Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

Bang!

I met the heavy swing of the greatsword with my own.

A brief clash of strength.

Crack.

As soon as our blades met, I knew.

‘There’s no need to rely solely on my eyes to dodge. My power and speed are both superior.’

The doppelganger, lacking unique items, was like a steamed bun without its filling compared to the original, me.

Not only were all stats except for HP and MP one level higher, but he also only had one weapon, a greatsword.

If I focused on depleting his magic power with Rehagen’s magic power absorption, he would eventually be unable to recover, and his equipment would be destroyed.

Moreover, the difference between the doppelganger and me wasn’t just in stats and the presence of additional weapons.

Without Barrak, the doppelganger could only copy my traits, but if he used lightning, he would be the first to burn, effectively sealing one of his main attacks.

In other words, the moment I started using lightning and the lightning sword, I could overwhelm him with a one-sided exchange, while remaining unscathed myself.

On top of that, he couldn’t use Lightning Step, one of his movement skills.

‘Lightning!’

I summoned a powerful purple lightning bolt from above, aiming to roast the doppelganger.

Bang! Bang !!!

“Ugh, damn it!”

The doppelganger clenched his teeth and moved before the lightning even fell.

Bang ! Bang !!

“This fucking lightning!”

By now, his vision was likely filled with the red circle on the ground.

Even with the Golden Crown, he knew it was dangerous for the electricity to spread throughout his body, so he desperately tried to dodge.

It was funny to say this to my doppelganger, but even before the lightning fell, he was already jumping around, trying to predict the landing point.

He looked like a foal with its tail on fire.

‘If my opponent doesn’t know my traits, they might think I can predict the future and dodge everything, praising my incredible instincts. But that’s not the case.’

I felt embarrassed by this thought. It wasn’t a good look.

Since the doppelganger’s status window didn’t appear when I looked at him, I needed to assess his power and see how much he differed from me.

That assessment was now complete.

Twang!

I quickly closed the distance with a swift dash.

As the doppelganger struggled to recover from the chain lightning, I unleashed my own attack, using the magic power beneath my feet to dash towards him.

Swish

The doppelganger’s body was enveloped in a chilling frost, but I had a unique trait that allowed me to counter it with my own icy aura, canceling it out before it could affect me.

‘Lightning Sword!’

The sword in front of me glowed with lightning, while lightning strikes rained down on the doppelganger from behind and the sides, trapping him in a dangerous situation.

“You cowardly bastard!”

“You’re the one who’s a cowardly doppelganger, stealing someone else’s face!”

In this difficult situation, the doppelganger chose to trust in the defensive option of Rehagen and raised his sword like a shield.

Bang !!!

“Ugh.”

The delayed thunder rumbled as the doppelganger, who had endured the lightning sword, released his defensive stance and groaned.

I also felt the same way.

‘I should only use the lightning sword as a finishing move. Even with pain resistance, using it too much is risky.’

However, I had successfully gained the upper hand.

After quickly recovering from the pain, I launched a relentless assault on the doppelganger.

From above, I slashed downward, and the twisted blade transformed into an upward slash, followed by a horizontal slash that aimed to split the doppelganger’s body and armor in two.

Kang! Kaang!

The doppelganger, overwhelmed by the onslaught, could only defend himself.

The doppelganger, who had been moving frantically, struggled to keep up with the fake Chaos Eye, which was desperately trying to predict the trajectory.

“You said you would kill me and take my body!”

Kang! Kang! Kaang!!!

“How long will you keep hiding like a turtle? Answer me, you little dick!”

“Damn it, bastard!”

[Explosive Sword Technique]

A thrilling explosion of liberation erupted within my body, adding acceleration to every move.

The speed buff from the young beggar on the 8th floor.

The combination of the Explosive Sword Technique’s acceleration and its curved trajectory created a powerful synergy.

The enraged doppelganger growled.

“You’re not the only one who can use this technique!”

Bang

Bang!

Baang !!

In the empty space, where only two people with identical appearances existed, a fierce explosion erupted as their swords clashed, using the Explosive Sword Technique simultaneously.

‘Are both of them Chaos Eye holders, so no messages appear about the techniques they’re using?’

In this unprecedented situation, each person’s eyes clearly saw the range and glow of the other’s technique.

As I responded to and analyzed the unpredictable trajectory that rose and fell, my head grew hotter.

The aura of killing intent was almost at its maximum, just slightly below the limit.

In a situation where a single shake could decide the outcome, the lightning and pain that caused headaches, as well as the lightning sword that left no room for error due to the pain resistance, were temporarily pushed to the back of my mind.

“Hoo. Ha.”

“Chaap!”

Bang Bang ! Bang !

At first glance, it seemed like an even match, but as the acceleration built up and the moves meshed together, the gap between us became more apparent.

‘He’s still too slow!’

Aside from the differences in agility and buffs, the fundamental difference in weapons separated the winner from the loser.

A giant, heavy, angled greatsword for defense, and a straight, well-crafted indestructible longsword, forged by the gods themselves.

In close combat, it was clear which weapon would prevail.

‘Sorry, but gear is also a skill!’

The relentless barrage of attacks from all directions had been eroding Rehagen’s restorative abilities, which had been acting as a shield instead of a weapon for some time now.

‘Lightning!’

As I swung my sword with all my might, I was able to withstand the headaches again, and I began to drop lightning strikes near the doppelganger once more.

Jajajak!

The doppelgänger, convinced that at this rate the electric current would pierce through durability and armor, accumulate, and either burn it to death or tear its body apart, made a decisive move.

“Graaaaah!!!”

Letting out a grotesque sound that was indistinguishable between a war cry and a scream, the doppelgänger’s greatsword emitted a brilliant red aura intertwined with blue frost.

Was it planning to strike head-on?

…No, beneath its feet!

[Concentration]

The moment I saw the crimson circle spreading at its feet and pressed down on the ground—

A burst of freezing frost and murderous intent.

The doppelgänger, condensing the only two energies it could wield, gripped its greatsword in reverse and drove it downward.

Normally, such a release of murderous energy would simply result in a ranged slash. However, combined with the frost and striking the ground, it transformed into a deadly area-wide attack.

CRRRRACK─!

The murderous energy exploded like a bomb, morphing into icy spikes that erupted from the ground, targeting my lower body and abdomen.

And could it be that even its innovative use of concentrated energy was mere misdirection?

Its plan wasn’t singular.

[Dimensional Leap]

At the perfect timing for me to retreat, the doppelgänger boldly used a mobility skill it could only activate once per day.

The figure that had driven its sword downward dissolved into particles and vanished.

“Dieeeeee!!”

I could sense it.

From the front, razor-sharp icy spikes, capable of piercing steel plates with a mere touch and shredding flesh, were rushing toward me.

From behind, the doppelgänger had reappeared in a perfect position to slash my back, swinging its greatsword.

However—

It seems you’ve overlooked something.

“Dimensional Leap.”

“That’s not just your skill!”

“…Damn it.”

The doppelgänger, mid-swing, twisted its body with all its might, but it was already too late.

Even if I pierced its heart with this, it would likely survive thanks to death resistance and its transformation into a half-dragon. Still, the slight life recovery it managed would not fully restore its destroyed heart.

Using a focused technique with drastically reduced casting time thanks to my battle against Cresdowzer, I countered the doppelgänger’s move, which aimed for my back using Dimensional Leap. I poured frost, lightning, and murderous energy into my tightly gripped Solas with both hands.

For a doppelgänger whose core wasn’t functioning properly… capturing it would be easier than pie.

‘I might as well take this chance to see what transformation into a half-dragon looks like.’

Thinking this might be a good opportunity since no one has been fatally wounded after acquiring that form, I thrust my fully charged sword.

But then—

The doppelgänger’s expression, prepared for death, changed.

Its eyes.

The two radiant golden eyes imbued with chaos shifted to brown.

“So soon, and it’s already over? What a waste.”

[Chaos widens her eyes in surprise.]

.

.

.

ZZZZZZZT. BZZZT.

A piercing noise.

In a boundary that most entities couldn’t even perceive, a crumpled, distorted portal forcibly tore its way through.

「Hmm. Quite a bit of loss here. Damn, when I return, I’ll have to put up with some criticism for a while. This is going to be a hassle.」

A middle-aged man clad in spectral armor exploited a distortion in Karma, paying a significant price in power, and settled into a dimensional rift connected to the 10th floor of the tower.

「Well now! I don’t know if he has sharp eyes or keen senses, but that guy fights in such a peculiar way. Are they reading each other’s moves entirely?」

Stroking his beard, he cast an intrigued gaze at Ahren, who was embroiled in combat.

「Hah, for a low-level adventurer to show such prowess? I thought he looked the strongest of the four, but this exceeds expectations.」

Finally nodding as if reaching a conclusion, he declared:

「The doppelgänger is no pushover either. Still, due to the difference in equipment, the fight will soon be decided. Time to get ready to step in!」

WHISTLE, WHISTLEEE—

「Wait!」

As he whistled cheerfully, he suddenly exclaimed in shock.

「Damn, now’s not the time to be lazing around! If this ends too soon, what’s the point of coming down here with all this effort?」

ZZZZZT.

The middle-aged man in armor disappeared into a scattering form.

.

.

.

Chills.

‘What’s this? The atmosphere has shifted—’

[Schperts Ibein casts “Soul of Ruin.”]

BOOOOM!!!

Just as the tip of the sword was about to pierce his heart, shredding through the silver radiance, an overwhelming surge of magical energy erupted from the doppelgänger’s body.

THUMP! THUD!

A mysterious force slammed into my entire body, throwing me helplessly into the ground. I struggled to my feet, coughing blood as if I had suffered internal injuries.

“Damn it. What the hell just happened?”

Steadying my shaken core, I focused on the figure approaching from afar.

The doppelgänger—no, it was no longer a mere doppelgänger but Schperts Ibein, still bearing my likeness, who drew closer and spoke.

“Apologies! I intended to fight only with the traits imprinted upon this body, but this situation seemed too dire. I’ll be more careful next time!”

“Damn it, it’s not the doppelgänger’s personality. Schperts Ibein. …Ibein?”

Ibein… where had I heard that name before?

“I see you’re fixated on my surname more than my given name. Do you know something about the Ibein family I founded?”

Family. Spear-wielder. Ibein.

The hearty tone felt oddly familiar.

“Ah! Gael Ibein!”

—Indeed! No shortcuts. Only by toiling with sweat and perseverance in every given situation can one find answers. I’ve learned a valuable lesson today.

I quickly recalled where I’d heard “Ibein.”

The 2nd floor. The party that hunted the Full Serpent together.

The fervent spear-wielder, Gail Ibein.

“Gail Ibein?”

Schperts Ibein, suppressing his aura, burst into hearty laughter.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha! To think I’d test someone connected to my descendant! Truly, fate has a sense of humor!”

Seeing someone with my exact face laughing like that made me feel nauseous.

“Well then. It seems we both have many questions. How about we start with a proper conversation?”

He grinned widely and gestured invitingly.