Three days passed in Eagledome. Spark Nighthawk settled into a routine.
Morning saw him rise before dawn. The massive frame was hitting the training yard behind the villa. Grunts echoed as he lifted weights crafted from enchanted stone. Each rep building upon the already formidable power.
He exercised his body extensively. Simultaneously, he was also exercising his soul and mind. The air was vibrating with contained soul energy from his strange breath patterns. And his mind was focused of visualizing complicated images.
This wasn't a hobby. It was a necessity. Survival in this world demanded strength. And Spark intended to be the strongest.
Evenings were a repeat performance. More training. Pushing his limits. Refining his physical, mental, and spiritual prowess.
The sheer size and power he had cultivated weren't just for show. They were the foundation of his survival. Built over more than six years of relentless self-improvement.
Afternoons were dedicated to business. Though not the typical kind. His current 'business' was crafting a gift fit for a king. Obviously for the King's upcoming birthday celebration.
He sat in a workshop he'd set up in the villa. Surrounded by runic tools and a big raw jade. His hands, surprisingly deft for their size, carved the jade carefully.
The rune knowledge embedded in his mind guided him. This wasn't just simple carving. it was imbuing. Weaving arcane energy into the physical form. The result was taking shape: an eagle, proud and imposing, carved from flawless green jade.
Nights belonged to a different kind of exertion. Lilith, Ivy, and Melody. His aides. His slaves. His pleasure.
Since acquiring Melody, the dynamic had shifted. The trio rotated. Sometimes individually. Sometimes together. Tending to Spark's carnal needs with the absolute submission.
They were beautiful, skilled, and utterly devoted. Lilith, all sleek lines and controlled passion. Adaptive to his every whim. Ivy, small and earnest. Her affectionate manner was a tangible warmth. Melody, elegant and submissive. Her devotion was a quiet, powerful current of passion.
Spark took what they offered without reservation. Or complex emotion. They provided release, service, and loyalty. He provided protection, status, and purpose. Simple.
It was after one such night with Melody that he felt it. A shift. Subtle, but undeniable. Something deep within him, dormant since his arrival in this world, stirred.
It wasn't a surge of personal power. It was different. It felt like an expansion. A new channel opening, directed outwards.
He focused. The feeling coalesced into a new insight. An understanding only he could perceive. A talent, previously locked away, was now active. He tried to comprehend it.
[Overlord's Favor]. That was the name of his awakened talent.
It didn't enhance him. It enhanced those under him. Subordinates. Specifically, those whose power level was below his own. Activation was tied somehow to his proximity and... interactions with them.
How did it work? It granted a slight boost to a subordinate's overall power. A marginal improvement in raw capability.
But the secondary effect was far more significant. A major acceleration in their primary power growth rate. The rate at which they progressed in their chosen path – Soulcraft, Technomind, or Framepath.
He tested it on his three aides. Checking their progress through the Slave Grimoire. Lilith and Ivy showed very slight overall power bump. Their power levels were technically higher than his after all.
But Melody... Melody was different. Her 'primary power growth level' skyrocketed. Her soulcraft fairy grew from 8% to 86% in just three days.
Seventy-eight percent! In just three days. Without using any growth item. That was an insane acceleration. Melody, who had been barely Tier 1, Awakened, was on the verge of breaking through to Tier 2. Enhanced Grade.
Just one more day, perhaps less. And she would cross the threshold. The talent wasn't subtle for her. It was a goddamn rocket engine.
The result was clear. [Overlord's Favor] was a powerful tool for rapidly cultivating his subordinates' strength. A means to rapidly turn weaker assets into strong ones. Good.
At present, Spark looked at his artwork with a smile of satisfaction. The Jade Eagle was complete. After just three days of casual work.
It stood on a simple, elegant pedestal of darker jade, carved to look like a wooden branch.
The jade eagle was cool and smooth to the touch. The carved feathers were intricate. The pose commanding.
He ran his hand over a wing. Runic symbols glowed faintly within the stone. Invisible to the untrained eye. But humming with contained power under his perception.
Functionality? Once per day, upon a specific trigger phrase, the runes would activate. The statue would detach from its pedestal. Becoming animated. It could move, preen, even fly in a limited area for exactly five minutes.
After that, it would return to its pedestal. And the energy would dissipate. Requiring twenty-four hours to automatically recharge. Utterly useless for anything practical.
It couldn't fight. It couldn't carry anything. It couldn't scout effectively. Its sole purpose was a spectacle. A moving, flying statue of precious jade. Crafted with advanced rune magic.
For a king who likely had everything, this should be the perfect gift. A unique, beautiful, yet entirely harmless display piece. Ostentatious. Pointless. Impressive.
Tonight was the Great Auction at the Eaglecrown Auction House. An event where the wealthy and powerful of Eagledome, and visitors from across the Avianest Kingdom, gathered to bid on rare and valuable items.
Spark saw it as an opportunity. Not just to acquire assets. But to observe. To see who was bidding on what. Gauge the competition. And perhaps even pick up whispers of the city's undercurrents.
He dressed formally. A simple but expensive dark suit tailored to accommodate his immense physique. It made him look less like a hulking warrior and more like a... very large, well-dressed businessman.
He brought Lilith with him. She was the ideal companion for such an event. Beautiful enough to draw eyes. Discreet enough to blend in. And absolutely lethal if trouble arose.
She wore a stylish, modest gown that did nothing to hide her graceful, athletic build.
The Eaglecrown Auction House was a grand building. All soaring arches and polished marble. The main auction hall was a vast space. Tiered seating rising around a central stage.
The air hummed with anticipation. And the quiet murmurs of the gathered elite. Spark and Lilith took their seats. In a private box he had secured. Through one of his numerous business contacts.
From here, they had a good view of the stage. And the other boxes. While maintaining a degree of privacy.
The auction began. The auctioneer was a man with a booming voice and practiced patter. He presented the items one by one.
"First up, a magnificent piece of defensive craftsmanship! The Golden Mystic Armor! Forged by the legendary Ironsmith Guild of the Sky Peaks, imbued with protective enchantments against both physical and magical assaults!"
Spark watched. The plate armor looked impressive. Gleaming golden under the spotlight. But it wasn't what he needed. His Framepath cultivation already made him a walking tank. He needed things to augment his unique skillset. Not duplicate his strengths.
The bidding began. Rising quickly between a portly merchant and a stern-faced knight. Spark didn't raise his paddle. It finally acquired by the knight.
"Next! A weapon dripping with dark power! The Bloodfang Sickle! Said to have been quenched in dragon's blood, it possesses an insatiable thirst and can drain the life force of your foes!"
Interesting, perhaps. But a sickle? It was too specialized. Spark preferred versatility. A noble in a silver doublet won it with a final, exorbitant bid.
Items continued to cycle onto the stage...
The Lightning Hawk Spear, crackling faintly with captured energy.
An Enchanted Steering Wheel, promising unmatched control and speed for a flying ship.
A Great Recovery Elixir, capable of healing grievous wounds in moments.
A Soul Nourishing Necklace, claimed to bolster one's spiritual energy and resilience.
Spark observed. Taking notes of the bidders, the prices, and the flow of wealth. He didn't enter the fray. His interests were specific. His funds were vast but not infinite. And he refused to waste resources on things that didn't align with his plans.
Then came something that caught his attention.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen! A truly rare offering! Seven eggs of Fairies! Gathered from a newly discovered floating land in the Eastern Expanse. These eggs possess the potential to hatch into instantly loyal companions and powerful magical allies! Boons for practitioners of soulcraft."
Seven smooth, pearlescent orbs with glowing cracks were displayed on velvet cushions. Fairies. Spark grinned. Finally. The things he needed. He, and all his three aides, could use fairies.
Acquiring more fairies, especially of different types, was never a bad things. That would be a less hassle to find some once they leveled up. This was an investment he needed to get.
Obviously, he couldn't get all seven eggs. That would paint him a target. It would be a great inconvenience. But three eggs should be alright.
Spark wore his [Appraisal Goggles] and checked the eggs. The distance could only allow him to see the species of the eggs... Arcane Fairy, Echo Fairy, Mirage Fairy, Frost Fairy, Earth Fairy, Flower Fairy, Devil Fairy. Which ones should he acquire?