Auctioneer’s smile widened. "Our next lot is one of the rarities for this event."

[Lot #10: Sealed Akashic Fragment (???)]

— An unidentified relic said to contain knowledge of lost skills.

— Origin: Unknown. Unable to appraise.

Starting Bid: 500,000 gold.

The entire hall went silent for a heartbeat. Then chaos exploded.

"Half a million starting?! What the hell is that thing?"

"Akashic Fragment? Does that mean... hidden class knowledge?"

"No, impossible. They wouldn’t release something like that here..."

Rhys’s heart skipped. His Akashic Ruler class pulsed. The threads of light inside him tugged faintly, as though recognizing the item.

His lips curved. "Finally... something worth buying."

The Auctioneer’s voice boomed again."Sealed Akashic Fragment. Starting bid: 500,000 gold!"

A pause. Then, the first hand shot up."Five-ten!" shouted an officer from Dawnlight.

"Five-fifty!" barked someone from Iron Talons.

"Six hundred!" A smaller guild tried to push in, but their leader looked pale even as he spoke.

The numbers leapt in seconds.

"Seven!""Seven-fifty!""Eight hundred thousand!"

The hall shook with tension. Players murmured, eyes sharp. This wasn’t just an item—everyone could feel it. The name Akashic carried too much weight.

Puddle tugged Rhys’s sleeve, her rainbow eyes wide. "Master... that fragment. It’s calling to you."

Bounce lowered his head, golden eyes narrowed. He didn’t understand the item, but he understood the pull in Rhys’s aura. His growl was low, protective.

Rhys’s fingers drummed against his knee. His own Akashic Tome resonated faintly, glowing lines itching along his hand. It was no question—this relic was tied to his class.

The Auctioneer raised a hand. "Current bid, eight hundred thousand! Any higher?"

"Eight-fifty!" roared Dawnlight’s leader.

"Nine hundred!" snapped Iron Talons immediately after.

The crowd gasped. Nearly a million already.

Rhys smirked. They’re throwing gold like children with candy. But this fragment doesn’t belong to them.

He raised his hand casually. "One million."

The hall went dead silent.

Eyes turned—some with surprise, others with anger. Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Who the hell is that guy?""Never seen him before.""Solo player? No... he’s got companions with him.""Wait—look at the Auction Seal mark. He’s registered under Wild Whispered guild!"

Guild banners flickered in alarm. Wild Whispered wasn’t the largest, but it was notorious for being backed by wealth. And its guild master—Mia—was infamous for securing rare treasures.

Dawnlight’s leader grit his teeth. "One point one million!"

Rhys didn’t even blink. "One point five."

Gasps rippled through the hall. Players turned fully in their seats now, studying him like prey that had suddenly become predator.

The Iron Talons officer slammed the table. "One point six!"

Rhys leaned back, voice calm, almost bored. "Two million."

The Auctioneer’s eyes gleamed, savoring the storm brewing in the hall.

Puddle tilted her head, whispering, "Master... you don’t even look like you’re trying."

Rhys grinned faintly. "That’s because I’m not. This fragment is already mine."

The Auctioneer’s hammer hovered above the block.

"Two million! Do I hear higher?"

Silence—just for a heartbeat. Then Dawnlight’s leader slammed his hand on the table.

"Two-point-one!"

The Iron Talons commander shot him a look, then barked out, "Two-point-three!"

The smaller guilds were silent now. This was no longer their arena.

Rhys’s lips curled into a faint grin. He didn’t even hesitate.

"Three million."

The entire hall erupted in murmurs.