Shadow Slave

Leo sent the clip to a couple of his buddies and waited in the dark void, chatting with the viewers and laughing about his terrible performance in the duel against the demonic newbie.

'That Mongrel... there's something about him...'

Just as he had expected, his friends joined him in the Dreamscape almost immediately after receiving the message.

Yes, his defeat was rather embarrassing… but there was an opportunity in every disaster!

This was going to be a very special broadcast.

A rare and bombastic… crossover episode!

Answering the invitations, two figures joined him in the black void. The viewers grew silent for a moment, and then sent so many reactions that the Broadcast Interface almost crashed.

Well, as expected. Both guests Leo had invited were very prominent duelists, at least as popular as he was himself, or perhaps even more.

One wore a heavy plate armor. There was a castle engraved on its breastplate, and four dragons depicted on his pauldrons and vambraces. This was Daoist Saifer, a renowned swordsman who possessed a powerful Aspect that allowed him to control fire.

The other was a taciturn warrior in a grey silken robe. His alias in the Dreamscape was the Fool, and he was known to be one of the most peculiar and persistent duelists in the professional league.

Leo grinned.

"Hey there, Saifer. Hey there, Fool. Long time no see!"

Saifer scoffed, then pointed at him.

"Leo, my friend. What the hell was that? You got killed by an amateur… in one strike!"

The Fool simply shook his head and remained silent.

Leo coughed in embarrassment and looked down.

"Yeah, well… it's not like the two of you never tasted a piece of humble pie, is it? If I remember correctly, Queen Bee decimated both of you just last week…"

Saifer grinned.

"I am ready to be killed by our noble Queen every day. But a newbie? Come on..."

Leo shrugged, then pointed to his sword.

"Alright, alright. But there's a reason the two of you arrived so quickly, right? You saw it too?"

duelists glanced at each

the camera and smiled

Well, well, well. It's this rare

gestured to his

of my broadcasting… as you might know, these two distinguished gentlemen are actually not only my colleagues, but also disciples of the same cranky old man who taught me swordsmanship. Basically, the three of us are childhood friends, and

paused, and then

I was so shocked by our duel… IS… YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT... oh yeah, before we do this, I should mention the sponsor of

rolled his eyes and interrupted

going to say is that the masked guy used the Roaring Lion Strike style to defeat that dolt. And while there are many — lots and lots, really — people who can beat that loud nuisance in a heartbeat, the

glanced at his friend with vitriol, but then gave up on the ad break

are going to go and see who that Mongrel really is, and what is he really

***

the young man in azure armor. The other Awakened seemed to stare at him with a bit of

same went for the human spectators in the amphitheater. Many

matter with all these people? Did I go overboard and move too

liked the spectacle? Sunny was, indeed, giving them

one challenging me? Stop wasting my time, people! I'm on a

that had been waiting for their turn to fight him seemed willing to step forward now. Sunny stared at them in boredom for a few minutes, trying to understand what was going on. They had been very eager just a

toward him,

an intricate engraving of a castle and four dragons decorating its polished surface. He looked

Must. Be.

style… he was obviously practicing

Sunny's eyes narrowed, the voice of the Dreamscape

has

pommel of the odachi, swiped his foot, and then viciously thrust the tip of the great

the voice

"Mongrel has won!"

in the crowd grew a bit

with these people?! Is there no

could even clean the blade of the

was wearing a

Fool has

a heavy saber… and

low growl and

the attack… sadly, it had turned out to be just a feint. Before he could correct his footing, the odachi pierced

the great sword out of the enemy's body and stepped

and stared at the growing red patch on his silk garment. Looking up at Sunny, he silently gave him a thumbs up, then

"Mongrel has won!"

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