"Done!" Sixel exulted, and a pulse of immensely powerful magic swept through the room. It wrapped around my mana core and I staggered.

Cyrus's happy laughter bubbled around me and Eva spoke. "You have entered a death match duel with Sixel Elaris. She has initiated the Arena of Ultimate Champions. All spells are blocked, as is access to inventory. Contestants face each other using only their skills, abilities, and boosts from titles."

"Hey, I didn't agree to this!" I'd accepted that I was about to pit myself against my first tier-1 boss, but not like this.

My spells and vast inventory had saved my life many times, especially against boss monsters 40 levels higher than my own. Now I needed them more than ever. Thankfully, I'd already activated Earth Armor and the Road Runner potion. That doubled my already insane Alpha-boosted speed, but the boost would only last for 30 seconds, and precious time was already ticking away.

"What did you think you'd get when you ignored all of my very graciously posted warning signs to turn back before embracing certain death?" Sixel asked, swinging her blades in dizzying patterns around herself. She moved with fluid grace, but looked bored, as if she was just loosening her shoulders.

"It's still rude not to explain the rules." I was already consigned to the situation, but I could still try to annoy her. Angry people did rash things, and I was starting to suspect I needed her to make a big mistake if I hoped to live out the next few minutes.

"I could have snuffed out your puny life, but I am willing to give you the great honor of dying in a formal duel in order to enjoy a few minutes of tier-1 strength. Now, stop whining and live up to those blades you carry. True warriors face death with courage."

"That's the spirit. Your parents would be proud to know you died so well."

"You know nothing of my family! How dare you speak of them with your spineless lips?"

I'd apparently hit a sore spot. Wonderful. Scowling, she sprinted at me, crossing the vast hall like a living bullet. She moved so fast I expected to see a sound barrier cloud materialize around her like they did around fighter jets, with a sonic boom strong enough to shatter the giant furniture.

Didn't happen. Okay, so maybe not faster than the speed of sound, but still freakishly fast. Even with my boosted stats and with Road Runner doubling my speed, I doubted I could have kept up.

"Have you ever known anyone with spines in their lips? That's gross."

She slowed to face me about 50 feet away, her perfect brows furrowed. "What?"

"Don't worry about it. Fear before a battle will do weird things to your mind. Just breathe, and you'll be okay. Well, until I kill you."

She glared and marched closer. I prepared myself, studying her form, trying to gauge how best to attack. We both wielded dual swords, but her blades were longer, so she'd have the advantage in reach. I also lacked my spells and extra inventory, couldn't even use Energy Ward, but I wasn't out of aces.

My long list of abilities might help, and I had several powerful boosts from titles. She was limited in the same way. I hadn't found any monster even close to my level of proficiency with the blade, although I could already see she was different. Still, I had 10 levels in Stick and Knife fighting, each of which gave me an extra 15% blunt force damage and 20% slashing damage.

So I took a deep breath and embraced the wild battle lust already swelling inside with the approach of conflict. Raising Scalebiter, I saluted like I had back in Kali classes.

Sixel flashed an eager grin and returned my salute with a far more elaborate one. She really did look thrilled for a chance to fight. Hopefully her confidence outstripped her skill.

I stepped farther into the room and glanced around again, memorizing the layout so I didn't trip against anything in the heat of battle. As my eyes scanned the area, I spotted two glowing figures leaning over the edge of one of the giant couches.

I almost stopped to stare, which would have given away the fact that I'd noticed them. I managed to keep my gaze moving. They were humanoid in shape, covered by some kind of cloaking or invisibility that my enhanced gaze had penetrated. Who could they be? Were they allies, or enemies?

I'd have to figure out that mystery later because Sixel closed in a rush, swords already sweeping at my head and chest.

Shouting a battle cry that echoed through the vast chamber, I lunged to meet her. Our blades met with a clear ringing of steel and a shower of golden sparks.

Sixel was nearly 4 feet taller than me, cutting a gorgeous figure and looking like an elf goddess in that fantastic armor. She was immensely strong too. Her blades slammed into mine with tremendous force.

I matched her, but in addition to incredible strength, she was dizzyingly fast. Our swords barely clanged together before she whipped them into another sequence. I managed to block, but then had to leap back to avoid taking a sword to the head.

She let me reset myself, her perfect face a mast of confidence. "Focus, fool. At least pretend you're competent enough to make this fun."

The two invisible figures on the couch ruined their own cover by shouting encouragement for Sixel. Definitely sounded human.

"Gut the bastard!" a rough male voice shouted, while a female voice shrieked, "Bleed him!"

Sixel ignored them, but I couldn't help glancing in their direction. I knew those voices. The Briggs? How on Earth could Martin and Trish Briggs have gotten into the top level of the dungeon, let alone end up lying in wait to watch my death battle?

The insanity of it distracted me so much, Sixel slammed the flats of both blades into my side, knocking me stumbling. The impact was brutal, but not dangerous.

"Distractions cost lives." Then she turned to look at the couch and raised her voice. "Silence! Your master may have won you entrance to my domain, but this is no common-tier brawl for the unwashed masses. If you interrupt again, I will send you back to your master without your heads."

"I don't mind waiting."

That got a hint of a smile. "Let us continue."

I pushed the crazy mystery of the Briggs and the hints about some kind of master that somehow had influence with the dungeon boss out of my mind and lunged to attack. First, defeat Sixel. Then I could deal with the Briggs.

With a happy grin, Sixel swept my blades aside and returned with a pair of blazingly fast counters. I was ready now, so I deflected, moving around her, searching for advantage as I pressed the attack.

Our blades clashed again and again as the tempo of our battle steadily climbed. Her swords had to be at least epic grade because they took no damage from our brutal clashes. At first, I hoped Scalebiter would stack up greater power, maybe even break her blades as we fought.

Unfortunately, even after racking up dozens of hits in a matter of seconds, her blades remained perfect and unblemished. Worse, Sixel kept speeding up, pushing the tempo ever higher.

At first, I hoped to match her speed, or at least hold my own. With my boosted stats, Road Runner potion doubling effect, and high sword fighting ability level, I could have torn through all 3 lower levels of the dungeon like a fatal whirlwind.

It wasn't enough. Within seconds I realized she was toying with me. She moved in a constant flow, seamlessly shifting from one strike to the next, her blades weaving a tapestry of death as they blurred with speed and absolute precision.

Sixel really was a blade master, and time and again her blades slipped through my defenses. Ten seconds in, and my Earth Armor shattered. That only encouraged her to speed up yet again and soon her blades rent gashes in my Mammoth hide jacket.

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Pushing aside growing worry, I committed fully to the contest, throwing myself into the fight with all my focus, all my skill, and all my heart. The wider room faded around us as my world contracted to me, my opponent, and our blades. My steps became more sure, my concentration complete, and for a few seconds I almost held my own.

She did not conceal her glee, and for several more seconds we flowed around each other, blades little more than silver and black blurs, the clanging of our blows a staccato rhythm that dictated the dance of death we stepped together.

Then the Road Runner potion faded and my speed dropped by half. I stumbled, off balance for a fraction of a second as I adjusted to my new limited speed.

As if she'd been waiting for that moment, Sixel shouted in victory and reversed direction in an incredible display of acrobatic balance. She slammed the hilt of one of her blades into my left forearm, close to the wrist, and the brutal strike sent Echo flying.

Laughing, Sixel paused to wink, her smile condescending, and she opened her mouth to say something annoying. Gloating was a waste. She was a champion and should know that.

I kept spinning, whipping Scalebiter around at her head while Echo sprang back into my hand, thanks to my recently acquired Slippery Fingers bracelet.

Sixel deflected Scalebiter's strike with a bored twist of her blades, but the return of Echo caught her by surprise and I slashed it across her thighs. I even tried pouring a bunch of mana into the strike for the first time all fight, despite the limitations of the duel.

It worked!

Yes! I should have thought of that sooner. I couldn't use my spells, but apparently the restriction did not prevent me from drawing fully on the powers of my blades.

A torrent of mana flowed into Echo as it slashed across the ornate metal plates protecting Sixel's legs. With a sharp screech, the armor parted and Echo pulsed with another 60% hit, then again with Double Strike. Those added pulses of force sliced the blade deep into muscle on both legs.

Yes! My turn to grin.

Sixel hissed in pain and surprise, her calm facade transforming into a mask of absolute rage. "You vile common thug! How dare you?"

I completed my spin, lashing out with Scalebiter again, aiming for her throat. She slapped my blade away with a contemptuous glare and slipped to the side, delivering a brutal return slash across my midsection.

Her legs might be momentarily injured, but her arms moved faster than ever and I never even saw the slash coming before her blade parted my jacket and scraped across my under armor.

Without that incredible eel-hide armor, she would have probably cut me in half. The impact still sent me staggering and probably cracked a rib. Wounding her really ticked her off, and despite blood flowing freely down her legs, she doubled her previous speed while somehow moving her legs less. That really sucked since my speed was half what it had been.

She'd definitely been toying with me. Not any more. She transformed into a living whirlwind of steel and death. Her arms blurred as she spun and danced around me, her blades nearly invisible as they slashed with an ever-increasing pace. I retreated from the overwhelming onslaught, forced to focus 100% on defense, pouring in every ounce of skill and speed and agility.

It didn't matter. She pressed me back, her blades shredding my Mammoth jacket and pinging off my helm and my new gorget so many times, they began to flicker. Once those defenses broke, she'd take off my head in a heartbeat.

I was in trouble. My hands ached from the constant beating, my arms trembling from the strain, despite my huge stats. The battlefield smelled of steel and sweat and blood, and the constant staccato of our battle echoed back and forth through the giant room, growing into a deafening din.

Panting from the exertion, I desperately sought an opening. I'd thought I'd leveled the playing field with that cut across her legs, but if the wound slowed her at all, I couldn't tell. If only I could use my spells, I could turn the tables. She never slowed, never showed even a hint of an opening, but relentlessly wore me down, slashing through my armor and my defenses. She'd transformed into a living embodiment of my new Soul Ravage spell.

The cold truth grew until I could not ignore it. I was totally outclassed. I could not beat her. I was going to die. As if reading my mind, the Briggs shouted again from the couch where they sat, enjoying the show.

"Cut off his arms!" Martin roared.

"Make him suffer," Trish screamed.

One of Sixel's swords clanged so hard into the side of my head, I saw stars and my ethereal battle helm flickered dangerously. One more of those, and she'd kill me.

The blow staggered me for a second and Sixel spun, tossing one blade into the air long enough to draw a small knife I hadn't even noticed tucked into her ornate armor. She flung the blade at the Briggs and caught her sword without slowing.

The thunk of the blade striking a meaty target sounded loud, and Trish screamed. Sixel paused long enough to speak, but didn't even turn in their direction.

"I warned you not to interrupt my glorious victory. Once I finish this duel, I will mete out judgment."

I didn't waste time looking at the still-invisible Briggs to see how bad Trish's injury might be. I needed to shake things up, or I'd die in seconds. So while Sixel paused to speak, I charged, both blades stabbing for her throat.

A spark of surprise registered on her calm facade, but she flowed around me like river water around a stone and slashed her blades across the backs of my knees. That was too much, and she cut through my Phantomstep Breeches.

Well, that could have gone better. Pain lanced through my legs and I toppled. Throwing myself into a forward roll, I returned to my feet, despite my legs trembling with fatigue and pain. I wouldn't be able to dance around for a few seconds until regeneration restored my hamstrings, but I refused to face death lying down.

Sixel met me as I rose. Both of her blades seemed to simply appear on either side of my throat. I froze. Could she somehow sense that one more good hit would break my ethereal defense? If she struck with those two blades, at minimum she'd open my arteries. Worst case, she'd take off my head.

She gave me the tiniest nod, not looking winded from the intense fight. Her victorious smile was like a nail in my coffin, and her pleasant voice a final caress to my ears.

"You surprised me, human. None have so much as scratched me in the last 20 duels, but you cut me. For giving me the chance to enjoy tier-1 strength again, making me work far more than I expected, and for doing me the honor of fighting with skill and valor, I will in turn honor you with a chance to escape death."

"What chance?" I gasped through panting breaths. I hadn't been this winded since day one on Arasha. I'd take the unexpected respite, but I'd rather die than sign over my soul, or any other contract the disguised devil cooked up.

"Surrender now and I will sell you to an interested party. We both win. You live, at least a bit longer, and I receive just compensation for your rude interruption."

Huh? I nearly glanced at the Briggs. They had to be the interested party, but how? Sure, they blamed me for their own stupidity, but no way they could make a deal with someone like Sixel.

She'd mentioned they had some kind of master. So they must represent the mysterious interested party. How was that possible? Were they still humans, or some kind of dobbleganger monster who had eaten their corpses?

Surrender to them might give me the chance to kill them, but my racing thoughts snatched a crazy idea and I decided to go with option 2, inspired by one of my favorite movies.

I returned Sixel's brief nod of respect with one of my own. "I would rather destroy a stained glass window than an artist like yourself."

"You misunderstand my offer."

I lowered my blades. "I admit, you are better than I am."

"Then why are you smiling?"

Ha! She said the line. It was like she wanted to step into the trap and play along.

"Because I know something you do not."

"Tell me."

In my best Wesley voice, I exclaimed, "I am not left handed!"

I flung Echo high into the air.

With a confused look, and just for a second, Sixel flicked her gaze up to watch my blade.

In that fraction of a second opening, I struck with Scalebiter. Twisting my hips and torso, I poured in all the strength of my entire body in unleashing a mighty slash. At the same time, I triggered my Alexander title Eminent Domain, adding 25% more damage for each of my titles.

I also stacked on my Goliath title ability to double my Strength, and my Fernand's Mercy ring, pouring in 50% of the huge charge I'd accumulated in my Tesla Coil bracelet through my dungeon run.

Sixel had moved too fast to give me the chance to apply any of those buffs before. This was my one and best opportunity, so I poured it all in.

She reacted instantly, dropping her swords to block as she swayed backward. She moved half an eyeblink too late. Not even she could dodge a strike that powerful coming in from that close when she'd let herself get distracted for a fraction of a second.

The impact was like a thunderclap as sparks of steel and pure magic exploded in a brilliant cascade around us. Scalebiter slammed through her blades, forcing an opening through overwhelming force.

The demon elf princess boss might be a living nightmare with the blade. She enjoyed way more agility and speed, but she didn't have nearly enough raw strength to stop that hit. Scalebiter struck like a black lightning bolt, slicing her from hip to shoulder, cleanly shearing through her metal and leather armor layers alike as it tore up through her torso, nearly bisecting her.

An explosion of blood and gore erupted from her torso, drenching me as Sixel staggered back, her flawless face finally looking almost human with that expression of shock, horror, and pain. She tried to lift her blades, but her strength was gone and I knocked them from her hands. She tried to speak, but only spat blood. Our eyes locked and her arrogant confidence was replaced by terrified pleading.

I stepped forward and punched her right in that flawless face just as my silver Wolverine claws extended. I hit her with every ounce of strength I could muster, and my silver claw blades drove all the way through her head while my knuckles smashed her perfect nose flat. As she recoiled from the hit, I slashed Scalebiter across her throat, cutting all the way to her spine and releasing another gush of hot blood.

Sixel crashed back to the floor and her destroyed body flashed with black and crimson fire before transforming back into the giant demoness form. In her beautiful elf princess form, I could almost forget she was a monster, but now as death crept over her, she reverted to her true self.

Strangely, I received an announcement.

"Congratulations, Lucas! You have defeated Sixel Alaris, elite tier-1 boss, level 66, the Grindstone Blade. Bonus experienced gained for defeating a higher-level enemy."

Great, except she wasn't dead.

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