After sealing the deal, the Black Fang Guild wasted no time. Within a single day, they had the potion registered and verified.
Three days later, the guild announced a high-profile auction an event that drew S-rank hunters, major corporations, powerful guilds, and even representatives from foreign governments.
The Hunter Association had just announced a new addition to their official item registry
Mana Essence Potion.
Its effect was nothing short of miraculous: permanently increasing the user's mana capacity by 500.
The news spread like wildfire. Within just hours, every corner of the hunter community around the world was buzzing.
News tv.
Blogs headlines.
And forums exploded with heated debates, theories, and wild speculation. For days, the topic dominated headlines, and every awakened from rookies to S-rank legends was talking about just one thing: the Mana Essence Potion.
A potion that permanently increased mana capacity by 500 points was never heard of.
According to the Black Fang Guild, the Mana Essence Potion has no consumption limits and no side effects.
They currently have 3,000 bottles in stock, but will only sell in bulk.
The entire stocks of potion will be placed in the auction two days from now.
That meant a staggering 1.5 million mana capacity waiting to be claimed.
The hunting world went into an uproar if a single hunter consumed it all, they could potentially rival Swordmaster Jian, the current strongest hunter alive.
The day of the auction arrived, and the atmosphere was electric. Every major hunter, top guild, corporate giant, and underground syndicate sent their representatives, each determined to claim the prize. The Philippines became the center of global attention its live broadcast watched by millions across the world.
The bids soared higher and higher, each announcement echoing like the drumbeat of war. Elite hunters gritted their teeth, guild leaders whispered urgently to their aides, and corporate executives coldly calculated their spending limits.
China and Russia pushed aggressively, their bidding wars like a clash of titans, steamrolling over smaller contenders. The Philippines' own guilds fought valiantly to hold their ground but were quickly drowned by the sheer scale of foreign capital.
By the final stretch, only two giants remained China and Russia. The rest had been priced out long before, even Japan and Europe backing away.
Luckily for them, one dangerous competitor was absent: the United States. Their economy was still reeling from the catastrophic losses in the Atlantic Rift Incident, leaving them unable to compete in this financial bloodbath. Without America in the arena, the tension shifted entirely between the Jade Dragon Guild's Chinese delegation and the Russian Winter Fang Association.
The world knew the china can outbid Russia but Jade dragon let Russia secured dominance for the potion.
China let Russia have it. Russia needed it more than anyone, and the two countries had always stood side by side.
Russia needed this desperately.
They were struggling against a massive orc settlement, and their ace, Hamzah Aligodov an S-rank, 3-star ice mage was perfect for the job. His ultimate skill, Ice Age, could freeze an entire kilometer in an instant, making him a devastating weapon against orcs. All he needed was more mana.
Kael's potion was the answer.
Russia emerged victorious, securing the full batch at $180,000 per bottle.
The total: $540 million.
After Karl dealt the matter with the construction materials supplier, Kael received the payment just the for the potions.
Russian government wired the full amount.
Black Fang Guild took their agreed 10% $54 million leaving Kael with $480 million.
Payment received: $480,000,000
Current balance: $680,000,000
With the money secured, Kael planning to buy another 6 rare skillstones, hoping for a good combat skill. After all, he still needed to raid twenty C-rank dungeons within the year to keep his guild license and at the moment, he couldn't solo a C-rank boss as of the moment.
He have almost unlimited mana but he lack combat skills.
Sure, he'd killed an Ironhide Boar before, but boss monsters were on another level entirely.
"Oyy, Mister Kael!"
Kael turned and saw Kath waving from across the store. He waved back.
"Oh, you're back. Buying something today?" she asked.
"Yeah," Kael nodded. "I think it's time to get more power for myself. Can you help me choose?"
"Of course."
Lucy noticed Kael again from the counter, but this time she didn't act up. She wasn't jealous anymore just disappointed in herself. She realized she'd been naïve, judging people based on their financial status.
"This time," Kael said, "I need 6 rare skillstones."
"Great! I'll pack them up immediately." Kath smiled, then glanced at Lucy. "Since you're a newbie here, you'll need a senior's help to purchase a unique skillstone."
Lucy perked up. "A unique…? Oh, that's a big purchase. I don't have access, but our senior here can help you."
Kael looked at Lucy. "And you, miss… what's your name?"
"M-Me? My name is Lucy," she replied, flustered.
"Since you're the senior, can you help me contact the Azure Guild? I'm buying a unique skillstone."
Lucy was stunned. Why would he pick her? He could've gone to the guild directly without giving her any commission.
After all Lucy mistreated kael before.
"Yes, sir," she said quickly. "I'll gladly assist you."
She called the guild, and moments later confirmed, "Sir, there's a unique skillstone available right now."
"That's great," Kael said.
"I'll drive you there it's only five minutes away."
As per policy, she asked, "If you have any weapons, please leave them here."
"No problem. I don't have any."
"Then please follow me."
Lucy opened a side door leading to a secure garage. Waiting there was an Azure Guild transport vehicle the kind used for moving skillstones, which were worth far more than diamonds.
Kael took a seat in the back while Lucy sat up front. The platform beneath the car descended like an elevator, connecting directly to an exit outside the mall.
Lucy kept driving for several minutes until the towering headquarters of the Azure Guild came into view.
The moment they pulled up, a man in a expensive suit was already waiting at the entrance.
"Sir Kael, correct?" he asked with a warm but professional smile.
"Yes. Kael Virel," Kael replied, stepping out of the vehicle.
"My name is Renan, Sales Team Leader of the Azure Guild," the man introduced, offering a firm handshake. "I've already heard the details from Miss Lucy. Please, allow me to escort you to our Skill Vault. As a VIP, you're free to browse anything we have in stock."
They walked through a grand hallway high ceilings, polished marble floors that reflected the chandelier light. The air smelled faintly of sandalwood, and the quiet hum of mana-powered lights gave the place an almost reverent atmosphere.
At the far end stood a massive elevator with steel-gray doors, its frame carved with protective runes. Renan swiped an black steel keycard, and the doors opened silently.
"We're heading to the vault now," Renan said as they stepped inside. "You may not know this, but the Azure Guild also operates as an item bank. We store and safeguard rare treasures for our clients items worth millions from weapon to jewelry even contracts we do handle. The fee depends on the length of storage and the risk level, of course."
The elevator began its descent slow, steady, and silent while a faint vibration under their feet hinted at the heavy machinery at work.
"Our vault is located one hundred and twenty meters underground," Renan continued. "The walls are reinforced with a triple layer of dark steel, each infused with high-grade mana circuits. Even an S-rank demolition mage would have a very hard time to breach it. And that's if they can bypass the layered barriers."
Two minutes later, the elevator doors opened into a heavily fortified chamber.
A pair of B-rank hunters stood on either side of the first gate, their armor polished to a mirror shine, weapons at the ready. Behind them, a second gate this one entirely made of glowing mana crystal panels pulsed faintly with detection magic, scanning every molecule of air that passed through.
Renan placed his palm on a biometric rune scanner. "Retinal scan," a calm, artificial voice announced. He leaned forward, the scanner flashing green before the first gate opened with a hiss of compressed air.
Between the first and second gates, the narrow hallway was lined with mounted turrets sleek, enchanted constructs that tracked movement with eerie precision. Each was inscribed with anti-teleportation seals and mana-disrupting wards.
At the second gate, another two guards waited both A-rank hunters in heavy combat gear, their presence alone enough to make Kael's skin prickle. One of them gave Kael a quick but sharp look, scanning him from head to toe.
The security was really tight after all they are keeping a storage with hundreds of billions.
Past the second gate, the walls themselves shimmered faintly, each panel inscribed with anti-breach wards. Small floating orbs drifted lazily in the air, but Kael could feel the sharp prickle of their scanning spells brushing against his skin.
Renan smiled faintly. "We've never had a breach. Not once. And we intend to keep it that way."
Inside the vault, Kael's eyes widened.
The room stretched endlessly, shelves upon shelves lined with skillstones each one pulsing faintly with stored power. From humble, faintly glowing low-rank stones to dazzling, high-grade gems radiating raw mana, the collection was staggering.
Renan spoke as they walked between the glass cases.
"These are all harvested from dungeon cores. Once a dungeon is conquered, the core is extracted and processed by skilled artificers to create skillstones. Rare stones come from high-tier dungeons. Unique skillstones are so rare they're only found in S-rank dungeons… and above those are the Legendary stones born from SS-rank dungeons."
He paused and lowered his voice.
"Beyond Legendary, there are Mythic skills. But fewer than a thousand people in the world possess one. They are… expensive than entire city and if a hunter guild aquire one they don't sell it they used it for themselves,buying mythic skillstone is close to impossible.
Kael nodded, scanning the collection.
Renan gestured to a sealed display. "Currently, we have fifteen Unique skillstones and three Legendary. You mentioned you'd like a Unique today?"
"Yes," Kael said, his tone calm despite the thrill rushing through him. "One Unique, and… six Rare stones three red, three transparent."
Renan tapped on a holographic display. "That will be one hundred and sixty million dollars."
Kael swiped his card without hesitation. Transaction complete. -$160,000,000.
Renan hesitated, then smiled slyly. "Sir… we also offer financing. Two percent interest. If you want a Legendary skillstone, you could take a loan just ten percent down. The Legendary costs a billion."
"A billion," Kael murmured, his eyes narrowing. "Almost the price of a city income in a month."
"Monthly payment is fifty-two point one million for eighteen months. Thirty-seven point one million in total interest, processing fee included. Skillstone transactions are tax-free."
Kael didn't even blink. "I'll take it."
Renan's eyebrows shot up. "Understood. Down payment is one hundred million."
Kael swiped again. Transaction complete. -$100,000,000.
Current balance: $420,000,000.
Renan presented the items. The Rares were stored in sealed mana capsules, the Unique was a deep black, darker than any shadow, absorbing the light around it. And then there was the Legendary radiant, shimmering in all colors at once, like a living rainbow.
Kael held it, awe flickering across his face. He never imagined the day would come when he'd own both a Unique and a Legendary skillstone.
While on the elevator renan suddely remember.
On the way out, Renan cleared his throat. "Sir… Miss Lucy brought you here, but she told me the one who first assisted you was Miss Kath. She just lacked the authority to escort you into the vault. Sales agents receive one percent commission. How would you like to split it?"
Kael thought for a moment. "The commission for the six Rares and the Unique goes to Lucy. The Legendary goes to Kath."
Renan nodded. "That's $1,600,000 for Lucy and $10,000,000 for Kath."
Kael chuckled. "I hope they don't quit after this."
Renan laughed. "Their choice."
As Kael left, a voice spoke from the shadows behind Renan.
"Interesting young man."
Renan stiffened. "Guild Leader… I didn't sense you."
Dante, the Azure Guild Leader, stepped forward tall, sharp-eyed,pointed ears his presence as calm as a still lake.
"I used my invisibility skill. That boy… I sensed another S-rank's presence the moment he entered. Yet he's supposedly an F-rank farmer."
Renan frowned. "He seems ordinary. Just… wealthy."
Dante smirked. "Wealth has nothing to do with it. His mana output was leaking from him this whole time is greater than mine. Comparable to a level 500 S-rank."
Renan blinked in disbelief. "Are you certain?"
"I am," Dante said, his tone like stone. "I suspect he manipulated his mana output during his awakening test. Perhaps he awakened long before graduation… perhaps as an SSS-rank. The same as Hunter Victor, Isaac, and the other Progenitors."
Renan swallowed. "SSS-rank? That's just legend. Victor is recorded as S-rank."
Dante's eyes softened, his voice dipping into memory. "Eighty-three years ago, when our world was being destroyed, Victor saved me and my people, Victor transported us here to earth.
I might look twenty-five, but I'm ninety-two. An elf's lifespan is three to five centuries.
Uhmm by the way i'm still in my youth by our standards."
Renan's voice was barely a whisper. "Then… Kael…"
Dante's gaze followed Kael through the window, watching him step into Lucy's car.
"That boy is hiding something far greater than wealth. If I'm right… he's a talent the world hasn't seen in generations might be the answer to all my questions."