Elsewhere

Duke awoke to the longest slew of system messages to date. Nearly all his Abilities had increased by at least two levels. The most significant was that his REGENERATION levelled up to the Practiced rank, level six. That meant that he could now regenerate over 600 health per minute, more than 10 health per second. It was the personal message that accompanied the changes that really woke Duke up.

***

Congratulations, Duke. You have found a PURPOSE in this new life. Every action that you take that supports this PURPOSE will be blessed. Any action you take in opposition to your PURPOSE, however, will be hindered. Your PURPOSE is to fight for freedom for yourself and others. This choice and direction are in full harmony with your Seeded NATURE, so we have decided to provide an additional enhancement for you. Whenever your PURPOSE and NATURE align, your blessing will be doubled.

Your current blessing will result in a 10% increased likelihood and degree of success for all actions that it affects. Lean into your PURPOSE and enjoy our blessing.

For choosing a PURPOSE that aligns so closely with your created NATURE, we have awarded you with an additional 5,000 experience. This is enough to bring you to level 3. You now have 6 free Characteristic points to spend. You get to choose where to put them going forward.

Your rather extreme methods of training have had unexpected benefits to your Characteristics. You gain a point in both Psyche and Endurance due to your ordeal approach to training.

Your Skills have also increased. Most notably, your Brawling and Dodge Skills have both advanced to Initiate rank. Continue to use your Skills so heavily and there is no limit to how strong you will become.

***

Duke submersed himself in training for the next three days. During that time, the team grew closer and learned how to fight together. Duke started being able to throw out Ability after Ability to their shock and delight. This was a time of significant growth in his Skills and Abilities but they all knew it was leading up to a singular event and tomorrow, the event would be upon them.

He awoke the morning of the fight, refreshed and ready. Duke was surprised that he was not nervous at all. He felt ready and there was one message he received this morning that changed everything. He could not help but break out in a wide grin.

***The disruption of your TELEPORTATION Ability has been resolved. You now have full access to this Ability. Due to the extraordinary effort required to overcome the corruption of this Ability, it has been strengthened to prevent such corruption from occurring in the future. ***

Duke came to breakfast with his team smiling from ear to ear. Lester was the first to notice and remark upon it. “You seem extra happy this morning, Duke. Not nervous about our bout at all?”

Duke continued to smile. “Not even remotely. I have, just this morning, regained an Ability that had been temporarily lost to me. And this is a game-changer. We can’t lose, not with this.”

This had gotten the attention of not only their table, but several tables surrounding them. Duke didn’t mind – he was stoked and ready to show off his favorite Ability. “Watch this…”

Duke TELEPORTED behind Lester and snatched one of his daggers out of its sheath. It was nearly at the rogue’s throat before he could even react. There were gasps throughout the crowd as Duke handed the blade back to his teammate. He then decided to push his Ability and tried to TELEPORT the dagger to his own hand.

Lester had an odd look on his face as he felt his dagger try to tug its way out of his hand. His grip tightened on the hilt; he was not losing his blade again. And then it was gone. His hand closed on empty air and his eyes bulged in shock. For the second time in as many minutes, Duke handed him his dagger with a wide grin.

“That’s…that’s amazing," Lysander leaned in close as if he was looking for how Duke had pulled the dagger out of Lester’s hand.

Duke responded, still unable to calm his grin. “Indeed, it is. I can be anywhere I need to be within the arena, and, with enough time and effort, I can strip the entire group of their weapons. They will have no idea what hit them”. Duke turned to Lysander. “Imagine an enemy’s shield disappearing a moment before your hammer came down upon their head.”

Lysander started to chuckle, his laughter growing into a roar that got the attention of the rest of the dining hall. His slap on Duke’s back as he guffawed nearly flattened the man, but Lysander didn’t seem to notice. Others had crowded around the table to see what the ruckus was all about but were quickly pushed aside as Ergo made his way to the table.

“This is quite unusual, even for Lysander.” Ergo began. “What has gotten into you, boy?”

“Hammer…shield…face…” Lysander uttered between guffaws before just collapsing in upon himself overwhelmed at the joyous image of his foe’s face being unexpectedly splatted.

“Anyone care to translate?” Ergo felt a grin starting to form on his face despite his best efforts or his comprehension for that matter.

Lester stepped up to explain. “Duke has just revealed a trump card that is going to ruin Stone’s day. And it’s going to be hilarious!”

Ergo’s smile grew more predatory. “Show me.” He commanded, the authority in his voice resonating throughout the room despite the smile in his tone.

Duke nodded and concentrated for a moment, staring at Ergo. Ergo felt his foot itch within his boot but nothing else. His smile faded, “Is that it? You can make my foot itch?”

Duke amped up his concentration, channeling more mana into his TELEPORTATION than he had ever tried before. And, with a small pop of air, Ergo’s boot was in Duke’s hand. Ergo stumbled for a moment before he caught his balance.

Duke handed his boot back to him as Lysander had finally got control of his laughter only to lose it again, pointing at the boot and shouting overly loud “Shield!” He clutched his gut as he leaned heavily on the table, completely unable to control himself or even support himself for that matter.

Laughter rippled throughout the hall as Lysander’s mirth was infectious. Few understood the joke so most just chuckled along aware that something was funny about “Shield” but not sure what it was. Everyone else was laughing, after all.

Lasandra finally spoke up, everyone looking towards the diminutive woman. “Duke can TELEPORT himself and other items as well. Lysander is stuck picturing the image when Duke TELEPORTs a foe’s shield away while the poor sod is trying to block one of Lysander’s full-force hammer blows to the head.”

Ergo smiled again. “OK, that is funny. Can you really pull that off, Duke?”

“I can, but I have to overcome the target’s innate resistance. I had to really push it to grab your boot, more than I think I would want to do in a fight.”

Ergo dismissed the statement. “I have considerably more willpower than anyone you should be facing at this level so I don’t think that will be a tremendous problem. This is an unexpected and potentially overwhelming advantage. Axis will be pleased.” He turned to leave but paused for a moment to deliver a final message. “You have one hour to report to the arena. Finish eating and get yourselves geared up. Take this fight seriously. All of Stone wants to kill Duke and we all expect them to try.” He then continued to leave, having broken the levity of the room entirely.

Duke, Lysander, Lasandra, and Lester finished their breakfast in near silence, sobered by Ergo’s words. As they got up to go get prepared, they were stopped by an unexpected presence. Before them stood Axis, the leader of Leviathan. Everyone else took an involuntary step back as Axis spoke. Most didn’t even realize they had. Duke looked around momentarily, wondering where everyone went.

“You four come with me. We will speak before you fight.” His voice carried an authority that was palpable. As he turned to lead them away there was no question in any of their minds as to whether they would follow.

He led them to a side chamber next to the equipment room, closing the door behind them all when they entered. Waiting in the room were Jablach and Gefolich as well as Ergo.

Axis started. “You four are about to be dropped into a meat grinder. Stone is pushing the rules to the limit on this one. They clearly want you dead, Duke. They will likely try to kill all four of you. This was supposed to be a match of new initiates, but they have bent the rules significantly and Quaid is letting them get away with it.”

Jablach interrupted. “They are pitting you up against Team Slam, all arena veterans and convicted killers. They are all well beyond your ability to defeat. We should forfeit the match even with all the consequences that would come from that.” Axis nodded his head in agreement with his sudden decision.

Duke stood firm. “No. We will not be forfeiting the match. I will stand alone against these killers and fight for my freedom before all who would see it. I stand resolute and will not stand aside. I, alone, will face these takers of freedom and crush them before me.” Duke’s PURPOSE flared with his decision.

“No! You will fucking not stand alone!” Lysander shouted, rising to his full two-meter height.

“Damn straight!” added Lester.

“You shall not fall on my watch.” Added Lasandra, also standing beside Duke.

“And so it shall be.” Responded Gefolich as he cast a spell upon the four. “Since they are bringing in foes beyond what you should have to face, I am giving you all an additional boost. It will last for two hours which should be sufficient to get you through the match.”

When he was done casting, Duke noticed that Axis had left at some point, but he had no idea when. He suppressed a shudder and joined the rest of the team next door to get geared up.

“With your newly revealed Ability, Duke, I’m not sure if you should use it right off or save it for an opportune time. Now that we know they mean to kill you, things are much more serious.” Lasandra offered with her small, but melodic voice.

“I guess we will have to play it by ear. I just hope there’s no pie.” Duke responded.

“Pie?” Lysander asked.

“Sorry. It’s just something I read once. Don’t worry about it.” Duke responded. The rest still looked at him in confusion.