Chapter 136 : Chapter 136

Chapter 136 - The World's Best Clone Jutsu

The Mujin Plains.

It was a plain that stretched endlessly without any high hills, making it easy to see the horizon.

Along that horizon, a Skeleton Horse galloped.

It neither tired nor ate, moving its hooves according to its master's will.

Since its master neither tired nor ate, the Skeleton Horse had no reason to stop.

It ran, chasing the setting sun and with the rising moon tied to its tail.

Until a colossal Skeleton Horse sitting upon the plain came into view.

The horse was massive, truly massive.

If there was a single mountain on this plain, it was that mountain-sized Skeleton Horse.

“My lord. I congratulate you on your return to the White Skeleton Giant Horse.”

“Butler.”

For the first time in ten years, my soles stepped on something other than snow and corpses.

The fresh grass made a rustling sound with every step.

At the same time, the First Son issued his first command after his return.

“Prepare the Undead Knight Legion. We are going to Eclipse.”

“I will have them ready within the hour. May I ask the purpose of this sortie?”

The butler with raven-colored hair asked, bowing deeply.

My lord looked down at his subordinate for a moment.

It was a question he would not normally ask.

But returning after ten years and heading to Eclipse instead of the Pantheon was not normal either.

The First Son turned his head again and slowly moved the Skeleton Horse.

“It is a conquest. It is a celebratory salute announcing my return. It is also personal curiosity and a confirmation as the eldest.”

“I understand.”

“Prepare them. If there are any gaps in our first sortie in ten years, I will not forgive it.”

The Butler smiled faintly.

“I will not be a disgrace. As I have always done.”

Fwoooosh—

Splitting into a flock of crows in an instant, he scattered from his spot.

The Butler, the only subordinate with whom I conversed, was still as fast as ever, even after ten years.

The White Skeleton Giant Horse was still as magnificent as ever, and the Undead Knight Legion was also intact.

The only things that had changed were my siblings, who must have gained a lot of confidence over the ten years, and the world itself.

Furthermore, the kinsman I was about to visit now belonged to both categories.

The Dark Elixir I saw on my way here, and its creator. The one known as the Youngest Son.

I slowly but intently read through the data the Butler had gathered about him, unable to look away.

It was astonishing.

“…Dante. So this is the kind of person you were.”

When I saw the section about the conquest of Eclipse, a smile unconsciously formed on my face.

Even though he was so young and I was only reading about him in text, I could feel the innate disposition of a conqueror.

The conquest of Eclipse was something that I, the First Son, had planned to do only after becoming the Family Head.

He had coveted it with the sole desire to live, stubbornly delved into it, and finally conquered it.

“My other kinsmen were quite uninteresting. But you might be a little different.”

The eyes that held gray pupils became as sharp as his sword.

***

Eclipse, Dark Moon Grand Castle, the Youngest Son’s private chamber.

It could exist anywhere in the Dark Moon Grand Castle according to its master's will and could become as wide as desired.

But today, the room was half its usual size.

A wide space befitting a nobleman was rather a hindrance to concentration.

I set up the outer walls closely and sat cross-legged in the center.

I closed my eyes and focused on myself.

[What are you preparing for?]

“To fend off the First Son with minimal damage, I have to use the demon curse of Eclipse.”

[What if that First Son guy accuses you of demon worship?]

“It’s a fight between kinsmen. The one who survives wins, and the Family Head-nim is likely aware of the stored curse through the Intelligence Department.”

[So you're saying it's within the expected range.]

“Yes. And he probably didn’t think I could actually use it. Like the Butler said, it requires offerings.”

And it required a tremendous amount of offerings.

It wasn't just any curse, but a demon's curse, so human sacrifice was essential.

Enad snorted.

[Are you planning to drag some nearby minorities and put them on the altar? You don’t seem to have the guts for that.]

“There’s no need for that. I can handle the offerings myself.”

That was why I was sitting here.

“I’m going to try something I had only thought about when I first created the heart.”

[…A heart?]

Nodding, I spread my bone marrow behind my back.

The Six Paths within the Scripture of the Dark Wheel was my last resort.

It was best not to reveal it unless I judged I could kill him now.

So, the bone marrow I conjured in the empty room created a heart as before.

Beast. Recovery. Prolonged Life. Creation.

「Six Paths, Path of the Beast」

Human Transmutation

With a gloomy black light, a red heart rose onto my palm.

It didn't end there.

“Arise.”

With a single word, bones swirled around the heart.

It was a prelude seen dozens of times by the Youngest Son’s side.

[Hey, you—]

The words were not completed.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

A casual greeting was met with a casual greeting.

Two identical voices looked at each other with identical eyes.

Through the bloodshot eyes, facial features with no differences were reflected as if in a mirror.

It was a very strange feeling.

Am I looking at myself? Or are you looking at me?

The Youngest Son spoke to his other self.

“You are my clone. My clone made from my heart.”

“I am your clone. Your clone made from your heart.”

The heart created using the Six Paths was devoured by a Skeleton Soldier as usual.

What emerged was none other than the Youngest Son himself.

“Make a small cut on the tip of your index finger.”

The clone moved according to the original's command.

It spread its magic power to create a flow of blood, then solidified it to form a blade.

As commanded, it slightly cut the tip of its index finger.

Blood of the same color as the one who cut himself welled up redly.

“As I thought.”

The Youngest Son also held up his index finger.

There was no visible wound. There was only a pain as if the index finger had been cut.

“So the pain is transferred even if I’m not injured.”

[…Are you seriously planning to offer these clones as sacrifices?]

“It’s a very advanced trick.”

[What do you mean trick? You’re just shouldering all the pain the offerings receive.]

“But I’ll still be alive. Just because the pain feels like death doesn’t mean I’ll die.”

[You madman….]

I ignored the muttering.

For a while, the Youngest Son experimented with various aspects of the clone in the small room.

His expression looked nothing but joyful. He seemed to relish this moment, putting aside the pain he would receive later.

“It can’t use the Six Paths and Enad, and it doesn't have the mana recovery magic circle I separately engraved, but other than that, it’s the same as me.”

The mana capacity, which had been an issue before, had increased significantly by absorbing the Yin energy here.

So, the absence of the recovery magic circle wouldn't be felt much at the clone's level.

Furthermore, there was something else that surprised me about the clone.

“I can make the clone’s memories my own whenever I want.”

It was a fact that came after a very strange memory of myself watching me entered my head.

“This will make its uses a bit more diverse.”

The Youngest Son smiled.

It was the kind of smile that Enad, who was always with him, would describe as very sinister.

Knock, knock—

Someone knocked on the door.

By now, I could tell which subordinate was standing outside just by the rhythm of the knock.

A sense of mischief stirred.

I quickly hid behind the bed and whispered to the clone.

“Pretend to be me.”

“Come in, Head Maid.”

The clone, with a small nod, immediately opened its mouth.

From the tone to the accent, it was chillingly identical. The more I saw it, the more I laughed at its performance.

Clank—

The Head Maid opened the door and entered.

“This is a new report from Lubosch regarding the First Son-nim.”

She continued her report, regardless of whether the clone was sitting on the floor or not.

“He says the Undead Knight Legion has gathered in the Mujin Plains. Their numbers suggest they have no intention of this ending as a mere greeting.”

“Is that so. How is the curse coming along?”

“The Butler-nim said it will go smoothly as long as the offerings are prepared. So, what is your plan, Youngest Son-nim?”

The Head Maid’s head turned with a mechanical click.

Behind the bed. Where the Youngest Son was.

“I’ve been found out.”

I got up awkwardly and examined the clone.

“It has a sense of life, and nothing is lacking. How did you know?”

“What do you mean, nothing is lacking?”

The Head Maid continued bluntly.

“It lacks emotions, doesn’t it?”

“…Emotions?”

“Yes. The emotions contained in your eyes when you look at me, Youngest Son-nim. That thing doesn’t have them.”

“What are those emotions?”

The Head Maid changed the subject instead of answering.

“The Undead Knight Legion will arrive at the north gate within two days. It seems you have prepared the offerings.”

“Yes. These clones will serve as the offerings.”

“Are there no other side effects to that? The connection seems quite strong.”

“I haven’t confirmed any.”

“…For now, I understand.”

The top agent of the Intelligence Department affirmed, narrowing her eyes.

It felt like she was just letting it slide, as she was a master at detecting lies.

Having overcome the crisis(?), the Youngest Son, who had been hiding, stood up.

“Since my older brother wishes to play with me, let’s prepare to welcome him. The curse comes after that.”

“I will prepare the Royal Guard.”

“I will visit the Gatekeeper separately. In the meantime, Head Maid, focus on the elders' movements.”

“Understood.”

A corridor was created, and I parted ways with her.

The Youngest Son went straight down the stairs and reached the main gate.

As always, a knight in simple attire stood with a single-edged greatsword.

His body was as unshakable as a pillar, but he couldn't keep his hands off the hilt of his sword.

He repeatedly gripped and released the greatsword that stood upright on the floor.

He was constantly questioning whether it was right not to hold the sword at this very moment.

The Youngest Son spoke to the back of his head.

“Relax. There are still two days left until Older Brother arrives.”

“…Youngest Son-nim.”

The face that turned to look at me was full of worry.

For that man, it was a tremendous display of emotion.

And so, mischief stirred again.

“Scared?”

“…Don’t say such strange things.”

“If not, why are you flinching like a puppy that needs to pee?”

“You say that because you’ve never seen the First Son-nim, Youngest Son-nim.”

“So you are scared.”

The Gatekeeper frowned and then let out a long sigh.

“Why don’t you tell me? I’ll be scared with you.”

He was staring into the air with half-lidded eyes.

“Over a decade ago…. I once taught the First Son-nim the sword. To be precise, the First Son-nim came to me asking to be taught.”

The Gatekeeper’s eyes recalled the past.

It wasn't that no one among the kinsmen wielded a sword, but it was rare.

Finding that admirable as a Cursed Knight, he had taught him a few things.

A beginner holding a sword for the first time and the family’s strongest Cursed Knight.

The difference in skill level was immense, and the First Son initially tilted his head at the inconsiderate instruction.

Afterward, he was dispatched to the north by the family’s command.

“Three months. When I returned from my dispatch, the First Son-nim had perfectly executed and even applied the advanced forms I had taught him.”

“You said Older Brother incorporated Bone Sorcery into Cursed Swordsmanship instead of a curse.”

“Yes. That is the most prominent part of the First Son-nim's genius.”

While the Youngest Son incorporated Blood Attribute magic into his Cursed Swordsmanship, he had perfected it with Bone Sorcery.

Despite the clear limitations of it being a solid, he relentlessly created his own Cursed Swordsmanship.

“For about two years, I alternated between dispatches and instruction. After that, the First Son-nim no longer sought me out.”

He had realized there was nothing left to learn.

“Excluding the Limitless Sword, which I couldn't complete at the time, my well of knowledge ran dry in just two years.”

He let out a hollow laugh as he spoke.

He still remembered the duel the First Son had requested just before he left.

Every single form they exchanged that day was vivid in his mind.

In the end, he won by knocking the sword from his hand, but it was by no means an easy victory.

“The First Son-nim, who grew enough to make me breathless in just two years, has spent ten years in the Ash Mountains. I can’t even imagine how much stronger he has become by now.”

“In that case.”

The Youngest Son interjected into his thoughts.

“Let’s imagine it by crossing swords with me. Tell me about Older Brother’s sword.”

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