Sui Xing stood in front of Yasenia and explained what he knew about the [Perfection Stairs]. "As you know already, I am an artifact created by my real self. I was an Eighth Realm cultivator when I lived, so you must understand that the 1,000 stairs are something meant to be climbed very slowly until you reach a level of mastery similar, if not superior, to that of my real self."
Yasenia nodded solemnly, understanding this fact. Sui Xing continued slowly. "The standard that you should try to follow is reaching the 501st stair before you enter the Eighth Realm. That would be an incomparably ridiculous achievement, as I am sure that the stages up to the 500th are for those who just stepped into the Eighth Realm."
Yasenia hummed and nodded. "So, if I manage to reach the 501st before I break through, I can be considered an experienced fighter even among ancient beings."
"Exactly. It won't be a matter of age anymore, but skill. If you truly overcome the 500th stair, even if you fight someone with 10 million years of experience, you won't be any worse. It's a matter of understanding, after all."
With Sui Xing's words, even Tatyana became intrigued. "You told Yasenia that you can help us as well, right? That was the whole reason she even decided to accept you, to begin with."
Sui Xing nodded. "I can register and keep up a personalized training plan for up to ten people. Of course, registering is not something that you do easily. It can take time depending on the person."
Tatyana nodded. "Is that the reason you've been contacting me and telling me all those things during the last year?"
"Huh?" Yasenia blinked, looking back and forth between them.
Sui Xing smiled. "That's right. Since I knew that you were one of those Yasenia wants to register, I've been observing you. The fight against those Law Creators and the Demigod Hakkan has shortened the time as well. So, you should be able to tread the first few stairs with what the treasure has analyzed already."
Yasenia's eyes glittered, and she glanced at Tatyana. "Can you try a bit? I want to see!"
Tatyana shrugged. "Sure, I can do that. Still, I will battle for at most three days. I don't want to use your treasure for longer."
Yasenia nodded like a pecking chicken, her tail wagging with anticipation.
"Alright, Sui Xing, summon my copy. Let's see how deeply you have understood my powers and strength." There was a peculiar light in her red eyes when she said that.
Sui Xing knew what she was thinking, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he waved his hand and activated the [Star Breaker Realm Bead].
An illusory blanket enveloped the entire world, causing the surroundings to feel ethereal. It was as if the surface had gained a barely noticeable iridescent gleam. Tatyana glanced around and suddenly saw someone manifested from a white cloud in front of her.
Yasenia looked over, and her mouth dropped open a bit. 'Wow… so pretty!'
Tatyana's copy looked at them with a cold, indifferent face. Her deep blue eyes were like sapphires, carrying the majesty of an empress and the ominous aura of a death god.
Tatyana's copy had long white hair, shimmering like a river of stars in a dark night. The death fog around her was similarly white-colored, with bloody red lights flashing within it. Her skin was a gorgeous, smooth black, making her look like a dark elf. The dress she wore had the same design as Tatyana's royal red dress, but was colored green with red gems and white accessories.
Altogether, there was a sense of holiness within her deathly aura, creating a contradiction that was equally unsettling and mesmerizing.
Tatyana's copy, with opposite colors, extended her hand and summoned a deep black bone sword. It was Tatyana's [Death Dragon Bone Sword].
Tatyana's relaxed expression changed a bit, her eyes becoming slightly more serious. 'That sword has an identical aura to mine.'
Sui Xing looked at Tatyana's expression and smiled faintly. "Are you now convinced?"
Hearing the amusement in his voice annoyed Tatyana a bit, but she couldn't help but nod. "Yasenia risking so much to get you was a wise move. Honestly, I had always been a bit annoyed due to all the danger that came from getting you. However, now that I see this, I wouldn't have stopped Yasenia even if I could communicate with her past self."
Sui Xing smiled and nodded. "I am glad you realize that."
Tatyana glanced at her copy and summoned her own sword. The sleek, white sword's edge was terrifying, making even the light reflecting on the edge feel sharp. Draheart couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated. Her current self was truly insignificant compared to Tatyana's sword.
Both Death Empresses took a step forward and moved.
"[Abyssal Strike]."
"[Abyssal Strike]."
Tatyana's favorite basic move was unleashed, the world before the two demigoddesses twisting and bending under their strength. However, after the first strike, Tatyana's tensed face relaxed.
"Weak."
BOOM!
Tatyana's Abyssal Strike and the copy clashed, but instead of nullifying, Tatyana's strike overwhelmed the copy's and exploded against it.
The shockwave was brutal, the earth cracking and toppling nearby trees.
From the explosion site, Yasenia noticed Tatyana's copy lying on the ground, blood splattered all around, while half her flesh was corroded.
"..." Yasenia pointed at Tatyana with a frown. "Mom! Be more gentle!"
Tatyana almost slipped, looking at Yasenia incredulously. "What are you saying, Little Treasure?"
Yasenia pouted. "That Mom is so pitiful! I feel bad for her!"
Tatyana deadpanned and swung her sword again. [Abyssal Strike] sliced through the air, striking the copy again, sending her flying.
"AH!" Yasenia ran toward the copy, grabbing her disappearing body with a mournful look. "Hold on! You are Mom's copy; you can't fall so easily!"
The copy glanced at Yasenia and caressed her cheek with a loving smile. Then, she died and disappeared.
Yasenia was stunned. 'S-She just caressed me…?'
At first, she was just messing around a bit, but after seeing that gesture and smile, her heart actually twitched. She asked, her eyes trembling a little. "W-Why did she caress my cheek? Why did she smile like that?"
Sui Xing explained calmly. "That's your mother's copy. Unlike before, the personalized copies are almost perfect. They have the feelings, thought processes, strengths, and weaknesses that you have. Tatyana loves you dearly, so her copy does as well."
Yasenia was baffled, a complicated feeling appearing in her heart. The previous excitement about seeing Tatyana slaughter her copies faded, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
Tatyana approached her with a chuckle and helped her up. She pinched her cheek and raised her eyebrow. "Won't I become jealous if you actually care for my copy? Continue thinking of silly things, and you'll leave me with no other way but to bully you~."
A chuckle escaped Yasenia, and she smiled. "Don't worry. I was just feeling complicated. It was too sudden a movement, so it left a deep impression."
Tatyana took a step toward the 999th stair, and the next copy appeared right away. Yasenia glanced over and couldn't hold back her curiosity. "Mom… can I?"
Tatyana sighed with a smile, her eyes soft and loving. "Alright, go. Don't take long."
Yasenia smiled brightly. "Thank you, Mom!"
Then, she ran over and approached the copy, completely fearless. The copy blinked and glanced at Yasenia with a smile. "What are you doing, silly girl?"
This surprised our dragoness. "Wow! You can talk!"
The copy flicked Yasenia's forehead gently. "Why shouldn't I be able to talk? Using my skills is a million times more complicated than speaking."
Yasenia rubbed her forehead and giggled. "I see. This is so odd."
The copy shook her head with a smile. "Of course it is strange, silly girl. I am the copy, nothing more, and nothing less. Tell me, baby, what do you want?"
Yasenia nodded, but she still gave the copy a big hug. "Just… I wanted to hug you! I love you regardless!"
The copy was faintly surprised, but then her expression softened. She hugged her back and patted her back, kissing her cheek. "Alright, Little Treasure. Stay back so that our fight doesn't hurt you, okay? I love you too."
Yasenia nodded and ran back, leaving them space.
Meanwhile, Tatyana glanced over with a smile. "Do you think you have a chance?"
The copy looked at her hands and shook her head. "Not at all. I feel as if there are countless chains around me. This strength is far from my best. It seems that the first stages of the stairs are for low-level Transcendence Cultivators. Countless profound principles I usually use now feel unattainable."
"Gotcha. So I should be unmatched for a while."
The copy nodded. "That's what I believe. Anyway, relieve me from these shackles. It feels so stifling, ugh."
Seeing her copy move her arms in annoyance, Tatyana snorted a faint laugh. Then she used [Abyssal Strikes] again, and the copy followed suit. Even if she didn't like it, as the copy, she would fight with everything on the line.
Despite her efforts, it was no different from before. The copy was blasted back, with heavy wounds all over her body. While she wasn't as miserable as before, Tatyana only needed two more strikes to kill the second copy.
Yasenia glanced over, her heart complex. Even when she knew with her head that it was just a copy, and even when it looked the complete opposite of Tatyana, Yasenia's heart couldn't really accept it.
While she was thinking as such, Yasenia saw the copy looking at her and winking as she died. Our dragoness's complex feelings were washed away by a sense of laughter. 'As expected of Mom, I guess.'
Tatyana almost smiled, secretly giving herself a thumbs up. 'As expected of myself. I know so well how to make my Little Treasure smile.'
And so, Tatyana advanced through the [Perfection Stairs] as if she were taking a stroll in the park.
995th stair… 980th stair… 965th stair… 950th stair…
During the next three days, Tatyana slaughtered her copies without rest. At first, she just needed [Abyssal Strike] to finish off all of them. But at some point, resistance began to develop from the helpless copies. Of course, Tatyana was not bothered; she just added another move to her arsenal and slaughtered them all the same.
The battles took a little while, though, and Tatyana took it slow. She knew that there were some hidden principles in each copy, so she was cautious not to miss anything, even if they were pitifully weak in comparison.
At the end of the third day, Tatyana reached the 899th stair. Not because she couldn't go further, but because she didn't want to keep advancing.
Tatyana ignored the new copy surrounded in an obsidian-colored aura and looked at Yasenia with a smile. "Alright, love. I think this is enough for now. I will take quite a long while to reach my limit, and doing it now makes no sense. Start with your training."
The copy nodded as well. Having the same memories as Tatyana, they also knew that it was time for Yasenia to start training.
Seeing her two moms saying that, how could Yasenia disagree? 'Alright, time to fight beyond my previous record.'
She remembered reaching the 979th stair, but even then, she chose to challenge herself since the very first one.