Path of the Extra

“I know how big today is—and just how eager everyone must be! So we won’t waste any more time and will begin immediately with our first treasure of the day!”

Oscar’s gaze swept across the rows of seats before him, his smile unwavering and his voice bright with cheer. Everything had to be perfect tonight. There could be no mistakes—not in front of these particular guests.

Guests seated in front of him who belonged to shady underground organizations. Guildmasters. Heads of lesser clans. On any other day, these people would be seated in the VIP lounges above. Oscar glanced upward briefly at the one-way glass walls—impenetrable, concealing.

Tonight, behind those panes of glass… the real guests watched.

Their unseen gazes pressed against his skin like the edge of an executioner’s blade resting on his neck.

As that thought passed through his mind, a group of staff members stepped onto the stage, dragging a large, box-like shape covered in a white cloth. Their expressions were tense.

Oscar’s grin sharpened.

“This first one’s going to be perfect for the wild ones among us! An endangered species, nearly wiped out during the Great Reversal. But before one of humanity’s greatest tragedies, it was known as the rival of the King of the Jungle!”

With a theatrical flourish, the cloth was pulled away—revealing the beast inside.

A low growl echoed, followed by a thunderous roar that sent a wave of pressure through the crowd. Some even froze, paralyzed for a split second.

“Ladies and gentlemen… I present to you the infamous—tiger!”

*****

Up in one of the VIP rooms, Azriel remained unimpressed. His expression bored. In stark contrast, Nol and Jasmine leaned forward in their seats, eyes gleaming with interest.

He couldn’t help it.

Back in his old world, he had seen tigers dozens of times—in zoos, locked in cages. Caged by humans who didn’t have powers… and yet still ruled the Earth.

Now, if he wanted to, he could kill one with the flick of a finger.

The only reason people here looked amazed was because of how rare it was to even see a tiger these days—let alone buy one.

Suddenly, the door behind them opened. Jasmine and Nol immediately straightened up, composed.

Oliver stepped in, walking toward Azriel and handing him a new tablet. Azriel nodded his thanks. But this time, Oliver didn’t leave.

Instead, he moved toward the minibar… and waited.

‘He won’t leave unless I specifically dismiss him, huh?’ Azriel thought.

Then Oscar’s voice rang out again from the speakers.

“The bidding will start at 50,000 velts! Please use your tablets to place your bids!”

The guests didn’t hesitate.

“65,000 velts from number 89!”

“80,000 velts from number 246!”

“100,000 velts from number 305!”

“Oh my, a staggering jump to 200,000 velts from number 120!”

“Do we have a higher bid? Going once! Going twice! …And sold to number 120! Congratulations on becoming the new owner of the tiger—the ancient rival to the King of the Jungle before the Great Reversal!”

Just as the crowd settled, Azriel felt Nol’s pleading eyes boring into the side of his head.

He sighed.

“We can’t, Nol. Where would we even keep such an animal?”

“Aren’t tigers basically just big cats? I read that in a book once! And cats are house pets, right?”

Azriel’s lips twitched. Jasmine and Oliver both looked faintly amused.

“Still no.”

Nol’s shoulders sagged in visible disappointment.

Almost immediately, the second item was brought out.

“Here I present to you…”

And just like that, the auction continued.

One by one, rare and exotic items were unveiled. Sometimes it was mana artifacts. Sometimes void artifacts. Other times, skill books, soul weapons, soul armor…

Things that would have once headlined entire events were now being paraded as if they were appetizers—mere side dishes.

The bids climbed higher and higher.

500,000 velts. 1 million velts. 1.5 million velts…

And the night had only just begun.

Azriel, Jasmine, Nol, and even the guests in the VIP room had not placed a single bid, and it was obvious from Oscar’s nervous body language that he had noticed. However, he kept his composure, masking his unease as he presented the next item, which was covered in cloth. A lone staff member walked toward the podium and placed it carefully on a stand.

“Now, I know all of you are here for the main event, but let’s have one more before we get there, alright?” Oscar’s voice was upbeat, but there was a tinge of desperation hidden beneath. “Now, I dare present to you a deadly yet beautiful piece, found in the Void Realm and brought to us here as a gift from the Ten Heavenly Churches! I present to you a rare and unusual soul weapon!”

The cloth was lifted, revealing a glass box. Inside, the weapon shimmered, drawing curious, confused, and hesitant glances from the guests. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship and lethality, gleaming with a polished chrome finish that reflected light like a mirror. Delicate engravings adorned the barrel—floral patterns that seemed to dance in the dim light. The slide had thin, sapphire inlays that glowed softly, like veins of frozen fire. The grip was ivory-white, with a silver insignia embedded at its center—a winged serpent coiled around a rose.

It was a Desert Eagle, an unusual weapon that was rarely used these days by humans. Finding such a weapon as a soul weapon was even rarer.

Azriel’s eyes narrowed instantly as he leaned forward, his attention fixed on the gun.

‘There it is…’

The one and only thing Azriel wanted, needed, from this auction.

“The soul weapon has no owner yet, so who will be its first?” Oscar continued, his voice brimming with anticipation. “We’ll start at a price of 100,000 velts!”

It was natural. Though the weapon was unusual, rare, and beautiful, no one could truly see its practicality compared to other soul weapons like swords, bows, axes, or hammers. So, the next bid was the most unexpected of the day.

“Oh, our first bid, my dear guests! 150,000 velts from… eh?! Ah! Excuse me! 150,000 velts from number 666!”

Oscar’s eyes shot up to where Azriel sat, and Azriel met his gaze, though he knew Oscar couldn’t see him. Yet, in that moment, it felt as though Oscar were staring straight at him.

And just like that, a chain reaction occurred. Azriel felt dozens of gazes from his left and right, not just from Nol and Jasmine, but from the other VIP rooms. All eyes were suddenly on his room.

“Master?”

“Little brother, you’re interested in this soul weapon?”

Both Jasmine and Nol, along with Oliver, looked at him with raised eyebrows. Azriel merely nodded in response, offering no further explanation.

Another chain reaction followed.

“E-eh! Another bid of 400,000 velts from number 001!”

“500,000 velts from number 27!”

“One million velts from number 612!”

“1.5 million velts from number 409!”

“2.5 million velts! From number 013!”

“5 million velts from number 86!”

“T-ten million velts from number 666!”

“Another bid of… fifty million velts from number 27! Oh my, ladies and gentlemen, can anyone go higher? What staggering jumps we’re seeing here!”

It was obvious. None of the bids came from the guests seated in front of the podium—each one came from the VIP rooms.

“Seventy-five million velts from number 001!”

“One hundred million velts from number 86!”

“Oh, a new player has entered! One hundred fifty million velts from number 100!”

“Another colossal jump! Five hundred million velts from number 666!”

“A-Azriel?”

Jasmine couldn’t hold herself back any longer. She turned to Azriel with a bewildered expression, while Nol’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Azriel kept his eyes locked on the tablet, his expression calm but intense.

“How annoying. Why do they have to fight me for it?” he muttered under his breath.

“Is that weapon really worth that much?” Jasmine asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Azriel looked at her, his expression serious as he nodded.

“I want it.”

Jasmine studied him for a moment, her gaze searching for any hint of deceit. When she found none, she sighed.

“…Fine. Do as you wish. Father said not to hold back.”

A smirk tugged at the corners of Azriel’s lips, and he pressed the tablet again.

“Another jump! It seems number 666 really wants it! One billion velts!”

A wave of shock rippled through the guests seated below. It was absurd. Only the great clans could afford such astronomical bids.

“Do we have anyone else? Anyone who can top number 666’s offer? No? Then, going once, going twice—Oh my, another bid! Two billion velts from number 001! Amazing! We’re not even at the main event yet, and we’re already making history here, ladies and gentlemen!”

Azriel frowned slightly, while Jasmine’s face hardened into a cold mask.

“Who is trying to go against us so much?” she asked, her voice icy.

Azriel scratched his nose and replied nonchalantly, “Someone who wants to one-up the Four Great Clans, I guess.”

His response made Jasmine’s gaze grow even colder, and her voice dropped to a dangerous tone as she spoke, sending a shiver down Oliver’s spine.

“Then don’t hold back.”

Azriel’s lips curved into a crooked smile as he pressed the tablet once more.

“O-oh gods! What an amazing turn of events once again! Ten billion velts from number 666! Just how much money do they have?! Astonishing numbers being set today! Can number 001 top that?!”

A tense silence fell over the room. Oscar waited a moment before continuing.

“Then, going once! Going twice! And… Sold to number 666! Congratulations to the first owner of this beautiful and priceless soul weapon!”

The guests erupted into chatter, clearly eager to know who could afford such a high price. Some even mocked the soul weapon, calling it useless, but Azriel paid them no mind. He turned to Oliver.

“Sir Oliver, if you may, I would like you to retrieve my new soul weapon and bring it to me immediately.”

Oliver looked at Azriel with a strange expression for a moment before bowing.

“As you wish, your highness.”

As Oliver left, Oscar spoke again.

“Now, seeing how everyone’s blood is still pumping, let’s not waste any time and get to what all of you have been waiting for! Something that will surely make you all wish you had as much money as number 666 and number 001! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you…”