The crowd hushed as Hawk stepped forward in his blue suit, the sharp echo of his boots clicking against the golden marble.
"Everybody!" Hawk called out.
All heads turned.
Ryju narrowed his eyes. "Who is that?"
"No clue," Goro muttered.
Rei crossed her arms. "He might be Vel Draven's right-hand man."
Kenshiro leaned back against a pillar. "He certainly looks like it."
"His blue suit is ugly," Shun muttered.
Hawk raised a hand. "The auction is going to start now. Please follow me to the black doors."
The crowd stirred, murmuring among themselves as they followed Hawk toward a large set of black double doors.
Once they entered, they found themselves in a massive underground theater, with hundreds of red-cushioned seats, a wide stage with dark curtains, and gleaming balconies overhead reserved for VIPs.
"Man, this place never changes," one guest whispered.
Back in the golden lounge, Team 1 moved with purpose.
"Remember," Kenshiro said, pointing to the door labeled VIP. "That's our entrance."
The bodyguard at the door blocked them.
"We're VIP," Ryju stated.
"Let me see your eyes," the bodyguard said.
Ryju tilted up his hat, revealing glowing crimson eyes.
The bodyguard nodded and stepped aside. "Follow me."
They ascended the spiral staircase into the upper balconies.
Rei glanced around. "Hard to believe all this is underground."
Goro nodded. "No kidding."
The bodyguard opened a glass-paneled VIP booth.
"This is your box. You may sit."
"Thanks," Ryju said as they stepped in.
"Is this glass," Rei said, pressing her hand against the glass.
"Yeah probably for protection," Kenshiro added. "VIPs like to feel safe."
Moments later, the auction officially began.
Hawk took center stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, we can't begin without a word from our leader."
Vel Draven stepped onto the stage with his signature smile.
"Welcome to the auction," he said. "I hope you enjoy the show. We have some... rare items today. Let the auction begin."
He exited to applause.
Hawk returned. "Our first item."
A guard dragged a small, pink-haired boy onto the stage.
"This boy is obedient, trained, and has known nothing but servitude. Starting bid: 10,000 spirits."
Ryju clenched his fists. "He looks like he's dying."
Rei's eyes narrowed. "No way they just do this to people."
A hand rose.
"Fifteen thousand?" Hawk said.
Another hand.
"Sold!"
The child was dragged offstage.
Vel Draven, watching from his office, swirled wine in his glass. "Looks like we got our first sale."
Next, a black-haired girl.
"This one's from the Aka royal family. Starting bid: 70,000 spirits."
Bids flew. Eventually, she was sold for 100,000 spirits.
Then came a third girl.
"Farm-trained, strong, obedient. Starting bid: 5,000 spirits."
Silence.
"No one wants her?"
Still silence.
Hawk sighed, pulled out a gun, and shot her in the head.
Rei leapt to her feet, trembling. "No way."
Kenshiro caught her arm. "Wait."
"She just got killed!"
Ryju's jaw was clenched. "I know... but we have to wait for Misa."
Another boy came out.
"Special ability: detection. Starting bid: 30,000 spirits."
Bids rose to 90,000 before he was sold.
Backstage...
A bodyguard gripped Misa's arm.
"No. Let me go!"
She was dragged into the light.
"Misa," Ryju whispered, rising.
"It's time," Kenshiro said.
"Goro," Rei whispered, "send the signal."
Goro nodded.
Hawk smiled. "Next, a rare gem. From the Kurata Clan. Starting bid: 10,000,000 spirits."
Ten hands rose. Even Ryju's.
"What are you doing?!" Rei hissed.
"We don't even have money!" Goro added.
"Twenty million!"
Five hands stayed up.
Misa, head down, whispered, "Please... someone save me."
"Kenshiro," Ryju said.
"Got it."
Before Hawk could say more, Ryju and Kenshiro shattered the glass and leapt into the air.
"Misa! We're here to save you!"
"They came..." she gasped.
"Hold me," Ryju said.
"What?"
"Just hold me!"
Vel Draven smashed his office glass and switch places with the bodyguard beside Misa, spikes bursting from his palms.
"We have to kill her," he growled.
"Not happening!" Ryju shouted.
He swapped places with Misa in a blink, dodging the strike.
Now in Kenshiro's arms, Misa clutched him tight. "Where's Azar and them?"
"Outside, waiting."
"Ok"
Rei called, "Goro, now!"
Goro hurled an orange heat orb upward, blasting the ceiling.
Shun created ten massive wooden arms and unleashed them, killing some of the audience below.
"Nobody's escaping!"
Ryju on the stage, the spotlight catching the sharp edge of his expression.
Vel Draven's eyes narrowed. "I knew it. You're here to save that girl."
Ryju's voice was calm. "You're right."
From the side, Hawk frowned. "What's going on?"
Vel Draven answer him. His tone darkened. "Get all of our ninjas. It's Code Red."
Hawk nodded quickly. "Got it."
Vel Draven turned back to Ryju, a bone spike forming in his hand. "But I'm going to kill you."
He dashed forward, aiming straight for Ryju's heart—but in an instant, Ryju swapped places with a woman in the crowd.
Vel Draven's strike went straight through the woman's heart . "Damn it!"
The woman blood dripping on the stage. "Am I going to die?"
Vel Draven's eyes were cold. "Yes."
He threw her aside without hesitation.
"Give me Misa!" Ryju barked.
"Take her!" Kenshiro shouted.
A massive explosion shook the building.
Outside, Team 17 stirred.
"That's our cue," Azar said.
He launched into the air on jets of flame. Taro summoned falcon wings. Zanden rode a sand rod. Kaien teleport to his chains. Jett dashed forward.
Rei dropped to the floor below.
"Ryju, get Misa out of here!"
"What about you?!"
Kenshiro formed a black hole, then pulled out his sword
"We're going to kill everyone here."
"You bet," Rei said, smiling.
Goro landed beside Ryju. "Go, Ryju. Saving Misa is our priority."
Ryju nodded and was going to leapt out of the whole that Goro created.
As he was leaving, Team 17 was arriving.
In slow motion, eyes locked.
"Misa!" Azar screamed.
"Get them all!" Zanden yelled.
Kaien, Taro, Jett, —all shouted in return.
"We got her," Ryju whispered, holding Misa close.
"Get them for me... please," she whispered.
Azar smiled.
To Be Continued...