Chapter 103: One Hundred Seats, One Battlefield

Marcus slowly swept his gaze across the arena.

The auction was being held inside the massive Dragon’s Peak Citadel Arena. At its center stood a raised platform nearly five meters tall, imposing and impossible to ignore, with the auction block placed prominently at the front. According to the schedule, precisely at eight o’clock, Old Vine would step onto that block and officially begin the bidding.

Directly in front of the platform lay the VIP Section.

One hundred seats were arranged neatly in rows, and every single one of them was already occupied. From Marcus’s position, he could see the faces of most of the VIPs clearly. Nearly ninety percent of them had not bothered to hide their appearances at all. The players seated in the front rows were especially eye-catching, each one carrying themselves with unmistakable confidence, even arrogance, their posture and demeanor making it obvious they were either extremely wealthy, extremely powerful, or both.

When Marcus looked past the VIP area and toward the rest of the arena, the sight was even more overwhelming.

The spectator stands were packed to the brim, players crammed shoulder to shoulder until the seating blurred into a dark, restless sea of bodies. Voices overlapped endlessly, forming a constant roar that echoed through the arena like crashing waves. Although many players were openly coveting the rare equipment displayed near the auction block, their true admiration, envy, and respect were clearly directed toward the one hundred figures seated in the VIP Section.

Those seats represented status.

Marcus and Old Vine stood backstage behind the auction platform, hidden from public view but with a clear line of sight to the arena. As Marcus looked out at the massive crowd, at the countless players gathered for this single event, all eyes drawn toward the platform, a strange but undeniable sense of superiority surged within him. It was intoxicating, and it filled him with a quiet, almost guilty satisfaction.

In that moment, Old Vine’s earlier comment suddenly made perfect sense.

He had said that even one hundred VIP seats were not enough, that players had fought viciously for the chance to sit there. Now Marcus understood why. Standing above ten thousand people, becoming the focal point of ten thousand envious gazes, was irresistibly tempting. If you had the money and the strength, you could stand in that spotlight, receive admiration from allies, reverence from strangers, and fear from enemies.

This was the feeling they all chased.

To be revered like a hero, feared like a powerhouse, obeyed like a conqueror, and submitted to like a king. The wealthy players occupying the VIP Section were already used to being admired in the real world. They were influential figures, people accustomed to standing above others, and there was no chance they would accept falling behind in a game populated by so many competitors.

In reality, the scale of comparison was limited. A city, a state, maybe a region. Becoming a top figure was difficult but still achievable. Dominion was different. Here, the nation’s elites, the wealthiest families, and the most ambitious individuals were all gathered in one place. To become truly strong in this game meant becoming a recognized powerhouse on a national level.

Because of that, none of them were willing to back down.

They would fight, accumulate power, crush rivals, and seize prestige, carving their names into the game’s hierarchy. This auction was their first public stage, the moment where many of them would announce their presence to the entire player base.

No one wanted to be looked down on. No one wanted to be commanded. No one wanted to be dominated.

As they watched the spectacle unfold, ambition stirred in every player’s heart. Blood ran hot, fantasies flared, and countless people imagined the day they would sit in that VIP Section, gazing down at everyone else. This atmosphere, heavy with desire and competition, drove them to dream of a single decisive opportunity, one action that would propel them to fame across the land and establish them as a true powerhouse within Dominion.

All of this had been ignited by a single event.

The Old Vine Auction House auction, with nothing more than its VIP Section, had quietly sparked a new trend within Dominion. Beneath the surface, competition was growing fiercer, the undercurrents more violent and unstable than ever before.

No one had anticipated this outcome.

Yet the impact was undeniable. Dominion was becoming more real, more seductive, and far more capable of pushing players into obsession and frenzy.

“Are all the Top Ten Experts and Wealth Leaderboard players here?” Marcus asked quietly.

His eyes moved across the VIP Section, quickly identifying several familiar faces. He spotted his old rivals, ThreeleafAxe69 and ThreeleafDad. Nearby were SoulSync and his older brother, SoulfireBlade, whom he had only recently met. There was also Hexium, the notoriously arrogant player who never missed a chance to flaunt his name. In addition, Marcus noticed members from several major guilds, players he recognized from the day he had lured the Dark Arch-Sorcerer, the Double-Headed Raven King, though he did not know them personally.

“Oh, every ambitious son of a bitch with the gold to back it up is here,” Old Vine said, his face lit with a grin. The bidding was going to be a bloodbath, and he was going to love every minute of it.

He gestured subtly toward one of the VIP seats.

“The Warrior with the five-clawed dragon embroidered on his gauntlet is InfernoRider001,” Old Vine said. “His family is in real estate, filthy rich, and they’ve got connections everywhere. They’re one of the most prominent families around right now. The fact that he’s performed so well in the game, even managing to build the Inferno Clan Mercenary Group into a hidden frontrunner for the largest guild in Dominion, proves he’s not just some spoiled rich kid. On top of that, the Inferno Clan has dominated several games before this one, so they’re experienced, organized, and dangerous.”

Old Vine noticed the faint crease of confusion on Marcus’s brow and began explaining without being prompted.

InfernoRider001 sat firmly in the front row of the VIP Section, his posture relaxed yet domineering, as if the seat belonged to him by right. His presence alone was oppressive. He barely acknowledged the other players around him, carrying himself like the unquestioned leader of the room.

“His one flaw is he’s an arrogant prick,” Old Vine muttered. “But the guy next to him, InfernoFiend001, is the real brains. With him running the show, Rider doesn’t have to worry about the day-to-day grind.”

Old Vine shook his head as he spoke, his tone making it clear he had little fondness for InfernoRider001’s personality.

“The Sorcerer who keeps flaunting his name, Hexium, is the founder of the Violet Thunder Mercenary Group,” he continued. “They weren’t on my radar before this, and there’s almost no public information on Hexium himself. Still, their current strength is nothing to sneeze at. Most players believe Hexium comes from a powerful family, possibly one that’s been wealthy for generations.”

Marcus followed Old Vine’s gaze.

Hexium sat upright, handsome features locked in a cold, detached expression. He ignored the surrounding players entirely, his eyes fixed on the Guild Creation Token displayed beside the auction block. His focus was absolute, and his intent was obvious. He planned to win it, no matter the cost.

“What about the Black Dragon Mercenary Group?” Marcus asked.

They were seated in the front row as well. SoulSync had mentioned them briefly before, and Marcus had not forgotten the archer SunShot, nor the longbow in his hands, a Mythic Artifact that had left a deep impression.

“The Black Dragon Mercenary Group has a messy background,” Old Vine replied after a brief pause. “They weren’t well known in other games, but there are rumors they’re tied to one of the largest organized crime syndicates in the country. A big reason they’re playing Dominion is to use the in-game gold exchange system to launder money. If you ask me, it’s best not to cross them unless you absolutely have to. People like that don’t know moderation.”

Marcus glanced sideways at Old Vine.

“You’re surprisingly well informed,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

He was genuinely impressed. This kind of information was not something the average player could casually obtain. Still, whether it was the Black Dragon Mercenary Group, the Inferno Clan, or the Violet Thunder Mercenary Group, Marcus had no intention of provoking any of them without cause. His goal was simple. Make money, grow steadily, and live comfortably. He had no interest in ruling Dominion or crushing others for the sake of it.

Peace and prosperity suited him just fine.

That said, if someone insisted on stepping on him, then the outcome would be entirely their own responsibility.

“To be a successful merchant, you need to understand more than prices and demand,” Old Vine said calmly. “You have to grasp the overall situation. Know who’s who, know what they want, and know when to move. Most of this information is being discussed openly anyway. You just need to pay attention.”

His confidence was unmistakable. Old Vine clearly had a firm grasp on the current power structure within Dominion.

Marcus sighed inwardly.

It seemed he really had been out of the loop, missing far more information than he realized.

“What about the Soulfire Guild?” he asked.

All the major guilds present had deep roots of some kind. Marcus knew SoulSync reasonably well, but he knew almost nothing about the organization backing him, and now was as good a time as any to ask.

“The Soulfire Guild’s origins are just as obscure,” Old Vine replied. “They’ve participated in many games before this one and have a stable core membership. They’re extremely picky about recruitment, but once someone gets in, the loyalty among their core members is rock solid. Because they’ve been active across so many games, their members are spread far and wide. Their reputation is huge, but very little concrete information ever makes it to the public.”

He paused briefly, then added, “The leaders are SoulfireBlade and SoulSync. They’re cousins, and both come from wealthy families.”

After a moment, Old Vine casually tacked on another piece of information.

“And those two over there, ThreeleafAxe69 and ThreeleafDad, they’re brothers as well.”

Having finished his introduction of the Soulfire Guild, Old Vine glanced toward the auction platform. There was still some time before things officially began, so he continued pointing out and explaining a few other notable forces present in the VIP Section.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep