Liam and Aria put miles between themselves and the Stronghold. The Solar Core Battery hummed reassuringly in Liam's drone—100% charge, infinite power, no more fear of the camera dying.
Aria hadn't stopped scowling since they left.
"Dain was Level 25" she muttered, kicking a rusted can. "We shouldn't have survived that."
Liam grinned. "But we did. And now we've got unlimited juice, an exploding fanbase—"
[Audience: 1,023]
"—and a bigger problem," Aria finished, nodding ahead.
A figure stood atop a ruined overpass, silhouetted against the blood-red sunset. Kane. His drone hovered beside him like a vulture waiting to feed.
"Took you long enough," Kane called down. "I was starting to think Gorefang ate you."
Liam's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Sorry to disappoint. Though, if you wanted a front-row seat, you could've just asked."
Kane jumped down, landing in a crouch. His scar stretched as he smirked. "Oh, I got what I needed. Footage of you cheating."
Aria's hand drifted to her staff. "Get to the point."
Kane's drone projected a hologram—Liam in the Pit, jamming the smoke grenade into Gorefang's ear. The playback froze, zooming in on Aria's hand tossing the grenade.
"Outside interference," Kane said. "Against the rules. And my viewers love a good... exposure stream."
[Alert: Kane's Stream – Fraud of the Apocalypse – Live Viewers: 2,500+]
Liam's stomach dropped. Shit.
Aria stepped forward. "You're really this pressed because he's better at this than you?"
Kane's smirk vanished. "He's nothing. A gimmick. The Astrals only watch him because he's a freak—a Level Zero who should've died in the tutorial."His gaze locked onto Liam. "I'll prove it."
Then he moved.
Kane was fast. Faster than Liam expected.
A knife flashed—Liam barely [Flash Step] back in time, but the blade still grazed his cheek. Blood dripped onto his jacket.
"First blood," Kane taunted. "Chat's eating this up."
Aria lunged, but Kane's drone zapped her with a shock pulse. She crumpled, gasping.
"Aria!" Liam started toward her,
—and Kane kicked his legs out from under him.
[Audience: 1,500]
[Fan Messages: Pathetic. / Where's the show now? / LOL Level Zero LOSER.]
Liam's breath came ragged. Think. What's the play?
Kane loomed over him. "You don't belong here. The Astrals don't want weaklings like you." He raised his knife—
—and Liam laughed.
Kane froze. "What the hell's so funny?"
Liam grinned, blood on his teeth. "You're right. I am a gimmick."He tapped his drone. "But guess what? They love it."
Then he triggered [Astral Echo].
A ghostly duplicate of Liam appeared—and repeated his last move, laughing manically as it lunged at Kane.
Kane slashed on instinct—but his knife passed through the illusion.
"What the—?"
Liam kicked Kane's knee. Bone cracked. Kane howled, stumbling and Aria's staff slammed into his ribs.
Kane went down hard.
Liam grabbed his drone, panting. "And that's how you flip a script, folks!"
[Audience: 2,000]
[Fan Gifts: x3 Healing Potions, x1 Smoke Bomb]
Kane writhed on the ground, his own drone flickering. "This isn't over," he spat.
Aria pressed her boot to his throat. "It is for you."
Liam caught her wrist. "Wait."
She glared. "He tried to kill us."
Liam crouched beside Kane. "Here's the deal. You walk away. No more sabotage. No more exposure streams." He leaned in. "Or next time, I let her finish."
Kane's eyes flicked to Aria—then back to Liam. "You're soft. That'll get you killed."
Liam stood. "Maybe. But today? It got you spared."
He kicked Kane's drone. It shattered against the asphalt.
[Kane's Stream: TERMINATED]
That night, as Aria stitched up Liam's cheek, a new notification appeared:
[Priority Message: You have been invited to the Astral Arena.]
[Location: Coordinates Attached]
[Reward:SS-Rank Skill – If You Survive.]
Aria's needle stilled. "Don't even think about it."
Liam stared at the message. "SS-Rank, Aria. That's game-changing."
She yanked the thread tight. "It's a trap."
"Ouch!". Liam grimaced
[Anonymous Viewer: Prove you're more than a gimmick.]
Liam exhaled.