211 GOLDEN TICKET
"Master Gullee holds the Governor's Golden Ticket," he announced. "This ticket entitles its bearer to any one item in the Auction House of Sodom."
"What's a Golden Ticket?" someone whispered.
"It's a reward from the Governor himself," another replied. "Lilleo Gullee must have earned it during the demon invasion."
The auctioneer slammed his hammer. "The Basilisk bone is awarded to Master Lilleo Gullee!"
Grammers groaned. "I knew it. You'd never pay full price for anything."
Leo shrugged. "It's my reward."
Sujira tilted her head. "Then why did you buy the tigress? She was overpriced."
Leo glanced at her, his expression softening. "Because you liked her."
Her expression was confused.
Leo took the Basilisk Bone immediately, but the tigress would be sent to Court La Mood later.
------
The trio exited the Auction House of Sodom City, planning to return to Court La Mood. The night was quiet, and after traveling some distance, Sujira's sharp instincts caught something unusual.
"Someone's following us," she said, her voice low but firm.
Leo noticed it too. A glowing red dot appeared on his mini-map and then many more. These were hostile enemies coming after him.
"Who? Robbers?" Grammers asked, glancing around nervously.
A distant rumble grew louder, breaking the stillness of the night. Suddenly, dozens—no, hundreds—of mages and battle mages surged toward them, their steps thunderous against the cobblestone streets.
Magical arrows rained down, shattering their caravan in an instant. Leo reacted swiftly, summoning his magical dragon, which coiled protectively around them as they disembarked blocking the arrows.
"What now?" Grammers asked, panic creeping into his voice. The Gullee guards readied their weapons, but it was clear they were no match for the overwhelming force descending upon them.
"You should stand down," Leo said calmly. "They might let you off if you don't follow."
Before anyone could respond, Leo leapt onto the roof of a nearby building, his movements swift and decisive. Sujira followed without hesitation.
"You should stay with the others. They're likely only after me," Leo told her as they moved.
"No," Sujira said, resolute. "I'll protect you with my life. That's my contract."
As Leo had predicted, the attackers ignored the Gullee guards and focused their attention on him and Sujira. These weren't ordinary assailants—they were elite mages, their power evident in the way they pursued, leaping from roof to roof with alarming speed.
There were too many enemies around them, forcing Leo onto an unknown path.
"Fuck it, I have no choice", Leo complained to himself as he detoured into an untraveled path. Soon the chase led them to an abandoned square. It was silent here.
The silence felt wrong.
"Something's off," Leo muttered, his eyes scanning the area.
Sujira moved into a defensive stance, her gaze darting around.
Before they could act, the ground beneath them erupted with a blinding light. Runes carved into the square glowed with sinister intent—it was a massive magic trap.
"Damn it. We've been baited and tricked to come here," Leo growled.
The escape route they'd taken had been planned by the enemy. The assailants had anticipated their moves, leaving an escape route for them that funneled them into this trap. Dozens of powerful mages now surrounded them, their auras brimming with energy.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Leo demanded, his voice steady despite the odds.
A familiar figure stepped forward, a smug smile on his face.
"Well, for starters, we'd like our Basilisk bone back," Milwe Cergontyn sneered.
Leo's eyes narrowed. "The Cergontyn family," he murmured.
But something didn't add up. The Cergontyns couldn't have mobilized such an army of high-tier mages.
Another figure emerged from the shadows, his presence sending a chill down Leo's spine.
"I remember your face, Lilleo Gullee," the man said, his voice dripping with malice.
"Mendiace," Leo muttered, recognition dawning. The ex-leader of the Koresh Guild of Brothers stood before him, alive despite his supposed demise.
"Damn it, System," Leo spat under his breath. "How many of my enemies are you going to resurrect?"
The square shimmered as magical chains materialized, snaking toward them with malevolent purpose.
"If those chains catch us, we're done," Sujira warned, her blades already in hand.
Leo analyzed the trap quickly, his mind racing. Before he could act, Mendiace's men charged forward, their weapons glowing with deadly enchantments.
"Hold them off for me," Leo said to Sujira, his voice calm yet commanding as he looked at the magic trap.
Without hesitation, Sujira nodded, stepping forward to meet the onslaught head-on.
-----
Mendiace's men charged forward, their auras radiating the power of high-tier battle mages. Sujira didn't hesitate. In an instant, she split into a dozen shadowy clones, each moving with lethal precision.
Her magical sword technique erupted across the battlefield.
"Strikes of Shadows!"
The mages were momentarily halted, their advance disrupted by Sujira's relentless assault. Yet the shadows soon retracted, merging back into her body. There was strain in maintaining her shadow mode, she must regroup.
"Are you okay?" Leo asked, his voice steady but laced with concern as he noticed the blood on her face.
Sujira took out the handkerchief he had given her earlier, dabbing away the blood before turning back to face the advancing wave of enemies.
"I'll manage," she said, her voice resolute.
More mages stormed toward them, their spells crackling in the air. Sujira leaped back into action, transforming into a swarm of shadow assassins that tore through the battlefield. Her attack inflicted heavy casualties, but these opponents weren't ordinary fighters. Their defenses were formidable, and many countered her strikes, leaving her with new wounds.
As the shadows returned to her, Sujira collapsed to the ground, her body battered and bruised.
"I'll admit, you're tougher than you look," Mendiace said with a sneer. "But taking on all of us at once? Foolish."
Sujira spat blood from her mouth, her fingers trembling as she prepared to summon her shadows again despite the odds. Before she could act, a firm hand rested on her shoulder.
Lilleo Gullee.