"I—WAS—CHOSEN—!"

BOOOOM!

Before the masked man could finish his scream, his body detonated like a living bomb.

Black flames erupted outward, devouring what little remained of him. There was no corpse left behind—only scorched ground and fading embers where a soul had been erased completely.

The moment he died—

The Doppelgänger screamed.

"Aaaargh—!!"

A violent backlash rippled through the battlefield. The copied Jace and Inferna dissolved instantly, collapsing into smoke as the contract binding them shattered. The Doppelgänger itself staggered, clutching its chest as cracks spread across its form like broken porcelain.

It collapsed to the ground, black blood spilling everywhere.

Its body began to melt.

Flesh lost shape, armor dissolved, and limbs sagged as it reverted into a formless black puddle-like mass, trembling weakly.

Emperor padded forward, massive jaws opening wide.

One bite would end it.

"Stop."

Mike raised his hand.

Emperor froze mid-motion and glanced back at him, ears twitching, tail swaying slightly.

Mike stared at him flatly.

"…Are you a wolf or a dog?" he muttered.

Emperor snorted and stepped back, clearly annoyed but obedient.

Mike walked toward the trembling black mass and crouched.

"A Doppelgänger is an extremely rare pet," Mike said calmly. "I was ready to kill you. But honestly… that would be a waste."

The black mass quivered.

"How about this," Mike continued. "I can keep you alive. I can even help you reach Mythical Rank."

Silence.

Then, a weak, broken voice rose from the puddle.

"Kill… me…"

"I want… to reunite… with my… master…"

Mike's hand paused mid-air.

"…Why?" he asked quietly. "He was a murderer."

The black mass pulsed faintly.

"Master… was warm… kind… before…"

"But then… betrayed… later…"

"Turning… heartless…"

The voice trembled, fragmented, as if each word hurt to speak.

"Master… only… wanted… revenge…"

"But… enemy… too strong…"

"In desperation… Mad God…"

"Used… him…"

"Turned… kind master… into… cruel one…"

Mike stayed silent.

For a moment, the battlefield noise faded from his awareness.

"…I never liked this part," Mike muttered softly. "When villains start explaining their past. It always makes things complicated."

He exhaled slowly and straightened.

Then he spoke.

"Then I'll help you take revenge."

The black mass stilled.

"For your master," Mike continued. "For the one who twisted him into a puppet. I'll hunt that thing down."

The puddle trembled violently.

"You… will?"

Mike nodded once.

"Yes. I will."

He extended his hand.

"In return, follow me. I won't treat you as a tool. I won't abandon you. And I'll make sure you never have to beg a god again."

The black mass slowly rose, reshaping itself into a kneeling shadowy figure.

"…I… accept."

[ You have obtained a Legendary-grade pet: Doppelgänger ]

"My name is Slade," the Doppelgänger said softly. "It's the name my last master gave me. I hope you'll let me keep it."

Mike nodded without hesitation. "You can keep it. There's no need to change your name."

"…Thank you," Slade replied, bowing his head slightly.

Jace and Inferna both turned their attention to the Doppelgänger, studying him with interest.

"A Legendary-rank Doppelgänger can easily copy up to 50% of a target's stats and half of their skills," Jace said with a hollow chuckle. "A truly troublesome existence."

"That's an incredible pet you've obtained," Inferna added, her flames flickering with approval.

Mike nodded once, then looked at Inferna. "You should head back and help Cryace and Roselia. They must still be fighting elsewhere."

Inferna gave a sharp nod. "Understood."

In the next instant, she vanished like a streaking meteor, leaving behind only scorched air and fading embers.

Mike turned his gaze back to Slade, the battlefield still burning around them.

"Let's continue helping the others," Mike said, placing his hand on Slade's shoulder.

Golden light flared.

[Midas Touch — Activated]

The air trembled.

Slade's body was engulfed in black-and-gold radiance as runes reshaped themselves across his form. His aura surged violently—no longer unstable, no longer hollow.

The system's voice echoed.

[ Legendary Doppelgänger → Mythical Rank ]

[ Evolution Complete: Doppelgänger King ]

Slade froze.

Information flooded his mind all at once.

"Now you can copy up to 80% of any target's stats and skills," Mike said calmly, reading the new status window of his.

"And you can create and maintain up to six copies at once. Go wild."

Slade stared at his hands, feeling power far beyond anything he had ever known.

"…You weren't lying," he whispered.

For a moment, memories surfaced—flickers of the past.

His former master.

David.

Warm. Kind. Laughing as he named him Slade.

Then betrayal.

Blood.

Madness.

A god's whisper twisting grief into hatred.

Slade clenched his fists as his aura stabilized, darker—but no longer corrupted.

Master… no, he corrected himself silently.David…

His glowing eyes lifted to Mike's back.

You saved me.

I was used… discarded… and you gave me freedom.

A vow formed, heavy and absolute.

I will get your revenge.

I will erase every enemy who turned you into a monster.

Slade straightened, kneeling on one knee without hesitation.

"My king," he said quietly, voice steady. "Command me."

Mike paused, then looked back at him blinking,

"…I'm not a king."

"Just call me Mike," he added.

Slade nodded respectfully. "As you wish, Mike."

"Now," Mike continued, turning his gaze back to the chaos around them, "go help the others."

Slade didn't hesitate. He nodded once—then his form shimmered.

In an instant, he transformed into Mike.

Then—

one copy became two,

two became four,

and then six more formed.

Seven identical Mikes stood there for a brief moment, each radiating Mythical pressure.

Without a word, they rushed off in different directions, vanishing into the burning streets to rescue civilians and hunt down remaining enemies.

Mike stared after them, stunned for a second.

"…Doppelgängers really are cheats," he muttered.

"They don't just copy appearances—they copy stats and skills too. And now he can even create clones with full power."

He exhaled slowly, tightening his grip on his sword.

"I should continue too," Mike murmured.

Without wasting another second, he rushed forward.

He crossed streets torn apart by explosions and scorched by magic, arriving at another zone where awakened fighters and guards were already holding the line. Groups of civilians were being escorted away while others fought desperately against masked fanatics who refused to retreat even when wounded.

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