A Man's Romance

Star Dou Great Forest, evening.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden-red sheen over the ancient forest.

"Say, Bei Bei, you're not planning to lure me out to this deserted place and rob me blind, are you?"

Xu Sanshi pushed aside the bushes with one hand while clutching his money pouch with the other.

"We've been walking for nearly an hour! Other than piles of soul beast crap, where's this so-called expert?"

Bei Bei walked ahead without looking back. "We're here! And shut your mouth! Be polite when you meet the boss later."

"Hmph, I, Xu Sanshi, have seen plenty of the world..."

Before Xu Sanshi could finish, his feet suddenly froze.

Through a gap in the leaves, a glass building appeared before him.

The glowing sign reading [Origin Internet Cafe] looked utterly out of place in this primeval forest.

"Th-this... what kind of building is that?" Xu Sanshi's eyes widened. "It's all glass? If a Dreadclaw Bear came along, wouldn't one slap shatter it?"

"You'll understand once you go in." Bei Bei pushed open the door.

"Welcome."

The wind chime by the door rang, and a blast of cool air washed over them.

Xu Sanshi had been sweating from the heat, and the cold air made him shiver pleasantly. "Hiss—so cool! This feels even better than the cold jade bed at my house!"

He looked around. The shop was brightly lit.

Behind the counter, a young, handsome man was sprawled in a chair, drinking some black liquid.

In the nearby lounge, a golden-maned lion and a red-furred three-headed dog lay on the sofa. Strange iron shells covered their heads, and bizarre cries occasionally came from their mouths.

"Flank them from the left! Flank them, you stupid dog!" (the Auspicious Beast's voice)

"Woof! I'm charging up! Stop rushing me! Keep it up and I'll bite you!" (Red King's roar)

Xu Sanshi froze.

"Th-th-that... that's Red King?!" Xu Sanshi pointed at the three-headed dog, stammering. "H-he... he can talk?"

"Stay calm." Bei Bei patted his shoulder. "He's a regular here."

Lu Yuan set down his cola and glanced at the new customer, a smile curling at his lips. "A new face? Did Bei Bei bring you?"

"Yes, Senior." Bei Bei respectfully bowed. "This is my classmate, Xu Sanshi. He's a defense-type Soul Elder and wants to experience that... trial of mortals."

"Defense type?" Lu Yuan sized Xu Sanshi up. "You do look pretty good at taking a beating."

He pointed at the price list on the wall. "You know the rules, right? Two gold soul coins per hour. No credit."

Xu Sanshi followed his finger, then immediately shouted, "Two gold soul coins?! Why don't you just rob—mmph!"

Bei Bei reacted quickly, covering Xu Sanshi's mouth and whispering into his ear, "Shut up! Do you want to die? Even Red King pays obediently here. Are you tougher than Red King?"

Xu Sanshi glanced at the three-headed ferocious beast. Though it was playing a game, the aura around it was still terrifying. He swallowed and instantly backed down.

"Ahem... Boss, what I meant was, two gold soul coins is way too cheap! It's practically a bargain!"

Xu Sanshi painfully took out two gold soul coins and slapped them onto the counter, his heart bleeding. Bei Bei, you bastard! If this junk can't help me learn that Demon Step of yours, I'm not letting you off!

Just then, the door was pushed open again.

"So this is the place?"

A crisp yet somewhat haughty voice rang out.

Huo Yuhao entered with a small bag on his back, leading in a handsome youth whose face screamed, "I'm the boss here."

It was Wang Dong.

The moment Wang Dong entered, he looked around in disdain. "The place isn't bad, but it's way too remote! Hey, Huo Yuhao, where's that lion you said was better than me?"

His gaze swept across the shop before settling on the golden-maned lion on the sofa, which was taking off its helmet.

As it happened, the Auspicious Beast had just finished its match.

It removed its helmet and shook out its golden mane. Its red vertical pupils instinctively turned toward Wang Dong, who had just entered.

Their eyes met.

The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

The Radiant Goddess Butterfly martial soul within Wang Dong suddenly throbbed violently. It was both the rejection one felt upon encountering a natural rival and the... irritation of meeting one's own kind.

The Auspicious Beast narrowed its eyes as well.

As an Imperial Auspicious Beast, it possessed the bloodline of the Golden Dragon.

From this human boy before it, it smelled an aura that made it really want to beat him up.

"What are you looking at? Never seen a handsome guy before?" Wang Dong crossed his arms and raised his chin provocatively.

The Auspicious Beast let out a low growl, its eyes full of contempt.

"It insulted me?!" Though Wang Dong could not understand beast language, he could tell the lion was not saying anything nice. "Boss! I want to duel that lion! In that game thing, right?"

Lu Yuan watched the powder-keg scene unfold, delight blooming in his heart.

Well, damn. Tang Wutong meeting Wang Qiuer—was this the legendary 'I can't stand myself'?

"You can duel if you want." Lu Yuan smilingly pointed toward an empty machine. "But you'll have to line up first, and newcomers need to finish the tutorial."

"Money isn't a problem!" Wang Dong boldly tossed out a bag of gold soul coins. "Give me the best machine! I'll cover Huo Yuhao's too!"

Huo Yuhao looked a little embarrassed. "Wang Dong, I have money..."

"Shut up. I'm in a good mood today—well, actually, I'm annoyed—so I'm treating you!"

Lu Yuan accepted the money and began recommending classes to the two new customers.

"Xu Sanshi, right? Defense type?"

Lu Yuan walked over to Xu Sanshi and brought up the weapon selection interface.

"Bei Bei uses Dual Blades and pursues speed. But you, since you like to face things head-on, I recommend this—a man's romance!"

On the screen appeared a massive shield and a lance shaped like a cannon barrel.

"This is... a shield?" Xu Sanshi's eyes lit up.

The shield was even larger than his Xuanming Tortoiseshell Shield. Just looking at it made him feel safe.

"This is called a Gunlance," Lu Yuan explained. "Not only can it block a dragon's attacks, but in the gaps between blocks, it can blast monsters at point-blank range with Wyvernfire. Still as a mountain, swift as thunder! What do you think?"

"So cool!" Xu Sanshi immediately fell in love with it. "I'll take it! I'll show Bei Bei what real defense is!"

Then Lu Yuan turned to Wang Dong.

"As for this young master, I can tell from your bearing that ordinary weapons definitely won't suit you."

"Obviously." Wang Dong proudly declared, "It has to be cool! It has to be flashy! And it has to let me fly through the air!"

"Consider it done."

Lu Yuan selected a strangely shaped long staff. On the other end of it crouched a glowing insect.

"The Insect Glaive! It can not only command a Kinsect to absorb monster essence and strengthen you, but it also lets you vault into the air and launch dazzling aerial attacks. It's the only aerial combat weapon."

"Aerial combat? Controlling insects?" Wang Dong's eyes lit up as well.

Wasn't this tailor-made for someone like him, someone who could fly and was known as the Goddess of Light?

"I'll take it!"

Everyone took their seats.

Game launching: Monster Hunter: World.

New hunters detected.

...

In the game.

Xu Sanshi looked at his heavy armor and the massive shield in his hands, feeling incredibly secure.

"Hahahaha! Bei Bei! Watch this!"

Ahead of him, a huge lizard-like monster, a Great Jagras, charged toward him.

This time, Xu Sanshi did not dodge.

With a loud shout, he slammed the giant shield into the ground and crouched behind it.

"Defensive stance!"

Boom!!

A muffled impact rang out.

The Great Jagras's charge, powerful enough to snap a tree in half, struck the shield and only forced Xu Sanshi back half a step.

The vivid sensation of his arms going numb while his body remained firmly planted filled Xu Sanshi with delight.

"It really can block it! And it doesn't consume any soul power!"

"But I'm not done yet!"

Xu Sanshi grinned and pulled the trigger on the weapon's handle according to the tutorial in his mind.

The thick barrel instantly turned red-hot as energy gathered at the muzzle.

"Take this! Xuanming... no, Wyvernfire!"

Boom!!!

A burst of flame exploded against the monster's belly.

Amid the massive recoil, the Great Jagras screamed and was blasted straight into the air.

"Holy shit, that felt amazing!" Xu Sanshi shouted. "That was insane! Is this a man's romance?"

On the other side.

Wang Dong wielded the Insect Glaive with nimble movements.

"Up!"

Using the staff as a pole, he vaulted into the air and traced an arc through the sky.

Though he had no wings, he rediscovered that feeling of flying freely.

"Take this! Dancing Combo!"

He spun in midair, the long staff in his hands whirling like a flaming wheel as it struck the monster's back with a rapid series of crackling blows.

The damage was not high, but the sheer coolness of it was beyond question.

"Hmph, that lion definitely isn't as cool as me!" Wang Dong landed and struck what he considered a flawless pose.

Just then, in the grass nearby.

A burly red-haired man, Red King, dragged a huge hammer past them. Seeing this, he spat disdainfully. "Pah, all style and no substance! Flying that high—are you waiting for a Rathalos to roast you into fried chicken?"

Wang Dong's face instantly darkened. "Who are you calling fried chicken?!"

"You! Skinny mutt! Got the guts to compete and see who deals more damage?"

"Fine, let's compete!"

Inside the internet cafe, shouts and curses erupted everywhere.

Lu Yuan looked at Xu Sanshi and Wang Dong, who were now completely absorbed in the game, then at Huo Yuhao, who was diligently supporting Red King.

"Four of the Shrek Seven Monsters have already fallen into the pit."

Lu Yuan swirled the cola in his hand, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Next, should I give them something more difficult?"

He glanced at the newly unlocked game in the system backend—Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

"When you think you're invincible, that word 'death' will teach you how to behave."