⬧︎[] System Notification []
⬧︎[] Congratulations, Extra! []
⬧︎[] You successfully avoided narrative significance yesterday by:
☑ Escaping a demon raid
☑ Not revealing your identity
☑ Getting yourself enslaved []
⬧︎[] Your commitment to background survival has earned you: +1 EXP []
⬧︎[] Progress: 2/100 EXP to Level 2 []
***
A blindfolded scarf was tied tightly around her eyes, leaving her with no clue where she was being taken, but if she had to guess, it was likely an auction.
Days had passed since her kidnapping, and she'd been treated like any other slave: whipped, imprisoned, and starved.
There were moments when food was given in copious amounts, but only to fatten the "merchandise." As a unique case, however, she was spared the worst of the treatment, though not by much.
Despite all the suffering she'd endured, the system had the audacity to reward her with a grand total of four EXP throughout those four days. Four. She didn't care, but it felt like the universe was personally mocking her. Surely, surviving enslavement and a stabbing earned more than just one pity point?
The fact that I'm immortal doesn't make this any better…
If anything, it made it worse. Immortality meant a long, excruciating grind. Maybe dying young was the better deal.
"You better be on your best behavior," growled a voice beside her. It was the same Voltrak who had taken her, name still unknown and thoroughly unimportant.
Let's just get this over with…
Would she be sold to a lecherous old man?
A sadistic demon?
An unbearably arrogant noble?
It wasn't all that different from her past life, being handed off to power-hungry monsters, all in the name of survival.
Her blindfold was removed, and she squinted against the sudden light.
The first thing she saw were her own wrists, bruised, bound, and filthy. It was followed by a line of masked demons before her, all clearly wealthy and noble.
"What is this? I can barely sense any power from her," one of them scoffed.
"Isn't that the point? The weak never resist."
"A perfect slave, if you ask me."
A shudder ran down her spine. This was worse than death, and death, tragically, wouldn't even take her.
"Silence," the Voltrak beside her commanded, raising a hand. The murmurs stopped instantly. "This human may appear useless, but look closely."
In a blur, he drew a blade and sliced her wrist cleanly, so fast she hadn't even seen it.
The pain hit like fire, and blood welled up in an instant.
But just as quickly, the wound vanished.
She really was the perfect slave like a machine in human skin. Mortal, yet not. A servant designed to obey. There was no escape.
The murmurs grew louder.
None of them had ever seen an immortal human before.
Humans were known to die young, while demons remained youthful and powerful for centuries, some even living beyond a thousand years.
Their concept of age was vastly different from that of humans, much like other ancient races.
"A HUNDRED THOUSAND GOLD!"
"A HUNDRED THOUSAND AND FIFTY!"
"FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND!"
"TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND!"
The bids kept climbing higher and higher.
They were likely fed up with fragile humans who died too quickly under abuse.
The Voltrak beside her chuckled, clearly satisfied. He'd struck a far better deal with her than whatever value that human child might've held.
A chubby, humanoid demon stood up, his face best described as... distorted.
"FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND!" he bellowed, catching everyone off guard. It was revolting.
He's already drooling...
The others looked visibly irritated. None dared to raise the bid further, they simply couldn't afford to. That only seemed to thrill the chubby demon even more.
"SOLD!" the Voltrak declared, then stepped forward to unchain Liora.
Her wrists were free, but she wasn't.
The chubby demon struggled to squeeze through the rows of seats, forcing some spectators to leap aside as his sheer size pushed against them.
Amusingly, he was already drenched in sweat, and his descent down the stairs was agonizingly slow.
This is it... I'm really being sold as a sex slave...
...Just kidding. I'll cut off his dick if I have to.
She needed to plan this carefully. She wasn't foolish enough to cause a scene now, so she kept her expression blank, obediently staring ahead until he finally reached the stage and grabbed her hands. She winced in disgust. His palms were drenched in sweat.
"I-I'll make you my obedient little wife…"
"Uh," she trembled in revulsion.
"HALT!"
A voice echoed through the auction hall, so commanding that even the Voltrak flinched.
From the right side, descending the stairs, came a tall figure. It was clearly a woman.
Her eyes were unlike any other: radiant like the sun, glowing with a brilliant orange laced with hints of yellow, and irises sharp enough to cut.
⬧︎[] SYSTEM NOTIFICATION []
⬧︎[] Race Identified: SOLAREIGN []
⬧︎[] Classification: High-Ranked Demon []
⬧︎[] Lineage: Imperial Bloodline []
⬧︎[] Traits:
Solarflame Authority
Command Presence - Lesser demons instinctively submit
Regeneration Resistance
Light-aspected Magic []
⬧︎[] Rarity: Extremely Rare []
⬧︎[] Notable Lore:The Solareign Demons are descended from the original sunborn monarchs of the Infernal Empire. Said to be touched by primordial light, their presence is both revered and feared. Only those of the Imperial House of Aurexus bear such eyes, signs of judgment and divine wrath. []
⬧︎[] YOU ARE NOW IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IMPERIAL DEMON. BOW, OR BURN. []
"She's mine."
Stepping into the spotlight was a woman, clearly older, yet still undeniably beautiful, her presence commanding.
"Your Imperial Highness, Lady Selarin!" the Voltrak immediately bowed, his voice trembling. Even the fat demon noble bowed, though his jaw clenched with fury. The rest of the demons followed suit, heads lowered in submission.
"I bid one million gold coins," Selarin declared, her voice calm but thunderous. The announcement left the room in stunned silence.
Even Liora blinked in disbelief. Was she really worth that much?
"B-But, Your Imperial Majesty!" the fat demon stammered, wringing his hands. "I had already purchased her—"
"You dare question me?" Selarin interrupted coldly, her gaze like fire.
⬧︎[] SYSTEM NOTIFICATION []
⬧︎[] Character Identified: Lady Selarin Aurexus []
⬧︎[] Title: Imperial Highness – Third Daughter of the Emperor []
⬧︎[] Age: 856 Years []
⬧︎[] Former Role: Supreme Commander of the Aurexian Legion []
⬧︎[] Current Status: Retired / Imperial Eccentric
⬧︎[] Reputation:
Known for singlehandedly ending the Siege of Vaetheris.
Unmarried. Lives in isolation.
Holds absolute authority despite being retired.
Feared and respected across all noble houses. []
⬧︎[] Notable Traits:
Unbound by demon court traditions
Makes bold, unpredictable decisions
Has never once lost in battle
Possesses a mysterious interest in rare anomalies []
"Come," she extended her hand towards Liora.