※ “Never invoke a system whose rules you haven’t read.”

  Sir Darrion stood tall—towering even—encased in full sanctified plate.

  A mountain of polished armor.

  A sword that could cleave a horse.

  A shield large enough to serve as a door.

  Radiant. Fearsome. The ideal paladin.

  Lisa stood opposite him.

  Slim.

  Unarmed.

  Wearing fitted civilian clothes and an expression bordering on mild boredom.

  The crowd whispered in awe and dread.

  The Sanctified Flame raised a blazing hand.

  “Begin in three… two… one—GO.”

  A sound tore reality itself:

  THRRRRAAANG-CLAAAAANG-CRUMMMMMPH.

  Sir Darrion collapsed like a cathedral built on wet sand.

  His armor hit the ground in a catastrophic symphony of metal—plates folding, joints locking, helmet tilting sideways as though confused about gravity itself.

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  The gigantic sword buried itself tip-first in the dirt beside him.

  The shield rolled three slow circles and fell flat.

  Silence.

  Utter. Absolute.

  Lisa blinked once.

  The divine clause—the one line that had made her smile—echoed in her mind:

  “For fairness, the challenger’s level, attributes, and skills shall be proportionally synchronized down to match the challenged participant.”

  Sir Darrion, once a holy juggernaut, was now effectively:

  Level 0.

  Strength: civilian.

  Agility: civilian.

  Endurance: … extremely civilian.

  He wheezed inside the armor.

  “Help,” he croaked. “My—my ribs— I can’t— it’s— heavy—”

  Lisa took a step toward him.

  “I can assist,” she said. “Your respiratory function appears compromised.”

  Someone in the crowd gagged on a laugh. Someone else prayed.

  Halden looked ready to evaporate from shame.

  Sir Darrion struggled. The armor didn’t budge.

  He tried again. It pinned him harder.

  “I— yield,” he gasped. “I… yield!”

  A chime resonated through the arena.

  The Sanctified Flame closed his eyes as if wishing the ground would swallow him whole.

  The duel boundary dissolved.

  Dust settled. Heat faded.

  Lisa turned and walked calmly back behind her stall.

  She looked at the silent, stunned crowd.

  “Next customer,” she said.