249 Doppelganger (1/2)

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One year later after the Gentle Cradle Tribe's arrival at the kingdom.

We see Raven standing in front of a devastated place. His body was illusory at first but as time went on, he was slowly manifesting into reality.

There is an unprecedented concentration in his face as he stared at the person in front of him. His breathing was slow but steady, he firmly gripped the handle of his hammer as he erased every distractions in his mind. Raven already learned his lesson to not underestimate this person in front of him.

The person he's facing with was a male with a head full of blue hair and is gathered by a rubber band. He had this captivating eyes, sharp brows that pointed towards his temples. He had a strong jawline, thin lips, pearl white skin and muscular body. He wore a black standard training robes that hugged the muscles of his body. On his right hand, an enormous black hammer with hand like carvings.

The first time that Raven saw him, he was stunned. But he immediately understood what was going on here.

This pocket dimension that he entered inside the Crown Space was the tenth one, which means that it's a checkpoint. Inos did warn him that it will only get harder from each checkpoint but he wasn't expecting to fight himself.

Yes, the challenger in the 10th pocket dimension was himself. Well, a better version of him to say the least.

Raven got his ass handed over to him multiple times by his own doppelganger. His death under the doppelganger's hands were like tasting his own medicine. Now he could totally understand the feeling of being crushed by the merciless weight of his hammer.

This doppelganger was better than him in all aspects. Speed, reaction time, strength and even finesse. Not even after resorting to mere tricks was he able to last under its onslaught, and he had been fighting this doppelganger for at least a month straight now and he never won.

Nevertheless, Raven was learning, a feat that the doppelganger couldn't do. Along with constant training, he was able to adjust and last longer and longer under the fearsome onslaught of his doppelganger.

His skills reached yet another level, so much to the point that he felt absolutely confident on taking this doppelganger down this time.

Once Raven's body completely materialized inside the pocket dimension, no words were said between him and his doppelganger. They immediately raised their hammers and proceed to kill each other.

*Boom!*

Explosions occurred around them. Both of them moved so fast that their bodies into nothing but blurs. Fist-shaped pillars descended and shattered the ground where they were standing. Chunks of rocks and debris flew everywhere, adding to the things that they have to evade. None of these two were holding back, each blows they threw at each other was meant to kill and if someone became even slightly distracted, that would mean the end.

”Ten Smiting Arms.” The doppelganger called out.

Instantly, ten fist-shaped pillars manifested from the sky and crashed down like a meteor towards Raven.

Raven tightened his grip on his hammer and swung his hammer up, he then softly called out: ”Ten Overturning Sea Palms.”

Beneath him, ten pillars presenting an open palm, rose up and met the crashing fist-shaped pillars. Each palms accurately neutralized the attack, causing him to be unharmed.

Seeing that its attack failed, the doppelganger slammed the hammer on the ground and called out: ”Land Shifting Two Arms.”

Behind the doppelganger, two ethereal hands materialized and punched the ground in front of him so hard that it shattered. Chunks of rocks flew forward and attempted to blow Raven away.

But before they could do so, Raven gripped the handle of his hammer using both of his hands and rose them up, yelling: ”Two Arms: Defense.”

The fist shaped pillars rose in front of him forming a cross that protected him from the flying chunks of rocks. Raven wasn't done, as he lifted the hammer and pointed it towards the doppelganger's direction, saying: ”Ten Smiting Arms.”