Chapter 3 – Sold Out

The testing hall stretched before them like a cathedral. Lights pulsed and glimmered as machinery hummed with raw magical energy.

Lucas practically bounced on his toes. “This is it! The ultimate power system! Look at the aura, Kairo! I can feel it flowing through me!”

Kairo rubbed his neck. “Bruh, chill. You sound like you bout to blow up the whole damn room.”

A tall man in royal robes approached, eyes sharp. “Step forward. Bloodlines will be measured. Magic potential assessed.”

Lucas strode ahead, practically vibrating. Kairo followed reluctantly, fists clenched.

The machine hummed and scanned. Lights enveloped Lucas, golden and pure. His results glowed: royal blood. Extreme potential. A future knight. He smiled, proud and oblivious.

Kairo stepped up. The hum intensified. Every stat scanned low. Strength? Minimal. Intelligence? Below commoner. Magic potential? Bottom tier. Only stamina and work ethic scored even remotely average.

He felt a punch to the gut. Bottom-tier? This world didn’t know him yet, but it already judged him.

The official’s voice cut through the hum. “Do you wish to claim this companion as your personal slave?”

Kairo froze, staring at Lucas.

Lucas smirked. “No. I don’t even know him. He’s… lowly. Just a slave-tier guy.”

Betrayal hit harder than any punch from Chicago streets. Kairo’s stomach dropped. Heat flared in his chest—anger, shock, disbelief.

The machine’s energy surged. Pain burned, and Kairo’s vision blacked out.