“Ah! D-Deek!” Lydia broke off the kiss and cried out when she noticed me looking at her.

“H-how could you?” Miki covered her mouth, completely shocked by what Lydia had done.

She not only abandoned her slave bond, but she ran into the arms of another man. How could Deek not feel extremely hurt? As he coldly watched her, the man who had been kissing her turned around.

“So, you’re the bastard who has tried to steal my life?” His voice was filled with anger, as his eyes practically glowed red with fury.

The girls behind me let out gasps of shock. I only sneered as I looked at this strange clone. At least, Lydia had just been confused. I would be willing to forgive her once everything was sorted out.

“Wh-what’s going on!” Celeste cried out.

“Demon Lord Aberis, that is what is going on.” The other Deek said darkly.

“The man in the Ost Republic?” Terra asked wonderingly.

“That was merely a diversion.” Deek sighed. “The true Lord Aberis is in Alerith. He’s been using Lord Reign as a puppet all this time. He’s the source of the demonic knights.”

“Oh, no!” Astria hissed.

“He’s coming to attack us soon.” Faeyna worried out loud.

I didn’t know if what the duplicate said was true. If it was, it actually explained a lot. That strangely powerful person that had suddenly attacked us. I had been worried about facing him for some time. This also explained his confidence in being able to conquer Chalm.

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“A few weeks ago, I cut off a piece of my soul to save all of you. The Demon Lord must have taken control of that weakened soul using a karmic infection, and then sent it here to destabilize our power. I’m sorry it took me so long to return, but that creature is an imposter!” The other Deek pointed at me.

I blanched at his words. Of all of the things I’d expect him to say, I never thought he’d be so shameless. I was right here, and his gig to seduce my women were already up, but he still had the gall to make these kinds of false claims? I had thought his words would be tossed out instantly, but all of the girls looked around in confusion as if they weren’t sure.

“How can you believe this clown?” I demanded. “He’s been in the clutches of Lord Reign for weeks. If he’s speaking the truth and it is the Demon Lord, it’s even less reason to believe him. We’ve all battled replicas before. In Widow’s Dungeon, they were also able to hijack my slave abilities and make an exact copy. Even if this guy was the other half of my soul, it’s clear he’s a dungeon doppelganger. We’ve all seen what they are capable of doing!”

“That’s true… perhaps he was reforged in the dungeon,” Miki responded defiantly.

“Miki, of everyone here, you should be most sensitive to the soul.” This Deek declared. “I don’t have a karma soul. You should be able to recognize that I am truly me.”

“That…” She looked uncertain for a second, but then she pulled out her staff and stepped forward.

“Miki, don’t…” I tried to grab her arm, but she dodged my grab and then waved out, nine tails forming behind her.

After a moment, her body shuddered and her face flashed in shock. “M-master?”

The second she said the words, the bond between her and me broke like the same manner that it had before. A dark grin formed on the other Deek’s face. As for Miki she cried out, looking shocked and even more confused.

“There is no point in continuing to discuss this!” I hissed coldly. “There is only one Deek!”

I pulled my sword from my inventory, and then attacked. I had to kill him immediately before he took anyone else!