The private arena was nothing like the Academy's sterile testing facilities. This was entertainment, designed for wealthy patrons who paid premium prices to watch desperate summoners fight for survival. The venue was underground, accessible through a network of tunnels beneath the merchant district. Crystal lighting cast dramatic shadows across packed earth fighting rings. Elevated seating surrounded the arena, currently filled with richly dressed observers holding wine glasses and making casual wagers on fight outcomes.
Jace and Kiri were escorted to a preparation area, a small room with basic medical supplies and a single bench. The Guild representative who'd collected them from the apartment provided final instructions.
"Three opponents, as contracted. First fighter is defensive specialist, Mid Rare summoner with a Runic Turtle. Second is aggressive striker, High Rare summoner with a Flame Wolf pack. Third is tactical controller, High Rare summoner with a Storm Lizard." The representative consulted his tablet. "Fights are sequential with five minute rest periods between matches. Victory conditions remain as specified in contract. Any questions?"
"No," Jace said simply.
The representative nodded and left, sealing the door behind him. Jace sat on the bench, forcing himself to breathe steadily and conserve energy. The fight order was strategically designed to maximize difficulty. Start with a defensive tank to wear them down through attrition. Follow with an aggressive striker while they're already damaged. Finish with a mobile controller when they're exhausted and desperate.
It was a gauntlet designed to break people. But the designers hadn't accounted for the Royal Stat Floor, tactical genius, or Kiri's stat capped Rare Tier performance fighting like a Low Epic beast.
"Three fights," Kiri said quietly, her golden eyes focused. "The first two will try to exhaust us. The third will try to finish us when we're vulnerable."
"So we don't get exhausted," Jace replied. "We end fights quickly, efficiently, before accumulated damage becomes critical. No drawn out battles. Surgical strikes using your speed advantage and my tactical analysis."
Through their bond, he felt Kiri's calm determination. She trusted his planning, trusted that the strategies that had carried them through Academy trials would work here.
A bell chimed, echoing through the preparation room. The first fight was beginning. Jace stood, his body still aching from the cultivation trauma but functional. His Spirit of 105 hummed through newly forged channels, stable enough to sustain Kiri at peak performance.
They entered the arena to muted applause from the crowd. This was the opening act, the desperate debtor fighting for financial survival. The real entertainment would come later, when exhaustion set in and desperation made fighters sloppy.
The first opponent was already waiting. A middle aged summoner with the scarred hands of someone who'd seen extensive combat. Beside him stood his Runic Turtle, massive and imposing, radiating defensive solidity.
The announcer's voice rang out, magically amplified. "First match: Jace, Academy Initiate versus Garrett, Guild Veteran. Begin."
The Turtle didn't move, settling into a defensive stance designed to absorb punishment. Classic tank strategy: force the opponent to exhaust themselves attacking impenetrable defences, then counterattack when they showed weakness.
Jace activated Insight of the Tactician, spending his first daily use.
System: Tactical Analysis
Target: Runic Turtle (Mid Rare, Defensive Specialist)
Stats: Power 180, Spirit 135, Constitution 290, Speed 125
Critical Weaknesses: Head vulnerable to concentrated strikes when attacking. Turning speed of 125 creates exploitable blind spots. Defensive enchantments concentrated on shell, rear protection reduced by 45%.
The analysis provided exact targeting data. Jace transmitted it through the bond instantly, his consciousness sharing tactical information with perfect clarity.
"Engage frontally to draw attention, once committed to assault, dash for rear approach, three strike burst then disengage," Jace commanded.
Kiri moved. Her Speed of 300, amplified to effective 390 by the Royal Stat Floor, translated into velocity that seemed impossible for Rare Tier. She closed distance, striking the Turtle's head and then circled behind faster than it could pivot, and struck its soft point where its tail protruded three times with surgical precision.
The impacts created visible stress fractures on the rear of the Turtle's shell. Kiri disengaged before the Turtle's retaliatory strike could land, already repositioning for the next sequence. The crowd's casual chatter died down, attention focusing on the unexpected speed and precision.
The Turtle tried to adapt, using area denial tactics to disrupt high speed opponents. But every adaptation was predictable, following standard defensive doctrine that Jace's royal knowledge had catalogued centuries ago. Kiri exploited every weakness, accumulated damage with mathematical efficiency, and within ninety seconds the Turtle's head protection shattered completely.
The massive creature collapsed after one last powerful blow, combat effectiveness reduced to zero. The first fight was over before the five minute mark, with minimal damage taken.
The crowd murmured in surprise. Guild veterans didn't fall that quickly, especially not to newly accepted Academy students.
The five minute rest period began. Jace sat on the arena's edge, forcing himself to breathe steadily and manage the forced feedback. Kiri had taken minor scrapes but nothing serious. They were in good condition for the second fight.
The second opponent entered. A younger summoner, maybe mid-twenties, with the aggressive posture of someone who relied on overwhelming offense. Three Flame Wolves materialized beside him, their bodies wreathed in fire, designed for coordinated pack attacks.
"Second match: Jace versus Torren. Begin."
The Wolves attacked immediately, using pack tactics to surround and overwhelm. But their Speed stats topped out around 240, nowhere near Kiri's 300. The Royal Stat Floor advantage meant she was effectively fighting at 390 Speed against opponents struggling to break 300.
She moved through their formation like a ghost, striking weak points with devastating precision. The Wolves tried to coordinate, tried to use their numbers advantage, but Kiri's tactical awareness and Jace's constant guidance through the bond made their patterns predictable.
Two minutes. That's how long it took to incapacitate all three Wolves, their summoner forced to call surrender before his contracted beasts suffered permanent injury. The aggressive striker strategy had failed completely against an opponent who could simply out speed and outmanoeuvre every attack.
The crowd was no longer casual. Wealthy patrons were leaning forward, wine glasses forgotten, watching with genuine interest. This wasn't going according to script. The debtor was supposed to struggle, to barely survive each fight before being destroyed by the third opponent. Instead, he was systematically dismantling Guild veterans with clinical efficiency.
The five minute rest period passed too quickly. Jace felt exhaustion creeping in, the sustained Spirit drain from controlling Kiri through two consecutive high intensity fights taking its toll. His channels were holding, but barely. One more fight. Just one more, and the debt would be cleared.
The third opponent entered, and Jace immediately recognized the threat level had escalated. This wasn't just a Guild veteran. This was someone with serious backing, possibly failed Academy student who'd turned to arena fighting for capital. His Storm Lizard was High Rare Tier, its electrical aura crackling with barely contained power.
Worse, the summoner himself looked fresh, well rested, clearly having prepared specifically for this moment. He'd watched the first two fights, analysed Kiri's speed advantage, and was ready with counters.
"Final match: Jace versus Kieran. Begin."
The Storm Lizard took the advantage immediately, using large area superiority to avoid Kiri's ground based speed advantage. It began generating storm clouds, preparing area denial attacks that would force Kiri into predictable evasion patterns.
This was the fight the Guild had designed the gauntlet around. The first two opponents were meant to exhaust the debtor. The third was meant to exploit that exhaustion with tactics specifically designed to counter their strengths.
Jace activated Insight of the Tactician, spending his second daily use.
System: Tactical Analysis
Target: Storm Lizard (High Rare, Mobile Controller)
Stats: Power 270, Spirit 250, Constitution 240, Speed 285
Critical Weaknesses: Storm field generation requires constant Spirit expenditure. Electrical discharge has 4.8 second cooldown between volleys. Leg joints vulnerable during charge buildup. Underbelly protection reduced when turning sharply.
The analysis provided the opening. The Lizard was powerful, but its area tactics were Spirit intensive. Force it to maintain multiple storm fields, make it waste energy, then strike during the cooldown windows.
"Bait the electrical volley, dodge, strike during cooldown, target leg joints," Jace transmitted through the bond.
But exhaustion was affecting them both. Jace's Spirit was depleted from sustained control. Kiri's movements, while still fast, were fractionally slower than at the fight's start. The forced feedback from taking minor damage was accumulating, creating a constant background ache.
The Storm Lizard attacked, its tail whipping forward as lightning crackled from its body in a wide arc. Kiri dodged, but not cleanly. The electrical discharge grazed her shoulder, burning through her defences and sending a spike of agony through the contract bond. Jace gasped, the forced feedback hitting him like a physical blow.
His vision blurred. His Spirit channels, already strained, threatened to fracture under the sudden load.
Then something unexpected happened. The third opponent, Kieran, signalled his Storm Lizard to pause. The creature backed off, circling but not attacking. Kieran approached Jace directly, ignoring arena protocols.
"You're exhausted," Kieran observed, his tone carrying respect rather than mockery. "Your Spirit is near collapse, your Seraph is fighting through accumulated damage, and you're still standing. That's impressive." He glanced at the crowd, then back to Jace. "I'll make you an offer. Surrender now, take a loss on the third fight. The Guild will reduce your debt by two thirds. You'll owe a thousand credits instead of three thousand, payable over time without harassment."
It was a mercy offer, the kind given to fighters who'd earned respect through competence. Kieran recognized that pushing Jace further might cause permanent injury, potentially crippling a promising Academy student for the sake of entertainment.
But surrendering meant keeping the debt. More importantly, surrendering meant admitting defeat, accepting that he'd reached his limit.
The Prince's pride rejected that absolutely. Surrender was unacceptable. Failure was unacceptable.
"No," Jace said, his voice rough but firm. "I finish what I started."
Kieran studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Your choice. But know that I respect the resolve." He stepped back, signalling his Storm Lizard to resume combat.
The fight continued, more brutal than before. Jace pushed his failing Spirit to the absolute limit, forcing Kiri to move despite accumulated exhaustion. The Storm Lizard was relentless, its ground based mobility nearly matching Kiri's depleted speed. It used its powerful tail as both weapon and shield, sweeping wide arcs that forced Kiri into predictable evasion patterns.
But Jace's tactical analysis identified the pattern. The Lizard's electrical attacks required it to plant its rear legs for stability during the charge buildup. That brief moment of reduced mobility was the opening they needed.
"Wait for the charge buildup, target right rear leg joint, full Power strike, then immediate retreat," Jace commanded through the bond.
Kiri executed perfectly despite her exhaustion. She baited another electrical volley, forcing the Storm Lizard to commit. The moment its rear legs planted to stabilize the massive discharge, she struck. Her fists, enhanced by the Royal Stat Floor's Power amplification, tore through the vulnerable joint with surgical precision.
The Storm Lizard's leg buckled. Its electrical attack discharged prematurely, crackling harmlessly into the arena floor. The creature stumbled, trying to compensate for the compromised leg, but its mobility was severely reduced.
Kiri didn't give it time to adapt. She circled, striking the same leg joint repeatedly, accumulating damage with mathematical efficiency. The Storm Lizard tried to pivot, tried to bring its tail around for a defensive sweep, but the sharp turns exposed its vulnerable underbelly.
The final exchange was desperate. The Storm Lizard, recognizing its disadvantage, attempted one last massive electrical discharge. Kiri took the hit partially, the lightning searing across her side, but she'd positioned herself during the exchange for one final strike.
She drove her fist into the exposed underbelly with every ounce of remaining Power. The impact was devastating. The Storm Lizard collapsed, its electrical aura flickering and dying. Kieran called surrender before his contracted beast could suffer permanent injury.
"Match concluded. Victory: Jace."
The crowd erupted, not in polite applause but genuine appreciation. They'd paid for entertainment, expecting to watch a debtor crushed by overwhelming odds. Instead, they'd witnessed a newly accepted Academy student systematically defeat three Guild veterans through tactical brilliance and refusal to surrender despite exhaustion.
Jace collapsed to one knee, his Spirit completely depleted, his body shaking from the sustained forced feedback. Kiri limped over, her own injuries evident. Through their bond, he felt her exhaustion matching his own.
But they'd won. Three consecutive fights, all victories. The debt was cleared, five hundred credits earned, and respect gained from people who mattered in the underground fighting circuits.
The Guild representative approached, tablet in hand. "Debt cleared per contract terms. Five hundred credit bonus transferred to your Academy account." He paused, studying Jace with new assessment. "You've earned respect tonight. Not many can do what you just did. If you're ever interested in more arena work, the Guild pays well for skilled fighters."
Jace didn't respond, focusing all his energy on not collapsing completely. Medical personnel arrived, checking both him and Kiri for serious injuries. Minor burns, exhaustion, spiritual strain, but nothing permanent. They'd survive.
Kieran approached again as Jace was being helped to his feet. "That was a good fight. You've got talent and resolve. When you've rested, if you want tactical advice or training partnerships, find me. We fighters who've earned respect should stick together."
It was an offer of alliance, the kind made between warriors who recognized mutual capability. Jace filed it away for future consideration. Allies were valuable, especially ones who operated outside Academy politics.
The transportation back to his apartment was a blur. Jace barely remembered the journey, consciousness wavering between exhaustion and satisfaction. They'd won. Against impossible odds, while exhausted and damaged, they'd completed the gauntlet and earned both freedom from debt and significant capital.
Marcus was waiting when Jace finally staggered into their shared room. His roommate took one look at Jace's condition and simply helped him to his bed without asking questions.
His body had already begun to shut down as he made his way into his apartment, falling onto the cot, total exhaustion dragging him into unconsciousness before he could protest further.
His last coherent thought: they'd survived. The gamble had paid off. The debt was gone, capital secured, and respect earned. The foundation was solid.
Through the bond, he felt Kiri's matching exhaustion and satisfaction. They'd fought through impossible odds together, refusing to surrender despite pain and exhaustion. The arena fights had proven something the Academy trials had only hinted at: properly applied knowledge and tactics could overcome raw power differences.
The debt collectors had expected entertainment, watching a desperate debtor crushed under sequential pressure. Instead, they'd witnessed surgical efficiency and tactical brilliance. Word would spread through the underground fighting circuits. Jace wasn't just another Academy student. He was someone who'd earned respect through capability rather than backing.
As consciousness faded completely, Jace felt a grim satisfaction. The Prince's pride, usually cold and calculating, carried a note of vindication. Every obstacle overcome was another step toward reclaiming what had been stolen. Every victory, no matter how small, was proof that knowledge and determination could challenge a system built on murder and betrayal.
The debt was cleared. Five hundred credits secured. Respect earned from the Guild's fighting circuits. And the day after tomorrow, official Academy training would begin.
The climb continued. And nothing would stop it.
Now the real work could begin. But first, he desperately needed rest.