Ethan Kane hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud, his shoulder screaming in protest as he rolled away from the black-armored knight's slashing blade. The Overlord Trial's arena unfolded before him, a vast expanse of cracked stone and swirling mist that clung to his skin like damp cloth. The air carried a metallic tang, sharp and cold, mixing with the faint ozone scent of the portal's crackling edge behind him—a faint lifeline to the Neon Market, where Scarface and the Greedrats waited like vultures. His WealthCore screen hovered, its holographic text a dual-edged sword: Cash Balance: $675.00. Objective: Earn $1,000 in 24 hours or face deletion. Time Remaining: 22 hours, 45 minutes. The word "deletion" pulsed in his mind, a shadow darker than the mist, hinting at a fate beyond mere account loss. The shimmering barrier from Defensive Bargain had saved him moments ago, but the second knight advanced, its blade gleaming with a cold, unyielding light that promised pain.
Cobalt stood between them, their plasma blade flaring with a hiss, parrying the first knight's strike with a shower of sparks that illuminated the arena's jagged edges. "Stay sharp, kid!" Cobalt barked, their modulated voice cutting through the clash of steel, a rare note of urgency breaking their usual calm. The third knight loomed in the mist, its blank screen a silent omen, its armor etched with golden runes matching Cobalt's. Ethan's tattoo pulsed, a dull ache spreading up his arm, and WealthCore whispered: Overlord Trial Active. Objective: Defeat guardians to access Vault. Reward: $200 + Skill Upgrade. The stakes were life-or-death, the Overlord's red-eyed statue a distant judge in his memory.
The first knight lunged, its blade aimed at Cobalt's chest. Cobalt deflected it with a grunt, their armor denting slightly, and Ethan scrambled to his feet, his mind a whirlwind. Defensive Bargain had cost $50, and with $675 left, he couldn't squander his cash recklessly. His eyes darted around—jagged rocks littered the ground, a faint glow pulsed from the mist, and a pedestal in the center hummed with energy. A prompt flashed: Analyze environment? He tapped "Yes," and WealthCore highlighted the pedestal: Power Node. Interact to gain advantage. Risk: 20% chance of enemy reinforcement. The second knight closed in, its blade whistling past his ear, the air parting with a sharp crack.
"Cover me!" Ethan shouted, his voice hoarse, darting toward the pedestal. Cobalt pivoted, their blade clashing with the first knight, sparks flying like fireflies. Ethan reached the pedestal, its surface warm and vibrating under his palms, and a surge of energy coursed through him, tingling his fingertips. His screen updated: Power Node Activated. Bonus: Temporary Speed Boost (30 seconds). Risk Triggered: Enemy Reinforcement. The mist thickened, and a fourth knight emerged, its armor bulkier, its screen flashing Guardian Elite (Level 15). Ethan cursed, his speed boost kicking in, his movements a blur as he dodged the second knight's strike, the ground blurring beneath him.
His tattoo flared, and WealthCore glitched: New Skill Unlocked: Resourceful Dodge (Rank F).
Resourceful Dodge (Rank F)
Evade attacks using environmental objects. Cost: $10 per use. Cooldown: 1 hour.
A prompt appeared: Target: Second Knight. Use rock? Ethan grabbed a jagged stone, its edges cutting his palm, and hurled it with enhanced speed. The rock struck the knight's helm with a metallic clang, staggering it, and he rolled away, his balance dropping to $665.00. Cobalt seized the moment, slashing the first knight's arm, its blade sparking as it faltered. "Good move, kid," Cobalt said, their visor glinting with approval. "But we're outnumbered."
The third knight charged, its blade aimed at Ethan's chest. He activated Resourceful Dodge again, using a fallen shield from the first knight to deflect the blow, the impact reverberating up his arms. His balance fell to $655.00, and the arena shook, the Overlord's voice booming: "Trial Phase 1: Endurance. Survive 5 minutes." A timer appeared: 4:55 remaining. Ethan's legs burned as the speed boost faded, but the knights' movements slowed, their coordination faltering, giving him a fleeting advantage. A memory surfaced—his mom, teaching him to dodge bullies in their rough neighborhood, her laughter a rare melody. "Use what's around you, Ethan," she'd said, her eyes bright despite their poverty. He clung to that, scanning for more tools.
A glint caught his eye—a rusted sword half-buried in the stone, its hilt worn but sturdy. He yanked it free, the weight pulling at his shoulder, and swung at the second knight. The blade clanged off its armor, the vibration jarring his wrists, but the impact forced it back a step. Cobalt nodded, engaging the Guardian Elite, their plasma blade carving a gash in its side, the metal screeching. "Keep them busy!" Cobalt ordered, their breath heavy. Ethan parried a strike from the third knight, his arms trembling, the sword's edge chipping with each clash. The timer ticked down: 4:20 remaining.
Outside the portal, the Neon Market buzzed with tension. Scarface rallied the Greedrats near a noodle stall, his scar twitching with rage. "He's in the vault—let's ambush him when he crawls out," he growled, his knife tapping the counter. Buzzcut nodded, sharpening her blade on a whetstone, the rasp grating the air, while Twitchy giggled, rigging a trap with tripwires and a net, his fingers nimble despite his twitchy demeanor. A vendor with a cybernetic arm watched, muttering, "Those rats never learn." The hooded figure lingered in the shadows, their cloak blending with the neon, whispering, "The Overlord's plan unfolds—Kane's the key."
Back in the arena, the timer hit 3:50, and the knights redoubled their assault. Ethan's shield cracked in half under a blow, splintering into shards, forcing him to dodge again with Resourceful Dodge, his balance at $645.00. Cobalt's blade flickered, their energy waning, a crack spreading across their visor. "We need a strategy," Ethan panted, wiping sweat from his brow. WealthCore glitched: Suggest Tactic: Lure to Power Node. Ethan lured the second knight toward the pedestal, its energy flaring as the knight approached. A shockwave erupted, a pulse of light stunning it, and Cobalt finished it with a decisive slash, the knight dissolving into mist. First Guardian Defeated.
The timer read 2:15, but the Guardian Elite advanced, its blade piercing Cobalt's shoulder with a sickening crunch. They staggered, their visor cracking further, a hiss of escaping air audible. "Finish this, Kane," they gasped, their voice strained. Ethan faced the third knight, using Resourceful Dodge to trip it with a rock, then drove the rusted sword into a joint, the metal grinding as it disabled the guardian. Second Guardian Defeated. The Elite loomed, and Ethan activated Defensive Bargain again, a new barrier forming for $50, his balance at $595.00. Cobalt rallied, and together they overwhelmed the Elite, its form dissolving. Guardian Elite Defeated.
The timer hit 0:00, and the Overlord's voice rumbled: "Phase 1 Complete. Reward: $200." His balance rose to $795.00. The arena shifted, the mist parting to reveal a vault door creaking open, its surface etched with coin motifs. But the third knight remained, its screen now reading Overlord Sentinel, its presence a silent challenge. Before Ethan could react, his phone buzzed—the debt collector again. He answered, voice shaky. "Kane, pay $1,200 now, or we're at your door with bailiffs." A sudden transfer pinged—$1,200 from an unknown source, his account cleared. "Consider it a loan, Kane," the hooded figure's voice whispered through the line, their tone laced with menace. "Pay it back in the game, or your soul's mine."
The portal flickered, and Scarface's trap triggered outside, a net snapping shut around an unsuspecting player, a test run. Ethan and Cobalt emerged, the Greedrats closing in, their knives glinting. The Sentinel followed, its blade raised, and a new figure appeared—an Overlord avatar, its form humanoid but towering, its eyes red and unblinking. "Welcome to Phase 2," it intoned, its voice shaking the ground. The market erupted in chaos as the Trial expanded, players scattering, and a fifth knight emerged from the portal, its screen blank.
Ethan's tattoo pulsed, a flashback hitting—his mom, her hands trembling as she handed him her last coin, whispering, "Survive for me." He gripped the rusted sword, his balance at $795.00, and faced the new threat. Cobalt drew a second blade, their stance wavering. "Phase 2's no joke," they muttered. "Stay alive, Kane." The Overlord avatar raised a hand, and the arena reformed, walls rising to trap them. A prompt flashed: New Objective: Defeat Overlord Avatar. Reward: $500 + Vault Access. The Greedrats charged from the market, and the fifth knight advanced, its blade a blur. Ethan's heart pounded—this was no longer just a game.