Chapter 60: City of Sloth

          Tokio and the others arrived in the strange-looking city after getting down from the shadow bus of Tour Guide of the Underworld.

If he have eaten something, Tokio was sure that he would already vomit the food that he have eaten because of the Tour Guide's poor driving skills. Thankfully, since he was in his spirit form, Tokio doesn't need to eat.

Since he was in his spirit form, Tokio looks different from Horo Tokio. He looks like just what he used to be in the previous world but he doesn't remember getting strands of white hair on his black.

{ Master, are you ready to enter this city? }

Tokio who was staring at the grim and daunting gothic-styled city was asked by the Akashic Magician.

During the past few days, Tokio concluded that, unlike humans, Duel Spirits doesn't seem to feel any pain in staying here in the shadow realm. Duel Monsters that were in this shadow realm appeared that they could sense when there is a nearby human spirit and those monsters desired to eat them. Other than that, the Duel Spirits that Tokio summoned and those mad and mindless Duel Monsters are of the 'Dark Type'.

With the humans experiencing extreme pain and exhaustion in this Shadow Realm, many of them have probably ended up as food for that duel monsters.

Tokio hoped that those 2 rare card hunters doesn't end up as fodders from those duel monsters. A few minutes later, Tokio and his duel spirits entered the gothic-style city gates.

The city was dark, silent, cold, and covered with thick fog. Tokio keeps quiet after entering the city and making sure to stay with his duel spirits as close as possible to them. He doesn't want to get lost in the fog and ended up missing and being snatched by cruel and mindless duel monsters and ended up as food.

As Tokio gets deeper into the city, the life locator compass in his hands suddenly started spinning around.

" Is this broken? "

Crowley the Magistus stared at the compass and shook his head.

" Master, all of the things provided by your benefactor are all top-tiered items. The benefactor wouldn't sell any defective products. "

Tokio and the others arrived where the most nearby living being was located in this city. Tokio with the four duel spirits arrived at the city plaza and Tokio's face pales by what he found.

Thousands of coffins are placed in standing positions covered in black and purple roses.

And around those coffins are a gigantic monster sleeping. It has a body of a lion, wings of a bird on its back, a tail of a cobra, and a human face.

It was a monstrous chimera.

Suddenly, the monster opened its eyes and peered at Tokio and the others. Tokio and the others remained frozen when the chimera gazed at them.

" Welcome to my city... Did you lose your duels and banished here to the shadow realm? Have you been enduring pain all of this time? Don't worry it would be gone soon, just enter one of the coffins and you could rest in peace and silence forever. "

The chimera spoke to them. Despite the chimera sounding welcoming, his ominous words left nothing but fear in Tokio.

Even though sleeping peacefully was one of Tokio's favorite past times, nope. He doesn't want to end up like a tragic version of the sleeping beauty.

" A group of duel spirits and a human? How strange... "

The chimera peered at Tokio who immediately get closer to his duel spirits and even use Alchemy Magician as a shield to the Chimera's stare much to the Alchemy magician's annoyance.

Seriously, of all types of people, she could find herself serving, why did she fall into the hands of a lazy and cowardly guy?

If it weren't for the unknown and powerful benefactor of this guy, she wouldn't serve him in the first place!

" Are you all his duel spirits? Hey, you. What is your name? "

The chimera asked Tokio who was hiding behind the alchemy magician. Tokio was reluctant to utter his real name and even his current identity.

But this strange chimera who appears to be responsible for this dreary gothic city may sense if he was lying. Tokio decided to speak the truth in some sense.

" My name is Jikan Yugame. "

It was his in-game name account in his past life in some games like the Yugioh.

The Chimera's eyes then glowed. After a few seconds, it spoke again.

" Jikan Yugame... Hmm... Did you and your duel spirits lose the shadow duel? "

" It's not us. We are just here to accompany him in this Shadow Realm. "

The Alchemy Magician interrupted. The chimera spoke again and asked Tokio.

" So you lose the shadow duel? "

".. Yes. "

Tokio hesitantly answered. Strangely, despite the gigantic chimera human looked menacing and scary, it was strangely nice. Tokio couldn't help but also compare it to a Sphinx and Tokio noticed that it was wearing some sort of Egyptian styled headdress and clothes that belongs to ancient times.

" Do you want to sleep like the others to ease the pain? "

Tokio shook his head at the question. Tokio and the three duel spirits with him readied their selves when the gigantic chimera flapped its wings and rose from the ground. The fog covering the gothic city was being pushed away with each of its flap of wings.

The four looks wary except for Crowley of Magistus who was calm and there was also a strange glint in his eyes as he stared at the gigantic Chimera before them.

Landing on the ground again and with the fog remove temporarily, the Chimera spoke again.

" Then, get out. "

" ???? "

Tokio stared at the Chimera in confusion. He thought that the Chimera would attack them because he refuse. But unexpectedly, the chimera was just letting them go and driving them out into its city?

Shouldn't there be a battle or maybe a card game?

Probably noticing Tokio's confusion. The chimera huffed.

" You appear to be confused at the situation. It would be bothersome to explain it to you. But it would be more bothersome if a newbie like you in the shadow realm is clueless about the situation. "

It raise one of its paws and a strange giant mirror-like projection appeared in front of the Tokio and the others.

" I am Tutu, the Keeper of the city of Sloth and one of the oldest keepers that existed here in the shadow realm. "

It paused letting Tokio and the others grasp its words before continuing.

" In the shadow realm there exist 8 cities. 7 of those cities enabled humans who lost the shadow games and were banished to this realm to continue to live in eternal suffering. In this city of sloth, people who wanted to escape the pain of physical torment and pain can escape by sleeping. But they would never wake up again. They have escaped the physical pain but all of these people inside the coffins are suffering from nightmares and their most absolute fear. "

The Chimera was kindly explaining to Tokio and the 4 duel spirits but despite the gentle tone, the things that it said are something that people doesn't want to experience.