Chapter 65

Doppelganger.

Originally, it was a German urban legend that said, "If you encounter someone exactly like yourself, you will die," but in fantasy games, it is interpreted differently.

A monster that usually exists in an intangible form like a slime but, upon encountering its target, copies its appearance and attacks.

Most fantasy games designed doppelgangers this way, and Rase was no exception.

However, even if the doppelganger copied its target, it couldn't fully utilize 100% of the target's abilities.

If a doppelganger could truly replicate a dragon's full power, the game balance would inevitably be ruined.

For this reason, the doppelganger's abilities had to have clear limitations.

A level 100 doppelganger copying a level 500 dragon wouldn't become a level 500 dragon.

It would merely become a level 100 dragon, unable to surpass its own limits.

Moreover, there were many ambiguous restrictions, such as certain targets that couldn't be copied.

However.

Mirage, one of the Seven Masterpieces of the Demon King, was different.

Based on the Doppelganger King, Mirage could, under certain conditions, surpass its own limits.

“Hmph.”

Transformed into the Demon King, Mirage clenched and unclenched his fists a few times, then clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Tsk. Only about 30% of my peak power? Can't be helped.”

If his mana had been intact, he could have exerted much more power, but this was inevitable.

He had been injecting mana into the World Tree daily to help the fruit grow.

Considering he had been doing this for nearly 800 years without a single day's break, even 30% of his power was an astonishing figure.

“Well, it's fine. 30% is more than enough, isn't it? Don't you think?”

[You! You! You! Youuuu!!!]

“What? It can talk? It only made chirping sounds 800 years ago.”

The fragment of Sebingje's scream shook the air all the way to where Carpé was.

Hatred. Fear.

A scream filled with all sorts of emotions, mixed with murderous intent, was hurled at him.

“Cowards bark louder. Or in this case, a bug larva?”

The Demon King only sneered and mocked.

Dretsch's tone made Carpé open his eyes wide in surprise.

“His personality is completely different from when he was Altair… Is this Mirage's original personality?”

“No, my lord. The real Mirage is a very well-behaved child. The tone that seems to scratch others… is just Dretsch's personality.”

“Oh.”

A typical doppelganger only replicated the target's abilities, but Mirage was different.

It could almost perfectly implement the target's memories, personality, and habits.

The Demon King Dretsch had already claimed the title of the strongest human 800 years ago.

He could naturally deflect such an impact without even noticing.

[Die!]

“Die yourself!”

And the two monsters, beyond the norm, clashed again, scattering numerous spells.

[Blizzard Nova!]

“Calamity Inferno!”

Bang! Boom!

The ground was overturned, and trees burst into flames.

The natural scenery around the World Tree was being destroyed in real-time with each skill used by the two monsters.

“Hey, you were just the Queen of the Elves a moment ago. This is going to destroy the whole village!”

“Mirage is a very kind child… but because he is so pure, he tends to get easily immersed in the personality of the one he transforms into.”

Moreover, the Demon King Dretsch was not the type to consider his surroundings during battle.

It was said that wherever he went, not a single blade of grass remained.

“…You must have had a tough time.”

“I appreciate your understanding, my lord.”

“But, this… there's no way to intervene at all.”

Their battle level was so high that even the thought of intervening was daunting.

The World Tree's fruit, which needed to be protected, was the only concern.

- …I know what you're thinking, but can't you just follow the scenario and clear it? Do you really have to capture it?

Just like the Priest Boss he encountered when obtaining the first relic, this fragment of Sebingje was not designed to be captured.

An invincible pattern boss that couldn't be defeated under normal circumstances.

The battle unfolding before them was merely an 'event' that had to appear in the job scenario, and the player's quest was to protect the fruit for a certain period of time.

There was no requirement in the quest to defeat the fragment.

However.

“Capturing it would yield at least two legendary items, right?”

- …That's probably true. Damn. I feel like crying at the sight of myself accepting such a situation.

“Don't worry too much. I won't overdo it this time. Just one… no, two surprise attacks. If it doesn't work, I'll give up cleanly. This time, I really mean it!”

- You… a guy whose trustworthiness converges to zero…

At that moment, a new quest message appeared before Carpé.

[The fruit of Ludram has fully ripened!]

[The fruit of the World Tree Ludram must be consumed within 10 minutes of fully ripening to exert its perfect medicinal effects.]

[Protect the fruit from the fragment of Sebingje for the final 10 minutes.]

The quest entered its final phase.

“I'm going!”

The first to move was the Demon King.

He had been waiting for this moment when the fruit was completed.

Focusing the remaining mana in his legs, he burst forward in an instant.

[What?!]

The surprised fragment of Sebingje swung its scythe, but the Demon King was faster.

Infiltrating the fragment's defenses, he extended his hand and unleashed his final move.

“Ultimate Stone Curse!”

An 8-star petrification spell.

With a 90% chance to ignore the target's magic resistance, it completely petrified the target for a certain period, one of the best crowd control skills.

However, this skill was designed primarily to immobilize the target, dealing no damage. Additionally, the petrified state granted immunity to all damage.

In fact, it was a rather ambiguous skill for an 8-star spell, but in the current situation, it was perfect.

[Grgh! You! How dare you!]

“Hmph. It's over. How does it feel to gradually turn to stone?”

The fragment of Sebingje began to turn gray from the tips of its legs.

The battle was essentially decided.

However.

[Grgh. Hahahaha. Petrification. Interesting.]

The fragment of Sebingje laughed, as if it had anticipated this situation.

[Foolish human. You're not the only one with a trump card.]

“Huh?”

[Keiaaaah!]

Just as the petrification reached the joints of its legs.

Suddenly, the fragment's body glowed brightly.

Snap!

Sebingje's back split open, and something small emerged.

A smaller, blue mantis from the blue back.

Indeed, the fragment of Sebingje had astonishingly performed a molt.

“Damn it?!”

The Demon King, who had used his last mana, couldn't react properly to this pattern.

The blue mantis used the recoil from its emergence to attach itself to the World Tree's trunk.

Then, it ran towards the top at an incredible speed.

* * *

This is my victory.

The fragment of Sebingje, having successfully molted, thought this as it climbed the World Tree at high speed.

The 800 years of enduring hardship were finally bearing fruit.

A battle? Revenge?

He hadn't even considered such things.

His purpose from the beginning to the end was one and only one.

The fruit of the World Tree.

Finding an apple-sized fruit on a tree as massive as the World Tree might seem like finding a needle in a desert.

[I can feel it.]

The massive energy of life calling to him from that high place!

His body.

His soul!

He was being drawn to that burgeoning life.

Originally, the fragments of the Four Evils had no sense of reason.

They were mere creations, moving only according to the 'command' implanted in their minds.

But 800 years ago, this creation had suffered a mortal wound, and as a defense mechanism, the reason that had been dormant deep within had awakened.

The blue mantis thought.

Who am I?

Why must I endure such extreme pain?

Why must I fall into such emptiness?

Instinctively, he felt that something was missing from himself. He didn't know what it was, but he was clearly lacking something.

The fruit of the World Tree. The very essence of nature.

That's it.

If he could obtain that fruit, he would reach the answer.

The moment he bit into that fruit, overflowing life force would reconstruct his body.

And… the missing something would be filled, and he would undoubtedly reach the ultimate!

Glancing down, he saw that the human had given up, just staring blankly at him.

[Ha ha ha!]

He rejoiced. A perfect victory.

For the first time in his life, he felt the emotion of joy.

Now, in just a few seconds, he would arrive.

Finally! His wish would be fulfilled.

* * *

“Wow, really fast.”

Carpé clicked his tongue. A molt? He never expected such a move.

“Why are you just standing there?! If that thing gets the fruit, it's over….”

“Oh, don't worry. I didn't just come here to watch, you know?”

Carpé is fundamentally a casual gamer.

And he is also someone who is obsessed with landing the final blow on bosses.

But to leave the most important key item of the quest completely unprotected?

That would be just brainless, not a casual gamer.

“I have a reliable guardian in place.”

* * *

[Wh-what?!]

The fragment of Sebingje, upon reaching the fruit, couldn't believe the current situation.

In front of the fruit was a guardian.

“Kyo?”

A small creature sitting right above the fruit of Ludram.

Mokhyang.

The final guardian secretly placed by Carpé moved the moment the fragment of Sebingje appeared.

“Kyo!”

It plucked the fruit of the World Tree.

“Kyo!”

And immediately swallowed it.

[No, no!!!]

A 10-star player, strengthened by a lottery.