Chapter 178 - The Doppelganger
In the labyrinth forest lives a boss named Doppelganger.
His attack strength isn't that strong, but he's a tricky opponent.
"Of course, especially for those facing him for the first time."
However, Ryu Min has faced and defeated Doppelganger numerous times.
It was so weak that it wasn't even worth remembering how many times he had killed it.
"It's easy to beat with the combination of Crimson Moon and Moonlight Slaughter."
But that doesn't mean Ryu Min intends to kill Doppelganger directly.
"You must be the one to kill it."
"M-me?"
He explained the plan to face Doppelganger to Joo Sung-taek, who followed him.
Since the plan was simple, he nodded easily.
"Understood? If you do as I say, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Yes. Don't worry. I won't disappoint my master."
"I hope so."
It was at that moment.
In front of Ryu Min, a monster appeared for the first time.
Glu-glu-
It was mainly a venomous slime that appeared in the labyrinth.
It was also evidence that they were approaching Doppelganger's habitat.
"Instead of surrendering to the boss, I'll take care of this."
Ryu Min drew his scythe to gain at least a little experience.
Chsst!
He cut it in half before it could release its poison.
Glu-glu-
Instead, the slime split into two.
"It seems physical attacks don't work."
These slimes were bothersome, but he had no choice but to use magic.
Zap-zap-
With one hand holding the scythe and the other generating electricity.
"Fire."
Zap-zap-zap!
A slime directly hit by electricity was instantly incinerated.
Although they were immune to physical attacks, slimes suffered lethal damage from magical attacks.
But even after defeating one, he didn't receive any important messages.
[You have defeated the Venomous Slime!]
[Experience +0.09%]
[Gold +300]
[Points +30]
Only after defeating both did the rewards finally come.
"It doesn't mean experience doubles for splitting into two."
If that were the case, he could have just sat in one place and split slimes to maximize rewards.
"Let's go. It looks like we'll arrive soon."
"Yes, my master."
While Ryu Min defeated slimes, he also occasionally watched the groups following him with his telekinesis.
First, he confirmed the presence of the Chinese.
"They seem puzzled because they can't track us or scout the environment."
Upon entering the labyrinth, the connection to the outside world is blocked.
If they stray from the path, they become invisible and emit no signals.
"They seem to be losing a Korean guide who was leading them."
If they're more than 5 meters apart, they become strangers in the blink of an eye.
Although all the routes are connected like cubes, it could take a long time before they encounter each other.
"I have to remember their locations. I'll also need the Chinese's help to defeat Doppelganger."
Ryu Min, who smirked maliciously, shifted his focus.
Not only were the Chinese lost and confused, but Ma Gyeong-rok's group was also in the same situation.
An Sang-cheol, who had come to track Black Scythe, looked puzzled when the signal disappeared.
"So, they shouldn't blindly follow unknown places."
Though he scolded them, Ryu Min was satisfied that everything was going according to plan.
"Anyway, is Christine okay?"
Upon checking, he found she was still waiting in the original spot without moving, waiting for other companions.
As a result, the number of followers, which was originally 2, increased to 10.
"It seems she has decided it's safer to have more companions... foolish. After all, even in Desperation, he can gather that amount of power."
When he switched to the viewpoint of the necromancer John Delgado, he could clearly understand one thing: that he had decided to kill Christine.
"While Christine waits for her followers, he also plans to launch a surprise attack after gathering his faithful."
It was at that moment that Ryu Min chose to act.
It was perfect to leave at a non-dangerous time like now; without justification, he would simply be considered a madman.
"Of course, we have to defeat the duplicate first and get out of here."
Seeing that the frequency of slime appearances was decreasing, they had almost arrived.
Doppelganger's lair was close.
It was then.
"Is anyone there? Please, someone help me!"
From the other side of the forest, a thin, feminine voice was heard.
Walking towards the sound, he saw a woman leaning against a tree, panting.
"Ah, ah... Is there anyone who can help me? Ah!"
The woman, who seemed to be a player by her attire, stood up joyfully upon seeing Ryu Min and Joo Sung-taek.
"I lived! There were people besides me!"
The woman, who seemed to be a player, stood up joyfully upon seeing Ryu Min and Joo Sung-taek.
"What happened to you?"
"I was attacked by a slime. My ankle is so injured that I can't move."
Looking at the woman's swollen, blue ankle, Ryu Min said, "Hmm, it looks like you can't move."
"It hurts too much, sniff."
"So, what do you want me to do?"
Perhaps sensing the indifference in Ryu Min's reaction, the woman's face showed urgency.
"Take me out of here, please. I beg you. I'll do whatever it takes. Okay?"
"Anything, you say?"
"Yes, anything. Though it's embarrassing to say, if you want to fulfill your desires... I can do that too."
"Alright, do you have any items you can give me?"
"Items? Of course!"
The woman opened her inventory and took out some unique materials and high-level magic stones.
"Here, take this for now. I'll give you the rest after you save me. Is that okay?"
"That's fine."
Though he gave that response, Ryu Min didn't even look at the items.
He simply approached the woman with his scythe in hand.
"What are you doing...?"
Before the woman could react, her neck was severed in one stroke.
Tock!
The surprised head rolled to the ground.
Though he was about to be surprised by the sudden murder, Joo Sung-taek remained unruffled.
He had already heard Ryu Min's warning.
-The Doppelganger steals the appearance and memories of the slain to deceive other humans who enter the labyrinth. They often pretend to need help after being attacked by a slime and then betray and kill those who help them.
Having already heard the story, Joo Sung-taek could immediately tell upon seeing the woman.
He was the boss of this place, the Doppelganger.
Puff-
The woman's body vanished like dust.
The objects that were on the ground also disappeared.
Everything was false.
Only the appearance and memories of the player were real.
Slowly...
From where the corpse disappeared, a black mist rose, taking the form of a person.
"How did you know? My skill in disguise was perfect, wasn't it?"
Seeing the guy speaking fluently in Korean, Ryu Min simply laughed openly.
"Talking with humans about the topic of monsters. It's ridiculous."
"Monsters? You humans who invade others' territory are the real monsters, aren't you?"
"Stop talking nonsense. Damned monster."
"You're a sharp-tongued human."
At that moment, before Ryu Min's eyes, a search window appeared.
<Secondary Mission - Reveal the Identity of the Doppelganger>
└Condition ▶ Discover the Doppelganger's trap and confront its original form
[You have completed the Secondary Mission!]
[Points +2,000]
<Secondary Mission - Feed the Doppelganger>
└Condition ▶ Observe the Doppelganger killing other prey
└Prey killed by the Doppelganger so far (0/10)
<Secondary Mission - Kill the Doppelganger>
└Condition ▶ Kill the Doppelganger personally
The Secondary Mission also appeared in front of Joo Sung-taek, who was watching it in the air.
"Joo Sung-taek."
"Yes."
"Run."
Leaving those words, Ryu Min got up and ran.
Joo Sung-taek, who had devised a plan, quickly ran after his owner.
"Where are you going, human?"
The Doppelganger's voice crossed the air.
Without warning, the entity of the Doppelganger pursued him while laughing.
"Did you rush in first and suddenly change your mind? Where did your courage from a moment ago go, human?"
Ryu Min ran without responding, focusing on the labyrinth ahead of him.
"Stop there! Do you really think you can escape my territory?"
'Yes.'
Although he wanted to answer like that, Ryu Min restrained himself.
Having provoked enough, he now had to lure the Doppelganger.
'Honestly, the Doppelganger is slow. It fell significantly behind.'
Although it floated around, it couldn't match the player's running speed.
If he really wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult to leave the Doppelganger behind.
But he deliberately adjusted his speed to make it seem like the Doppelganger was catching up to him.
He had to complete the mission of feeding the Doppelganger.
'The location of the labyrinth will change soon. I have to lure it to that area.'
Checking his location, Ryu Min stopped in front of a tree along with Joo Sung-taek.
"What are you doing? Fleeing like a rat now that you've lost your courage from before, human?"
Just as the Doppelganger approached within 5 meters.
"Huh?"
"What, what's happening?"
The location of the labyrinth had changed.
At the same time.
"Where did they suddenly appear from?"
In the blink of an eye, they encountered new people.
Nothing less than a group from the Secret Society.
Everyone was surprised, but the shape of the Doppelganger was only elongating its mouth.
[Oh! What's this? Suddenly more prey? Haha.]
Attracting the Doppelganger to the location with the Chinese worked as Ryu Min expected.
[Well, we'll enjoy this!]
---------------------
Shi Zhikang was bewildered.
Suddenly, two Asian people appeared in front of him.
The problem was.
"Ah, help me!"
Crunch, crunch, plop.
His henchmen were dying at the hands of the unknown entity with a black form.
"I-I'm Shi Zhikang!"
The dark figure seeped in as if absorbed by one of the subordinates, and soon the sound of his body twisting and bones breaking could be heard.
Crack - crack -
"Kwaaah! Aah!"
The screams didn't last long.
In just 5 seconds, the dark figure emerged from the dead subordinate, whose arms and legs twisted grotesquely like souls.
Then, it quickly clung to another subordinate and twisted their limbs in a 360-degree turn in the same manner.
Splurt -
"Cuaaack! Cack!"
'This is a disaster!'
Three subordinates died in an instant.
It definitely seemed like the dark figure was the cause.
'What the hell is that?'
I'm not exactly sure, but it seems to be a spectral presence that kills people.
They must urgently resolve this pressing situation.
"Everyone, what are you doing?! That dark figure is the cause! Kill it immediately!"
Under Shi Zhikang's orders, the subordinates regained their composure and aimed their swords at the subordinate possessed by the dark figure.
However.
"Hey, hey! What's going on?! It's me, me! Chen Fu!"
The subordinates couldn't wield their swords upon seeing their colleague waving his hands and speaking in Mandarin.
But that brief hesitation was enough for the dark figure to decide their fates.
Thunk - Thunk -
"Kehooh... Kuk..."
Chen Fu, who unhesitatingly pierced his colleague's throat with the sword, was laughing sinisterly.
"Kukuku, fools. Falling so easily for this simple trick. All of you humans have weakened at the same time."
"What, what is this guy?"
"He, was he a monster?"
"Die, monster!"
The colleagues turned against Chen Fu, who had revealed his true nature.
In an instant, Chen Fu turned into a twisted mess, but the Doppelganger did not die and moved to another body.
"Kikik, will you kill me? Try to kill me all at once."
Facing the unknown identity monster that kept killing subordinates while switching bodies, Black Scythe's expression turned grim.
'How the hell am I supposed to kill it? It doesn't even take damage!'
Deciding they had no chance of victory, Black Scythe was about to flee.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Ryu Min blocked his path holding the black scythe.
"Who are you? Get out of my way!"
"Didn't you come looking for me?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"Don't you know?"
Ryu Min, swinging the scythe over his shoulder, smiled.
"It's me. Black Scythe."
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