Chapter 1: The Auction of Apocalypse
The crystal chandelier above Ella Chen’s head didn't shatter when the first scream echoed through the underground vault. It merely swayed, casting fractured rainbows over the rows of priceless artifacts—and the pool of blood spreading from the assistant manager's severed neck.
"Stay back!"
Marcus, the head of security, emptied his Glock into the shadows of the service elevator. The thing that crawled out wasn't human anymore. Its skin was a mosaic of scales and open sores, its limbs elongated like a spider’s.
Ella didn't scream. She was an auctioneer; her mind calculated value even in the face of death. The artifact she had been cataloging—a jade pendant from the Ming dynasty—was now worth exactly zero. The only currency left was survival.She scrambled backward, her high heels useless on the polished marble floor, until her back hit the cold steel of the vault door. Trapped.
Ping.
A translucent blue interface materialized in front of her eyes, hovering like a sleek, futuristic hologram. It was minimalist and clean, reminiscent of a high-end tech product—cold, efficient, and utterly indifferent to the carnage around her.
[GLOBAL SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
[Welcome, Survivor. The old economy has collapsed. Welcome to the Auction of the Apocalypse.]
Ella blinked. The monster—Marcus called it a "Mutant"—lunged. Marcus went down, his throat torn out in a spray of crimson.The blue screen flickered, updating with cold efficiency.
[CRITICAL ALERT: Hostile Entity Detected]
[New User Protection: 60 seconds remaining]
[Scanning Local Inventory...]
Inventory? Ella thought. She assumed it meant the gold bars and jewels behind the reinforced glass.
But the screen shifted. The cold, sterile interface dissolved into a detailed, rotating 3D wireframe model of the vault. It was like a blueprint layered over reality. And on that map, near the elevator shaft, a single red dot pulsed ominously.
[Lifeform Detected: Sentient Entity Identified]
[Name: Ragnar (The Cursed Berserker)]
[Status: Severely Injured, Feral, Imprisoned]
[Type: Sentient Weapon / Summon]
*[Price: 1x Loaf of Bread (Stale)]
[Purchase? YES / NO]
Ella’s eyes widened. The system wasn't scanning jewelry. It was scanning people. And this "Ragnar" was listed as an item for sale. The Mutant was ten feet away now. She could smell its rotten breath. It grinned, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. Her fingers, trembling slightly, hovered over the floating [YES] button. This was insanity. But her logic kicked in. If it was a "Summon," it followed rules. Contracts. Something she understood.
The Mutant pounced.
Tap.
[Transaction Complete.]
[Item: Ragnar has been deployed to your location.]
The air in the vault turned frigid. A shadow erupted from the elevator shaft, moving so fast it blurred. A blur of silver fur, claws like scythes, and a roar that shook the dust from the chandelier. The Mutant didn't stand a chance. The silver beast tore through it like tissue paper. Blood painted the walls, the ceiling, the priceless art.
Silence fell. The stench of gore was overwhelming.
The silver beast stood on two legs, easily seven feet tall. He was covered in wounds, blood dripping from his matted fur. His eyes—amber and burning with primal rage—locked onto Ella. He sniffed the air, then bared his fangs. A low growl vibrated in his chest.
"You," he rasped, his voice a gravelly mix of human and wolf. "You bought me?"
Ella forced herself to stand straight, smoothing her blood-spattered skirt. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but her face remained a mask of calm. She looked at the giant monster before her, then glanced at the notification on her screen.
[Contract Established: Ragnar is bound to protect you until the debt is paid or the contract is broken.]
"A transaction," Ella said, her voice steady despite the fear coiling in her gut. "And you are my first purchase."
Ragnar snarled, taking a step closer. He towered over her. "I don't serve humans. Especially not weak little girls."
He lunged, not to kill, but to intimidate, his massive claw stopping just an inch from her throat. Ella didn't flinch. She reached out, her trembling finger touching the rough, warm fur on his forearm. It was a test. If the contract was real...
[Contract Enforcement: Pain Link Activated.]
Ragnar howled, dropping to one knee as if struck by lightning. The wound on his shoulder, which had been healing, burst open again, causing him agony. Ella pulled her hand back. She looked down at the creature who had wanted to tear her apart seconds ago, now trembling at her feet.
"Now," she whispered, the adrenaline making her lips tingle. "We have a deal. You protect me. Or you suffer."
The amber eyes looked up at her, filled with hatred, confusion, and something else.
