The Invincible Auction House

Chapter 5: Bandits Under the Hammer

The hall of the Invincible Auction House shimmered with an eerie glow as Gorath and his men knelt, bound by radiant chains. The bandit leader's usual bravado was gone, replaced with simmering rage and a flicker of unease. Around him, his subordinates glanced nervously at one another, their weapons and ferocity useless in this place.

Adam stood on the elevated platform, his hands clasped behind his back. He gazed at the bandits with calm detachment, like a merchant assessing goods. The atmosphere was heavy, the silence broken only by the faint hum of the system's magic.

"Welcome to my auction house," Adam began, his voice smooth but edged with authority. "You came here expecting to take what's mine. But now, I'm offering you an opportunity to earn something far greater—or lose everything."

Gorath sneered. "You think you can intimidate me? I'm Gorath, the Mountain Butcher! You can't keep me here forever."

Adam smirked. "I don't need to. The choices you make today will decide your fate. But first, let me show you the stakes."

He gestured, and a glowing screen materialized in the air, displaying Gorath's current state.

The bandits stared at the glowing text, their confusion evident. Gorath, however, growled in frustration. "What kind of sorcery is this?"

Adam ignored the outburst and continued. "You have two paths before you. The first: You and your men can swear loyalty to me and contribute to the growth of this auction house. Serve me, and I will grant you resources, strength, and protection. In time, you may even find redemption—or at least power beyond your imagination."

"And the second?" Gorath spat.

"The second," Adam said, his tone darkening, "is much less pleasant. I auction you off—your life, your spirit, everything. There are buyers who would pay handsomely for cultivators of your... caliber."

The bandits' murmurs grew louder. One of them, a wiry man with a scar across his cheek, whispered, "Boss, this place... it's not normal. Maybe we should listen to him."

Gorath's glare silenced the man, but Adam caught the exchange.

"Think carefully, Gorath," Adam said, his gaze piercing. "You've terrorized villages, stolen, and killed. This is your chance to rewrite your story—or become a commodity."

The system's text flared again.

Adam turned his attention to the rest of the bandits. "This offer extends to all of you. Those who choose loyalty will have their chains removed. Those who don't..." He let the implication hang in the air.

The bandits exchanged uncertain glances. Slowly, one of them—a younger man with a hesitant expression—spoke up. "I... I'll serve. I don't want to end up like some auction item."

The chains binding him dissolved into light, and he collapsed to the floor, gasping. Adam nodded approvingly. "A wise choice. You'll find that loyalty to me has its rewards."

Gorath snarled. "Coward! You'd betray me so easily?"

The young man hesitated but stood his ground. "Boss, I followed you because I thought you were invincible. But this man... he's something else."

One by one, the other bandits began to waver. Some voiced their allegiance, while others remained silent, their fear of Gorath outweighing their desperation.

Adam watched with quiet satisfaction as the power dynamic shifted. By the end of the deliberation, half of Gorath's men had sworn loyalty to him.

"And you, Gorath?" Adam asked, his tone almost casual. "What's it going to be?"

Gorath's jaw tightened. He was a man who thrived on dominance, and the idea of submitting to another was abhorrent. But he also recognized the futility of his position.

"I'll never bow to you," he growled.

Adam sighed, as if disappointed but unsurprised. "Very well. You've made your choice."

He snapped his fingers, and the chains around Gorath began to glow. The system's text appeared once more.

The bandits who had sworn loyalty flinched, their faces pale as they watched their former leader struggle against the unyielding magic.

"Take him," Adam commanded, and the system obeyed. Gorath was lifted into the air, his body encased in a glowing sphere. His shouts of defiance echoed through the hall as he vanished, transported into the auction realm.

The remaining bandits stared in silence, their expressions a mix of fear and relief. Adam turned his attention to them.

"You've chosen wisely," he said. "Serve me well, and you'll never have to fear anyone or anything again."

Adam sat in the grand hall, reviewing the results of the latest auction. Gorath had fetched a high price—far higher than Adam had anticipated.

The system's announcement intrigued him. "Spiritual bonding, huh? Sounds like something worth exploring."

He glanced at the bandits who had pledged their loyalty, now gathered in the corner of the hall. They looked uneasy, their confidence shaken by the day's events. Adam didn't mind; fear was a useful tool, but loyalty born of opportunity would be even more valuable in the long run.

"You'll have your first task soon," Adam told them. "For now, rest. The world outside is about to change, and we'll be at the center of it."

As the bandits exchanged uncertain looks, Adam allowed himself a small smile. This was just the beginning. His auction house was growing, and with it, his influence. The world of Veridia wouldn't know what hit it.

And neither would the enemies who dared to stand in his way.