Nameless King

'Ah, Alice... I hope my intuition doesn't fail me, and Ern, though cunning, is a good man.' Wain thought and followed them.

Wain would have taken Alice to Last Light in any other situation, but she was Ern's property, and it wasn't worth ruining the relationship with him.

"Ern, what do you think the second challenge will be?"

"I don't know. I don't intend to take it anyway." Ern shrugged.

"What?"

"Since one of the items I created will be for sale in the second phase, I have certain privileges."

"It looks like your privileges have no limit."

"Hahaha, they're not. Artur is just very kind, without him, I'd be in big trouble."

"Why did you decide to skip this challenge? You could have turned it down last time, too."

"Reason is walking beside me now." Ern looked at Alice, "I can't and won't leave her unattended."

"What...?!" Alice exclaimed and directed her gaze downward. She was embarrassed by Ern's words, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

'She's like a little child...'

The bidders entered a massive hall with various statues of unknown warriors on the walls.

In the center stood Artur and his assistants.

'Hello. I am glad that most of you have decided to try for the second stage of the auction. I know you're a little puzzled since this hasn't happened before, but the world has changed, so has the situation."

"Hmm? Is this the first time the auction has two stages?" Wain asked Ern.

"Yes, that's why I didn't know what would happen here."

"The trial won't be conducted by one of my assistants or me. You will have to go there." Artur pointed to the statues.

"Hmm? Artur, what are you talking about?" The red demon with the long horn asked.

"The fact is that just before the auction began, the ancient spirits in these statues awakened, as did the ghostly treasury. We and the spirits have agreed. You will pass their test and gain access to the second stage of the auction. There will be items from the ghostly treasury and what we have prepared in advance. Now, please step aside."

Artur put his palm to the floor, and his aura intensified. Then energy lines appeared on the floor leading to the statues, and their eyes lit up like torches.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The hall trembled, and a massive portal of dark energy appeared in front of the statues.

"Go." Artur said and entered the portal.

Some participants questioned whether it was worth it, but the Demons were excited. They loved adventure, and the ancient spirits in the abandoned castle were a long-standing legend of Nord, many didn't even believe in it, but now they had the chance to see the spirits, and they couldn't pass up the chance.

"That looks pretty interesting, doesn't it?" Ern smiled and entered the portal with Alice. Wain followed them.

Those who were unsure soon changed their minds. They couldn't stay away because the Demons were walking confidently forward.

Once through the portal, they found themselves in an arena-like room with bleachers and aisles for the fighters.

Whoooosh.

Dark, demon-like silhouettes began to appear in the stands. They varied in size, height, and clothing, but their bodies were covered in a dark veil. Their eyes burned with different colors like torches.

There were seven stone thrones on which the strongest spirits appeared. A powerful aura emanated from them.

"You have come. Good, there are more of you than I expected. I hope there are some worthy ones among you." One of the chief spirits said and jumped down from the throne.

He had white eyes and a crown on his head. The spirit carefully examined each of the participants.

"Hmm, pretty much evenly matched, but some of you are hiding, okay that's not a big deal. My mates have prepared tests for you, divide them into pairs, and we will begin. Each pair must have one person from the Third Chronicle and one from the Second Chronicle. You have three minutes." The spirit said quietly, and portals opened in front of the six thrones.

The participants quickly decided on pairs, and only four people were left alone, Ern, Alice, Wain, and Erza.

"Artur, do I have to be tested too?"

"Yes, the spirits have agreed to let just me and my helpers in, without a test. I'm sorry I didn't report it, it was a secret."

"Ah, well, okay, it can't be helped. Alice, we'll have to form a team with you."

"Uh-huh." Alice nodded. She was flustered, but she trusted Ern.

"Hey, rich man, do you really think you can pass the test with this useless girl? Ahahahaha." Ashen laughed.

"Money won't help you here. If you're weak, you shouldn't have come here in the first place." Said his buddy.

Many people were angry at Ern for not letting them buy Alice. Ern was in Second Chronicle, and they decided to use that to make fun of him.

"You're such fools, no wonder you didn't have the money. You're in Third Chronicle, and you still haven't learned the most basic techniques. What a shame." Ern waved his hand, and his aura began to intensify.

The ground trembled, and everyone felt the pressure coming from him.

"He waited for the right moment after all." Artur muttered and shook his head.

"What's going on? Isn't he in the Second Chronicle!"

"Huh, you don't even know how to hide your aura, and you still dare to claim something?" Ern stomped his foot on the ground, and the arena shook.

'So Ern is in the Third Chronicle? Wain exclaimed to himself. He felt that there was something strange with Ern's aura, it was as if it didn't exist, but Wain didn't give it much thought. He was not even aware that such a thing was possible.

"Not bad, young man." One of the spirits said, "Even considering this girl is weak, you can pass the test. In that case, everything is almost ready, only two people and one couple left."