"Please," the Kurskin said. "Don't all speak at once."

  None of us had said a word, and if her stiff posture was any indication, even Ersabet was scared of this Player.

  The Kurskin bowed. "My name is Bhatri, and unlike some of my kind, I don't derive pleasure from killing the innocent. However, I might be willing to make an exception in this case." His eyes were on Kitz.

  I took a tentative step forward. "What do you want from us?"

  "I am searching for a man named John McClane. You are him, are not?"

  I could have lied, but I didn't see the point. All Bhatri had to do was grab my hand, and he'd see the truth for himself.

  "I am." I gestured to the others. "Let them go, and you can bring me to Prajio. I won't resist as long as they're safe."

  "I am not Prajio's delivery boy," he said with disdain.

  "If you're not here on his behalf, then why are you here?" There was a hint of hope in my voice. If he wasn't on good terms with Prajio, there might still be a way out of this.

  "Please don't misunderstand," Bhatri said. "I came here to kill you, but I don't answer to Prajio."

  I shook my head and continued to probe for a way out. "He wants me for himself. If you take that from him, it will be your head next."

  Bhatri laughed. "Prajio has been picking flowers in the woods for months while I have been fighting a war. He may be hot-blooded, but even he knows not to pick a fight with his betters."

  "If you're as powerful as you say, why are you doing his work for him?"

  Bhatri shrugged. "I wanted to see more of this world, and I must admit that I was enticed by the opportunity to ride a dragon. It was more uncomfortable than anticipated if I'm being honest."

  I counted myself lucky to have such a talkative killer. I was going to delay the inevitable as long as I could. "What did Prajio tell you about me?"

  "He said you have powers, but there are plenty of humans on this world with unnatural abilities. My interest was piqued when he told me that you had been hiding your true name from him. It's a rather unique name, is it not?"

  I didn't reply.

  "On the way here," Bhatri continued. "We were hailed by one of our peers on the road, and my-oh-my did he have a lot to say about you."

  That explained how they got here so quickly. They had already been on the way. Danver was already going to burn because of me before I even turned the people against the Kurskins.

  "Djadja?" I asked.

  Bhatri nodded. "He was killed for his cowardice. After we got what we needed from him, of course."

  I spit on the ground. "Good. The fewer of you, the better."

  The Kurskin smiled. "Your true nature is still up for some debate. I beg of you, enlighten me before your departure."

  "What do you think I am?"

  "What I think is of no consequence. All that matters is what you say you are."

  "Let my friends go, and I'll tell you," I said.

  He nodded. "Once you are dead, I will let them go." He looked at Ersabet. "Except for the Dalari."

  She didn't react, which only served to heighten my fear. Throughout this conversation, I had been waiting for her to make her move, but she was as quiet as everyone else.

  I turned my gaze to Ersabet, and our eyes met. She shook her head gently like she knew what I had been thinking. Her eyes told me much. This one was too strong for her. For both of us.

  "Enough of this," I said. "Are we going to fight or not?"

  "Eager for death, are you?" He raised a hand, and it crackled with energy.

  I let out a mocking breath. "You're just as much of a coward as Djadja. All of you are."

  Bhatri's lip curled, and the power in his hand intensified. "I am no coward."

  "Please," I said. "You wouldn't stand a chance against a human in a fair fight. Without your powers, you're nothing, and you know that."

  The power in his hand dissipated, and he spread out his fingers, showing off his claws. "You are so very wrong, John."

  I held up my fists. "Then prove it."

  The cocky bastard clapped his hands in delight. "Oh, I like you, John. If you don't want to talk, we can do it your way, but if we are to keep this fight fair, that means no weapons, no powers, and no interference from your companions."

  I looked at Ersabet. "She won't interfere."

  "John," the Kurskin said. "Don't be na?ve." He flicked out a hand, and a small bright green bolt shot toward Ersabet. It struck her in the chest, and she seized up like she was being electrocuted before falling stiffly to the ground, immobile, a small, metallic-green dagger sticking out of her chest.

  "The paralysis is temporary," the Kurskin said. "Dalari are not to be trusted. We both know she would attempt to kill me while I was distracted with you."

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  And just like that, my only plan for getting out of this alive was gone.

  "One last thing before we begin." He pulled out his sword and jabbed it into the ground. Then, he snapped his fingers, and the few pieces of armor he was wearing vanished into his inventory, leaving him with only his pants and undershirt on. "Remove your weapons and armor."

  I nodded, shrugged out of my new cloak, and handed it to Kitz. "Keep this safe for me."

  Bhatri looked disappointed, and I knew exactly why. He didn't know I was a Player, not for sure. He had been hoping I would confirm his suspicions by sending my armor into my inventory like he had, but I wasn't about to give up that particular secret. He was already aware that I knew the truth about them, and I was happy to leave the rest to his imagination.

  I stuck my sword into the ground and unstrapped my leather armor. I took off everything except for my shirts, pants, and boots. I didn't think it was necessary to mention the small dagger I had tucked into my right boot when raiding the Hunter's armory.

  "Now." The Kurskin raised his fists. "Let us see if you are as strong as you think you are."

  I had been in a few fistfights in my days, but never one where my life was on the line. My rational mind wanted me to stay on the defensive and make the most of what little time I had left to live, but my instincts told me my only hope was violence of action. I needed to be a savage, so I went at him like a man possessed, swinging my fists in wild, uncoordinated arcs. My kinetic outburst surprised him, and I almost landed my second punch, but he was just too quick, leaning back at the last moment to dodge my fist.

  A sense of clarity washed over me as my Close Combat Specialist kicked in. I would need to be careful now. If I reacted too early, he might realize I was using a power.

  I launched another flurry of blows at him, but he ducked and weaved like a professional, moving just enough to dodge my attacks while conserving his energy. He blocked a hook with a forearm and threw a jab with his hard fist. I saw it coming and leaned back just as the blow connected with my cheek. It stung, but I had been at the edge of his reach, so the impact was minimal.

  My longer arms weren't much of an advantage if I couldn't land a blow, so I mixed it up and managed to land a hard kick to his leg. He flinched but was otherwise unaffected.

  "You have a warrior's spirit," he said. "I'll give you that. Unfortunately for you, you don't have a warrior's strength." He went on the offensive, throwing a set of punches my way. I stayed out of reach from the first set and tried to counter, but he ducked and swung at my gut. I could sense the attack before it came, but I just wasn't fast enough. The punch connected, and I doubled over. He took the opportunity to land a strong right hook into the side of my head. My vision flashed white, then black, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground.

  "Yield," Bhatri said. "Give up and let me put an end to your miserably incongruous existence." He gestured to his sword. "I'll do it quickly."

  I growled and scrambled to my feet as I charged forward, attempting to shoulder-tackle him. He had to take a step back to keep his balance, but he held his ground as I leaned against his midsection, trying to drive him back like an offensive lineman.

  He slammed his elbow into my back, and a shock of pain lanced through my body, forcing me to release my hold on him.

  I straightened and saw his hand open wide, displaying his jagged claws. He swiped at me and raked his claws through my gut. My breath left me as he ripped me open, leaving a long, bloody trail across my midsection.

  The pain was unbearable, and I fell to my knees, both hands clutching my stomach. It did little to stop the blood that was spilling out of me.

  "Please don't make me tear you apart with my bare hands." He flicked my blood off his claws. "Believe it or not, I'm not a fan of blood."

  I stared at him through watery eyes with all the hate I could muster.

  'Let me help,' Val said, and a wave of warmth washed through me, easing my pain.

  'I'm sorry, Val. I failed you. I failed everyone.'

  'We have both made mistakes.'

  'Will you be okay without me?'

  'I do not know. All I can do is hide within you and hope a suitable host presents itself.'

  'Anyone will be better than me.'

  'On that, we disagree. Goodbye, Ethan. Or as you humans like to say at dramatic moments such as this, I'll see you in the next life.'

  I smiled at her attempt to comfort me. She was selfish, needlessly cruel, and a constant pain in my ass, but we were on the same team. Her pretending to care about me in my final moments meant more to me than she could ever know.

  If there were a next life, I'd want her to be there with me.

  I closed my eyes, knowing there wasn't a next life. This one was all I had.

  And just like that, I knew what I had to do with what was left of mine.

  I turned and looked at Kitz and Delen. They were holding each other, terrified. Tears left muddy trails on Kitz's cheeks.

  "I yield," I said. "Let them go."

  "They will not be harmed," Bhatri said. "You have my word."

  Like that meant anything. I nodded and looked at his sword. "I'm ready."

  He walked to his sword and pulled it out of the ground. Smoke from the burning city swirled around him.

  I stayed on my knees and leaned forward, giving him a clean target. If I were going to die, I'd rather not feel it.

  "I'd say you fought well," Bhatri said. "But that would be a lie. However, you've earned my respect, and that's not something I give out lightly."

  He took his position to my left side, and I removed my hands from my bleeding belly and put them on the ground near my knees to help brace myself.

  "Swing hard," I said. "Make it quick."

  His feet shifted next to me as he raised his sword. I resisted the urge to close my eyes. I needed them to be open for this.

  The air above me hummed as the sword cut down in a vertical slice.

  My body tensed at the anticipated impact, but at the last moment, an unseen force diverted his sword. The blade cut through my hair, less than an inch from my scalp, and embedded itself into the ground.

  A notification appeared at the corner of my vision, but I didn't open it. I already knew what it said. The NINE LIVES ability I had earned for breaking Tara's quest by exploiting the inventory system to escape and kill Sabbatha had finally been spent.

  The missed swing forced the Kurskin off balance, and the heavy blade's momentum caused him to lean forward much farther than he had been expecting.

  With the last bit of my strength, I pulled the dagger from my boot, activated Devastating Strike, and swung the blade upwards toward Bhatri's neck. The dagger sank to the hilt in his soft neck, and he was blasted upright from the powerful blow.

  He stumbled backward but managed to keep his feet under him. His eyes darted around in fear until they landed on mine. They flared with hatred and an unrelenting determination.

  Dagger still in his throat, he lunged forward, tackled me to the ground, and wrapped his rough hands around my neck.

  He squeezed with all of his strength. If it weren't for my enhanced resilience, he would have crushed my trachea in an instant. It mattered little, either way. He was still too strong for me to overcome.

  Blood and spit dripped down on me from his snarling face as he choked the life out of me. I tried to pry his hands away, but mine were slick with blood. My eyes bulged, and the edges of my vision darkened. My head was going to explode.

  I heard a strange, electric crackle, and the Kurskin's hands tightened unexpectedly before lifting from my throat. His body went rigid as he seized atop me. I shifted my hips, and he fell stiffly to his side.

  Delen stood above me, his homemade taser still crackling with energy.

  I coughed violently as I begged my body to listen to me. I had to move. Bhatri wasn't dead yet.

  Before he could recover, Kitz leapt forward and yanked the dagger from the Kurskin's throat. The little warg slammed it into the soft of the Kurskin's neck over and over and only stopped when Delen pulled him away.

  Bhatri's gaze found mine only a foot away, and I watched that last spark of life vanish from his eyes.

  'I never doubted you for a second,' Val said.

  I began to laugh. Or maybe I was crying. It was hard to tell.