"Show me the two forms."

Stephanie's statement as she walks into the isn't met with a response right away. Reasonably she must mean two of the forms she'd had all of you perform over the last three days but which ones, any or specific ones?

Stephanie's eyes snap down the line at Twelve and everyone else looks down at her as well. Twelve show the two normal ones that were repeated each day. Stephanie nodded and points at the field. Was this how she was picking opponents? There was something of a rush as everyone figured the same as you moving to copy those forms. All except you, Nika, Vatarie and Asune. Vatarie ran through the two odd ones while the rest of you waited to see what the response to everyone else would be.

Stephanie waved all but the exceptions to the same place as Twelve then Vatarie to the other end of the field. Vatarie looked at all the others arrayed seemingly opposing her and grins flexing her hands into fist. The ones being eagerly appraised looked amongst themselves. In this world numbers can only go so far and honestly even with Anastasia, you think Vatarie might win that fight.

Stephanie looked at the three of you who hadn't run any forms. "You fight with both arms tied behind your back." She looked at Vatarie. "One arm behind your back." She looked at the mass who had done the repeated forms. "Normally. Back in line." She waved a hand and you felt someone stand from behind you. You looked at them and the rope in their hands feeling like the lesson here was either, just because something stands out doesn't mean you should act on it, or if you fail to act you might lose a limb.

The line reassembled and as you hands were tied behind your back you watched as several people in the stands all rushed to a few people. It wasn't hard to figure out what that meant, you supposed betting on this shouldn't be all that surprising but felt the odds might be a little unfair. You move your wrists in their new bindings and are a little impressed by how firm they are without cutting off any blood. You look at Asune who unlike you is actually giving instructions on how to tie her hands. The rope is looped around your waist and you are secured, arms tight against you totally unusable.

Stephanie watches on closely then walks down to Twelve. "Whoever has that stone at the end of the day will be removed from my class. You may challenge anyone up to three ranks higher or three ranks lower. If you defeat someone higher you spawn stone, if you defeat someone lower they swap stones whoever is below them if you lose they move up one rank. If you lose any duel challenge or challenger you are not allowed to challenge." Similar but different rules from the first week, she nodded at Twelve. "Do you challenge anyone?"

Twelve had already started walking by the time Stephanie had finished talking. "Eleven." Twelve said taking position at the end of the field. Eleven hesitated and looked to ten who nodded at her. She sighed and walked out to the field.

The fight happened almost like every other one of Twelve's fight and you remembered the comments about her by Vatarie, Asune and Vatarie. Twelve should be ranked higher. Each time the fighters clashed Twelve reacted to minor shifts in her opponents stance then a fraction of second later undid those shifts to take a hit a bit harder than she would have. Whatever she was planning in the long run she was acting beneath her skill level. The duel ended with Twelve winning and handing over her stone to a much less upset Eleven than should be the case.

"Do you challenge again." Stephanie asked as the two walked back to their new spots in line. Her eyes weren't on those two however, they were scanning the one above the new Eleven.

The new Eleven hesitated and looked at the others. She spun her new stone in her hand. You figured she'd decline but instead she walked back to the field. "Eight."

Eight walked out and the fight was much closer than the last one. Eleven was still the victor but you weren't sure if this time it was a matter was deliberately declined skill or skill limit. The new Eight looked at those above and below her. As she stood there you saw sweat on her brow and heavier breath, two back to back fights must have been tiring but her hesitation to take her new place left you not sure what was going on with her. She was safe fighting again seemed pointless. After a few seconds she took her new place. "No more challenges."

Stephanie nodded and looked at Ten. "Do you challenge anyone?"

"Eleven." She said walking onto the field.

You wrinkled your brow and leaned down the line thinking you missed something. As you do you see people in the audience clamor at the bookies set up around the stands. You were missing something. Eleven took the field looking nervously not at her opponent but at Nine.

And then it clicked, 'if you defeat someone lower they swap stones whoever is below them.' That means you can try and keep your friends in by having them challenge whoever was one above you. Looking back the stands with people making bets suddenly made more sense, this isn't just a who wins one duel it's a who has friends to help them stay in. If you can challenge anyone up to three below you and you win you can knock someone four places lower and they'll be more tired with each fight. Twelve was safe now since even if Seven challenged her and won all three times she'd still only be Eleven and thus safe.

You looked at Stephanie and saw her studying you from the corner of her eye. Her cheek twitched a slightly smile and you saw some pride in her aura as the next fight began.

You wondered how many more eliminations there are. If it's only four you'll be able to keep Asune, Vatarie and Anastasia in the class, provided Vatarie can stay at at least five, you look down at her one usable arm then at Stephanie and see another twitch of pride. There is going to be a similar trick each time which means you can't just brute **** the top five by existing at one.

While you think Ten is victorious and the new Eleven throws a look at Seven. This is a lot more intricate than you thought it was and since neither Asune nor Nika look all that bothered at the machinations of the lower ranks you don't think this is a new system.