Chapter 1198 Michael’s Genius Plan
Panic began to set in among the adventurers and warriors trapped inside the hall. The realization that they were enclosed in an unknown, dangerous space with no clear way out sparked fear and tension, which quickly escalated into heated exchanges.
"We need to find another way out, now!" one of the adventurers said, his voice laced with urgency.
"Maybe we can break through the walls or find a hidden passage," suggested another, looking around frantically.
A warrior with a grim expression countered, "And what if we set off more fucking traps? We need to think this through!"
Voices began to rise as the group's fear morphed into frustration and anger. "We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for that damn pond!" one person shouted, pointing accusingly at the still water.
"Enough with the pond! We need to work together, not turn on each other!" an elven girl yelled, trying to bring some reason to the escalating situation.
A brave yet arrogant noble warrior stepped forward, his confidence unshaken by the recent events. "Now that we know what the pond does, I can take on and win against that puny doppelganger," he declared, his voice filled with overconfidence.
The others watched as the warrior, clad in shining silver armor, strode toward the pond. He held his sword in one hand and a crackling golden energy ball in the other, an air of arrogance surrounding him. Upon reaching the edge of the pond, he casually touched the water with his boot, standing in a ready stance to engage in combat.
The water in the pond rippled in response, and slowly, it began to rise. In front of everyone's eyes, the water took the shape of the warrior, mirroring his spell and weapon with uncanny precision.
"I'll teach this damn pond it can't mimic me," The soldier snickered arrogantly, facing his watery duplicate. "Let's see how you handle this," he taunted before swinging his sword and hurling the energy ball at the doppelganger.
To everyone's surprise, the doppelganger mirrored his movements exactly, blocking his sword strike and conjuring an identical energy ball. The two energy balls collided mid-air, resulting in a forceful explosion that pushed the soldier back.
But the most shocking moment came when the doppelganger stepped outside the pond, its form stable and menacing. This revelation that it could leave the confines of the pond sent a wave of shock and fear through the group.
"It can leave the water?" one of the adventurers gasped, disbelief evident in his voice.
"We're in more trouble than we thought," another whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
"This changes everything," a third murmured, the realization dawning that the doppelganger created by the pond was more powerful than they initially thought.
With a blend of arrogance and skill, the warrior engaged in a fierce battle with his doppelganger. He lunged forward, sword aimed at the doppelganger's chest, but the watery duplicate mirrored his move perfectly, parrying the blow with an identical sword.
"Ha, is that the best you can do?" the warrior taunted, trying to maintain his composure and confidence. He then executed a series of rapid slashes, each one aimed to outmaneuver and strike the doppelganger.
However, with eerie precision, the doppelganger copied each of the warrior's moves, its movements fluid and in perfect sync. The slashes were met with equal force and speed, creating a dance of clashing swords and sparks. The warrior, growing frustrated, attempted a feint followed by a swift thrust. "You can't keep up with this!" he shouted. Yet, the doppelganger anticipated the feint and countered the thrust effortlessly, their blades meeting with a loud clang.
As the battle progressed, the warrior's initial arrogance began to wane, replaced by a growing sense of desperation. Though skillful and swift, his attacks were matched blow for blow by the doppelganger. "Why won't you fall?" he yelled, his voice tinged with anger and disbelief.
The warrior unleashed a powerful overhead strike in a final attempt to overpower the doppelganger, pouring all his strength into the blow. "Take this!" he roared. But once again, the doppelganger mirrored the attack, their swords locking together in a deadlock. Gaya watched the ongoing battle with a critical eye. "That arrogant prick can't keep this up for long," she remarked, her voice laced with a mix of disdain and concern.
"This is a perfect trap. One cannot defeat themselves," he observed, understanding the intricacies of the doppelganger's strategy. As the fight progressed, the warrior's attacks began to slow down, his stamina waning under the relentless pace of the battle. His once swift and precise strikes became sluggish and less coordinated.
Some of the onlookers speculated about the doppelganger's response. "If it's mimicking everything, its attacks might also slow down," one adventurer suggested hopefully. However, Gaya was skeptical. "I don't think that's how it works," she said, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.
To everyone's shock, Gaya's suspicion proved correct. The doppelganger maintained the peak of the warrior's initial speed and ferocity, and instead of continuing to mimic his movements, it began to attack on its own. The creature had learned the warrior's fighting style during their exchange and was now using his own techniques against him.
The battle turned brutal and bloody. The doppelganger's sword found its mark time and again, each strike leaving a new cut or wound on the warrior. "No... How is this possible?" the warrior gasped, his arrogance replaced by shock and pain. He tried to parry and counterattack, but the doppelganger seemed to anticipate his every move.
"Stop copying me!" the warrior shouted in frustration, swinging his sword in a desperate attempt to regain control. But it was in vain. Unyielding and relentless, the doppelganger continued its assault, exploiting every weakness and opening in the warrior's defense.
Having completely overpowered the warrior, the doppelganger prepared for the final, decisive blow. It feinted to the left with a swift and precise movement, causing the warrior to block in that direction instinctively. But in a fluid motion, the doppelganger reversed its attack, bringing its sword in a deadly arc to the right, targeting the warrior's neck. "Shit," the warrior said, knowing his fate.
Yet, before the warrior could react, the blade made contact, severing his head cleanly from his shoulders. His head rolled. away with a macabre thud, as blood splattered across the hall, painting a stark and gruesome scene.
The doppelganger, its task completed, dissolved into water, its form losing coherence and trickling back into the pond. The once imposing duplicate faded away, leaving behind a stunned and horrified audience.
"By the gods... Did you see that?" one of the onlookers gasped, his voice a mixture of fear and disbelief.
"We're not safe here... We need to get out!" another exclaimed, panic setting in as the reality of their scary situation became increasingly clear.
"This dungeon is a death trap!" a third adventurer shouted, the desire to escape the dungeon now overwhelming their initial curiosity and ambition.
Amidst the rising fear and chaos, Michael remained composed. He cracked his neck, a gesture that indicated he was formulating a plan. Leaning in, he whispered his strategy to Gaya, ensuring that only she could hear his intentions.
With a calm look on his face, Michael began to walk towards the pond.
The adventurers watched in anticipation as Michael approached the pond. Whispers and speculations rippled through the crowd.
"Is he going to try fighting the doppelganger?" one of them asked, eyes fixed on Michael's advancing figure.
"He looks like he has a plan," another observed, noting the purposeful way Michael moved.
In a surprising move, Michael did not unsheathe his dark swords. Instead, he tossed them aside to the ground and cautiously touched the water with his bare hands. The onlookers watched in realization.
"Of course! If he doesn't have a weapon, the doppelganger won't replicate it," one of them exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "Why didn't we think of that?"
On the other side of the pond, Gaya uncloaked her armor, positioning herself strategically.
As the water rippled, a doppelganger of Michael emerged, mirroring his unarmed stance. Michael quickly threw a fist towards the doppelganger, who replicated the action. Their fists collided, creating a shockwave that rippled through the air.
Some of the archers in the group raised their bows in surprise. "What's he planning?" one whispered, intrigued by the tactic.
Watching with a knowing smile, Gaya complimented Michael's strategy. "You are a genius, my handsome husband," she said, firing an exploding bolt from the God Slayer crossbow at the doppelganger's back.
The bolt struck true, exploding on impact. The doppelganger's figure rippled violently, its movements visibly slowing.
Seizing the moment, Michael raised his hand, and his dark swords flew back into his grasp in the blink of an eye.
At that exact moment, Gaya fired another bolt, causing the doppelganger to ripple and slow down further. Michael then closed in and, with a swift and precise strike, cut the head of the doppelganger clean off. The doppelganger disintegrated, just like the previous ones.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 15,000 Badass points] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 20,000 Badass points] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing a Spiritual Embryo Realm doppelganger. The reward is 5000 Experience points and 400 Badass points]
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