[Bird Man, LP 0]
A massive damage from the ten thousand life points difference sent Bird Man rolling backward for many circles, with red feathers flying everywhere.
Finally, his back slammed hard against the outer wall of a building behind him, and the brutal impact almost snapped his spine in two. He coughed weakly, spitting up blood.
He could feel life slipping away rapidly like sand through fingers.
He lost. In this world, that means death.
But he lost this duel with conviction and acknowledgment.
Bird Man is an extremely survival-of-the-fittest spirit; he firmly believes in this theory, yet simultaneously detests it. Just because he was powerless to change reality, he chose to comply and drift as an adaptive creature.
For half his life, he stood by the side of the ruling class, enslaving and exploiting spirits weaker than himself, constantly reassuring himself that this was the principle of how the world worked—
—that the weak are destined to be dominated, just as he is dominated by more powerful beings above him.
In the eyes of the upper echelon within the Supreme King Castle, Bird Man was just an ant that could be easily crushed. This allowed him to treat his slaves in the same way without any psychological burden.
So upon encountering a stronger warrior at this moment, being defeated and slaughtered, he had no regrets.
But he still had a wish.
A wish hidden deep within his heart, one he never dared to mention to anyone throughout his life.
Bird Man struggled to sit up against the wall, trying hard to suppress the turmoil of his internal energy and blood. He forced a mouthful of blood back into his heart and looked at the approaching Cola Sprite, taking a deep breath.
"You won, Otherworld Warrior." Bird Man managed a smile, "It was a duel worth being proud of. You fought beautifully..."
Cola Sprite nodded earnestly, "I think so too."
Although somewhat wanting to gripe about how the opponent didn't follow the etiquette of politeness, considering his time was running out, Bird Man suppressed the thought and continued: "Although I always emphasize hierarchies... but ultimately, I am just a level four regular monster.
In the eyes of the strong, I am nothing but one of countless minnows, lacking the courage to resist my fate. In the end, I only dare to dominate monsters lower-ranked than myself."
He took a deep breath and tightly clutched Cola Sprite's fair hand.
"But if it's you all... if it's you warriors from another world with strong power, then there's a chance for change." He gritted his teeth and said, "Please, change this world... change this cursed system!"
Cola Sprite realized it might be a cutscene trigger, so she cooperatively nodded seriously, "Don't worry, we intend to do just that! I'll inherit your will!"
Saying this, she pulled his card deck from Bird Man's Duel Disc.
Bird Man let out an "Ah!" as he sprayed the mouthful of old blood he had been suppressing.
Cola Sprite didn't feel anything was wrong at all.
Defeating monsters and looting corpses for equipment is only natural!
Besides, it wouldn't be reasonable for the NPC to issue such a difficult task without offering some gear to enhance the strength.
At this time, Youyu also stepped forward, lightly patting Cola Sprite's shoulder, and nodded gently at her.
"Youyu-san!"
Cola Sprite's eyes lit up, quickly standing up, and proficiently handed over the card deck just pulled out: "Here!"
Youyu nodded slightly and accepted the card deck.
"You've worked hard. Leave the rest to me."
"Okay, Youyu-san!"
Cola Sprite left happily.
This was the norm. Collect a new card deck and hand it to Youyu; afterward, the shop would feature the new series you collected—not only the cards you collected but also all cards related to the series.
And as a player who collected this card deck and handed it to Youyu, there would be no favorability restriction when purchasing cards from the corresponding field and enjoy a lower discount than other players.
Bird Man sat weakly in the corner against the wall, looking up at Youyu.
"I guess, you are their leader, aren't you?"
"Sort of." Youyu nodded.
Bird Man paused for a moment and said, "You're a strong one... a real strong person, I can feel it. Maybe you all really can defeat the King at the top of the dimensions and change this world."
"That's exactly why we're here." Youyu said, "That is what I intend to ask. The Supreme King, where is he?"
"In a place called 'Supreme King Castle'." Bird Man said, "Each dimension has a 'gate' connecting to others; through the 'gate,' you can reach a higher dimension.
Keep heading forward, and you will reach the Supreme King Castle, where you can find the Supreme King."
After a pause, he said seriously, "But I must warn you, it won't be easy. This dimension is the lowest among the Twelfth Dimension, even low-level monsters like me can rule over others.
But never expect it will continue to be this easy afterward. You will face more powerful enemies, true strong ones.
Not to mention, I remember there's a spirit named Yubel beside the King, a level ten high-ranking spirit, loyal to the King with extremely strange abilities, you must be careful..."
Youyu silently took out a card from behind him.
"You mean her?" Youyu said.
Bird Man was stunned for a moment, and as he looked closer, he almost lost his soul.
Yubel!
"You... you..." Bird Man, shocked beyond measure, looked at Youyu and then at Yubel, utterly astonished.
Yubel emerged from the card, crossed her arms as she floated beside Youyu, coldly glaring at Bird Man: "What do you mean you? Making a fuss out of nothing..."
Bird Man was stunned silent for a while.
Wasn't Yubel said to be the most loyal to the Supreme King? How did this happen?
Who is this person? How did he seem to have turned her against him?
Wait a minute, when he just felt that this duelist possessed extraordinary charm, maybe they had an untold story of sorts...
Bird Man quickly fantasized about a story between the Supreme King, Yubel, and the strong person before him, then swiftly realized it wasn't something someone in his class should think about, quickly shaking off these bizarre thoughts.
"I see, you have actually gained this one's favor?" he said. "That should indeed make things smoother.
But don't underestimate it; there are even more terrifying strong ones in the myriad dimensions. For instance, the Supreme King's most powerful sorcerer, known as 'Necromancer Ramor'.
His power is supposedly exceptional, far beyond the limit of imagination for us lower-ranking warriors..."
Youyu silently pulled out another card from his pocket.
"You mean this one?"
Bird Man looked closely.
Magician Necromancer... Ramor?
Bird Man: "!!!???"
What the heck, how did this big shot also become your card?
Two out of the Four Heavenly Kings under the Supreme King are in your pocket?
Bird Man looked at Youyu in horror, as if he had seen a ghost.
"You... you... who are you really?" he stammered out.
Unfortunately, he would never hear the answer.
His final life force depleted, Bird Man was enveloped in golden light, soon decomposing into countless golden light spots, dispersed into the air.