Into the Lion's Den
The underground auction house pulsed with life. Voices layered over one another—some speaking in hushed tones, others barking out demands in alien dialects. The air was thick with the mingling scents of exotic perfumes, burning incense, and something darker—oil, sweat, and the faint copper tang of blood.
This was no ordinary marketplace.
Here, in the forgotten depths beneath the Savaris Mining Sector, beneath layers of rock and rusting machinery, the law did not exist. No cameras. No oversight. No interference from the Galactic Order.
Here, the wealthy and corrupt ruled.
While,they ruled outside too,in here they could do things outside of The Galactic Order's power.
The hall itself was a grotesque masterpiece. Hundreds of meters wide, its ceiling arched high above, supported by salvaged steel beams torn from the wreckage of ancient dreadnoughts. Grand chandeliers hung from chains, their skeletal frames crafted from the bones of a slain cosmic whale, bathed in eerie, pulsating light.
There were painting's made with paint extracted from trees that were a million years old.
Booths lined the upper levels, each one a private sanctum where the elite could sit in comfort, sipping esteemed Fraigan Wine or smoking Xelthian Dust, watching the night's atrocities unfold with passive amusement.
And on the auction floor below, under the glare of shifting neon lights—
Slaves.
Not just any slaves.
These were rare commodities, lives stolen from unregulated sectors. The Galactic Order had sanctioned lists—species permitted for enslavement.
The slaves here were outside of the sanctioned lists.
There were even grand monsters that many small civilizations held dear to their hearts.
Important species that The Galactic Order valued highly.
But here, bound in chains of compressed neutron-steel, stood those who should have been protected and valued.
Some were too weak to stand. Others bore the marks of experimentation—cybernetic grafts, artificial limbs, eyes dulled by chemical conditioning. Their fates had already been sealed. They weren't people here. They were merchandise.
The crowd murmured in approval as the auctioneer took the stage, his voice amplified by unseen speakers.
"Honored guests, welcome to the Savan Trading House."
A soft, unsettling murmur rippled through the crowd. A mixture of excitement and impatience.
"Tonight, we present a collection unlike any before. Weapons beyond imagination. Substances that defy the boundaries of reality. And, of course—"
A pause for effect.
"The finest flesh the galaxy has to offer. Unshackled from bureaucracy. Free from the reach of the Order."
A cheer erupted.
Credits were already being wagered. Bidders leaned forward, their faces alight with hunger—not for food, but for ownership.
And high above, watching with cold detachment—
Savan.
The Overlord of Savaris
Perched in his private booth, Savan sat like a god upon his throne, his expression unreadable. His dark blue skin gleamed under the dim neon glow, and his dull red eyes swept across the hall with disinterest.
To him, this was routine. Another night. Another fortune made.
His fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair, the only sign of movement.
Savan did not need to speak.
He was the underworld's undisputed king. Crime lords, smugglers, bounty hunters, slavers—all owed him their loyalty, or their lives.
And tonight, business was good.
The auctioneer continued, his voice laced with theatrical flourish.
"Shall we begin the bidding?"
The first row of slaves was dragged forward. Their hollow eyes stared at nothing. Some still bled from fresh wounds, the remnants of their struggle evident.
A woman, her skin branded with a bio-tracking symbol, trembled as the light fell upon her. Beside her, a young male alien twitched, his cybernetic arm still sparking from where it had been crudely severed.
Numbers flashed across the holo-displays. Offers poured in.
And no one noticed the intruder.
Meanwhile…
Adam ran.
The night air burned in his lungs as he sprinted along the canyon's jagged ridgeline. Below, the abandoned Savaris mines,now controlled by the Savan's gang, stretched for a ridiculous distance. It was a maze of forgotten tunnels and rusting machinery.
His boots skidded against loose gravel, sending pebbles tumbling into the darkness. He was close. The entrance had to be here.
He crouched near the cliff's edge, scanning the quarry. A lifetime of hunting in the dunes and his enhanced nature had sharpened his instincts—he could feel the hidden passage nearby.
Then—
A shiver ran up his spine.
A predator's gaze.
Slowly, he turned.
And from the shadows, they emerged.
Two massive canines.
Their teal fur shimmered unnaturally, their elongated fangs glistening in the moonlight. Their eyes were unblinking, predatory.
Adam exhaled through his nose.
"...Figures. Sorry,I can't play I am more of a cat person."
The beasts tensed. Their clawed paws dug into the dirt, muscles coiling like compressed springs.
Adam lifted his hands slightly, offering a lazy grin.
"Hey, now. I don't want trouble."
A low, metallic growl vibrated through the air.
Then—
SNAP.
They lunged.
Adam dove, rolling just as their fangs snapped shut inches from his throat. He hit the ground hard, dust kicking up around him.
The first beast pivoted instantly, claws slashing toward his chest.
Adam twisted. His Energy Saber roared to life—
VRRMM!
A bright-blue blade ignited in the darkness as the energy covered the steel frame of the blade, slicing through the air.
The second beast lunged from behind—
Adam spun, swinging upward.
The saber's plasma edge burned through the creature's shoulder.
The beast howled, its wound sizzling from the speed of the attack.
But then—
BITE.
The first beast sank its fangs into Adam's forearm.
A white-hot burn shot through his veins.
Not normal pain.
His muscles locked. His vision blurred.
The wound pulsed—his veins darkened.
Poison.
And something far worse than any venom he had encountered before.
His natural regeneration fought back—but the toxin resisted, slowing his healing factor.
It burned furiously.
Steam could be seen coming of the wound as it sizzled
[Species: Lesser Teal Wolves(Anhafni Travatan)
Planet of Origin: Gravis
Bio: One of the dominant predators of their planet. They were brought to earth by slavers and criminals for protection. They stand 6 feet tall at the shoulders and ussually hunt in groups or pairs. Their fangs are stronger than most basic metals and contain a deadly acidic toxin.]
Adam grit his teeth.
"…Alright."
He wrenched his arm free, blood dripping onto the rock,as it did it boiled and sizzled.
The two beasts circled him, their eyes gleaming with predatory glee.
Adam exhaled slowly.
His blue energy blade flared, casting jagged shadows against the canyon walls.
The beasts lowered themselves, preparing for another strike.
Adam smirked.
"Let's play, puppers."
End of Chapter