Kyra’s spear sliced through the air in sharp, deadly arcs. She was fast, with each move demonstrating flawless Amazonian prowess. But no matter what, Cragmarr was always a step ahead. He moved with a calm, almost effortless power, absorbing her blows across his four arms. Each time her spear struck him, it was as if his body only grew stronger in strength and size—the impacts fed him rather than weakened.
She circled, searching for an opening, but Cragmarr was unyielding. His defenses were impenetrable and his counters efficient. Every strike she attempted, every feint, was met with a response, turning her momentum against her. It was like trying to move a mountain—no matter how hard she pushed, he only became more immovable.
Every Jingozi match followed the same pattern. They started with card attacks followed by pauses to regroup, collect Zii rewards, and reload cards.
Each time Kyra charged, hoping to find a weakness, Cragmarr met her with unshakable resolve. His deflections and counters made her stagger. She relentlessly refused to give in, but her frustration mounted with each failed attempt.
In a last-ditch effort, Kyra summoned her dire wolf, Ebon. The massive creature leaped into the fray, its black fur bristling, eyes glowing. Ebon pounced, teeth bared. Cragmarr blocked, but the wolf’s jaws clamped down on his forearm.
Cragmarr grimaced but ignored the wolf locked on his arm and charged at Kyra. She raised her spear and planted the end into the floor to skewer him. But in her eagerness, she missed the subtle shift in Cragmarr’s angle.
At the last moment, Cragmarr twisted his body past the spear, playing a battle card that transformed him into a hulking giant. Ebon’s jaws lost their grip. Cragmarr’s massive fist shattered Kyra’s spear into dozens of fragments, knocking her off balance. Before she hit the ground, his foot bore down onto the back of her head, stomping her face into the cold Jingozi area floor.
The match ended with Kyra’s third defeat of the day. Of course, neither knew I’d been watching because of my ability to blink into the Jingozi arena.
Kyra crumpled to the boat's deck with a grunt, winded and stunned. Ebon was back, too, looking more terrifying than usual. But a single stern command from Kyra summoned it back into her ring.
“You fought well,” Cragmarr said, extending his hand.
Kyra’s face flushed with frustration and grudging respect.
“You set me up,” she said.
“I waited until you played your strongest card to counter it. You have repeated the same mistake for all three matches.
"Understood.
"I did not realize familiars could join you in the arena.”
“It’s a special enchantment and deck upgrade.”
“Indeed,” he nodded. “You represent the Amazons well, Kyra, but attacking is not everything. Without patience and strategy, valor falls short.”
Kyra wiped the sweat from her brow, still catching her breath.
“I’ll remember that,” a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Name: Princess Kyra [Doctrine Dealer]
Tier: II [Bronze] Rank 10
Faction: Amazon [Daughter]
After all that training, Kyra leveled up and was catching me. Good for her.
I stared at the distant shore, pretending to mind my own business.
***
The river was calm as we sailed upstream, an early morning mist clinging to the water's surface. Between Runelore towing the boat and Kyra’s sailing expertise, there wasn’t much to do than enjoy the ride.
I took advantage of the time to fish. With a flick of my wrist, I sent cards flying into the water ahead of the boat. Fish floated up, allowing me to lean over and scoop the catch—if Runelore didn’t snap it up first.
We took turns resting and cooking. Cragmarr cleaned and prepared the fish while Kyra and I stoked the small fire in a makeshift pit on the deck. The smell of roasting fish mingled with the fresh river air.
After meals, we practiced Zii-Kata on the deck. Kyra’s form was adequate, but I highlighted areas to improve.
“Straighten your back a bit more,” I said, stepping to guide her posture. “And when you extend your arms, think of pushing the energy outward like this.” I demonstrated. She took my advice well, her usual cockiness tempered by a genuine desire to learn.
***
I broke up the monotony, bouncing in and out of the Jingozi arena for Zii-Kata and new power cards.
Grabbing the power card caused my body to bulge with pressure. My hair and teeth flew out. Blood vessels burst, and my skin split open like peeling a banana. I blinked out of the Jingozi arena—back to the boat—shaken but not incapacitated.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SPELL CARD:
Force Field II
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PVP: Pay your defend/reward. End the hand and freeze the pot.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
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PVE: Create a shield that neutralizes one opponent's attack. The shield size can be increased based on the Zii multiplier.
The next spell card thrust me face-to-face with another demonic doppelganger. She cast a spell trapping me in a cyclone of magical shards tearing at my flesh. I blinked out.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SPELL CARD:
Mystic Strike
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PVP: Pay 1 Zii to plus +1 attack/risk or defend/reward (maximum +4).
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PVE: Pay 4 Zii for a random attack plus +4.
UPDATED STATUS:
Name: Ember [Doctrine Dealer]
Tier: II [Bronze] Rank 9
Faction: Ninja [Field]
Zii: 100/100
Cards: 20/20
[Error]: 10/10
Deck:
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Shuriken [Ninja]
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Reward Meta
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Auto Dodge
Although my new spell cards were duplicates in their purpose, their effects were more potent and cost differently.
A surprise notification interrupted my thoughts.
NEW QUEST: PIRATES
Survive the dark elf pirate ambush.
The air whistled, and a splash erupted behind us. A ship had somehow crept close enough to attack. Another cannon shot whizzed past, crashing wide off our starboard side and spraying us with water. The next one landed even closer, too close.
“Pirates!” Kyra yelled. “We need to take them out before they sink us!”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I muttered.
Before the next cannonball could hit, I blinked onto the pirate ship’s deck, appearing between a group of dark elves decked out in full pirate gear. For a moment, I stood there.
“Has anybody seen a Captain Jack Sparrow?” I asked.
God, Ember, you are so lame.
The first pirate turned. He shouted, and the rest surrounded, drawing their daggers and swords.
AUTO DODGE: SUCCESSFUL
Card Discarded [4/5] 80%
The first elf lunged, but I spun to the side, watching the blade slice through the air where I had just stood.
It occurred to me that my reward buff didn't apply to my auto dodge because doing so would have lowered my chance of success.
I ducked, slipping between them as their swords clashed above me.
After firing a smoke bomb at my feet, the vicinity filled with thick clouds. The pirate elves stumbled and coughed, disoriented. I hurled a barrage of maximum-infused cards straight into the floorboards, the magic tearing through the wood. With a quick flick of my wrist, I cast my new [Mystic Strike] with a maximum Zii multiplier, sending a magical pulse blasting into the hull. The ship groaned and shuddered, water already rushing in. Pirates panicked, scrambling to abandon ship, and dove into the water.
QUEST COMPLETE: PIRATES
Survive the dark elf pirate ambush.
Reward: Jingozi Token [1]
-
Zii: 80/100
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Cards: 12/20
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[Error]: 9/10
Satisfied they were finished, I blinked back to our boat.
“I don’t think they’ll bother us,” I said.
“There may be more,” Cragmarr replied.
Kyra leaped onto Runelore, letting out a shrill Amazon warcry. The runes on the terragrym’s shell flared to life, and our boat surged forward, gaining speed. As we raced downriver, the pirate ship erupted into flames in the distance.
***
The river widened as we neared Gilderport, the towering walls of the port city coming into view. Kyra informed us that Gilderport was the heart of trade between the Amazon and Emperor factions.
The harbor was massive, a maze of piers and wharves lined with warehouses, market stalls, and merchant vessels of all sizes. The docks teemed with ships entering inland from the ocean, their sails billowing as they jostled for position. Even afar, I smelled the mix of saltwater, spices, and something distinctly metallic.
“I love that smell,” Krya said, inhaling deeply. “The blacksmiths and their magical forges here are the best in the world. You can buy almost anything, or they’ll make it for you.”
The architecture was visibly distinct from Raishoto's. The buildings were tall and narrow, their timber-framed facades leaning slightly forward as if they’d been standing for centuries. Each structure was detailed with ornate carvings—dragons, griffins, and strange creatures I couldn’t name—twisting around windows and doorways.
Other buildings were connected by arched stone bridges crossing the narrow, cobbled streets below. Above it all loomed tall, twisting spires of gleaming brass and copper crowned with rotating wind vanes crackling with magical energy. Banners flapped in the breeze, decorated with the crests of merchant guilds, marking their territories within the city.
As we navigated the bustling port, the waters churned around us. Kyra ran to the side of the boat and leaned over in excitement.
“This is the best part!” she squealed.
The ocean's surface swelled, and a form emerged—a colossal water Golem, its body composed entirely of swirling currents and shimmering seafoam. It towered above us, its eyes glowing with a soft, coppery light as it turned toward our small boat. I froze, watching in awe as the Golem extended one of its enormous, fluid arms. It nudged our boat, guiding us smoothly through the crowded harbor, past other vessels, and into an open berth.
Kyra tossed a Zii coin into the Golem as we docked. The Golem responded by spraying water over her before sinking back into the depths. Cragmarr tied us in place, pulling the boat against the dock.
I took a moment to appreciate the exchange, then turned my attention to the docks.
“We must blend in,” he said, eyeing the crowd. “We cannot risk being recognized.”
“Already ahead of you,” I said.
I blinked to a stall across the docks, grabbed three large cloaks from a display, and left a Jingozi token on the counter as payment. I blinked back to Cragmarr and Kyra, handing them the garments. The dark, muted cloaks were long and heavy, with deep hoods—perfect for blending in with the sea of travelers, merchants, and sailors.
The wooden planks groaned beneath our weight as we stepped off the boat. The port city buzzed with activity—traders shouting about their goods, sailors puffing on pipes over dice games, and merchants deep in haggling wars.
“Anybody else hungry?” I asked.
***
The pub was packed, filled with the scent of ale, roasted meat, and rowdy conversation. We found a quieter table near the back. Cragmarr and Kyra ordered drinks, convincing me to try ale for the first time.
A plump barmaid, her ample cleavage spilling out of a low-cut blouse, handed us three frothy mugs. I took a tentative sip and grimaced. Cragmarr and Kyra downed their drinks with enthusiasm.
“How do you two drink this stuff?” I wrinkled my nose, pushing the mug away. “It tastes like someone peed into a sock then poured it into a beer.”
“Don’t you know? Urine is the secret ingredient,” Krya chortled. Cragmarr smiled and nodded.
“Ha, ha, very funny.”
Without missing a beat, Kyra reached over to grab my mug.
“Are you even old enough to drink?” I asked.
Kyra rolled her eyes and chugged while Cragmarr signaled for another round. Despite the fact Golems don’t eat, I wondered if they all loved booze as much as he did.
“Fancy some food to go with that ale, dearies?” the barmaid asked as she brought us our refills.
“What do you have?” Kyra asked.
The barmaid listed a few options, but we settled on the stew. When the bowls arrived, steaming and filled to the brim with tender chunks of meat, vegetables, and thick, savory broth, I couldn’t help but sigh in relief. After days of surviving on fish and rations, the meal was like a gift from heaven. I dug in, savoring each hearty bite.
As we ate, I leaned forward and asked Kyra, “So, where exactly is your brother’s family?”
Kyra wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, thinking.
“It’s called Ironhaven. But I don’t know where it is.”
A sudden crash interrupted our discussion. Across the room, a group of dark elf pirates knocked over a table. A brawl ensued, chairs and mugs flying.
“They got pirates everywhere,” I mumbled with a mouthful of stew.
“The dark elves are criminals,” Kyra said. “It’s best to avoid them.”
“This place is too dangerous,” Cragmarr said. “We must seek somewhere safer.”
“A Jingozi sanctuary,” I said. “A city as big as this should have one, right?”
“Yes,” Cragmarr nodded.
“What’s a Jingozi sanctuary?” Kyra asked.
“Oh, princess,” I flashed her a grin. “You’re in for a treat.”