Hsin-yi yawned in boredom as she rubbed her eyes. "This is weird. I mean, yeah, my skill deviates sometimes but, like, it's literally been hours," the Taiwanese woman complained.

Kuan-yu - their apparent leader - nodded grimly. "Do you think he somehow caught on?"

The teenaged boy Pai-han looked out to the horizon that bordered Yilan city while he stroked John the Husky's neck. "He was strong at the auction. Maybe he has a wide-ranged detection skill?"

"No, I do not," a calm and unfamiliar voice replied in perfect Hakka - a rather rare language for a Taiwanese to use to communicate with since only those of Hakka ancestry even bothered with it really.

Standing up in a flash, the bear-like Chun-hung started shaking his wrist but the man stood about 10-meters away from the group of local champions raised a palm.

"Do not summon your bow, Chun-hung. I am not your enemy, I am also not actually King Daz. I am a clone. Killing me will accomplish nothing more than antagonising my original," the man claimed.

Surprise flickered across Chun-hung's stone-like face. 'How does he know about my bow? How does he know my name? I'd have sensed an Identification usage. How didn't I or John hear him approaching?' The large man looked to his leader for guidance.

Kuan-yu frowned deeply. "Don't do anything for now, Chun-hung. You, you claim to be just a clone of Daz's, right?"

Nodding, the clone replied, "That is correct."

"You wouldn't mind if I identified you then, would you? That should prove your claim," Kuan-yu suggested.

The clone nodded again. "Please, by all means, go ahead."

Kuan-yu wasted no time and used his skill, Higher Identification on the man.

Death Energy Manifestation Clone of [Daz] This is a clone made from the host [Daz]'s skill [Death Energy Manifestation]. It has 70% of [Daz]'s stats and can use all of [Daz]'s skills at 70% efficiency.

"It really is a clone..." Kuan-yu said in shock.

Not only was this situation nothing like Hsin-yi's skill said it would be but the man himself had sent a clone instead of himself to speak with them, showing how cautious he was being.

"Are you satisfied now, Kuan-yu?" Daz's clone asked.

"How is it that you know our names and how did you find us?" Kuan-yu asked tensely.

Daz's clone didn't seem to be worried in the slightest at the stiff tone being thrown at him. "My original has his ways of determining information without relying on the system. What he is more curious about, however, is why you planned to attempt to murder him to moment he crossed the horizon over there atop the Yaoguai," he said, pointing into the distance.

A frightened look entered the teenaged boy Pai-han's eyes as he held onto John the Husky's neck. "Kuan-yu, he's dangerous," the boy said.

Daz's clone hardly fought to deny such a scared claim, in fact, he nodded. "Indeed, however, my original wishes for peace and mutual cooperation. Mostly because he does not take pleasure in the killing of his fellow inhabitants of Earth, but also in part because of his promise to your fellow native champion, Hsiao-han."

Hsin-yi's eyebrows perked up. "You know that kid? How?"

Still keeping an eye on Daz's clone, Kuan-yu asked her, "Is that really important right now?"

"She's never agreed to work with us but if she's made an arrangement with this guy then yeah, I think that's kind of important," Hsin-yi said as she rolled her eyes.

Daz's clone responded with, "My original met Hsiao-han during the Grand System Auction. They are friends and allies. Let it be known that Hsiao-han requested my original to show mercy to Gǒng should things grow violent between our two groups."

Daz's clone spread his arms in a show of non-hostility before he added, "Now, I have been polite with you and you are not attacking me, so entertain my question; why did you intend to kill my original like moralless murderers?"

An awkward look entered the four Taiwanese champion's eyes and none immediately answered.

Seeing this hesitance, Daz's clone shook his head sadly.

"I will be frank, my original wishes to rule all of Earth as its sole sovereign to better fight the larger threats of the system. Petty territorial fighting is beneath him. He would like to join forces with you and he naturally is not a supporter of evil. He is an Archreaper evolved from a Justice Reaper. You may use the system to look up Justice Reapers if you do not believe my next words but, as the name implies, justice matters a great deal to them. Almost as much as breathing does. It's instinctual," the clone explained.

"Now, tell me, are you and your people willing to support discussions about such a thing in a civil manner or am I to bring sad news to my original?" the clone asked.

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Kuan-yu clenched his fists tightly as he said, "Another foreigner trying to steal our home from us... our heritage... Leave Taiwan! It isn't yours!"

Daz's clone narrowed his eyes. "And who's is it, exactly?" He pointed at Kuan-yu. "Yours? His? Hers? Perhaps it belongs to that dog?"

Daz's clone shook his head. "You are being childish and immature. We are one people. Age, height, gender, skin colour, place of birth, it matters not. What matters is that so few of us still remain. Do you really wish to fight for something as pointless as cultural heritage? Such things can be kept and maintained under the rule of my original. He merely wants all citizens of Earth to be safe and united as one."

"Well, he can have those ideals anywhere but here!" Kuan-yu yelled.

Chun-hung wore a conflicted expression on his face as he said, "Kuan-yu, we shouldn't be rash. If he's being honest then wouldn't that be a better outcome than fighting the Chinese and Indians on our own? Think of the normal people we're protecting."

Pai-han nodded softly. "It's not a horrible idea. Couldn't we at least talk about it?" the boy asked though he was still fighting back his reaction to whatever had made him scared of Daz's clone.

Hsin-yi took their leader's side. "He's right. Guys like this don't care about us. He didn't even come to talk in person, he sent a clone instead. He's insincere."

Daz's clone raised an eyebrow. "Need I remind you that you were fully intent on attempting to assassinate my original without even speaking with him? Yet here I am speaking on his behalf instead of turning you all into corpses. Think sensibly. It would be regrettable and far from ideal, but if necessary for local peace to be ensured, Gǒng will be thoroughly eradicated off of the face of the planet."

"You can fuckin tr-"

Kuan-yu's yell was interrupted by a crushing pressure weighing down on him. Him, Hsin-yi, Pai-han and Chun-hung alike all fell to the floor as they felt the weight of a mountain bear down upon them.

"This is a skill called Archreaper's Aura. You should all be feeling the urge to bow beneath me. Resisting said urge is why you are all flattened against the ground," Daz's clone explained.

"The skill is only at 70% efficiency as I am not King Daz, but know that should he want you dead, he would need only activate this skill and then it is a simple matter to end your lives," the clone said coldly.

He then walked up to John the Husky and stroked the dog's neck gently. The animal seemed happy to receive his affection as it rubbed its body against the legs of Daz's clone.

"You are at the pinnacle of your species... How curious..." Daz's clone entertained the Husky for a bit longer before he turned and started walking away. "If you wish for a peaceful discourse where you and my original may discuss terms for co-existence and to work out plans for the future of Taiwan, come to Yilan City's central mall tomorrow evening."

The clone deactivated its Archreaper's Aura then said, "Whether you think otherwise or not, Taiwan and the rest of the world will come under my original's rule. If you will be a part of that and help shape a brighter future for your homeland is entirely up to you."

----------------------------------------

"Ah, you're back, Beta," Daz said, welcoming his clone.

Nodding as he closed the door to the mall's roof - Daz's quarters of the building - the clone said, "As ordered, I delivered your message to those that wished to do you harm."

"Great. Seeing how you didn't return to me as a puff of grey smoke, that means they didn't kill you. Also great. Did you check their crime lists like I asked?" Daz questioned.

"Of course, Original. They all had very minor crimes like a case of assault here, shoplifting there. No unjustified murder, sexual assault, blackmail or other evil acts," Beta explained.

"Hmm." Daz stroked his chin as he spoke to himself, "No unjustified murder? So does that mean that I view killing in the name of a nationalistic ideal as justified or was I the first person they were planning to kill without first knowing my intent?"

Regardless, he waved his wrist, "Good job, Beta," and dismissed the clone, returning him to his pool of Death Energy.

It was a nuisance that he was forced to use a clone as a shield of sorts to make the first contact with Gǒng but he saw no other safer options, neither did his Survivor's Instincts.

Alpha was busy as New Earth's acting king while Gamma was assisting Rocky and Adam with conquering and controlling Arizona, so Daz was forced to relieve Beta from his duties of keeping the peace in Las Vegas.

"I need to send someone I trust to Vegas to monitor it. Too often am I stripped of my clones and too often do I require one's help. Sooner or later, the city will come to resent me if I continue to neglect it. I can't allow that," Daz concluded.

Mofolo exited Hamson's blue skull, seemingly interesting in what Daz was speaking of. 'I know I am but a ghost, a mere remnant of Frila's past, but I was the ruler of a grand underwater empire once. I do not mind offering you my advice on the subject should you feel it would help you.'

Daz wore a surprised expression, though even that was rather muted. "I thought you didn't really have any interest in bothering with the real world. It's been months since we entered a contract and you usually keep yourself in Hamson's domain. What brought on this change of heart?"

'Ah, I never did say what I was doing, did I? I have always intended to help you whole-heartedly with ruling your kingdom,' Mofolo claimed as he stroked his sharp shark-like chin. 'Unlike little Reika, I chose to truly delve into what it means to be a spirit. She has dabbled and can help you alleviate mental pains, of course, I, however, have discovered that I am capable of something else entirely. Would you like to see?'

Daz's interest was piqued. "Go ahead, I'd love to witness what you can do."

Mofolo smiled and nodded. He then raised and spread both of his arms before slapping his hands together powerfully.

Daz felt a tingling sensation spread through his body and goosebumps covered him as he was subjected to the majesty of an entire sea manifesting behind Mofolo for a split second before it vanished immediately.

'This is a projection of the Sea of Atlantis. I can summon an astral version at will, provided I have enough energy. I dismissed it so it would not destroy this city but I can assure you, King Daz, it is a very powerful force,' Mofolo claimed confidently.

Reika furrowed her brows. 'Show off. We can do even more than that without even trying! Hmpf!'

"Don't lie, Reika." Daz smiled at Mofolo and said, "Excellent. I'm very pleased. I honestly thought you weren't going to be of much help but this is a very pleasant surprise. I trust you won't randomly use the Sea of Atlantis if we ever come across an Overgiant?"

A frown covered Mofolo's face. 'I cannot say. I will certainly try my best but I was never known for staying calm in life. I will, however, work to avoid seeking pointless revenge where doing so would endanger you.'

"Foolish," Daz scoffed. "You are a king of ancient times. Can you not see how idiotic it is to wish the erasure of an entire species for the actions of one of its members?"

'Such is the custom and culture of your people, King Daz, not mine. Regardless, I am here and willing to help with your conquering of Frila,' Mofolo said with the dignity of a monarch.

Daz shook his head. "That attitude of yours will be changed one day, but you're right, not today. I need to train my Shovel Arts. The skill will finish its evolution in 2-weeks and I'd like to incorporate both you and Reika into it. Come. Help me train."

'Boo! We were having fun relaxing...' Reika grumbled but she didn't say no.

Mofolo simply nodded quietly. Clearly, he thought different from Daz. His mind in regards to the Overgiants would not be changed so easily.