NOVPUBFiona hovered high as the next gate rumbled open.
Heat from the last entry still clung to the arena floor.
But a deep cold began to creep in as mist poured out from the new gate.
She lifted her voice, full of curiosity and excitement.
"Let's welcome Contestant Number Five!"
Steam rolled into the arena like a tide.
The crowd leaned forward, buzzing with questions.
Then a giant figure stepped through the mist, slow and steady.
And the arena went quiet for a heartbeat.
Fiona blinked.
"No way… That's Drelmas."
Even from her height, she could see his massive frame.
---
[Luxoria Castle App – LIVE CHAT]
@AnchorDown: HE'S HERE??
@MistJaw: bro that's THE juggernaut from Deephold
@WaveHammer: Drelmas doesn't talk—he stares
@StoneTide: he's the one who won Brutaurus, right?!
@FloodPulse: this just became a real match
---
Fiona nodded, her voice softer now.
"Another auction winner, folks."
"Drelmas, the man who won Brutaurus, the Abyss-Horned Juggernaut."
She pointed down.
"Let's see what kind of Vornis he brought today."
From the mist, it stepped forward.
And once again, the crowd gasped.
The Vornis was massive.
Slightly bigger than the base model.
But every part of its body felt like it was anchored to the ground.
Its armor wasn't sleek or flashy.
It looked like it was carved from deep ocean rock, with glowing spiral runes etched across its limbs.
Its legs were thicker, and its hooves looked reinforced like underwater weights.
Its back held a large water-pressure core, pulsing with a deep-blue glow.
Every step made the arena tremble.
Fiona narrowed her eyes. "That's not just a design. That's a whole pressure rig."
The Vornis exhaled slowly.
Steam hissed from its gill-like vents along its ribs.
Then it lowered its head, stomped once.
The stage actually cracked under its front hoof.
---
[Luxoria Castle App – LIVE CHAT]
@CragBreaker: THAT THING IS A SEA WALL
@AbyssWhirl: look at the runes on its chest!
@SteelLure: it's got anchor plates on its back legs
@MudLock: feels like it's staring at me through the screen
@DepthRoar: 10/10 for intimidation factor alone
---
Fiona circled slowly above, fanning the mist with a gentle wave.
"This isn't a flashy build," she said.
"But it's heavy. Grounded. Intentional."
She pointed to the glowing blue ring at its core.
"That's a hydro pressure condenser."
"It was used to simulate deep-sea resistance."
"That means this Vornis was trained under artificial ocean gravity."
The crowd went wild.
Drelmas, silent as always, simply placed one hand on his Vornis's neck.
It didn't roar. It didn't move again. It just stood, solid and unshaken.
A message.
We're already winning. We don't need noise.
Fiona tapped her app.
"I'm giving this one a 9 out of 10."
"No sparkles. No fire. Just pure presence and craft."
---
[Luxoria Castle App – LIVE CHAT]
@SaltVein: pressure plating + rune core = GENIUS
@BreakerLine: that was the calmest flex I've ever seen
@QuietFlood: this beast doesn't need to move fast—just once
@MistWrap: he made the floor crack without attacking
@DeepCoreFang: 9 easy. that's a warrior's beast
---
Votes poured in fast.
The scoreboard flickered…
[AVERAGE SCORE: 8.7]
Fiona clapped her hands.
"And that's our new high score, folks! 8.7 average!"
"Brutaurus-style dominance done right."
She gave a respectful nod toward Drelmas.
"Amazing work. Quiet. Strong. And unforgettable."
Back in the prep zone, Kaelen leaned on a wall.
"He didn't even blink," Kaelen muttered.
Donnie, still masked, stared in silence.
"He's the wall we all have to climb now," Velmara added, arms folded.
Fiona floated back up, smiling.
"Alright, Luxoria fans! We've seen beauty, flames, music, and pressure."
She twirled once mid-air.
"Get your apps ready again… Contestant Number Six is almost here!"
The next gate began to glow.
---
Inside a secret room high within Luxoria Castle, four figures watched the competition through a wide crystal screen.
Lucius sat in the center, arms folded, silver eyes calm as ever.
Beside him stood Liora, ever silent, ever still.
On the other side leaned Loreia, arms crossed, watching the screen with a faint grin.
Behind them, seated with her legs crossed, was Luna, sipping from a glowing cup of pale blue liquid.
They were not part of the audience but they saw everything.
Lucius watched the stage closely as Drelmas walked off, his Vornis leaving cracks in the floor.
"He's strong," Loreia said casually. "He didn't even need to roar."
Liora gave a single nod.
"He's heavier than the others," Luna added. "Like a wall with legs."
Lucius didn't respond.
He was still watching the scoreboard slowly reset for the next entry.
Then suddenly the air shimmered.
From a side hallway, Liline appeared in her usual quiet way.
She stopped a few feet from Lucius and bowed lightly.
"There's something you should know," she said.
Lucius turned his head slightly. "Speak."
Liline kept her voice low.
"Unusual movement in the Mist Forest. Not our normal guests."
"Five figures... all in full dark suits."
Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly. "Aurelis people, huh?"
"It seems so. And they're carrying a large box."
"Heat signatures suggest it's holding something unstable… or alive."
Loreia straightened up, her grin vanishing. "Do you want me to act?"
Liora finally spoke. "I can go now."
Lucius raised one hand slightly.
"No. You don't need to move."
He stood and walked slowly to the window, gazing down at the mist-covered forest beyond the arena.
"Let them come."
He turned slightly, silver eyes gleaming.
"Just let those two handle it."
Luna smirked. "Those two, huh?"
She leaned back in her seat. "I see. This will be fun."
Loreia cracked her knuckles. "Are you sure? If it's Aurelius…"
Lucius didn't blink. "They'll learn soon."
Back in the Mist Forest…
The five figures in black moved carefully between the trees.
Two of them carried a large crate, suspended between them with stabilizers.
The lead whispered, "Target is inside Luxoria."
"We plant this, make chaos, and get out."
Behind them, someone muttered, "I still don't like this place… The mist is too quiet."
But they didn't know.
They were being watched.
Back in the hidden room, Luna chuckled softly.
"I wonder how fast they'll scream."
Lucius stared through the glass again.
"I just want them to understand something simple."
He stepped back, tone calm.
"No one enters this castle without permission."
He then turned back to his seat.
"Let the event continue."
Liline nodded. "I'll monitor. Quietly."
Loreia grinned again. "Let's see how long they last."
Luna finished her drink. "I'll bet… not even five minutes."
Liora's eyes were already locked on the far monitor, ready—if needed.
Lucius spoke one final time.
"They came to disrupt our show…"
He looked toward the next contestant entering the arena.
"...but they'll leave remembering why no one ever interrupts Luxoria."
