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?"

at

turned to the camera and

this rare moment when I get

gestured to his friends, then

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 we practice the same ingenious

paused, and then

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

his eyes

the Roaring Lion Strike style to defeat that dolt. And while there are many — lots and lots, really — people who can beat that loud

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

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

***

the Colosseum after he dispatched the young man in azure armor. The other Awakened seemed to stare at

amphitheater.

with all these people? Did I go overboard and

had measured his dash to not appear too powerful. Maybe they just liked the

is no one challenging me? Stop wasting my

crowd of Awakened 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

finally walked toward him,

a castle and four dragons decorating

Be. Kidding

style… he was obviously practicing the

the

has

armor could even attack, Sunny unceremoniously bashed him in the face with the pommel of the odachi, swiped his foot,

steel helmet, the voice of the Dreamscape thundered once

"Mongrel has won!"

crowd

with these people?! Is there no one here who knows a

blade of

wearing a grey silken

has

saber… and using the same cursed

a low growl and

two fighters. He managed to sidestep the attack… sadly, it had turned

tore the great sword out of the enemy's body

on his silk garment. Looking up at Sunny, he silently gave him a thumbs up, then collapsed

"Mongrel has won!"

I need to go to a professional arena to