The four were in high spirits when the chime to the front door rang. Trixie vanished, and the others ambled from the back room to greet a man Rin had hoped to never see again.

Lord Kevin Easton

Level 56 Duelist

Minor Noble, House Easton, Northern Province

Rin froze. Images filled his mind of their last encounter, of the man standing over him with a cruel smile and a blood-soaked sword. Without willing it, a sheen of sweat sprang from the boy’s back, wetting his shirt. His knees took on a slight tremble, and he gripped the counter to steady himself.

Somewhere in the fog of emotion, Rin’s mind snagged on a particular fact.

He’s precisely 50 levels higher than me.

Before despair took hold, the simmering cauldron of buried anger flared to life, bubbling up to war against his fear. His jawline tensed as he clenched his teeth, raising his chin to meet Lord Easton’s gaze head-on. Rin was a different person from the last time they’d met, and he took on a defensive stance, ready to go all out.

This man is my enemy. He tried to ruin me. I have to fight.

Easton sauntered up to the counter. “Hello, bastard.” The man’s nose was tilted so high it resembled a mountain peak, with the nostrils as two yawning caves along its face. Two city guards accompanied the noble, along with a stranger of some obvious importance, wearing a formal business suit. Identify revealed the stranger’s significance:

Duncan Yarvot

Level 22 Legal Auditor for the City of Strathburn

“It took long enough, but I eventually tracked you down,” said Easton. “You destroyed city property and escaped imprisonment. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Why was I imprisoned in the first place?” spat Rin. “I didn’t break any laws.”

“Well, you certainly have now. Damaging city property. Wrenching a prison door from its hinges. Not to mention, entirely bypassing the legal processes to prove whatever story you’ve cooked up. Which brings up an important question: Who helped you?” Lord Easton glared at the tailors. “It’s illegal to aid and abet a criminal standing trial. It’s a crime with a most severe punishment.”

The man paused, allowing his threat to sink in.

Rin flipped a gold coin to the auditor who snatched it from the air. The boy didn’t miss the hungry gleam in the man’s eyes.

“That should cover the damage. The Sonnigs had nothing to do with it. And I told you: I’m not a criminal. You’re lucky I didn’t die, passed out for days with no food and water. Is that how you treat the innocent?”

“No,” said Easton, “it’s how we treat Cursed. You have no rights, as far as the city is concerned.”

“And whose fault is THAT!” said Rin, his anger flaring. “You’re the one that gave me this damned class! Then you complain when I don’t play by your rules?”

“Temper temper, boy.” Lord Easton gestured to the man at his side. “You’d best watch your tone. The city auditor is standing right here.”

“Why can’t you just leave me alone? I’m nobody. Why even bother with assassins in the first place?”

“I’m a noble. It’s what we do.” The man’s jaw clenched as the final vestiges of patience fled his expression. “I hoped to revel in your pleas for forgiveness, but you’re not as spineless as I thought.” He tossed a white glove at Rin’s feet. “Enough of the frivolities. I challenge you to a duel for the honor of House Cartwright. One on one combat, officially sanctioned by the Game of the Gods, Saventuary 13th at 10th hour. You have two days to prepare.” Lord Easton turned to the man at his side. “Auditor?”

“I hereby witness this challenge. May the Game of the Gods grant the victor everlasting favor.”

A mental notification appeared in Rin’s mind.

You have been challenged to a sanctioned duel on Saventuary 13th at the 10th hour of the morning. Express your mental intent to accept or decline.

“This is stupid,” said Rin. “What if I refuse? Why would I ever agree to this?”

Easton’s eyes narrowed. “It’s your honor to defend. Without that, the charge of your innocence has no legs to stand on.” He spun about and pointed a finger at Mikka and Horace. “Which means you’ve been actively aiding and abetting a criminal. I invoke my noble right of first arrest. Bind them immediately!”

The two guards stepped forward and clamped iron cuffs on the tailors’ wrists.

“They had nothing to do with it! You can’t DO THIS!”

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The auditor lifted an arm, barring Rin’s way. “The charge is within his legal right as a noble.”

Rin clawed at the guards who were already dragging the alarmed couple away. When his efforts were ignored, he desperately clung to the auditor’s arm. “I’ll double whatever he’s paying you.”

A flash of greed tainted the man’s expression before common sense chased the thought away. “I sincerely doubt that. Besides, I serve the law and the common people. Not Cursed.” The man puffed out his chest as if proud of his performance and turned to Lord Easton, like a puppy looking for a treat.

The four men and two tailors reached the shop’s door before a voice stopped them.

“Wait,” said Rin, defeated. “What … what do I have to do?”

“Don’t do it!” cried Horace. “Don’t agree to anything they—”

“SILENCE!” commanded the auditor. A spell laced his voice, snuffing out the tailor’s words. The Sonnigs’ mouths were still howling open in unmistakable shouting, but the sound was eerily terminated.

Lord Easton held his hands out wide, as if welcoming Rin into an embrace. “All I ask is for a gentleman’s duel. Nothing more. It must be witnessed before an auditor to be recognized by the Game of the Gods. Agree to it now and I’ll release your friends without charge.”

Rin’s hands wavered nervously at his sides. He was tempted to attack the four of them right where they stood, and for a moment he gathered a pulse of mana in his Cool Sleeves strewn about the room.

Then he remembered Lord Easton’s level. The man was undoubtedly more dangerous than the two assassins that had evaded Rin’s attacks so effortlessly. And even if the boy defeated all four of them, what next? He couldn’t leave any witnesses, so he’d have to execute them, a fact he instantly despised. The two city guards were just doing their job, although if his judgment of the auditor was accurate, the man was a complete scumbag.

Now him, I could kill. I’m sure of it.

That left the Sonnigs. Their business would be ruined and they’d have to join him on the run.

Rin shook his head, resigning himself to his fate.

I’m trapped.

The boy gave the noble his fiercest gaze. “Swear to me that you’ll let me go after I fight you.”

The side of the noble’s mouth twitched as he struggled to keep his face a blank mask. “I swear to you on the Game of the Gods, once the duel is completed, you will never see me again.” A flash of mana essence accompanied his words as if the gods themselves had heard and witnessed his oath.

“Now, accept.” He gestured to the two tailors standing there with their shouting still silenced. “Otherwise, your two friends will be charged. It’s that simple.”

With great reluctance and a growing foreboding, Rin mentally expressed his acceptance to the game. “There. It’s done.”

Lord Easton’s gaze grew unfocused as he observed a notification from the game, then nodded to the guards to release the tailors from their bonds.

“At least tell me why. Why are you doing this?” asked Rin.

The man’s wicked smile tightened. “You are a loose end, boy. One my benefactress has entertained long enough. Your escape from the city garrison was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Cursed class didn’t clip your wings as it should have. We certainly can’t have you gaining a respectable profession and joining the ranks of Sonnig’s Clothiers now, can we? Especially after I promised Lady Mallenda I would permanently cripple your prospects. That is the crux of the problem—that despite my schemes, you appear determined to thrive. So it’s time to finish what I’ve started.”

“Whatever,” said Rin. “I can’t wait to get this over with so I never see your ugly face again.”

A cruel grin erupted on the man’s face as he strolled to the shop’s front door. “You seem to have misunderstood. This is an official duel, sanctioned by the game itself. One of the oldest traditions in existence. Once set in motion, it can be resolved by one outcome alone.”

“What are you talking about?”

The man’s grin grew wider revealing canines that practically dripped with anticipation.

“Death.”

The shop door slammed shut, carrying with it the breath of everyone in the room. It left behind a pervading sense of doom and finality. To make matters worse, the silencing spell on the tailors ended, and they exploded in cries of dismay.

“OH, RIN!”

“WE TRIED telling you!”

Horace clutched the boy’s arm, his eyes wild and desperate.

Rin didn’t respond. He couldn’t even speak, slumping to the ground with his head in his hands.

What do I do now?

Trixie answered his unvoiced question by rising from the shop floor with her newly enhanced sword raised high. “I’ll kill him for you! It’ll be easy. I’ll sneak in at night and slit his throat. He won’t have a clue!”

“You can’t,” said Horace, miserably shaking his head. “The Game of the Gods enforces official duels. No running away, no outside help. Or both your lives are forfeit.”

Rin felt the air exit his lungs as his shoulders collapsed. He struggled to take a breath.

Trixie, on the other hand, was ablaze with defiance. She lifted Rin’s chin, raising his gaze to meet hers. “Then you know what you have to do.”

“What?” The boy’s eyes were bleary, dazed. “What do you mean?”

“You have to destroy him.” Her eyes were filled with fury. “You’ve two days to become as strong as possible. And when that duel begins, you unleash hell.”

“Easy for you to say.” The boy flapped his arms against his sides in a helpless gesture.

“Get some balls, Rin. He’s only level 56. You can take him.”

Horace nodded with sudden hope. “Level 56 is high, Miss Trixie. It’s practically unheard of compared to the usual rabble around here.” The tailor locked eyes with Rin. “But I’ve seen what you can do. With preparation and some trickery, you can pull it off.”

Mikka was standing proudly beside her husband with a flash of fire in her gaze also. “We’ll help any way we can. That pompous Lord Easton won’t know what hit him. Not if we do it right.”

Rin wiped his arm across his nose, sniffing, before rising to his feet. As he stared at his friends, their faith in him was like a contagious fire, rushing to raise him up. He peered down at his hands curled into fists and a simple plan formed in his mind.

“I’m going to need that storage ring.”

Mikka snorted, plopping the artifact onto his open palm. “You’ve earned it twice over with all the money we’ve made. I already unlocked it for you. All you need is a drop of your blood.”

The boy studied the ring glinting in the light. From his limited experience, the main difference between fighting monsters and people was that the latter could use items. And he’d just gained a powerful item of his own.

I’m going to pack this full of the most powerful weapons I can find. I can do this.

Hope bloomed.

“Now, I have a very important question.”

“Go on,” said Horace, licking his lips in anticipation.

The room stilled. The tension was palpable.

“How many sandwiches can fit in this thing?”