William's attempt to manipulate the situation wasn't entirely lost on the seasoned Predator elder, who had lived for centuries and seen countless challenges. Yet, as a representative of his species' traditions, the elder couldn't reject the duel.
Standing tall, he planted his spear into the ice and gave William a solemn nod. "Challenge accepted. If you win, you will have everything you asked for."
William smirked inwardly, but the elder wasn't finished.
"However," the Predator continued, "this will be a battle of honor and life. Since it's a fight to the death, we will use all means to kill you—until you die or ten of my warriors fall. Do you accept?"
"Boss, this isn't fair! Don't agree!" Barney and Trench protested loudly when they saw the ten Predators step forward, each equipped with shoulder-mounted energy weapons.
"Silence!" William snapped, turning to face them with a feigned look of excitement and determination.
"This is my fight now. Go, leave this place. If I don't return in a day, tell my mother and the world what happened here. Win or lose, my name will live on forever."
His impassioned words left Barney and Trench speechless. Moved by his apparent resolve, they saluted him with clumsy knightly gestures.
Without another word, they returned to the truck. Watching William from a distance, they eventually drove away, tears in their eyes. Such a heroic sacrifice had to be remembered.
William watched the truck vanish, smirking as he muttered to himself, That should give me the cover I need to use magic.
Facing ten energy weapons, even his Mark III armor wouldn't be enough. The staged farewell had not only reassured his companions but also calmed the Predator elder.
However, when Barney and Trench were out of sight, William turned to the elder and smiled. "The contract is sealed."
The elder Predator and the ten warriors behind him acknowledged this with a ceremonial gesture, hands over their chests as they bowed slightly.
"If you win, you will become the most respected individual among the Yautja," the elder declared solemnly.
William nodded. That was exactly the outcome he wanted. Pulling the retractable spear from the ice, he slung it across his waist and removed his armor, baring his upper body.
He stepped forward slowly, stopping seven to eight meters away from the Predators.
"Begin," he said, his tone steady.
The moment he spoke, ten laser sights focused on him, and without hesitation, the Predators fired their energy blasts.
"Whoosh, whoosh!" Ten glowing projectiles streaked through the air.
"Buzz, buzz!"
William's hands moved in circular motions, conjuring a glowing golden portal in front of him. The energy blasts vanished into the portal, only to reemerge moments later, heading straight back at the Predators.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Three Predators who couldn't dodge in time were knocked down by their own weapons.
William had initially planned to test his magical shields, but the Predators had coordinated their firepower to kill him instantly. Fine, if they want to play dirty, let's see how they handle a taste of their own tactics.
Channeling his magic, William formed a golden rune circle in front of him. From it emerged ten identical clones of himself. Seven of the clones sprinted through the air on glowing platforms, their hands conjuring ropes of golden light.
The magical ropes lashed out, binding the remaining seven Predators, immobilizing their upper bodies and legs.
William then crossed his arms and made a dramatic gesture, pushing forward. A ripple of shimmering light expanded outward—a mirror dimension spell.
The glass-like wave traveled across the ice field, encompassing everything in its path, including the Predators' 100-meter-long spaceship.
"Stop! Stop!" the elder Predator shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
Seeing the mirror dimension consume the spaceship, the elder felt an overwhelming sense of dread. He couldn't understand the magic, but his instincts screamed that their entire group was on the verge of annihilation.
After a moment of hesitation, he conceded, "You win."
Hearing Sunday's report through his earpiece, William let the spell dissipate but remained cautious.
"Sir, I've detected another ship, approximately 700 meters long, approaching from outer space. It appeared when the mirror dimension disrupted their communications."
"Damn it," William cursed silently. He'd hoped to wipe out the Predators and claim their technology, but with reinforcements inbound, that was no longer feasible.
With a wave of his hand, the clones and magical ropes disappeared. He summoned his Mark III armor telekinetically, re-equipping himself without moving.
He watched as the seven freed Predators stood up. Others tended to their fallen comrades, reviving two of the three injured warriors.
However, one Predator's condition seemed beyond hope. Two others, possibly medics, knelt beside him and shook their heads. One of them, in apparent frustration, spoke in English without activating their translator.
"To save him, we need to return to the base on X Planet. But there's no time."
William raised an eyebrow at this, recalling the crude medical techniques he'd seen in Predator movies—applying ointments and sealing wounds with fire.
So, they do have advanced medical technology, but it's not portable or miniaturized? This confirmed his earlier suspicion that the Predators might be more like space-faring mercenaries than a truly advanced civilization.
Taking a calculated risk, William stepped forward, pushing aside the medics and kneeling beside the dying Predator.
Despite entering their circle, he remained confident. With the mirror dimension still active, every movement in this space is under my control.
Feigning analysis, he used his smart glasses to scan the injured Predator before attempting a healing spell.
To his surprise, the spell worked.
A soft golden glow enveloped the Predator, and his wounds began to mend.
The surrounding Predators watched in stunned silence as William stood, brushing off the ice from his knees. Time to solidify my position, he thought.
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