[Location: Dorm Room 666]
[Time: 03:30 AM]
Ryan sneaked back into his dorm room through the window.
Grog was fast asleep on the bottom bunk. The massive Half-Demon snored so loudly that the window panes rattled. ZZZZ... SNORT... ZZZZ...
Ryan sat on his bed, holding the Grimoire of the Shadow King.
He had learned the skill: [Shadow Extraction].
According to the System, he could turn the "spirit essence" of enemies he had defeated into loyal Shadow Soldiers.
"Okay," Ryan whispered, rubbing his hands together. "Let's see what I got."
He opened his System Inventory.
He had defeated many ghosts, but most were trash mobs (Shadow Mimics, Nurses).
But there was one Elite Boss he had purified.
[Stored Soul Essence: The Headless Butcher (Level 5)]
Ryan grinned. "Perfect. Come out, big guy."
He extended his hand. Shadows swirled on the floor of the dorm room.
The temperature dropped.
A dark hand rose from the floor. Then a massive, headless body. Then a giant axe made of shadow energy.
"ROAAAR..."
The Shadow Butcher materialized. He was huge. His head touched the ceiling. He radiated a terrifying aura of death.
Grog stopped snoring. He mumbled in his sleep, "Mommy... no..."
The Shadow Butcher knelt before Ryan, waiting for a command to kill.
It was an epic scene. A Necromancer and his Knight.
Ryan looked at the terrifying monster.
Then he looked at the messy dorm room.
Pizza boxes on the floor. Dust everywhere. Dirty laundry in the corner.
Ryan snapped his fingers.
"Hey, Butcher."
The Shadow Butcher tilted his headless torso attentively.
"Do you know how to use a broom?"
The Shadow Butcher froze. "..." (Confusion).
"I said," Ryan pointed at the mess. "Clean this room. And wash my socks. They smell like swamp water."
If the Butcher had a face, he would be crying right now.
He was a Level 5 Boss! He had killed dozens of Hunters! He was the terror of the Morgue!
And his new master wanted him to... do laundry?
[System Notification: Your Shadow Soldier feels humiliated.]
[Loyalty: 100% (Absolute Obedience)]
The Butcher slowly, sadly, lowered his giant axe. He picked up a tiny broom with his massive shadow hands.
Sweep... Sweep...
Ryan nodded with satisfaction. "Good boy. Now I don't have to pay for a maid."
[Ding! System Upgrade.]
[Since you are a 'Streamer', your Shadows have adapted.]
[New Feature: 'Shadow Cam'.]
Description: You can see through the eyes/senses of your Shadows. You can also Livestream from their perspective.
Ryan's eyes lit up.
"Wait... so I can send an invisible Shadow into the girls' dorm... NO! Bad Ryan!"
He shook his head. "I meant, I can send them to scout dungeons while I sleep safely in bed."
"This is the ultimate streaming hack," Ryan realized. "I can stream 24/7 without even being there!"
Suddenly, Grog woke up.
He opened his eyes and saw a Giant Headless Shadow Monster holding a broom, standing next to his bed.
"AAAAHHH!"
Grog screamed, falling off the bed. "MONSTER! ENEMY! ATTACK!"
Grog grabbed a dumbbell to throw.
"Relax, Grog!" Ryan said, drinking a soda. "Meet my new intern. His name is... Bob."
"Bob?" Grog trembled, pressing his back against the wall. "He... he looks like death."
"Yeah, but look at how he handles that dustpan," Ryan pointed out. "Bob, polish Grog's horns. They look dusty."
The Shadow Butcher sighed (a ghostly wind sound) and walked over to Grog with a rag.
Grog sat there, terrified, while a Nightmare Monster gently polished his demon horns.
"This..." Grog whispered, looking at Ryan with absolute fear and worship. "Boss... you enslaved a Death Knight to... clean?"
"Efficiency, Grog," Ryan said, lying back on his pillow. "It's all about efficiency."
Ryan checked his phone.
The Academy Forum was buzzing.
Someone had posted a video of him destroying the Crystal.
Topic: "Who is the Trash Recruit in Class F?"
Comments:
User_MageKing: "He's a cheater! He used a bomb!"
User_Simp4Zoya: "I heard he is Director Malik's illegitimate son."
User_TruthSeeker: "I saw him eating with Grog. He's weird."
Ryan smiled. The hype was building.
"System," Ryan muttered as he closed his eyes. "Tomorrow is the first official class. 'Dungeon Survival 101'. Who is the teacher?"
[System Data: Professor Snape... wait, wrong database.]
[Teacher: Instructor Viper.]
[Location: The Goblin Caves.]
Ryan grinned. "Goblins? I hear they love gold. Bob, get ready. Tomorrow, we're going to rob a bank... I mean, a cave."
Bob (The Shadow Butcher) finished folding the laundry and gave a thumbs up.
Ryan drifted to sleep, surrounded by a terrified Half-Demon and a cleaning Shadow Monster.
Just a normal night for the Horror Streamer.