Chapter 530 - Seating (2/2)
Relaxing on his couch, Nik pulled the list of items sold, ”The first half of the public auction is actually the part where the items collected by the Infallible and the Absolute is sold... damn, these are some nice weapons... shields too... well, Lilith, Asmodeus, and the Type-series guns covers most of my requirements. Even the healing items barely hold any advantage over Life Energy Manipulation and Cure... could it be that... I am actually... rich?” While questioning himself, Nik heard Asmodeus snorting.
”Oh? You realize that I can protect you? Why didn't you bring me in the fight with Lucifer—”
”Come on,” Nik scoffed, a little amused, ”Lilith is better than all of us. Even Sky... I have learned to accept it. Asmodeus... if you had Absolute Defence, then sure, I would have used you in a moment's notice. But no... in that battle, only Lilith is worth wielding. At the very least, until we all get strong enough to counter the 'Absolute' effect...”
”Hehe, hear that, S.l.u.t?” Asmodeus chimed, ”I am better!”
”Oh, shut up,” Asmodeus snorted, clearly unsatisfied, but Lilith's ability clearly gave her a better edge, so much so, that even Sky kept her silence. ”And,” Nik continued, ”I think, the remaining three of you are worth keeping as the final trump card... nobody knows that I have a suit of armor, a bat that can probably tear a person apart by incorrectly warping them, and a bird—”
”Phoenix!” Pure muttered in a correction.
”... right, a phoenix who breathes eternal glaciers. All we need is a little time to acc.u.mulate strength...”
”Gah... I hate waiting!” Asmodeus groaned, making Nik shrug, ”Don't we all...”
As Nik and the spirits continued to banter, Nik gazed through the list of items and when he gazed at the two items he was slightly interested in, considering the recent rewards, Nik decided that it would be better if he started investing his skill points in his skills starting from the less-leveled and technical skills. Gazing at the long list of skills, out of which, Nik had already started to detest the [Battle Arts], creating an irony for Nik actually liked the skill before knowing the conspiracy hidden within it, the apostle finally decided to keep the investment in his skills simple. He would simply raise the ones that are closer to getting their another boost. The first one being [Pheromone Illusion: Lvl 29]. Spending 41 skill points out of a total of 1051, Nik felt his mind and consciousness buzz. The leveling of the skill and the boost gave him a minor headache as he closed his eyes and actively understood and absorbed every ounce of additional knowledge.
As Nik enjoyed the multiple methods to fine-tune his pheromones that made the elusive aspect more formidable but also provided actual benefits to his body, the auction had finally begun. The first item already causing minor havoc within the public seating as the silent bids grew astronomical, at least, to the eyes of the beginners or hosts unlucky enough to not encounter truly good items or simply unable to possess them due to giving them away to their leaders or team members.
For whatever reason it may be, the middle-aged man in a warrior's tunic while a giant broadsword slung on his back continued to present items upon items. Not a single one actually capable of causing problems for, despite the rules of the auction that the System made sure the hosts adhered to, the bulky warrior himself held a mighty reputation of his own.
Bulkmungas, a privileged Rank 6 host. Of course, the man introduced himself rather rowdily. Being a decorated member of the giant team the Infallible had become gave him the right to simply suppress all the hosts in the public auction by his title just due to a fact that the rank 9 host— Infallible Diety— is the backbone of the team.
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Beside Brian in the Rank room, another figure, an actual demon with horns and tail stood silently. His expression somber. ”Master...” the devil whispered, his blood-red body still shivering as Brian nodded with a helpless shrug, ”Yeah, Khooni is definitely here...”
His gaze lingered over the layer of Rank Rooms, severely wishing that Ray and Nik also chose one of these rooms. Not out of fear, of course. But excitement. Ancestors! If Khooni is here, there remained a chance that the other two are also here... he really wanted to meet the root cause of all his problems... well, at least, a major portion of his troubles face-to-face. And if Brian knew Nik well enough, and the stories and tales he had heard of the apostle, the Temporal Fiend was sure that Nik would want the same thing.
The same thing happened with Ray as he looked around with a gloomy expression. If he could see Mirage, the first thing he would point out that she wasn't the most beautiful woman he had seen... Jojo is.
With everyone already immersed in their thoughts and ideas, the auction began with a feisty start. All the products already well-received by the crowd.