“Kids’ll never learn,” muttered Bertrod, removing his hand from Jack’s shoulder. With a louder voice he said, “Tera, go get the witness.” The waitress dashed out of the pub.

Turning back to Jack, Bertrod asked, “Jack, do you even know what you agreed to?”

Jack continued to glare at Bron, “As long HE’s dead at the end, it doesn’t matter. Can I challenge the rest to a duel after?”

The room thought that was hilarious, breaking the momentary tension. The betting began among the patrons. “Ten silver says he doesn’t last four seconds,” Jack heard before tuning the room out.

With resigned patience Bertrod responded, “Yes if you survive, you can duel them all. If they accept.”

“And if they don’t?”

Bertrod snorted, “Then it’d be murder wouldn’t it?” Grabbing Jack by the shoulder again, he pulled him to the door. “Come along now, you’re going to do this outside, I don't like cleaning blood off the floor.”

Jack let himself be pulled outside to the street. The waitress returned with a guard in tow.

The guard strode to the center of the street and announced, “There will be no outside interference. The fight is to the death, and no potions are allowed.”

Bertrod leaned forward and asked Jack, “Are there any family and friends you would like me to notify of your death?”

“You seem to think I’m going to lose.” Jack accused.

Snorting Bertrod retorted, “He’s ten levels higher than you, wearing heavy armor, and enchanted jewelry. You have a small rusty axe and damaged light leather. The real question is, does he draw the fight out by cutting off your limbs one at a time, or does he finish you in a single swing of that big bastard sword?”

He has a point, my axe can’t get through his chain mail and he has four times my health. Jack shook away the doubt. You have magic. He’ll be helpless for six seconds.

Jack approached the guard. The rowdy spectators enclosed them both in a large circle, eager to see blood. Bron raised his hands to the crowd, egging them on.

The guard turned toward the crowd, “Make some space people. Back up!” Facing the combatants he called out, “Are you both ready?”

Bron mocked, “I’m ready to teach this pup a lesson. Too bad he won’t be around to learn from it.”

Looking Bron in the eye Jack retorted, “I’m ready.”

“Then begin,” said the guard, and stepped back to the edge of the circle.

Jack positioned himself for Bron’s charge, ready to cast Paralyze. Instead, Bron slowly walked forward. No! He has to be running or he won’t fall on his face, he’ll just freeze standing.

Jack backpedaled and desperately looked around. That might work, he spotted a loose cobblestone in the street. Picking it up, he hurled it at Bron.

The heavy rock soared through the air and slammed against the forearm Bron raised to block. Laughing from the crowd echoed off the walls of the towering shops around them. He saw no visible damage. He inspected Bron and saw he had 400 out of 400 health. It didn’t even get through his armor!

Bron was no longer smiling. At least I pissed him off. Jack circled around Bron, trying to gain even more distance.

“Stop running you coward.”

Spotting another loose stone, Jack bent over to retrieve it.

“Enough!” Bron shouted and charged. The crowd went wild.

Finally! Jack swore in relief and cast Paralyze. You have six seconds Jack, get to work.

Bron’s muscles froze. He fell forward with momentum and hit the ground hard. Wow, that’s loud, Jack thought as Bron’s chain armor screeched against the cobblestones.

Jack raised his rusty axe as he rushed forward and chopped down on the back of Bron’s exposed neck. Owww. His hands vibrated in pain, the axe shattered from the impact. Just how strong is his spine!

He spotted Bron’s bastard sword on the ground at his side. Jack quickly grasped the sword with both hands and swung downward. The sword bounced off his backbone, but did not break.

Blood was pooling around the wound, but he knew it wouldn't be enough. Jack swung again and again, slowly chipping away the bone.

“Get up!” yelled the crowd.

After his fourth swing, Bron came back to life with a scream. Crap! I’m out of mana and he’s not dead yet.

Jack stared in horror as Bron rolled onto his back howling, hands encircling the back of his neck. I need to finish it! Jack pursued and swung the bastard sword down on Bron’s exposed throat. Screams turned to gurgles as it was split open.

Bron rolled away and staggered to his feet. The crowd cheered Bron’s rise to his feet. How is he still alive! Jack inspected Bron. He still has ninety health left!

Jack backpettled, putting distance between them. Bron staggered forward, one hand clasped to his bleeding neck. They continued the dance, Bron stumbling toward him as Jack scampered away. He heard booing at his choice of tactics. Screw them, they aren’t the ones in danger.

He’s slowing down. Jack thought in relief, and inspected him. Only thirty two health left.

Checking his own status, a smile came to Jack’s face.

Instead of retreating, Jack cast Paralyze. Bron stumbled to the ground.

His borrowed sword descended, ripping into the side of Bron’s neck. The spell released and Bron let out one last moan before going silent.

The crowd let out a great roar of approval.

“Jack Herring is the winner,” stated the guard.

Panting to regain his breath, Jack checked his notifications to the sounds of cheering.

You have killed Bron Miller.

You receive 83,886,080 experience.

Holy Shit! His jaw dropped. That’s a lot of experience! Jack checked his status, eager to see his own level. Level twenty already! It’s Gurt’s turn.

His eyes scanned the crowd around him, searching for the rest of Bron’s group. “I challenge Gurt to a duel!” Jack shouted over the rowdy crowd. The gathering grew quiet as they looked for Gurt.

“He fled,” Bertrod said. “Right after your killing blow, they all ran. My guess is they’ll skip town.”

“AHHH!” Jack howled in frustration.

“Let it go son. You’re lucky enough for one day. Take your loot and be satisfied. You got your revenge.” said Bertrod.

The guard interrupted them, “Ok all, break it up, show’s over!”

While the crowd went back to their business, Jack began to strip the corpse of his jewelry. Bertrod knew, he thought.

“You warned me about them. Why didn’t you just tell me they would try and murder me?”

Bertrod sighed, “I had no proof. I wasn’t about to accuse him and be challenged to a duel.”

Jack searched for his knife. Crap it’s not here. Turning to Bertrod, he asked, “Do you have a knife I could borrow?”

“Sure,” Bertrod said, and handed it over.

Jack pierced his ears for the second time and returned the knife. He slipped on his earrings. Jack spread out his hands in front of him and looked at the six rings adorning his fingers. Three new golden vitality rings. Jack's grin was huge. Not only did I get my jewelry back, I got an extra six vitality too.

He inspected Bron’s chain armor.

Medium Chain Hauberk

Defense 46

Durability 142/150

Agility reduced by 1

Strength reduced by 1

Medium Chain Chausses

Defense 48

Durability 146/150

Agility reduced by 1

Strength reduced by 1

Wow, that's a lot of defense. Is it worth the reduced agility and strength though? Let’s find out.

“Bertrod, can you help me get his armor off please?” After seeing hesitation Jack added, “I’ll give you a silver.”

What followed was ten minutes of annoyance as they struggled to remove Bron’s armor. Dear Lord, he weighs so much.

After the chainmail was removed, he donned the new armor over his own leather. This is heavy, even with strength rings, he complained. Jack searched through the light coin purse at his waist. Three silver. Wow, he didn’t have much money. He took a silver out of the purse and handed it to Bertrod. “Thanks for the help.”

Bertrod happily accepted the silver coin, “Not a problem.”

“Bertrod, do you happen to know any groups that need another delver?” Jack asked. “Preferrably a group who won’t murder me.” he added.

Bertrod chuckled, “Aye, my nephew and niece are always looking for a fifth. I’ll let them know about you.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me yet, by the end of the first delve, you may wish you were back with Bron and his group.” Bertrod laughed and slapped him on the back.

“Uhh… ok?” Jack forced a chuckle and asked, “Can you open my chest, I need to retrieve some things.”

With Jack’s axe broken he needed a new weapon. The bastard sword would work, but he still had his eye on a polearm. I may need some more enchanted rings too.

After retrieving his gold and wishing Bertrod well, Jack paused to look at his status.

Name: Jack Herring

Race: Human

Level: 20

Experience: 32,774,320/52,428,800

Health: 210/210

Mana: 210/210

Strength: 10 (+4)(-2)

Agility: 12 (+2)(-3)

Vitality: 21 (+11)

Intelligence: 21

Skills:

Inspect level 2

Haggle level 2

Fire Starting level 1

Butchering level 2

Cooking level 1

Woodworking level 1

Spears level 3

Axes level 2

Swords level 1

Spells:

Paralyze level 2

Heal level 4

Boons:

Polyglot

Contestant

Available Attribute Points: 6

Fifty-two million experience! The doubling every level is insane. It’ll take over a hundred million to get to level twenty-two.

Jack was about to assign his attribute points to intelligence yet paused. What if a polearm has a high strength requirement? I’ll just wait.

He set off toward the trade quarter.

This is a huge selection, was his first thought after entering Jarl’s Weapons and Armor.

“What ya looking for?” asked a young man named Turk. Must be the apprentice.

“A polearm,” Jack answered.

“Huh,” Turk answered in surprise. “Don’t see many wanting those. We got two. The small one’s a gold, the biggun’s two.”

Wow, that’s expensive. A hundred silver for a weapon? Jack inspected both polearms.

Steel Glaive

Damage 12

Durability 120/120

Strength required: 9

Steel Halberd

Damage 17

Durability 150/150

Strength required: 12

Agility reduced by 1

The glaive looked like a spear with a sword on the end rather than a point. It only required 9 strength and did twice the damage of his old barbed spear.

The halberd was a foot longer than the glaive. It had the head of a wide axe, attached to a wooden staff. The staff was plated in steel, increasing its strength and weight. I don’t have enough strength, and it lowers my agility even more.

Jack looked back and forth between the two weapons. “Can I pick it up?” he asked Turk.

“Sure, you ain’t gonna break it,” Turk laughed.

Lifting the heavy halberd, Jack gave it a practice swing. Ah, I think I understand. The swing of the halberd was awkward and threw him off balance. He wouldn’t be able to properly wield it until he had two more strength. I like it. I can always put points into strength.

Turning to Turk, he said, “I’ll take it for a gold and twenty silver.”

“Gold fourty,” countered Turk.

“I bet this halberd has been sitting here for ages without selling, let me take it off your hands. I’ll pay a gold twenty-five.”

Turk shook his head, “I can’t go lower than a gold thirty.”

“Deal,” Jack said. He handed over two gold coins and received twenty silver in return. Twenty percent discount, not bad. I also got Haggle to level three, he thought with a grin.

“Do you know a store that sells enchanted jewelry?”

“Yah, there’s a ‘chanter four doors down,” Turk answered.

“Thanks,” Jack waved, heavy halberd in tow.

The enchanter’s store was richly decorated with stained wooden trim. Glass casings were bolted to heavy cabinets and filled with jewelry on velvet displays. Jack approached the counter and inspected the thin richly dressed man behind it.

“Hello Trauntel, do you have any strength or intelligence rings?”

“Intelligence rings are a special order only. Did you want silver, gold, or platinum rings?”

“Uh, what's the difference?”

Trauntel sighed, “Silver can hold an increase of one attribute, gold two, and platinum four. The guild charges two gold for silver rings, ten for golden rings, and one hundred gold for a platinum ring.”

“I’ll take a golden strength ring for nine gold,” Jack offered.

“I don’t think you heard me, the enchanter’s guild sets the rates. If you would like the ring, it will cost you ten gold.” said Trauntel evenly.

Jack sighed. Even with Haggle level three, he still won’t lower the price. There’s gotta be someone else willing to deal.

He walked out of the store and called out over his shoulder, “I’ll find a better price.”

“Sure you will,” he heard from behind him.

After the fifth enchanter’s shop, Jack gave up. Stupid price-fixing guild. He relented and purchased two silver strength rings for two gold a piece. There’s no way I’m leaving myself penniless for a single ring.

Jack was now left with six gold coins. He glanced down at his hands. Every finger has a ring. I wonder if I can wear more than one ring per finger? Pulling off the ring from his pinky, he added it to his index finger and checked his status. I guess not. If he wanted to increase his attributes any more, he would have to replace his silver jewelry with gold.

On the trip back to the inn, Jack tried a few practice swings with his halberd. Much better. Now what else can I do before tomorrow. He thought about how he could better prepare himself for the next delving group. Let me assign my attributes. Jack put all six attribute points into intelligence. Two hundred and seventy mana, Jack thought with a grin.

Time to learn some more magic. Even though his new group was recommended by Bertrod, Jack didn’t trust anyone right now. I won’t be taken by surprise again, he promised.