Ethan knew Shadowstrike's type all too well. In the real world, the man was a mercenary. He'd first logged into Ethereal from the US, having slipped back into Ember City for a covert visit to family. But his primary area of operations was overseas.
The fact that Shadowstrike had refused the duel meant Ethan no longer saw him as a threat. It also revealed the man's true character. In his past life, Shadowstrike had built a flawless reputation, earning the title 'God of Slaughter.' What Ethan hadn't realized back then was that the man was simply a bully. His 'unbeaten record' was maintained because he never took a job without first meticulously researching his target, learning their every combat pattern. If his assessment showed any risk of failure, he simply wouldn't accept the contract. That was the source of his mystique—the legend that the God of Slaughter only went after 'challenging' targets.
