My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly!

"You mean he would dare to attack the Million Gold Sect?" the veiled woman asked, her expression startled.

"Considering his temperament and the fact that he is a Sword Will Martial Artist, it's likely." She bit her lip, uncertainty stirring in her heart.

"Damn it, if he strikes, then all of us will be forced to confront him together." The veiled woman gritted her teeth as she abruptly rose to her feet.

"Eh? Why, master?" The woman with the zither resting in her lap looked puzzled upon hearing such words. "Even if the Million Gold Sect is destroyed, what problem does it bring us?"

"We've had an alliance since the foundation: we must act together in times of need. If one of us is destroyed, it won't be long before other sects get ideas, the entire bedrock of the Orthodox faction would collapse." The veiled woman paced the room, biting her nails and muttering between pauses.

"The Shadow Faction recently fell into chaos and changed hands. Although the new leader is rumored to be very strong, their overall power has declined considerably. The Demonic Faction is weakening too, torn by internal conflict as the Heavenly Demon ages. Is it our turn now?"

"This…" The woman with the zither in her lap was utterly dumbfounded at the veiled woman's muttering. "How did the other factions weaken?"

"This is top-secret intel." The veiled woman moved toward the door, her steps steady. Before leaving the room, she left a single sentence behind: "It seems this will be our calamity, but we must remain strong. I will inform the Thousand Iron Sect and unite to face the 'devil'."

***

Eryke traveled within his giant sword, sitting cross-legged as his long golden hair fluttered in the wind.

"With my strength right now, it would be difficult to defeat them all."

He had struggled even against Bow Demon before, so it was unlikely he could simply overpower the entire Million Gold Sect. Although he could always escape using his <Flicker> skill, ensuring his survival, if he set aside emotion and thought rationally, victory was impossible.

"I need assistance." Eryke's blue pupils flashed. What better assistance than Grey?

Inside his mind, Grey appeared, countless shadows gathering behind him.

Eryke and Grey looked at each other and nodded simultaneously, perfectly in sync.

Although Grey's individual strength was the weakest, his Grimoires were invaluable, capable of protecting everyone's souls. On top of that, Kurogane proved even more useful.

Eryke shook his head with a bitter smile. "I thought my clone talent would be the strongest but right now, I don't have a single clone available."

At this moment, his Destiny Points amounted to:

…

Destiny Points: 2,688,342

…

It had steadily increased thanks to that Little Devil and the influence Eryke wielded, but it was clearly not enough to upgrade his clone talent. The previous batch of Destiny Points had been almost entirely wasted on enhancing Zarek's ability.

"Now, I must get it." He tightened his fist.

He traveled on his Giant Sword Will, countless people below able to see him clearly.

Rumors spread swiftly across the lands: a sword immortal was soaring through the skies.

The Martial World didn't have news like the Earth; information traveled from ear to ear, and people's perceptions shifted depending on their mindset.

The first person might have said, "There was a person flying on a giant sword."

But the next one claimed, "A god was traveling on a giant sword."

Just like that, the news became distorted. Yet the spies of the Thousand Iron Sect and countless Martial Artists hunting Eryke quickly caught wind of it.

A giant Sword Will, Eryke's unmistakable signature, left no doubt: who else could it be?

Within a few hours, one of the assassins spotted Eryke landing in a small city, and the news spread like wildfire.

It took only a short moment before nearly 40% of the Orthodox Faction knew about the situation and hurriedly scrambled to the area. All of them shared a single goal.

This day might be filled with uncertainty, but one thing was clear to everyone present: today would be a day soaked in blood without a doubt.

A day that would be written in the pages of history.

***

"It is said that a Sword Immortal flies through the skies, lonely, searching for his lover," an old storyteller spoke in a deep voice.

At a small inn, in the middle of the stage, countless small-time Martial Artists drank in broad daylight as their ears strained to catch every word of the old man's tale.

"What? Stop kidding, old man! These are stories only children would believe. Tell us some real, blood-boiling stories! I've heard of your fame across the cities I've visited, and this is what I get?" One of the Martial Artists slammed his drink down in frustration.

"Believe it or not, I am telling the truth," the old man quickly retorted.

The Martial Artist fell silent, staring at him with a speechless expression. "I've never heard of a Martial Artist who could control a giant sword."

"Wait, isn't there a demon hunt for a Martial Artist with a strange name, Eryke, who wields a giant Sword Will?" one of them said. "It couldn't be…"

For a moment, everyone exchanged glances, the tension in the air palpable, the atmosphere felt heavy and the mood went all time down in that instant.

"Haha, why should we care? This is a small city. That guy wouldn't show up here anyway. As for the demon hunt, I heard the Thousand Iron Sect is involved, so there's almost no chance for us little guys," one of the Martial Artists said, lightening the mood.

Everyone laughed along, shaking off their unease.

In the corner of the inn, a man wrapped in a cloak sat silently, sipping his tea. He looked around as if he could see beyond the walls. "Looks like almost everyone has arrived," he murmured, "I didn't expect so many to bite the bait so easily."