Chapter 64: TECH


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    After a trek, the pulse of the Shogun star intensified as I approached. A Jingozi came into view, floating in the darkness. It rotated slowly, revealing intricate patterns that shifted like living ink across its surface.


    I instinctively loaded my Jingozi hand. It could be a trap. But the Shogun''s presence undeniably guided me here.


    Summoning my blade, I reached out with my free hand and touched the card''s edge. Dark smoke poured from its surface, coalescing into a standing form. After a moment, the Shogun stood before me with crimson and gold robes settling around him as the smoke dissipated.


    His one eye remained a gaping, oozing wound.


    I raised my sword, but he made no aggressive moves. Instead, he bowed deeply.


    "Thank you for freeing me, Ember-san."


    "How is any of this possible?" I kept my guard up. "The last time I saw you, the Jingozi dragged you into the ground."


    "I do not fully understand it myself. I was trapped, yet somehow remained aware. Through visions, I saw you. Your abilities are as mysterious as my existence here, as evidenced by the mask you now wear."


    "You were watching me this whole time?"


    "Only when you invoked your power."


    "Okay, so what now?"


    "You require a champion for the tournament."


    "So I''m told," I said, sheathing my sword. "Got any ideas?"


    "I will serve as your champion."


    I shot him a doubtful look.


    "Out of the kindness of your heart?" I asked. "Yeah, right."


    "Only if you avenge me."


    "And how do you propose I do that?"


    "Overlord Edric," he scowled. "Win the tournament and take me to him."


    He doesn''t know I''m a vessel trying to punch my ticket home.


    His demand made me confront my inner conflict. Should I focus on victory to return home or concentrate on defeating Edric? And if I emerged triumphant, what did any of it matter? After all, this whole thing was nothing more than a game to the Jingozi.


    I decided to make it a problem for future Ember.


    "How do you know I won''t betray you like you did to me when I delivered the scroll?" I asked. "I was acting in good faith. You turned out to be a total A-hole."


    "You are still naive, Ember-san. But it is true. A Samurai would never champion a Ninja. Yet, what choice do I… do we have? I am the one that walks in faith now."


    I paused to process his words. Like me, he was clearly in new territory. He looked and sounded sincere, which differed significantly from our past encounters. Whatever he''d been through, this purgatory, had changed him, and I shuddered at the thought.


    "I guess I have no choice." I extended  my hand. "Deal."


    The Shogun''s form wavered, dissolving into dark smoke that swirled and condensed back into the card. It pulsed with a faint buzz as I slipped it into my deck.


    YOU HAVE RECEIVED A CHAMPION CARD


    Royal Class: Samurai King [10/10]


    "Alphathir?" My voice resonated through the expanse. "I have a feeling you set this all up."


    The stars gleamed in cold silence.


    * * *


    I followed the North Star back to my room. Pipp appeared before me.


    "Lady Ember! Where have you been? This is forbidden! You must return to your—" Pipp''s squeaky voice cut off abruptly as it noticed my Jingozi mask. The little Golem dropped to its knees, pressing its forehead to the ground.


    "Forgive me, master! I had no idea you were..." its voice trembled. "Please, I accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate for my insolence."


    "Whoa, hey, stop that." I quickly pulled the mask off. "Nobody''s getting punished. I just went for a stroll and—"


    The arena expanse vanished in a dizzying blur. My stomach lurched as reality snapped back into place—we stood in my quarters again.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Pipp peeked up, its orange eyes flickering under its mask with confusion and fear.


    "But... but the mask... you''re..."


    "I''m just a player like everyone else." I crouched down. "See? No mask, no punishment needed."


    "My lady," Pipp scrambled to its feet, brushing off its clay form with shaky hands. Its eyes widened. "Wow, your eyes, they''re on fire. I''ve never seen such beauty."


    "Flattery won''t get you anywhere, Pipp," I chuckled.


    "Forgive me!" the Golem threw itself on the ground again. "I would never imply—"


    "Oh my god, Pipp! Chill and get up. Let''s have a chat."


    * * *


    I poured another cup of steaming tea for Pipp, who still trembled slightly but had finally stopped bowing every time I moved. I remembered Golems didn''t eat, so I snacked on some fruit.


    "So the mask isn''t just for show?" I held up the ornate piece. "I thought it was a disguise at first."


    "Oh no, my lady! The mask is a neural interface that allows players to perceive and interact with the dimensional layers of the Crucible." Pipp clutched the teacup with both hands. "Without it, you''d only see and feel what the Jingozi want you to see."


    I studied Pipp, a bit taken aback. Here he was, a clay Golem, casually dropping terms like "neural interface" and "dimensional layers" as if discussing the weather.


    "You sound like those tech bros in Vegas," I said.


    "Tech... bros?"


    "Yeah, Silicon Valley types. They''d corner me at the casinos to explain what they were working on." I gestured vaguely. "Whatever, not very important. What else should I know about this mask?"


    "Well, the mask''s primary function is to facilitate seamless integration with the Crucible''s underlying—" Pipp caught my frown and switched gears. "It helps you see things. Important things. Things the Jingozi don''t want regular players to see."


    I had to smile. Even trying to dumb it down, he sounded like a CEO pitching to investors. But for once, this was good information. Dare I say, an enjoyable conversation.


    "Like virtual reality goggles?" I asked.


    "I... don''t know what that is," Pipp answered.


    "It''s a technology in my world that makes imaginary things seem real. But I guess if it feels real enough, you could mistake it for magic."


    "Then, aren''t technology and magic the same thing?"


    "I think there’s a quote just like that," I chuckled.


    "The mask connects to the ship''s crystal matrix," Pipp continued. "The stars you saw? Those are nexus points within the dimensional structure. Each one represents a different arena or chamber."


    "Crystal? Like octranite."


    "Oooh, yes! Octranite is the Jingozi''s most prized possession and valuable resource. They plant it in every dimension."


    "And the paths between these nexus points?"


    "Quantum tunnels!" Pipp''s nervousness was now fully replaced by enthusiasm. "The Crucible exists in multiple dimensions simultaneously. The mask lets you traverse these overlapping spaces safely. Otherwise..." It shuddered. "Well, getting lost between dimensions isn''t pleasant."


    Magic and technology are the same. The words repeated in my mind. All of it started to explain how the Jingozi pulled the strings between dimensions—our worlds.


    "That''s why everything looks different when I put it on?" I asked.


    "Exactly!" Pipp gestured excitedly, nearly spilling the tea. "The Jingozi designed it this way after the first tournaments drove several players insane. Your kind wasn''t meant to perceive multiple dimensions at once, but—"


    "But what?"


    "You wear a Jingozi mask. So, you''re a Jingozi from another dimension? I''ve never heard of such things."


    "And the Jingozi themselves?" I asked, diverting the conversation. "Why do they need masks?"


    Pipp turned a little somber.


    "The Jingozi exist across all dimensions naturally. They were chosen to see everything as it truly is." Pipp leaned forward as if to reveal a secret. "That''s why most vessels find them so unsettling. Your eyes only perceive a fraction of their actual form."


    Pipp''s clay face suddenly froze mid-sentence. Its orange glow flickered like a dying lightbulb.


    "Oh dear, oh dear!" Pipp''s hands flew to its mouth. "I shouldn''t have... the protocols clearly state... oh, I''ve said far too much!"


    The little golem jumped up, clattering the teacup to the floor. With trembling fingers, it snatched its mask from the table.


    "Please, Lady Ember, stay in these quarters until I return for your match." Pipp backed away, wringing its hands. "If anyone finds out I broke containment protocols, they''ll punish me!"


    "Pipp, wait—"


    But the Golem had already slapped its mask back on. And with a high-pitched whine, Pipp zipped away so fast it left an orange streak in the air.


    * * *


    I lay back on the narrow cot, my mind juggling everything Pipp had revealed—technology masquerading as magic, neural interfaces, multi-dimensionality, and the Jingozi''s true forms. It felt like pieces of a puzzle were finally on the table, but the complete picture still eluded me.


    Out of habit, I tried to blink into the Jingozi arena again. And again, nothing happened. I tried again, focusing harder, but still nothing.


    "Sora?" I whispered into my crystal earpiece. "Cragmarr?" Only silence lingered.


    * * *


    I jerked awake to find Pipp placing a steaming tray on the small table.


    "Wait," I called as Pipp turned to sneak away. "Would you stay and talk some more?"


    "Absolutely!" The orange glow radiating from Pipp intensified before fading as the Golem remembered its place. "That is... provided you wish to discuss matters concerning the competition."


    "I can do that. Tell me, how does the tournament work exactly?"


    "You''ll face six other players, one from each faction." Pipp''s clay hands twisted together nervously. "It''s an elimination format of six rounds. The round ends when the first player''s Zii is reduced to zero."


    "Are they all vessels like me?"


    "Yes, yes!" Pipp nodded vigorously, tiny clay fragments falling from its shoulders.  "All chosen just like you."


    I sat back, stunned.


    "Did I say something wrong?" The Golem pulled off its mask with an anxious look.


    "Not at all," I smiled. "What happens to the losers?"


    "The defeated return to the surface to continue their battles. They can try to earn another tournament invitation, but..." Pipp''s voice dropped to a whisper. "Most never get a second chance."


    An alarm chimed through the room, startling Pipp and sending clay fragments scattering.


    "Oh! The previous match just ended sooner than expected. You must prepare!" Pipp hurried to zip away but then turned back. "Please... don''t tell the Jingozi I shared too much."


    Before I could reassure the Golem, Pipp disappeared.


    * * *


    I paced the small room, my stomach churning. Despite all my training and battles, I''d never experienced a full tournament match.


    Yukiko spent hours explaining tournament strategies, but I was a terrible student. Even Cragmarr''s patient lessons felt distant now.


    "Focus," I muttered, dropping into the first stance of Zii-Kata. I needed to center myself.


    Mid-motion, reality warped. The room zoomed away, replaced by the Jingozi arena. Six other players ominously stood with me in a perfect circle, each wearing faction colors. Above us, six Jingozi floated back-to-back in a ring, the tendrils of their robes writhing outward.


    Among them was the goat-masked Jingozi who had first appeared to me that night in the forest.


    Jingo? I guess I shouldn''t be surprised.