Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 113: Conquering Yourself

"Three instead of five," I mutter before I mentally close the window. "You really want to copy my brother so bad, that you managed to overwrite him with stronger magic. Too bad you should have done that before my fake! [Aftershock]!"

I swing my sword as hard as I can, just enough to dispel the tornado again.

[NOTICE]

[Due to the force of the attack, the effects of [Twister Trap] have been canceled.]

Unlike last time, the resulting attack creates a backlash that almost blows us away. I can see the fake Kazu shielding his eyes from the dust blowing through him. This next attack may be brutal, but it's time for me to take out a problem as I freefall toward him.

"[Backstab]."

As soon as I land on my two feet, I turn my head and let my dagger stab into the imposter wearing my brother's face.

[CRITICAL!]

I flinch as I hear him cough while stabbing in deeper just in case.

[H-How...] I hear the fake Kazu mutter while coughing. [T-That's impossible...]

Seeing that notice and hearing his voice stutter in pain are not helping my guilt a bit, but I have to remind myself that he's not Kazu. The real Kazu wouldn't doubt me and himself when it came to [Isekai Online]. And this proves my point.

"I think it's time for you to stop lying to yourself. Game over."

It's not a lie. He took two [Aftershock] attacks earlier when I escaped his [Twister Trap] beforehand.

[Imperfect Shadow Doll, <Puppet Kazu>]

[HP: 101/760]

I know he's not a perfect copy, but he might have the same horrendous defense as Kazu. I don't want to prolong this, though. I close my eyes and swing my sword to his neck.

[CRITICAL!]

[You have defeated [Imperfect Shadow Doll, <Puppet Kazu>].]

I don't want to open my eyes after seeing that notice that appeared even through my eyelids. What's done is done, but I rather wait for the body to disappear than see it. I hope the day when I have to do the same to my real brother never comes. That copy was nothing more than a representation of my doubts and now that I conquer it, it's time to face the manifestation of my failures next.

[W-What have you done?! K-Kazu! KAZU!!!]

I turn around just as I open my eyes to see my copy on his knees while trying to grab shadow wisps that seem to emerge from the fake Kazu's body. I know the feeling after seeing someone who has my brother's face. But seeing him like this makes me disgusted at his hypocritical reaction.

"Why don't you drop the act already? You know you only made him play with my feelings. Sorry to say that it didn't work and it's time for you to stop playing and start fighting fair and square."

[F-Fair? What do you mean by "fair"?!]

His head is still hung from the loss of his puppet brother, but my eyes widen to see a red aura start to gather around his body. This reminds me too much of that last fight. If it is the same, then...

[You killed my brother. You never accept that you're a faker. And now you're telling me to "play fair"?! I won't forgive you! I won't forgive you! IwontforgiveyouIwon'tforgiveyouIwontforgiveyou...]