"To the death?! Are you insane?!" I shouted at the notification floating in front of my face.

[I'M NOT THE ONE WHO CHALLENGED YOU, BOSS!]

[BLAME ZHANG WEI'S FRAGILE EGO.]

[APPARENTLY LOSING FACE AT BREAKFAST WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIM.]

I paced around my tiny room, running my hands through my hair. "Can't I just... refuse? Say no? Pretend I'm sick?"

[CHECKING SECT RULES...]

[NOPE. FORMAL DUELS CANNOT BE REFUSED WITHOUT LOSING ALL SECT PRIVILEGES.]

[IF YOU DECLINE, YOU'LL BE EXPELLED AND BRANDED A COWARD.]

[ALSO, YOU'D LOSE SECT PROTECTION RIGHT BEFORE THE INVASION.]

[SO... YEAH. YOU'RE FIGHTING.]

"This is bullshit," I muttered. "Complete and utter bullshit. I've been in this world for TWO DAYS and I'm already in a death match?"

[TECHNICALLY, IT'S BEEN 36 HOURS.]

[BUT WHO'S COUNTING?]

I sat down on my bed, trying to think. Okay. Let's be logical about this. Zhang Wei was Stage 6. I was Stage 3, almost 4. He had years of combat experience. I had... memories of watching anime fights?

"What are my odds?" I asked quietly.

[CURRENT ODDS: 23% VICTORY, 54% DEFEAT, 23% MUTUAL DESTRUCTION]

[HOWEVER...]

"However?"

[IF WE PUSH YOU TO STAGE 4 RIGHT NOW, ODDS IMPROVE TO 41% VICTORY.]

[AND IF I ACTIVATE COMBAT ASSIST MODE, WE CAN BOOST THAT TO 67%.]

I perked up. "Combat Assist Mode? Why didn't you mention that earlier?"

[BECAUSE IT'S TECHNICALLY CHEATING?]

[I'LL BE DIRECTLY CONTROLLING YOUR BODY'S MOVEMENTS AND QI FLOW.]

[YOU'LL BASICALLY BE AN AUTOMATED FIGHTING PUPPET.]

[IT'S EFFECTIVE, BUT ALSO... WEIRD.]

"Weird how?"

[YOU'LL BE CONSCIOUS, BUT YOUR BODY WILL MOVE ON ITS OWN.]

[IMAGINE BEING A PASSENGER IN YOUR OWN BODY WHILE I DRIVE.]

[SOME USERS REPORT EXISTENTIAL DREAD!]

I laughed, a slightly hysterical sound. "Existential dread? That's just Tuesday for me at this point. Do it. Push me to Stage 4 and prepare the combat assist."

[REALLY? YOU'RE SURE?]

[ELDER HU'S TRACKING TALISMAN IS STILL ACTIVE.]

[HE'LL KNOW YOU BROKE THROUGH AGAIN.]

"I'll deal with that later," I said. "Right now, I need to not die in three hours."

[YOUR FUNERAL. WELL, HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.]

[INITIATING EMERGENCY BREAKTHROUGH PROTOCOL...]

[QI REFINING STAGE 3 → STAGE 4]

[ESTIMATED TIME: 2 HOURS 47 MINUTES]

[THIS IS GOING TO HURT, BY THE WAY.]

"Wait, what do you mean hurt—AGHHH!"

---

Pain.

Searing, overwhelming pain flooded through every fiber of my being.

It felt like my body was being torn apart and rebuilt simultaneously. My Qi channels expanded violently, meridians that had been barely open suddenly forced wider. The infinite Qi from my soul poured through like a dam breaking, and my body struggled to contain it.

I collapsed onto the floor, convulsing. Sweat poured down my face. My teeth clenched so hard I thought they'd crack.

[BREAKTHROUGH IN PROGRESS: 23%...]

[TIP: BREATHING HELPS!]

"I... HATE... YOU...!" I gasped.

[LOVE YOU TOO, BOSS! ♡]

**[47%...]**

The Qi concentrated in my dantian, the energy center below my navel, and began to compress. I could feel it spinning, condensing, forming into something more solid. The chaotic energy slowly organized itself into a stable core.

[68%...]

My body convulsed one final time, and then—

Silence.

The pain vanished as suddenly as it had come. I lay on the floor, breathing heavily, covered in sweat that smelled absolutely terrible. But I felt... incredible. Stronger. Faster. Like every cell in my body had been upgraded.

[BREAKTHROUGH COMPLETE!]

[QI REFINING STAGE 4 - ACHIEVED!]

[BODY TEMPERING: 22% → 35%]

[COMBAT POWER: SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED]

[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'RE SLIGHTLY LESS LIKELY TO DIE NOW!]

I pushed myself up, my arms shaking. "Slightly?"

[ZHANG WEI IS STILL STAGE 6 WITH ACTUAL COMBAT TRAINING.]

[BUT NOW YOU'RE IN THE SAME BALLPARK.]

[PROBABLY.]

[MAYBE.]

A sharp burning sensation made me look at my shoulder. The tracking talisman Elder Hu had placed was glowing bright red, practically smoking.

[YEP, HE KNOWS.]

[PROBABLY WONDERING HOW YOU BROKE THROUGH AGAIN SO FAST.]

[EXPECT A VISIT AFTER THE DUEL. IF YOU SURVIVE.]

"One problem at a time," I muttered, peeling off the talisman and tossing it aside. I needed to clean up and prepare for—

Another knock on my door.

"You've got to be kidding me," I groaned.

[DETECTING: YUN XIA AGAIN]

[SHE SEEMS DISTRESSED]

I opened the door to find Yun Xia looking worried, her hands clasped together nervously.

"Lin Tian! I heard about the duel," she said quickly. "Zhang Wei challenged you to a death match? Why would you accept?"

"I didn't exactly have a choice," I said tiredly.

"But he's Stage 6! You're—" She paused, her eyes widening. "Wait. Your cultivation..."

[SHE SENSED YOUR BREAKTHROUGH]

[PERCEPTIVE. I LIKE HER.]

"Stage 4," I admitted. "Just broke through."

Yun Xia's mouth opened and closed. "Just... just now? But that's... how are you advancing so fast?"

I shrugged, trying to play it casual. "Lucky, I guess?"

"Lucky," she repeated, clearly not believing me. But then her expression shifted to concern. "Even at Stage 4, Zhang Wei has two stages on you. And he's been training in the Crimson Palm technique for years. Lin Tian, he's going to try to kill you."

"I know."

"Then why—"

"Because running away doesn't solve anything," I interrupted. "And if I'm going to survive in this world, I need to stop being the person everyone walks over."

The words came out more confidently than I felt, but they seemed to resonate. Yun Xia studied my face for a long moment, then nodded slowly.

"Okay," she said. "Then... be careful. Please."

She reached into her robe and pulled out a small jade pendant. "Here. It's a protection talisman. It can block one fatal attack. My mother gave it to me, but... I want you to have it."

I stared at the pendant, then at her. "I can't take this. It's too important—"

"Please," she insisted, pressing it into my hand. Her fingers were warm. "I'll feel better knowing you have some protection."

[ITEM ACQUIRED: LESSER PROTECTION TALISMAN]

[EFFECT: BLOCKS ONE FATAL ATTACK (CORE FORMATION REALM OR BELOW)]

[ONE-TIME USE]

[ALSO: SHE'S DEFINITELY WORRIED ABOUT YOU]

[HEROINE FLAG +1]

I looked at Yun Xia's earnest expression and felt something in my chest tighten. When was the last time someone genuinely cared whether I lived or died?

"Thank you," I said softly. "I'll return it after the duel."

She smiled, small but genuine. "Just focus on winning."

---

The dueling arena was packed.

Apparently, watching outer sect disciples potentially murder each other was prime entertainment in the Azure Peak Sect. Disciples crowded around the raised stone platform, chattering excitedly. I even spotted a few inner sect disciples in their white robes, looking amused.

Zhang Wei was already on the platform, warming up with elaborate martial poses that were clearly meant to intimidate. His two lackeys stood nearby, grinning.

[ARENA ANALYSIS COMPLETE]

[STONE PLATFORM: 30 METERS DIAMETER]

[BOUNDARY FORMATIONS: ACTIVE (KEEPS FIGHTS CONTAINED)]

[MEDICAL DISCIPLES: STANDING BY]**

[BETTING POOLS: HEAVILY FAVOR ZHANG WEI]

**[CURRENT ODDS: 8-TO-1 AGAINST YOU]**

"Great," I muttered, climbing onto the platform. "Nothing like being the underdog."

[TECHNICALLY, YOU'RE THE 'EXPECTED-TO-DIE-DOG']

[LESS CATCHY, BUT MORE ACCURATE.]

Zhang Wei turned to face me, his expression somewhere between smug and murderous. "Lin Tian. I'm surprised you actually showed up. I thought you might run away like the coward you are."

"And miss this delightful conversation?" I replied. "Never."

His face darkened. "You think you're clever? Breaking through to Stage 4 won't save you. I'm going to crush you in front of everyone and restore my honor."

"Your honor, or your ego?" I asked.

[BOSS, MAYBE DON'T PROVOKE THE GUY WHO WANTS TO KILL YOU?]

Zhang Wei's Qi flared, the air around him shimmering with power. His hands glowed with a crimson light, the Crimson Palm technique, apparently. It looked painful.

An elder I didn't recognize stepped onto the platform, holding a ceremonial gong.

"This is a formal duel between Zhang Wei and Lin Tian," the elder announced. "The duel will continue until one party yields, is incapacitated, or dies. Are both parties ready?"

"Ready," Zhang Wei said immediately.

I took a breath, feeling the Qi coursing through my body. The protection talisman hung around my neck, a comforting weight.

"Ready," I said.

[COMBAT ASSIST MODE: STANDBY]

[READY TO ACTIVATE ON YOUR COMMAND]

[TRY NOT TO DIE, BOSS!]

The elder raised the gong and struck it once.

GONGGGG!

Zhang Wei moved instantly, crossing the distance between us in a blur. His crimson palm thrust forward, aimed directly at my chest.

Too fast, I couldn't dodge.

[COMBAT ASSIST: ACTIVATED]

My body moved on its own.

I twisted sideways, Zhang Wei's palm missing me by inches. My leg swept out, I didn't command it, but it happened anyway, and caught him off-balance. He stumbled, surprised.

[ANALYZING OPPONENT...]

[ATTACK PATTERN: AGGRESSIVE, STRAIGHTFORWARD]

[WEAKNESSES: OVERCOMMITS, LEAVES OPENINGS]

[RECOMMENDATION: COUNTER-ATTACK STYLE]

My body flowed into a defensive stance I'd never learned. Zhang Wei recovered quickly and attacked again, throwing a combination of palm strikes that blurred together.

But I dodged them all.

Not because I was skilled, but because the system was controlling my movements with inhuman precision, reading Zhang Wei's telegraphed attacks and responding perfectly.

It felt... weird. Like watching someone else play a video game, except I was the character.

"How are you—" Zhang Wei snarled, his attacks becoming more frantic. "Stand still!"

[COUNTER-ATTACK WINDOW: OPENING IN 3... 2... 1...]

My fist shot forward, powered by Stage 4 Qi, and connected with Zhang Wei's ribs.

CRACK!

He flew backward, slamming into the boundary formation before falling to the ground.

The crowd went silent.

Zhang Wei struggled to his feet, coughing blood. His eyes were wide with disbelief and rage. "You... you DARE—"

[WARNING: HE'S ABOUT TO USE A FORBIDDEN TECHNIQUE]

[DANGER LEVEL: EXTREME]

"What?!"

Zhang Wei's body began to glow with an intense crimson light, his Qi surging wildly. "I'll kill you! Even if it costs me my cultivation, I'll kill you!"

Oh no.

This wasn't a duel anymore.

This was an execution.

---

[BOSS, ACTIVATE THE PROTECTION TALISMAN. NOW.]

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