SGB: Episode 180

Episode 180: Doppelganger (5)

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Doppelganger, letting out a battle cry, charges towards me, stomping the ground.

I understood how that apprentice knight felt when he ran out of the arena, abandoning his pride.

So that's what I look like...

'It's only natural for him to run away.'

Just looking at him sends shivers down my spine because of the increased threat level from [Wild Release].

An overwhelming sense of pressure, almost violent, combined with his giant physique.

I need to match his size first.

「Character has cast [Gigantification].」

「Character has cast [Wild Release].」

Our eyes are level in an instant.

I put all my strength into my dantian and shout with all my might,

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

The original battle cry that no mere Doppelganger can imitate.

I dash forward, covering my upper body with my shield.

For reference, the Doppelganger does the same.

Our shields collide, and a deafening roar erupts, as if two dump trucks crashed into each other.

Kwaaang!

As expected of a Doppelganger, there's no difference in strength.

Our next actions are also identical.

「Character has cast [Swing].」

「Doppelganger has cast [Swing].」

Our maces cross like mirror images.

Kwaaang!

Another explosion, and the ground trembles.

It's not like we're giant monsters fighting...

If we keep fighting like this, there won't be a winner even after a day, but there's a decisive difference between this guy and me.

Companions.

'Even in games, team luck is a skill.'

Magical support follows without me even having to give orders.

Mostly curses with short casting times.

Another me, with decreased Strength, Agility, Physical Resistance, and other stats in just a few seconds.

The flustered Doppelganger stammers and says to me,

"Yo, ur mo... ther!!"

Uh, he's using a parental insult here?

My mind goes blank for a moment at the unexpected line.

Kwaaang!

When I come to my senses, the Doppelganger's mace is hitting my shield.

If I had been even a little slower, it would have smashed my head.

"You crazy Doppelganger bastard!"

I quickly regain my composure and fight back.

It seems like he also inherited the habit of becoming more vicious when he's at a disadvantage...

As expected, he's an opponent I can't underestimate.

He's me, after all.

Whoosh!

I swing my mace down on his shoulder, using the opportunity created as he blocks the bear-like man's arrow with his shield.

And a fountain of blood erupts from his mouth.

'Did he bite his tongue?'

Geez, how classic.

It was one of the patterns I expected, so I dodge it without any problems.

After all, it's something I would do.

Especially in a disadvantageous situation.

Sizzle.

Acidic blood splatters on the ground and bubbles.

Misha exclaims in admiration at the sight.

"Wow, he even does the same things as you."

What is she talking about?

"Stop watching and help us."

"Got it."

Misha and Ainar then join the front lines.

So I also hug the Doppelganger from behind, holding his mace, to save time.

Now it's just a matter of stabbing his head with a sword.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak—!!!"

The Doppelganger, with my face, lets out a screech that sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

Misha flinches.

It doesn't last long.

But just as she readjusts her posture and is about to stab him with her sword...

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

...a battle cry erupts from behind us.

It's not Ainar's.

No matter how deep her voice is, there's a difference between a real man's voice and hers.

"Bjorn!!! There are three Bjorns now!!!"

No, why is it only my Doppelganger that's appearing?

______________________

The second Doppelganger, already in [Gigantification] state, charges like a beast, covering his upper body with his shield and disrupting our formation.

It's the (True) Shield Charge.

"Don't try to block, just dodge!"

Misha and Ainar, hearing my sincere advice, retreat without a word.

It's a shame that I can't finish this guy off right away...

But what can I do?

It's my karma for becoming a damage-dealing tank after absorbing the Ogre essence.

「Doppelganger has cast [Swing].」

Ainar's body, which blocked the mace with her greatsword, is sent flying.

It's a truly unstoppable force.

I'm troubled, wondering if I should intervene...

"Mr. Yandel, just keep focusing on that guy! We'll handle this side!"

...but I decide to follow Raven's order for now.

There's no way they'll lose in a 1:4 situation, right?

Therefore, I focus solely on the Doppelganger I was originally fighting.

'Ha, this is so annoying. Why is he so tough?'

Although the situation is much more advantageous thanks to the curse magic...

...it's difficult to finish him off quickly and go help the others.

After all, I'm a tank.

It's a similar concept to how a fight between two trolls would never end.

'I guess I'll just watch.'

I also give up and enter spectator mode.

Honestly, it's quite entertaining.

"Damn it, why won't the sword go in!!"

"As expected of Bjorn!! A great warrior!!"

He's overwhelming two melee damage dealers on his own.

The bear-like man's ranged support?

Even the arrow shot with the insane tension of the giant crossbow couldn't pierce his shield.

Raven's magic is also ineffective.

Swaaaaa!

[Flame Baptism] is unleashed while the melee damage dealer duo retreats. The timing is so perfect that the Doppelganger can't dodge and is engulfed in flames.

But...

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

...he charges through the flames and swings his mace.

She chose the wrong spell.

His Fire Resistance is the second highest after Physical Resistance, and he's already completed his magic resistance setup to some extent.

"...I can't believe he's this strong."

The bear-like man lets out a sigh of disbelief.

Although we've been fighting together, it seems like it feels different when you're actually facing him.

Raven feels the same way.

"Why is someone like this still 6th-grade?!"

From 5th grade onwards, you need to accumulate guild achievement points.

Although my companions are struggling, I can't help but feel a sense of pride.

I've really become strong.

"Mr. Yandel, stop just watching and say something. Doesn't he have any weaknesses?"

It's not really a weakness, but there are areas to target.

How to counter Bjorn Yandel, I guess?

I give them the key points while wrestling with the Doppelganger I'm marking.

"Misha, Ainar! Don't try to slash, just stab!"

[Iron Hide] quadruples Physical Resistance against slashing attacks.

It's practically immunity at a similar level.

"Avman, you aim for the legs!"

And his lower body is weaker than his upper body.

He hasn't gotten his lower body equipment yet.

Although his arms are also exposed, he can easily cover his upper body with his shield.

"So you're saying to cripple him first. It really feels like we're hunting a giant monster."

"Yeah. He doesn't have regeneration, so don't try to kill him in one shot, go for a long battle. Raven, use lightning magic instead of fire!"

Cold magic stops bleeding, and wind and earth magic often deal physical damage.

On the other hand, lightning is mostly elemental damage and focuses on penetration and burst damage, making it the most suitable.

'...To be telling my companions how to counter me...'

It's a strange feeling.

But it seems like my advice worked, as the tide slowly turns, and the Doppelganger kneels.

Seven crossbow bolts are embedded in his legs.

"...He's a monster."

"I agree. I never want to fight him again."

My companions shudder as if they're disgusted, even though we've secured victory.

I feel a bit embarrassed just listening to them.

Their reaction is largely due to the fact that the Doppelganger inherited my personality.

He fought like a real madman.

"Look at him. He's still trying to get up. How can a human be like this?"

He sprayed blood when he bled, bit with his teeth when both hands were blocked, instinctively sensed openings and charged in, sacrificing bones to gain flesh, and so on.

He did everything he could to survive, and it was still ongoing.

"Mi... sha..."

The Doppelganger looks at Misha with pleading eyes.

He's trying to use his last resort on someone else since he can't win the fight.

I can't help but chuckle.

Come on, do you think that would work—

"Uh, huh?"

"I... li, like you..."

"Re, really?"

...It works.

A move that viciously exploits Misha's feelings.

I tighten my grip on the Doppelganger's neck and sigh deeply.

"Ha... what are you hesitating for? Just kill him!"

"Wa, wait! I have a question!"

Misha is flustered and waves her hands, then looks at the Doppelganger seriously.

And she asks one thing.

"Wh, wh, but why did you reject me back then...? When you said you liked me."

Misha looks at the ground, embarrassed as she asks the question.

"Oh my, oh my!"

Raven's eyes sparkle at the sudden love triangle.

But did that draw his attention?

The Doppelganger looks at Raven instead of answering.

"Ra, ven..."

"What the, me this time? What do you want to sa—"

"I, li, like you..."

"...?"

Raven's expression distorts grotesquely at the second confession.

"Um, Mr. Yandel...?"

I feel a sense of self-deprecation.

Just how pathetic can I be?

"...Ignore him. He's just saying that because he wants to live."

"So you're saying, Mr. Yandel, that you confess to anyone if you want to live?"

Uh, that's not it...

Or is it?

I just admit it.

"...It seems like that's the case."

I judge that it's better to just admit it to avoid any misunderstandings.

However, even while we're having this conversation, the Doppelganger bastard's gaze is moving.

Towards the bear-like man.

"Ah, Av, man..."

You crazy Doppelganger bastard!

"I, li—"

Fortunately, the sentence is cut short.

Because the bear-like man shot an arrow between his eyes.

Thump!

The final blow that protected my last shred of dignity.

"Let's pretend we didn't hear that... No, I didn't hear anything."

The bear-like man and my friendship will last forever.
__________________

The first Doppelganger battle is over.

We killed one and then ganged up on the other one.

Ah, for reference, Misha was the one who landed the final blow.

[Mi... sha...?]

The cornered Doppelganger bastard tried the same trick again, but Misha's mental barrier, fueled by anger, was strong.

[Die, you damn barbarian!!]

Misha stabs the face of the Doppelganger, who looks exactly like me, with her sword and then makes an expression of relief.

[…….]

I just keep my mouth shut.

It's not like I did anything wrong...

But it's always best to stay quiet when things feel strange.

Then at least you won't step on a landmine.

It's one of the survival methods I learned from dating my ex-girlfriend.

[Beefcake!! There's no magic stone!!]

The Doppelganger, who disappeared into light along with his equipment, didn't drop a magic stone.

The only Doppelganger in the Doppelganger Forest that drops magic stones and essences is the final boss.

The guys we just killed are just low-level clones summoned with [Self-Replication].

[Then let's keep moving.]

We continue exploring, hunting Doppelgangers.

Usually, one or two appear at a time.

There was one time when three appeared simultaneously, but it was actually easier than the first time.

Because I wasn't there.

[We finally reached a fork in the road.]

After about half a day of traveling, the straight passage pattern ends.

There are five paths branching out.

It means we've finally reached the central area.

[We might encounter other teams from now on, so be careful.]

To add an explanation, from here onwards, we can encounter not only Doppelgangers disguised as us, but also Doppelgangers disguised as other teams.

It's safe to say that the difficulty level has increased significantly.

There's no one more troublesome than an enemy you don't know anything about.

'...I hope they're at our level.'

With that thought, we proceed through the path Raven chose.

And after some time...

...we couldn't find the hidden piece room we were looking for.

However, we encountered a stranger instead.

A man with a small physique, about 160 centimeters tall.

"Reveal your name. Or we'll consider you as a Doppelganger and attack."

The man removes his hood at Raven's demand.

Although it's difficult to see clearly because of the distance and the darkness, I feel a sense of déjà vu as soon as I see him.

And a strange sense of unease.

'Why?'

As I'm contemplating...

...the man opens his mouth.

"...Kr, i... sen..."

It's the broken speech pattern unique to Doppelgangers.

I had a hunch because he was alone, but now his identity is confirmed.

"Mr. Yandel, please handle this one alone."

"For analysis?"

"Yes. We don't know what kind of people they are, right? We need to figure it out beforehand. I'll help you if it gets dangerous."

I also had a similar thought, so I follow her instructions without a word.

Meanwhile, the Doppelganger is muttering like a broken record.

"I... am no, not... a Dopp, elganger..."

I cover my upper body with my shield and slowly approach him.

"Kr, i... sen."

There are no visible weapons.

He's not a priest, so he must be a support-type abili—

"Ha, ns... Kr, i... sen..."

"...What?"

"Th, at's... my na, me..."

Goosebumps appear all over my body.

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