BXBX NOVEL Chapter 231: Opening the Box (2)
Chapter 231: Opening the Box (2)
[A time traveler, no less... The one who awakened me is quite an interesting fellow. It’s surprising that someone like you still exists.]
“...”
Another figure waved at him.
It was like looking into a mirror. The only difference was that while Karyl didn’t move, the person in front of him, who looked exactly like him, moved freely.
[So, you’ve climbed the tower. That thing still exists? I thought the Dimension Spiral had disappeared completely after it was destroyed...]
The figure spoke incomprehensible words. Karyl cast his doppelgänger a look of disdain.
[Ah... Yula must have obtained one of the many fragments as the victor’s reward. Yes, that\'s right. The Blader of this dimension was defeated by a god.]
“Hmm...”
Eventually, Karyl gave a chuckle.
“Have you finished rambling? I don’t understand a word you’re saying. The Mythical Era ended thousands of years ago. I understand you’re happy to finally have contact with someone after so long, but explain so I can understand.”
[Are you asking because you don’t know? If you’ve climbed Pharel, you should know what the god’s game in this dimension means.]
Karyl’s eyebrow twitched slightly at his doppelgänger\'s words.
[And surely, you don’t think the gods are unaware of your existence as a time traveler. Time is an absolute constant. Perhaps other beings wouldn’t know that you defied it, but the gods are an exception.]
“...”
[Killing a god? Preposterous. By now, Yula is probably watching your antics from above, like a play. Watching the tragic hero’s desperate struggles.]
His words pierced like a dagger.
Karyl had somewhat expected this since the moment he went back in time. After all, the Pharel Tower itself was associated with the gods. Nevertheless, hearing it directly made his steel-like heart waver a bit.
Knowing about his regression meant knowing his past life. If the gods knew why he had returned, it was like being forced to hide a dagger without even a thread to cover himself.
It’s not impossible.
But despite the doppelgänger’s words, Karyl’s expression remained firm.
“You have some nerve to utter such things while wearing my face. Is it because you’re a relic from the Mythical Era? Your demeanor is so outdated it’s not even worth yawning at. Not even Yula would be so pathetic.”
Karyl then pointed at his doppelgänger.
“If you know I’m a time traveler, you should also know how I feel about Yula. That means your threats won’t work on me.”
Then, he shot a scornful glare at his doppelgänger.
“It doesn’t matter if Yula knows or not. The fact that I’ve got another chance is enough for me.”
At this, his doppelgänger’s face hardened.
Karyl sneered once more, “You think the people who died by my hand didn’t know why they were dying? Even if you know, death cannot be avoided.”
He slowly looked around. All he saw was darkness. The water beneath him rippled with each step.
“There’s really no progress. Always the same background...”
He lightly patted his doppelgänger on the shoulder.
“It’s obvious what happens next when someone with my face stands before me. So, is there some trial or test I have to face? Or do I just have to kill you?"
[...]
Whoosh—!
Karyl grabbed his doppelgänger by the collar with all his might and pulled him down.
[Ugh?!]
Then, with the eyes of a beast ready to devour its prey, Karyl issued his warning.
“How dare you hide behind my face? I am the only me. I’ve driven a sword through a god’s face. You think I wouldn’t do it to you just because you look like me?”
Karyl then shoved the doppelgänger with all his strength. The figure staggered and fell back, the water splashing violently under it.
Shiiing–
Karyl drew his Freezing Talon and aimed it at the kneeling doppelgänger. A pure white chill flowed mockingly down the blade.
“If you’re going to fight, then fight. If not, stop this foolishness. If you’re truly me, then drawing your sword instead of rambling would be the right move.”
Karyl pointed at the Freezing Talon hanging from his doppelgänger’s waist.
Shiiing—
The doppelgänger slowly stood up. The sharp sound of the blade echoed through the darkness. The water touched by the blade froze instantly.
Karyl slowly smirked at the sight. Finally, as if understanding, he said to his mirror image, “That’s more like it.”
***
Clang!
Two blades collided. The sound of metal grinding against metal echoed as the identical figures faced off.
As the doppelgänger opened his mouth to speak, a thin, serpentine tongue—clearly inhuman—flicked out. The thing quivered mockingly before sliding across Karyl’s cheek.
“...”
No warmth, only coldness. Karyl casually wiped the sticky saliva from his cheek with the back of his hand. At the same time, he eased his force on their locked swords, causing the doppelgänger to stagger.
[...!?]
Losing balance, the doppelgänger’s face came closer to Karyl.
Thunk—!!
Not missing the moment, Karyl punched the doppelgänger in the abdomen as hard as he could. He then frowned, as though he had anticipated the counter.
The doppelgänger released his sword and clasped Karyl’s fist with both hands. He twisted sharply, wrenching Karyl’s arm, then spun around to snatch the sword before it fell to the ground.
It all happened in an instant.
Slash!
Clang—!
Just as the doppelgänger was about to slash his neck, Karyl kicked off the ground, leaping in the opposite direction and freeing his arm in midair.
Voosh!
Barely dodging the attack, Karyl thrust his sword forward with all his might, widening the gap between them.
“Damn, I thought I could find a clue to the seal of the Queen of Tides, but I’ve stumbled on a ridiculous obstacle.”
Karyl planted his sword in the ground and twisted his neck side to side.
“Not enough. If this is all you’ve got, there’s no way Narh Di Maug would have bothered to hide you.”
He shook his head in dissatisfaction.
[Are you calling yourself weak?]
“No. It’s true that I’m the strongest on the continent. It means you didn’t meet my expectations. You may have my face, but you’re not me.”
[...Such arrogance.]
“This has nothing to do with arrogance or confidence.”
Karyl’s sword emitted a soft hum.
“It’s simply the truth.”
[...]
“If you’re a mythical relic, shouldn’t there be something more to you? There should be something beyond me, something that I haven’t achieved yet, for me to find you intriguing. Don’t you agree?”
Karyl took his stance.
“If not, I’ll take the first move.”
On the day he broke through the 6th Class barrier, when his mana surged from his veins to envelop him entirely, he knew.
“Have you seen my past life? Because I’m using this for the first time here.”
At last, he was about to attain the ultimate form of his swordsmanship, something he had never reached before.
“Well... if you really are me, you shouldn’t die without at least being able to block your own sword.”
Splat!
The instant Karyl leaped from the water’s surface, the gentle waves became a roaring, violent surge.
Voosh! Boom...!!
As the thunderous noise continued to reverberate, the air around Karyl condensed as if being sucked toward him.
[Ugh?!]
The doppelgänger hastily raised his sword, but already off balance, he staggered and faltered.
5th Spirale Serpent Posture
Karyl lowered his sword even further, his eyes gleaming behind the blade. Like a predator crouching before its prey, he kept his gaze fixed on his opponent, gripping the hilt tightly. He was in striking range.
Clang!
Clash! Clang—!!
Following a fierce clash, Karyl’s blade grazed the doppelgänger’s shoulder. A hiss of air escaped from the wound, and black smoke rose.
[...]
The doppelgänger’s body froze mid-thrust.
Crack... Crackle!
It was a single blow, yet a delayed, sharp wound carved its way across the doppelgänger’s body, from shoulder to foot.
[Argh...!!]
The doppelgänger’s face contorted in disbelief, as though he couldn’t comprehend this unexpected turn of events. He swung his sword with all his might, but having been severely crippled, his attack had no chance of reaching Karyl.
“Am I really this weak?”
Karyl deflected the sword and rushed at the doppelgänger.
“No way.”
The doppelgänger bit his teeth in response and swung his arm with all his might. But Karyl moved faster, grabbing the doppelgänger’s face and slamming him into the ground.
Crash!
Seeing his own face distorted wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight, yet Karyl’s expression didn’t change.
“Will your true form appear if I peel off this visage?”
[Grr... Argh...!]
“Or should I just cut your head off?”
For the first time, the doppelgänger felt fear at the sight of Karyl. There were no tricks, just pure strength overwhelming him, leaving no other outcome.
Thud!
Karyl harshly slammed his head back. He then stepped back and urged, “Pick up your sword.”
[...]
“Or maybe, instead of wasting time with this pointless fight, we should talk about why you were sealed in the box and what your true identity is.”
Instead of replying, the doppelgänger picked up his sword. With an expression that seemed to say I knew it, Karyl adjusted his stance.
“It seems we can only communicate with our swords.”
The doppelgänger radiated a dark aura that spread, and Karyl realized it was dark energy. He also noticed that the blade of the doppelgänger’s sword was turning pitch black, raising an eyebrow in response.
“I can’t fully use that power, yet. There’s something better than me, it seems.”
The doppelgänger responded by swinging his sword.
Swish...!!
In a heartbeat, the five-meter gap disappeared. It wasn’t footsteps but droplets from the splash that sent ripples spreading across the water.
“But it’s neither spirit power nor mana. Could it be that your inherent power is also darkness, like corruption?”
Karyl infused mana into his feet.
Boom—!!
Now at the 6th Class, Karyl had perfect mastery over his mana. Circulating the mana within himself had become more effective than relying on auxiliary magic, allowing him to fight as he wished for the first time.
It was the way of the swordsman.
Whoosh...!
Akin to a dance, sword energy surged from the Freezing Talon in all directions.
Swish...! Clang! Boom...!
As Karyl’s Aura Blade clashed with the doppelgänger’s dark sword, a fierce roar erupted. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Whoosh—!
Then, in a split second, Karyl’s sword twisted in a strange direction as he thrust it with all his might.
Colorless Air Sword, The Fourth stance: Second Unicorn Posture.
Karyl unleashed two pinpoint attacks simultaneously. Despite being just one of him, it seemed for an instant as though two Karyls were charging at the doppelgänger from both sides.
Boom...!
Yet the doppelgänger reacted to the successive attacks in that split second. Or rather, it seemed as though he had predicted them.
The space itself seemed to move with him. Without even glancing, the doppelgänger blocked Karyl’s strikes by drawing his sword in a zigzag pattern. Then, with a sinister smile, he lunged at Karyl, swinging his inky blade.
First Crown Posture.
Flash...!!!
At that moment—
[...!!]
Just as the dark sword was about to slash Karyl’s neck, it suddenly veered upward, and in an instant, Karyl vanished.
Once, twice, three times.
Karyl’s figure appeared and disappeared in the darkness like a flashing light.
Zoom...!
The doppelgänger’s sword cut through the air, while Karyl’s Arcane Blade surged forth and effortlessly cut through the doppelgänger’s back.
[Argh...!!]
With an agonized scream, the doppelgänger bent backward. Then, as he toppled forward, Karyl stomped hard on his waist once more.
Thud!
“Hmm, a bit tricky the first time, but it went as expected.”
[That is...]
“Nothing special. It’s just a minor technique to erase my presence,” Karyl explained.
“Are you an idiot? You may have abilities that surpass mine, but I know every technique you use. None of that will work on me. Looks like only things I don’t know will work on me.”
Karyl lifted his foot and stomped hard on the back of the doppelgänger’s head again.
[Ghh—! Grgh...!!]
“Good thing I learned this from Aidan.”
Karyl had used a stealth technique called Inbo, which erased his presence. But instead of just Inbo, Karyl combined it with Blink, a teleportation spell, to erase his presence while teleporting, completely evading the doppelgänger’s sight.
Thud—
Karyl’s sword now lay against the doppelgänger’s neck.
“If it works on you, it means it will work on other strong opponents as well. Thanks for the useful information.”
He sharpened the blade of his Freezing Talon and thrust it beside the neck of the fallen doppelgänger.
“Now, let\'s find out what you really are.”
[Ghh... Grr...!]
The doppelgänger groaned in pain as Karyl applied more pressure with his foot to keep him from struggling.
“Huh...?”
As Karyl leaned in closer to the doppelgänger, something unusual caught his attention, making him frown slightly. He quickly drew his sword and slashed at the ground. Water splashed, and the black smoke that had been covering the ground dispersed along with the blade, only to return quickly.
Is there something underneath?
The ground, which appeared black, was actually transparent. The smoke and black water seemed to act as a veil, concealing something.
Peering into the abyss, its depths barely visible to the naked eye, Karyl squinted slightly.
“That’s...”