Near the cliff distant from the Black Dragon Palace, Oscar's brows furrowed as he contemplated their next move. The breeze tousled his hair while storm clouds gathered on the horizon—an ominous reflection of their current predicament.
"We still don't know the full capacity of power that doppelganger holds," Oscar said, measuring each word carefully. His gaze drifted to Xiong's hunched form, noting the blood stains on his robes. "Seeing Xiong's condition... it's better to move steady and slow with more support rather than harshly jumping into it and failing altogether."
He turned to Lucas, whose face had drained of all color since the news of Yetao's capture. The young man's hands trembled slightly—a tell-tale sign of his inner turmoil. Oscar placed a steadying hand on Lucas's shoulder, feeling the tension beneath his palm.
"Lu..." he said softly. "From what you told me, I believe that guy won't harm Taotao. You should stay strong and think clearly at times like these."
Oscar's words barely registered in Lucas's mind, his thoughts consumed by worry for Yetao.
With a determined look, Oscar announced, "I'll send a message to the White Dragon Palace. We need his help too." He plucked one of his iridescent feathers from his robe and infused it with spiritual power. The feather glowed with ethereal light before shooting skyward, carrying his urgent message to Minghao.
His attention shifted to Dorn and Xiong, who stood awkwardly to the side. "And you two," Oscar pointed at them with authority in his voice, "Don't even think of doing anything with your current state. I only sealed your powers. The moment you try to use them, you'll die." His tone softened slightly. "Just sit still and believe in us. You've already done much, traveling from a possible future and all. So stay still, please."
Xiong flinched visibly, his eyes widening. How did he know I'm from the future? I just said I brought Yetao out from the illusion to those two though?, he thought, giving Oscar a confused look.
Oscar sighed, reading the question in Xiong's expression. "Don't look at me like that. I know what's required to obtain my heart feather." His gaze turned somber. "I'm still alive here. So I must've died in a different timeline for Taotao to have my heart with him now."
Guilt crossed Xiong's face as he looked down, unable to meet Oscar's knowing eyes. Lucas, meanwhile, stood confused by this exchange, pieces of a puzzle he couldn't yet assemble.
"I won't ask you anything for now," Oscar said firmly. "Just prepare to answer my questions once this is all over." With that, he transformed in a blinding flash of light, his human form dissolving into that of a magnificent phoenix with plumage of crimson and gold. He carefully lifted Lucas onto his back.
Dorn and Xiong instinctively moved to follow, but Oscar's death glare froze them in place. They obeyed immediately, recognizing the power behind that gaze.
As they took to the sky, Oscar mentally grumbled, This idiot flew really far for someone with low spiritual energy. If only I had taken the teleportation scroll before coming here... He beat his wings harder, aware of Lucas's worried face and the weight of his fear for Yetao.
[System Notice: Countdown - 01:22:20:15]
Meanwhile, at the hill behind the palace, Jeff's rage was a tangible thing. His fists clenched as he stared at Barcode and Yetao, both sealed within a barrier inside his own palace grounds.
"I asked," Jeff growled, each word dripping with barely contained fury, "who had the audacity to do this to my people?" His spiritual energy began to leak out around him, distorting the air with waves of heat.
Yetao quickly interjected, desperation in his voice, "Gege... This is not the time. Xiong's in danger. We need to find him—"
Before he could finish, another figure appeared, silencing them all. It the doppelganger. An exact duplicate, wearing the same face but with a cruel twist to his smile.
"Why would you save a dead person?" the doppelganger said with a smirk. "Better prepare for his funeral."
Jeff stood shocked, his gaze darting between the two identical faces before him, mind struggling to process what his eyes were seeing.
"Ah... You must be confused, right?" The doppelganger's smile widened as he twirled once, his form shifting and blurring until Xiong stood in his place.
Jeff's shock deepened, golden sparks igniting in his eyes.
"Surprise!!!" the doppelganger exclaimed with theatrical flair. "How do you like this face? You said this should be my last time setting foot in the palace, but this is off limits, right?" His voice was Xiong's, but the malice behind it was entirely foreign.
A memory flashed in Jeff's mind—their heated argument from the previous day. Horror dawned on his face. "That was you?" he asked, voice trembling with rage. "Who the hell are you? Where is Xiong?"
Jeff's eyes transformed, turning a molten gold as his dragon power surged in response to his emotions.
"Chill down," the doppelganger said, waving a dismissive hand. "He's probably dead by now. After how much he coughed blood after inhaling my parasite, he can't possibly hold out." A cruel smile curled his lips. "You know what the funny thing is? If he had just come to you, he could've lasted longer. What a shame—he only had so much faith in you."
Something snapped inside Jeff. His rage exploded outward in a wave of dragon fire that engulfed the entire hillside in an instant. The grass withered, rocks cracked, and the air itself seemed to burn.
Sensing the danger, Barcode quickly cast a temporary barrier around himself and Yetao. The doppelganger similarly shielded himself, though his eyes gleamed with calculated interest rather than fear.
I can't fight him alone, the doppelganger thought. It's better to finish this in one go. His hand materialized a black, ash-like substance that swirled ominously before he flung it toward Jeff.
Barcode's eyes widened in recognition. The doppelganger had mentioned how the parasite would drain spiritual power. Fearing Jeff would unknowingly inhale it, Barcode launched himself forward, positioning his body between Jeff and the deadly substance.
He raised his hands, spiritual power forming a shield, but some of the black particles slipped through his defenses and entered his body. Almost immediately, he doubled over, blood—black-tinged and viscous—erupting from his mouth.
Jeff watched in horror as Barcode collapsed. He caught his falling body, cradling him on the scorched ground as his hands trembled. Yetao froze in place, unable to process the scene unfolding before him.
More black blood spilled from Barcode's lips as his body convulsed.
"Oops," the doppelganger said with mock concern. "I accidentally used the one I prepared for Bambam. You can't even save him by sealing his spiritual energy now. My bad." His lips quirked in a smile that never reached his eyes. "He was such a lovely kid."
Desperate, Jeff tried to seal Barcode's spiritual powers, but they kept depleting at an alarming rate. Barcode's life force drained visibly, his skin turning ashen. Jeff's tears fell freely as he attempted to transfer his own life energy, but it seemed to leak out of Barcode just as quickly.
"Gege..." Barcode's dying hand reached up, trembling, to touch Jeff's tear-streaked cheek. "Don't mourn too much on my death... and find your happiness." His voice faded to a whisper, and then his hand fell limp, the light in his eyes extinguished.
Yetao dropped to his knees, the shock rendering him immobile. His face drained of color as his mind refused to accept what his eyes had witnessed. The only sound he could hear was his own heart pounding erratically in his chest.
Then he felt someone dragging him away. Still, his gaze remained fixed on Barcode's lifeless form growing smaller in the distance. As the body finally disappeared from view, a flood of memories washed over Yetao—Barcode performing music during training sessions, offering comfort in times of despair, trying his best to break the barrier with his limited power and many more.
All of these memories ignited something within Yetao. A single tear escaped his eye as fury replaced shock. His gaze sharpened, eyes turning bloodred with rage as he looked up at his captor.
The doppelganger in Yetao's form, was flying through the air, dragging Yetao with him toward some unknown destination. With newfound strength born of anger, Yetao reached up and wrapped his hands around the doppelganger's throat.
"Seems like you finally woke up!" the doppelganger said with a smirk, even though he was held by the throat and released Yetao mid-air.
Something awakened within Yetao. His spiritual powers flared unconsciously, materializing wings on his back that caught the air. Energy gathered at his fingertips as he launched an attack, which the doppelganger narrowly avoided.
"Congratulations, my other half," the doppelganger mocked. "You finally learned the ways of this world." His laughter echoed across the sky.
Yetao didn't stop. Attack after attack flew from his hands, each one fueled by grief and rage. The doppelganger repelled them all with effortless grace.
"Do you think you can kill me?" the doppelganger taunted. "Isn't your mission to bind your soul with mine?"
The taunt only fueled Yetao's anger. Fox fire—blue and ethereal—began to swirl around him, transforming his eyes into pools of sapphire flame. He charged at full speed toward his enemy.
The doppelganger, finding this amusing, matched his pace. They collided with explosive force, creating a shockwave that rippled across the sky. Both plummeted to the ground, but while Yetao gasped for breath, depleted, the doppelganger merely chuckled.
"You think just experiencing those illusions will actually give you so much power?" He circled Yetao like a predator. "I cultivated for more than 2,000 years just to end this myself. Do you think I can't kill you?" His face hardened. "I'm keeping you alive because you still serve a purpose. Don't test my patience, or I might actually make you paralyzed rather than letting you at least see your beloved's last moments."
Despite the threat, Yetao's fierce gaze never wavered. "Whatever your purpose or reason is, you failed the moment you touched innocent people," he said through gritted teeth, thinking of Xiong and Barcode, his gaze containing nothing but fury.
"You know what? I'll just paralyze you for now," the doppelganger decided, dark energy swirling around his fingers.
Yetao closed his eyes, exhaustion overtaking him. I'm just too tired to bear so many things, he thought, ready to surrender.
But the expected pain never came. When he opened his eyes, someone stood between him and the doppelganger, blocking the attack.
"Bambam?" Yetao whispered in disbelief, watching his back
Bambam glanced back after deflecting the dark energy. His eyes went to Yetao's neck as he gently moved aside the collar of his robe, revealing a mark.
"So you're my Taotao," he said with a playful smile. "Who's the guy bullying you with your face?"
Yetao realized what Bambam had checked—a love bite on his neck that identified him as the original. He rolled his eyes despite the dire situation.
Bambam's expression turned serious as he faced the doppelganger. "Do you think having his face will make you my Taotao? You're just a wannabe, aren't you?"
The doppelganger's chuckle turned cold with fury.
Bambam's eyes narrowed, irritation clear on his handsome features as he faced the impostor wearing his beloved's face.
"Why don't you fight me in your original form?" he challenged, a dangerous playfulness in his tone. "I don't have the heart to fight with that face."
Yetao slapped his forehead in exasperation before grabbing Bambam's arm and pulling him back. He leaned in close, his voice dropping to an urgent whisper.
"No matter what, don't inhale or let his ashes touch you," Yetao warned, his eyes deadly serious. "If you even accidentally let that thing in, then I'll kill you myself."
Bambam responded with a slight nod before turning his attention back to the doppelganger, eyes squinting as he tried to discern the creature's true nature.
The doppelganger released a low chuckle that sent chills down their spines. "What would you do if this was my original form?"
The words hung in the air, creating confusion that briefly clouded Bambam's expression. He leaned back slightly, brows furrowed.
"Taotao... Did you have a hidden twin?" Bambam asked, glancing momentarily at Yetao. "But your aunt never mentioned this in all those years though?"
Yetao averted his eyes, the doppelganger's lips curled into a smirk as he reached into his robes. When his hand emerged, it held a cracked pearl pendant—identical to the one around Yetao's neck.
"Do you remember this?" the doppelganger asked, dangling the pendant like a hypnotist's focus.
Fury flashed across Bambam's face, his muscles tensing visibly. "How dare you touch it?"
He lunged forward, spiritual energy crackling around his fists as he attacked, determined to reclaim the pendant. The doppelganger deflected the assault with ease, sending Bambam staggering back.
"Why are YOU the one who's saying that?" the doppelganger asked, his voice eerily calm.
Something in those words pierced through Bambam's rage, causing him to slow his attack. A nameless ache spread through his chest, though he couldn't understand why. Still, he pressed forward, launching another series of strikes—until the doppelganger spoke words that froze him completely.
"I would rather die than live by your side."
The sentence hung in the air like a physical blow. The doppelganger had perfectly mimicked Yetao's tone from his first life—his last words before death. Bambam's hand trembled as the memory crashed through him. His eyes darted to the cracked pearl pendant hanging from Yetao's neck, suddenly understanding dawning.
"Bambam... don't hear it!" Yetao screamed, running toward him with desperation in every step.
But the doppelganger flicked his hand dismissively, and tendrils of dark energy shot forth, binding Yetao to a distant tree. Yetao struggled against the bonds, but his previous battle had drained his spiritual power, leaving him helpless.
Bambam stood frozen, gaze fixed on the pendant, his voice barely a whisper. "Is that... Zi—"
"STOP SAYING HIS NAME!" the doppelganger screamed, raw emotion shattering his composed facade. "You don't have the right to even say that precious name!"
With another gesture, dark energy coiled around Bambam, but the restraints seemed unnecessary. Already overcome with guilt, Bambam fell to his knees without resistance, the fight gone from his body.
"Bambam!!!" Yetao's voice carried from the distant tree, but Bambam heard nothing beyond the pounding of his own guilt-ridden heart.
The doppelganger circled him, voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "Zihao reverted time for me to have another chance, and Lu's dying wish was for me to have a happy life." His face contorted with centuries of accumulated hatred. "But... you of all people know how much resentment I had for you. What do you think would've happened?"
As he spoke, waves of dark energy—manifestations of pure resentment—pulsed from his body. The revelation struck Bambam like physical blows: this creature wasn't merely a copy, but Yetao's own resentment given form and will.
"You never wondered why in the second life, your beloved has been weak for over 500 years?" the doppelganger continued, circling closer. "It's because I carry a part of his soul."
Bambam remained speechless, crushed under the weight of understanding. How could he fight against something that existed because of his own actions? This resentment had taken root and grown for centuries, nurtured by pain he himself had caused.
From his position bound to the tree, Yetao couldn't hear their conversation, but he understood from Bambam's posture that he was surrendering to the doppelganger's words.
"That idiot..." Yetao muttered in frustration, straining against his bonds.
Suddenly, the familiar game screen materialized before his eyes once more. The countdown timer continued its relentless decrease.
[System Notice: Countdown - 01:15:21:30]
But this time, Yetao noticed something new—a small notification icon blinking in the top right corner. He tried to click it by kicking his legs outward, but the icon was too small to activate.
"Just who the hell designed this game?" Yetao screamed in frustration.
.
.
.
In a distant parallel world, a man named Omar scratched his ears, feeling a strange sensation—as if someone were talking about him. As the designer of the game, he was sensitive to such disturbances.
"Omar! There's a bug in this setting. Can you help me clear it?" a colleague called from across the office.
Omar nodded and rose to address the issue, unaware that his design choices were causing Yetao's current frustration.
.
.
.
Back in Yetao's reality, he finally managed to click the notification. A message appeared:
"Reward for completing side quest - Hint to complete the main quest."
[Combine the items obtained from the side quest while pursuing the main quest.]
Yetao fell silent for a moment, processing the cryptic guidance.
"That stupid designer!!!" he shouted again.
.
.
.
In the parallel world, Omar scratched his ears once more, looking around suspiciously. "Who's speaking behind my back?" he demanded, causing the office to fall silent.
.
.
.
Yetao's mind raced as he tried to decipher the hint. "How am I going to interpret this? Just what the hell is the demon's heart? Why not just tell me what it is already?"
He kicked at the air in frustration, his gaze returning to the scene unfolding before him. Bambam remained on his knees, accepting whatever punishment the doppelganger seemed intent on delivering.
Then Yetao's breath caught in his throat. The doppelganger had materialized the deadly parasite ash in his palm, the black particles swirling ominously.
"Bambam!!! Don't inhale it!" Yetao screamed with all his might, but the distance between them reduced his warning to a barely audible whisper.
Bambam, eyes closed in resignation, awaited his fate. He had chosen to accept punishment from this fragment of Yetao's soul, perhaps seeing it as atonement for past sins.
Yetao's heart thundered in his chest as he watched, helpless. The doppelganger raised his hand, black particles swirling more intensely before shooting toward Bambam.
Unable to bear the sight, Yetao squeezed his eyes shut, unwilling to witness Bambam's suffering.
But instead of the expected sounds of suffering, he heard the crystalline clash of ice. His eyes flew open in shock.
What he saw made his jaw drop.