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Episode 17 (Part 2)

Benjamin’s clone threw magic orbs at the duo, and they dodged them as best as they could. Sebastian blocked the shots with his sword and fired some beams right back at the clone. Fake Benjamin blocked them off with his fists, like an audition for a Kung-Fu movie.

Benjamin shouted ‘aura beam’ and blasted a beam from his wand, trying to catch his clone by surprise, but the impostor swallowed it, licking his lips afterward.

“Mm, that was tasty.” The fake Benjamin commented.

“Hey, give that back!” Benjamin shouted.

“Sure thing.” The clone replied while he blocked another one of Sebastian’s attacks and inhaled deeply.

As he exhaled, Benjamin’s aura beam reappeared, his mouth right towards Benjamin. He got out of the way, just in time, with the beam connecting with the wall behind him and exploding.

Sebastian went in for another attack but got countered by a sword the clone materialized.

Benjamin gave another battle cry as he attempted to strike the imposter in the back. The clone created another dark sword, blocking his attack and knocking Benjamin’s wand out of his hand.

“Benjamin, you need to stop shouting and giving away your position!” Sebastian pointed out.

“Well, at least I’m trying here!” Benjamin exclaimed.

“Are you saying I’m not?”

“Whatever happened to ‘no time for arguing’?”

“I never said that, and you started it!”

“I did?”

“Hey!” The clone called out to Benjamin, “You don’t have to try if you don’t want to.”

“What?” Benjamin asked.

“Why not give up and stop fighting altogether?”

“No.” Benjamin calmly replied, “Give me back Harry and Chi-Chi, and then we can talk!”

He whispered to his wand as it commanded it to summon water. The water rose quickly, flooding the room at an alarming rate. The imposter soon caught on, but Sebastian had no clue what Benjamin’s plan was.

Stolen story; please report.

“Ah, I see,” The fake Benjamin commented, smugly, “But there’s no way you’ll ever beat—”

Sebastian went in for another attack, but the clone blocked his sword once again. This time, Sebastian surprised the clone by kicking him in the stomach, causing the clone to fall into the water. Sebastian snatched the dark sword before it fell. Benjamin flew over to where his companion stood. They both performed lightning spells directed at the water. Once the enchantments finished, the two high-fived each other.

“Great teamwork!” Benjamin complimented.

“Wait, we don’t know if he’s dead or not.” Sebastian pointed out.

“What? But how could he survive something like—?”

The water quickly rose like a geyser. Using it as a distraction, the clone Benjamin snuck up behind the real magician and tackled him to a nearby wall. They punched and kicked with all their might, eventually falling into the water, leaving Sebastian floating above them, panicking. Unsure who was who anymore, he grabbed his sword, aiming carefully at them.

In the water, the two Benjamins struggled, keeping themselves from drowning. The clone grabbed Benjamin by the neck and started choking him. However, he let go and backed away, barely missing several energy beams as they sliced through the water.

Benjamin’s unconscious form sunk into the water, as his life drained from his soul, and he couldn’t move anymore. Out from the fading darkness of his mind, a soft voice spoke to him.

Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged. You can make it out of this, please keep trying...

Benjamin slowly opened his eyes. Within the water’s reflection, he saw many people he’s met throughout his travels list some of them. Benjamin clenched his fists, knowing he shouldn’t lose after coming this far, and he wouldn't back down either.

“Where did he go now?” Sebastian asked as he looked around the waters, “Was that even the right one?”

“Surprise, suckers!” The fake Benjamin jumped out of the water and headed straight towards Sebastian.

Sebastian tried to stall him by blasting magic at him, but the clone brushed them off with ease. As the clone readied a kick, Sebastian shot magic at his face, pushing him back. The water rose again. This time, the real Benjamin leaped out and grabbed his imposter’s legs, dragging him down into the water.

They struggled more until Benjamin kicked his clone in the head and swam to the top. As he reached the surface, he closed his eyes and imagined the area turning cold, hard, and white. Thanks to the power of his magic, the water became completely encased in ice, trapping the faker underwater.

“Phew, that was close.” Benjamin sighed in relief.

Sebastian, however, wasn’t sure who won the fight.

“Hey you,” He drew his sword and pointed it at the magician, “are you the real Benjamin?”

“Of course, I am. Who else could it be?”

“Hmm...”

“Seriously? Ok, look, remember this?”

“The scar, it’s not on your cheek!”

“Yeah, but it's dried up now, since the water—”

The ice broke, and Benjamin’s imposter slowly surfaced from the water, confronting the two.

“Why... you...” He hissed at them.

Sebastian and Benjamin had no clue what to do; at this rate, the fight would never end. A portal appeared and swallowed the pair before vanishing. The clone rushed over to follow them, but he was too late.

His body slowly weakened as they left him behind in the white box. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall back into the icy water.

I’m sorry. The man thought, his mind fading away, but I wasn’t able to — He died alone, sinking to the bottom of the empty, white room, unable to finish his last sentence.