The following day.
"I @#%...&*"
Xu Tingfei smashed his iPhone 4, cursing at the air: "I fought those monsters with everything I had, just so you people could flame me like this online?!"
While Xiao Fei was having a total meltdown, Ren Kurogane and Xiao Tian were losing their minds with joy!
"Three million likes, ten million views, and it's still trending! Xiao Tian! We're going to be rich!"
Xiao Tian looked at the data in disbelief. He checked the backend of the account—in just one day, they had earned over ten thousand yuan! And the numbers were still climbing.
"Great, we have our first bit of capital!" Ren laughed. "Once we film a few more videos and grow the following, we can start a shop, do some livestreams, and rake in the money!"
"Livestreams? What's that?" For the first time, a look of pure, innocent confusion appeared on Xiao Tian's face. He really couldn't keep up with Ren's terminology.
"Hehe, don't worry about it. Leave the business to me; you just worry about collecting your share!"
"Fine! I trust you!" Li Haotian laughed.
Just as they were dreaming of wealth, Welcome's voice shrieked in their ears.
"REN KUROGANE!!!"
The sudden scream made Ren wince. He rubbed his temple, feeling a headache coming on. "My dear Welcome, what is it now?"
"You posted that video, didn't you?!" Welcome fumed. "Do you have any idea how much trouble the online comments are causing Xiao Fei?"
"Trouble? What trouble could he have? No one knows he's the one inside the Flying Shadow Armor."
Welcome stammered, "Well... even if others don't know, he knows! It hurts his feelings!"
Hurts his feelings? Let them hurt! Ren thought. Out loud, he said with a smile: "Alright, just look at it as tempering for the Young Master's character. Honestly, I've never seen a rich kid with such a fragile ego. If he doesn't want to do it anymore, it doesn't matter. Xiao Tian and I will handle it."
"You guys!" Welcome was furious but powerless. "Fine! I won't meddle in your drama! Just make sure you fight the Nether-Demons properly!"
"You got it~"
Ren went back to tinkering with the short-video data. A few minutes later, he transferred five thousand yuan to Xiao Tian.
"This... I made five thousand just like that?!" Xiao Tian still felt like he was in a dream.
"Hehe, you thought it was hard?" Ren bragged. "As long as we keep filming the Armor Heroes, we'll never lack money!"
Xiao Tian nodded, finally feeling a sense of hope for his future.
Meanwhile, at the Ba-Dou Group.
Lufa, possessing the body of Ba-Dou, watched the viral video with disdain in his eyes. A dignified Armor Summoner, struggling against a newly resurrected low-level demon and getting tricked? The summoners of this generation were truly pathetic.
He didn't care about the online chatter. He turned his attention back to contacting his three Captains.
Two days later.
"Ren! A Nether-Demon has appeared! It's at..."
"Got it! Xiao Tian and I are on it!"
The two hopped on their bikes and roared out. Like before, by the time they arrived, Xiao Fei had already transformed and was facing Bayobi again.
"You two stay out of this! And this time, make sure the camera work is good! I want those internet trolls to see exactly how I smash this ugly thing!" Xiao Fei shouted.
"Aye-aye, Young Master!"
Ren summoned the Diamond Armor, standing guard in front of Xiao Tian to ensure the "cameraman" wouldn't be disturbed.
Seeing his teammates ready, Xiao Fei looked at Bayobi. "You got away last time, but I won't give you another chance!" He swiped a card and slotted it into his summoner. A slender blade with a blue hilt manifested in his hand.
With a flourish, Xiao Fei slashed at the demon. Crrr-ack! Sparks flew off Bayobi as he screamed and retreated. Xiao Fei roared, swinging his blade relentlessly, creating a shower of sparks with every hit!
Realizing he was in trouble, Bayobi gestured with one hand, pulling a nearby utility pole toward him. Using the weapon's length, he forced Xiao Fei back before turning into a shadow and vanishing instantly.
"Aaand he's gone again..." Ren muttered. He deactivated his armor and fled the scene with Xiao Tian immediately. No way were they staying to hear the rich kid's explosion of rage.
Instead of going home, they headed to Welcome's shop.
Ting-dong~
"Welcome, two orders of fried noodles!" Ren called out as he sat down. He immediately began editing the new footage while Xiao Tian watched. They both skillfully ignored a fuming Welcome.
Bam! Welcome slammed her hand on their table. "Ren! why didn't you step in this time?!"
"Brother Fei told me not to interfere."
"If he tells you not to move, you just stay still?!" Welcome shouted. "I don't care about your petty disputes! You are Armor Heroes! Your primary mission is to eliminate Nether-Demons!"
"Yes, Welcome! I understand, Welcome! Can I get those noodles, Welcome?"
Faced with Ren's sincere-looking eyes, Welcome eventually gave up. The root of the problem was Xiao Fei's insistence on soloing everything. She sighed. "Please, Ren... next time, just try a bit harder to finish the demon off, okay?"
Ren couldn't resist a beauty acting cute. "Alright, alright! Don't worry, Welcome. Next time, I'll use thunderous means to end them!"
"Hehe! It's a deal!" Welcome went to the kitchen with a smile.
Before long, a new video of Flying Shadow letting a demon escape appeared online. The public reaction was even more negative.
[I told you the blue one is trash! Not even half as good as Wind Eagle!][Fire Dragon Hero! My hero! Where are you?! We need you!][Usually there's more than one hero. Let's hope the others show up next time to finish the job!]
As Welcome was cooking, Xiao Fei burst into the shop, looking livid. "Those internet bastards! All they do is bark online! If they're so tough, why do they run when they see a demon?! Cowards!"
Ren and Xiao Tian remained silent, both agreeing the rich kid was a bit of a blockhead. But Xiao Fei turned his anger on them. "And you two! Why do you keep uploading those videos? If you didn't film them, I wouldn't be getting flamed!"
Ren smiled quickly. "Young Master! We're just recording your heroic battles! Besides, if we don't film it, someone else will!"
Xiao Fei huffed but had no comeback. He knew he was the one who let the demon escape. He sat aside to sulk with a drink while Ren and Xiao Tian watched their follower count hit nearly a million.
Soon, Welcome served the noodles. In the time it took her to take three bites of her own, Ren's plate was clean.
Meanwhile, Lufa was laughing with joy.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect the internet to help us collect Greed, Anger, and Obsession so quickly! In just a few days, half of the Nether-Legion is ready to be awakened! And your powers have recovered enough to summon your weapons!"
"Bayobi, go! Awaken your brothers!"
"Yes, General!"
Streaks of black energy shot out, descending into various corners of Hope City.
Back at the shop, the group hadn't even finished their meal when the wind chimes began to ring violently!
Ring-ring-ring!
"Oh no! Why are there so many?!" Welcome's face paled. She rushed to the iron plate and performed a spell. A complex bagua map appeared. "Northwest has two! Southhas three! And... dammit! Why are they all out at once?!"
The trio charged out immediately. "I'll take Sector Two!" Ren shouted, roaring off on his motorcycle.
Xiao Tian hopped on his bike and looked at Xiao Fei. "Xiao Fei, I'll take Sector One. I'll leave the rest to you!"
"Don't worry! I won't let them escape this time!"
Xiao Tian had realized that as long as you gave Xiao Fei "face," he wouldn't explode. By saying "the rest are yours," he made Xiao Fei feel more important and capable.
Ren raced toward his destination. Why is the riot happening so early? Usually, they come one by one as experience points. Why the sudden surge?
He arrived to find three demons terrorizing pedestrians: Shafenta with the split head, the red-bodied Kuke, and Banaresi.
"Diamond Armor! Fusion!"
Ren charged in, each step shaking the ground. The demons felt a surge of dread.
"Kuke, look. A tough one," Shafenta muttered.
"Leave him to me!" Kuke roared, lunging at Ren.
"Seeking death!" Ren sneered. He gathered Extra-Dimensional energy into his left fist. "Mountain-Crush Punch!"
A golden fist-shadow swallowed Kuke instantly.
BOOM!!
Kuke only had time for one scream before his body exploded into a floating QR code. Shafenta and Banaresi were frozen in shock. Ren didn't waste time. He swiped a card: Explosive Fist!
A massive golden gauntlet appeared over Ren's hand. He leaped forward, covering ten meters with every step.
"Die! Mountain-Sea Explosive Punch!"
The massive punch crushed both demons instantly. Two more QR codes appeared. Ren placed his hand on his summoner, sealing all three codes. As he finished, Welcome's voice rang out again.
"Ren! Help Xiao Fei! He's facing five of them and he's about to break!"
"Got it! Send the coordinates! I'm on my way!"
Ren reached out with his mind. On the moon, the yellow Ares Shuttle, parked for a thousand years, hummed to life. It transformed into a streak of light and shot toward Earth!