After work, start to speedrun the other world-Chapter 208 - 68: Sorrow and Despair _2

Also comes with a bonus achievement of [A Favorable Review from Ge Gelan].

"That’s assuming you can do it!" Ge Gelan laughed heartily, gripping her massive axe and chopping down toward Xi Mu.

"Boom!" A corner of the city was split open, the spreading shockwave slamming against the barrier and raising clouds of dust in the sky.

And after all that,

Ge Gelan didn’t hesitate and turned to run, knowing that her combat skills were far inferior to a genius like Ahtal. Just a few exchanges and Ahtal would figure out her combat patterns.

Hence, her strategy was very simple: always keep at a long distance and wear down Ahtal’s magic power.

However,

"Gurgle." Xi Mu took out a magic potion for restoring magic power, starting to drink one bottle after another.

The magic power that was almost depleted began to recover.

Ge Gelan’s steps faltered, but then she turned and charged toward Ahtal.

"How many more of those magic potions for restoring magic power do you have?!"

"Almost out." Xi Mu grinned an evil smile, flames spilling from between his teeth before a red light swallowed up everything.

From a bird’s eye view, one could see a mushroom cloud suddenly rising from a corner of the city, the scorching light washing over, tearing up remnants of buildings like a hurricane, and in an instant, the terrifying high temperatures melted them into magma.

"This is just too reckless!" Ge Gelan flew backward, blocking the incoming wave with her axe, twisting to keep an eye on her surroundings to avoid Ahtal’s sneak attacks.

For Ahtal, in his current state, to use such a powerful large-scale attack was undoubtedly a waste of magic power.

Unless this strike was to... lay the groundwork or conceal some vital information.

"Wait, are there two Ahtals?"

Ge Gelan suddenly widened her eyes; in the midst of that blazing light, she saw two Ahtals with neither their aura nor looks any different, as if they were the same person.

A doppelganger, or perhaps alchemical tools.

Before she had time to think further, she saw Ahtal lifting the Sword of Light, swinging it down toward her.

The light began to roar, engulfing Ge Gelan at an unstoppable speed, as if erasing text with an eraser.

Any trace of Ge Gelan completely vanished.

"It’s time to end this."

Xi Mu turned his gaze away, looking toward his duplicate next to him, his own reflection possessing all his skills and equipment.

The Ninth of the Ten Shadow Magics, Mirror Image.

This was a talent from an unknown era, having the ability to reflect everything about another person. Within the range of his reflection, one could replicate another person’s appearance, strengths, and equipment.

But for players in reality, it felt like summoning a clone, and this clone was even stronger than their original self. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Indeed, these summoned duplicates were better at using abilities, prayers, magic, and equipment than the players themselves.

Of course, this was only the case for new players. After a few more playthroughs, there wouldn’t be any instances where the clone was more powerful than the original.

The dust settled.

Xi Mu sat cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by empty bottles for restoring magic power, with the Sword of Light planted next to him.

He seemed visibly weak to the naked eye.

But at that moment, no one dared to test whether he was truly weak.

A moment later,

"Ahtal, surrender peacefully!" A little girl holding a magic wand approached with a sobbing voice.

She was just a reserve member of the Heresy Tribunal, now facing a fierce person like Ahtal.

Without question, she was going to die here.

Xi Mu observed the little girl, pushed himself to stand on his knees, smiling, "Come... capture me."

He extended his hand.

The little girl paused, tentatively reaching out and grasping Ahtal’s wrist.

"Why let yourself be captured by me?" She asked curiously and received an unexpected answer.

"It would have been simple to kill you," Xi Mu shook his head, smiling gently, "but you don’t have any ill will towards me, do you?"

He responded thus.

"Let’s forget about killing a child forced onto the battlefield."

The little girl pursed her lips, suddenly feeling at ease, followed by a wave of guilt.

She was the one with hostile intentions, yet her enemy Ahtal showed her understanding.

"I have to take you to the Temple of Blood," she said softly, holding Ahtal’s wrist, moving towards the direction of the Temple of Blood.

Xi Mu did not resist at all, allowing the little girl to lead him away.

This scene made the distant cultists of the Church of Blood question their life choices, after so many sacrifices.

Now they were told that simply by sending an innocent little girl, they could have taken Ahtal away.

What was the meaning of all their deaths?

...

...

The barrier sealing off the city was lifted.

The little girl, no, more accurately, was supporting Ahtal, advancing towards the Temple of Blood along the winding stone steps.

After about fifteen minutes, the two arrived at the Temple of Blood.

There was no expected sense of the sacred or majestic, aside from... the Divine Throne being intact, everything else was damaged beyond recognition.

"What... exactly is this?" The little girl’s mouth fell open, only to feel her head being pressed down.

Looking up, she saw Ahtal smiling.

"Leave the Temple of Blood; you have completed your task," Xi Mu, staggering, walked toward the Divine Throne.

The little girl touched her forehead, stood still hesitating for a moment, then obediently left the Temple of Blood.