The store manager gulped and looked at Liam as if he were seeing a monster, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded, motioning to the fairy to continue with the scanning. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation and disbelief. If three out of five eggs were legendary, what marvels might the last two hold?
The fourth egg was placed into the scanner, and the crowd held its breath. The machine whirred and beeped, and then the result was displayed.
A collective sigh of relief and a murmur of conversation rippled through the crowd. An epic-grade beast was still a significant find, but it seemed the world had returned to some semblance of normalcy.
Unfortunately, the happiness was short-lived as everyone noticed that they had jumped to the conclusion too soon. Right next to the Epic rank, a 'can be evolved' tag lit up.
Moreover, the type of beast egg this time made everyone gasp because it was anything but ordinary.
Star Gazer, an astral affinity beast!
"This… this…" The store manager stammered in shock. "What an unbelievably rare Epic-rank beast egg. Grandmaster, you have the God's eyes!"
A Star Gazer wasn't just any epic-grade beast. Known for its connection to the cosmos and its ability to tap into astral powers, it was a creature that many would spend lifetimes searching for and never find.
Its special ability to conjure illusions and trap its enemy was well known throughout the myriad realms and many who sought after the dao of illusion wanted to bind it as a companion and obtain enlightenment from observing the beast.
Star Gazer Beast Eggs was one hundred percent one of the auction house hot cakes, many going even for billions of high-grade mana cores.
And just like that one such beast egg had appeared in a random system shop gambling counter. That too, one that could evolve! Everyone became speechless. The fairy, with a trembling hand, tagged the egg accordingly and then hesitantly moved to place the final egg into the scanner. The crowd, once again, held its collective breath. What more could this day bring?
The scanner beeped and whirred, a long moment passing in which the only sound was the machine's operation. Then, the result flashed up on the screen.
At this point, no one had any more strength left in their brain to feel shocked. They could only feel numb to the atrocious scene unfolding in front of them.
Even more so when the tag 'can be evolved' once again lit up.
Just what the heck was going on? The room fell into a stunned silence. The final egg contained a creature known as the Frost Wyrm, a dragon-like being with control over ice and cold, a terror in its own right, and now potentially even more so with the ability to evolve. This could potentially purify its draconian bloodline further.
The improbable had happened, four out of five eggs were of Legendary rank, with the fifth being an epic-grade beast with the potential to evolve. Some of the legendary rank beasts also had the potential to evolve.
The store manager, having run out of words, simply stared at the results, his mind struggling to comprehend the luck and judgment of the man before him. Liam, for his part, remained calm, though a hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.
The fairy, still visibly shaking, turned to Liam. "Grandmaster, this is... this is unprecedented. The Frost Wyrm, like the others, will be provided with all necessary materials for its nurturing. The system shop extends its deepest congratulations on your extraordinary success."
The crowd, now buzzing with excitement and disbelief, watched as the preparations for hatching began. On the other side, the Horned-tribe young scion Kael suddenly looked agitated, veins on his forehead ready to burst.
He had just narrowly missed a Legendary rank wyrm!
Pure Draconian lineage beasts were very rare in the myriad realms and this did not include some stray wyrms and drakes. Pureblood dragons! They were the key to unlimited power and potential, especially for their family.
And to think that he had missed out on an evolvable wyrm… Kael felt his insides churn. With this single egg, his position in his clan would skyrocket and his growth would be tremendous. He might even be able to extract part of a pure draconian bloodline from the beast and integrate it with his own, making him exponentially more powerful.
The frustration was evident on his face. He had come here on a whim, hoping for a stroke of luck, but instead, he had witnessed someone else's unbelievable fortune.
His attendants stood by, uneasy and uncertain, knowing well the volatile nature of their young master. They exchanged glances, silently communicating their concerns and preparing for any outburst.
The group once again walked over towards the beast egg counter, this time with a lot more urgency and anger.
The store manager, noticing Kael's agitation, cautiously approached. "Young Master Kael, please understand that the selection process is entirely random and fair. We at the system shop uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality."
Kael's gaze was icy as he turned to the manager. "I understand how your system works," he said coldly. "I am not here to talk with you."
He directly turned to Liam and spat out. "Sell that beast egg to me. You can name your price."
Liam, unfazed by the pressure and intensity emanating from the person in front of him, met his gaze evenly. "Young Master Kael, I appreciate your offer, but as I mentioned earlier, these beast eggs are not for sale. I need them for my personal use."
Kael's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint appearing in them. "Do you know what you're refusing? I am offering you wealth and resources beyond your imagination. The kind that could set you up for life in the myriad realms. I can also offer you this."
A token flashed in his hand and Kael extended his arm, intending to pass it to Liam.