Chapter 63: CRUCIBLE


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    "You can''t win the tournament without a champion card," Sora said. "Some have tried, but they always fail."


    "She speaks the truth," Cragmarr added, his orange marble eyes tracking the spinning runes above. "But the Crucible would not manifest if it was not time."


    "Katorro was supposed to be my champion," I pulled away from Sora''s grip. "We all knew it."


    "He can''t be," Sora growled. "His cards were stripped. His abilities were taken. He could barely walk when I left him."


    The light beam pulsed brighter still, and I felt the undeniable pull toward its center. Like a fish hook in my chest, it drew me forward.


    "It doesn''t make sense." Sora moved to block my path, her face tight with desperation. "Please, don''t go. The Jingozi are retaliating. They''re setting you up to fail."


    "You don''t know that—"


    "I know exactly how they operate!" Sora''s voice cracked. "They take everything from you, then force you to dance to their tune while they laugh."


    The pull intensified. I tried to step around her, but she moved to block me again.


    "Get out of my way, Sora."


    "No. I won''t let you walk into their trap." She spread her arms wide. "They want you dead for interfering with their plans. This is how they''ll do it—make it look like you failed their precious tournament."


    "What choice do I have?" I gestured at the pyramid looming above us. "You think they''ll just let me skip it?" I turned to Cragmarr. "If I win... what happens to me?"


    "They assured me. They will honor your victory if you choose to return home as your reward."


    "You don''t sound so sure of yourself, Crag."


    "I do not know for certain. Remember, none of my charges had survived long enough to win the tournament."


    "If you win," Sora stepped closer, "your vessel will appear by a random nexus. That''s what happened to me. But only if you win."


    "And if I lose?" The beam of light pulsed again, making my skin crawl.


    Cragmarr''s orange eyes met mine.


    "I do not know," he replied. "The Jingozi will decide your fate. Both here and back on Earth. The connection between the vessel and the player is absolute."


    "How comforting," I muttered.


    A sensation swelled inside my rib cage, followed by a sharp jab. As the discomfort faded, a crimson Zii coin phased through my armor and was yanked into the shaft of light. It rocketed skyward toward the Crucible''s entrance.


    "Well, isn''t that great?" I grumbled.


    Another Zii popped out and up, leaving me feeling depleted.


    "Ember…" Cragmarr warned.


    "I know, Crag. It looks like they''re not taking no for an answer, and I''m on a timer."


    Something shifted inside me—a certainty beyond fear. I faced Sora, keeping my voice steady. She shook her head but stepped aside as more Zii popped from my body.


    I knelt beside Kitty, running my fingers across her silver scales.


    "Time to go home, girl." My familiar ring hummed as I summoned her inside. I pressed the ring into Cragmarr''s clay palm. "Give this to Jon when he wakes up. He''ll need her more than me if..."


    Cragmarr''s orange marble eyes swirled with emotion as I wrapped my arms around his rocky frame.


    "Thank you for everything," I whispered. "For being patient. For believing in me even when I was impossible."


    I turned to Sora, who stood rigid with crossed arms.


    "Sora, if I don''t return, find my vessel. Don''t let me down. The Jingozi need to pay for what they''ve done to you… to all of us."


    Sora''s jaw clenched, but she gave a sharp nod.


    I glanced at Jon''s unconscious form, deciding against a final goodbye.


    Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the beam.


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    * * *


    It looked exactly like the Jingozi arena—the same obsidian floor and aurora waves in the sky. But something felt different. The air hummed with an artificial quality, like being inside a pressurized cabin.


    A warbling sound caught my attention as a short figure warped before me. It was a clay Demi-Golem, no taller than my waist and shaped like a plump sexless child. It wore a metallic masquerade mask that covered its entire face.


    The Golem gave an enthusiastic bow, spreading its stubby arms wide.


    "Lady Ember! Welcome, welcome! I am Pipp, your tournament preparation assistant!" Its voice was high and chipper. "We have much to cover."


    "Hi, Pipp," I said, oddly charmed by its cheerful demeanor.


    "Yes, yes, let me just pull up your..." Pipp''s voice trailed off as it touched its mask. "Oh. Oh my."


    The Golem reached up and lifted its mask, revealing a friendly clay face with swirling gravel patterns. As its marble eyes widened, I still couldn''t tell if it was male or female.


    "This can''t be right. Your rank and privileges far exceed my clearance level." Pipp scratched its head, clay crumbling slightly. "I''ve never even met a Judgment Dealer before. And what''s the star beside your name?"


    "That''s not," I felt my eyebrow raise, "normal?"


    "Highly irregular! I''m just a basic guide. You need someone with much higher authority than me. My sincerest apologies!"


    With another deep bow, Pipp''s form blurred and zipped away.


    Another warble sounded behind me, and I turned to find a taller, thinner clay Golem materializing. Unlike Pipp''s childlike form, this one carried itself with rigid formality. It wore the same silver mask with hardened clay accents on its form as if it was wearing a uniform—kind of like a butler.


    "Greetings, Judgmnent Dealer," It bowed stiffly. "I am here to inform you that your match has been queued. The estimated wait time is approximately three days."


    "Three days?" I frowned. "But Jingozi matches happen instantly—time freezes."


    The Golem remained motionless without even a hint of explanation. Instead, it snapped its clay fingers with a sharp crack. The arena dissolved around us, replaced by an opulent suite rivaling my old Vegas penthouse. Crystal chandeliers made of octranite cast rainbow patterns across black glass floors. A massive bed dominated one wall, but no door or window.


    "These will be your accommodations while you wait. All amenities and services are at your disposal."


    "Actually..." I glanced around at the excessive luxury. "Can I request the first Guide, Pipp, as my guide instead?"


    "Your title authorizes such a request," the Golem''s mask tilted slightly. "I must warn you that the standard accommodations are far less... comfortable."


    "That''s fine. I''ll manage."


    Without another word, the Golem snapped its fingers and vanished. A chime announced Pipp''s whooshing return, practically bouncing with excitement.


    "Oh, wonderful! This will be so much fun!" Pipp exclaimed. "I''ve never had a Judgment Dealer request me before!"


    The suite dissolved as Pipp clapped its clay hands. A small, stark room materialized around us—more like a prison cell than luxury accommodations. Black walls stretched to a low ceiling, bare except for essential lighting provided by a cluster of crystals. A narrow cot hugged one wall, its thin mattress covered with a simple blanket. A small table held some staple provisions—dried meat, fruit, and what looked like rudimentary tea set. A modest bathroom area in the corner contained just a basic shower stall and toilet.


    Like the suite, there were no visible forms of entry or exit. Everything just zoomed in and out as I stood still.


    "Here we are! Much cozier, wouldn''t you say?" Pipp gestured around the impoverished space with enthusiasm.


    I gave a slight nod. The living arrangements weren''t what concerned me. My gut told me Pipp would be a better source of information than that Golem butler.


    "Now then, make yourself comfortable! Your match won''t begin for three days or so." Pipp''s mask lifted to reveal a genuine smile. "If you need anything, simply ask aloud, and I''ll appear immediately!"


    "Thanks, Pipp."


    The little Golem raised its stubby arms, clay hands poised to clap.


    "My pleasure! See you soon, Lady Ember!"


    Pipp''s form blurred and zipped away, leaving me alone in the bare room.


    "Pipp?" I called, testing the response time.


    The Golem reappeared instantly like it never left.


    "Yes, Lady Ember?"


    "What exactly am I supposed to be doing in here?"


    "Whatever you''d like!" Pipp spread its stubby arms. "You can rest, eat, shower, or meditate—the room is yours to use as you see fit."


    "Can I leave?" I gestured at the black walls.


    "I apologize, but no," Pipp''s mask drooped slightly. "For security purposes, all Jingozi players must remain in their assigned spaces until their matches begin."


    "What about others? Or anyone else outside?"


    "That... That''s not within your current privileges. I''m sorry. You''ll need to remain in isolation until your match begins."


    "So I''m just supposed to sit here alone?"


    "I can appear whenever you summon me!" Pipp''s chipper tone returned briefly. "But beyond that... I''ve been instructed to leave you to yourself. Would you like anything before I go?"


    "No thanks, Pipp."


    The little Golem disappeared with another warble.


    * * *


    I stepped into the basic shower stall, letting the water wash away days of grime and battle. The temperature adjusted perfectly without any controls.


    Wiping steam from the mirror, I froze. The face staring back wasn''t mine—or rather, it was a version of me I barely recognized. My skin glowed with an ethereal perfection as if an AI filter had digitally enhanced every pixel for a fashion magazine cover.


    The fire sight ability still danced within my eyes, casting tiny flickers of red light across my irises. What was new were the delicate crystals surrounding them, creating a natural mask that sparkled like ruby dust. They formed an intricate pattern, catching the light and throwing back tiny crimson reflections.


    I leaned closer, gently touching the crystals. They felt smooth and cool against my fingertips, seemingly embedded just beneath my skin. The effect was stunning.


    "Who are you?" I whispered to my reflection.


    After drying off, I sampled the provisions on the small table. The dried meat tasted bland but filling, while the fruit was surprisingly fresh.


    Settling onto the thin mattress, I tried to blink and speak with Alphathir. Nothing happened. Using my gift remained frustratingly out of reach.


    I lay back, staring up at the ceiling, when a thought formed on the edge of my mind—the Golems'' masks were made of the same metallic material worn by the Jingozi.


    Sitting up, I pulled the Jingozi mask from my inventory and examined its alien contours.


    "Here goes nothing," I muttered, raising it to my face.


    When the cool metal touched my skin, it sealed itself in place with a sharp hiss. I instinctively reached up to tear it off but froze as the black walls around me dissolved into nothingness.


    An endless expanse stretched out in every direction, the arena stars over me shining with newfound clarity. My North Star was directly above, but the second star also twinkled in the distance.


    The Shogun.