Arthur found himself in a cozy living space, complete with a fireplace, cushioned seating, and even a writing desk in the corner. There were no windows, but a single oak door stood dominating the room with large writing over the top that read:

One challenger may enter.

There were several lines of smaller writing underneath that he couldn’t quite read from a distance.

Marion, Cressida, Horatio, and the little silver dragon, who’d had the pressure worse than Arthur and Brixaby, all gasped for free breath.

“What . . . was that?” Horatio said.

“That dragon with the long body is the Mythic bonded to our king,” Arthur said. “And the rest . . . I don’t know. Rulers of other kingdoms, I think.”

“Mythics,” Cressida said weakly. She seemed overwhelmed.

Arthur turned to Marion. “I’m sorry, but I had to agree to send you back to your father—”

Marion cut him off. “It’s fine. I understand, and the important thing is we need to move on and finish this next challenge. I’m more worried about her.” He looked down to the little silver in his arms. She was all but flopped over his forearm and looked quite out of energy.

It was no wonder: She had faced the might of Scourge Gods and Mythics on her first day of hatching. And without the strength and comfort of a linked rider.

Arthur nodded. While this place seemed to be a place of rest, he didn’t think they would have the time.

He stepped closer to the door and read the smaller lines under the One challenger may enter statement.

Wonder upon wonders, it seemed to be a description of what they would face next.

Your team may send one champion. If they are successful, all will be rewarded. If not, all will be ejected down to the previous challenge, and, if successful, may try again.

That was both more explanatory and fairer than what they had experienced before.

“I like the extra instructions,” Cressida said, “but I don’t think we’ll want to see what happens on the next-hardest level from here without the Mythics’ help. We’ll only get one try at this.”

“That’s why I’m going in,” Arthur said.

“Not without me,” Brixaby growled.

“Only one challenger, Brixaby,” Arthur said. “You know it has to be me.”

The dragon made a spitting sound that was not too far off from the disgusted noise Lung Bai had made. “You and I are a pair. It should treat us as one.”

“If it doesn’t,” Arthur said, walking to the door, “then wish me luck.”

He didn’t let himself think about all he had learned from the Mythics. The fact that the challenge in the bunker had likely been real with people who had lived all that time ago. The hope, expectation, and pressure that he and Brixaby would be the next Mythic pair. And his pending return to Wolf Moon Hive. Not to mention Lung Bai’s unrevealed anxiety. He must get this card. He put that all to the side and turned the doorknob.

Abruptly, he stood in a place that was familiar—back in that room that he had experienced under Ravi’s guided meditation.

Five card slots stood blazing before him. Two were filled with Master of Skills and Master of Body Enhancement. On the other side stood two empty slots. And in the middle was the ghostly visage of Master of Cards.

And right in front, blocking his way, stood his cousin, Penn.

If I want that card, I’m going to have to fight him to the death, Arthur thought.

Sure enough, his cousin’s face twisted in hate, and a dagger appeared in his hand.

“Betrayer,” Penn sneered and advanced on Arthur.

No, Arthur thought.

Penn rushed forward.

Do something, Arthur’s instinct screamed.

“Fight me, you coward,” Penn said. “Fight me like a true man.”

Fear and adrenaline coursed through him. In the back of his mind, Arthur suspected this was a face-your-fear challenge. Penn’s weapon even caught the light as he came close.

He didn’t close his eyes, he didn’t lift his arms to defend himself, and Penn . . . didn’t slash down.

Arthur had been through this song and dance before. They had fought each other to a stalemate. Maybe it would be so in real life, too.

“We’re family, Penn.”

Though Penn did not take the fatal strike, he did press the edge of his dagger to Arthur’s neck. He practically spat in his face. “Family? You’ve all but destroyed us.”

“I can all but fix you,” Arthur said.

“Liar!”

“Penn, if I was lying, I’d rip the card out of your heart right now.”

Penn glanced down and paled when he saw Arthur’s hand hovering a spare inch over his heart. He backed away.

“You can’t fight me and win. All you have is tricks!”

It felt like something snapped in Arthur. “Yes, I can,” he said, frustrated. “You have a Master of Combat. So what? I have a whole retinue of powerful dragons and their riders behind me. Through them, I have access to lava power, an assassin pair that can kill you with a scratch and teleport anywhere you have a shadow. I have a pair that can call down the heat of the sun on you, and now, if you can get a lucky shot in, I have a healer who will fix it. That’s not even getting into my own Legendary dragon. You’re nothing, Penn. I have all that, and I am still afraid of you,” he roared.

Penn sneered. “As you should be. You’re not going to take my card.”

“Yes, I am,” Arthur said, “and I’m going to be a Mythic.”

“Mythic?” Penn barked out a scornful laugh. “You? How? By cheating?”

“Of course by cheating!” Arthur roared back. “I never take the direct route. I’ve already accepted I have to face you, and don’t know how I’m going to take that card from you . . . but I promise, I swear, Penn, that somehow, I’m going to make it right between us. One way or another.”

And with that, some lingering burden that he had not been aware of fell away. None of it erased what he had done to Penn. He had stolen the Master of Body Enhancement card that had been meant to save Penn’s family from debt. Arthur had tricked and wronged Penn in several ways leading up to Brixaby’s hatching.

And if he had to do it all over again, he would. But that didn’t mean that he had to be the same man going forward.

Arthur stared at his cousin. “Penn, facing you means facing what I’ve done and then doing worse. It scares me even more than facing down those Scourge Gods . . . or even more than losing Brixaby. I don’t know why or how it wormed so deep in my heart, but I’m not refusing to fight you because I’m scared. I’m refusing to fight you because when it really happens, I’m certain that we won’t need to.”

Skill level gained: Self-Insight

Level 20