[70 days left until Alvorna's Rite of Asecension]
[9 days left until the Odyssey's commence]
Quickly catching their high-speed ether transit train toward Calphennis and seeing the great influx of tourists on the same route as him tells him with certainty of how much of a massive event that the Odyssey is.
“Good thing that we didn’t try to squeeze in one more day of training or we would stuck trying to even maneuver through a much more dense crowd than currently now.” Karim said as he looked at the crowded station and the noisy ambiance surrounding them.
Jihoon nodded in agreement with Karim's observation about the crowded station. And after a little hurdle with the crowd of travelers between them, they made into their seats of their designated express train.
"Karim, I've been meaning to ask - what exactly is our route to Calphennis? I know it's quite a journey from Avanthal."
With a smile on his sly face, Karim took out his personal device for public use and displayed a 3-dimensional holographic map, projecting from a handheld device. With a flick of his fingers, it expanded large enough to show him the glowing path across Absence’s southern part toward Calphennis.
"Good question. We're taking what's known as the Cross July Delta route," Karim explained, tracing the path with his finger. "First, we'll head southeast to the river city of Nymphaea, one of the entry points of merfolk’s domain. From there, we'll board another ferry across the July Estuary to Port Siren. Finally, we'll take another ether transit to reach Calphennis’s capital undersea."
Jihoon's eyes widened. "Undersea? That sounds incredible."
"Oh, it is," Karim grinned. "The views are breathtaking. But here's the real kicker, we were incredibly lucky to snag our tickets when we did. I had them reserved months in advance when I had business there during its Odyssey season."
He gestured to the crowds around them. "If we hadn't, we'd be stuck with these folks, trying to find any available seat on any train heading even remotely in the right direction. During Odyssey season, it can take days to reach Calphennis without a proper booking."
Jihoon shuddered at the thought. "That sounds like a nightmare. So all these people..."
"Most of them are probably on their way to watch the Odyssey, not participate," Karim explained. "They'll be bouncing from station to station, hoping to find an open spot. It's doable, but it's a special kind of purgatory that's entirely avoidable with proper planning."
Jihoon nodded, a new appreciation for Karim's foresight washing over him. "Well, I'm glad you thought ahead. Seems like we dodged quite the train-sized bullet there."
"Indeed we did," Karim chuckled. "We've got a long journey ahead, and you'll need all your energy for what's to come."
With that, they made their way onto the train, leaving behind the chaotic sea of last-minute travelers and settling in for their journey to Calphennis.
The transit itself is blazing fast. So much so that scenery passing through him, like he is taking a plane in his world again. Though with relief in mind, Jihoon have this strange feeling of unrest that remains. As someone who is a Hunter in his world, he wouldn’t ignore that instinct of his that seemingly come to feel alert at something uneasy incoming.
The journey itself toward Nymphaea remains uneventful. But what awaits him there would soon spoke of what likely will be his next uninvited ordeal.
As their express train glided to a stop at Nymphaea’s station, Jihoon and Karim gathered their belongings and stepped onto the platform. The air was thick with humidity, carrying the scent of salt and aquatic flora.
"Welcome to Nymphaea," Karim announced, gesturing towards the sprawling city before them. "One of the main gateways to the merfolk domain."
Jihoon's eyes widened as he took in the sight around. A city that is a harmonious blend of land and water, with canals crisscrossing between elegant buildings that seemed to float on the water's surface. It reminds him of Venice of Italy in his world before Gates destroyed nearly every vestige of the old world with their appearance.
But what truly caught his attention were the inhabitants of this place.
"Are those... merfolk?" Jihoon whispered, his gaze fixed on a group of beings emerging from one of the canals into the port.
Karim nodded. "Indeed they are. Your first time seeing them in the flesh, I take it?"
The merfolk was a mesmerizing sight on their own. From the waist up, they appeared mostly human, with smooth skin in various hues of blue, green, and purple. Their faces were expressive and undeniably human-like. There are traces of subtle differences that he noticed such as fins in place of ears.
Basically, the typical merfolk depiction that numerous fantasies uses.
As he watched from the distance, one of the merfolk lifted themselves out of the water, their tail shimmering before seemingly melting away, replaced by human legs. They stepped onto the walkway, now appearing entirely human save for their unusual coloring and aquatic features.
"They can just... change like that?" Jihoon muttered in surprise.
Karim explained, "That's their transformation art unique to them. It allows them to walk on land like we do. However, there's a catch. While in this form, they can't use their vocal abilities. It's a trade-off they make for mobility on land. Surprisingly close to the Little Mermaid isn’t it? You can really imagine the effect of the language barrier for them before the Great Conclave and non-verbal language development"
As they made their way through the city, Jihoon noticed a few merfolk hovering above the water, suspended by swirling currents. These individuals seemed to command attention from others around them.
Noticing Jihoon's curiosity like a fish out of water, Karim elaborated, "Those are likely members of the royal family or high-ranking nobles. They're using at least Advanced-class Water Magic to lift themselves out of the water. It's an incredibly difficult skill to master that you can see. Most merfolk don't achieve it until well into adulthood, if at all. But for the royal family, it's a rite of passage they typically accomplish in their teenage years."
Jihoon nodded, absorbing this information. As they continued towards the ferry that would take them across the July Estuary, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had been growing since they left the train. His Hunter instincts were on high alert, warning him of potential danger ahead.
"Karim," he said quietly to him, not wanting to raise too much unnecessary alarm with how much they have hurt each other over their own actions. "Do you sense anything unusual?"
Karim looked at him curiously. "Not particularly. Since you said something, we'd be wise to stay alert considering how sharp your precognition is at time.”
Soon, they arrived at a ferry dock and they can already imagine the nightmarish overcrowding that can take place. It was prudent and wise of them to have arrived early before the real holiday could begin. And as they board the ferry boat, its speed was much slower compared to the ether transit before.
But considering that they’re already at the far south of Absence, this is the furthest that the transit network carries them toward. And that there’s another transit that is dedicated solely to reach the underwater capital of Calphennis. Jihoon decided to ask Karim about what makes that particular transit line distinct that it can’t be connected with the other despite Absence’s supreme technology and magic.
As their ferry slowly made its way across the July Estuary, Jihoon turned to Karim with curiosity in his eyes. "You mentioned earlier that there's a separate ether transit system for reaching Calphennis. What makes it so different from the ether transit we've been using?"
"You do certainly know how to ask a good question. It's actually quite fascinating to hear in detail you know. While Absence does indeed boast incredible technology and magic and their unification, the underwater environment of Calphennis presents unique challenges."
He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "The ether transit we've been using relies on a network of magical ley lines that crisscross the continent. These lines are carefully mapped and maintained, allowing for rapid travel. However, they don't extend underwater in the same way."
"Is it because of the water?" Jihoon asked.
"Partly," Karim replied. "But it's more complex than that. The underwater currents around Calphennis are infused with ancient merfolk magic. This magic interferes with the standard ether transit spell structure, making them unstable and potentially dangerous. Not to mention of how ambiance mana works underwater".
Karim's eyes lit up as he delved deeper into the explanation. "So, the merfolk developed their own transit system. It uses a combination of water magic and sound-based navigation. Their version of ether transit, if you can call them that, are more like enchanted bubbles that move through specially designed underwater tunnels."
"These tunnels are lined with resonance crystals that respond to specific frequencies. The 'trains' emit these frequencies, allowing them to be guided swiftly and safely through the complex network of underwater passages."
Jihoon nodded, fascinated. "So it's almost like a completely different form of transportation."
"Exactly," Karim agreed. "And because it's so specifically tailored to the underwater environment and merfolk magic, it can't be easily integrated with the surface ether transit system. The two are fundamentally incompatible by design and conception."
Jihoon leaned back, processing this information. "It's amazing how much thought and innovation has gone into something as seemingly simple as transportation."
"Indeed," Karim said with a smile. "It's one of the things that makes Absence so fascinating. Each culture, each environment has its own unique solutions to common problems. It's a testament to the ingenuity of all the races that call this place home."
As their conversation drew to a close, Jihoon found his earlier unease momentarily forgotten, replaced by anticipation for the underwater journey that lay ahead. Yet, as he gazed out over the waters of the July Estuary, that nagging feeling of impending challenge lingered at the edges of his consciousness.
He looked down into the water below and see the reflection of himself in it, the gloom remains on his face but it was somewhat refined into a solemn determination of its own.
Then, the surface stir. Not from the ferry boat itself but something just swam toward him. And before he realized it, it jumped into his face.
A mermaid dressed in white sailor shirt and blue skirt, skin as prismatic like sea foam and long hair with the azure of the sky’s reflection. And as their face caught one another, they… collided forehead first as both fall and sprawl all over the floor.
His head still stung from the direct collision, but he quickly reobtains his bearing. The mermaid in blue seems to be in a daze of about the same. If anything, Jihoon should have died on the spot just because of how powerful that leap is from his current height, yet he perseveres without consequence.
Karim however, looks like he is on the brink of another metal distress again as his eyes laid upon the mermaid in blue that intruded in their place. Yet still too shocked to say another word. Seeing that his own sponsor was stupefied, Jihoon quickly uses his [Observant] on her.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Direct Heiress of Sargasso Royal Family
Name: Aquarius Sargasso
Level: 1??
Class: Royalty
Job: Musician
Race: Merfolk
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 2??
-END: 1??
-AGI: 1??
-DEX: 97
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 6
-CHA: 15
-MAG: ???
-Active Skill:
+Water Magic (Advanced)
+Mana Attunement (Advanced)
+Wind Magic (Intermediate)
+Shapeshifting (Intermediate)
-Passive Skill:
+Everlasting Youth (Innate Racial Ability)
+Enhanced Senses (Intermediate)
+Perspicuity (Intermediate)
+Musical Prowess: Mid-Intermediate
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
The first thing he noticed of her was how her Level was high enough that [Observant] only register the first digit alone. However, the next pressing thing is why on Absence is the princess of royal family is here in the first place. But before any thought can be made, the reason why she swam away is also here.
Before Jihoon could fully process the situation or the information from his [Observant] skill, the water around the ferry began to churn violently. In a series of powerful leaps, multiple figures burst from the waves, landing on the deck with heavy thuds.
These new arrivals were merfolk as well, but unlike the princess, they were clad in full plate armor that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly iridescence. A seamless blend of plates that resembled fish scales, allowing for fluid movement while providing formidable protection. Their helmets were adorned with fin-like crests, and their visors glowed with an eerie blue light.
As they landed, their tails shimmered and transformed into legs, completing their metamorphosis into bipedal forms. However, true to Karim's earlier explanation, not a sound escaped their sealed helmets. Their silence lent an even more menacing air to their already imposing presence.
The armored merfolk immediately fanned out, their movements coordinated and purposeful. Their glowing visors scanned the deck, clearly searching for something… or someone.
Suddenly, Jihoon felt a tug on his sleeve. The mermaid princess had scrambled behind him, using him as a shield. Her eyes were wide with fear as she whispered urgently, "Please, you must help me! They're here to kidnap me!"
Jihoon's mind raced. The princess of the Sargasso Royal Family, apparently fleeing from her own guards? It clearly didn't add up, but he didn't even have a moment to ponder the inconsistencies.
The armored merfolk had spotted them and were now advancing, their weapons - tridents that crackled with barely contained energy - at the ready. Their inability to speak seemed to make them even more intimidating, as they communicated solely through sharp, precise hand gestures.
If Jihoon knew that he would be at the trident-point of the Merfolk, he would have learned some hand signs as emergency communication but… too late…
Karim, finally snapping out of his stupor, moved to stand beside Jihoon. "This... this is not good," he muttered, his eyes darting between the princess and her pursuers. "We've just been dragged into what could potentially spiral into a major diplomatic incident."
Jihoon felt the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. He was caught between protecting someone who claimed to need help and potentially interfering with what could be a legitimate security operation. His earlier sense of unease now seemed prophetic.
As the armored merfolk closed in, forming a semicircle around them, Jihoon realized he had only moments to decide how to respond. The princess clung to him tighter, her fear palpable. "Please," she whispered again, "I can't go back. Not yet. Help me!"
With the silent, menacing figures looming before them and the trembling princess behind him, Jihoon knew his next move could have far-reaching consequences. The peaceful ferry ride had suddenly transformed into a tense standoff, with him at the center of a royal drama he never asked to be part of.
Unknown of what to do, Jihoon comes to a mental standstill as he questions of the decision of what to do. He knows too little about the context of this ordeal and the armored guards just won’t give them the idea of what’s going on. Genuinely stuck between a rock and a hard place, all his decisions seem to point at a hazy danger.
Then, he remembered about [Doppelganger] Skill that he has. Sure, its previous display of what it can do is overboard of what he assigned. But as long as he is here, its capability of analyzing the situation exceed nearly everyone else around.
With a mental gesture toward the System, his Doppelganger manifested into existence once more, its location atop the roof of the ferry where no one even noticed such a presence with the mermaid princess hogging all the spotlights toward her with her act.
He wished that he had some form of mental communication toward it but before he could have done anything. The Doppelganger itself suddenly transmit its thought toward him through its idea of how to make use of Jihoon’s Light Magic and its application.
'How... how are you doing this?' Jihoon mentally projected, surprised by this new development.
The Doppelganger's response came swiftly, its "voice" a perfect mirror of Jihoon's own inner monologue. 'I've utilized your Initiate-class Light Magic to establish a temporary psychic link between us. It's a rudimentary application with your current proficiency, but it will make do for our current needs.'
Jihoon's surprise grew. 'I didn't know you could make Light Magic could do that.'
'Most don't or ever,' the Doppelganger replied. 'You know already that Light isn't just about illumination or energy projection. It's also about how information transfer. You remember of how fiber optics work in your world, and we've essentially recreated the similar concept using magic.'
Truth or false, that’s the logic of literally everything. And from there all abstract information can be recreated and transmitted at will.
Pushing this revelation aside, Jihoon focused on the matter at hand. 'What's your analysis of the situation?'
The Doppelganger's response was prompt and analytical. 'The princess appears genuinely distressed, but her claim of kidnapping seems unlikely given the guards' behavior. They're attempting to apprehend, not harm. However, their silence due to transformation makes negotiation difficult.'
Jihoon nodded mentally toward it. Then with inconspicuous look, he used [Observant] on the armored merfolk.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Sargasso Palace Royal Guard
Level: 73
Class: Noble
Job: Bodyguard
Race: Merfolk
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 1??
-END: 84
-AGI: 88
-DEX: 77
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 6
-CHA: 15
-MAG: 66
-Active Skill:
+Water Magic (Intermediate)
+Mana Attunement (Intermediate)
+Shapeshifting (Intermediate)
+Wind Magic (Novice)
-Passive Skill:
+Everlasting Youth (Innate Racial Ability)
+Enhanced Senses (Intermediate)
+Perspicuity (Intermediate)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Upon seeing their overall skills and titles, Jihoon made his confirmation that the merfolk in front of him aren’t hostile. Seeing that the few seconds since the standoff between them didn’t yet escalate into outright violence.
They’re likely also sicken of this very situation yet can’t voice their dissent in their transformed state.
‘The situation remains delicate. The princess's increasing distress suggests she's adamant about not returning. A violent clash might still occur if we don't handle this carefully.' Jihoon’s Doppelganger continues his analysis of this situation from above.
Jihoon felt the tension rising. The princess behind him was trembling more visibly now, her grip on his sleeve tightening. The guards, while not overtly aggressive, were clearly not backing down.
‘Your suggestion?' Jihoon asked his Doppelganger.
'We need to de-escalate,' the Doppelganger replied. 'Perhaps we can use your status as an outsider to our advantage. You could propose a temporary compromise, offer to accompany the princess and the guards to a neutral location where they can sort out their issues without causing a scene here on the ferry.'
Stolen novel; please report.
Jihoon considered this. It was risky, potentially involving him deeper in this royal drama, but it might prevent immediate violence.
'Remember,' the Doppelganger added, 'our primary goal is to reach Calphennis safely. If we can resolve this peacefully, it might even work in our favor later.'
Jihoon exchanged a glance with Karim, who seemed to have picked up on the tension and was ready to follow Jihoon's lead. Taking a deep breath, Jihoon began to speak, his voice calm and measured.
"Let's all take a moment to—"
But before he could finish his sentence, the mermaid princess's eyes widened in panic. Realizing that Jihoon and Karim weren't going to simply help her escape, she took matters into her own hands.
"No!" she cried out. "I won't go back!"
In an instant, the air around them became thick with moisture. The princess's hands moved in a complex pattern, her fingers tracing glowing sigils in the air. Jihoon felt a surge of magical energy, far more potent than he'd anticipated. The guards knew immediately of the action, but it was too late to intervene already.
"Advanced-class Water Magic," his Doppelganger's voice echoed in his mind, a note of alarm evident despite his stoic tone.
Before anyone could react, a massive column of water erupted from the sea beside the ferry. It crashed onto the deck with tremendous force, sending passengers onboard screaming and scrambling for safety. The ferry lurched violently, seemingly almost capsizing from the sudden onslaught.
Jihoon stumbled, barely managing to keep his footing on the now-slick deck. Karim wasn't as fortunate despite his stats, flying across the whole board by the crashing force until he managed to grab onto a railing, when he was nearly tossed out of the ferry.
The armored merfolk guards, quickly shifted into combat stances. Their earlier attempt at peaceful apprehension abandoned, they now moved with aggressive purpose, weapons crackling with energy.
"Well, so much for diplomacy," Jihoon muttered, his earlier groan of frustration lost in the chaos around them.
The Doppelganger's voice cut through his thoughts. 'This situation has escalated beyond our control. Priority now is minimizing collateral damage and ensuring our own safety.'
Jihoon nodded grimly. The illusion of having a choice in how this played out had been shattered along with the calm of the ferry ride. Now, he found himself in the middle of a royal conflict that threatened not just their journey to Calphennis, but the safety of everyone on board.
As another wave crashed over the deck, sent by the increasingly frantic princess, Jihoon realized he would have to act fast. The armored guards were closing in, their silence somehow more menacing than any battle cry could have been. The princess, her earlier facade of helplessness gone, now stood with the fury of the sea itself seeming to swirl around her.
Caught between these two forces, with panicked passengers and a destabilized ferry adding to the chaos, Jihoon knew that his next move would be crucial. A maritime battleground that his journey has become, and he was right in the center of it all.
“Fine… If violence is what you asked for then… don’t you dare regret your decision!”. Jihoon said outloud as he also mentally commands the Doppelganger to also descend and help him with dealing the mermaid princess in hysteria.
Following Jihoon’s command, the Doppelganger made the jump straight from the ferry’s roof into the deck below. With more than enough force to crack the wood planks of the deck by the force of landing. The Doppelganger then menacingly confronts the mermaid princess with complete stoicism like an opposite mirror of Jihoon himself.
Even if it can’t utilize any of the System’s Skills, it’s transcending decision-making capabilities would outmaneuver even prodigal strategist, especially in the heat of moment. Even with the overwhelming disparity in stats by comparison, the Doppelganger, somehows, managed to instill fear in her briefly to make her stop casting her Advanced-class Water Magic.
The moment the Doppelganger landed on the deck with a resounding crack, all eyes turned to it in shock. The merfolk guards froze in their tracks, their weapons lowering slightly in confusion. The mermaid princess's eyes widened, her concentration on her Water Magic momentarily broken as she stared at the two identical figures before her.
Karim, who had just managed to climb back in and regain his footing, stumbled again at the sight. "By the Citadel," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "There are... two of you?"
Jihoon will confront the merfolk guards while his Doppelganger will deal with the mermaid princess herself.
The mermaid princess, her earlier defiance falter, took a step back warily. "What... what manner of magic is this?" she demanded, her voice trembling slightly as she looked between Jihoon and his Doppelganger. Both virtually the same yet she couldn’t tell the exact Magic that made it real.
Jihoon's eyes narrowed, a cold determination settling over his expressions. Gone was the compassionate mediator just from moments ago. In his place stood a man pushed to his limits, his patience worn thin by the reckless actions that had endangered innocent lives.
"You wanted a fight?" Jihoon's voice cut through the air, sharp and biting. "Congratulations. You've got one."
The Doppelganger, its face an emotionless mirror of Jihoon's, took a step towards the princess. Despite the extreme disparity of all of its stat in comparison to her, its presence alone somehow managed to unnerve her, causing her to falter in her spellcasting.
Meanwhile, Jihoon turned to face the merfolk guards. Their earlier confusion was quickly giving way to a renewed sense of purpose, but uncertainty still lingered in their postures.
"I tried to be reasonable," Jihoon addressed them, his voice carrying a hint of regret beneath its hardened exterior. "But if this is how it has to be, then so be it. Just remember, you're not the only ones with tricks up your sleeves."
The guards exchanged glances, their silent communication betraying their unease at this unexpected turn of events. They had come prepared to retrieve a runaway princess, not to face off against a man who could apparently duplicate himself at will.
Karim, having finally found his voice, called out to Jihoon. "What are you doing? This isn't our fight!"
Jihoon turned around him with eyes that seemingly had seen hell itself. Anyone who lived past the day that the Gates broke out has that same look in their eyes if their minds wander too long.
His response then was cold and determined.
"It became our fight the moment she decided to endanger everyone on this ferry for her petty squabble. Sometimes, Karim, you have to stand your ground."
Tension filled the air, with Jihoon squaring off against the guards and his Doppelganger advancing on the increasingly nervous princess, it was clear that the situation had escalated far beyond a simple retrieval mission.
And it was his unexpected display of both power and resolve had shifted the dynamics dramatically.
The mermaid princess, her earlier confidence now replaced by visible apprehension, glanced between Jihoon and his Doppelganger. She was beginning to realize that her impulsive actions had not only failed to secure her freedom but had also awakened a formidable opponent she hadn't anticipated.
As the standoff intensified, with all parties poised on the brink of conflict. Jihoon's compassionate nature had given way to an indestructible resolve. The willingness to stand up straight, to protect the bystanders from this royal squabble. From a mere bystander into a central figure within this crisis.
‘System… Play SPIKA’. Jihoon mentally gesture toward the System.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
SPIKA
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 30):
-+100% to MAG
(This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect.)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Mana Attunement
Classification: Enhancement
Rank: Novice
Effect:
-+35% to all of Physical Attributes based on MAG.
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 13 (+21)
-END: 14 (+22.8)
-AGI: 14 (+21)
-DEX: 13 (+21)
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 30 (+30)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
The reason why he didn’t utilize the System to play Song Magic is because of how it can’t perform Linked Song Magic but only each individual Song Magic on their own. And after his using of Linked Song Magic and its overwhelming effect power by comparison, using any individual piece alone felt too incomplete and weak.
This… is still too pale in comparison to the Merfolk guard that he is going up against. But once again, he alone isn’t all that he has.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Judgment of Light (Decayed)
Classification: Polearm
Rarity: Heroic
ATK+: 35
A sacred relic wrought by an order of noble paladins, now diminished to a decayed shard of its former glory amid the tides of corruption. Perhaps in the hands of a virtuous soul, it may yet be reforged into its original splendor once more...
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
This thing, with his Attunement with it, managed to deflect the final shot of Der Freischutz directly. A weapon far more lethal than this decayed polearm, yet unable to triumph against its first technique, Breaking Dawn.
If it could overcome such despair darker than black, then none of this armored merfolk even with their overwhelming 3-digit STR can compare either.
Back to the Doppelganger as it continues to approach the mermaid princess. Having initially afraid of him at first, she immediately take her step back as she prepare to cast her Water Magic toward the Doppelganger, yet its stoic silence against greater opponent make it somehow more terrifying as if he is defying natural order with his actions.
“Stand back, or I’ll attack!”. The mermaid made her threats to the Doppelganger but it continues to march toward her. Impulsive desperation mounted, she vocalized her spell’s name.
“Water Jet!”
At her side, water spheres conjured out of the moisturized air of the estuary. Then by the weaving of her fingers, the water sphere condensed into shape as it then fired toward him like high-pressure water jets that threaten to cut apart even metal.
Yet despite the extreme disparity of stats by an order of magnitude. The Doppelganger still evaded her water jet, not by reaction but preemptive decision by gauging the trajectory in split seconds. A feat that not even any of her peers can do yet the Doppelganger did with contemptuous ease.
Jihoon’s Doppelganger then took action. As he clenched his hand tightly as incandescent color condensed within his grip all while still evading her barrage of Water Jets fired at him. Something that it mentally gauged as Novice-class, the minimum for combat lethality. His Initiate-class Light Magic is lower than that by one level.
Even if he couldn’t exactly hurt her physically. All of her actions have shown of how inept she is social-wise, likely a very sheltered upbringing that completely disconnected her from the people outside. And that this is likely the first time she ever leaves her own safe haven.
Even this princess here is completely unaware of her own potential yet putting every unrelated collateral at peril of her own impulsive actions. What exactly compelled her to do so now? That’s what the Doppelganger came to conclusion on its own.
It needs to make her mentally capitulated. To shut down an opponent overwhelmingly stronger than him. Yet, it felt more feasible than ever.
The mermaid princess escalated into increasingly more powerful Water Magic, from Novice to Intermediate. It becomes apparent clear as she started to conjure and concentrated increasingly greater amount of water each time.
“Blue Drop!”.
Suddenly, a sphere of water started to encapsulate him. With swift judgment, it knew that she is trying to crush him using this very prison of liquid once she detonated. Even if its Mana Attunement to the environment wasn’t the best, the unflawed decision-making extrapolates what little information gleamed into the full answer.
If it allows her to continue her casting unimpeded, the prison’s explosion pressure and her 3-digit MAG stat would kill him instantly into sanguine liquid no different than water.
Then, without hesitation, the Doppelganger unleashed the concentrated incandescent light within his clenched fist. All while yelling its incantation name.
“Kaleidoscope!”
The incandescent light in his palm exploded, and the prison of water started to refract and reflect said light increasingly brighter. All until it caught the mermaid princess off-guard with the disorienting flash. With her concentration disrupted, the sphere of water collapsed harmlessly as the Doppelganger continues to cut the distance between them undaunted despite being at the epicenter of his own Light Magic.
"Is this what you wanted?" the Doppelganger finally spoke, its voice a perfect mimicry of Jihoon's, laced with disappointment and challenge. "To put innocent lives at risk for your freedom?"
The Doppelganger soon started to channel Light into his palm again, then with chosen imagery and incantation, it casted.
“Illusion!”.
Multiples of the Doppelganger appear out of the flash, all of them appear as lifelike as him with no difference. If the mermaid princess even had used her Mana Attunement to detect, she would have instantly figured out which one is the actual Doppelganger and not the illusions but in her disarrayed mental state, she just continues to waste her own spiritual reserve attacking blindly.
Any of the Doppelganger that she struck down, it would collapsed into incandescent Light but another one would soon raise from the ashes of the predecessor. Then going for the mental killing blow, the Doppelganger then conjure illusion of the chaos before done by her reckless actions, all the endangered passengers that she is no doubt consequence of.
Even if they are just illusions, it is clearly what has happened.
"Is this what you wanted?" The Doppelganger finally spoke, its voice a perfect mimicry of Jihoon's, laced with disappointment and challenge. "To put innocent lives at risk for your freedom?"
The princess faltered, her next spell dying on her lips as the illusions sank in. The Doppelganger pressed its advantage, its words cutting deeper than any physical attack could.
"You have power, but no understanding of its responsibility. You flee, but towards what? A world you know nothing about, that you're not prepared for."
“Shut up! You don’t understand what you’re talking about! You don’t understand my circumstances!” The mermaid princess yelled at him as she denied everything that is shown to her. With bitter resentment, she quickly fallback to the front deck of the ferry as she started to scale her Water Magic up again.
It is one thing to fight a foolhardy. It is even more atrocious to fight a stubborn someone with too much power in their irresponsible hand. If the Doppelganger had any emotion beyond cold stoicism, it would certainly be angered at her cowardice.
Back to Jihoon. His standoff against the merfolk guards has been broken by them after they observed him and considered as nothing special. Their 3-digit STR put into action as the little distance between them narrowed in no time. But then, Jihoon swung his decayed halberd, imbued in incandescent aura as its underlying power unleashed in conjunction with him.
Judgment of Light – Breaking Dawn
A swift horizontal swing, yet despite its simplicity conceal complexity go into its refinement of its strength. The very same thing that deflected that final shot of Der Freischutz collided with the tridents of the Merfolk Royal Guard. And the result, is that even if they can withstand it, their footings aren’t as the unleashed power send the vanguard flying out of the ferry into the water while the rest knocked back by considerable distance.
Karim, who had been watching from a safe distance, let out a gasp of disbelief.
"Jihoon, what... what was that, that you just did?" he muttered, his eyes wide.
The remaining merfolk guards, those who had managed to keep their footing, stared at Jihoon with a mix of shock and newfound wariness. Their earlier dismissal of him as a non-threat had clearly been a grave miscalculation on their part.
One of the guards, seemingly the leader of the group, raised a hand to halt any further advance. Though unable to speak due to their transformed state, the gesture was clear, they needed to reassess the situation.
Jihoon, his halberd still glowing faintly, addressed the guards. "I don't want to hurt you," he said, his voice firm but not aggressive. "But I will defend myself and the innocent passengers on this ferry. Your princess's actions have put everyone here in danger, and we need to resolve this as peacefully as we can."
The guards exchanged glances, their body language conveying a mix of confusion and respect. They had clearly underestimated this human, and now found themselves in a precarious position.
Karim, having regained his composure, called out to Jihoon. "Be careful! We can't afford to escalate this any further. If we harm the royal guards, the diplomatic fallout could be catastrophic!"
Having already acknowledged the metaphorical knife’s edge that they balanced upon. Jihoon nodded as it wasn’t his intent to fatally harm any of them. But he couldn’t back down or let things slide so inconspicuously like this at all. They made their first move to attack him with their superior strength, so it is clearly self-defense that his action was.
As the standoff continued, with Jihoon facing the wary guards and the Doppelganger still confronting the retreating princess, the atmosphere on the ferry was charged with tension. However, anxiety started to show through the guards as they pointed toward something behind him.
Karim's eyes followed their gesture, and his face immediately drained of color.
"Jihoon," Karim's voice trembled, "look behind you."
Behind them… is a massive rectangular mass of water hung above with great height at the ferry’s front deck. Jihoon felt his breath catch in his throat. And then, the connection between him and the Doppelganger flaring up again, signaling of one thing.
The message was clear: the Doppelganger couldn't handle this level of magic alone. It needed Jihoon's help, and fast.
Karim, his voice tight with fear, quickly assessed the situation. "If that mass of water falls, it'll sink the ferry instantly. The sheer mass... we'd all be doomed."
The gravity of the situation wasn't lost on anyone. The standoff between Jihoon and the guards abruptly halted as they all recognized the greater threat at hand. Their earlier conflict seemed trivial in the face of this new, potentially catastrophic danger.
The leader of the merfolk guards made a hurried series of gestures. Karim understood the intents even without deciphering.
"They're offering to help. We need to get to the front deck now!" Karim transferred his understanding to Jihoon with haste.
Without hesitation, two of the guards scooped up Jihoon and Karim. Their incredible strength allowed them to move with astonishing speed, carrying the two individuals towards the front deck where the Doppelganger was still facing off against the increasingly desperate princess.
As they raced across the ferry, passengers who had earlier been cowering in fear now watched in a mix of awe and terror as this unlikely alliance sprinted towards what could be their doom or salvation.
On their way into the later half of the rush, they noticed multiple water barriers erected and maintained in midair. The merfolk guards dismantled by reverse casting the spell that maintained it but it is likely clear of why she obtained the time to cast that more powerful spell while the Doppelganger pursued her.
Reaching the front deck, they were met with a scene of barely contained chaos. The Doppelganger stood firm, its light magic creating a shimmering barrier that was barely holding back the edges of the massive water construct, interfering with her conjuration. The princess, her eyes wild with a mixture of fear and determination, was visibly straining to maintain control over the colossal volume of water to enact her spell.
This is unquestionably the strongest spell that she has, the limit of her Advanced rank in her Water Magic.
Jihoon, now face to face with both his Doppelganger and the source of the threat, realized that the next few moments would determine not just the outcome of their journey, but potentially the lives of everyone on board.
The merfolk guards, setting Jihoon and Karim down, looked at them expectantly. Despite their earlier conflict, it was clear that they were now all on the same side as they are now trying to prevent a disaster that would claim them all.
A flash of insight appeared in his mind. Jihoon quickly takes out his electric guitar and look toward the Doppelganger who nodded in understanding. Once the Doppelganger takes the guitar, the princess will cast her Advanced-class Water Magic unimpeded.
Jihoon turned to the merfolk guards, his expression remain urgent.
"I need you to buy us some time," he said, gesturing towards the looming mass of water. "Use your Water Magic to hold it back, even if just for a few seconds. Can you do that?"
The guards exchanged quick glances, then nodded in unison. Despite their earlier conflict, they recognized the dire need for cooperation. Without hesitation, they moved into position, their hands weaving intricate patterns as they prepared their own Intermediate-class Water Magic.
All of them combined still pale in comparison to the princess but when the moment comes, even purchased seconds worth its weight more than gold.
With the crucial buffer provided, Jihoon quickly passed the guitar to the Doppelganger. Because of its current nature, it can’t receive any external buff from Song Magics.
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Doppelganger
Classification: Illusion Magic
Rank: Expert
Effect:
-Create a temporary clone that share base stats of the user,
can interact with mundane objects with equal proficiency as the user.
Can't utilize Skills. Stats can't be enhanced by external effects.
No duration limitation. Cooldown: 6 hours.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
One of the guards seems to exclaim something upon seeing Jihoon’s electric guitar. That detail is only noted by Karim as Jihoon has his focus completely on the ordeal in front of him. He is obtaining fans from all over Absence, and he hasn’t yet debuted officially at all with only SPIKA published by the conservatories circle for how good it is.
With all hindrance removed, the princess muttered her incantation.
“My double, play Exceed!”. Jihoon said to the Doppelganger, well-worn notes played as its effect takes place.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Exceed!
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 60):
-+700% to all Physical Attributes of self.
'A music piece composed of unyielding defiance. Even if one’s circumstances have fallen into misfortune and ill-fate, hope only remains if one lives with determination. To surpass the previous self of yesterday, one must overcome challenges of today and tomorrow with confidence in self.’
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
SPIKA -> Exceed!
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 60):
-+700% to all Physical Attributes of self.
-+100% to MAG
(This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect.)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 13 (+101)
-END: 14 (+112.8)
-AGI: 14 (+108)
-DEX: 13 (+101)
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 30 (+30)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
As the tension reached its peak, the mermaid princess's eyes blazed with determination at emotional breaking point. She raised her arms before lowering it toward them, her voice ringing out clear and strong across the deck.
“Sinking Deluge!”
At her command, the massive rectangular mass of water began to descend. The merfolk guards, true to their word, immediately sprang into action. Their hands moved in swift, practiced motions as they called upon their Intermediate-class Water Magic.
Unified Hydrokinesis Theory – Intermediate-class Water Support Magic – Aqua Barrier
Sheets of water rose from the sea, interposing themselves between the falling deluge and the ferry. For a brief moment, it seemed as though their efforts might be enough. But the princess's Advanced Magic proved too powerful as the guards' barriers began to buckle and break under the immense pressure, adding to the approaching deluge.
Yet, those precious few seconds were all Jihoon needed.
With ‘Exceed!’ amplifying his physical attributes to superhuman levels, stronger than even the merfolk guards presiding, Jihoon gripped his decayed halberd tightly. Feeling the ancient weapon thrumming with power, resonating with his own determination. As the water mass bore down upon them, Jihoon planted his feet firmly on the deck and his stance into motion.
Judgment of Light – Rising Sun
With a powerful upward swing, Jihoon unleashed the technique. The halberd's blade glowed with an intense, almost blinding light as it arced upward. The force of the swing was so great that it lifted Jihoon off his feet, propelling him skyward towards the descending water mass.
As the glowing blade met the water, a biblical sight unfolded before the awestruck onlookers. The massive volume of water split apart, cleaving cleanly down the middle like the parting of a great sea. Jihoon continued his ascent, his halberd’s imbued aura carving a path through the water as he rose.
The separated halves of the water mass crashed down on either side of the ferry, sending up massive sprays but leaving the vessel and its passengers largely unharmed. Jihoon reached the apex of his swing, suspended for a moment in midair, the afterglow of the swinging arc reflected by the surrounding water droplets.
As he began to descend, the full impact of what had just occurred hit everyone on the deck. The merfolk guards stared in disbelief, the princess's Advanced-class spell had been completely negated much to her own. Karim's jaw had dropped open, unable to process the scene he had just witnessed.
This is the very same move that overcomes Alvorna’s Expert-class Wind Magic ‘Heavenly Tribulation’. By logical conclusion, it could have easily done the same with the princess’s Advanced-class Water Magic. But that doesn’t negate just how momentous such a feat that he performed really is.
Soon, he descended back with force that shattered the floor in his landing spot. He doesn’t exactly have the chance to be gentle with how dire the situation is. The princess remained stunned seeing his performance, unable to think of a reason as to how he could overcome her strongest Magic spell no matter how she racked her brain.
The ferry fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the lapping of waves against its hull and the distant cries of seabirds. As if judgment awaits this unruly daughter who caused nothing but trouble.
All of the witnesses to this impulsive action of her has nothing but scorn and hatred toward her despite her status. All of that piercing gaze that landed on her continues to push her unstable mind as it pushes her to tear. As the guards about to approach to apprehend her, she immediately tries to jump into water away from this ferry. All as if she wanted to run away from this weighing burden in her heart.
The Doppelganger took action with haste, and with incandescent Light that converged, it continues to push the boundary of what his Light Magic even capable of.
“Sol Corona!”.
A thread made out of incandescent light weaved and manifested in both of his hands as he then threw it toward the fleeing princess as it wrapped around her figure. With how staggering their difference in stats as stated, he couldn’t bind or stop her if he even wanted to. And the moment she jumped, the Doppelganger was immediately dragged along with her, and Jihoon quickly held onto his body double by impulse.
And the result, he is also dragged with the Doppelganger by the immense merfolk strength that she possessed. Before even an appropriate response could be made, Jihoon has already gone into the water itself, following the mermaid princess who only now runs with no place in mind. Anywhere but here where her greatest disgrace is all shown and seen.
Even the vanguard that Jihoon struck into the water tried to pursue but up to no avail as she now swims with all of her strength which exceeds all of the pursuing merfolk guards by double. And Jihoon who is now dragged along with her can only held tightly as she doesn’t even notice the weight of two people dragging behind her.
It is said that a mermaid’s sorrow always scatters to the uncaring sea. Vanishing without a trace like sea foam.