Chapter 101: The Duel of the Kings (Digital Edition)

It is midnight.

The hotel suite is dark. The only light comes from Daiki's massive, multi-monitor setup.

We are all gathered around him. It feels like we are watching a bomb defusal.

"He is logging on," Daiki whispers. His usual lazy, bored demeanor is gone. He is razor-sharp. He is Deception.

On the screen, a figure appears in the Imperial Arena.

It is not a flashy character. It is a simple, armored Samurai. There are no glowing effects. There are no ridiculous oversized pauldrons. It is just standard, high-level gear.

The name above his head is gold: [Kage-sama].

"He looks normal," Rika whispers.

"That is the scariest kind," Daiki mutters. "The guys who do not need to show off."

The duel countdown begins.

Three. Two. One. FIGHT.

Daiki moves instantly. He is an Assassin class. He uses [Shadow Step]. He vanishes.

He appears behind Kage-sama. He strikes.

CLANG.

Kage-sama blocks it without even turning around.

"What?!" Daiki gasps.

"He read your inputs!" Toujo screams, spraying cracker crumbs everywhere. "He is a psychic! The Emperor is a psychic!"

Kage-sama counters. It is a simple, basic [Overhead Strike].

Daiki dodges barely. The strike hits the ground. The entire arena shakes.

"His stats are maxed," Daiki says, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "He is using a Heavy build. It is slow, but if he hits me once, I am dead."

It is a terrifying dance.

Daiki is a blur of motion. He uses every dirty trick in the book. He uses smoke bombs, poison daggers, and pocket sand.

Kage-sama does not move much. He just stands in the center of the arena. He is blocking, parrying, and waiting.

He is immovable. He is the Imperial Palace itself.

"He is toying with me," Daiki growls. Sweat is dripping from his nose.

"He is bored," I say quietly. I am watching the Emperor's movements. They are perfect. They are too perfect. "Do something stupid, Daiki."

"What?"

"He knows all the pro strategies. He has seen them all. Stop playing like Deception. Play like Toujo."

"Hey!" Toujo protests.

Daiki pauses. He grins.

"Something stupid. Okay."

Daiki stops moving.

He stands right in front of Kage-sama.

He uses the [Taunt] emote. It is a rude chicken dance.

Kage-sama pauses.

Daiki does it again.

Then, Daiki un-equips all his armor. He is standing there in his digital underwear.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Hiroto shrieks. "YOU WILL DIE!"

"I am getting faster," Daiki mutters.

Kage-sama attacks. It is a massive, sweeping blade beam.

Without his armor, Daiki is light. He is impossibly fast.

He jumps over the beam.

He is in the air. He re-equips his daggers.

"EAT THIS, OLD MAN!"

He lands on Kage-sama's head. He unleashes his ultimate move, the [Thousand Shadow Strike].

The screen explodes in critical hit numbers.

Kage-sama's health bar drops to fifty percent. Then thirty percent. Then ten percent.

But then Kage-sama moves.

He grabs Daiki mid-air.

"Oh, no," Daiki breathes.

Kage-sama uses [Imperial Slam].

He smashes Daiki into the ground.

Daiki's health bar vanishes. He has one Hit Point left.

He survived because of a passive skill called [Second Chance].

Kage-sama stands over him. He raises his sword for the final blow.

Daiki closes his eyes. "GG."

The sword does not fall.

Kage-sama sheaths his blade.

The match ends. It is a DRAW.

"What?" Daiki blinks. "Why did he stop?"

A private message appears on the screen.

[Kage-sama]: The chicken dance. It was amusing. You are not boring, boy. [Kage-sama]: Join my voice channel.

The room is silent.

Daiki looks at us. He is shaking.

"I think I just impressed the Emperor with my underwear."