Chapter 116 Silver Dawnrift
"Welcome, esteemed guests. Please accompany me to the floating elevator for your ascent to the 66th floor. A representative will be there to greet you," a blonde beauty stationed by the elevator announced with a warm smile.
The floating elevator at Shadowwing Auction House was a marvel of engineering, large enough to accommodate over fifty people. Crafted from the exceptionally rare and magically potent Crystal of the Seven Moons, it was etched with magical runes that granted it the ability to effortlessly glide through the air. The cost of such a contraption was astronomical, exceeding the value of the entire town of Willowbrook.
Within the vast expanse of Eldoria, only two other floating elevators existed. One in the royal palace and another, significantly smaller, in the Eldoria City auction house. Their presence at Shadowwing spoke volumes about the establishment's immense wealth and influence.
Shadowing Auction House itself was divided into three distinct sections: the general area, the VIP area, and the exclusive luxury area.
The general auction area, spanning from the 4th to the 36th floor, was open to anyone bearing a Darkwing Insignia. While accessible, truly rare and valuable items were less frequently found here.
The VIP auction area, located on the 50th to the 100th floors, was reserved for individuals of a certain status. Here, the items on offer were predominantly rare and expensive, with the occasional appearance of legendary treasures.
The pinnacle of exclusivity was the luxury auction area, occupying the 150th to the 180th floors.
Entry here was a privilege reserved for the most powerful individuals in Eldoria: regional rulers, leaders of the most influential guilds, and players who had ascended to the peak of their professions. In his previous life, Eric's achievements as a third-tier Sword King, adorned with numerous accolades, granted him access to the VIP area. The luxury area, however, remained a mystery, its secrets known only to the true titans of Divine Realms: Legends.
Upon reaching the 66th-floor auction hall, Eric found himself in a space as vast as a football field, teeming with NPCs of noble bearing and considerable influence. Competing against these NPCs for coveted items was no easy feat. Their presence served as a strategic measure by the auction house, ensuring that players couldn't acquire items too easily or cheaply.
Essentially, they acted as well-dressed shills. If player bids failed to meet a predetermined threshold, these NPCs would swiftly acquire the items, eliminating the possibility of a bargain.
With everyone seated, the auction commenced. A distinguished elder with a flowing white beard appeared on the stage, his voice booming as he declared the auction begin and started presenting the first item.
The initial offering was a level 20 Mithril breastplate, its starting price set at 2 gold coins.
"Impressive stats, but the price is outrageous," Eric muttered, quickly assessing the item's attributes in the observation panel before dismissing it.
While the equipment was undeniably good, it wasn't a necessity for him at that moment. Had it been priced at 2 gold, he might have considered it. However, the relentless bidding war among the NPCs had already driven the price up to 7 gold.
Even selling it to a top-tier guild wouldn't fetch 7 gold; 3 to 4 gold would be the most. After all, for the average player, even copper coins were a precious commodity, let alone gold.
One after another, more Mithril equipment was paraded before the eager crowd, even a few pieces of Adamantite gear. Yet, none of it piqued Eric's interest.
The reason was simple: the prices were exorbitant.
He knew that once the average player level reached around 20, these items would become significantly more affordable. However, Divine Realms: Legends was still in its infancy, with the average player hovering around level 4. There simply wasn't enough wealth in circulation to afford such prices.
After thirty minutes, the equipment portion of the auction concluded, and other items began to take center stage.
"Next, we have a weapon forging blueprint, a masterpiece crafted by the legendary Master Coren himself," the elder announced, his voice laced with reverence. "The starting bid is 3 gold."
It immediately grabbed Eric's attention. He had to see this.
The blueprint detailed the creation of the Silver Dawnrift, a Mithril-grade, level 10 one-handed sword.
The moment Eric saw "Mithril grade," he knew luck was on his side. Moreover, it was a level 10 blueprint, precisely what he needed. His Abyssal Blade's upgrade required ten Mithril-grade weapons, and this blueprint would make acquiring them significantly easier.
However, Eric wasn't the only one with his eye on the prize. Several blacksmiths, recognizing the rarity of a Mithril-grade blueprint, joined the bidding war.
The price quickly escalated to 6 gold.
"7 gold!" Eric shouted, gritting his teeth.
"7 gold, 30 silver."
"7 gold, 50 silver."
"8 gold."
The NPCs, caught in the frenzy of the auction, continued to drive the price higher.
"Damn it! 15 gold!" Eric exclaimed, raising the bid by a significant margin in an attempt to shock the NPCs and assert his dominance. He couldn't go any higher; he only had a little over 20 gold remaining.
"16 gold!"
Eric was anxious. He hadn't expected an NPC to counter his bold move. The blueprint's true value was around 15 gold.
"17 gold!" Eric declared, pushing himself to the limit. If the NPC blacksmith countered again, he was prepared to go all in with 20 gold. If that failed, he would accept defeat.
Finally, the NPC blacksmith, his face etched with a mixture of disappointment and resignation, shook his head and withdrew from the bidding war.
"Congratulations to Black Flame for acquiring Master Coren's Silver Dawnrift blueprint!" the white-bearded elder announced, his voice filled with enthusiasm as the crowd erupted in applause.
Eric breathed a sigh of relief, his heart still pounding from the intense bidding war. The blueprint belonged to him now. This trip to the auction house had been more than worth it. As for the 17 gold, he would recoup his losses once he started crafting Silver Dawnrift.
With the blueprint auction concluded, the white-bearded elder continued, "And now, for the next item: an ultra-rare skill for melee classes, Inferno Thunderstorm! Starting bid: 5 gold."
Inferno Thunderstorm, a skill usable with any melee weapon, dealt a base damage of 200, with additional damage radiating outward in a 15-foot radius. It also stunned enemies for 4 seconds and had a cooldown of 45 seconds.
Eric's eyes widened. Inferno Thunderstorm was a game-changer for any melee class, a true treasure of this auction.
"What could I do? I don't have enough," Eric thought, his desire for the skill book battling with the reality of his dwindling funds. The starting price was 5 gold, but he knew the final price would be astronomical, likely exceeding 20 gold.
While Eric grappled with his predicament, the bidding war had already begun, the price quickly climbing to 10 gold. Inferno Thunderstorm was proving to be even more sought after than the Silver Dawnrift blueprint.
Brainstorming, Eric accessed the virtual trading center and canceled the remaining gold he had listed for sale.
"Thank goodness," he muttered, relieved to find he had 23 gold left in the trading center. Combined with his current funds, he had a little over 30 gold, just enough to make a serious play for Inferno Thunderstorm.
"20 gold!" Eric shouted, making his presence known.
"20 gold! Black Flame bids 20 gold! Do I hear any other offers?" the white-bearded elder boomed, his voice laced with excitement. "This is the crown jewel of our auction today, ladies and gentlemen! Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Eric couldn't help but roll his eyes at the elder's theatrics.
"21 gold."
"A treasure indeed! I bid 24 gold!" a second-tier Sword Master declared, his voice filled with confidence.
"26 gold!" a third-tier Shadow Walker shouted, joining the fray.
The auction hall buzzed with anticipation as the bidding war intensified. Most of the NPCs present were melee classes, making the competition for Inferno Thunderstorm particularly fierce. High-tier NPCs, flush with gold from lucrative tasks and quests, were formidable opponents. If Eric hadn't amassed a small fortune earlier, he wouldn't even be in a position to compete.
The bidding continued, with even fourth-tier professions throwing their hats into the ring.
Seeing the price rapidly approaching his limit, Eric took a deep breath and shouted, "30 gold!"
It was his final offer, a do-or-die gamble.
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