Ah, I remember a lecture Sir Friedrich Fischer gave at my university because I wasn’t skilled enough to attend the Duelist Academy. If I recall correctly, the lecture was around the time he released The Importance of Defending Traps. Mind you, this was before he sold his soul to Seth Anderson and took over the Duelist Academy, which is now a front for Duelists being held against their will to play cruel games; such as the heroes of old in Darkest Duels. I assure you that this is not a conspiracy. You can read it all in my book, The United Duelists of Anderson: The story of how we fell for a monster.

  -Xing Zieire advocate and one-time Junior Cup champion

  Harlow

  Harlow could finally sit up in his bed for the first time without help since entering this new place. He still wasn’t sure if he was having some out-of-body fever dream, but he just accepted anything that was thrown his way. Surely nothing was worse than feeling as if one was burned to death and subsequently like their flesh was rotting—all at the same time.

  In the time since he accepted his pack from Apopis, Harlow felt a new power surge through his body. One that vastly helped ease the pain for him. While his newfound Guardian didn’t talk much after their pact, at least not that Harlow thought; he was still falling in and out of sleep due to the repairs his body was making. Harlow thought it was interesting that if he sustained injuries like these at home, he surely would have been dead, or at the very least, a coma.

  Apopis summoned himself into the room. He would always slither in the shadows, normally on the coattails of Ell, someone Harlow was smitten with. “Harlow, I foresaw your strength, and look at you now, the system is able to recognize you, and we are ready to go our work. Remember, Seth and Bowie must face their reparations for the pain and actions they have caused. It’s the only way to save Cyrus and Tera.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I’d do anything to save my friends,” Harlow let out a sickly cough.

  “My child, save your strength.”

  “Can’t you do this for me?” Harlow begged.

  “No, the System will not let one take over the tutorial process. Guardian Overrides attract too much attention from other Monsters and Gods. You got this, my child,” the voice whispered in Harlow’s ear. “I’ll tell you what to pick.”

  Harlow looked into his mind's eye for the first time. Words populated, just like in the Grid. He found it comforting that the Grid was like an early version of where he was now. At least it felt that way. This made it easy for Harlow to navigate the menus.

  User condition now stable.

  User moved from NDC to Duelist.

  Pact now recognized.

  Please pick a Structure Deck. All inhabitants must have a Structure Deck at the minimum. Any refusal to do so will result in System deactivation.

  [ Structure Decks]

  Destiny of the Noob

  Survivalist Strikes

  Overly Complexed Magician

  “You’ve trusted me thus far. Select the Noob deck. It works best for our situation,” the dark voice was soft, as if it was genuine.

  Destiny of the Noob selected.

  [Duelist profile]

  [Harlow Al-Banna]

  [Level 1 Duelist]

  [Guardian Class: Apopis the Necromancer]

  [Hit Points: 25]

  [Title: Noob Duelist]

  [Duelist Rank: Not recognized]

  [Duelist Type: Hybrid]

  [Deck: Destiny of the Noob]

  [Deck Portfolio: 0%]

  [Card Shards: 0]

  [Souls: 0]

  “Are you fucking kidding? Really? You’re a necromancer!” Harlow hoarsely shouted.

  “You tricked me, and I fell for your trap.”