The violent back-and-forth continued for a while, Alistair intermittently feeling the strain of Forcebound Momentum tearing at his body again. He had unleashed the accumulated power through Flames of Purity twice now, though he found its efficiency lacking compared to his kinetic-based skills.

  Despite the significant boost in power, the flames still failed to overwhelm King. They hadn’t even come close. The immense expenditure of energy, coupled with the strain building over time, fatigued him despite the steady stream of life energy Viv was synthesizing and channeling into him.

  He prepared to try again when Sotarr’s voice rang out, stopping him. "This is enough for now. Any more will take too much time to recover for either of you."

  Alistair let out a long breath, feeling the pent-up energy and momentum rapidly drain from his body. A mild headache settled in, a result of the intense focus his skills had required. As he glanced at King, he noted the dragon winced slightly as his heartbeat slowed, the once wild torrent of cursed energy becoming unnaturally still yet undeniably potent.

  He smiled at King, who returned the gesture with a toothy grin before offering a polite bow, reminiscent of their first meeting. Alistair rolled his shoulders, trying to work out some of the lingering tension as he moved out of the arena.

  While they could have opted for an illusionary arena to lessen the strain on their bodies, it would have also reduced the records they could gain from the exercise.

  No pain, no gain, I guess, Alistair mused to himself.

  He knew this would likely be his last spar for a while, as they were slated to depart for the grand auction today, which had already started roughly a day ago.

  Alistair pulled up his Akashic Link to browse some of the upcoming lots, though nothing in the listed items immediately caught his attention.

  He reminded himself that many of the less valuable items would be sold in bulk early on, with the more anticipated lots reserved for later in the auction. He did note a number of interesting treasures and pieces of equipment up for sale, but as a Clan Patriarch, he had little personal use for them. His current gear far surpassed what was being offered.

  Still, the auction was an excellent opportunity for others in the clan to acquire better gear and rare treasures to boost their growth. The Coalition had also unlocked the auction feature for everyone connected to the Coalition network. The system ensured that no one could place bids with money they didn’t have, though there was always the concern of the Syndicate acquiring treasures by using a proxy.

  To counter this, the most valuable lots were reserved for grand public auctions that required in-person participation, adding an additional layer of security and scrutiny.

  Fortunately, the Ryser Clan was invited to all the auctions, including the less savory ones held in secret. These clandestine events featured treasures like their cursed eldritch crystal, which they had decided to auction off, having little use for it themselves. Surprisingly, there were numerous individuals within the Aegis Coalition whose concepts could be considered unsavory. However, the Coalition made a point of not discriminating against such individuals so long as their actions remained above reproach.

  Alistair had heard of a poison expert who had participated in the fight against Xariarch, the Dragon of Pestilence, and inflicted lingering poisons that the dragon was likely still recovering from. It was a testament to the value of unconventional affinities and concepts in their ongoing struggles.

  The buyers, sellers, and participants of these secret auctions would remain anonymous, known only to the Coalition and not made public. Their choice to participate in these auctions stemmed primarily from King’s and Riseth’s affinities, as both of them possessed linked concepts and strong affinities that leaned toward the more sketchy side of things.

  "I think this is a good time to stop," Alistair announced. "We’re supposed to leave in a few hours, and I’d like to take a shower and relax a bit."

  Sotarr nodded, glancing between him and King. "You both did well. This also gives me a good window to educate King and the other two dragons."

  Alistair nodded in agreement. King would remain behind as a guardian alongside Simon, the two strongest combatants outside of himself and Riseth. They had initially planned to leave Fluffy behind as well, but neither she nor Viv had been willing to stay.

  "Sounds like a great idea," Riseth said, her voice light, though her tired expression was offset by the faint predatory glint in her eyes as she met Alistair’s gaze. He gave her a knowing look in return. While they could channel mana into their armor to clean themselves, Alistair firmly believed nothing beats a proper shower or bath to unwind after hard work.

  After a quick exchange, they said their goodbyes to Sotarr and headed toward the exit.

  A few hours later, they entered the Kaiakos bridge, where Nessyra and Denodia were already waiting.

  Alistair did a double-take when he saw Denodia. The mermaid now resembled a sea elf, her light blue skin, long pointed ears, and deep blue eyes leaving no trace of her mermaid heritage. She wore a woolen sweater and a bright smile that turned predatory as she met his gaze.

  "If you keep staring, I might get my hopes up," she teased.

  Alistair returned the smile. "Apologies. Your disguise is quite impressive. If it weren’t for your hair and face, I’d have a hard time recognizing you."

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  Denodia let out a soft chuckle. "I’ve had plenty of time to perfect my polymorphing skills," she said, her expression momentarily distant, as if reminiscing. Then she continued, "I could have gone much further, but a sea elf fits best. It hides my identity well if anyone happens to notice my affinities."

  Alistair nodded, understanding the reasoning. While affinities were largely random outside of one’s core affinities, the second strongest indicator was species. Most species naturally enhanced specific affinities, allowing those with sharp senses and experience to make educated guesses about someone’s origins.

  Letting his gaze drift over the jumpdrive display, Alistair noted that they were ready to jump. Turning toward Nessyra, he saw her idly petting Dexter, who was curled up and sleeping peacefully on her lap.

  “What’s the hold-up? Are we waiting for someone or something?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Nessyra replied smoothly. “Barton and his employees. He’s opening our first branch of the Glenhare Roadhouse chain on Citar. Thanks to its success on Sabis, we were recently granted permission to expand our chain to their homeworld.”

  “Wait, Barton is leaving Rathos?” Alistair asked, a hint of dismay in his voice.

  Nessyra waved him off dismissively. “Of course not. He’s just overseeing the transition and leaving the reins to one of his pupils,” she said. “He’ll return with us after the auctions have run their course.”

  Alistair let out a sigh of relief. Barton was an excellent chef, and while his pupils were skilled, they couldn’t quite match his mastery of magical cooking.

  “They should be finishing up their inventory and headcount soon,” Nessyra said. “Once that’s done, we’ll be jumping directly into their system.”

  It didn’t take long before Nessyra tilted her head, her eyes focused on her system display. Moments later, she gave Captain Kazire the signal to initiate the jump countdown. Alistair watched as the timer hit zero, and the familiar tug of entering warp space washed over him.

  “You’ll have the first day to yourselves,” Nessyra said, glancing at Alistair and Riseth. “I won’t be able to join you since I’ll be having a business dinner with Governor Anarzeem.”

  Alistair checked his Akashic Link for details before it clicked; Anarzeem was the governor of Sabis, which hosted the alliance gathering in Tok'eall space.

  Riseth gave her sister a knowing smile. “Let me guess—Barton will be cooking?”

  Nessyra returned the smile. "Of course."

  “Wait,” Alistair interjected, furrowing his brow. “Isn’t Anarzeem’s body almost entirely cybernetic? Can he even eat?”

  “He’s a cyborg,” Nessyra explained, “but he hasn’t become a Synth, so he can still enjoy food.”

  Alistair nodded idly, catching Denodia’s look. He raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to speak up.

  “Would it be alright for me to join the two of you?” Denodia asked, her tone hopeful.

  Alistair exchanged a glance with Riseth, who simply shrugged. “You can join us,” Riseth replied. “We’re just planning to explore some of the auctions and meet with friends. You’re welcome to tag along.”

  “Thank you,” Denodia replied with a brilliant smile. “Do you two plan to visit their first ring world?”

  Riseth waved her hand in a noncommittal gesture. "Maybe. We might find the time, but it depends. There are a lot of meetings and auctions we’d like—or need—to participate in. It all depends on how long those take." She let the words linger, leaving the possibility open.

  Alistair looked at Denodia with some curiosity. "Why? Do you want parts from those cyberbeasts?"

  He tilted his head slightly, considering. "I would’ve expected my brother to care more about that. Your crafts aren’t very tech-heavy, after all."

  “Oh no,” Denodia replied quickly, shaking her head. “It’s not that. It’s just curiosity.”

  She paused for a moment before continuing. “I was hoping the bodies of those cyber beasts might give me some new insights—maybe ways I could integrate more tech into my crafts.”

  “I’m sure we can squeeze it in,” Riseth said with a small nod.

  Denodia smiled warmly at Riseth. “Thank you again. Even if I don’t get much out of it personally, I’m sure James and the others would benefit. And with my skills, I’ll be able to guide us to the best prey.”

  They continued discussing what they wanted to do and see on the Tok’eall homeworld. Not everyone was allowed to come and go freely, and the grand auction was a rare exception. This meant the entire system would be on high alert and under strict surveillance. However, thanks to their efforts in establishing businesses and Nessyra’s plans for exchange programs, they would still be granted permission to return and visit in the future.

  The minutes flew by, and their conversation was cut short as they exited warp space and watched the screens come to life. If Alistair had thought the gathering at Sabis was a large event, this was on a completely different scale. Thousands of ships, space fauna, and massive space megastructures filled the system, nearly overwhelming their sensors and tactical display.

  "Those stations and structures are massive," Riseth said in wonderment as they flicked and zoomed through the different displays.

  Alistair whistled in appreciation. “No wonder the Tok’eall Empire is considered the most advanced faction. They must have been traveling through space for ages to build structures like these.”

  He zoomed in on a massive, tower-like structure orbiting in deep space. The metallic tower rose impossibly high, encircled by enormous rings that rotated slowly around it. The readings hinted at an immense power output, but its purpose remained a mystery. Docking bays were visible along the rings, and their configuration suggested it might serve as a central hub for interstellar trade or fleet coordination.

  The sheer size of the station was staggering, and Alistair wouldn’t have been surprised if it housed millions. Its surface bristled with antennae, spires, and what looked like defensive emplacements, further suggesting its dual role as both a logistical and defensive marvel. Whatever its true purpose, the Tok’eall Empire’s understanding of technology was clearly leagues ahead of most factions.

  He sensed a growing excitement from Riseth and glanced over at her display. His eyes widened as he saw what appeared to be a massive space whale, its colossal back supporting what looked like an entire continent. The visuals of the landmasses and structures were heavily distorted, rippling with the effects of incredibly potent space magic.

  “Clearly some kind of dome or membrane,” Denodia remarked, her tone analytical. “It separates the habitable subspace from real space, containing a livable atmosphere.”

  Nessyra glanced at the display, her expression almost longing. “Such a creature would have been an incredible boon for our clan,” she remarked.

  Noticing Denodia scrunching up her face, Nessyra quickly grew apologetic. “Of course, we’re glad we found you and your people, Denodia,” she added sincerely.

  Denodia seemed momentarily disoriented, then turned to Nessyra with a reassuring smile. “Oh no, it’s not that. But yes, I am glad it was you who found us and settled Lacustrine.”

  Alistair observed the exchange with mild interest but was quickly drawn back to the screens when Riseth gasped. His gaze followed hers to a display showing a massive jellyfish-like creature drifting through space, its translucent, slightly bloated body shimmering with light. Within its form, it appeared to contain a miniaturized star system, the celestial bodies glowing faintly as they slowly orbited in its ethereal embrace. Along its long, trailing tendrils, starships appeared and disappeared, either approaching or leaving the immense space fauna.