The Invincible Auction House

Chapter 4: A Prelude to Chaos

The next morning, the village of Greyridge bustled with activity as rumors spread of the strange man who had vanquished the spirit beast. Farmers spoke of him with a mix of awe and suspicion, while children peeked curiously toward the forest, whispering tales of his "magical house" hidden in the mountains.

Adam, meanwhile, sat at the counter of his auction house, examining the system's latest updates. The hall remained serene, its jade walls glowing faintly in the soft morning light.

"Soon, huh?" Adam muttered, leaning back in his chair. He wasn't in a rush. The world outside was slowly falling into place, and his plans were advancing.

The notification from Joran about the bandit threat hadn't escaped his mind. He saw their inevitable arrival not as a problem but as an opportunity to expand his influence. He had already begun laying the groundwork for his next steps.

Joran stood at the edge of the village square, his arms crossed as he watched the farmers load their carts with grain. His thoughts were heavy, and his gaze occasionally drifted toward the path leading to Adam's auction house.

"You're troubled, Captain," came a soft voice.

Joran turned to see Sienna, one of the village elders, approaching. Her hair was streaked with silver, but her posture was still straight and proud. She had been a healer and advisor for the village for decades.

"It's that man," Joran said. "Adam. He's... different. The way he handled that beast wasn't natural."

Sienna nodded thoughtfully. "He does carry an air of mystery, but he saved us when no one else could. Sometimes, the world sends us help in unexpected forms."

"But at what cost?" Joran asked, his voice low. "What if we've invited something far worse than a spirit beast into our lives?"

Sienna placed a comforting hand on his arm. "We can't know that yet. All we can do is watch and be ready for whatever comes next."

Miles away, deep in the shadow of the mountains, a crude camp sprawled across a rocky plateau. Tents made of patched leather and stolen cloth flapped in the wind, and the smell of roasted meat and unwashed bodies filled the air.

At the center of the camp, a large man sat on a throne-like chair made of mismatched planks. His name was Gorath, and he was every bit as intimidating as the tales suggested. Broad-shouldered and scarred, he exuded an aura of danger.

Before him knelt a scrawny scout, his head bowed low.

"Say that again," Gorath growled, his voice a low rumble.

The scout swallowed hard. "The beast is gone, boss. I saw it myself. The villagers are saying a stranger took care of it."

Gorath's thick fingers drummed against the hilt of his axe. "A stranger?"

"Yes. He's... different. The villagers are calling him a problem-solver, but no one knows where he came from."

Gorath's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Interesting. If he's strong enough to take down a spirit beast, he must have something worth stealing."

The scout hesitated. "There's... more, boss. They say he has an auction house hidden in the mountains. Some kind of magical place where rare treasures are sold."

Gorath's smile widened, the greedy glint in his eyes unmistakable. "An auction house, you say? Now that is very interesting. Gather the men. We're paying this stranger a visit."

Back at the auction house, the air inside shimmered faintly as Adam reviewed his preparations. The wolf-serpent's sphere had already been sold, its profits neatly tucked away, and now the system presented several new items in his inventory: a glowing spirit herb, a minor defensive talisman, and a set of enchanted arrows.

Adam's gaze drifted toward the cave entrance outside the auction hall. The faint pulse of energy he'd noticed before still emanated from the cave's depths, its rhythmic glow casting soft shadows along the stone walls.

Curious, Adam stood and descended back into the cave, retracing his steps to the chamber where the massive crystal hummed with restrained power. As he approached, the system's text flared.

Adam crouched near the crystal, tracing its cold surface with his fingertips. "So there's more to you after all. This place is practically a goldmine." His eyes gleamed with possibilities, but the faint prickle on the back of his neck warned him that he wasn't alone.

A low rumble reverberated through the chamber, and Adam's head snapped up. From the shadows, a second guardian beast emerged, larger than the last—its form reptilian with shimmering silver scales and glowing yellow eyes. Its claws clicked menacingly against the stone floor.

Adam took a cautious step back, his mind already working.

"You again, huh?" Adam muttered, his calm expression betraying a flicker of irritation. I don't have time for this.

The beast roared, the sound reverberating painfully through the cavern. Adam darted behind a jagged rock just as a burst of silver flame seared past him, leaving scorch marks on the ground.

His eyes narrowed. "You're not going to make this easy, are you? Fine. Let's see how tough you really are."

The system flared again.

Lines of glowing text traced the beast's form, marking weak spots at its joints and underbelly. Adam grinned as he grabbed a nearby shard of stone, its sharp edge catching the faint light. He moved quickly, circling around the beast as it snarled and snapped at him.

With a burst of speed, Adam lunged, driving the shard into the beast's side where the scales were thinnest. The creature let out a deafening roar, thrashing violently before collapsing, its glowing eyes dimming to black.

The system chimed softly.

Adam exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from his brow. He glanced back at the now-lifeless beast, then toward the glowing crystal vein that stretched deep into the earth.

"This world keeps giving," Adam muttered, a victorious smirk tugging at his lips. "And I'll keep taking."