'This would be a stake-type duel,' Nicolai added. 'I would put up the Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote as my stake, and you would put up something I want, in turn.'

This was something he'd learned about from reading Duel Arena book between fights. The system actually made it possible to do exactly as Jian had suggested. They could arrange a private duel, and set up rules in this duel such that certain Symbiotes, weapons, etc., could not be used—and also place a stake. Whoever won would receive what the other person had staked. It was a robust, regulated system allowing for significant variety in fights.

For a fleeting moment, an expression that might just have been fear flickered over Jian's face. But he recovered quickly, from the surprise and whatever else he might have thought, as his eyes found the crowd around them, which had turned suddenly silent and watchful.

'I accept,' he said loudly, confidently, and the Cultivators around them grinned and cried out.

'A rematch!'

'Slay him, Jian, show this dog his place!'

'Without his cheat he cannot stop you!'

Jian began to smile, and this smile broadened as the lapping waves of encouragement rolled in. But looming beside him was someone who seemed much less happy about this idea.

'I forbid it,' snapped the Hao Primarch sternly, and the old man glared at Nicolai, eyes narrowed to angry slits. 'This man is a trickster, a scammer.' He turned to look at Jian, who wore a stricken expression. 'Once bitten, twice shy,' the old man intoned. 'Would you suffer further defeat to his trickery? No. Not while I am here.'

These words caused a groan of discontent from those around.

'But father! I can win, if he doesn't use that weapon my victory is assured!' blustered Jian. 'I will seize the Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote, for the clan!'

The old man shook his head dismissively, and Nicolai watched, unsure what to do or say. He wanted to fight Jian again but this old man was too canny. But, as he kept silent, the upset crowd of Cultivators around them muttered and murmured.

'So, the Hao clan is this pitiful… afraid to fight a mere barbarian.'

'A scared old man, holding his son back from glory. A story as old as time.'

'Lucky break for the barbarian… what a shame. A shame on our people, and most of all a shame on the Hao Clan!'

The murmurs were turning into angry shouts, and the old man was frowning out at them while beside him, his equally old rivals wore rather smug, pleased expressions. At this moment, a drunken Earthborn chose to slide by, and as the rosy cheeked woman went past she called:

'Jian the faceless!' This was accompanied by a slur of drunken laughter.

The young man flushed bright and furious red at these words, and the Cultivators around, normally so quick to anger at any "barbarian" insults, actually laughed.

'Yes, he is faceless! First the barbarian burned his face, now his father takes his face away!' cried out one man, seeming quite taken by this.

The Cultivators gibbered and jabbered like excited hyenas, finding some kind of double meaning that was, Nicolai had a feeling, just the kind of mean-spirited yet funny nastiness that could so quickly become a lifelong nickname.

'Don't let your father stop you, Jian! Fight him! Fight for your face! Win!' came a scream from within the crowd.

Jian, whose actual face had only grown reddener, his manner more sullen, straightened. 'I will fight him!' he snarled at those around them. 'I will!'

'Jian!' cried his father, incensed.

'No! You demand too much, father!' the young man turned on his father, glaring. 'Will you restrain me from fighting, from seeking to regain my honour against this filth? If you do, then isn't it correct to say you are afraid? Not me! I will fight him, and I will win!'

Nicolai and the crowd observed the back-and-forth with enjoyment. It's a shame you don't have any popcorn, put in the Mask. This casually indifferent comment from the normally kindly Mask surprised him so greatly he burst out laughing.

Jian and the old man both turned murderous glares on him, and Nicolai felt it as the Cultivators in the crowd pivoted to give him stares as hateful as those from the father-son pair.

'You see, Jian,' the crowd hissed, a sea of twisted, sneering expressions. 'He laughs at you. Strike him down, slay this scum… Without the cheat you will surely win… Regain your face…' The vicious muttering intensified as the crowd beamed their hatred at Nicolai and their threatening encouragement at Jian. He could literally feel it in the Aura, like some great angry fog, something ominous and hateful, a desire to see him torn and smashed apart and humiliated in the worst and most creative ways possible.

He spread his arms, and said the words that seemed fitting for his current role.

'So, will you fight? Or are you too afraid?' And he released another peal of mocking laughter, did his best to speak as they did. 'The Hao clan unwilling to face one such as me? What an honour!'

Jian shot a look at his father, and the old man's eyes flicked from Nicolai, to the crowd, to his smug old rivals.

'Fine,' the Hao clan Primarch snapped. 'Fight him.'

As the crowd roared their approval, the old man seized Jian and put his mouth by his son's ear, whispering intently and seriously. Nicolai would've loved to know what was being said, but the shouts of the crowd drowned any hope of him making out the quiet words. He gazed at the old man's lips, trying to grasp the meaning. Thanks to Simulations recent work on the Cultivators language, he gained an impression.

Don't you dare lose.

'Activate Duel Arena system between myself and Jian, stake duel,' spoke Nicolai brightly, calling up the Duel Arena UI while the Hao Primarch released his son. Light flashed between them as a screen appeared, a floating double-sided console.

Private Stake Duel between Nicolai and Jian

Rules: none

Win condition: none

Stake

Nicolai: none

Jian: none

As the others examined the light show, Nicolai's mind buzzed. He had a plan for this, but it was tricky and depended on several factors. While Jian and his father had been arguing, he and the Modules had been working, checking whether what he intended was feasible.

This had involved Simulations scanning back through all of his recorded footage. Like all other humans, he recorded everything that happened via his eye-lense, bionic eye, the microphones in his ears, and even via the feeds from other microphones, audio sensors, and cameras set into his skinsuit.

Simulations had gone back through all this footage with a singular focus. That of observing Cultivators whenever they spoke. He didn't know their language, but much could be learned or at least guessed at, even with limited information.

As the Cultivators were also human, they possessed the same biomechanics. Language was well studied and it was one of the areas simulations possessed detailed datapacks and a thorough understanding—precisely so it could, if necessary read lips and mouths from a distance. It knew all of the possible phonetic sounds a human could produce, and the related movements of the lips, jaw, and throat.

The powerful microphones in his skinsuit, and the advanced imaging of his bionic eye, meant that it could make good comparisons.

The other issue was that Heaven translated the sounds, and tended to simply phase out the original sounds—to those hearing—with its inserted translation. Thus conversation was very fluid, and you would hear what others were saying in their exact tone of voice and manner of speaking, as though they had spoken in your language rather than their own.

Fortunately, if one listened carefully—or, in this case, had Simulations go through the footage and isolate the quieter, background sound—it was possible to hear what they had actually said, in their own language.

As a result, Nicolai had the meaning of what they had spoken via the translation, as well as what they had actually said in their own language plus the movements of their mouth and jaw while making those sounds.

With this, Simulations had—to an extent—reconstructed their language. Now, to make the plan work, he just had to test a few specific words and hear how they translated.

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'First rule, Nicolai cannot use the weapon with which he defeated me in our last fight, nor anything like it, nor anything that works similarly, nothing at all in that vein!' cried out Jian. The UI flickered, words appearing.

Rules: (Ban 1—Nicolai cannot use laser-based weaponry in this fight. This includes the Lasrgun he has on his person, as well as any other laser type weapons. Also banned is anything that utilises lasers in any form, such as laser aiming sights, laser rangefinders, and eye-burners. Full list of banned items: Lasrgun M18, Lasrgun M19,… (expand?))

Nicolai hit expand and saw the list was long, long, long. 'This rule is too overarching,' he said. 'It bans me from more than just using the weapon or other weapons like it. It also stops other unrelated functionality. I insert an amendment to this ban: any laser which cannot feasibly cause serious damage, should be free to use. Also, I dislike that the ban only applies to me. It should be a ban applying to both of us.'

The screen flickered.

Rules: (Ban 1—neither combatant can use laser-based weaponry in this fight, nor any other laser-based item capable of lethal damage. However, tools and items using laser technology in non-lethal ways, such as laser aiming sights and laser rangefinders, are acceptable. Full list of banned items: Lasrgun M18, Lasrgun M19,… (expand?))

Jian opened this one up and read through it carefully. Nicolai could make out how on the other side of the screen, it looked different. The wording and language used was altered to make more sense depending on who was reading it. That was as they'd anticipated, and he gazed at it all very carefully. The data-block Simulations lived in hummed with activity as his bionic eyes scanned the far side.

As Jian read, the crowd was growing even denser and now Eathborn were staring to pack into it, too.

'They're going to fight—again?!'

'Good! The barbarian cheated, this should be a fair fight!'

'How was it cheating, caver? He used a common weapon. It's not his fault if you primitives are too undeveloped to have any tech.'

'It went through the Silver Net!'

'So it's fine for that guy to have magic that makes him bulletproof, but not fine for someone to use something that isn't a bullet? You people just want to win, and anything that makes you win is good, and anything that makes you lose is bad!'

Nicolai quickly lost the individual voices in the chatter. He agreed with the final voice he'd made out, however. What he'd done wasn't cheating, but Jian and those who felt the same way were eager to make it out as such. So far as he could tell, when these Cultivators called something "cheating" what they apparently meant was "something we don't like that allowed you to win."

He smiled under his helmet, wondering how they might act if he cheated for real.

'Fine, this looks fine,' said Jian at last, having finished reading the amendment. 'As to the stake, I want the Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote. If I win, I get it.'

This was summarily added to the list, pending Nicolai's approval. The system then threw up a warning: Unbalanced Stake. Jian looked at him impatiently. 'And you, barbarian? What do you want?'

'I want your Spectral Claw.'

Jian's eyes widened, as did those of his father, and just about all the surrounding Cultivators. 'What?' spluttered the old man.

Jian sneered. 'You clueless barbarian. The Spectral Claw is elite in the Foundation Tier. All the Symbiotes required to make it are valuable, especially the Spectral Mantis and Phantom Clawer! Overall, they are worth more than the Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote!'

Nicolai shrugged. 'That's what I want. It looks useful. If you aren't willing to stake it, then I won't fight.'

'Come now,' said Jian's father, stepping forward. 'I can think of an easier solution. Jian will stake the 1,000,000 points-tags you want. If you win, you get them—and you can keep your Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote. Isn't that worth more? You'd be able to spend those points on anything you like, not be stuck with a complicated set of Symbiotes you'd probably not even be able to properly use.'

'It's worth less because it come with the significant risk that I lose and gain nothing while losing the Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote. I can simply sell it right now to you… or to one of these others.' Nicolai waved at the other old men who nodded eagerly.

'Don't take the stake Nicolai, they are scamming you!' said old man number 2. 'In truth, how did you cheat? But forcing you to face the Silver Net with no method of dealing with it… isn't that also just cheating? They simply want the Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote for free. Don't risk it, sell it to me for 500,000 points-tags instead!'

'This old man makes some good points,' said Nicolai, pointing at the old fellow, who nodded and bowed his head repeatedly, grinning like a kindly grandfather. 'With these rules, Jian has a big chance of winning. In fact, let us see what people think of those odds…' He suddenly called out to the crowd. 'Before we fought, and I pulled the Lasrgun, what were the odds the gambling house gave to Jian and myself?'

People exchanged glances, then one Cyborg spoke up. 'It was five to one! Five to one in favour of Jian!'

Nicolai shrugged, looking at Jian and his father. 'And that is the same fight I am now discussing entering into. Jian is considered five times more likely to win. Therefore, shouldn't his stake be worth more than mine? After all… this is quite a safe bet.'

Jian was chewing at his lip, uncertain. He cast a glance at the young girl who was half-hiding behind the old man, a shy expression on her face. The old man himself was glaring at Nicolai with anger and wariness. But Jian's eyes cleared and turned determined after looking upon his sister. He turned to Nicolai.

'Fine. I will stake my Spectral Claw.'

The UI flickered, updating with this new stake. The clashing chatter of the crowd around them intensified… and the old man made a face like he'd just eaten a lemon.

Nicolai had the strong impression that this old man, canny and wise, was perhaps regretting that he'd folded under the weight of the baying crowd, his frustrated son, and the needling of his rivals. This was because he knew something Jian didn't.

If Nicolai was aware the odds were so bad, that he was considered to have only a 1 in 5 chance of winning…

Then why was he agreeing to fight?

The very fact he knew the odds and agreed, told one that in his view the odds could not truly be 5:1. It must be significantly more even.

However, Nicolai also understood why the elder kept silent. At this point the old man could not gainsay his son. He'd seen the reputational damage that would be caused by forbidding Jian from fighting. Since he'd decided to go with it, he had no choice but to just push on and hope that Jian successfully won. Trying to go back on it now—after an even larger crowd had gathered—would only cement the stories of the Hao clan all being cowards and "faceless." It might even cause a schism in the family. So even though he worried Nicolai had some trick up his sleeve, at this point the old man had little choice but to let it go ahead.

Nicolai gathered from all this that reputation was very important for Cultivators. This was not dissimilar to the Corporations of modern-day Earth. If a Corporation developed a bad reputation, their business prospects would take a hit. Although, on Earth there were methods around this, such as a rebranding.

Nicolai nodded to Jian. 'Good, then I agree to stake the Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote. But there are some more minor rules to discuss. For starters, I want to ensure there are no genetic redirection Symbiotes used in the fight.'

Jian frowned at him. 'What? What is that?'

Nicolai simply waved at the UI, which had thrown up a new ban as well as explanation.

'To do with… the internal makeup of the body? DNA? Genetic?' murmured Jian, confused.

'I happen to have a significant weakness in that arena. I won't go into detail. I wouldn't like you to cheat by using some method related to it against me,' explained Nicolai.

Internally, Simulations was rejoicing. When Jian had said the word "genetic" he had used exactly the same word as Nicolai had. The Cultivators didn't have a word for it, but had just heard a word at this moment. Thus, "genetic" had become a loan word.

After reading for some time through the doubtless dense information, and with numerous Cultivators, including his father, doing the same from over his shoulder then conferring, Jian shrugged. 'Okay, whatever.'

'And next…' began Nicolai. What followed saw Nicolai demand various random rules and clarifications. Time began to stretch and the Cultivators around started to mutter and murmur, annoyed at Nicolai's continual minor amendments and unreasonable ways, while Jian became increasingly frustrated.

'Stop making trouble over nothing barbarian, the rules are fine, just accept it!'

'What a worm, pathetic! Nicolai you are a coward!'

And so on. Alas, Nicolai cared nothing for his reputation and bore up under this without reaction.

Thrice they completely scrapped the built-up lists of bans and rules and stakes, restarting from nothing. Each time, Nicolai demanded various things—and was always careful to include the genetic redirection Symbiotes ban, though increasingly as an afterthought. But still each time he said it clearly and he said it often. 'Genetic redirection Symbiotes banned, I ban genetic redirection Symbiotes… as always, I ban genetic redirection Symbiotes.' Over and over.

During this process, he also put into test Simulation's theory regarding a specific word, a wild coincidence that had generated this whole plan. Simulations was continuously recalculating and double-checking as Nicolai manipulated the negotiations and tested certain phrases, each time with the same result:

The word he had in mind sounded exactly the same in his language as it did in theirs.

After some time, they finally settled.

'Okay, okay, fine. All this looks good, right?' Jian looked to his father and the small group of scholarly Cultivators who had ended up behind him—people from the crowd who, claiming to be knowledgeable in matters like this, had come to assist him. His father and the others nodded, stepping away and stretching, seeming tired after craning at the UI for so long.

'And I am happy with everything on my side,' spoke Nicolai. He wasn't supported by a coterie of helpful Cyborgs because he'd told all those who'd tried to cosy up to him to fuck off. He didn't want a group of people second-guessing his choices and loudly pointing out anything odd they noticed.

Speaking as an afterthought, he added one final ban. 'Oh, and I want my ban on kinetic redirection Symbiotes, as always.'

'Sure, sure,' said Jian, waving absently as the block of text appeared and slotted into the UI.

'Then I declare my readiness. Let us duel,' said Nicolai, struggling with his words. All of a sudden he felt as though there were some giant, insane worm in his stomach that was trying to thrash its way out of him in an explosion of demented, gleeful laughter, one that was mimicked by Simulations which was erupting with joy. At the same time another part of him and the other Modules were staring out at the Cultivators and thinking: Surely one of them will notice? Can this really slip by? The Modules and the Mask were in disbelief that Simulations ridiculous and over complex plan actually seemed to be working.

It had all hinged on the word kinetic. Simulations had worked out that whatever language the Cultivators used, shared almost the exact pronunciation and meaning of "kinetic" with his own language. A rare phenomenon known as a false cognate. Because of this, and the successful loaning of the word "genetic," the Cultivators had indeed heard two very similar sounding words, in spite of the translation.

Regardless, Nicolai and most of the Modules (all but Simulations, who was currently feeling absolutely unstoppable) all felt sure that at any moment someone would cry out, "Wait a second, stop the proceedings!"

But no one did. The Cultivators and Cyborgs around were excitedly discussing the oncoming battle. They'd all grown bored of looking at the UI long ago, after he'd dragged the process out for so long. Even the Hao Primarch was, at this particular moment, exchanging some barbed words with one of the other old men.

Smiling confidently, Jian echoed him. 'I am also ready, let's fight.'

The UI flared with light, and Nicolai's urge to burst out in crazed laughter intensified. Gritting his teeth he forced it down, lips spreading in an a manic grin under his helmet. And now Simulations was chanting it worked it worked it worked it worked with mad glee, then Cyberwarfare joined in while the others worked to ensure the feelings didn't show in leakages from his Soul.

Private Stake Duel created and accepted.

Private Stake Duel between Nicolai and Jian

Rules: (Ban 1—neither combatant can use laser… Expand?)

Win condition: Lethal Damage Detected (Death Protect Enabled, Restoration Enabled)

Stake

Nicolai: Yin-Yang Rotation Symbiote

Jian: Spectral Claw combination (Spectral Mantis Symbiote, Phantom Clawer… Expand?)

Transporting combatants to arena.

This private duel has been made available for public viewing. Those wishing to observe may join the stands via the multi-access portal.

The Gambling House has recognised this Duel as being of public interest and is open for bets. Current odds: 1:1 Jian to Nicolai.

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