Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

Nero 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 Darkheart... there's something about him...'

Just as he had expected, his friends joined him in the Battelground 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 Nero 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 laxer, 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 Battelground was the Looser, and he was known to be one of the most peculiar and persistent duelists in the professional league.

Nero grinned.

"Hey there, Laxer. Hey there, Looser. Long time no see!"

Laxer scoffed, then pointed at him.

"Nero, my friend. What the hell was that? You got killed by an amateur… in one strike!"

The Looser simply shook his head and remained silent.

Nero coughed in embarrassment and looked down.

"Yeah, well… it's not like the two of you never tasted defeat. This Darkheart guy, though… he's something else. I've never seen a technique like his before."

Laxer raised an eyebrow. "Really? An amateur with a unique technique? Now that's interesting. Maybe he's more than just a newbie."

The Looser finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. "If what Nero says is true, we might have found a rare talent. Someone who could shake up the rankings."

Nero grinned, his earlier embarrassment forgotten. "Exactly! You must be arrived this quickly because for a reason right? You saw it too?"

The two duelists glanced at each other, then slowly nodded.

Nero turned to the camera and smiled brilliantly.

"What? None of you battle geniuses have noticed it? Well, well, well. It's this rare moment when I get to mock my dear viewers and their insufferable expert advice!"

He gestured to his friends, then continued:

"For those veterans who still remember the early days of my broadcasting… as you might know, these two distinguished gentlemen are actually 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 battle style. The Tiger sword style."

He paused, and then sighed mysteriously.

"And while it hurts my pride a little to have been defeated by an unknown novice, the real reason why I was so shocked by our duel… IS… YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT... oh yeah, before we do this, I should mention the sponsor of today's…"

Laxer rolled his eyes and interrupted him.

"Cut it, Nero! What he did… was use a forbidden sword art."

Nero blinked, caught off guard by Laxer's interruption. "A forbidden sword art? Are you sure?"

Laxer nodded solemnly. "Positive. I've seen it before… in the scrolls of our master's ancient teachings. I don't know the name of the art but I can tell it's Demonic Art, And It's a Grade 5 sword art, one of the most powerful and dangerous techniques known to swordsmen."

The Looser nodded in agreement. "He used it with deadly precision. If what you say is true, then this Darkheart is not just a talented newcomer… he's a true prodigy."

Nero's eyes widened in realization. "So that's why he was able to defeat me so easily. But why would he use such a dangerous technique in a casual duel?"

Laxer shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he wanted to test his limits. Or maybe he just enjoys the thrill of battle."

The Looser nodded. "Either way, we need to be careful. If this Darkheart is willing to use forbidden techniques in a friendly duel, who knows what he's capable of in a real fight."

Nero nodded, his expression serious. "Agreed. We need to keep an eye on him. And maybe… we should find out more about him. Who he is, where he comes from, and what he's capable of."

The three duelists exchanged a determined glance, their minds already turning with plans and strategies. Darkheart may have won the battle, but the war was far from over.

As the broadcast continued, the viewers watched with bated breath, eager to see what would happen next in this thrilling saga of swords and sorcery.

Nero's voice was filled with excitement as he addressed his viewers. "So, the three of us are going to go and see who that Darkheart really is, and what is he really capable of. We'll investigate, gather information, and maybe even challenge him again."

The chat exploded with messages, the viewers buzzing with anticipation. They were eager to see what Nero and his companions would uncover about the mysterious Darkheart.

Laxer nodded, his expression serious. "We can't let someone like him roam free without knowing more about him. Who knows what kind of danger he poses to the Battleground and its participants."

The Looser remained silent, his eyes sharp and focused. He knew that uncovering Darkheart's secrets would not be easy, but he was determined to unravel the mystery.

With a final glance at the camera, Nero grinned. "Well, folks, it looks like we've got ourselves a new adventure. Stay tuned for more updates on our quest to uncover the truth about Darkheart."

And with that, the broadcast ended, leaving the viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the saga of Darkheart and the Battleground.