Chapter 174: Two Gates (1)

The Solarian Doppelganger was essentially a level 216 version of Kai. However, the significance of Kai's level 216 and that of other players at the same level was quite different. Moreover, the doppelganger wasn’t a living entity that could act independently of Kai’s will.

"Analyzing opponent's combat patterns."

The doppelganger stared intently at Goliath, before unsheathing its sword. Simultaneously, its left hand began casting Holy Explosion.

“

Hmph

. I don’t know what's going on but...”

The doppelganger was equipped with the same gear as Kai, but as an experienced gamer, Goliath quickly pieced together the situation.

Is it like a doppelganger of the caster? Its level is 216... So it probably operates at around 70% of the caster’s abilities.

After finishing his calculations in an instant, Goliath looked at Kai who had retreated to cast healing spells.

“Well, if it’s just a doppelganger at that level, I guess it’s meant to buy time...”

Whoosh!

The massive form of Goliath moved like lightning and flew through the sky.

“I trust you don’t seriously think you can beat me with that toy, do you?

Heup!

”

Then, his massive fist swung down toward the ground.

However, the doppelganger dodged the attack effortlessly, as if dodging it was second nature.

It dodged that?

Even Kai himself had barely managed to block such an attack, yet his doppelganger dodged it with ease.

Slightly taken aback, Goliath quickly twisted his waist and launched a kick aimed at the doppelganger’s head.

Sensing the approaching high kick, the doppelganger ducked and charged forward.

Hah. As expected, the master and the doppelganger react the same way.

With a sly grin, Goliath smoothly bent his thick leg that had been stretching out toward the sky. It was a textbook-perfect Brazilian kick! It was also the powerful strike that had delivered a massive blow to Kai just moments earlier.

Whoosh!

But, as if it had read the future, Kai's doppelganger suddenly halted its steps. As it did so, Goliath's kick barely grazed the tip of its ear as it passed by.

Taking advantage of Goliath’s brief moment of surprise, the doppelganger leaped forward.

“Flood of Blades.”

“

Ugh

. Switching, Ethereal Body!”

“Holy Explosion.”

“Switching, Blessing of Mirror Lake!”

Goliath barely nullified the doppelganger’s attacks and quickly retreated.

“How dare a doppelganger...”

The doppelganger’s attacks were sharp—so sharp that Goliath even thought it might be better than its master.

If he starts working with the doppelganger in a coordinated attack...

Things could get difficult. As a shiver of unease ran down Goliath’s spine, he shouted, “What are you doing against those dullahans? Finish them off and join me!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Titan guild members responded confidently and intensified their attacks.

Having completed his own recovery, Kai’s eyes began to shine as he saw Goliath. “I can’t let that happen. Mass Bless, Solaris Blessing, Solaris Armor, Sunlight’s Warmth.”

Kai, who had been observing the battlefield, began casting various buffs on the dullahans and restoring their health.

“No way!”

“W-what? They're undeads! How can they be affected by healing spells?”

“That’s cheating!”

“Yeah, just like with those gnoll skeletons before—now them, too?”

Hearing the cries of disbelief from the Titan guild members, Kai merely shrugged in response.

Maybe no one else has ever thought to combine a Cleric class with Necromancy skills before.

Kai had once tried casting healing spells on his summoned gnoll skeletons to see if he could gain XP from killing them, but instead, it had only restored their health.

That means I can heal the dullahans too.

Thump, thump, thump!

Now supported by Kai, the dullahans began to move more aggressively. What had once been fierce but contained sparks now transformed into a wave of flames, pushing the Titan guild members back. Moreover, each time the dullahans killed an enemy, those enemies rose again as skeletons, lower undead creatures, and attacked their former comrades.

“

Argh

...”

Goliath's expression became annoyed as he realized he needed to hold out until his subordinates joined him.

“Well, let’s get this started again.” Having finished healing, Kai returned to the battlefield with a grin.

“Don’t smile. Just because you have an extra doppelganger doesn’t mean your chances of winning have improved...”

“Running low on mana, aren’t you?”

Goliath’s face froze for a moment at Kai’s sudden comment.

He quickly masked his reaction and tilted his head, replying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Wow. If you die this time, you should quit gaming and become an actor. Your acting skills would put most professionals to shame.”

With those provoking remarks, Kai drew his sword and squinted to scan Goliath’s entire body.

“I watched you fight my doppelganger when I was healing myself, and I’ve also been replaying the entire fight in my head.”

“That wouldn’t change anything.”

“No, it actually does.”

Goliath’s attacks were fast and vicious. When faced directly, it was a barrage of sharp attacks, leaving one barely able to fend them off.

However...

In all that time, Goliath had never used an offensive skill.

“You’ve only used three skills so far. Switching, Ethereal Body, and Blessing of Mirror Lake.”

Goliath stayed silent.

“The Switching skill must burn through a lot of mana,

huh?

”

“Bullshit.”

“I kept wondering why you weren’t using offensive skills. When I was down on the ground earlier, you could’ve finished me if you used one.”

“You really do have a knack for spinning stories.”

“If you’re scared, you can just die.”

Kai pointed his sword at Goliath and said in a low voice, “With the Switching skill draining your mana, how many more times do you think you can hold out?”

If Goliath could use Switching indefinitely, he would be an unbeatable monster.

But I have a Solarian Doppelganger, and Switching surely consumes an enormous amount of mana.

There was no way Pegasus would create an invincible, uncounterable skill. Even Kai’s Mythic class abilities had exploitable weaknesses.

“Enough talking.” Dismissing Kai's words, Goliath took his stance and gestured with his hand. “Come at me.”

“As you wish.”

As Kai nodded in signal, the doppelganger charged at Goliath first.

It uses Flood of Blades and Holy Explosion first.

The doppelganger’s fighting style was textbook-perfect. It was a pure combat style, without any tricks or deception.

But... its basic abilities are exceptional.

The computational power of the autonomously moving doppelganger was truly remarkable, as Kai couldn't even maintain double casting while brawling with Goliath.

Then all I have to do is match its timing.

Kai circled behind Goliath, preparing Flood of Blades and Chasing Light Arrows.

“You rat!” Goliath used Ethereal Body to dodge the doppelganger’s sword, but overhead, Kai’s arrows rained down on him.

“

Urgh!

”

For the first time in the battle, Goliath’s HP took a hit. Moreover, since Goliath had given up defense, the attack drained a significant 12% of his HP in a single strike.

“You're surprisingly weak for someone who looks so tough.”

“How dare you...!”

Goliath dodged the doppelganger and charged toward Kai.

The doppelganger’s attacks are weaker than his.

So, the plan was to allow the doppelganger’s attacks but dodge Kai's. And at the same time, he would beat Kai senselessly and finish him off.

"A brilliant choice. Well, as expected from a master of a top ten guild, I guess there's no way you wouldn't think that far."

Boom!

Goliath charged like a bull and rammed into Kai with his shoulder.

“

Heup!

”

However, Kai had already anticipated this and lightly stepped on Goliath’s shoulder, using the force to propel himself into the air.

“

Hah!

Trying to escape into the sky, where there’s no way out?” Goliath mocked Kai’s foolish actions, and leaped straight into the air.

If I can land a critical hit here...

Goliath's biceps bulged massively. Just before his fist, like an overinflated bomb about to explode, was launched forward, an irritating sound came from behind.

Shh-clink!

“

Huh?

”

“Even if my doppelganger’s attack power is weak, you shouldn’t just ignore it.”

Crunch!

In an instant, chains wrapped around Goliath's neck several times and mercilessly dragged his massive body toward the ground.

Goliath hastily swung his fist, but it only cut through empty air. At the same time, he plummeted toward the ground.

Watching this unfold, Kai aimed his finger at him.

“Holy Explosion!”

Boom!

“Sw-Switching! Blessing of Mirror...!”

Goliath hurriedly opened his mouth, but no words could be spoken faster than the beam that had already been fired. In an instant, the beam struck him, and he was slammed straight into the ground.

“Hold on tight!”

Using the recoil from Holy Explosion, Kai shot even higher into the air and drew his sword.

I’ll end it here.

Goliath's remaining health was at 70%, which was by no means a small amount.

But I have to finish it now.

No matter how much the blessed dullahans were holding their ground, they wouldn't last much longer. If Kai missed this opportunity, it was obvious that Goliath would switch to a defensive strategy in the battle.

“Upgrade.”

[Upgrade skill has been used.]

[The next three skills used will have their effects greatly enhanced.]

“Final Attack, Flood of Blades, Holy Explosion.”

After enhancing his three skills, Kai began to slowly fall back down. With each passing moment, his body accelerated due to gravity!

"

Ugh

, get off!"

Goliath was repeatedly hammering the doppelganger's head with his fists. However, it clung tightly to Goliath and refused to let go even as its health was almost done.

W-what skill is coming? That beam from before? Or the sword?

Goliath’s eyes darted between Kai’s left and right hands. It felt like a deadly game of rock-paper-scissors, with his life on the line. In addition to that, he was significantly advantageous.

If I lose, everything ends...

His opponent could try the same move over and over until they won.

Physical damage? Or magical damage?

All of Goliath’s focus honed in on his eyes. His eyes turned bloodshot as he kept his gaze locked on Kai’s left and right hands.

Then, in that moment!

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“Cover,” Kai commanded, and the doppelganger quickly reached out to cover Goliath’s eyes.

“D-damn! Switching! Blessing of the Mirror Lake!”

Momentarily losing track of Kai’s movements, Goliath made the best decision he could in that split second.

Smart as always. He’s not using Ethereal Body.

If Goliath had used Ethereal Body, any magical damage would have inflicted double the harm, but it seemed that the Blessing of Mirror Lake didn’t carry such a penalty. In short, Goliath had made the best possible choice he could.

“However...”

The outcome of this game was already decided from the start.

“You lost the moment you made your move first.”

Kai's right hand moved like lightning, thrusting his sword forward.

At the perfect moment, the doppelganger used Ethereal Body for Kai's sword to slide through, and pierced Goliath's heart.

“

Graaahhhh!

” Goliath screamed as he watched his HP plummet to the end in an instant.

“It’s going to hurt a bit,” Kai said in response.

Goliath hadn't invested in defense at all. What little defense he had was nullified by the Final Attack effect, and Kai's attack power had been tripled.

“To the point where you'll want to go home.”

With those words, Goliath’s body began to crack and split apart.

“N-no...!”

Once the first crack appeared, it triggered a chain reaction.

C-crack, crack!

Goliath's massive body shattered like fragments, with white light seeping from his wide eyes.

“I’ll... I’ll never forgive you...!”

“You should’ve controlled yourself better, like you did in front of Bach.”

The final moments of one who couldn’t control their rage were truly pitiful.

Clang.

All that remained as Goliath vanished was a single gauntlet, which appeared to be at least Rare grade.

“Or maybe it's a Unique grade.”

This was an equipment used by the master of one of the world’s top ten guilds. Just the combined value of his gear alone would easily be worth several billion, and weapons, of course, fetched the highest price of all.

“Thanks, I’ll put it to good use.”

[You have obtained the Demon's Gauntlet.]

Kai added the item to his inventory and casually stepped through the remains of Goliath’s broken polygons as he walked forward.

The clashing sounds of weapons that had echoed across the battlefield until just moments ago had long since stopped. It was all a result of Goliath's death.

“Master... lost?”

“Then... what do we do now?”

The monster who was ranked number one had just devoured even their trusted master.

As Kai approached them, the Titan guild members nervously retreated, step by step.

The black undead army naturally moved to guard Kai, who wore the robe of a holy cleric—a scene that appeared absurd to anyone watching. However, no one was laughing.

All they could do in the presence of the savage hunter who had just taken down his second massive prey was hold their breath.

“Hey, Black Dragon.”

“... Did you need something?”

Kun Feng’s voice was respectful as he responded to Kai's call. He had received strict orders from Xao Lin to not provoke Kai.

“This battle's already decided, right? I’ve got other things to attend to.”

“

Mmm...

The master of Titan Guild is dead, and even if the battle continues...”

Kun Feng looked to the demoralized Titan rankers, who were overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness, and shook his head.

“It’s unlikely the result will change. The Black Dragon guild acknowledges that you, Kai, have won this battle.”

"Is that so? Then, could you clear the path for me now?" Kai casually patted one of the Black Dragon guild members on the shoulder, who had been creating the barrier.

Kun Feng immediately responded, "Make way for him."

"Yes, sir."

With that, the Black Dragon guild members quickly parted to create a clear passage.

"Well, I’ve got lots to do, so I’ll get going now."

Kai began to lead his undead army away but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"

Oh,

wait a second."

"...What’s wrong?" Kun Feng cautiously asked, swallowing nervously.

Although the Black Dragon guild hadn’t done anything too wrong, their actions could certainly have earned them Kai's wrath.

Aware of this, Kai glanced at Kun Feng and smiled. "You brought quite a few Wizards with you, right?"

"We have a fair number, yes."

"Then, how about teleporting me and my guys out of here?"

He was a man rude enough to use the prestigious Black Dragon guild’s Wizards like a taxi service!

However, as Kun Feng noticed Kai's brows furrowing, he quickly flashed a bright smile, like that of an amusement park ticket clerk, and said, "Of course, that's a service we're more than happy to provide. Hey! Get the teleportation ready!"

Kun Feng, who played the role of strategist for the Black Dragon guild, was a quick-witted individual.