Team: HH, thursdays, Yahiko

Edoras head rolled on the floor.

Plop

Yeon-woo remained calm in a situation that anyone else would freak out in. Edoras head stopped next to some pebbles.

Edoras body was still standing. Blood didnt spurt from her head. Just then, Edoras eyes came to life, and she smiled.

Oraboni. Thats not fair. Striking a weak girl like me with a sword. I didnt know you were like this. Im disappointed.

With those words, her body and head scattered into the fog, and a new form appeared in its place.

Black mask and black clothes with Vigrid. It was like Yeon-woos reflection in water.

However, the aura from him was different. Rather than being pleasant, it was vicious.

A doppelganger?

So you know me? Most people dont.

The doppelganger was busy giggling. As it did, Yeon-woos eyes darkened.

A doppelganger was a monster that imitated others. Because it doesnt have its own mind, it continued to mimic others, hoping to become complete by killing who it copied.

However, it also had the desire to become stronger, so it couldnt stay as one being for too long.

So Vieira used this aspect of the doppelgangers, saying that she could make fun experiments using this.

Vieira Dune did all kinds of experiments to collect doppelgangers. What she mainly tested was learning. Doppelgangers usually lost all collected data when they switched over to a new personality. It was to prevent the confusion between identities.

However, Vieira Dune continued to store this data.

The reason why a doppelganger continued to change was to have its own identity, and she collected the recorded data to use it in another way.

If it worked, the doppelganger would be able to continue growing while absorbing the abilities of others.

That being seemed to fit the description in the diary.

Its a test subject.

Even after it changed from Edora to himself, the being didnt change much. Rather, it was exuding the aura of having multiple souls. Yeon-woo glanced around at the corpses around him.

Their faces were all filled with shock and confusion. They had already been overwhelmed from the Ghost World Formation, but it seemed like it had become worse after meeting a doppelganger.

How many of them are there?

There would probably be plenty of Vieira Dunes test subjects around the Brocken Castle.

If beings like this were around, it wouldnt be easy to enter the castle in the center. A lot of clans would suffer from this.

It was amusing. He had expected Vieira Dune to have done all kinds of things to protect the castle, but nothing like this. He had definitely made the right decision to make all the clans move.

What are you thinking about?! You dare to be distracted in front of me?

The doppelganger frowned, its pride hurt. As it did, it spread its wings of fire and started to spew out a wave of heat. It had the same property and movements as Yeon-woo. It had mimicked him in that short time.

Kwang!

The doppelganger kicked up into the sky, flying towards Yeon-woo.

But Yeon-woo just smirked.

Shanon.

Checheche

Suddenly, Yeon-woos shadow stretched out, and Shanon appeared with his sword breaker.

Clang!

The doppelgangers sword was futilely blocked by Shanon. The sword breaker, wrapped in darkness, didnt move an inch.

Just when the doppelgangers eyes widened in disbelief

[What should I do?]

Capture him. Theres a lot to find out.

[Sure. Hehe!]

Shanon laughed lightly, swinging the sword breaker. Clang. With the pure sound of metal, the doppelgangers sword was easily swept away. Shanon rapidly closed the distance between them, stretching his left hand out to grab its collar, and pinned it to the ground.

Kwang!

The ground sunk.

The doppelganger struggled to escape, but because of the sword breaker that landed on its chest right after, it was fixed to the ground like a skewer.

H, How?

[Thats all you amount to. Isnt it?]

Even if a doppelganger had copying abilities, there were limits. The only reason why the doppelganger had reigned as the strongest was because of the Ghost World Formation.

However, Yeon-woo wasnt affected in the slightest by it. The doppelganger couldnt even copy his powers, so of course it would fall behind.

Furthermore, Shannon was a Death Noble stronger than most monsters. His level was different from a mere doppelganger.

[I hope you last longer, buddy.]

Shanon laughed darkly, splitting the doppelganger in half.

Keaacckk!

The doppelganger shouted in pain. But Shanon just laughed maniacally and swiped at the being.

The doppelgangers body continued to restore itself, but Shanon repeatedly ripped it up. Meanwhile, Yeon-woo gave orders to Boo to set up a barrier so the witches couldnt observe them.

[Hahahaha!]

Shanons lunatic laughter became louder. His demonic energy slowly crept into the skin of the being, amplifying the pain. Usually, being able to heal itself was a blessing to monsters, but it was nothing more than a curse right now.

[Haha!]

I think his personality changed a bit.

Yeon-woo was deep in thought as he watched Shanon. Even though Shanon seemed flippant, he actually had a serious side to him.

He had never seen Shanon like this before. Had he changed after becoming a Death Noble? If it was a change for the worse, he would have to interfere. But nothing was certain yet, so he decided to observe further.

Please..!

The doppelganger eventually surrendered.

[Tsk. What the heck? It was just getting fun. Cant you take it a bit more? Haa.]

Brrr

At this moment, Shanon seemed crueler than his owner in the doppelgangers eyes. It looked at Yeon-woo with pleading eyes.

Yeon-woo uncrossed his arms and slowly approached it.

* * *

Yeon-woo learned a lot from the doppelganger. The Seal of Restraints was on it in case of betrayal, but that was easily taken care of by Boo.

When the last of its binds were untied, the doppelganger told them everything so he could die as fast as possible.

It knew quite a lot, from how the canyons were formed, the weaknesses of the Ghost World Formation, methods to escape the fog and find your way, to information about Walpurgisnacht.

It was only a test subject, but it had seen many things during the time it lived in the Brocken Castle.

However, that was all it knew. It didnt know about the details.

So you dont know how to break the Ghost World Formation?

B, Because Pataya is in charge of the territory, I, I dont know..so please..!

It didnt look like a doppelganger anymore in its condition. Its body was ruined like a broken doll. All it could do was open its mouth. It begged to be killed now that it had spoken about everything, but

Wait.

Yeon-woo cut him off.

W, What..

You said Pataya, right? Is she around here?

Y, Yes!

The doppelganger instinctively knew this was how it could die comfortably, and it quickly shouted before Yeon-woo could change his mind.

B, Because there are so many intruders! She said it was an e, emergency! Patayas in change of getting rid of as many intruders as possible using the Ghost World Formation!

Is she watching us right now?

Shes probably b, busy focusing on the Elohim right now!

Is that so?

Yeon-woo stroked his chin.

Like Darc and Margaret, Pataya was one of the first witches who created Walpurgisnacht.

Her ability was clairvoyance. Usually, she watched things through her crystal and supported those on the front lines.

It seemed like that was the case this time as well.

Yeon-woo had confirmed that Ione and the rest of the Elohim had entered the Ghost World Formation. Pataya would definitely have her plate full taking care of them. It meant that it was the perfect time to attack her from behind.

Where is she?

Thankfully, the doppelganger was linked with Pataya, and it knew her general location.

When there wasnt anything more to learn, Yeon-woo turned to speak to Shanon.

Im going to use it for Sesha to test, so tie it up and put it inside Intrenian.

Sesha was absorbed with research about alchemy these days. She would like this if it was given to her as a present.

[Hehehe. Ill even decorate it nicely with a ribbon.]

W, Wait! You said you would kill me if..!

The doppelganger shouted with a pale face. However, Yeon-woo just smirked.

When did I say that?

Shit! You son of a bitch! You! You wont be comfortable in death..!

I already know I cant go to heaven when I die, so you dont have to worry about that.

Accck! S, stay away!

The doppelganger squirmed in Shanons hands, but it couldnt do anything. Yeon-woo called Hanryeong and Rebecca while its screams were ringing out.

You guys heard, right? Save the others according to what it said.

[Yes, sir.]

[Youre going by yourself?]

Rebecca asked with a concerned face. The first witches were so powerful that even most rankers didnt touch them.

But Yeon-woo just grinned and shook his head.

Shes only skilled in magic; shes nothing in battle. Also

His eyes flashed icily.

Im not weak anymore.

* * *

Shit..!

Pataya pulled her hair out looking at the crystal. Her sisters had always been jealous of her silky hair, but it was tousled badly right now.

It was because of the images in the crystal. The crystal reflected was happening in the canyons. And of course, the canyons were a mess.

Most people were taken care of with the Ghost World Formation and the doppelgangers, but the problem lay with those who werent.

The Red Dragon, the Elohim, the Devil Army, the Sea of Time..all the Large Clans, and several high rankers.

They were after the Red Dragon as well as the Emerald Tablet.

When the quest suddenly popped up, players continued to flow in. It was because the Red Dragon released the coordinates.

Because of that, she was going crazy as the person in charge.

The cores that made up the Ghost World Formation were being destroyed, and all the test subjects and chimeras that were protecting the castle were being massacred.

The young witches and first witches were dying out, and it seemed to be a matter of time before the castle walls would be broken through.

She was blocking them off, but she couldnt do a 10-person job by herself, so she needed to find another way.

Margaret is headed for the Red Dragon and Darc said she would go for the Sea of Time..

Different strategies flashed through her head.

The problem is the Elohim.

For some reason, the Elohim was working harder than the Red Dragon. It was of utmost importance that they were taken care of.

Just when she clenched her teeth, Pataya instinctively looked back in surprise from the uneasiness she felt. She was met with two will o the wisps. They were horrendous will o the wisps that caused shivers to go down your back just by looking at them. Her face paled.

A dagger flew at her. Puk!

Kuck!

She rolled on the floor from the chest-splitting pain. The tablet fell over, and the crystal cracked as it hit the floor.

Yeon-woo was coldly smiling on top of her body, burning the will o the wisps above his eyes.

How..?

She had definitely closed this area off with magic. Pataya couldnt believe it had been broken through. Also, she shouldve felt his presence.

[Extrasensory Perception Synchronization]

[Shunpo]

Yeon-woo used the two skills to hide his presence. With Boos black magic added on top of that, no one wouldve been able to realize he was approaching.

Unless it was a high ranker with impeccable senses, it was impossible to sense him.

I have a lot to ask, but you probably wont answer them, right?

Just kill me!

I will.

What?

Yeon-woo swiped Patayas neck with the Magic Bayonet. Patayas eyes widened because she didnt think he would just kill her, but her life ended there.

Then, Yeon-woo absorbed her corpse and soul with the Bathorys Vampiric Sword.

As he did, most of her vestige came over. There were things about the general situation of Walpurgisnacht, and information about the Brocken Castle and Ananta.

Yeon-woo soon frowned.

Ananta is locked underground in the castle?

So that was why she hadnt contacted Brahm recently. She was caught by Vieira Dune.

The good thing was that she was still alive. But her condition was critical. They needed to find her fast.

Boo. If you learn anything else, let me know right away.

[Yes. Sir.]

Boo had regained most of his abilities as a witch doctor. Because of that, he could control souls extraordinarily. There was no need to torture them like before.

Meanwhile, Yeon-woo moved to his next prey, as quietly and stealthily as possible.

He couldnt be caught.

If he continued to go up, he would arrive where Vieira Dune and Ananta were.

Whoosh