Fuming smoke billowed in Ebon''s bastion, the stench of melting metal and carbonised rocks permeating the air.


    Pieces of ck alloy, once imposing armors protecting mighty tier-five existences, covered the za''s dark stone.


    In the middle of the carnage stood a three-meter-tall armor. Entirely made of mana, mixing elemental affinities cleverly, it exuded a sense of lethal beauty with its rough yet colorful design.


    Milky white energy coursed through the channels like blood, alimenting the metallic carcass with potent sr energy.


    Elemental de inspiring majesty and doom extended from its gauntlets in a canvas of different tints, illuminating the gloomy bastion with a bit of life.


    "HAHAHA! You don''t mock me anymore?"


    Encased in his mana suit, Adamughed, ridiculing his mysterious copy seated on his intricate throne.


    However, the man waved his hand in dismissal and grinned. "You are so predictable... I just took a quick nap while you struggled with those mindless puppets." After all, they were just his mana constructs, only capable of overwhelming powerless enemies... as Selene had been against him.


    A dark smile stretched the copy''s lips upon remembering the foolish elf.


    "I''ll ask you onest time. Are you REALLY a mage?" He demanded, pushing himself out of his throne before waving his hands.


    Adam gazed at his slow yet spectacr movements, his eyes widening by the second as a swirling storm of sparkling mana and popping sounds covered the darkened sky.


    Tremors shook his soul as he felt the pure condensation of power contained in the nine materialising constructs.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    A secondter, pure dread wrapped around his spectral frame as nine razor-sharp des of pure light floated behind his copy. Scalding sparks danced along their edges as the air trembled and cracked under the spell''s appearance before they gently hovered behind his back like a halo.


    With his perfect affinities, he instantly recognised to what element they were tied to, and it was nothing short of terrible news.


    Yet before despair could ravage his heart, the man''s voice echoed again, his mocking toneced with amusement back.


    "Your suit is too big, consumes too much energy, and forces you into melee. Against me, it provides little to no defense. So, what trick will you pull from your hat to turn the table this time?"


    Adam''s expression shifted slightly, realising he had been seen through. The suit, while powerful, required a constant supply of mana, straining his circuits. He couldn''t sustain it for long. Worse, without it, he would be left powerless and in pain, vulnerable to any danger. He had to optimise this technique before it could be usable in battle.


    He clenched his teeth as new ideas collided in his mind again.


    And once again, the man waited, silent and motionless, his face unreadable.


    Not realising the ring detail under the pressure of the nine des humming in the sky like nine threatening stars, he hurriedly drew conclusions one after another.


    After frowning for half a minute, he dismissed his giant construct entirely, except for the gauntlets. This way, he would reduce the consumption and conserve his weapon. The solution was far from ideal, but time pressed on his shoulders like a mountain. With a thought, he adjusted their sizes to fit his fists before ring at his copy dead in the eye, a sensation of unease washing over him.


    He didn''t know where it came from, but something felt wrong with this battle.


    The man had stated his objectives with utmost rity. He wanted to take his chance to reincarnate into Julius'' body. Yet, his first aggression aside, he spoke more than anything.


    His unease increased as he focused on the man''s cracked face.


    With each second crawling by in this tense atmosphere, the cracks expanded in a gradual show of horror. Subtle dust flew out of them by now, twirling in beautiful arcs for a brief moment before dissipating in the icy wind.


    ''Nothing makes sense,'' he thought, his frown deepening. Except for one thing: the copy''s superiority, especially since he could tap into the Manacore heartgem''s unlimited energy. So why didn''t he extinguish his life in a second? The question gnawed at him, tearing at hisposure. He felt like a shipwrecked sailor, swimming against the treacherous currents in a churning sea of confusion and hated it.


    However, the man''s voice suddenly cut through the water, reaching his ears like a thunderp and striking him with its urgent tone.


    "Just reincarnate and stop questioning everything!"


    SHATTER


    Like ss pieces, Adam''s confusion shattered in a deafening noise as the words crashed inside his brain like a full-powered hammer strike. His eyes constricted, and his jaw dropped open at the familiar sentence, urgent tone and look of frustration stered on his copy''s face.


    ''I-I said that! Many times, even! To Julius, and Arun.''


    The mocking smirk, provoking words, precise and calcted strikes leaving him just enough margin and time to manoeuvre all reyed before his eyes. ''Like I taught the two boys, he has been teaching me...''


    "I know who you are," he muttered as more pieces found their ces in the intricate puzzle that had gued his life ever since he awakened.


    The raging elements humming on his gauntlets vanished the next second. He raised his head, luminous light burning like two infernos in his eyes as he said, "Drop the act. You could have obliterated my soul with a snap. What do you want... me?"


    The copy''s proud silhouette faltered, and his arrogant smirk copsed. He scratched his cracked head, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "We still have an hour to kill, you know? Can you not ruin my fun so fast?" He asked, his voice and shoulders cracking in disappointment.


    "Well... might as well see the boss first. And before you ask, don''t worry about the boy. They can''t do anything as long as you remain here."


    As the copy sighed, Adam''s core shuddered in trepidation at the mention of a boss. Was it not over? Was his mysterious alter-ego not the mastermind behind his strange condition and the system''s forceful demands?


    But before he could ask, the bastion crumbled in a silent spectacle. Its mighty walls and dark stones were swept into a whirlwind of debris and dust. Forced to shield his eyes, he closed them behind his outstretched palms.


    Only a few seconds passed before he reopened them, yet his brows furrowed. Contrary to his expectations, he wasn''t in Julius'' soul sea. Instead, he was inside his own, and the copy mysteriously followed him.