Inside the Treasure Gate, Lee Seong-jun walked across a barren plain with calm, steady steps.
Waves of monsters rushed at him from time to time, but they fell within minutes. Against the Crimson Skyflower and Soul Blood Absorption, sheer numbers were meaningless.
The raid progressed at blinding speed. Within an hour, Seong-jun reached a massive temple, its towering white pillars stabbing toward the heavens.
"…Strange."
His sharp gaze narrowed. Normally, a boss would reside in the most sacred place within the Gate. Yet the temple stood empty.
Could there be something even more special?
He didn't waste time thinking. Answers awaited inside.
The moment Seong-jun stepped into the temple, the floor rippled. Black liquid gathered, rising in a mist, shaping into human forms.
Three shapes stood before him—faces identical to his own.
"…Doppelgangers."
Though he had never fought them directly, he knew of their existence. But to see not one, but three, mirror him perfectly—down to his stance, his breathing, his very eyes—was unsettling.
Still, Seong-jun smirked. "This is unexpected."
Golden light burst from his body, filling the temple.
DING!
[Star's Favor, Earth's Blessing, Wind's Protection, Strength, Stamina, and Agility enhancements applied to user: Lee Seong-jun.]
[Amplification effect activated. All buffs increased by 50%.]
But as his power surged, the three doppelgangers shone with the same golden aura. Their strength climbed equally.
The four Seong-juns stepped forward in unison, fists clenched.
"Vajra Dragon Strike."
KUGUGUNG!
Their fists collided, releasing a shockwave that shattered the temple floor and flung them backward.
Blood trickled from Seong-jun's lips. Outnumbered three to one, brute force wouldn't work. But he hadn't chosen that reckless clash by mistake.
They copied everything… even my martial arts, my habits, my instincts.
He wiped the blood away, smiling faintly. "That makes it fun."
Scarlet energy swirled around him, dyeing his eyes red. For the first time since returning to Earth, excitement lit his face.
How strong am I now? Let's find out.
The three doppelgangers vanished in a blur. Left, right, and above—they struck from every angle.
"Star's Protection!"
An invisible barrier wrapped around Seong-jun, but crimson blasts tore it apart instantly. Their fists filled his vision.
He blocked and deflected furiously. But against three copies, he couldn't cover every strike.
PAVABAK—!
He staggered, driven backward by the relentless storm of blows.
For the first time in years, he was being pushed. And yet—
"Hahaha!"
He laughed, genuine and wild. The last time he'd felt this alive was against Jo Se-hyeok, the SS-rank "Rookie Slayer." But that had been cruelty, not challenge. This—this was real.
Finally, an opponent worth everything I have.
Dropping his guard, he attacked head-on. Fists clashed with fists, blow after blow, each exchange shaking the temple.
By the tenth strike—
KWAJIK!
His fist smashed into one doppelganger's face.
They copied me as I am now. But they don't have my past.
The knowledge, the instincts, the countless battles as a Blood Demon and Demon God—those were his alone.
Two doppelgangers closed in, unleashing the Golden Dragon Crushing Wave.
Seong-jun's grin widened.
"Right hand—Golden Dragon Wave. Left hand—Blood Extreme Wave."
His body twisted, channeling external energy through one arm, internal energy through the other.
BOOM!
Shockwaves split the air as power erupted. He rode the force, flipping into the sky—then dropped like a hammer.
"Thousand-Pound Strike!"
Slamming into the ground, he unleashed a crimson burst that blasted two doppelgangers into the temple pillars.
His first clear victory.
But it wasn't enough.
The doppelgangers rose again, eyes burning, no longer reckless. They knew—they needed one final strike.
Their bodies pulsed, blood energy swelling until crimson orbs of pure destruction formed in their hands.
Seong-jun's lips curled.
So you'll use my greatest art too.
He spread his arms, heart pounding with fiery heat. Blood roared in his veins, surging like a storm.
"Blood Sea Annihilation—First Form!"
Four blazing spheres—his and the doppelgangers'—collided in the air.
The temple shook as reality itself bent under the clash.
Seong-jun's energy was being pushed back. Three against one, the outcome was obvious. Yet not a trace of fear touched his face.
Of course I can't win if we're the same. That's why… I'll change the rules.
He had already laid his trap. The earlier Bloodstream Dance wasn't just for offense—it had bound their footing, anchoring them in place.
And now—
Mujin Blood Reversal.
The scattered blood rushed back into his veins, his energy spiking once more.
Seong-jun raised his arms, eyes blazing red.
This wasn't desperation.
This was his true counterattack.