A harsh clanging jarred Max awake.

  He cracked his eyes open to see two arena staff stomping through the barracks, banging dented pots and pans together like war drums. The din echoed off the stone walls until every fighter groaned and stirred, some cursing, others rolling straight to their feet.

  “Breakfast!” one barked, voice as flat as a hammer on iron. “Eat or don’t, we don’t care.”

  Max rubbed the grit from his eyes and followed the shuffle of bodies outside. The morning air was damp and cold, carrying the sour stench of too many unwashed fighters packed together. In the yard, a few long tables had been set up with crude wooden bowls of oatmeal — if it could be called that. Thick, gray, and clumpy, it was more paste than food. Beside it sat buckets of water, drawn from a well whose rim was stained with green moss.

  Max dipped a ladle into the bucket, staring at the cloudy surface before filling his cup. He forced himself to drink anyway, grimacing at the metallic tang. The food wasn’t much better, but it was enough to keep him going.

  The rest of the morning blurred into routine.

  Max fought again before the sun climbed high, facing off against a jittery goblin armed with a chipped axe. The fight was over in less than a minute, a clean strike across the chest sent his opponent sprawling, gasping for air until he finally slapped the ground in surrender.

  The matches kept coming, one after another, each opponent barely worth remembering. A spear fighter too slow on his feet. A dagger-wielder who couldn’t get past Max’s guard. A mace-user who swung hard but telegraphed every blow. Four matches in all, each ending quickly, each leaving Max with a few more credits and a little more fatigue in his bones.

  By the time his name was called again, the crowd’s jeers had shifted to a low rumble of expectation. They weren’t interested in easy fights anymore. They wanted blood.

  And standing at the opposite gate, waiting for him, was the brute Max had noticed since his first day in the line.

  Korrak the Breaker.

  The goblin’s warhammer looked more like a siege weapon than something a man could wield, its head pitted and stained dark from years of carnage. His scarred face twisted into a grin as their eyes met.

  The gong rang.

  Korrak didn’t hesitate. He charged forward, the ground shuddering beneath his heavy steps. Max raised Solaris Edge to block, but when the warhammer came down it was like being hit by an avalanche. The shock drove him to one knee, stone cracking under his boots.

  The crowd roared.

  Max gritted his teeth, forcing the weapon aside before rolling back to his feet. His arms throbbed from the impact — if he’d taken that strike head-on, it might have shattered bone.

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  Korrak laughed, low and guttural. “Too weak, human. You’ll break just like the rest.”

  Max’s grip tightened on Solaris Edge. His earlier opponents had been warm-ups. This one was the real test.

  The next exchange came just as fast, Korrak’s hammer sweeping sideways with terrifying force. Max ducked low, sparks flying as the edge of the weapon scraped the wall behind him. He countered with a slash at the goblin’s thigh, but the blade skittered harmlessly off hardened leather.

  Korrak bellowed, swinging again. Every strike shook the pit, each one a test of Max’s reflexes and endurance.

  Strength versus speed, Max thought grimly, sweat already pouring down his face. And if I slip once… I’m done.

  Korrak pressed the attack, his warhammer whistling through the air in sweeping arcs that would have crushed stone if they landed. Max dodged, rolled, parried when he had to — each impact rattled his bones and numbed his arms. The crowd screamed with every blow, their bloodlust feeding off the shockwaves that cracked the pit floor.

  One strike came too fast to avoid. Max flicked his blade up in time to intercept — and the warhammer smashed into Solaris Edge with such force that the impact blasted Max off his feet. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the cracked stone, lungs burning. His sword arm trembled, muscles screaming from the strain.

  Korrak stalked forward, each step deliberate, confident. “You can’t stand against me, human. I break everything I touch.”

  Max spat blood and forced himself upright. “Guess I’ll just have to be the first thing you don’t.”

  The warhammer came down again, and this time Max pushed mana into his Blink skill. His body shimmered, vanishing a heartbeat before the hammer pulverized the spot where he’d stood. He reappeared at Korrak’s flank, slashing at his exposed side.

  Korrak roared, twisting with surprising speed, the haft of his hammer intercepting the strike. Sparks flew as steel met steel. Max Blinked again, appearing just behind him, driving Solaris Edge in a downward cut — but Korrak spun, blocking once more.

  The goblin was fast for his size, far too fast.

  They clashed again and again, Blink and hammer trading dominance. Each teleport strained Max’s mana, each swing of Solaris Edge draining his strength. His breaths came ragged now, his legs heavy.

  But Korrak was slowing too. Sweat poured down his scarred face, his swings growing less precise, his laughter reduced to grunts of exertion.

  Finally, Max saw his opening. Korrak lifted the hammer high for a crushing overhead strike, his balance shifting forward. Max Blinked at the last instant, materializing behind him. He swept low, hooking Solaris Edge against the back of the goblin’s knee.

  Korrak roared as his leg buckled. The warhammer slammed into the ground, cracking stone and sending a tremor through the pit, but the goblin himself fell to one knee.

  Max stepped in close, pressing the blade of Solaris Edge against the thick, scarred flesh of Korrak’s throat. Both of them were heaving for breath, sweat pouring down their faces, the crowd screaming so loudly the ground seemed to shake with it.

  For a heartbeat, neither moved.

  Then Korrak chuckled, low and rough, lifting his chin against the blade. “Well fought, human. You’ve earned this one.”

  His hand released the warhammer. It clattered to the ground, ringing like a funeral bell.

  “I surrender,” Korrak bellowed, voice carrying over the crowd.

  The gong rang a moment later, sealing the match.

  [System Prompt]

  Qualifying Match Complete: 7/10

  Result: Victory by Surrender

  Credits Earned: 200

  Status: Advanced to Next Round

  Max lowered his sword, relief washing over him in a wave so sharply it nearly buckled his knees. He staggered back a step, keeping his eyes locked on Korrak. The goblin’s grin widened, teeth flashing in the torchlight.

  “Don’t waste that strength, human,” Korrak said as he rose unsteadily to his feet. “The grand arena will demand even more of you.”

  Max gave a single nod, too winded to reply.

  The crowd roared their approval, half jeering, half cheering — but all of them hungry for more.

  And Max knew they’d get it.