Challenger's POV

I appeared in an about completely dark room, the orangeish table barely visible in front of me. I could easily notice the pixelation. Then, creaking. Next, eyes. They slowly opened, looking at me. Whoever they belonged to moved closer to the table quickly. I was (obviously) startled, and jumped back a small bit. The eyes studied me curiously. Whoever this was, they must have been here for a long time. I felt a little scared. They could probably kill me at any moment. But I also felt oddly calm. They seemed to not want to hurt me. Instead, they just looked with a calming gaze. Eventually, they spoke.

"Another challenger...it has been ages."

"Perhaps you have forgotten how this game is played."

"Allow me to remind you."

All of a sudden, the table with filled with many things: A candlestick, 2 decks of cards on my right, a bell to my left, and in front of me were 12 squares in a 4x3 table, the furthest ones having arrows, the rest paw prints. Cards magically floated into my hand from the decks, one with a back that looked different from the rest. I had a squirrel, 2 wolves, and a stoat. It seemed odd, almost moving. I just assumed it was the visuals messing with me.

"Play the Squirrel card." they spoke.

I placed it in one of the open lanes.

"Now play your Stoat."

I went to pull it put of my hand, but they talked again.

"Stoats cost 1 blood. Sacrifices must be made."

As I held the card above the playing area, a small token with a red drop appeared next to me. When I held it over the squirrel, a weird symbol appeared over it, and the squirrel shook, as if it was afraid. Hesitantly, I placed the Stoat over the squirrel as the latter dissolved into blood, paper, and eventually nothing. They seemed satisfied.

"Now, ring the bell to end your turn...and commence combat."

I hit the bell, and the Stoat attacked, with scales appearing behind the bell.

"You have dealt one damage to me. I have added it to the scale."

A golden tooth fell in the right bowl, tipping the scales a small bit, the arrow marker on top moving one space to the right. I guessed I had to be 5 damage ahead to win.

"It is now my turn."

They placed a coyote in front of my stoat, leaving it at one health. Uh oh.

"At the start of your turn, you may draw a card."

"You can either draw something from your deck, or you may draw a squirrel."

I guessed that another Stoat was waiting in my deck, so I reached for a squirrel, adding it to my hand.

"How dull."

I was slightly annoyed by their words, but I ignored their comment and put down the squirrel. Then I pulled out a wolf, and sacrificed the squirrel and Stoat for it. As it disappeared, I swore I heard that card say something. I feel like I remember that voice, but I don't know from where...

Anyways, I placed the wolf in front of the coyote, so this wouldn't be a slow, uphill battle. I rang the bell, and the coyote disappeared, just as the cards I sacrificed.

"Because you are learning I will pass."

I decided to take another squirrel, so I could play my second wolf next turn. I left the board alone as my wolf attacked again with a ring of the bell.

"3 damage dealt, 3 weights on the scale. You only need one more point."

"Pass." They said again.

I drew another squirrel, and used the 2 I had to play another wolf, leaving my hand empty. With one last tap of the bell, they attacked and won me the fight.

"You have won this battle."

"But harder ones will inevitably approach."

"Now, let us truly begin."

All of the things that were once on the table(except the candlestick) disappeared, being replaced with an unrolling map. I felt that this would be an interesting adventure.

"Now, let me recall your story..."