The lights of the Blue Steel Pavilion shimmer
like a sea of stars suspended within crystal walls.
Tens of thousands of Evolvers sit in layered terraces, their auras restrained,
like restless—predators waiting for blood.
At the center stage, a woman in a sapphire cheongsam smiles gracefully.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen."
Her voice echoes effortlessly.
"My name is Cluvina, and I will be your hostess
this evening."
A pause. Anticipation tightens the air.
"Now, I present the 20th item on today's list."
A golden jewel box rises slowly from the stage.
"The Core of a Half-Step Mortal-God Dragon."
The box opens.
A violent wave of heat erupts outward.
The hall trembles.
Evolvers gasp as defensive arrays activate automatically,
barely containing the inferno pulsing
from the core within.
"With this item," Cluvina continues calmly,
"your success rate of ranking up to the
Mortal-God Realm will increase dramatically.
If you are fortunate…
you may even inherit its Innate Inferno Element."
She smiles.
"The starting price is two hundred thousand Evolved Stones."
The bids explode.
Moments later—
"Sold for three million Evolved Stones."
The crowd hasn't even caught its breath.
"Now, moving on to the 19th item."
A red veil embroidered with sealing runes is
lifted.
Beneath it blooms a rose-shaped flower—
—but it is pure ice.
A terrifying chill floods the hall.
Frost races across the stage.
Pillars creak.
Breath turns to mist.
Cluvina instantly covers it again.
"This is the Lo Moon Flower.
Its Ice Element is… beyond this world."
Her eyes gleam.
"It is said that one who successfully refines it,
could rival the Old Gods of legend."
The crowd stiffens.
"However," she adds coldly, "
without an Ice Physique,
the chance of death during refinement is
ninety percent."
Silence.
"The starting price is one million Evolved Stones."
Bids surge violently.
"Ten million."
"Twenty million."
"Forty million—Guest Number Four."
"Sold."
High above, within the Fourth Private Room,
El-Mond leans back calmly.
"Wondering why I bought it?" he asks.
Behind him, Eldred frowns.
"Neither you nor I possess an Ice Physique. Wouldn't this flower be wasted?"
El-Mond smiles—gentle, yet sorrowful.
"It is repayment… to an old friend."
"When the time comes, you will understand."
The auction continues.
El-Mond casually spends two hundred million
on a full-body divine armor—designed unmistakably for a woman.
Whispers spread.
People wondering who Guest Number 4 is.
Some Perverted Men even fantasising and
Assuming Guest Number 4 was a hot woman.
Some wanting to be a kept man of this rich
Woman.
Then Cluvina straightens.
"I presume this is what everyone has been waiting for."
The hall falls silent.
"Presenting the final item."
A jade platform rises.
"Legend Rank — Soul Nourishing Flower."
Even breathing becomes difficult.
"Presume. This need no further explanations.
The starting price is—one billion Evolved Stones."
The bids turn insane.
Five billion.
Five point five.
"Seven point seven billion."
Cluvina's voice sharpens.
" Seven point seven billion going Once.
Going Twice!."
"Sold!. To Guest Number."
The floor beside El-Mond opens.
The Soul Nourishing Flower rises silently.
Without hesitation—
El-Mond swallows it whole.
"No—!" Eldred shouts, his face pale with terror.
"Master! You must refine it slowly
or your soul will—"
"That won't happen."
El-Mond turns and walks away.
Leaving Eldred Puzzled, as he wondered
Behind him. How he hadn't exploded.
"Was it really a soul Nourishing Flower!?"
El-Mond chuckled. As Eldred did not know
of. Ethereal Devourer
Converting all forms of soul energy into nourishment. Refinement is unnecessary.
As El-Mond Stepped Outside the room.
A hand suddenly grabs his wrist.
"Nina," El-Mond says calmly,
standing behind her.
Her blood freezes.
It feels as if giant eyes stare at her from the void itself.
"If I fail to explain… I'll die," she thinks.
Trembling, she speaks.
"Y-Young Master… Glacier sent me."
"Powerful men are waiting.
Your identity as Guest Number 4 was Leaked,
And They forced her to spot you out.
Nina voice trembled in fear and panic
"Threatening to harm her grandmother.
Otherwise."
"She could not bring her self to harm
An innocent person.
She starts pulling at El-Mond.
"She asked me to help you escape first.
Saying she will handle it"
El-Mond's gaze softens.
"I see..."
"You did well.
Leave the rest to me."
El-Mond and Eldred glitches out of site.
Moments later—
El-Mond and Eldred appear outside the pavilion.
Glacier stands nearby.
Telepathically El-Mond Speaks.
"Point at me."
Her eyes widen.
Her fists tremble.
"DAMMIT… why am i soo...weak!?."
She points.
El-Mond smiles at her and takes flight.
An hour later.
Far from civilization.
"That's far enough, pretty boy."
Six figures emerge.
Half-Step Mortal-Gods.
"Hand over the Soul Flower."
Eldred's aura erupts.
"I can hold them—"
"No," El-Mond interrupts,
" You can most definitely kill them.
If you were in your form, in this state
you can only kill a few and some will slip
past you."
" Their purpose is the Soul Nourishing Herb
After all."
"And besides" A wicked grin spreads across his face."This isn't necessarily a bad thing."
He whispers—
"THE EATER."
In less than a thought.
Five bodies collapse.
Souls erased.
"What—where is he!?" an old man hiding
in the void wonders panicked.
"Who?" a voice asks calmly from behind him.
Void tears open.
Bodies fall like rain.
El-Mond steps out.
His voice echoes like legions speaking as one.
His body like the night itself,
Filled with the brilliance of the stars.
His hair—white, pure, cloudlike.
His deep ocean eyes gazing at Eldred.
Eldred stares in horror and awe.
"M-Master…?"
TO BE CONTINUED