The Titan Forge: Crushing Magic with Absolute Weight

Chapter 6: Plus One Gold Coin

The Grand Auction House was a cathedral of wealth and magic. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the velvet seats, filled with the Royal Capital's elite mages and arrogant nobles.

Kaelen sat comfortably in the shadows of VIP Skybox 7, high above the main floor. The 800-pound Obsidian Slab rested casually against the silk-covered wall.

Down below, sitting in the front row, was Cedric Vance.

Cedric looked immaculate in his tailored blue robes, a smug smile plastered across his face. He was surrounded by flattering lackeys, completely unaware that his elite cleaning squad was currently rotting in the Cursed Ravine.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the Auctioneer's magically amplified voice rang out. "We now present the highlight of the evening! A flawless, Tier-3 Elixir of Awakening!"

A glowing, emerald-green vial was brought out on a silver pedestal.

Cedric’s eyes locked onto it with absolute greed. This was what he needed to break through to the next magical realm and secure his position as the top genius of the Academy.

"The bidding starts at 100,000 gold coins!" the Auctioneer announced.

Cedric stood up, puffing out his chest. He wanted to show off the financial dominance of House Vance.

"Five hundred thousand gold!" Cedric shouted, instantly silencing the room. The crowd gasped at the astronomical opening bid. Cedric smirked, soaking in the awe of the lesser nobles.

Before the Auctioneer could even drop his hammer, a calm, magically disguised voice echoed from VIP Skybox 7.

"Five hundred thousand... and one gold."

The entire auction house froze. Did someone just outbid the heir of House Vance by a single, pathetic coin?

Cedric’s smirk vanished. His face flushed red with humiliation. He glared up at the darkened glass of Skybox 7.

"Six hundred thousand gold!" Cedric barked, his mana flaring angrily.

"Six hundred thousand and one," the calm voice replied instantly.

The crowd began to whisper. This wasn't a bidding war. This was a public execution of Cedric's pride.

"Seven hundred thousand!" Cedric screamed, slamming his fist on his armrest. "Do you know who you are dealing with?!"

"Seven hundred thousand and one."

"One million gold!" Cedric roared, completely losing his mind. He was now digging into his uncle's embezzled emergency funds. "I am Cedric Vance! I will have that Elixir!"

Silence fell over the room. One million gold was an insane price, double the Elixir's actual value. Cedric sneered, breathing heavily, convinced he had crushed the arrogant VIP.

"One million... and one gold," the voice from Skybox 7 echoed smoothly.

"You bastard!" Cedric drew his wand, aiming it at the skybox. "I'll kill you! Guards, drag that peasant out here!"

Instantly, two Royal Grandmages appeared beside Cedric, their auras pressing him back into his seat.

"Lord Cedric," the Auctioneer warned coldly. "Threatening a Platinum VIP is an act of treason against the Royal Bank. Make another bid, or the item goes to Skybox 7."

Cedric was trembling violently, his fingernails digging into his palms until they bled. He had no more money. He had maxed out his family's secret accounts just to reach one million.

"Going once... going twice... Sold! To the Esteemed Guest in Skybox 7!"

The hammer fell. The sound echoed like a death knell in Cedric’s mind.

Up in the skybox, Kaelen swirled a glass of expensive wine. He had spent exactly one million and one gold coins. And he still had nearly four million left from the trash he purified earlier.

A few minutes later, an attendant brought the Elixir of Awakening into the skybox, taking Kaelen's payment.

Kaelen held the glowing green vial. To Cedric, this was a holy grail.

[Ding! Tier-3 Elixir of Awakening detected.]

[Scan result: Contains 40% toxic impurities. Highly damaging to the host's Titan Body.]

"Trash," Kaelen muttered.

Down on the main floor, the auction concluded. Cedric was storming toward the exit, his face twisted in murderous rage. He was yelling at his guards to surround the VIP exit. He was going to rob the buyer blind.

Suddenly, the darkened glass of VIP Skybox 7 slid open.

"Leaving so soon, Cedric?" Kaelen’s real, undisguised voice boomed across the empty hall.

Cedric stopped dead. He slowly turned around, his eyes widening in absolute horror.

Standing on the balcony, illuminated by the crystal chandeliers, was the magicless trash he had thrown off a cliff this morning. But Kaelen was larger, terrifyingly muscular, and completely unharmed.

"K-Kaelen?!" Cedric shrieked, stumbling backward. "Impossible! You're dead!"

"I came back," Kaelen smiled coldly.

Right in front of Cedric and the remaining shocked nobles, Kaelen held out the one-million-gold Elixir of Awakening.

Then, he casually tipped the vial, pouring the priceless green liquid directly onto the carpet.

"Oops," Kaelen said. "Slipped."

Cedric watched his future soak into the floorboards. His brain completely short-circuited. With a horrifying scream of pure agony and broken pride, the heir of House Vance vomited a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the floor.