Looking around the room, James saw that almost all of them were there. None of them were alone.

  Every group looked like they had graduated from some kind of gymnastic military beauty school. Not one of them showed the raw, fairly unfit bodies they’d had barely a week ago.

  That’s the system for you.

  “Do you think we could take any of those groups?” James asked, gesturing loosely at the other Card Commanders.

  “No,” Edward said flatly. “Every single one of them has silver rankers with them. If anything, we’re the weakest group here. If you were referring only to the Card Commanders, you would have a good chance, as long as you weren’t caught unawares.”

  “Yeah. That was my thought too. Let’s do some melee training when we get a chance, focussing on avoiding or blocking incoming threats. I just need to survive long enough for my summons to do their part.”

  Ken spoke up. “You have decent armour and that shield of yours saved the day against the elementals. You aren’t without defenses.”

  “Yeah, but…”

  Edward’s attention was clearly not on the conversation as he snickered in a way that didn’t suit him at all. “That bear-like fellow over there got a black eye for disrespecting the arena rules and patrons.”

  He nodded toward the stands. “Card Commanders may have a lot of potential, but the Arena is full of patrons and staff with realised potential. Prax aside, I have heard there may even be some gold ranked adventurers here.”

  That was… actually reassuring.

  The announcer’s voice interrupted any further thoughts or staring competitions.

  “It’s time for the first round of the Card Commanders competition!”

  A burst of applause came from the Arena spectators around him. The other Commanders did not cheer, and neither did he.

  This had mostly been forced on them after all.

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  He hoped they would just forfeit, though it was easy making that decision when it wasn’t his own neck on the line.

  Four earthen platforms had been placed equidistant around the arena. The platforms were only waist high but would give a slight height advantage to the defender. They weren’t all that defensible though, only having packed dirt ramps on all sides.

  There were no rocks or other barriers on the arena floor for this fight.

  Each of the four combatants walked out to one of those platforms.

  “Before the fight becomes official, each will be given a chance to forfeit. We will start with the lowest ranking on the Commander leaderboard: Joel the Tutorial Camper”

  There was a round of boos from the crowd.

  “Joel, do you wish to forfeit before the fight?” The announcer’s voice penetrated the noise with ease.

  “Yes,” Joel said, voice firm.

  Joel disappeared.

  James checked the leaderboard. There were now only fifteen entrants left.

  “Well, that’s disappointing. Still, we aren’t here to watch the weakest entrant be squished like the bug he is, are we?”

  “NO!” roared the crowd.

  “Don’t get your hopes up yet. Lara the Slacker’s next. Lara, do you wish to forfeit before the fight?”

  “Yes,” Lara’s voice was just as certain as Joel’s had been.

  Lara also disappeared.

  “Clearly already made up their minds on this,” Edward commented.

  The arena crowd let their opinion on this be known with boos.

  “Well, another contender out. Shall we even have a fight today. Let’s find out.”

  “Norton the Unprotected, what say you. Do you forfeit before the fight?”

  “Yes,” Norton also said.

  Norton disappeared.

  The last contender, Penny, looked happy about that outcome.

  That was until the next commentator announcement.

  “Penny the Pauper, do you forfeit before the fight?”

  There was a hushed silence as the crowd, who’d largely been turning away, swung back to observe.

  “What was this?”

  “Shhh,” Ken hushed them.

  “Uhh… didn’t I win?”

  “All combatants are given the opportunity to forfeit before the fight.”

  “Oh right, no, I don’t…. Wait, there’s still going to be a fight?”

  “Bright one here. We nearly got her too. The next three Commanders on the list will be teleported here and will have an hour to prepare for their own decisions. Will there be three or four teleported, Penny? The choice is yours.”

  There was a pause as everyone took a deep breath in. A few seasoned Arena patrons let out a guffaw.

  “How about it folks. Shall we give Penny an hour to consider as well?”

  There was a mixed response from the crowd that finally resolved into a grudging yes.

  “Okay, well in that case, see you in an hour.”

  With that the patrons returned to their business.

  “Shit. I thought I had more time. Three more people forfeit and it’ll be me down there.” James grabbed Edward’s drink and chugged it.

  “Yep, which is why I’m glad we made it back in time.”

  Lord Darion stood there, elegantly dressed in full embossed battle regalia, sword at the ready.

  Behind him stood the last people James expected to see. Guild Master Anne, Rock, and their entire contingent of silver rankers.