Chapter 54
(Karma addresses himself as Kel and his clone as Karma for now so this part might also be confusing)
Kelli fires once I get out of the cloud of dust.
The ray hits something but Karma seems to be unharmed.
!!
The NPCs in the mall all ran away just now, there's only one small girl.
Kelli sees that girl and tried to compose herself.
"Don't worry. I will get her, all of you focus on defeating Karma." Says TT and she runs towards the little girl.
What are they doing? That's just an NPC, it's not like this is real life...
I instantly regret what I said once I think of Mino.
Tch.
Karma sensed TT and attacked her.
!!!
I manage to take control for a short while and stopped my clone from attacking.
?
"Kel!! Cover me!!" Shouts Eugen. He recovered from that kick.
"Yes!!"
Once I say yes, my mind controlling my clone went back to autopilot mode.
I wanted to take back control but I have no time for that!
Eugen rams Karma out of the way and I attack from another angle.
Tch!
I am faster than Eugen so my attack reaches him first and Karma has no choice but to block. I then continuously strike to prevent him from blocking Eugen's strike.
Karma smirked and twirled his body to simultaneously block both of our attacks and throw us back.
!
Tch...
As expected, my only weakness is myself huh...
This clone, Karma, only contains 30% of my stats and I'm being pushed to this state.
But...I will break through today. I will pass my limits and defeat myself!!
Kelli charged finish and tell me to back off but I didn't listen.
Like a technique in a chess game, I push Karma back near a wall and he used the wall to jump behind me.
It worked!!
I smirked and jump up to attack him while he is still in the air.
!!
He blocked my attack and tries to kick me away but I shift my body to dodge and grab his leg before slamming him onto the ground.
I went in for the kill and tried to stab his heart from above, Karma rolled to the side to dodge and grabs my face.
!!!
Wait, shit!! This is a finishing martial move I invented, I need to stop my clone-
Luis suddenly appears out of nowhere and rammed Karma away.
"Take cover behind!!! Kelli is going to shoot!!" He shouts.
I went behind Luis as instructed and a ray of light shot towards Karma from Kelli's rifle. The impressive firepower from that created a huge explosion and the only thing protecting me from the dust and damage is Luis.
Impressive enough, she got my clone but the ridiculous stats made my clone survive.
"He's still alive?!" Exclaims Luis.
...
I immediately charge in when the dust was about to dissipate and attempts to decapitate Karma.
Karma saw that coming and blocked my attack with his sword...but...
Sakura!
-------
Yes!
-------
!!!!
My Katana turns into a dual Katana and since Karma is only using one sword, he can't block that attack and attempts to duck but I saw that coming and position my katana a little lower...
And finally... I decapitated my clone and won.
...
I...won...
Shit...
Now I understand why I am so hard to defeat. If I am my enemy... I would be fearing for my life every single day...
Damn...
"You did it!!!" Exclaims Kelli, hugging me.
"Nice one." Says Luis.
Eugen looks like he wants to say something but Kelli kept hugging me so he just gives me thumbs up.
TT steps forward and looks like she wants to say something too.
"What is it."
...
"At the end, good cover." She says.
I smile at that remark. The feeling of winning as a team...
It has been quite a long time since I felt this.
Because of the betrayal by Aki, I have been trusting almost no one but myself.
...
"Anyway, I recorded that, after the first part of stage 4 ends, we can go collect our money." Says Eugen.
I nod.
I originally wanted to take the entire bounty on my own but... let's give that up.
I did win with their help after all... And they increased my share to 40%.
Shit...
My clone almost checkmated me...
Is my mind sharper and quicker when it's on "autopilot" mode? Does that mean I fight better when I clear my mind of all thoughts?
...
But that was a good fight. The best I have ever had in years.
I should train with my clone whenever I have the time in this game.
After that, I went for lunch and received a call from my family.
!!
What do they want?
I answer it and the only thing I can hear is my father asking me to meet him back in their mansion. Then he hangs up without hearing my response.
Tch. Can't they at least let me rest for a day?
I went to my family mansion. The security guard instantly jolts when they see me and welcome me in. They used to bully me in the past so now they are trying their best to please me.
I smirk at their attempt and ignore their pathetic antics.
They seem not to mind my arrogant behaviour and is only relieved that they are fine.
I enter the mansion and immediately see everyone gathered in the living room.
My fathers see me and stand up.
"Firstly...congratulations. I don't know how but you managed to umm...repair your meridians." He says.
I glare at him. That glare sends a threatening aura and almost everyone here starts to sweat.
"Get to the point. What do you want?"
My father seems to be in distress thinking of what to say.
I clicked my tongue and my glare becomes stronger.
!!
"W-We want you to come back!" Says my mother, taking over my father.
...
Huh?
...
Heh...HAHAHAHA!!
"...I see. You throw me away when I'm useless and want me back when I'm powerful huh..." I say.
"N-No! That's not our intention! We cast you away...s-so that we can protect you from threats and hostages!! Someone could potentially kidnap you and threaten us with your life-"
"Shut up," I say. "I'm not as naive as you think."
Once everyone looks like they have nothing more to say to convince me. I sigh in frustration and was about to leave when my sister stopped me.
"Believe in mom and dad! What they said is true! You were too arrogant, offending everyone when you were weak! You were a potential threat not only to yourself but to everyone here!! It was a difficult choice but we don't have anything else that we can do!" She says.
What? Is the NPC I'm in really that stupid? Or is he just... Sick and tired of being oppressed.
I sigh as I try to swallow her words.
"But that doesn't change the fact that all of you chased me out. I no longer belong here. From now on, we are no longer associated with one another, this will be goodbye."
"Wait! We are planning to hand over the heir to you!!" My father finally says. "I know it doesn't mean anything to you but take this as my apology!"
"What?!" My brother exclaims. "Didn't you say that I'm the heir!! WHY IS IT HIM NOW?!!"
"Shut up! Are you still looking down on him!! He can kill 10 to 20 masters at a time!!"
"H-He must have some sort of artifact or a master protecting him!! How can you believe his strength so easily-"
My sister immediately slaps my brother.
!
...
"Tch." He clicks his tongue in frustration and glares at me.
Finally, my brother throw my sister a glare and left the mansion.
...
"Don't mind him. He is just too shocked and hot-tempered. You know...this reminds me of your childhood where you and your brother used to fight a lot. But you guys will always make it up with one another..." Says my mother.
"Hmmm... If that's the case, I will have to reject this heir thingy of yours." I say.
!!
"What?! You are really going to-"
"Say...my brother is really sharp and smart. His only flaw is that he is hot-tempered and short-sighted sometimes. But other than that, I think he is a much better heir compared to me."
...
Everyone stared down.
I can feel and see regret from everyone here. My uncle and auntie seem like they wanted to apologize with all the gifts in their hands but don't have the courage to do so.
"You...really want to leave this family?" Asks my sister.
I nod.
"Then take this! At least take this!" My father says, handing me a card. "It's half of the family's assets... I want you to at least live decently with this money."
Seeing how desperate he is, I take it and left.
-----------
On the way home, I see a group of people blocking my path.
Again? Who sent them this time?
"Kekeke... That is our wallet, right?" Says one of the thugs.
"That's right, beat him till he is half dead. Don't kill him or I will kill all of you myself." Says my brother.
Hmm? Oh, so my brother hired some weird thugs huh...
Most of them are in the emperor stage, wow.
My brother is holding some sort of ancient watch...what?
"Oi, what are you trying to do?" I ask.
"Trying to prove to father that I am more of a worthy heir than you."
I tried to explain that I rejected the heir position but he didn't listen. All of the thugs attacked me at once.
Oh my God...
I immediately draw my katana and decapitate the two nearest.
Another one tried using a weird demonic technique and tried to invade my soul.
I sigh and let him.
!!
He started spitting out blood all of a sudden and that shocked almost everyone.
"H-His soul is so strong!!" Says that person and he immediately faints.
!!!
Some of them started to hesitate and I finish them off.
A thug tries to ambush me from behind and I let him kick my spine.
!!
"That's all?" I ask. "It feels like you are trying to tickle me."
I grab his leg and slam him into the ground before stomping on his stomach. He vomits chunks of weird stuff and some blood before fainting.
Ew...
The remaining left trembles when I look at them.
"R-Run!"
I used the skill I obtained on stage one when I met Reina and pull them all back with a string looped around their neck.
They all fall back and was dragged to me.
"W-Wait!!" I end all of them brutally.
!!
The only one here now is my brother. He fell onto the ground in shock and pissed himself.
"I-Impossible!! I thought there was some sort of master helping you so I took this artifact that prevented anybody from helping!! Y-Your strength is not a joke!!?" He exclaims.
I walk towards him and he jolts in fear.
I sigh and place my hand out.
?
"You want to be the heir right? You can have it. That's what I have been trying to explain."
"Y-You don't want it? Why?"
I sigh.
"You are my brother. We are a family. The heir position is not important to me anyway and I think you are much suited to the position than me, someone who only knows how to kill people."
"I-..."
My sudden words sink into his mind. Soon he started staring down and takes my hand.
I only realise how important family is when my parents really are gone and my sister is hospitalised. I spent my entire life training with my great grandfather's friend in swordsmanship that I neglected my family so much...
I really am a fool and even if this is virtual, I don't want to make the same mistakes twice.
"I'm sorry." He mumbles.
I pretend I never hear that and accompanied him back to the mansion.