Chapter 186: 186. Trust is a Broken thing
The next day began with silence.
Owen and Varkoth had fallen into a rhythm.
They’d cleared the eastern section of Zone 7. Killed two more prisoners who tried to ambush them during the night. Hunted a Tier 5, five-star predator that had been stalking them since yesterday.
Owen’s credits: 287,000.
Varkoth’s credits were likely higher, he didn’t share his count, and Owen didn’t ask.
[CURRENT RANK: #5 OF 191]
[SURVIVAL TI: 3 DAYS, 4 HOURS]
[PRISONERS REMAINING: 191]
Nine dead in three days. The attrition rate was brutal.
They stood at the edge of Zone 7, where the green of the jungle t the red of volcanic rocks. To the north, Zone 3. Gorvax’s starting location.
"I’m heading there..." Owen said.
Varkoth looked at the volcanic region. Lava rivers visible even from this distance. Heat shimring the air.
"To find the Sower, huh?"
"Yeah."
Varkoth was quiet for a mont. "Then Our three days are up."
Owen nodded. "They are."
"You planning to keep the alliance?"
"Depends. Are you?"
Varkoth’s four arms flexed. "You’re useful. Fast. Smart. Good instincts. Together we’ve climbed the ranks faster than apart."
"But?"
"But the Sower is Tier 4, five-stars. If you find him, you don’t need . And I don’t need or want the complication."
Owen’s CE sense flared. Sothing in Varkoth’s posture had shifted. Subtle. But present.
"You planning to kill
now?" Owen asked directly.
Varkoth smiled. "Hmm... I’m considering it."
"Because I’m competition?"
"Because you’re worth 287,000 credits. Killing you would put
at the top." Varkoth stepped closer. "Nothing personal. Just strategy."
Owen’s gauntlets humd. His CE gathered. "I’m not one to die quietly"
"Then it gets ssy."
The drones circled closer. Excited. Viewer engagent spiking.
Owen didn’t move. "We had a deal."
"Deals end. That’s how Prison World works." Varkoth’s lower arms extended. Upper arms clenched into fists.
Varkoth laughed. "I’m Tier 4, three-stars. You’re Tier 5, five-stars. The gap is wider than you think."
’He’s right. Raw CE, he’s got 25,000 baseline. I’ve got 5,600. But I have tricks he hasn’t seen yet.’
Owen activated Dragon’s Eye. Studied Varkoth’s stance. His weight distribution. The way his four arms positioned for maximum striking power.
’He’s confident. Overconfident. That’s exploitable.’
Owen spoke calmly. "Co on, man. I don’t want to fight you."
"Hmm, then leave your credits with "
"I don’t think so buddy."
Varkoth sighed. "Stubborn."
He moved.
Faster than Owen expected. All four arms struck simultaneously from different angles.
Owen used Montum Shift. 7 CE. Appeared three ters left.
Varkoth’s fists hit empty air. He pivoted imdiately. Stone feet cracked the ground.
Owen didn’t counter yet. Just dodged. Testing.
Varkoth attacked again. A barrage. High, low, middle. Relentless.
Owen’s Dragon’s Eye tracked each strike. He dodged. Blocked with scaled forearms. Redirected montum.
But Varkoth’s reach was too long. Four arms ant four attack vectors. Owen couldn’t avoid everything.
A fist grazed his shoulder. Another caught his ribs.
WHAM! WHAM!
Pain exploded. Owen’s CE dropped by 120. Ultra-Regeneration kicked in. 90 CE to heal.
Owen created distance. Montum Shift. 7 CE.
Varkoth grinned. "Running already?"
Owen gathered CE into his throat. Dragon’s Breath. 200 CE.
Black flas erupted. Not aid at Varkoth directly—aid at the ground between them.
Fire spread. Created a barrier.
Varkoth walked through it. His stone skin resistant. But it slowed him.
Owen used the opening. He channeled 150 CE into his fist. Cosmic Impact Fist.
He struck the mont Varkoth erged from the flas.
BOOM!
The impact hit Varkoth’s chest. Cracked his stone skin. Sent him sliding backward ten ters.
Varkoth looked down at the crack. Then at Owen.
His grin widened. "Better."
He charged.
Owen didn’t have ti to dodge.
Varkoth’s four arms grabbed him. Lifted him. Slamd him into the ground.
CRASH!
Owen’s vision blurred. CE dropped by 200. Ultra-Regeneration burned 150 CE.
Varkoth raised all four fists. Ready to finish it.
Owen activated Dragon’s Tongue.
"{Release}"
Cost: 80 CE.
The word resonated. Varkoth’s grip loosened. Just a fraction. Just a heartbeat.
Owen converted mana to CE. 100,000 mana for 100 CE.
Then he drove both fists into Varkoth’s cracked chest. 300 CE combined.
BOOM!
The crack widened. Spread. Varkoth stumbled backward.
Owen rolled free. Stood. Breathing hard.
His CE: 4,246.
Varkoth’s chest was damaged. Stone skin bleeding—not blood, but mineral dust. But he was still standing. Still dangerous.
"Not bad," Varkoth said. "But not enough."
He raised his arms again.
Then stopped.
His head turned. North.
Owen felt it too.
A presence. Approaching fast.
Massive CE signature. Tier 4, five-stars.
Gorvax.
---
The Sower erged from the volcanic region.
His robed form was scorched. Blood stained his sleeves. But his scythe burned with energy.
He stopped at the zone boundary. Looked at Owen. Then at Varkoth.
"Interrupt sothing?" Gorvax’s voice was flat.
Varkoth’s posture shifted. Defensive. "Gorvax."
Gorvax’s featureless covering tilted toward Owen. "You alright?"
"Been better."
Gorvax’s scythe pulsed. "Walk away, Varkoth. Or don’t. Your choice."
Varkoth calculated. Two opponents. One Tier 4, five-stars. One Tier 5, five-stars. Both damaged but functional.
His odds weren’t good.
He lowered his arms. "Alright..." He stepped back. "But this isn’t over, False Fist. Next ti we et, no rcy."
"Looking forward to it."
Varkoth turned. Walked west. Disappeared into the jungle.
The drones followed him briefly, then returned to Owen and Gorvax.
Owen exhaled. His ribs ached.
Gorvax approached. "You’ve been busy."
"So have you." Owen gestured to Gorvax’s injuries. "Volcanic zone treating you well?"
"Tier 4 prisoners. Three of them. Tried to form a hunting pack." Gorvax’s scythe dissolved. "They’re dead now."
[PRISONERS REMAINING: 188]
Owen’s notification updated.
[CURRENT RANK: #4 OF 188]
Gorvax sat on a rock. "Your rank climbed fast."
"Killed when I had to. Hunted when I could." Owen sat beside him. "You?"
"Sa. Credits don’t matter for . No pardon eligibility. But I’m not dying here." Gorvax looked toward the north. Toward the dical bay light-years away. "Seri’s waiting."
Owen nodded. "Then we survive together. Watch each other’s backs."
"Partners."
"Partners."
Across the galaxy, betting pools exploded. The False fist and the Cosmic Criminal. Together.
Ratings skyrocketed.
Owen checked his CE. 4,246. He cycled RCT. Slowly recovering.
"What’s the plan?" Gorvax asked.
"Survive six months. Earn one billion credits. Get my pardon." Owen looked at him. "Help you stay alive and escape from here and get Seri’s freedom."
"Simple plan."
"Best plans usually are."
Gorvax almost smiled.
They sat in silence. Resting. Recovering.
The jungle behind them. The volcanic region ahead.
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