Chapter 420 - 361: The Giant City-State’s First Auction
Chapter 420 - 361: The Giant City-State’s First Auction
Dusk coated the clouds on the horizon in a layer of molten, crimson-gold.
On the outskirts of the Giant City-State, the marketplace clearing, which had been bustling with noise not long ago, was now experiencing a completely different kind of fervor.
The thud of heavy footsteps, like muffled thunder, converged from all directions.
From every corner of the City-State, towering figures were gathering at the Giant Market on the outskirts.
They were generally over fifteen meters tall, with knotted muscles and powerful auras.
Some of them were as tall as twenty meters, emanating the faint, oppressive pressure of a Domain. They were clearly the powerhouses, and even elders, of their various tribes.
The promotional efforts of Groll and his three companions had been astonishingly effective.
An astonishing piece of news had swept through the entire Giant City-State like a storm.
Kado’s Wandering Brothers had brought a batch of Divine Weapons that would drive any Giant into a frenzy, and they were going to hold an unprecedented auction at the market.
The term "Divine Weapon" deeply stirred these innately warlike Giants.
This season’s Giant Market had only just concluded a little over ten days ago, making the grounds feel exceptionally spacious now.
In the center of the grounds, a bonfire built from massive logs blazed fiercely. The flames shot more than ten meters into the air, dyeing everything around in a warm, orange-yellow light and reflecting the looks of anticipation on the Giants’ faces.
Kado was as busy as could be.
After making a name for himself in the last gladiatorial tournament, he was now something of a minor celebrity in the Giant City-State, and had become a familiar face, especially among the Domain Level Powerhouses.
At this moment, he stood by the bonfire with his head held high, playing the part of a gracious host and welcoming the guests.
"Haha, Elder Gu Li! I’m glad you could make it!"
Kado spotted a middle-aged Giant leaning on a massive stone staff, his beard woven into a dozen or so braids, and immediately strode over with a hearty laugh.
This was the very elder of Thor’s tribe he had mentioned.
"Hmph. That boy Thor made it sound like the greatest thing under the sun. I came to see for myself just what kind of weapons dare to call themselves ’Divine Weapons’."
Elder Gu Li’s voice was booming, but his eyes revealed a flicker of interest.
"Just you wait and see!"
Kado pounded his chest, brimming with confidence.
He turned and saw a few more familiar figures—Domain Level Giants he had met once before at the fighting pits.
He went up to each of them, greeting them enthusiastically, punching one on the arm and clapping another on the back, single-handedly whipping the atmosphere into a fever pitch.
The crowd grew denser, the clamor merging into a dull roar.
Just then, a figure walked onto the platform.
The platform was only a little over two meters high. It was originally a trading stall, but Raylo and Kado had cleared it off to serve as a temporary stage for displaying the Weapons.
As if sensing something, the noisy Giants gradually fell silent, their enormous eyes focusing on the stage with curiosity.
"My name is Carlo."
"I’m Kado’s brother."
He wasted no time on pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"I’ve brought a batch of Weapons from some Little Guy friends of mine from far away. Their quality is far beyond anything you can imagine."
A slight stir went through the crowd below.
"Today, I’ve decided to trade them with all of you."
Raylo paused, his gaze sweeping over the entire audience.
"The rules are simple. In a moment, I will present these Weapons one by one."
"Every one of you here can offer your own treasured items in exchange. These can be Tier Five or higher Magical Beasts Crystal Cores, rare ores, or anything else you believe holds sufficient value. Whoever offers the Treasure of the highest value will win the Weapon."
The rules were simple and clear, and the Giants understood them instantly.
It was more or less the same as how they traded in the market, except the barrier to entry was ridiculously high.
But when they thought of the "Divine Weapons" the young Giants had boasted about, the high threshold suddenly seemed perfectly reasonable.
In the crowd, Groll, Thor, and the twin brothers were exchanging excited glances, their faces unable to hide their exhilaration.
They were not just spectators, but participants and witnesses to this grand occasion.
"Well then, let’s begin."
The moment Raylo’s voice fell, Kado let out a low roar and strode forward from behind the stage, heaving a massive Weapon onto his shoulder.
"THUD!"
The butt of the Weapon slammed heavily onto the stone stage, letting out a tremendous crash.
It was a Giant Hammer, fifteen meters long.
The handle was forged from some unknown black metal, its surface bearing a coarse texture.
The most astonishing part was its head, which was as large as a Giant’s skull. It was Dark Gold in color, with a flat face on one side and a vicious Armor-Piercing Spike on the other.
In the firelight, the hammer’s head glowed with a subdued yet dangerous sheen, and simple Enchantment patterns were faintly visible upon its surface.
"Whoa..."
A collective gasp of amazement rose from the crowd.
The Giants’ eyes were practically glued to it.
They forged their own Weapons, of course, but those were mostly polished from boulders or crudely hammered from rough metal. Compared to the one before them now, their own creations were like children’s toys.
In every aspect—from its design and materials to its very aura—this Giant Hammer exuded an air of "refinement" and "power."
"This... this hammer..."
A Giant who favored hammers muttered to himself, practically drooling.
"The starting bid is one Tier Five Magic Core."
After a brief silence, a gruff voice immediately shouted.
"I’ll bid! I bid one Magic Core from a Tier Five Storm Demon Wolf!"
Another Giant in the crowd immediately followed up.
"I’ll bid two! One from a Tier Five Lava Lizard, and one from a Tier Five Earth Bear!"
inspire-indiana