"Meanie! Traitor! You evil Dungeon Master!"
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Hey, easy on the robe, Kazu! You will pull out one of the tassels by accident!"
I keep hitting on my Dad's chest while ignoring his pleas. How could I? I’ve just seen my brother facing off against a doppelganger monster and judging from his expression and injuries, he's not having a good time.
"I will if you start talking! What kind of crazy monster did you and the Sages unleash on him?!" I demanded.
"Alright! I will tell you if you stop hitting me like a punching bag!" I stop hitting him as he asks. But I'm ready to raise my staff in case he's lying again. "What Wind is experiencing right now is the [Test of Courage]. It's a rite where [Half-Signs] prove themselves that they are part of [Insignis] by facing their fears. It often occurs at the same time as the [Sign Creation Ceremony] and this one only features Wind as its only participant."
"So you're saying I spent the whole time acing the ceremony with little difficulty while Wind ends up facing his own monsters?! ARGH!!! I knew you were an evil DM!" I scream.
"Geez, can't you call me by something else?!"
No way. He deserves it! I know Dad and he often played RPGs with us as the DM. He once ran an adventure where we faced our doppelgangers and it's not a pretty fight if it wasn't for those critical rolls. And I thought he was supposed to be in charge of the game's AI only!
Still, all I can do is sigh and turn to Dad again. "Look, I have a feeling Wind will win against his copycat. But whether you're an Awakened Sage or not, you can't just throw him in a dangerous fight without a warning! Sure, it ruins the surprise, but playing [Isekai Online] isn't about risking our lives for real to win! Plus, Mom will be mad if I tell her about all of this."
"No, no! Anything but that! I...uh...have an NDA about leaking this [Hidden Quest] to the public and it would be bad if you tell her right now."
"I don't think NDA counts for a [Hidden Quest], Dad." I’ve checked it twice with Wind's friends and they said [Hidden Quests] are simply [Quests] that were hidden for the player to find. He's saying all of that to save his hide.
"Ugh... You got me," he says while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, I'll make it up to you two once the ceremony is over. How about a twin choco sundae tomorrow after school?"
A sundae would be nice, but that's not enough to forgive Wind for dragging him into a dangerous fight. I know him and I know he will not accept a simple sundae.
"No, you need something big to forgive Wind!" I demand. "And no, giving me a big birthday present doesn't count!"
"Ugh... You know my budget this month! What am I supposed to give you bigger than that?"
I hum for a while until I get an evil thought and a grin to match. "How about you show us where [Isekai Online] was made? You know, the very same one that your company is working with right now?"
"What?! Do you mean that place?!" I can see Dad twiddling his thumbs with sweat on his face. "Um... That might be impossible since their studio is in Silicon Valley..."
And I chip his [HP] again by smacking him with my staff. "Liar! You said before their main studio is in New York and their branch is in California!"
"ARGH! Okay, okay! I'll discuss it with the developers afterward! Just stop hitting me with you [Crystal Staff]! Please!"
Hmph... I'm excited that he said yes, but I'm still not happy about Wind's situation. Oh, I hope he can get out of the fight alive...
----------------------------------------
> [HP: 348/630]
>
> [HP: 345/630]
Dammit... A minute has passed and I have half of my [HP] left. Drinking a potion would let me live longer, but the constant pain of the tornado trap might negate it in a few more seconds. I can't get out without killing myself, I can't attack my copy with my bow due to the gale from it... I'm running out of options!
[Looks like you're giving up already, me,] my doppelganger annoyingly says. [You only have two minutes left and you haven't lifted your bow or sword. At this rate, you're going to repeat this fight again and again and again and again... Well, you get the idea. I would love to play with you more, but I know repeating would mean you will fail this test. How about you stop resisting and raise your white flag to spare yourself the literal pain of failing again?]
This dumb*ss... Are they going to stop talking?! Not that it matters to them since I will die if I try anyway. Though now that they’ve mentioned my sword, I’d almost forgotten that my [Archery] wasn't the only weapon [Mastery] that leveled up. And it's no ordinary skill I’ve obtained from it. In fact, that very same skill is the one Veritates and that arrogant former player used during my fights against them. And if it's strong enough to cut a pillar with enough [STR], then with the right level...
> [HP: 285/630]
>
> [HP: 282/630]
[Well, looks like it's settled, then... Hope you can come back...]
"How laughable..."
My doppelganger turns and glares at me as expected.
[What's so funny, me? That you're becoming delusional that you're losing again.]
> [HP: 252/630]
>
> [HP: 249/630]
I smirk. "No, it's just that you're trying to be me, but you're only acting like one. And very badly, I might add."
["Acting"? What are you talking about? I am you!] My doppelganger counters. [What makes you think I don't know much about you that you mistake it as "bad acting"?]
> [HP: 240/630]
>
> [HP: 237/630]
"For one thing..."
I take out my sword and...
"You talk too much."
[You have activated [Trained Strength Enhancment].]
"[Aftershock]!"
I swing my sword as hard as I can and an energy wave comes out afterward. [Aftershock] produces an energy wave from my sword's swing that also shakes the earth whenever it passes through, akin to a real earthquake. I doubt it can hit my doppelganger since they’ve copied my build. But that's not my target.
SWOOSH!
> [NOTICE]
>
> [Due to the force of the attack, the effects of [Twister Trap] have been canceled.]
And it doesn't take long for it to make a clean hit.
[What the hell?!]
It looks like it's too late for my imposter to notice. They don't see it coming from the moment I used this skill and just in time, too.
> [HP: 192/630]
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> [The effects of [Bluster Speed] have expired.]
A few more seconds and I would’ve been in the red once I got out of the tornado. Too bad the buffs are gone since I can't get out of it before the time limit.
[No fair! That's not how that skill works!]
I cackle when I hear that lame excuse. "Tell a guy you took advantage of their status as a monster to gain access to the strongest skills and spells I can't own right now!"
[T-That's different! I'm stronger than you, that's all!] my copy desperately defends. [Yours is unfair! You can't use a [Swordsmanship] skill to negate a spell!]
I knew it. He's right that he's a near-perfect imitation of me. However, I found one flaw in their personality that can turn the tide of this battle.
And that is their inability to adapt to a certain someone's unorthodox fighting.
In most video games, there are limits when it comes to gameplay. Fighting is limited to a turn-based format, you can't move in dynamic ways beyond jumping and running with a mouse... Many relied on game logic such as strategies and mind games to win against their computer opponents. But I have two advantages: my knowledge of tabletop RPGs and that this is a virtual reality game, not a simple PC or console one.
We have to rely on imagination and theater of mind when it comes to tabletops. While it's not fun compared to video games, it's fun to imagine a scene that’s out of an anime show. Kazuki had a ball during our sessions and I started to adapt to his style of play. I’ve kind of carried that mindset from the moment I started playing [Isekai Online] with him and it was only when I got used to the controls and combat that I found my footing in this virtual world.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
I read through [Aftershock's] description beforehand that the attack’s power depends on my [STR] stat. And if combined with my [Trained Strength Enhancement], it may not only increase its [ATK] but the force of the slash that should be enough to topple down the twister cage. So my risky plan didn't just work, it went by flawlessly thanks to my [Sapphire Sword's] [Imbued Arcana Element] and I got to see that faker raging about how it was unfair to use that skill at all.
"Well, whatever the reason, your trap did nothing but make me pissed at your attempts to be me," I counter. "I don't know how long that skill's cooldown is, but it might take a while until you cast it again. So..."
I open up my [Inventory] and grin at the doppelganger.
"How about I'll make a comeback?"
[Comeback?]
And that's all I hear from them before I make my disappearing act.
[You have activated the [Smoke Bomb]. Your opponent will lose sight of you for 2 minutes until expiry.]
Since this room has no obstacles for me to hide, I have to rely on the darkness and my items to distract this creep while I try to recover from that trap. Thank god for [Minor Health Regeneration] to heal my wounds along with Kazu's [HP Potions]. But I can't hide forever. If I want to get revenge on my doppelganger, then I have to follow that notice window before the fight and give everything I got!
"[Stealth]."
It's a bit counterintuitive of me to use this skill while I'm still healing. But I need it to prepare my counterattack. [Skunk Bomb] won't help me this time since there will be nowhere for me to hide once I release it. But I do have these.
> x5 [Iron Throwing Knives]
>
> [A set of knives made of iron. It is used by dexterous fighters who prefer to use their daggers up close without losing and finding them.
>
> Creator:
>
> Effect: +14 ATK
>
> Quality: 15]
My [Stealth] will be dispelled if I move a single inch from my original spot. But that doesn't mean I can’t attack until that happens.
"[Knife Toss]."
As the name implies, I toss one of the knives into the smoke. Granted, I can't see where my doppelganger is right now. But that one is only meant for distracting them.
[Is that you, me?! Dammit, I can't believe you're relying on your items to your advantage!]
What's he gonna say next? That it's unfair again? Either way, staying in [Stealth] wouldn't matter since they would find me after that attack. How about another greeting then?
> [You have deactivated [Stealth].]
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> [HP: 445/630]
My [HP] hasn't recovered fully because of my hasty first aid, but it will have to do. Once I get my bearings, I cast another [Bluster Speed] and another to shrink our battlefield.
"Spirit of Sylph, hear our call. Trap our enemies into the gale of storms and imbue our weaponry with your blessings! [Tempest Blow]!"
A big gust of wind releases around me and spreads around the room as it blows the smoke away. As a result, it ends up revealing my location, but the wind turns into a tornado that traps me and my doppelganger.
> [The smoke has dispersed due to a [Wind] spell.]
Alright. Everything is set up. My [Tempest Blow] might not have damaged them, but it's enough to shrink the area and a bonus of imbuing my sword with [Wind] element to boot.
[Hmph... Is this your idea to trap me? All it’s doing is giving me a bad hair day,] my copy mocks me.
"True, but you can't use your arrows at this range," I answer as I draw out my sword again. "So either you stop with your tricks or face me like a real man!"
[Don't talk about "honor", you big hypocrite! [Flurry of Blades]!]
At this point, I ignore their insults and accusations. They have nowhere to hide and I intend to stay that way for a while.
"[Flurry of Blades]!"
As soon as they unsheath their blade and use their skill, I return with the same skill. This ends up locking us in the same movement as our swords clash with one another. Neither of us has been damaged by it yet, but the only way to break the lock depends on its RNG. If I have one less attack than them, I lose.
[You can't win against me, faker! I'm faster and stronger than you!]
Argh... Both of our attacks matched, but he manages to hit me with a normal attack in the end. Honestly, I can't avoid being hit in this fight. However, I can outsmart them to the best of my ability. I know this guy is unpredictable. He copies my attacks at one point, then he uses another to counteract them. If I can find an opening, then I might be able to turn this around.
"[Cross Slash]!" I shout as I swing my sword.
[Hah! I don't need to counter that pathetic attack. [Parry]!] My copy ducked down and thrust his sword at me. [Then [Fatal Stab]!]
Is that a [Swordsmanship] skill that I don't know of? Either way, I don't want to get hurt from that attack. "[Counter Slash]!"
> [NOTICE]
>
> [This attack cannot be countered by that skill.]
What?!
STAB!
Damn, their sword went through my right shoulder! Not only that, I can't move my right arm after that attack! It caused me to drop my sword in the process.
> [NOTICE]
>
> [Your opponent has struck your weak spot. You are [Stunned] for 30 seconds.]
"Weak spot"... So that's what it does? If it's a skill that guarantees a hit on them, then that would explain why [Counter Slash] failed. On one hand, I wonder if I can learn it if I level up my [Mastery] more, but on the other, it's going to be tricky with them having more [Swordsmanship] skills along with [Wind]. But thanks to that attack, I think I found my first opening.
[You are wide open, bastard! [Flurry of Blades]!]
I watch them swing his sword a few more times at a blustering speed. I can't move from my spot thanks to my [Stunned] status, so I raised my only arm as a shield to try tanking it.
> [You activated [Trained Endurance Enchancement].]
Tch... I'm glad I have this despite the restricted leveling on my [Masteries] from those last two fights. It still hurts from those slashes, but at least I get less damage from my increased [DEF]. But at least this gives me enough time for the [Stunned] status to expire, allowing me to strike back.
"[Backstab]!"
They stab me, I stab them back. It's been a while since I used [Dagger Mastery] since the start of the test. It's even more satisfying to see Wallaby's work break through this bastard's cockiness.
[ARGH!!! Why you little...!]
Now that that risky venture is done, I pick up my sword and strike back.
"[Flurry of Blades]!"
I scream as I return a few slashes to them. I follow it up with another [Cross Slash], a few normal attacks to preserve my [SP], and just when they recover, I use [Backstab] again. I continue this attack pattern until my [Bluster Speed] expires.
> [The effects of [Bluster Speed] have expired.]
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> [Shadow Doppelganger]
>
> [HP: 672/1260]
Good! I’ve managed to chip off half of their [HP]. But [Tempest Blow] will be next to expire, so I have to finish this chain of attacks before it happens.
"I don't know how much [SP] I have left, but this should shut you up for a while. [Flurry o-] ACK!"
Before I realize it, something hits me in the back and knocks me back near the tornado. That hurts... But wait, there is no way my copy can use clones like Acutus. The area I created is too narrow for him to fire their arrows. So how...
> [The effects of [Tempest Blow] have expired.]
Dammit, already?! I look up and the tornado dissipates with the aura around my sword disappearing. There goes my advantage... But seriously, who the hell attacked me from behind?! That doesn't feel like a sword or arrow. It felt more like [Wind] magic...
[Oh, you don't know? I actually called for help while you were hiding in the smoke.]
"Help?!" I exclaim. "What's the point of this battle if you play unfairly?! Who's the hypocrite here?!"
[Unfair? How can it be unfair when it's somehow we know? In fact, I invited him to witness our fight to the death.] My copy turned to the dark area behind him. [Or haven't you forgotten your little brother who wants to join in the fight?]
What?! I thought they were saying nonsense again, but I turn to where my doppelganger is looking and I almost drop my sword at the sight of the intruder's face. No way, they wouldn't. Yet they’ve managed to do it to mock me further. I can’t say anything else but the name of a familiar face.
"Kazu..."
There's no way I would mistake his face. That bastard copied my brother's appearance! But he's not like the Kazu I know. Instead, he stares at me and smiles eerily, something that I wouldn't dare to see with my real brother.
[Hello... Brother...]
At this point, I learn true fear and anxiety as I watch my copy walk to him and hug the emotionless version of my brother. But it's not the fear of this monster. No, it's the fear of fighting my own brother and my genuine relationship as his older brother.
----------------------------------------
> Current Quest: Test of Courage ***
>
> Type: [Hidden]
>
> Status: In Progress
>
> Party Members:
>
> [Wind]
----------------------------------------
Wind's Masteries
[Archery] Level 21
[Woodcrafting] Level 10
[Swordsmanship] Level 21
[Cooking] Level 9
[Wind] Level 16
[Physical Enhancement] Level 17
[Hunting] Level 17
[Blacksmithing] Level 18
[Dagger] Level 6
----------------------------------------
Earth sighed as he continued to watch the footage on the crystal. "Well, this is the final test, Hayate. This is where you confront everything you knew both in the game and in real life. Hope you can ace it and confront your fears head-on."
However, he stopped his speech mid-way as he felt electricity on his back. Earth turned around and gasped in horror.
"No, Kazu! Put the staff down now! Kaz! KAZ!!!"
Outside the chamber, the Sages could hear the [Awakened Sage's] scream of agony and pain, unaware of the wrath of a young magician all because he saw a [Hidden Quest] as brutal and cruel.
The last thoughts of Earth being, "Why the hell did those developers put friendly fire on [Role-Players] in this game?!"