Chapter 1198 A sudden twist in the battle
The golden-armored elves from Aurumvale, not to be outdone, acted swiftly and decisively. One of them reached into their space ring, and with an air of nonchalance, they transferred a staggering one million gold coins as if it were a trivial amount and tossed the ring to Gaya. "Take this and help us first," one of the elves said, his voice laced with both urgency and entitlement. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? No?el?ire.n?t
Gaya caught the ring deftly, glancing into the shimmering silver space ring. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the substantial amount, and a sly grin formed on her lips. "Of course," she replied with a smile, her tone smooth and agreeable.
Turning to face the rest of the adventurers, Gaya's smile faded into a more stern expression. She scoffed at them, her gaze challenging. "Back off and step forward if you have gold coins for us," she declared, her voice ringing with authority. "Or stand back in line and hope he doesn't get tired."
The onlookers exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of frustration, envy, and resignation.
"This isn't fair! They're buying their way to safety!" one adventurer protested, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"Gold speaks louder than bravery in this dungeon, it seems," another murmured, shaking their head in dismay.
Yet another, realizing the reality of the situation, sighed and said, "We don't stand a chance against that kind of wealth. We'll just have to wait our turn."
Once filled with chaos and disarray, the hall had now transformed into a more organized queue dictated by wealth rather than need or skill. The golden-armored elves from Aurumvale moved to the front, their confidence bolstered by their financial advantage. Meanwhile, the other adventurers, lacking such resources, lined up behind them, each silently calculating their odds of survival and hoping that Michael would not tire before their turn came.
The elf from Aurumvale, having observed the previous encounters, prepared himself to face the pond's challenge. He followed the established protocol, confidently throwing his curved blade to the ground. Gaya took her position with the crossbow, her eyes focused on the pond, while Michael positioned himself strategically, his dark sword at the ready.
"I am ready," the elf declared, his voice steady. He touched the water with the tip of his boot, causing ripples to spread across the surface. The water began to stir, and soon, a doppelganger formed, mirroring the elf's appearance and stance.
As soon as the doppelganger fully materialized, Gaya acted. "Now!" she shouted, releasing an explosive bolt from her crossbow. The bolt whistled through the air, striking the doppelganger squarely in the back. The explosion caused the doppelganger to stagger momentarily, its movements disrupted by the force of the impact.
Seizing the moment, Michael lunged forward with incredible speed. "Watch this," he said, a hint of determination in his voice. He deftly maneuvered around the doppelganger, avoiding its attempts to mimic his moves. With a swift and precise strike, he aimed for the doppelganger's neck.
The doppelganger, still reeling from Gaya's attack, struggled to keep up with Michael's agility. It tried to counter, but Michael's speed and skill were overwhelming.
With a fluid motion, Michael's sword found its mark, slicing through the doppelganger's neck. The creature's head fell to the ground, and its body dissolved into water, returning to the pond.
The elf, who had remained still during the encounter, let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Incredible," he muttered, genuinely impressed.
The onlookers erupted into murmurs of admiration and relief. "They did it again," one adventurer exclaimed.
"Those two are unstoppable," another added, watching Michael and Gaya with newfound respect.
Michael and Gaya's successful strategy against the doppelgangers not only showcased their formidable combat skills but also reinforced their role as key players in the group's survival. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 35,000 Badass points] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 40,000 Badass points] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing a Qi Awakening Realm doppelganger. The reward is 1000 Experience points and 15,000 Badass points]
As Michael stood by the pond, the familiar chime of the system notifications echoed in his head, acknowledging his achievements. The pond's water level continued to decrease with each doppelganger they defeated, a sign of their progressing success.
A queue of adventurers, organized by Gaya based on the gold they could offer, formed a line. Each was eager for their turn, hoping to replicate the success Michael and Gaya had demonstrated.
Standing a distance away, Jin observed the scene with an almost amused smile hidden under his cloak. His eyes followed the young man and woman as they stylishly and efficiently killed each doppelganger that emerged from the pond.
Despite the doppelgangers adapting and learning from the way they fought, Michael and Gaya proved too quick and skilled. They rapidly dispatched each one, their coordination and tactics flawless.
As the battles continued, Michael's accumulation of rewards surged. The badass points rapidly added up, and he soon reached nearly two million. His experience points also grew, reaching one hundred thousand. He was now only one hundred thousand badass points away from breaking through to the next cultivation stage.
The atmosphere in the hall had shifted to one of confidence and nonchalance, due to the continuous success of Michael and Gaya against the doppelgangers. Having paid his share of gold coins to Gaya, a halfling eagerly stepped toward the pond, ready for his turn.
"Let's see how this goes," the halfling said with a hint of excitement, his small stature in stark contrast to the looming pond.
The other adventurers watched, now more relaxed and confident in Michael and Gaya's abilities. "This should be quick," one of them remarked casually.
As the halfling touched the water, it rippled, and a doppelganger began to emerge. As usual, Gaya readied her crossbow and fired an explosive bolt towards the forming figure. However, this time, the situation took an unexpected turn.
To the group's shock and horror, not one, but three doppelgangers appeared from the pond. Among them were the doppelgangers of Michael and Gaya themselves. Gaya's doppelganger swiftly caught the exploding arrow in mid-air, while Michael's doppelganger launched a powerful roundhouse kick, sending the real Michael flying across the hall.
The adventurers gasped in disbelief. "No way, it copied them too!" one shouted.
"What the fuck is that? We're doomed!" another exclaimed in panic.
In a devastating move, Gaya's doppelganger then hurled the explosive arrow at the unsuspecting halfling. The arrow struck with lethal precision, blasting him off the ground. The force of the explosion was so intense that the halfling's arms and legs were torn off, blood splattering across the hall in a gruesome spectacle. Immediately, the crowd erupted in shock and fear. "They're too strong!" someone screamed.
"What are we going to do now?" another cried out, the earlier confidence now replaced by terror.
The doppelgangers of Michael and Gaya stepped out of the pond, their movements eerily mirroring those of their real counterparts. They cracked their necks in unison, a menacing gesture that sent a chill down the spines of the onlookers.
After regaining his composure from the unexpected attack, Michael leaped up from the ground and stood ready. "This has gotten interesting," he said, a determined glint in his eye.
From his vantage point, Jin watched the unfolding scene with a keen interest. "Let's see how they fight themselves," he remarked, his voice laced with curiosity.
The situation took a somber turn as the halfling's doppelganger transformed back into water and merged back into the pond. This occurred simultaneously with the real halfling's death, a tragic result of the explosive arrow's impact. The halfling's friends, witnessing the horrific scene, cried out in despair. "He's gone," they shouted, their voices filled with grief and disbelief.
In the midst of this chaos, Michael and Gaya's doppelgangers locked their gazes with their real-life counterparts. There was a moment of eerie silence as they stood facing each other, a mirror image in appearance and stance. Then, simultaneously, both doppelgangers smiled, a chilling mimicry hinting at the imminent battle ahead.
In a swift and unexpected move, Gaya's doppelganger conjured a crossbow, eerily similar to the God Slayer, and took aim at a group of unsuspecting elves. Before anyone could react, the doppelganger released an exploding arrow, which hurtled toward the group with deadly precision.
The explosion that followed was massive and instantaneous. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the hall, and the elves caught in its path were obliterated. Screams of pain and fear echoed as the explosion tore through their ranks, leaving behind a scene of chaos and destruction.
Panic ensued among the adventurers as they witnessed the devastating power of Gaya's doppelganger. Weapons were drawn in haste, and the air filled with the sound of steel and magic being readied for battle.
"We need to fight back!" one adventurer shouted, rallying the others.
"Use everything we have!" another cried out, determination in their voice.
"Thudner strike!"
"Inferno Burst!"
"Frost Spear!"
Spells of various kinds were cast towards the doppelgangers. Many of them chanted incantations, releasing bolts of lightning, balls of fire , and shards of ice . However, Michael's doppelganger moved with a speed and agility that matched Michael's own. The doppelganger wielded swords identical to the dark swords, using them to slice through the incoming spells with ease. The blades cut through the magical attacks as if they were mere air, rendering the assaults ineffective.
Simultaneously, Gaya's doppelganger exhibited similar grace and speed, dodging and weaving through the spells with a dancer's finesse. The doppelgangers moved in sync, their movements a harmonious blend of evasion and attack, demonstrating a level of skill and coordination that was almost beautiful to witness, yet terrifying in its implications.
As the battle progressed, Michael and his doppelganger clashed, their swords meeting with a loud, resonant clang. The sound of metal on metal echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of all the adventurers. In the heat of the battle, a notable change occurred in Michael's doppelganger. Its eyes began to glow with an intense white light, a stark contrast to the dimly lit hall. Then, a sly, knowing smile crept across its face – a smile that was chillingly familiar to everyone who had seen Silvaris.
The resemblance to Silvaris' smile was uncanny, and it did not go unnoticed by Michael. "Silvaris?" Michael asked aloud, his voice tinged with suspicion and realization.
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