151 Assessing Oneself: Me against Myself (1/2)

...

Atlas Wolrd, Saint Heaven Kingdom, Shunkai Forest.

Shin is looking down from a mountain peak while drawing something on his virtual map. He already spent a little over two and a half hours exploring the whole forest, and this is the last part of the place that he needed to complete the detailed virtual map.

He didn't expect that he is able to finish it this fast. And it is mostly because of his Reaper's Retainers.

With Hanzo, he can travel short distances with much faster speed. Vladimir, on the other hand, is flying in the air to scan the whole place from above while sharing his vision with Shin. Meanwhile, Grimrace is assigned for clearing up the surroundings, killing all of the scouts of the opposing groups that are scattered around the whole place.

Along the way, Shin and his group encountered some independent Rankers' group roaming around the map. Good thing that none of them are Titled Rankers so Shin and his gang are more than enough to handle those guys.

After the final stroke, Shin finally completed the map. He has gotten in touch with the other guys and knew that there are no problems on their side.

Everything is going according to their plan. But there is this unshakable feeling deep inside his heart telling him that there is something wrong somewhere.

He is having a bad premonition about this. Every time that he is having this discomfort, something bad is going to happen.

Then he suddenly felt that his surroundings turned too silent. Shin squinted his eyes and observe the whole place from the mountain peak. Everything become too calm at Shin's eyes, but he also sees that a gloomy atmosphere is started to devour the whole map.

After some time of them thinking, Shin muttered to himself. ”A great storm is coming.”

'This is troublesome.' thought Shin to himself. And when he is about order Hanzo to teleport him to where Lawless and the others located, he suddenly felt a sudden chill on his back.

It is not a chill when someone is sneak attacking him from his back, it is a chill he felt whenever someone is scheming something against him. ”F*ck! What is it this time? D*mn this sixth sense! It keeps giving me bad news one after another!”

Shin's sixth sense is sensitive to danger or something similar. He first awakened this sense when he was still in the Black Serpent Mafia Training Camp. It is thought to him by some strange guy on the camp.

That guy is one of the guards of the camp but has a somewhat special position. And from what Shin had heard, he is the very same guy that gave a tip to the Military about the whereabouts of the Training Camp, before disappearing completely after that incident.

And that is why Shin is putting much thought about everything whenever he felt the warning of his sixth sense. The first warning is without a doubt about some strong enemies. But he can't seem to figure out exactly what is the second warning is for.

”Hmm.... Every time I got this feeling, Big Sis Shiella is involved most of the time. Hmm.... Is it possible that she already knows that me and the Nameless Swordsman are the same person?” muttered Shin to himself while being in deep thought.

After some time of thinking, Shin came up with a bold decision. ”It is better to be ready than sorry. And I still have some extra time before my promised time with brother Lawless.”

Then he activates the 'Spirit Release' of the [Nephilim's Gemini Mask] to summon the Sun and Moon Clones before immediately fusing them together with the 'Spirit Fusion' equipment skill, summoning the Eclipse Clone.

”Hahaha... This might work!” Shin become excited after seeing that. Then he summons the Phantom Clone using the Phantom Apparition skill.

Shin nodded his head while muttering to himself. ”Having a fight with himself might become a staged fight. But since I've done this before during my mental trainings, I can turn it into a real fight.”

”This also might be a good chance to reflect on my skills and see the flaws in my battle style.”

After that, Shin controlled each of his clones to stand in front of each other with a twenty-meter distance between the two of them.

Then Shin released some spying stones that he brought earlier, before entering a stealth mode using the 'Conceal' skill attached to his [Nightwalker's Cloak].

”Alright, let's see who is stronger. Me? Or the other Me.” said Shin to himself, before starting the recording by operating the video mode.

....

Whoosh!

Then the Phantom Clone immediately entered sheath after the little standoff. This might be pretty much useless, but it is necessary to fool the others. He needs to stick to the role of the assassin swordsman.

Then the Eclipse Clone suddenly pulled out its sword from the sheath before slashing it rightwards and sending a bluish-white crescent sword Qi towards the empty space on its front.

'Class Fighting Style: Lunar Flash'

And when that crescent sword Qi is about to land at the Phantom Clone, a void gate appeared in front of the clone and engulfing its whole body.

'Elemental Skill (Void): Void Steps'

Then the Phantom Clone appeared in front of the Eclipse Clone in a ducking position with crossed arms in front of its belly while holding a pair of sabers on each of his hands.

And without further ado, the Phantom Clone swung its arms in an opposite outward direction together with the sabers on each of its hands.

Shing!

The Eclipse Clone didn't get intimidated, it tightens its grip on its katana before throwing a downward slash to counter the incoming cross slash.

Clang!

A metallic sound resounded after the brief clash of the swords together with some sparks flying in the air.

Then the Eclipse Clone skillfully twists its wrist before throwing a forward stab on its front, targeting the fully exposed chest of the Phantom Clone.

Sha!

'Extra Skill: Heart Seeker'

Puff!

The sword of the Eclipse Clone managed to pierce through the chest of the Phantom Clone, but the body of the latter immediately transformed into a black smoke after getting hit.

'Phantom Swordsman Skill: Phantom Assassination'

Then the Eclipse Clone tightens its grip on the sheath of its sword before positioning it on the clone's back trying to defend something.

'Dual-Wielding Style: Sheath Wielding: Defend'

Cling!

After getting blocked, the Phantom Clone suddenly materialized at the back of the Eclipse Clone. Then the latter immediately jumped upwards while turning its body in the air.

At the same time, the Eclipse Clone throws a downward slash while forcing its body to fall on the ground.

'Extra Skill: Falling Lightblade'

Swoosh!

The Phantom Clone seems to be cut by that falling slash, but in truth, it is just an afterimage. Because the real one suddenly appeared behind the Eclipse Clone while throwing a powerful downward slash with the saber on its right hand.

'Phantom Swordsman Skill: Phantom Steps'

'Extra Skill: Destructive Slash'

And when the right-hand sword of the Phantom Clone is few inches away from the back of the Eclipse Clone, the latter's body suddenly transformed into an illusionary figure before dashing backwards and passing through the body of the former.

Swoosh!

'Slayer Skill: Moonlight Steps'

After dodging the attack, and repositioning itself at the back of the Phantom Clone, the Eclipse Clone is immediately intending to throw a counterattack.

Unfortunately, the Phantom Clone immediately twisted its waist before forcing its body to spin in the air while throwing a powerful kick at the Eclipse Clone.

Disregarding the idea of attacking, the Eclipse Clone immediately used the sheath of its sword to blocked the incoming kick.

Bang!