The city was quiet now. No sounds of battle, no fires in the distance. Jackson found it to almost seem alien compared to earlier. How quickly things changed.

From what he could tell, the army had been called and was now suppressing the worst of the contestant. Still, Jackson avoided them just to be safe. No longer were their mobs stalking the streets, a relief for the Luna’s champion. But Jackson knew that something terrible would happen if he let his guard down. That was how this world worked. You couldn’t win, you merely made if from one disaster to another.

That disaster appeared before Jackson not longer after.

He decided to do some scouting and climbed a building. It wasn’t difficult, just a few winds spells to make the jump. His current goal was to reach the palace again, as to yell at Luna the moment the game ended. He knew it would take time to reach the palace and the path would be dangerous.

What he didn’t realize was that others had the same idea. They were the pair now standing before him, smiling.

“Well look at that Daniel, it’s out little cousin.”

“Yep.”

Thomas and Daniel seemed to appear from nowhere, jumping from another building to each this one. Their weapons were covered in blood and they had sickening expressions. Thomas took up a stance, taking a hanging guard. His brother readied his sword staff.

“Once I beat you, I’ll get to be a king.”

Thomas laughed. Jackson took out his trusty dagger and readied himself.

No one moved. The wind blew softly, Jackson felt sweat drip down his forehead. He felt like the first person to move would lose this duel. His hand was shaking in fear, his breathing was unsteady. Years of trauma was flowing through his mind. The hours spent dodging their attacks, the several times he was their practice dummy and those times his uncle sparred against him. Jackson learned everything he knew from these two, and their father, and knew he could not beat them easily.

Maybe if he had both arms, plus this old magic. But not in his current state. His best bet was to battle defensively. Keeping a good guard up. It didn’t matter how could of a fighter you were if you couldn’t hit the other person. That was his best bet.

The sun disappeared below the ocean as the remaining magic street lamps turned on. The temperature seemed to drop. The tension was sharp. Jackson could hear his heart beating loudly.

Thomas cleared the distance between them in the blink of an eye, swinging his blade quickly at Jackson’s neck. Jackson moved with equal speed, stepping out of the way. Thomas kept up the attack, shifting the swing. Jackson blocked with his dagger; their blades grinded against each other for a moment.

Jackson rolled out of the way as Daniel joined the fray. He had appeared behind him, swinging his sword staff with terrifying speed. Jackson didn’t have time to regain his feet as Thomas moved in for a thrust. Once more Jackson rolled away, trying to create some distance between them. It was no good, they were too fast.

Jackson managed to parry another attack from Thomas before flipping out of the way of a swing from Daniel. Jackson felt he had an opening on Daniel but chose not to take it. He didn’t think he put his down his guard for even a second. This proved to be correct as Thomas did three consecutive strikes. Jackson armor once more protect him as two landed. He then felt his false leg get pulled from below him. Daniel had swept it from under him with his weapon, making him tumble to the floor as Thomas moved in for the kill.

Jackson mimicked the Berserker as he fell and landed a kick on Thomas’s chest. It wasn’t powerful but it kept him at bay for the few second he needed to regain himself. Once more, Jackson put distance between them.

“Is that it?”

Thomas laughed. Thomas liked to taunt his opponents. He liked to provoke them, make them make a mistake. Jackson tuned him out, thinking quickly. He could not win if he kept fighting as he was.

Jackson smiled.

They paused for a few more minutes. Each second felt like an eternity to Jackson.

Daniel moved first this time. Jackson blocked the attack, then snapped his fingers. Daniel was knocked to the edge of the building from the impact of a small explosion as Thomas charged. The pair blades clashed, shifting into a bind. Jackson didn’t give his opponent the time to take advantage as he yelled his command.

“Cut!”

Thomas’ armor ripped at the front, and some blood leaked from his arm. Surprised he jumped back, taking a low guard. Jackson leaned back as Daniel’s blade pasted just in front of his nose. The thrust then changed into swing as the blade moved towards him. Jackson lost his footing again, falling onto his back in order to avoid the attack. He grunted in pain before snapping his fingers again. Daniel was prepared this time and was only knocked back a few feet. Still, it gave Jackson the time to get to his feet.

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Jackson panted. He was tired. So, very tired.

He needed a trump card, but not tarot card appeared in his hand. That was the only way he felt he could win. But like normal, they had failed him in that moment.

Their fight continued as Thomas struck at like lightning. Jackson parried and broke more of his cousin’s armor. Daniel moved in, flurrying with his weapon from a far. More explosion, more spells shattering his cousin’s defenses, yet they didn’t look injured. Jackson on the other hand was struggling to stay standing. Each time their blades clashed; he felt a new cut. He was failing to block, to parry as they tag teamed him. Even with his power, he could not stand up to both of them together.

Then, everything got worse as Jackson’s danger sense panicked. He froze as Thomas blade sent him flying. This was a new feeling, and as he cousins laughed Jackson saw what caused his dread.

“Berserker…”

Jackson said, gulping down his horror.

““What?””

Thomas and Daniel turned to see what Jackson was glaring at. They raised their weapon as a cold sweat dripped down their faces. Jackson struggled to his feet, taking something of a stance.

He knew the Berserker on sight, after all he’d been having nightmares about that thing for months. But it looked slightly different.

Normally the full plate mail was rather slender, with a feminine form. It was also wrapped in those snaking chains. Yet, before him was a Berserker with bulky thick armor and no chains. But the red tint to the black armor clearly identified the new combatant.

The Berserker roared as it charged, a massive sword forming in its hand. It swung, aiming for Thomas. Thomas tried to block, but his weapon was brushed aside with ease as the beast turned on Daniel. The twin tried to parry but was sent flying by the impact. Next the Berserker moved to attack Jackson.

“Shit!”

Jackson avoided the attack by less than an inch. The three heroes surrounded the beast, each taking a guard stance. The Berserker seemed to be smiling as a second weapon formed in its other hand.

“Break!”

Jackson casted his spell and watched as a thin layer of armor fell from the beast. Much to his horror, Jackson saw more armor underneath the first layer. Jackson snapped his fingers, aiming for the whole he’d just made. The Berserker screamed in pain, a horrible sound that ate away at Jackson’s sanity. It seemed even less human than the last time he’d fought it.

The Berserker didn’t give him time to recover as it moved to attack him. He saw the blade coming and barely moved his dagger into position to block. His guard broke and the Berserker’s weapon cut through Jackson’s armor. A shallow cut was carved into his chest. There was no hesitation in the beast as it struck out at him. Another oddity.

Jackson struggled to keep standing as the Berserker charged Daniel. It ignored his attempt to attack and instead grabbed Daniel by the leg. It beat the twin against the roof before throwing him into Thomas. Thomas tried to catch his brother but the impact sent them off the roof. It then turned on Jackson again.

Jackson felt the kick to the side of his head, but it took a moment for his mind to realize what had just happened. All he knew was that he was falling towards the ground fast.

“Wind!”

Jackson saved himself just in time. Thomas and Daniel were struggling to their feet as the Berserker jumped after them. Then Jackson saw it snap its fingers and felt a powerful explosion knock him off his feet. He was slammed hard into the building behind him.

He looked to his cousins and saw the Berserker using Thomas to beat Daniel into the ground. It tossed the twin to the side and laughed madly before turning on Jackson once more. It charged, axes forming in its hands. Jackson yelled ‘cut’ and snapped his fingers at the same time. No effect as the blades came close to beheading him. Jackson struggled to move, barely escaping with his life. But he was too slow to escape the Berserker’s grasp.

It had abandoned it weapons once more and grabbed his fake leg. It pulled, dragging Jackson back to it. Jackson then felt like he was flying until he was slammed hard into the ground. He was then lift into the air again.

He snapped his fingers, freeing himself from the Berserker’s grip. He tumbled to the floor, landing hard on his back. With wind magic, Jackson summoned his dagger to him just in time to block a massive axe blade. Jackson saw cracks form in his trusty dagger as the Berserker raised it axe once more.

Jackson kicked out at the beast’s legs. Nothing.

“Shield!”

It shattered as the axe struck it, but it took most of the force. This time, Jackson’s armor held. He couldn’t wait any longer. Jackson caused another powerful explosion. He coughed up blood from the impact but luckily the Berserker was thrown of him. Jackson struggled to his feet again and started to limp away.

Too slow.

The beast was on him again. Jackson was tossed hard into the alley wall. The bricks crumbled from the impact. The beast then lifted him once more and tossed him into another wall. It shattered as Jackson struck it. Jackson tried to move, but the Berserker aimed an axe for the false leg. It cut the steal peg leg in half before stepping on Jackson’s back. It forced him into the ground before stomping on him.

“Shield!”

This time it held.

Jackson dug his dagger into the Berserker’s left hill, then froze in horror as the blade snapped on impact. The Berserker raised it foot again.

Jackson felt it form in his hand, his only hope.

“Number thirteen, Death!”

As Jackson transformed, he knocked the beast from atop him and floated to his feet. Jackson readied his scythe as the Berserker struggled to its feet. Some of its armor was rotting away. The Berserker froze for a moment.

“Is it afraid?”

Jackson wondered, letting his thoughts out. Did the Berserker even know fear? The hard answer came a moment later. The Berserker seemed to pluck three cards from thin air and roared triumphantly.

It transformed before Jackson’s eyes. Long, devil horns sprung from its skull mask as a cloak formed around it. Scales appeared over the beast and a scythe appeared in its hands. Chains wrapped around its arms and it seemed to float.

“No way!”