Neither Thirteen nor Jack made an immediate move as the bell rang to start the match. Hoarfrost watched both of their black-uniformed forms as they stood motionless in the arena and observed each other carefully.

“Before we begin, I have a proposal,” Thirteen said, his voice booming throughout the arena.

Jack paused, then responded in a similar tone, “As long as it falls within the parameters of our challenge, I’m willing to hear it.”

“As of now, this challenge seems like a farce and a waste of my time, so I’d like to add stakes to it,” Thirteen said, “If I win, you answer three of my questions truthfully. If you win, I will join your organization.”

So this is Thirteen’s first move. Hoarfrost thought, his eyes glued onto the arena. What is he thinking?

Jack hesitated, then replied slowly, “I… don’t accept. The information I have about this organization is not mine to wager away.”

“I’m sure that can be changed if the terms are lucrative enough, General,” Thirteen said, “What if I added that we change the rules of this trial to that of any combat competition of your choice?”

Jack thought for a moment, this time longer than before.

Hoarfrost looked on in amazement. By seeming to cede control to Jack, Thirteen lets him think the general has the initiative in this situation, letting him think he can turn the tables if he plays his cards right.

Through this move, Thirteen is also probing the Federation to see what information they have on him. If they knew the true extent of his powers, Jack would never agree to any competition.

Thirteen is not just powerful. He’s also incredibly efficient.

“Would a competition consisting of taking turns punching each other’s unguarded chest with a bare fist be acceptable?” Jack asked.

“Assuming the first one who admits defeat or is unable to continue loses and that we are able to use animus, yes, it is acceptable,” Thirteen said.

“I don’t know what your goal is with this strange offer, Thirteen. You could be underestimating me, maybe you really are that powerful, or maybe you have some other plan. Either way, I accept your terms,” Jack said. The moment Jack accepted the terms, a crimson symbol simultaneously flashed on the arena floor and on the bell tower, signaling that the arena had taken into account that the rules for the match had been updated. “As a member of the Federation, I can’t back down on such a challenge, such an opportunity, to test myself and succeed.”

“I know,” Thirteen said, “Your punch first, General. I suggest you use everything on this one.”

The General accepted, Hoarfrost thought, He must have thought the rewards outweigh the risks. That means the General either has an almost surefire plan to win or he thinks he might lose but doesn’t mind giving up the three questions. Perhaps information is compartmentalized in the Federation like it is in the League?

Sarah shook her head with a small smile. “This is going to be interesting. Both of you League heroes are such showmen.”

Hoarfrost didn’t reply. He didn’t even hear her. He was completely concentrated on analyzing Thirteen’s match.

Jack held up his arm and walked up to Thirteen. The general stopped a few feet in front of him and gathered a large amount of animus into his arm. Jack exuded a bright red crimson aura, the same one that Feyman had exuded when charging his powers, and bright, molten steel covered his arm.

It’s technically not a weapon because it’s made from his animus, Hoarfrost thought, this competition couldn’t be more suited for Jack’s powers…

Before Thirteen could react to the steel, Jack’s arm blurred forward and he punched Thirteen in the chest with explosive force. There was a sickening crack as Thirteen’s bones shattered under the metal battering ram of Jack’s arm and he flew across the arena before tumbling to a stop in the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Jack stood for a moment, his arm steaming slightly, his posture relaxed. Then, as the dust settled, Thirteen stirred.

“Hmmm, so this is the power of a Federation General,” He mused, “Though it seems you only used about a quarter of your strength.”

He didn’t use animus to defend against the General’s punch so he could measure his strength? Hoarfrost thought, What kind of insane strategy is that… Hoarfrost’s thoughts trailed off as he saw Thirteen calmly stand up.

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Thirteen’s bone structure rearranged itself as he stood and the blood that flowed from his broken chest floated off the ground and back into his body. In a few seconds, he stood nonchalantly unscathed, as if nothing had happened. He dusted off his uniform.

I saw this from Thirteen’s video, but it’s nothing like seeing it with my own eyes, Hoarfrost thought. His recovery is nothing like Feyman’s. Thirteen healed a fatal wound as if nothing had ever happened in the first place.

Sarah Muse watched quietly, enthralled. Jack could barely hide his sudden shock and nervousness at Thirteen’s unnerving display.

“You look surprised,” Thirteen said, “It seems that for some reason you were very sure I didn’t actually have the powers I showed off in that video. Perhaps you thought that I, someone who seemingly never showed himself or did anything of note, could never be stronger than him.”

Thirteen walked up to Jack, whose posture was stiff with suppressed fear. Still, the General kept his wits about him and quickly layered his body with a molten steel defense.

“I warned you,” Thirteen said, “I warned the world. Nobody will take anything by force ever again. It doesn’t matter how powerful you are, if you break the rules, I will crush you all the same.”

He stopped in front of Jack and held up his arm.

“And remember this,” Thirteen said, “I am the Crimson King. Not your master.”

An immense crimson aura exploded from Thirteen’s arm as he charged it with power. The red light filled the entire arena. Then the aura died down, leaving Thirteen’s arm glowing with red veins of pure crimson animus.

Sarah Muse held a hand to her mouth. Jack openly gaped at the sight. It was the same crimson animus that both Jack and Feyman had used. The same as the gift they had been given.

Hoarfrost watched the battle with quiet intensity. What is that animus? It’s the same type as the Federation’s gift… is there some sort of connection between them?

Who exactly is Thirteen?

“Even though it doesn’t really matter in the end, you should have used everything in the first punch,” Thirteen said, holding back his red-veined arm to strike. Jack just looked at him, unable to register what was about to happen.

Then Thirteen’s arm blurred forward like a red streak and punched Jack in the chest. A sonic boom reverberated throughout the arena, sending a shockwave that could be felt throughout the stands. Jack blasted backward and slammed into the wall with enough force to raise a cloud of grey dust in the air at impact.

The bell rang immediately.

When the dust cleared, Hoarfrost inhaled sharply.

The force of the blow had buried Jack in the middle of an enormous spider web crack in the arena wall. Jack himself was completely bloodied and broken, his steel defenses crumpled like paper. He was obviously unconscious and most likely fatally wounded.

The uniformed medical crew rushed onto the arena, carting a stretcher with them across the dirt. They approached Jack and hurriedly applied tourniquets and animus syringes to try to stabilize him, talking in hurried tones amongst themselves.

“Move out of the way,” Thirteen said, walking up to Jack.

None of them moved. “He doesn’t have much time left,” One of the women protested, “We’re going to do our job even if you threaten us…”

She trailed off as Thirteen charged another vast wave of crimson aura around himself. The medical team shrunk involuntarily under the immense pressure and cowered to the side.

Thirteen approached the broken form of Jack, outstretched an arm, and directed the crimson animus into the general. The general convulsed for a few moments, then his body accepted the animus, and he was still. His body glowed slightly from the overflowing crimson animus. Then his bone structure cracked back into place and his flesh reknit itself. In a few seconds, he was completely healed. The medical team looked between Thirteen and Jack with obvious shock.

He… healed Jack completely, Hoarfrost thought, That unnatural ability and again with that crimson aura… the oddities just keep adding up.

Hoarfrost looked over at Sarah. She was scowling, a dark glint in her eyes as she looked down at the scene below them.

Jack’s eyes flew open. He looked up at Thirteen blankly, then he noticed the medical team.

“I… lost, didn’t I?” The general said, looking down at his completely healed body with awe and confusion, “What exactly happened?”

“Unfortunately you’re the one who has to answer my questions, not the other way around,” Thirteen said. Jack’s eyes widened.

“You’re healed, right?” Thirteen said, “So stand up already.”

Jack hastily extricated himself from the cracked wall and shakily stepped onto the arena floor. He rolled his shoulders and stomped each foot. He was indeed completely healed, without even a sense of stiffness nor a single scratch.

I think… I understand a little, just a little, Hoarfrost thought, Of what Thirteen’s style is.

My reaction to the match was to challenge their plans, proving my strength and telling the Federation that I wouldn’t be dominated.

Thirteen, on the other hand, took apart the match and twisted it for his own benefit. Instead of reacting in some way to the Federation’s ideals of fighting to prove their strength, he proceeded to ruthlessly turn this mindset against the general for his own advantage.

Perhaps Thirteen’s style is to take the enemy's weaknesses and use them to gain advantages to completely and efficiently destroy them while never showing any weakness of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so quiet, cold, and emotionless…

Even if that’s so, this match gave me even more questions about Thirteen than it answered…

As Hoarfrost pondered over the events of the match, Thirteen turned his head and looked up at Hoarfrost, meeting his eyes. Thirteen tilted his head as if saying come down here. Hoarfrost nodded.

“The match is over,” Sarah said at the same time, still looking down at the arena, “We should go down to witness the questions.”

Hoarfrost and Sarah silently made their way down and met with Thirteen and Jack. Everyone looked lost in their own thoughts except for Thirteen.

“Do you have any objection to the fairness of the match, General?” Thirteen asked Jack.

“No,” He said quietly.

“Do the witnesses have any objection to the match?” Thirteen asked.

“I do not,” Sarah said who wore an amused facial expression but still had that dark glint in her eye.

“Neither do I,” Hoarfrost said.

“Then I will ask the three questions,” Thirteen said, “First, how much do you know about your master?”