NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Doppelganger
Boom!
The sphere exploded, its force propelling him even farther through the forest. Perfect. I'll use this blast to get closer to the big guy and have him wipe them all out, Saquin thought, grinning.
Boom!
Another explosion sounded up ahead. Through the smoke, he spotted another woman being thrown backward, hurtling directly toward him.
Who is that?
The woman, sensing his gaze, turned mid-air. Their eyes locked—just for a second. Her expression wavered, then grew steely as she raised something in his direction.
Damn, she's beautiful. And she's… pointing something at me. Is that a… gun?
[ Gun! ]
Bang!
The gunshot rang out, reverberating through the forest as a silver bullet, inscribed with strange patterns, ripped through Saquin's head.
Thud.
His lifeless body hit the ground.
A second later, the body dispersed into blue mist, SP.
Thud
The woman who fired the shot landed nearby, her gaze fixed on the fading mist where his body had been. She stared, her expression unreadable.
The petite woman with the whip came running toward her. "Princess Relia! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. And you, Risha?" Princess Relia tore her gaze from the spot, turning to her companion.
"Did you finally defeat Sir Veltan?" Risha asked, still catching her breath.
"Barely—and that was only a blood clone," Relia replied, a hint of conflict in her gaze. She took a deep breath, shaking off her thoughts. "We need to keep moving. Go fetch Sir Bret."
"Yes, Your Grace," Risha answered, turning and hurrying back toward the explosion site.
"Oh yea, Risha, who was that man?" Relia called out to Risha before she left.
"I'm not sure, but I think he was an easterner. You needn't worry—he's already dea—" Risha's words trailed off as she realized the body was gone. "What the… Where's his body?"
"I don't know," Relia replied, her brow furrowing. "But that was no ordinary corpse. That might have been a clone, too."
---
Somewhere in the depths of Brimar Forest, far from the two women…
Saquin jolted awake, staggering as he scrambled to steady himself.
"Damn, did I just die?"
[ Yes, host. But only your clone. ]
[ Doppelganger 1 -
Status:
Health: 0/150 (dead) ]
---
Thirty minutes ago…
Saquin watched her disappear, then turned, looking at the charm with a chilling smile. Let's go kill some unfortunate lackeys.
[ What are you planning, host? ]
"First, let's find an unfortunate mythic beast," Saquin said, sprinting into the thick vegetation of Brimar Forest.
Three minutes later…
Saquin stood on top of a gorilla-sized monkey, staring down at it as it cowered.
Mythic, you said I can hypnotize lower-level mythics, right? he asked mentally.
[ Yes, host. It's a general vampire ability, and as a primal, yours is even stronger. ]
Good. Help me activate it.
[ Done. ]
"Now, monkey, how true is what you said earlier?" Saquin asked, his diamond-eyes gleamed with a blue light, his gaze fixed on the mythic monkey.
"It's all true, my prince. The leader of Brimar is a huge mythic worm that lives at the forest's center. It's powerful in SP usage and pure strength but slow. That's why it hasn't attacked you, my prince. Vampires are among the fastest mythics."
"Glad you didn't lie. Now, send my regards to bad granny when you see her, okay?"
"Uh, what—" The monkey's words were cut short as Saquin's foot crushed its head.
[ So? What now? ]
"Simple. I'll use the big guy to get rid of my pursuers. While the lord of the county waits for word, I'll use the gap to sneak into the county, get the information I need, and figure out my next move."
[ That's a decent plan in theory, but how sure are we the big guy won't catch you? ]
"Come on, you're supposed to be the smart one. Does it matter how fast it is? Even if it's a dragon, it can't keep up with me—a vampire."
[ I still think it's risky. ]
"what about this?" Saquin said as he gazed forward and called out, "Status."
[
host: Saquin ---
Specie: Higher-Human -- Primal Vampire
level: level 3 ( 60/300exp )
SP: 200/200(+50)
Health: 300/300(+100)
Vitality: 100/100
Abilities:
(
Primal Vampire:
- Normal (Lvl 3) - (Super strength, super senses, super speed, regeneration/healing factor…)
- Unique - Time Brief (Lvl 3) {SP Cost: 100}, Shadow Movement {Locked - unlock at Lvl ?}
Higher-Human:
- Normal (Lvl 3) - (SP manipulation, SP sense, superhuman body)
- Unique - Doppelganger (lvl 1) {
Ability to create a clone, which retains host features but with 50% power. Clones can be controlled remotely, given instructions, or host can transfer full consciousness. Full consciousness transfer not advised due to death trauma and power confusion. Clones have limited access to system abilities, none to host's unique abilities. SP cost: 50
maximum number of clone: 1 (increases by level)
}
System Abilities:
- Blood Drain: Drain Vitality upon touch; speed is relative to target's resistance
- Mini Map: Shows a small map of the surrounding area
[Leveled up - +50 SP, +100 Health, New Ability Unlocked: Doppelganger]
]
"Hm, I kinda expected it, but it seems I don't get XP from lower-level kills."
[ You do, as long as it's just one level below you, but it's halved. ]
"I would use the doppelganger skill."
[ Good. Now create a clone and instruct it to lure the worm toward your pursuers. ]
"Instruct? No way. Even though it's not my main body, I'm doing this myself. Now, let's find an empty cave and get started."
[ But… ]
"No buts."
---
"Guns, huh?" Saquin muttered, "The Southerners"
[ The industrial city.]
"But she was beautiful though, golden eyes, golden hair and everything."
[ Seriously, Host? Is that your only concern about her, not about the fact that she is a level 7 like the commander, you are running from? ]
"Yea, yea. More importantly, even if it was a clone, how did I die from just one bullet?"
[ Host, you were in direct contact with sunlight when you were shot, meaning a mythic-hunting silver bullet, infused with SP from a level 7, was more than enough to kill you, no arguments. ]
"Tch. Ah." Saquin raised his head, staring at the cave rocks above.
[ So what's the plan now, host? ]
"We wait," Saquin answered, as he sat down and leaned against the cave wall.
[ Don't tell me you're still on this plan. ]
"So, what if I am?"
[ This is futile! You'd have to get past those two women just to reach the big guy. There's no way you're killing a level 7, host. Let's go back to the Ocean Gate plan. ]
"You're wrong, Mythic. I can't beat a level 7 now, but killing one isn't impossible."
[ What?! ]
"Just watch, Mythic," Saquin's blue-diamond eyes gleamed in the dim cave. "I'll show you the art of killing."