Blake took a deep breath as he approached the entrance to the dueling arena complex. Nobody knew who he was, and that was a good thing. He was just another person here for the fights.
But after his first duel, Blake knew that would not be the case.
The atmosphere was thick with anticipation and excitement, a palpable energy that seemed to vibrate around him. The scent of popcorn and fried food wafted through the air, mingling with the faint odor of sweat from the gathered crowds. He could hear the distant roar of the audience closer to the arena itself, cheering and eagerly awaiting the next match.
As he stepped through the entrance, a wave of warm air washed over him, carrying with it the sound of lively chatter and the hum of excitement.
The complex was much larger than just the central arena, which was surrounded by grandstands. Food stalls, merchandise vendors, drinks stands, and people selling all kinds of products and services lined the narrow streets. It was like walking through the craziest marketplace in the world.
There were more people in New Meridia at the duels that night than Blake had ever seen. The city’s population swelled every day, and he wondered how long the growth could continue.
There was finite space within the walls. Although, if the City Lord gained something from each new citizen he welcomed into New Meridia, then he had a vested interest in bringing as many people in here as he could.
Blake strode past a bustling hive of activity which showed the names of all the competitors fighting tonight, and the odds that they would win their respective matches.
Morbid curiosity got the better of him, and Blake decided to check his own name.
The Challenger he was facing tonight was called Domingo Rodriguez, who was also a Rank 3 Challenger. The photo of Domingo showed him with a pair of flaming fists, as well as a flame whip in one hand. He had a meticulously sculpted black goatee, and a flamboyant smile.
Blake grimaced. The picture next to Blake Thornwood’s name looked like a mugshot. It must have been taken by the very first soldier Blake had come across in New Meridia. The one who sent him off to the work crews.
Just as unflattering as the photograph were the odds they’d given for him winning against Domingo.
They put his odds as 20:1. Blake decided that he was going to show them all, and he walked straight toward one of the bookies and put 500 credits on himself to win.
The bookie, a short and round man with a missing tooth, laughed at Blake to begin with. “Are you serious? You’re putting 500 credits on that fresh meat, against Domingo Rodriguez?”
Blake looked at him and tried to mimic the face he made in his mugshot. “Yeah, I’m pretty damn sure.”
The bookie stared at the mugshot, then at Blake, then back to the mugshot, then back to Blake. After a moment of hesitation, he laughed nervously.
“Aha, well, I’m afraid 500 credits is the maximum I can accept from you, young man. You know we’re not supposed to accept bets from people who are actually participating in the fights.”
Blake leaned forward. “If Domingo Rodriguez is such a sure thing, then you’ll be able to take my credits without any issue, right?”
The bookie licked his lips and smoothed his mustache back. “Fine, we have a deal!”
A notification appeared in Blake’s interface confirming whether or not he accepted the 500 credit bet at the given odds. Another warning said that if Blake accepted this and bet on himself, he would lose 25% of his winnings to the City Lord as a windfall tax, but that was fine. He expected that the City Lord would take a cut of basically everything that happened in New Meridia.
Blake accepted the terms, then disappeared back into the crowd.
As he approached the arena itself, he had to shove through the bustling crowd and squeeze by. Signs and flashing screens advertised the night’s events, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the faces of the crowd.
Despite the sensory overload, Blake needed to find where he had to go. The moment he thought about it, a marker appeared in his view, along with a command: Go to the Western Challenger gate.
A sense of calm washed over Blake. He was apprehensive, of course, but the hours of preparation and practice had left him confident in his abilities and eager to face his opponents.
Tonight’s duels would be a true test of his skill, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that things would ultimately go his way.
He had something special that nobody had ever seen before.
As Blake approached the western challenger gate, he was greeted by a battle organizer with a clipboard in hand. She had chestnut hair tied back into a bun, but strands had begun rebelling, giving her a frazzled appearance. She eyed him over the black rims of her practical glasses, a skeptical expression on her face.
“Um, you’re Blake, right?” the organizer asked, glancing at the clipboard before looking back at Blake’s rather ordinary outfit.
“Yeah, that’s me,” Blake replied, trying to maintain his confidence despite the scrutinizing gaze.
“I’m Fiona, and I’m the Challenger branding specialist. And well, uh, Blake… You can’t go out there dressed like that. I mean, we’re trying to put on a show here. This is prime-time entertainment! You’ve got to look the part!” Fiona said, shaking her head.
“This is my work order for the day. There was nothing in there about getting dressed up. This is just the kind of clothes I wear, you know?” Blake said.
“Be that as it may, you’re putting on a show for the people of New Meridia now, and they have an expectation! But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Follow me, we’ve got costumes for every occasion,” Fiona said.
She led Blake into the arena building toward a room filled with all sorts of flashy, extravagant outfits.
“So, what kind of cards do you have? Anything special?” Fiona asked.
Blake smirked and replied, “Oh, they’re monstrous. Literally.”
Fiona raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Huh, well that’s new. I’m happy to work with someone who has something from the different fire and earth cards.”
“They’re all made up of those elements. All cards are, aren’t they?” Blake asked.
“All the cards we know about, sure,” Fiona said as she disappeared deep into rows of costumes hanging from racks. Each row was filled with extravagant and colorful costumes. “Now, let’s find you something that will really make an impression out there!”
Blake eyed the costumes warily, feeling out of his element among the glittering fabrics, leathers, and feathers.
Fiona pulled out a sparkling, red and gold sequined jumpsuit with flame motifs on the outside and held it up against him. “How about this? It’s flashy and bound to catch the audience’s attention!”
Blake shook his head vehemently. “That’s way too... Well, everything. I can’t wear that.”
Unfazed, Fiona rummaged through the racks and pulled out a bright, feathered cape with an elaborate headdress.
“This? It’s perfect for a grand entrance!”
Blake crossed his arms, trying not to laugh. “Fiona, I appreciate the effort, but these costumes are not me at all. I need something more... understated. I’m not flashy or over the top. I prefer to let the battle speak for me.”
Fiona paused for a moment, taking in Blake’s preferences. “Alright, let me try something else.”
She disappeared behind a rack of costumes. Moments later, she emerged with a black trench coat that evoked both fire and earth motifs.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The coat was adorned with embroidered flames along the sleeves and hem, while the buttons were shaped like little pebbles. It was an elegant and understated design, perfectly blending the elements of Blake’s deck in a way that Fiona couldn’t possibly have realized. The shoulders of the coat were black but had a texture that reminded Blake of scorched stone.
“Now, that’s more like it,” Blake said, his eyes widening as he took the coat from Fiona to try it on.
It fit him perfectly, and his confidence surged as he looked at himself in the mirror. The fire and earth motifs were a perfect representation of his cards. Now he looked like a proper Challenger.
Fiona smiled, giving herself a nod of satisfaction. “I knew we’d find something you’d like. Now, go out there and show them what you’ve got!” she encouraged, giving him a pat on the back as he headed toward the arena, the trench coat billowing behind him.
The system prompted him to choose a card to put forward as collateral for this match. He offered the Fissure card up as his wagered card, then headed toward the tunnel that would lead him out into the arena.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, the crowd buzzing with anticipation.
As Blake stood in the dimly lit tunnel leading to the dueling stage, he could feel his heart pounding faster. When Blake emerged onto the Challenger deck, the crowd roared.
The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, echoing throughout the arena. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a special treat for you! Entering from the west, we have a newcomer, an enigma, an unknown force ready to take on the challenge! Please welcome... Blake Thornwood!”
Spotlights illuminated the tunnel, and Blake took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself as he strode confidently onto the stage. The crowd roared with excitement, curious about the mysterious challenger in the fire and earth-themed trench coat.
As he walked toward the Challenger deck at the western side of the arena, he could feel the weight of the spectators' eyes on him, appraising and scrutinizing his every move.
“And at our Eastern deck,” the announcer continued, his voice dripping with enthusiasm, “We have a seasoned warrior, known for his mastery of the Flame Whip card, a force to be reckoned with! Give it up for... Domingo Rodriguez!”
The crowd erupted into cheers as a tall, muscular man with a confident grin entered the arena from the opposite side. He wore a pair of red long pants, black boots, and a singlet that showed off his physique.
“Domingo Rodriguez has a reputation for dominating his opponents with his precise control of his Flame Whip card,” the announcer continued. “His strikes are as swift and deadly as a viper's bite!”
Domingo raised his arms, acknowledging the adoration of the crowd, and winked at Blake, a sly grin on his face.
Blake wasn’t intimidated by his opponent's swagger. Not after facing real monsters far above his strength.
The announcer’s voice filled the arena once more. “Will the newcomer Blake Thornwood, an absolute unknown, take down the mighty crowd favorite Domingo Rodriguez? Or will Domingo's mastery of the Flame Whip prevail? Get ready folks, for an epic duel that you won't want to miss!”
Excitement reached a fever pitch as Blake and Domingo assumed their positions, facing each other across the dueling stage.
The duel began with a tense silence as Blake and Domingo stared each other down, their hands hovering above their respective decks. In one fluid motion, both duelists drew their first cards.
Blake drew Flame Claws. The ground shook as the fearsome, flame-enshrouded mountain lion materialized, its eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. A low growl echoed through the arena as it stalked the battleground, claws and mane flaming.
Blake commanded the Pyrestalker to rush Domingo.
Domingo, unfazed by the appearance of the beast, played his first card, which turned out to be a Flame Shield card. A shimmering wall of fire sprang to life in front of him, deflecting the Pyrestalker's first blazing assault.
The crowd gasped at the intensity of the clash, the heat from the impact rippling through the arena.
The Pyrestalker was thrown backward by the Flame Shield. At least the fire didn’t catch on the mountain lion beast. The Pyrestalker kept trying to attack through the Flame Shield, but it wasn’t fast enough to attack between defenses.
As soon as he could, Blake quickly drew his next card, summoning the Berserker Wolf.
The beast appeared with a howl, its fur bristling with energy as it leaped into the fray alongside the Pyrestalker. It grabbed the massive ax in its jaws as it crossed the battlefield. Together, the wolf and the mountain lion began pressing Domingo back.
With a smirk, Domingo drew his next card. He lifted his hand into the air and a flaming whip struck out from his palm.
A gasp passed through the crowd.
“Domingo has drawn his signature Flame Whip card! Is this duel already over?” the announcer asked.
The whip in Domingo’s hand ignited, the runes along its handle blazing brightly as it snaked through the air, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. The crowd held their breath, knowing that the true battle was about to begin.
The first crack of the whip rang out like thunder, the fiery lash cutting through the air toward the Berserker Wolf. The wolf ducked under the attack, but Domingo was relentless, his whip striking again and again.
Blake's Pyrestalker lunged at Domingo from the side. However, the Flame Shield held strong, repelling the monster's claws and sending it skidding back across the arena floor every time it tried to land a hit.
As the duel intensified, the Berserker Wolf and Pyrestalker worked in tandem, dodging and weaving through Domingo's relentless barrage of flame whip attacks. The crowd watched in awe, the air thick with tension as the two forces collided again and again.
With each crack of the whip, the fiery lash grew brighter and more intense, the runes along its handle pulsing with power. Domingo's strikes became faster and more powerful.
Blake, sensing the need for a strategic shift and seeing that his draw timer had reached zero again, drew another card from his deck. His breath caught in his chest as he saw the Meteor Strike card.
It was an immensely powerful creature, capable of turning the tide of the battle in an instant. But with that power came a risk – playing the card would reveal its nature and its existence, potentially giving away one of his most closely guarded secrets.
In front of every single person gathered inside the dueling arena.
As the Pyrestalker and Berserker Wolf struggled to close in against Domingo's whip and shield, Blake hesitated, weighing his options.
Should he play the Meteor Colossus and risk exposing its abilities to the world, or should he continue to trust in his current lineup, pushing them to their limits in the hopes of overcoming this foe?
His wolf was on fire, and the Pyrestalker was hurt now from being unable to breach the Flame Shield. It was fire resistant, but it wasn’t immune, and the mountain lion beast was looking worse for wear.
The crowd's cheers and jeers swirled around him, but all Blake could hear above all else was the pounding of his own heart.
This decision could define his future as a duelist, and he didn't want to take it lightly.
As he deliberated, his gaze fell upon the determined faces of his Pyrestalker and Berserker Wolf, their bodies battered but their spirits unbroken. They had fought valiantly for him, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at their resilience.
With renewed resolve, Blake made his decision. He couldn't risk revealing the Meteor Colossus, not yet, not when the stakes were so high. Instead, he would trust in his current monsters and his own abilities.
Blake took a deep breath, kept the Meteor Strike card in reserve, waited until the draw timer reached zero, and drew another.
“What’s this? Whatever Blake Thornwood has drawn from his deck, he’s refusing to play it! He’s drawn another card instead! Just what secrets down Blake have waiting in the depths of his power card deck?” the announcer asked.
A small smile crept onto Blake’s face as he played his Slasher Golem. This could be the advantage he needed to turn the tide of the battle.
With a flick of his wrist, Blake summoned the Slasher Golem onto the battlefield. The hulking creature emerged from the ground, its rocky body adorned with sharp, jagged edges, and the ends of its arms were long, sharp stone swords. A low rumble escaped it as it eyed Domingo's Flame Whip-wielding figure.
Domingo's eyes widened in surprise as he took in the sight of the Slasher Golem, but he quickly regained his composure, snapping his Flame Whip toward the newly-summoned monster. However, the Slasher Golem was deceptively agile for its size, dodging the fiery lash with ease.
Seizing the opportunity, Blake's Pyrestalker and Berserker Wolf coordinated their attacks with the Slasher Golem, exploiting openings created by the newcomer's swift and powerful sword strikes.
Domingo struggled to keep up with the relentless assault, his once-dominant Flame Whip now failing to find its mark.
Domingo played another card when he had a moment to do so. There appeared to be no effect.
Then Domingo flicked his whip toward the Berserker Wolf, which wrapped it in a flaming tongue. The whip extended out and wrapped around the Pyrestalker as well!
His opponent had used a card which made his whip even more deadly! But it looked like it could only ensnare two targets.
Blake commanded the two ensnared monsters to keep pushing forward so they were in melee range of Domingo. His Slasher Golem circled around the outside of the battle, staying out of melee range for now, toward Domingo’s unprotected rear.
Blake waited until his Slasher Golem and his other two monsters were in position. The ensnared monsters were in melee range and triggered the Flame Shield effect, which opened Domingo’s flank to the Slasher Golem.
As the momentum of the battle shifted in Blake's favor, the crowd's energy also began to change. Once cheering for Domingo, they now roared in anticipation of a thrilling upset.
In a final, desperate attempt to regain control, Domingo unleashed a devastating barrage of flame from his Flame Whip. But Blake's trio of monsters worked in perfect harmony, taking damage from the Flame Shield, dodging and blocking the onslaught, before launching a counterattack of their own.
The Slasher Golem charged forward at Domingo from behind. Caught off guard, Domingo's defenses faltered.
With a resounding crash, the Slasher Golem's strike connected, sending Domingo's Flame Whip flying from his grasp. Then the Slasher Golem struck Domingo, and he went flying across the battlefield.
The crowd gasped, and a hush fell over the arena as they realized what had just happened – Blake Thornwood, the underdog, had emerged victorious.
As the cheers erupted around him, Blake breathed a sigh of relief, and his heart swelled with pride. He and his monsters had defied the odds.
A notification appeared in Blake’s view as the announcer went absolutely ballistic.
“Can you believe this turn of events, people? The newcomer, Blake Thornwood, is our winner!”
Congratulations! You’ve won your first duel! Your work order for today has also been completed.
You only have 2 more formalized duels to win before you get to see your parents again!
Congratulations! You’ve won your wager! You’ve earned 10,000 credits for Blake Thornwood winning a duel with 20 to 1 odds! These credits have now been added to your currently available funds balance, minus the 2,500 credits that have been subtracted from your total and paid to City Lord Clay Atlas.