We sat huddled on the stands, those of us who had passed the first test. Opposite us were the unlucky ones who had been revived from death's clutches. Fifty-two out of eighty-seven souls given another chance at life.

"Those I call will come down here," Blackwings said, standing in the center of the ring, his voice carrying like a thunderclap.

"I don't want to fight," Daru said, tone flat.

I exchanged an amused look with Zoro. "Didn't you claim you'd beat anyone who dared duel you?"

"If challenged, I'll smash their face," Daru said, shutting us up. "But these people fight under compulsion. Lose, and they'll die for true this time."

"Silver Bullet!" Blackwings bellowed. "To the ring."

On the other side, a solitary figure stirred. "Is he...trembling?" I asked.

"What a coward." The voice came from behind. "Hope he picks me. I'll have him soiling himself before I kill him."

"A reminder of the rules," Blackwings said, raising a hand. "Weapons are permitted."

Zoro's eyes met mine. "We can use them?"

"If you hesitate to kill your opponent, I'll do it myself and declare their victory. Surrender brings a merciful death, and--" He waved a hand. "That is all."

"Storms..." I glanced at Daru beside me. "We have the advantage. You with that rifle--"

A strange sound interrupted, half-scream, half-laughter. The trembling man in the ring gyrated with an unsettling motion.

"Rah'lir..." Daru swore softly. "That one isn't afraid. He's excited."

"Which of you craven denied me a warrior's death?" the man called out, voice thick with madness. "A cowardly bullet to the back?"

"You wish to challenge your killer?" Blackwings asked.

"I'll kill that cremling bastard myself."

"Llama!" Blackwings barked, consulting his system screen. "To the ring."

From the front row, I craned around. A tall, lean young man stood up - pale-skinned with soft black hair neatly trimmed.

"I need one bullet," he said, eyes scanning the stands. "I'll trade a world heart for it. Anyone?"

Zoro leaned over. "Why not just buy ammunition with points?"

I was already on my feet, using my remaining points to purchase a bullet. "I'll sell you mine."

Flicking it over, he snatched it neatly from the air. For a moment, he simply stared, turning the bullet over in his hands. Then he slid it into his weapon's chamber with a smile, face becoming animated.

"Send the heart," I said flatly.

"As if you could be stolen from so easily." His lips quirked. He tapped his system screen, a blue illusion-pane flickering before him. "Sent. Thanks, Cal."

My interface pinged with the world heart's receipt. "Good luck," I said with a smile.

Daru and Zoro watched stoically, clearly not approving. I grinned at them as I took my seat again. Down in the ring, Silver Bullet was staring at me, face red like an enraged bull.

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"You motherless deep crawler!" he bellowed. "Why sell him that bullet? He shot me in the back, coward's style! If you had an honor rill, you'd loan me your gun for vengeance." Spittle flew. "You're no better than him, you dorestorm, and like him you'll die--I'll see you both killed!"

I met his gaze, smiling coolly, and made an obscene hand gesture used in virtual games. His eyes went wide with shock.

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The Llama took position in the ring, weapon leveled at Silver Bullet, a smile playing on his lips.

"Let the contest begin," Blackwings intoned.

Silver Bullet charged, a blur of motion. The Llama's smile didn't waver.

At the last possible stride, the Llama fired. The bullet slammed into Silver Bullet's chest with a solid thunk, punching him to a halt. He clutched the wound, but there was no blood.

In the next instant he was on the Llama, knocking him to the ground, hands closing around the man's throat. The Llama thrashed, legs kicking, but Silver Bullet's stranglehold was inexorable. Finally, he went still.

"Silver Bullet is victorious," Blackwings said, glancing my way.

Impossibly, Silver Bullet rose, a hole gaping through his chest yet no sign of pain on his features. He met my eyes and made a meaningful gesture, one ubiquitous across virtual reality games.

An interface sprang before me. Silver Bullet says he owes you. Request what you will, should he agree.

My fingers blurred, and a moment later a world heart pinged into my inventory. Four now remained after expending one.

All eyes turned toward me.

"Backup power bullet?" Zoro asked, referencing something on his system screen.

"The one I sold him, yes."

"Damn..." Daru clapped, laughing. "You got two hearts for the price of one bullet. Well played."

"Exquisite theater," Blackwings said, applauding. "Next, Ruka to the ring."

Zoro leaned in. "Are we the only ones who know hearts can be traded for store points? I've searched high and low, found no mention."

"It caught me by surprise too," Daru admitted. "One minute, I didn't know that was possible - the next, the knowledge was simply...there."

I met their eyes. "There was something strange about the system rules, like a puzzle hidden within. Once I cracked it, the ability to trade hearts unlocked in my mind."

It wasn't exactly a lie.

Zoro perked up. "A puzzle, you say? I'll have to investigate that..."

"Can you show me how you solved it?" Daru asked, pulling up the rulebook on his system screen.

"Daru!" Blackwings' voice rang out. "To the ring."

We turned. Blackwings stared our way, waiting. Somehow, Daru had been challenged.

I reacted first, covertly sharing my pistol to his inventory. "Good luck."

"Use it straightaway," Zoro urged, noticing my move.

Daru nodded toward us, then descended to the arena floor. His opponent was a bulky young man - fat, but with a solidity that bespoke physical power.

"Why'd you pick me?" Daru asked him flatly.

"Long hair like a woman's," the brute sneered. "Chest bared to show off. I know your sort - pretty face, but only words behind it."

Daru smiled thinly. "Then I won't feel guilty about what comes next."

"Begin the duel!" Blackwings barked.

The pistol materialized in Daru's hand. Two sharp cracks split the air - gunshot, body hitting the ground. A clean headshot dropped the larger man.

"Daru is victorious," Blackwings announced.

"Coward!" The shout came from behind us, where a wiry man toyed with a dagger. "You'd never have won without that gun."

This was the same one who'd insulted Silver Bullet earlier. Daru met the man's eyes as his pistol shifted into a dagger. "Then face me blades-only, if you're so skilled."

The man glanced at Blackwings, who nodded. "Agreed by both parties, the winner may select one of the unlucky to be spared."

I turned to find Zoro still poring over the rules, searching for that hidden puzzle. Typical, to be so consumed.

Daru's new opponent entered the ring - a trim, athletic man in his mid-thirties with a receding hairline. He looked the part of an unassuming math professor.

"Daggers only," Blackwings intoned. "Fight to the death. Begin!"

Daru sheathed his dagger, dropping into an unarmed combat stance to a rumble of surprise from the crowd.

"People like you only care about appearances," his opponent spat. "But I'll make you face reality." The dagger blurred in his hand as he charged.

Daru backpedaled, hands held loose at his sides in the stance of a skilled boxer. He weaved around the first few slashes with feline grace. Then, striking like a viper, his fist lanced out and cracked

against the man's jaw. The dagger skittered free as the professor crumpled.

Daru scooped up the blade, ending the bout with a single decisive stroke. He cleaned the blood from his hands on the fallen man's clothing, then turned an evaluating look toward the unlucky prisoners.

"One of you," he said coldly. "Provide me a world heart, and you'll be spared this contest."

Several came forward immediately, eyes hopeful. Daru selected one at random, then rejoined us with a weary sigh. "Thanks for the pistol. Let me finish him quickly - but that last idiot forced me to grandstand."

He eyed me. "Now, about this system puzzle..."

"Fuck this..." Zoro shook his head in dismay. "I can't seem to crack it. Show us both, Cal."

I hesitated. The secrets I'd learned by solving that cryptic ruleset...did I truly want to share them? True, the friendship contract prevented outright betrayal. But still...

What should I do?