"Hey, you. Before I wanted to come to reveal myself, I wanted to be sure. How strong are you? If I was going to use the king's form to meet you. Or to use your form to meet you. But you look like you were… I'm not sure if you were stronger. He let you carry the embalm still, you are strong. But…" the Mireborn King said.

"What the hell? Are you kidding me? How the hell are you able to shapeshift into me? You haven't killed me yet or taken my soul," Raito said.

"Well, I'm different from any other Mireborn. I'm capable of shapeshifting into anyone, even by looking at them. And not only that," the Mireborn King said as he raised his hand up as Dage appeared in his hand. "I can make the exact weapon I saw. Even if it's not exact, it's still as powerful as the one, the one I shapeshift into," the Mireborn King said.

"But that is crazy. You shapeshift into me thinking you are going to beat me? Good. I'm going to end you. I don't have time," Raito said.

"We will see. And not only that," the Mireborn King said, his voice echoing coldly across the mirrored chamber. "Even if I don't fully understand your memories… I don't have your memories… but I have understood how you think when you fight. I watched you when you fought, and I have copied everything you are capable of."

"Shut up and come at me!" Raito said, tightening his grip on his dagger. "I'll take this bastard down myself."

Both of them locked eyes. The air between them rippled with mana pressure. Then

Clang!

Raito slammed forward, daggers clashing against the Mireborn King's twin blades. Sparks burst through the air as both of them moved faster than sight could follow. Raito slashed, the King dodged. The King countered, Raito spun, his body twisting mid-air.

Raito aimed a back kick

but the Mireborn King was already predicting it. He raised his dagger and went for Raito's leg.

Raito instantly pulled his leg back, spinning in mid-air, dagger flashing as he blocked and countered. Metal screamed against metal as he slammed the King's weapon aside, knocking one of his daggers out of his grip.

The King stepped back, raising his free hand. His red eyes flickered, and the fallen dagger shot back into his palm like it had been called by some unseen force.

Raito's eyes widened. "What the hell?! He's even capable of flight now?"

The King floated upward, black-red aura flaring. Raito followed, flying into the air. Both of them clashed again.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each strike echoed through the mirrored hall like thunder.

Then they both pushed back, locking blades, mana crackling between them. Purple aura wrapped around Raito's body, while a crimson aura surged around the Mireborn King.

They glared at each other mid-air, then shot forward again.

Boom!

Their daggers met with blinding speed. Raito gritted his teeth. "How the hell are you doing this?"

The Mireborn King smirked. "I told you, I understand the way you fight. You want to win, but as we fight, I'm learning more about you. Every movement, every reaction, you're teaching me how to kill you."

Their blades locked again. Then

The King vanished.

Raito's eyes widened. He sensed him, too late. The Mireborn King appeared behind him, dagger flashing toward his neck.

Raito twisted his head just in time.

Slash!

Blood streaked across his cheek.

"Tch, what the hell?! How is he this fast?!" Raito thought, breathing heavily. "That speed, that was me at my top speed! When I entered this place, I didn't even use that speed. Shit, I could've lost my head just now."

He gritted his teeth, aura flaring wildly, then dived downward through the frozen air and landed hard on the ground, eyes burning with rage.

The Mireborn King landed hard, his boots cracking the mirrored floor. Raito dropped opposite him, both standing amidst the reflection hall's shattered glass and fading light.

The King smirked. "What's wrong? Afraid of yourself? Because that's what I am, your reflection. Every swing, every feint, every instinct. I've studied you, Raito. Every breath. Every muscle twitch. You can't win against yourself."

Raito's dagger twirled once in his hand, his eyes burning cold green.

"Afraid? You think I don't know fear?" He stepped forward, voice rising. "I've known it since the day my power awakened, that moment I almost died. That fear, it burned into me. But the fear I feel now isn't weakness. It's fuel."

The Mireborn King scoffed. "Spare me your speech."

Raito tilted his head slightly, a faint grin twisting his mouth.

"Then let me show you what fear truly is."

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

▶ Speed Amplification: 100%

▶ Strength Output: 100%

▶ Physical Enhancement: 100%

▶ Total Mana Synchronization: Active

Cost: 300 HP

Green energy exploded around Raito, veins lighting beneath his skin as his aura surged. The ground beneath his feet cracked. In an instant, he vanished.

The Mireborn King's eyes widened, then vanished too.

They clashed mid-air, steel on steel, the mirrored hall shattering further with each blow. Sparks rained like shooting stars. Their movements were too fast to follow, afterimages weaving and colliding in blinding arcs.

Raito ducked low, spinning for a slash, but the King was gone.

A whisper of air at his back, and pain.

A dagger tore across his cheek, crimson tracing his jaw.

Raito leapt forward, flipping in mid-air and landing hard. His breath was sharp.

(He's reading me perfectly. He's copying my instincts, even faster than before!)

The Mireborn King smiled, eyes gleaming red. "You think you can beat your reflection?"

Raito clenched his dagger tighter. Blood trickled down his chin.

A faint shimmer appeared before him, blue text flickering into view.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

▶ Vitality dropping rapidly

▶ Critical damage detected

▶ Healing Protocol Available

Cost: 1500 LP

[ACCEPT / DECLINE]

Raito reached toward the glowing window, but a crushing hand wrapped around his throat. The Mireborn King's grip was brutal, cutting off his air.

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