“You bastard! You were hiding while all of us were fighting here!” Vini shouted, his voice filled with anger and frustration.
The newcomer smirked, his expression calm but smug. “No need to be all prissy and mad. I just did what I had to.” He shrugged at Vini’s demeanor as if he was completely unbothered with the type of mess he had created.
“He’s right,” Ludwig said, his tone calm but firm. “He too is taking part in this challenge. He did what he had to to win. Though I still don’t like it.”
The newcomer tilted his head, his smirk widening. “How did you find out? I’m sure we didn’t even meet back in the forest. And you clearly don’t know me or what I do.”
“That’s irrelevant,” Ludwig replied, his gaze sharp. “As for how I spotted you, I always thought something was off when that guy attacked Vini.”
“Yeah,” the newcomer said, his tone dripping with mockery. “If he didn’t, I’d be the last one standing here while you all would have been fighting among yourselves, trying to figure out who’s real and who’s fake.”
Ludwig sighed, his expression unreadable. “Still, it all turned out right. Kill your clone, and let’s get this over with. I don’t want to stay here any other second.”
“What if I don’t want to?” the young man said, his smile turning sinister.
The air in the room felt as if it had dropped several degrees, everyone was getting more and more pissed.
“Then I’ll fuck you up personally!” Bron cursed, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.
“And how would you figure out who’s real and who’s fake?” the newcomer shot back, his tone mocking. “After all, if you attack me and I’m the clone, you’ll be disqualified—same as the guy before. Surely you don’t want to get disqualified, after all you passed, or almost.”
“Even if one of us is sacrificed we could that would mean we’ll be able to figure out the real one immediately afterward, and trust me I’ll still eliminate you. Personally, that is.” Ludwig said, his tone calm but laced with menace.
“I see, but did you forget what I can do?” the newcomer said, his smile widening. In an instant, he and his clone disappeared, reappearing right behind Ludwig. “I can easily escape.”
“Why are you doing this?” Minerva demanded, her voice filled with frustration.
“I don’t know,” the newcomer said, his tone light and carefree. “Because it’s fun.”
Just as he finished speaking, Ludwig’s hand shot out, gripping the newcomer’s neck with an ironclad hold.
“Hey!” the newcomer shouted, panic flashing across his face. “Stop that! You’re risking failing!”
“But I don’t, though,” Ludwig said, his voice cold. He pressed the blade of his weapon against the newcomer’s neck. “I already know you’re the real one.”
“How can you even tell? We’re exactly the same!” the newcomer protested, his voice strained.
“The hem of your robe,” Ludwig said, his tone calm but firm. “It’s not burnt.” He gestured with his head toward the clone. “The other guy’s clothes are burnt. That’s the reason for the disqualification earlier. He was unlucky enough to throw the spell, miss Vini, and land on the clone. That’s how I figured you were here with us in the room. You may share the same appearance, but your clone’s clothes are burnt. And since you’re real, and your clone is fake, killing you has no repercussions on me.”
The newcomer’s smirk faltered, his bravado crumbling under Ludwig’s unrelenting grip. “Fine! Fine!” he said, raising his hands in surrender. The clone mirrored his actions, its expression blank.
“Don’t try anything stupid,” Ludwig warned, his tone sharp. “You’ll be disqualified. Take out the clone, and let’s be done with this dumb part of the trial.”
The newcomer rubbed his neck, wincing at the pain. “Gosh, you’re such a bore,” he muttered, his tone filled with annoyance.
He walked toward the arena, his clone following closely behind. The clone seemed confused, its movements hesitant. It didn’t speak or say much, but its eyes darted around as if searching for an opportunity to strike.
Just as the fight was about to start, the newcomer raised his hand. “Might as well finish this fast, then,” he said, his tone casual.
“What is he on about?” Bron muttered, his brow furrowed.
The newcomer’s raised hand twisted, and so did the clone’s. They both reacted in perfect sync, their movements eerily identical. Ludwig’s grip tightened on his weapon, his eyes narrowing as he watched the scene unfold.
Two shadows surged up from beneath both the newcomer and his clone. However, the shadow beneath the clone was thicker and darker, while the one beneath the newcomer was faint and barely visible.
Ludwig’s eyes flicked to the ceiling, where the light source was placed. He realized that the newcomer had positioned himself in a way that exposed him to more light, while the clone stood in a dimmer area.
The shadows around both of them tightened, and the clone’s body burst apart, its form dissolving into sludge. The newcomer’s body rattled violently, blood trickling from his nose and mouth, but he remained standing.
The red number above them dropped to zero, and the wall at the far end of the room tore open, revealing a new path.
“Are you happy?” the newcomer said, wiping the blood from his face. He pulled a small potion from his pocket and drank it, his expression calm despite the pain.
‘This one’s insane,’ Ludwig thought, his eyes narrowing.
The attack could have eliminated them both. The clone could copy the same spells, but since the newcomer had positioned himself better, his spell was stronger. The clone’s spell was weaker due to the lack of light. Yet, the newcomer had been willing to take that much damage just to secure victory. He could have cleared the trial whenever he wanted, but he chose to mess with the rest of the students instead.
Minerva approached Ludwig, her voice low. “That guy’s got a couple of screws loose.”
“Yeah, I can tell,” Ludwig replied, his tone grim. He turned and walked toward the light. For now, he needed to focus on what sort of trial is coming up next.