Chapter 13 - The Broken Sword Upgrade
Jace entered the arena wearing Iron Lotus chains beneath his sleeves.
Only I could see the marks where they bit into his wrists.
The crowd cheered for him.
He looked at me and mouthed one word.
Run.
The system gave me another prediction.
[If Kai refuses combat: Jace is executed immediately.]
[If Kai wins: Jace is executed for failure.]
[If Kai loses: Kai dies.]
A perfect trap.
Mira watched from the stands, furious.
Auntie Rook ate sunflower seeds.
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Jace attacked.
Fast.
Too fast.
His sword cut my shoulder before I could move.
Then I saw it.
The chains pulsed every time he tried to slow down.
They were forcing him to fight.
I activated Borrowed Failure.
The system showed me one flaw in his footwork from three months earlier, back when we trained together.
I stepped into the exact angle.
Jace's balance broke.
I could have struck his throat.
Instead I cut the chain beneath his sleeve.
The arena wards screamed.
[Forbidden restraint damaged.]
[Heaven's Debt +3]
Jace stared at his free wrist.
I grinned.
"Want to lose together?"
His old smile returned.
We turned toward the referee.
May you like
Then attacked him at the same time.
