Lightning hissed along the spires of New Elaron, but the storm wasn't natural.
It was summoned.
Atop the floating palace of Ardent Hollow, veiled in artificial clouds and arcane shielding, the annual Silent Auction was about to begin—an event where fortunes changed hands, secrets were sold like candy, and only the most powerful bloodlines were invited.
Kael had received an invitation.
One sealed in obsidian wax bearing a crest he now recognized: a broken crown wrapped in flame.
The crest of the Shadowborne.
---
Invitation to the Abyss
Rin, dressed in illusion-crafted lace, adjusted Kael's collar as they stood before the gate platform.
"You know this is a trap, right?"
Kael smirked. "Everything I do is."
Velveta folded space beside them, arriving in an outfit stitched from moonlight and threads of folded probability. "They want to see what you'll bid. Or what you'll reveal."
Lysara, always watching from behind Kael like a guardian flame, murmured, "Don't look for allies tonight. Look for enemies who haven't shown their teeth yet."
[Main Quest Update: Survive the Silent Auction]
Bonus: Acquire at least one artifact related to the Origin Fragment.]
---
Within the Hollow
The Ardent Hollow's interior resembled a kingdom made of glass and whispers. Every guest wore a mask—literal or otherwise.
Kael's mask was shadowed bronze, bearing no crest. A statement of both humility and threat.
The crowd parted slightly as they entered. He saw them: heirs of technocratic houses, augmented royalty, gene-forged merchants, even a few demigod scions.
And near the center... the masked figure from the Labyrinth.
[Rival Heir – Presence Detected]
Kael ignored the ping. Let him watch.
He wasn't here to be subtle.
He was here to shake the Hollow.
---
The Auction Begins
"First item," the host purred, "A fragment of time-suspended mana. Bidding starts at 80 million credits."
Kael waited. His system was absorbing data like a sponge—cataloging items, traits, and, more importantly, weaknesses.
Then it came.
"Lot 9: A sealed memory crystal stolen from the ruins of Sovereign Lineage – potential genetic data inside."
Every noble in the room tensed.
Kael's system pulsed.
[System Reaction Detected: Gene-Signature Match – High Probability: Parental Line Origin]
Kael stood.
"I'll bid."
The crowd turned.
"One trillion credits," Kael said flatly.
Gasps. Then silence.
Then chaos.
One of the scions—Lord Vethik of the Cryo-Drake Bloodline—slammed his gauntlet on the table. "Who are you to bid that?"
Kael smiled.
"Someone who's no longer poor."
---
The Fight Beyond Bidding
Vethik rose, charging him. The auction guards stepped aside. This was part of the show.
Kael activated Phasefire Rush—his level 12 skill—dodging the freezing blade and sending back a counterstrike laced with both Sovereign Ember and a copied cryo technique from a previous enemy.
Frost and flame collided.
The ceiling cracked.
In three seconds, Kael disarmed Vethik and pressed a burning sigil to his chest. "I'm not here to impress. I'm here to collect what's mine."
The crowd went silent.
The auctioneer cleared her throat. "Sold... to the shadow-masked bidder."
---
Aftermath
Back on his tower, Kael placed the memory crystal into the system core.
It flickered.
Then—
A hologram activated.
Two figures.
A woman in flame armor. A man cloaked in shadows.
And a baby. Him.
"If you're seeing this, it means you've survived. You've grown stronger. But remember... you are not alone. Others will hunt you. Others will lie to you."
The man leaned in.
"We sealed your memories to protect you from what you are."
"A weapon."
---
Final System Update
[Memory Recovered: Lineage Fragment 2/7]
[Level Up: 15 → 18]
[New Skill Unlocked at Level 15: Sovereign Echo – Create a combat duplicate using learned abilities for 10 seconds.]
As the crystal dissolved, Kael stared out the window.
He no longer doubted the blood in his veins.
He no longer feared the path.
He was born of shadow...
But forged in fire.
And the world was starting to burn.