Rain and blood splattered down on the deck of Harrigan’s ship, as the brewing storm grew more fierce. The agony of the spear driven through Kaden was near impossible to hold back. Only [Painless] let Kaden keep himself upright as Harrigan threw back his head and screamed in triumph. “You earned this. Your bitch friend ran off and abandoned you, but now—” Harrigan stopped as Kaden spulled the spear into Inventory and pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the bleeding.

Kaden’s health had cratered, less than eight hundred and dropping because of the [Bleed] effect. Then it began to rise, and rocket upward.

Eve. She clung to a mast high above. Healing him wasn’t an attack on Harrigan and didn’t violate the duel rules, which was probably a loophole.

“Where were we?” Kaden drew Remembrance. “Ah, yes. Here.” He sprinted at Harrigan, twisting to avoid a strike, and once more sprayed [Wrath of the Furnace] in an arc. It wasn’t a surprise that Harrigan ghosted away. It was a suprise that he didn’t fully escape. The gush of flame hit Harrigan’s left foot, causing the boot to burst into flame.

Three of Harrigan’s rings glowed, and molten iron exploded outward in a shower.

Kaden kept the [Mana Drain] going, thirty points at a time, and used that to power [Split Second] and [Moment of Speed]. Even if Harrigan was a third tier adventurer, it didn’t mean his mana was endless.

Without warning, the fight shifted as Harrigan’s gemstone armor shifted into razor spikes and he switched to short, curved swords with wide blades. Now he dared Kaden to grapple and risk the spikes.

Kaden had exactly one answer to this. He would regret using it later, but he’d regret it when his party was safe. “Your man, Dagger Dan. He had a giant squid, didn’t he? I like that squid. He’s a cool pet. It’s a pity you don’t have a giant squid anymore. It’s a pity you’ll never have a giant squid again.”

Even as he spoke, Kaden prepared. He could only carry one heavyweight beast at a time. Skully and Trinity were each too powerful for him, otherwise his soul might rupture. Vip was special, as his first Summons she wasn’t so much in his soul as part of it. Storing a match lizard cost nothing, and the Destruction Wyvern took no more space than Rocky.

But there was one more Beast Kaden stored, one he rarely brought out and never used. A [Thornling], a beast which grew into the flesh of Adventurers. Harrigan bellowed with rage and switched to a battle hammer with spiked heads. He didn’t so much charge as explode toward Kaden with the force of a storm.

Kaden banished the Thornling and met Harrigan’s swing head on, drinking the power into Remembrance. The blow stole fifty points from his health just from the impact, but Kaden measured his attacks, baiting Harrigan to swing over and over.

“Die, you worthless scum!” Harrigan swung.

Kaden dismissed Remembrance and rolled under the swing, drawing Thorn Caster to unleash an arrow of sheer Chrono Mana straight at Harrigan’s gut.

Harrigan triggered a skill.

The arrow speared straight through him, as the Pirate King ran out of mana.

You have inflicted Poison x1.

As Harrigan looked up from the spreading bloodstain on his belly, the after-blows struck, punching three more times, each inflicting poison. “Jeffries, Kern, Wilks, Bull.” Harrigan spit out blood as he spoke. “Your turn. Kill him.”

One of the pirates recoiled. “It’s a duel. You and him. Interfering will get us a penalty.”

“Five hundred gold to the man who kills him,” Harrigan said, clasping his hand over his belly. As the silence grew, he spoke again. “A thousand gold. Two thousand.”

The four leaped into the arena, and the monster of a man named Bull hurled axe after axe at Kaden. He grabbed the first three into Inventory and twisted, letting the last one graze his shoulder.

Your duel has been interrupted!

Pirate King Harrigan suffers a Karmic Penalty!

Kaden didn’t mean to let the swordsman, who was probably Jeffries, slice down his arm, stealing a hundred health and leaving him at less than five hundred. But it did count as interfering.

Pirate King Harrigan suffers a Major Karmic Penalty!

Even though karmic penalties were what Harrigan deserved, he simply couldn’t afford to take more hits. “Sara! Trella! Eve!”

A shadow dropped from above as Trella landed, driving both daggers down into Bull’s rib cage. [Ink] marks boiled up onto his neck from each blade as she leaped free and dodged daggers thrown by Kern.

Wilks was a mage, an Ice Mage, who didn’t cast a spell. He enveloped the entire deck in a blizzard with biting cold and blasting winds.

You have been effected by [Winter Blast].

You have acquired a status effect (Slow).

Your skill with [Resist Slow] has increased.

The real problem was a constently plumeting health. Ripping Wilks’s mana out with [Mana Drain] was easy, but actually reaching the man to kill him was not. Trella’s [Backstab] resulted in a swarm of ice shards that speared her Deception, her second deception, both echos, and required her to [Shadow Step] away.

Until the blizzard evaporated and pirates ran screaming for the edges of the ship, as [Anthem of the End] rose, tearing deeper into Kaden’s health.

“I’ve got you,” Eve called. She gifted him five hundred health, less than a fifth of his full pool, but better than the seventy he’d had.

Wilkes didn’t get the chance to respond, as Trella leaped on him, stabbing him over and over.

“Where is Harrigan?” Kaden shouted. The ship’s deck was pure carnage, prisoners fought with pirates on the far end, but the Pirate King himself wasn’t visible at all.

The wind and hail had become a sheer tempest, and above it all, Ashi’s tune continued to pluck out, the odd tune audible over the din of battle, over the gusts of wind and clatter of hail. It echoed in the roll of thunder louder than any simple instrument should ever have sounded.

“[Backstab!] Frontstab! Dickstab! Why the hell aren’t these Skills?” Trella shouted as she made Wilkes more and more dead.

Bull had run, his skin a patchwork of [Ink] and Sara’s horrors devoured the swords of the man named Jeffries. Swordwsman versus swordswoman, it was a battle of skill. Except that Kaden wasn’t interested in battles of skill. He drew Thorn Caster and shot Jeffries in the back. It left the man with an impossible decision.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Sara would kill him quickly if he faced Kaden, while Kaden would continue to stack poison.

“[Lunge!]” Jeffries shouted.

Sara dropped back into a guard while Kaden leaped forward to attack.

Jeffries shot backwards, crashed through the ship’s railing and over the side.

Kaden would have chased him, but the wind had become a physical force that threatened to throw him off the ship.

“We need to get Ashi down!” Sara pointed to the taller mast. “I don’t know what she’s doing, but this storm isn’t natural.”

“She was calling for help.” Kaden said. “How do we lower the cage?”

Eve pointed. “They’re tied underneath. You’ll need to cut the knot. Don’t let her fall.”

As fast as he could, Kaden sprinted to the mast, tossing weapons to prisoners and [Shield Bashing] pirates as he passed. Even with Kaden’s strength, holding on took focus and effort. The closer he got to Ashi, the louder the music. And the wind took on the sound of stringed instruments, the thunder, drums. “Ashi! We have to get down. The storm’s going to break the mast!”

*Do not fear for me.* Ashi’s reply came by [Mind Speech]. *My call has been heard and help comes on the storm. It is as Nature’s Daughter said: these manacles can suppress talents and skills. They cannot suppress the blood in my veins.*

Kaden had about a dozen arguments with that, but all of them died as a pentacle of lights blossomed in the wood of the deck, and a figure in grey rose. From this far up, the Demon Lord looked normal sized.

So that was where Harrigan got the manacles for his prisoners. He had a relationship with a Demon Lord. And before the demon lord kneeled Harrigan.

Sara and Eve had retreated, and Trella was nowhere to be seen, exactly as it should be.

“Stay here.” Kaden flung himself from the mast and drew Remembrance as he fell, bringing the hammer head down aimed at Harrigan’s head. The best time to kick an enemy was when they were down—or dead.

At the last instant, Harrigan summoned two shields, blocking them above him. Remembrance shattered both—and his arms, but the Pirate King rolled clear and rose into the air as clouds of black blossomed out from him.

The Demon Lord looked at Kaden and grinned, then stepped back into his circle, dissolving into nothingness.

“You.” Harrigan’s voice boomed out from the cloud as it expanded further. “You have cost me a thousand years service. But I have lived centuries.”

The clouds of darkness retracted, and Harrigan landed on his feet. His skin was now tarnished with streaks of purple, his eyes blazed crimson, and stubby, pathetic horns graced his head. Any minotaur older than twelve would be ashamed.

But the damage Kaden had done was erased, and Kaden wasn’t even back to full strength, which spelled trouble. He glanced to Eve and Sara. “Get out of here!”

“No.” Eve sprinted across the deck. “If you’re staying, I’m staying. You almost killed him once.”

Before Kaden could attack, a meteor of red landed on the deck. Cutter Karn. She stalked toward Harrigan. “Remember me? Hung from your prow there?”

“I’ll deal with you both.” Harrigan held out both hands, and a blast of pure mana errupted to strike Cutter—who wasn’t there anymore. She stalked toward him, while Rey stood at a distance, healing.

Kaden couldn’t even keep up with the exchange as Cutter struck, but black energy exploded outward—and Cutter Karn went flying, her body smoking and limp. This was not ideal, but there was only one hope here. Kaden drew Thorn Caster and shot Harrigan.

Who pivoted and looked at him. “You fought well. But you should have been running. Let your friend suffer first. Escape for the brief moment in time you could.”

“I’m not the running type. Unless it’s something I should run from.” Kaden drew Remembrance from Inventory. “Do you remember how this ended last time?”

“[Infernal Inferno!]” Harrigan didn’t move. He simply was standing in front of Kaden, gripping his armor with one clawed hand. The other clawed hand glowed brilliantly with purple energy. It impacted Kaden right in the metal of his ribs.

Resiliant Constitution has blocked 12,834 points of damage.

Kaden didn’t remember falling.

Or flying.

Or hitting the ground.

He opened his eyes to pouring rain and lightning overhead.

And Eve, who kneeled over him, healing him. “Kaden. He’s going to kill us all. Can you open a portal to anywhere safe?”

Kaden shook his head. Across the deck, Harrigan toyed with Cutter Karn. Cutter fought with care, and her blows drew black blood that rotted the ship’s deck until the hail and driving rain washed it clear. “I need the Blessing. It’s the only way we get out of this.”

“I’m so sorry.” Eve cut her arm on Remembrance’s blade. “Let the Blood Flow.”

The blood wasn’t Eve’s. It was crimson in a way that made regular blood look pink. It was thick, and moved on its own.

The drop hit Kaden’s tongue, and time stopped.

The goddess herself spoke. Well, well, well. Now you come begging. Now you come pleading and desperate. And now, what I would have given you freely comes at a price. Rise, servant. Begin your slaughter with the words of agreement. I’ll be waiting at your end…

Kaden’s skin felt like electricity coursed along it, and his muscles ached with raw power. Harrigan moved quickly, yes, far faster than any human should, but not as a blur. “Let the blood flow.”

You have been afflicted with [Blessing of Nurav]. Your health will continue to drain for as long as you live. In return, your strength is greatly magnified and all attacks will cause your victims to [Bleed].

His health began to drop, slowly, steadily, as Kaden Birch began a battle he could never win. His movements felt measured and careful as he dodged raindrops to attack from behind, slamming Remembrance into Harrigan’s shoulder.

It rang like he’d struck stone, but Kaden poured on [Split Second] to dodge Harrigan’s attack, which missed his chest by an hair. But now, there were two of them versus him, and Cutter was still faster and stronger. She used the Levicon Blade to cut into the bone-like armor. All of Harrigan’s gems had transformed into teeth, and every swipe carved one off.

An idea tickled deep in Kaden’s mind, a possibility. Harrigan’s attacks were powerful, but Kaden, took, could deliver powerful attacks. Especially if he timed his blows with Remembrance to drink in Harrigan’s strength. Eve’s overhealing had kept Kaden from falling dead immediately. Instead, his health sat at three quarters within moments.

[Plague] flies surrounded Harrigan, and [Speeding Wind] pushed Kaden faster than ever as he leaped over Cutter to block a swipe, then another. Remembrance began to hum with power as Kaden worked to block Harrigan’s attack and let Cutter damage him.

“[Infernal Inferno]!” Harrigan shouted.

And found himself alone, both Kaden and Cutter stood five feet back as the attack fizzled. [Harvest Wind] meant Harrigan could only use that attack a limited number of times. It was time to uneven the odds.

As Harrigan cast a spell that sent boulders of ice flying at Kaden, lightning struck the deck, throwing all of them back. Kaden chose that moment to summon Skully, who lumbered into existence behind Harrigan. The Bone Behemoth slammed his hands down, smashing Harrigan forward.

Kaden was ready with a full swing, hitting Harrigan in the face and sending him flying back for Skully to stomp down, even as a surge of healing hit him, raising his health to eight hundred, health that immediately began to bleed away.

“We’ve got boarders!” Trella shouted. “Keep the prisoners on, keep the pirates off, because we’re all screwed if they get on board.”

Kaden couldn’t spare a moment.

Skully hand brought both hands down to strangle Harrigan, which left Harrigan wrestling as Kaden lined up for a head-splitting blow.

Demon Slave Harrigan has used [From the Depths].

Skully exploded backwards, bits of bone raining down as his hands disintegrated, and Harrigan rolled just as Remembrance split the deck where he’d been a breath before. Before Harrigan could rise, Skully kicked him, sending the man sliding across the deck to Cutter, who drove her broadsword down, cutting deep into Harrigan’s chest.

Before Harrigan began to move, Kaden knew the strike coming, a claw swipe straight at her exposed throat. His health had crateered, one hundred and dropping, but his mana was solid. Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] to kick Cutter back and met Harrigan’s swipe with Remembrance. It wasn’t enough.

He needed more power. He knew how to get it. Kaden sprinted toward Skully, who obeyed the command without question, charging to kick at Kaden, who met the kick with Remembrance. Skully’s body exploded into fragments.

Color drained from the world as [Moment of Eternity] activated. The rain stood frozen, but now wasn’t the time to admire it. Kaden’s mana began to drain faster than his health had. He launched himself at Harrigan, using [Moment of Speed] to strike with Remembrance’s hammerhead over and over with every drop of mana and every point of strength.

One hand supported him against the deck and as his mana approached zero Kaden brought Remembrance down axe-head first.

Crippling Strikes has inflicted a crippling blow.

Fingers separated—and Kaden took them to get the rings on them.

Your mana is critically low!

You have mana shock!

The world snapped back into motion as raindrops resumed their suicide plumet.

Harrigan’s armor exploded into a thousand pebbles that clattered on the deck with hailstones. He grasp at the sword driven through him. “You’ll never escape these islands without my permission. Without me, you remain here forever.”

“Kill him,” Kaden said. “Then I’m going to tame some crabs and feed them his corpse.”

Before Harrigan could look react, Cutter Karn ripped her sword through his belly and twisted, cutting him in half. It was a race, health versus strength for Kaden to bring down Remembrance, smashing Harrigan’s head.