“You aren’t trying to cheat me, are you?” Paulie asked over the handheld.

“Look, I didn’t expect her to just, not react!” James hissed. “She jumped straight at me in a straight line! You don’t do that unless you have countermeasures for dodging!”

“Well maybe you should have thought about how bad some of these cultivators would be,” Paulie said.

“What do you want me to do?” James asked. “It’s not like I can lose the next one. And we both know my sudden lack of talent in the next flight would look suspicious.”

“Ah, friend. That’s where you’re wrong,” Paulie said. “Be glad Paulie is here to learn ya. See, you’re fight happened so quick that its simple enough to say you got lucky. Perfect storm of coincidences and whatnot. As long as you barely squeeze a win in the next fight no one will suspect a thing.”

“I can think of a few people who might,” James muttered. His master and Tsukiko, for one.

“Well, friend, it’s either that or give up all the sweet, succulent credits,” Paulie said. “Because we both know you won’t be winning this thing.”

“I mean, I could’ve,” James argued, more to protect his pride than anything else.

“I don’t bet on could’ve, friend,” Paulie said. “And you shouldn’t either. Some of the others might take offense if they think you played us.”

“Not yourself then,” James said.

“Me? Never,” Paulie said, his greasy voice dripping out the handheld. “I would understand that my friend had no choice in the matter. Just as my friend should understand I’d have no choice but to let the others off their leash if you left us hanging.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t back out of deals,” James said. It was a point of pride from his time as a courier. Not even his master’s upcoming disappointment would stop him.

“Best you don’t,” Paulie said. “Remember, make it look close.”

James sighed as Paulie left the call. His medallion buzzed, directing him to the next fight. As he walked, James tried to think of a way to delay the inevitable.

Nadia was going to find out, James was sure of it. It was his fault for thinking the competition would be stronger. His initial explanation, half-formed as it was, had him chalking the fights up to nerves. It gave James an easy out in the later stages as well. The pressure finally got to him.

Master might have looked at him suspiciously, but she would have let it go.

Tsukiko wouldn’t, but she also wouldn’t be too harsh on him if he succeeded in his plan. She was pragmatic like that. Of course, if he failed her wrath would be more terrible than a thousand beast stampedes.

Now he needed some other plan. And the only one that came to mind made him scrunch his face in preparation.

James pulled out his handheld and messaged his girlfriend. I need you to make sure Master is occupied for the tournament.

Why? Came the response. You did something stupid, didn’t you?

Yeah…

And now you need me to clean up your mess?

No I just need a distraction. Look, I made plans to get enough credits for a core. It involves me throwing a fight.

James could practically hear the sigh in the next text. James…

I need a core, Tsukiko. I won’t be safe without it.

So you said. Fine, I’ll help. But we are going to have words.

We can have all the words you want after this. Just keep Master distracted enough so she doesn’t notice. I’ll make sure to sort everything out after.

You better.

James was almost at the next stage. I will, I promise. Love you.

He didn’t get an answer back. Sighing, James stepped onto the platform and faced his opponent, a monk by the look of it.

“I greet you,” his opponent said with a bow.

James responded in kind, surprised at the humility. But everything about this opponent looked humble. He wore rough, dull brown robes that James could swear were handmade and had a clean-shaven head like in the stories. He wondered if the monk made it himself. Only crafters really made things by hand anymore, but they only worked with cybernetics and other tech.

The hologram appeared above the two again, the soft light glinting off the monk’s bald head. “Contestants James of Blue Mountain Sect and Sawyer of Cloud River Sect, are you ready?”

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“Yes,” James answered.

“Indeed,” Sawyer replied.

The countdown started. James leaned back into his relaxed stance while his opponent bowed once more before holding one hand out at James while keeping the other tucked into his side.

The Metastate swirled around James as the fight started. Instantly, he shifted to the side. Sawyer roared with a, “Hiyaa!” and thrust out with his palm. A ball of metal launched from inside the monk’s palm.

James heard the attack clang off a servitor as he moved. Sawyer launched another ball with his other hand, stepping forward as he did. James weaved out of the way, only to duck as the ball split halfway toward him. The pieces sailed overhead.

He took the opportunity to pull a staff from his dimensional storage. There was another “Hiyaa!” from Sawyer. James saw the lines of energy moving along the floor and his mind raced. His studies in dynamics, combined with his increased focus, calculated the general area where the ball might come from and whipped his staff upward. He saw the shot ricochet off his staff and into the air.

Sawyer, for his part, never stopped moving forward with each thrust. He stood almost within striking distance now, the only obstacle being James’s staff. Undeterred, the monk thrust forward once more.

James moved his staff forward to block. The monk’s palm met the metal end, cracking the weapon below the knob. James grunted in surprise and frustration, the monk’s hands were stronger than he expected. Well, no need to waste the weapon completely.

James flicked his thumb and stabbed downward at the monk’s foot. Sawyer retreated with graceful steps, creating distance between the combatants once more. The staff latched onto the stage and James leaned back. The staff whipped forward as James released it, giving him the distraction he needed to procure another staff.

Sawyer stepped to the side and thrust another palm at James. The hand didn’t reach, but the metal ball flying outward flew true. James pulled his staff up in time to block it, deflecting the strike once more.

Sawyer moved in with another swift hand thrust. James dodged to the side, unwilling to break another staff so soon. The monk spun and thrust again, twisting his hand as he did so. The ball exploded like buckshot as it left the installed chamber.

James fell backward to the ground in a controlled fall. The buckshot sailed overhead, a piece barely grazing James’s nose. Sawyer tried to capitalize with another strike, but James cemented his staff to the ground and used it as leverage for an upward kick. Sawyer had to take a step back.

James twisted himself back upright, thumbing the latch on his staff and bringing it up again to block another strike from Sawyer. This time, the deflection went straight back to Sawyer. The monk tilted his head and let the attack sail by.

The reaction bought James some time to catch his breath. Sawyer did a good job of keeping up an assault but the training his master gave him kept him from falling. However, James didn’t want to retaliate just yet. He wanted to try and buy more time.

It seemed Sawyer did as well. “You are a skill opponent, James of Blue Mountain. Tell me, from where do you hail?”

“Tower Ten,” James said.

There was a flash of surprise and a microflash of contempt before the monk settled his face.

“There it is,” James thought.

“You must be talented for someone to recruit you,” Sawyer said. His voice stayed respectful despite his earlier surprise.

“I guess so,” James said. “This is the first time I get to test myself against someone not my master.”

“Then, you honor me by being a challenging opponent,” Sawyer said. He took one more breath then settled back into his stance.

James had to give the monk credit, he stayed respectful despite his earlier reaction. He nodded at Sawyer, signaling he was ready to continue.

The monk thrust out a hand, twisting it to send more buckshot James’s way. He used his staff as leverage and leaped to the side, avoiding the strike completely. Sawyer stepped forward and turned, his hand moving like a homing missile.

James pushed it to the side with his staff, stepping in and going for a knee. Sawyer blocked with his other hand, which forced James to stop the attack and jump back. Sure enough, a ball of metal impacted the ground like a meteor.

James nodded in confirmation. He was getting a good idea of how Sawyer fought now. The metal balls from his palm strikes gave him good offense to close the gap, but also good defense for deflecting strikes.

It was a great idea when fighting strikers. Too bad for Sawyer that James had more grappling techniques.

Sawyer thrust his palm again, and James deflected with his staff again. This time, however, when James moved forward he went for a leg sweep. Sawyer jumped, avoiding the attack even as he thrust his hand down. James barely avoided the incoming ball as he used his staff to block the blow.

When Sawyer landed, James sent waves of intent at his opponent. Another leg sweep, a staff swing, and more all flooded the world of the Metastate, each one an equally possible option for James. Sawyer reacted by backpedaling even as he thrust a hand out to attack.

James made his decision as Sawyer retreated. He grabbed his staff and whipped it at the monk like a javelin even as he shifted to avoid the incoming metal ball. The attack caught Sawyer by surprise, forcing him to bring both hands up to block the spear.

James capitalized, pulling out another spear and rushing forward. He thumbed the catch, cementing the staff to the ground and vaulted himself at Sawyer. The monk tried to respond with an attack, but James was already too close. Two legs wrapped around the monk’s torso as James twisted him into a scissor leg takedown.

Sawyer tried to get a hand over one of James’s legs, but the man moved faster and pinned both arms to the ground. From there, James wrestled the monk into an arm lock, pulling with enough force to dislocate the arm. Sawyer cried out in pain.

“Do you yield?” James asked as he released the lock and stood. It could be possible for the monk to continue, medical treatment for broken or dislocated limbs was readily available and quick.

Sawyer stood, one arm limp while the other stretched outward at James. He held the pose, defiant for a moment. James caught the anger in the monk’s eyes before his opponent slumped.

“I yield,” Sawyer said.

The stage erupted in victory, shining James’s name overhead for everyone to see. Sawyer walked off, the servitors leading him to the medical wing nearby. One servitor was already checking over the monk’s wounds.

James bowed to him, using the etiquette he learned from Nadia. A moment later he left the platform.

His handheld buzzed. James looked down to see an unknown number.

“Better, friend,” Paulie said. “But barely. Why didn’t you take a hit or two?”

“I’m pretty sure those metal balls would break my arm,” James countered.

“Eh, what’s a broken arm but ten minutes in the medical wing?” Paulie answered. “Look, your whole back and forth at the beginning worked, but winning without taking a hit gives people the wrong idea. You’re lucky my crew is so good at downplaying your achievements.”

“That and I’m tower born scrap, right? That’s got to be a good part of it, so don’t try and lie to me about this,” James said.

“Me? Lie?” Paulie sounded offended. “What need have I to lie, friend? Jut make sure you take a ding or two the next fight.”

“Shouldn’t I be bowing out by now?” James asked.

Paulie laughed. “Goodness no, friend. You’ve got to make the quarters for there to be any shift in the betting. That means three more fights.”

“I know what it means,” James answered. “But I’ve got my own problems to deal with over here. The longer this goes on the greater a chance something goes wrong.”

“The price to pay for laid plans,” Paulie answered. “Even the best are rife with risk and danger.”

There was a pause on the line. “Tell you what, friend. Since I like you so much, we can go for the top sixteen if you don’t mind taking on more risk. Just win this next fight in less than five seconds. Show everyone just how powerful you truly are. Then you can lose the next fight. Of course I’m sure you know that something like that would look suspicious.”

“Fine, we’ll do it your way,” James said. “I’ll take a hit or two. You’re right that it would look suspicious. Probably too suspicious.”

“Glad you see the light, friend,” Paulie said. “Now, go make us some more money.”