Chapter 100: one against one hundred and one

Chapter 100: Chapter 100: one against one hundred and one

Fluffy ran toward Daniel.

She was covered in blood. Her daggers were dripping. Her ears were perked up. Her tail was wagging furiously. She was smiling. A wide, triumphant smile.

In her hand was Benjamin’s arm.

She held it up like a trophy. Like a prize. Like the greatest thing she had ever accomplished. The arm was still bleeding. It was still twitching. It was still trying to regenerate. But it was severed. It was hers.

"Master!" she shouted. "Fluffy did it! Fluffy got a limb!"

Daniel looked at her. At the arm. At her proud face. At her wagging tail.

He smiled. A warm, genuine smile. The kind of smile that reached his eyes. The kind of smile that he reserved for the people he cared about.

"Good job, Fluffy," he said.

Fluffy beamed. Her tail wagged faster. She held out the arm.

"Fluffy brought it to Master. Just like Master said."

Daniel took the arm. He examined it. It was still bleeding. Still twitching. Still regenerating. Slowly. Weakly. The regeneration was struggling. It was taking longer than before.

"Good," he said. "Very good."

Fluffy bounced on her heels. "Fluffy wins! Fluffy wins the reward!"

Daniel laughed. He patted her head. She leaned into his touch. Her eyes closed. Her ears relaxed. She was happy. She was content. She was loved.

"You did good," he said. "Really good."

Fluffy opened her eyes. She looked at him. Her eyes were bright. Hopeful.

"Fluffy gets to pick reward?"

"Yes. You get to pick."

Fluffy thought about it. Her brow furrowed. Her nose twitched. She was thinking hard. She was thinking about all the options. All the possibilities.

"Fluffy wants meat," she said.

Daniel nodded. "Meat it is."

"Lots of meat?"

"Lots of meat."

"All the meat?"

"All the meat."

Fluffy’s tail wagged so fast it was almost a blur. She hugged Daniel. She squeezed him tight. Her small arms wrapped around his waist. Her face pressed against his stomach.

"Fluffy loves Master," she said.

Daniel hugged her back. "I love you too, Fluffy."

She pulled back. She looked at him. Her eyes were wet. They were tears of happiness.

"Really?"

"Really."

She smiled. A bright, happy smile. She hugged him again. Then she let go. She bounced toward Lyra and Cheeky. She was celebrating. She was happy.

Daniel watched her go. He was smiling. The kind of smile that made him look almost normal. Almost human.

Then he looked at Paul.

"Hey," he said.

Paul looked up. His face was still a mess. His body was still broken. But he was awake. He was watching.

"Yeah?"

"About the bet. How does the reward work?"

Paul blinked. "What?"

"The bet. You said I had to ask Elara out if I lost."

"Yes."

"But I won. So what do I get?"

Paul thought about it. His brow furrowed. His expression was confused.

"I don’t know," he said. "I didn’t think you’d win."

Daniel laughed. "So you owe me."

"I guess."

"Then I want the same thing."

Paul stared at him. His eyes widened. His mouth fell open.

"What?"

"Ask Elara out. On a date."

Paul’s face went through several emotions. Confusion. Disbelief. Horror.

"But... but she’s my sister."

"I know."

"You can’t ask my sister out!"

"Why not?"

"Because she’s my sister!"

"So?"

"So... so it’s weird!"

Daniel shrugged. "I don’t care."

Paul groaned. He buried his face in his hands. He was muttering something under his breath. Something about perverts and idiots and how his life had come to this.

Daniel looked at Elara. She was standing near the edge of the clearing. Her body was broken. Her mana was gone. Her clothes were torn. But she was still standing. She was still strong. She was still beautiful.

She had heard everything. Her face was red. Her eyes were wide. She was looking away. She was trying to pretend she hadn’t heard.

"So?" Daniel said.

Elara looked at him. Her face was redder than before.

"I... I don’t..." she stammered.

Daniel smiled. A warm, gentle smile. The kind of smile that made people feel safe.

"It’s just a date," he said. "Not a marriage proposal."

Elara’s face went from red to crimson. She looked away. She crossed her arms. She tried to look angry. She failed.

"I... I don’t know," she said.

Daniel nodded. "Take your time."

Elara didn’t answer. She just stood there. Her face was burning. Her heart was pounding.

Paul looked at her. Then at Daniel. Then at her again.

"You’re making her uncomfortable," he said.

Daniel shrugged. "I’m just asking."

"You’re making her uncomfortable!"

"I’m not. She’s just shy."

"She’s not shy! She’s a vice leader!"

"So?"

"So she’s not shy!"

Daniel laughed. He looked at Elara. She was still looking away. Still blushing.

"We’ll talk later," he said.

Elara didn’t answer. She just nodded. A small, quick nod.

Daniel smiled. He stood up. He stretched his arms above his head. His joints popped. His muscles relaxed.

Then Elara spoke.

"You should go help them," she said.

Daniel looked at her. "What?"

"Fluffy. Lyra. Cheeky. They’re still fighting. They need help."

Daniel looked at the fight. At Fluffy. At Lyra. At Cheeky. At Benjamin.

They were doing fine. Benjamin was bleeding. He was slowing down. He was getting weaker.

"They’ll be alright," Daniel said.

Elara stared at him. "Probably?"

"Probably."

"That’s not reassuring."

"It’s not meant to be."

Elara sighed. She shook her head.

"Go," she said. "Please."

Daniel smiled. "Fine. Since you asked so nicely."

He stood up. He put his hands in his pockets. He walked toward Benjamin.

---

Benjamin saw him coming.

His eyes narrowed. His face twisted with rage. His aura blazed. He was still fighting. Still dodging. Still regenerating. But he was tired. He was weak. He was desperate.

"Finally," he said. "You’re coming to face me."

Daniel didn’t answer. He just kept walking. Slowly. Casually. His hands were in his pockets. His expression was calm.

"Are you going to fight me?" Benjamin demanded. "Or are you going to depend on girls to help you?"

Daniel stopped. He looked at Benjamin. His expression was calm. Almost bored.

"Why would I fight you?" he asked.

Benjamin blinked. "What?"

"Why would I fight you? You couldn’t even handle three girls. You couldn’t handle Fluffy. You couldn’t handle Lyra. You couldn’t handle Cheeky."

Benjamin’s face went red. His hands were shaking. His aura was blazing.

"They were lucky!" he shouted. "They caught me off guard! They—"

"They beat you," Daniel said. "Three girls. One of them is a rabbit folk. One of them is a human. One of them is an elf. And they beat you."

Benjamin screamed. He raised his hand. Wind gathered. A blade formed.

"Fight me!" he shouted. "Fight me one on one!"

Daniel didn’t move. He just stood there. His hands in his pockets. His expression calm.

"Why should I?"

"Because I’m challenging you!"

"So?"

"So you have to accept!"

Daniel smiled. A cold, mocking smile.

"I don’t have to do anything."

Benjamin screamed. He threw the wind blade. Daniel dodged. He didn’t even move his hands. He just tilted his head. The blade passed by.

"Boring," Daniel said.

Benjamin threw another blade. Daniel dodged. Another. He dodged. Another. He dodged.

"Boring. Boring. Boring."

Benjamin screamed. He charged. He threw a punch. Daniel dodged. He kicked. Daniel dodged. He slammed. Daniel dodged.

Then Brick Head appeared.

He ran toward Benjamin. His fist was raised. His face was determined.

"Villain!" he shouted. "Prepare to—"

Benjamin didn’t let him finish. He raised his hand. A gust of wind hit Brick Head. He flew backward. He crashed into a wall.

"Ow," Brick Head said.

Benjamin turned back to Daniel. His face was red. His eyes were wild.

"Fight me!" he shouted. "Fight me only you!"

Daniel smiled. A cold, dangerous smile.

"Sure," he said.

Benjamin blinked. "What?"

"Sure. Me and you. But it won’t be one on one."

Benjamin frowned. "What do you mean?"

Daniel switched classes.

[Class Change: Shadow Scout]

He entered stage three. Dark energy surrounded him. Shadowy aura swirled. His eyes turned dark. His body became shadow.

Then he placed his hand on the ground.

"Arise," he said.

The ground shook. The shadows swirled. The darkness gathered.

One hundred shadow clones rose from the ground.

They were all Daniel. All identical. All dark. All obedient.

Benjamin’s eyes widened. His mouth fell open.

"What..." he whispered. "What is this?"

Daniel smiled. A cold, dangerous smile.

"This," he said, "is one against one hundred and one."

[Magic Castle = 5 bonus Chapter’s the same day]

[Space craft= 15 bonus Chapter’s the same day]

[Golden gachapon= 25 bonus Chapter’s]