Location: Blackwood Coliseum — The Annual Re-Auction Arena
POV: Empire-Wide Broadcast
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The coliseum is alive. Screens stretch across the sky. The atmosphere is tense, electric — this isn't just an auction.
This is survival. This is power. This is war.
Seated in gold-ringed thrones are the Top 66, all forced to defend their numbers.
Each number engraved in obsidian behind them.
From Blackwood 6 down to 66, their names are replaced with numbers. Their families behind them. Each one holding their breath.
And in the center, on the floating auction platform: Blackwood 1 stands tall, hands behind his back.
> "Let the Auction of Reign begin."
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First Lot: Number 66
The lowest seat in the First-Class tier.
Current Holder:
Name: Norell Faan
Net Worth: 23 Billion BC
Source of Income: Genetic Medicine Manufacturing
First Bidder:
Bidder: Taaj Wenth (Survival Citizen 3003)
Bid: 1 Billion BC
Crowd laughs. But Chris does not.
Second Bidder:
Bidder: Haskin Mallor (Citizen 89)
Bid: 5.2 Billion BC
Third Bidder (Winning Bid):
Bidder: Farrel Gray (formerly Number 103)
Bid: 10.5 Billion BC
New Title: Number 66
Previous Holder (Norell): Dethroned. Downgraded to Survival Citizen — Number 30,003
Chris' Words:
> "He lost because he slept. You won because you fought. Let this be a warning."
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Midway Into the Auction…
Lot: Number 22
Current Holder:
Mirella Daen
Net Worth: 48 Billion BC
Source: Solar Tech Conglomerate
First Bidder:
Bidder: Lady Serah (58)
Bid: 51 Billion BC
Mirella Rebids:
Bid: 55 Billion BC
Final Bid (Winning):
Bidder: Lady Serah
Bid: 60.2 Billion BC
New Title: Number 22
Mirella: Screaming in shock as her number is stripped. Her family's plates immediately changed to Survival Class.
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Lot: Number 5i — The Daughter of Blackwood 5
The Empire waits.
This is the first-born daughter of the most expensive number ever purchased.
Starting Bid: 3.2 Billion BC
Bidders:
Wealthy nobles wanting to adopt her lineage
Rival family members seeking to weaken Number 5
Final Bidder:
Bidder: Number 5 himself — reclaiming his daughter's number
Bid: 10.3 Billion BC
Chris nods.
> "Even your blood must be earned."
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Shocking Twist
A poor citizen—Survivor 49,202, a miner named Jalen Crax—comes forward with a pooled fund:
13.5 Billion BC
A gift from anonymous sponsors
He wins Number 29
The crowd goes insane.
> "A survival rat just bought his way into royalty!"
Chris smiles faintly.
> "Let this be the empire where fear and wealth dan
ce. Next year… who will still be sitting?"
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