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  “Come evil one. And may the Crows feast on your Corpses.”

  No sooner had the words left my lips, my challenge birthed into this world did reality resume.

  Every single armored Akka Xalud Knight turned towards me, an eerie synchronization to their movements down to the last detail. The way they turned their body, then their lifeless eyes which could somehow still convey anger. Like a beehive stirred to unrest, they turned towards me as one.

  The sailors, the non-humans of the auxiliary forces and the dwarves all took that chance to gain as much distance as they could from the Akka Xaluds. They nearly threw themselves overboard except a few level-headed individuals kept the others from jumping over the cliff as a pack of lemmings might. Their harsh breathing was ragged even from the few seconds of scuffle. Fear was evident in their faces, wanting to leave this place.

  And every single one of their eyes was glued to me.

  And they stayed.

  Jared Akka Xalud stood still. Caught between getting on top of his litter or getting off of it.

  His eyes bore holes into me.

  I refused to look away.

  Something deep inside my heart burned with blindingly bright fury; a fire so hot that it didn’t just burn. It smoldered.

  Thump

  In the following moments, my heart continued to beat. Stronger and stronger.

  Thump

  Back on Earth, I’d been nobody.

  Thump

  Second thoughts began to crowd the space around my heart. Why did I do this? This was a stupid decision, a spur of the moment call. There was no gain here. Nothing to be gained. Doror was important, but not at the expense of my life. These Auxiliary Forces, the Dwarves, the Sailors; they meant nothing to me. They were strangers.

  Thump

  My goal in MSS is to grow stronger. But that’s not the ultimate goal.

  My ultimate goal is to survive. With my Party.

  And because of my stupid mouth, we were about to pay the ultimate price.

  Thump

  But when my heart beat again, it shattered those doubts to powder.

  Someone tugged on the back of my shirt. My oil-blood-grime stained shirt that no respectable knight would wear.

  It was Doror’s Granddaughter, hiding behind me.

  The tiny dwarven girl was crying. She sniffed, trying to hold back tears.

  Why was it that now, I was reminded of the nameless Orc Warrior who died in my stead? Who threw himself in front of Arione’s Fireball to protect his people? A foolish nameless Orc Berserker that no one will remember; who made a stupid choice to believe in the words of a Slave that he’d get his people out alive?

  A foolish nameless Berserker who I remembered.

  A nameless Orc Warrior. If anyone bothered to ask who I thought was a true Hero in MSS, I’d say it was him. The nameless warrior who threw himself in harm’s way without hesitation. One who accepted death in the face of his adversary, for his people. For something that mattered. For something bigger than himself.

  Thump

  I’m no Hero.

  I’m a coward.

  Thump thump thump thump thump

  But one day, I think I’d like to be remembered as one.

  In the world of frozen stone, I put my arm around the girl. Jared still hadn’t moved and neither had his knights, waiting for their orders. Everyone else, except my Party and Arrosh leaned away from me as far as possible –staring at me like I was insane.

  “Get behind me.” I said.

  One step.

  I dared to take one step.

  The people who had been about to get massacred moved slowly, crowding behind me.

  I took another.

  More of them came to stand behind me, forming another line behind my party.

  I took more steps and with each step, more and more familiar faces found refuge in my shadow.

  Until all of them were behind me.

  A three-way tie, Zenom and the main forces. Jared and the Knights. Me and my party, plus the the ones we had to protect behind us.

  “He’s mad.” Delas’ whisper floated on the wind.

  “What’s gotten into his head?” Another adventurer whispered, “Does he really think he’s some kind of hero for the demi-humans or something?”

  “...A death wish…” Scarlet said.

  “You’re right. He is mad..” said a voice that was getting closer, crossing the space between me and the others. “But someone needed to do it. I’m ashamed it wasn’t me.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  And Borealis joined us.

  “I hope I’m not too late.” Borealis said, taking his shield out.

  Jared took a step down from the ladder. He still didn’t say anything, staring straight at me.

  Following Borealis came the other Scions.

  “...Godammit, I can’t just stand by and fucking watch now, can I?” Dorocian cursed.

  “To think we almost came to blows over a dagger…” Gurran muttered behind me, recalling how we first met.

  But Jared didn’t even pay attention to them.

  I took a quick look to see what Zenom was doing.

  He just stood there, eyes wide. Like a man who’d just lost everything. I couldn’t tell what the man was thinking.

  But it was clear what the other adventurers were thinking. They were thinking that this would come to blows. That it’d be a mini-skirmish on top of this barge.

  That was the last thing I wanted. Because thanks to my thatrics and drama, these people had forgotten one crucial thing.

  Our ship was surrounded by a platoon of Frigates, all poised to fire right at us.

  Jared hadn’t boarded our ship with his entire force. And I was willing to bet my party’s entire stash of gold that those weren’t the only ships that he had.

  And that was when the thought entered my mind: What next?

  If I won the duel, what then?

  The adrenaline from before quickly faded.

  It was right then, right at that moment when the slightest of genuine hesitation entered my mind that Jared finally spoke.

  “Your name, Child.” Jared said at last.

  No one answered him.

  He was talking to me.

  “...Lock.” I said, “Lock Slaveborn.”

  “A former slave.” He said smoothly, “Challenges me? Do you know who I am?”

  “War Prince of Turina.” I said, then almost apologetically, “Sorry. Former War Prince of Turina.”

  I hadn’t meant it to be insulting. Not at all. It just came out that way.

  The way everyone sucked in a breath was a physical sensation akin to a space-vacuum.

  The Masked Knight finally spoke. “War Prince, if I may?”

  Jared didn’t quite smile, but he might as well have. He gave the tiniest of nods.

  “You call upon the ancient rite of Ferries Duelis, the Iron Duel.” The Masked Knight began walking towards me. “Yet, you have no claim to the rite; for that is a rite reserved for Knights. True Knights, those anointed by the Holy Emperor of Turina and the Pope of Light, Flame and Shield. You-” He drew his sword and pointed it at me. “You are simply a rogue. Rescind your words and I will personally make sure you suffer no longer than seven days.”

  “But first, I must cut out your tongue.”

  Then he moved towards me, blade out.

  Skaris and Aurora stepped out so fast that they were no more than streaks of color in my vision.

  There was a faint pop and suddenly the air felt too dry, way too hot and there was a distant pain in my lungs. The sound had been no louder than a droplet of water in a pond. Insignificant. Unnoticeable.

  But the raging inferno that dripped with the bloodlust of Skaris Deepeater, the Lizard Beastman; my first comrade was anything but unnoticeable.

  Skaris’ spear actually bent underneath the force of the stab; the faint pop was followed by a whistling sound then superheated air condensed into supersonic wind waves threw everyone off of their feet –those without Cores. Skaris laughed hysterically, almost screaming into the air as his entire body dripped with molten flames –not quite lava but melting through the ship. Tiny sizzles continued to crack and pop off of his spear and body.

  His spear then exploded into instant death.

  I forgot to mention, Doror had upgraded my party’s Legendary Items. Skaris’ spear, [Strange Antler] was one of them.

  Before, when one stabbed forward with the spear, it created a superimposed image of antlers, instantly increasing the area which was inflicted by the blow. SImply put, it was like stabbing with five additional spears.

  Doror apparently didn’t like antlers.

  The spear turned white-hot and then splintered into at least three different shards of laser-like projectiles. So bright that it felt like I was looking at the sun. And each of those laser-like projectiles split off into additional beams of light that exploded into heat, light, sound –all combined into a sensory overload that made me look away.

  And behind closed eyelids, I saw the lines of white join together to form a flower bud… which then bloomed.

  ?Skaris Deepeater casts [Blooming Conflagration]?

  Holy Shit.

  When I opened my eyes again, his stab had left afterimages of white-lightning streaking across the back of my eyelids.

  And the entire ground in front of Skaris had simply disintegrated.

  No large fire. Nothing.

  The deck floors had turned to ash instantly.

  “SSSSHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” Indescribable joy filled Skaris’ voice and his eyes began to cloud over with red.

  His eyes were filling with blood; whether from the strain of forcing so much fire-mana or from sheer excitement, I couldn’t tell.

  “NO ONE TOUCHESSSSS SSSSSLAVEBORN! NO ONEEEE!” Skaris screamed, the drool dripping off his mouth evaporating instantly. “YOUUUU! MASSSSKED ONEE! YOU DREW FIRSSSST! SSSSSLAVEBORN? CAN I HAVE HIM? LET ME HAVE HIM! HE DREW FIRSSSST! HE DREW HISSSS SSSSWORD FIRSSSSSST!”

  He continued rambling, cackling and driven mad by bloodlust and the need for impending violence.

  …A lot of [Fire] type Cores had traits attached to them that caused explosive bouts in personality. I’ve been slowly noticing Skaris’ change in behavior, all the way from the Samak Desert until now.

  As much as he’d grown stronger, he’d also been ready to blow.

  Like now.

  So much so that his ability almost hurt us.

  Almost.

  Except Aurora had taken place right behind Skaris, shielding us from the aftershocks. Like a Shielder; her posture was perfect –timing, stace. Vetilian’s skill was unrivaled and made me want to applaud at her talent which could only be matched by Stole’s.

  I turned back to the scene.

  Blue-white flames flickered all around Skaris.

  Yet, the Masked Knight still stood.

  Half his mask had been burned away, so he grabbed it and threw it to the side. Underneath the mask, he was rather plain looking. Brown hair, fair skin and looks. Just very plain. He had been thrown back at least a dozen feet, right in front of Jared.

  It had saved his life.

  Even though the air-pressure had thrown him, his armor had simply melted. Bits of carapace fit wrongly, warped from the intense heat. Just the heat that had radiated off of Skaris’ initia attack

  There was a beetle that flew around the no longer masked Knight’s head, its wings buzzing weakly. It flitted around for a few more seconds then fell to the ground, beating out the last of its life.

  The knight, Kariyo was his name, looked down with a grim expression.

  I couldn’t read Jared’s feelings but I could read Kariyo’s.

  Worry.

  Skaris’ strength had surprised him.

  But that wasn’t all it did.

  Jared had taken off his mask.

  He was smiling.

  I saw him mouth something. I couldn’t hear him, the wind had picked up due to Skaris’ stunt. But I could roughly make out what he had said.

  ‘Beautiful.’

  Zenom took that moment to run in between Kariyo and Skaris.

  “Slaveborn, reel in Skaris!” He turned to Jared and Kariyo. “Sir Jared, please. I beseech you, see reason.”

  Jared gave a passing glance at Zenom.

  “No, I think it’s come too far for that.” Jared said in the same tone people use for talking about the weather. “Knight or not, he has the Right.” He gestured towards my sword, glowing with Aura. “Besides…” He looked at Skaris who had calmed down, but his entire body heaved –like a horse who had run too fast.

  “I’m interested now.”

  Jared continued.

  “Fine then, Lock Slaveborn.” Jared said, “If I win, a formal apology from you. Plus, you will be under my own personal custody.”

  “A slave then.” I spat to the side, thoughts turning flat.

  “You’re used to it, no?” He said.

  The world turned to a two-dimensional screen as I killed the feelings inside of me. No anger. No righteous fury. Like the endless depth of an ocean swallowing a bonfire, I killed my emotions.

  The word ‘Slave’ snapped something in me.

  “Slaveborn,” Doror handed something to me. The Lunar Shield. It looked different but I didn’t take time to look, simply taking it off the old Dwarves’ hands.

  “It’s not done yet, but-”

  I ignored him, continuing to walk. I reached Skaris.

  “Ssslaveborn?” Skaris growled.

  “Skaris,” I looked straight at my friend. “Leave it to me.”

  The heat instantly faded as Skaris calmed himself. He gave me a nod. “Trusst.”

  Zenom looked relieved.

  Nodding to Skaris and the others, I stepped forward. “And if I win?”

  Jared nodded to Kariyo…

  Who stepped up to meet me in the middle.

  Right. I was the challenger. He had the right to choose a Champion.

  So he chose Kariyo.

  Jared was underestimating me.

  Kariyo drew his sword…

  And two beetles took flight from behind him, the size of my head, and began to revolve around the small battlefield.

  “If you win,” Jared replied, “Everything.”