Battling Midnight's Clones
Midnight's ability to create clones—it's an annoyingly unmatched power. And I doubted he could only make just one. Sure enough, as if affirming my prediction, a third Midnight appeared, lunging at my throat with his sword.
I twisted my body to dodge the attack while firing off an uppercut that smashed straight into his jaw. The guy's body floated up into the air. I leaped to deliver the finishing blow, but the Midnight behind me interfered, preventing me from closing it out.
"Impressive. You live up to that grand moniker, Joker."
"What, you scared? Turn tail now, and I might pretend I didn't see you."
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not such a coward that I'd run from a villain right in front of me."
Each clone individually wasn't that strong. One-on-one, I was confident I could take him down in two exchanges. But numbers were the problem. You can't beat a gang-up, especially since these weren't separate beings—they were extensions of one original, with coordination that was way too sharp. Teamwork usually requires endless practice with allies to shine, but this guy pulled it off as naturally as breathing.
Any gap I showed, they stabbed right into it. I couldn't even move recklessly. The silver lining was that this wasn't an open field—it was a cramped alley. I didn't know how many clones he could make, but in tight quarters like this, the disadvantage of facing multiple foes was somewhat offset. Their attack range was limited.
If this were an obstacle-free open space, they'd just swarm me from all sides and that'd be that. Now, what to do?
Midnight gave me no time to think, as all three charged at once. I deflected the sword from the one in front and aimed a punch at his face, but a side attacker forced me to abandon the strike and raise my guard. The horizontal slash was blocked by my thick hide and solid muscles—it only grazed my flesh a bit, nothing significant.
That much was easily handled by my regeneration, but the issue was the endless barrage. Try to finish one, and the other two hit you. Focus on one, and the rest strike your blind spots, scattering your focus. Staying put like this meant I'd get overwhelmed without landing a hit, so I kicked off the wall, broke through the encirclement, and created some distance.
"What a dirty, cheating ability."
"Aw, you're making me blush with compliments like that."
Think. How to take down his clones? Generally, to beat a clone user, you target the real body—then the clones vanish. Of course, no guarantee it'd work here; his power might be different. But worth a shot.
Problem was, I couldn't tell which was the real one. The chaotic melee had mixed them up—I'd lost track of the first guy I encountered. What a headache.
Still, the real body had to be at least stronger than the clones. Charge in wildly and focus on the one with different movements—might work. Luckily, his attacks weren't lethal enough to kill me outright. Guess I'd have to tank hits and learn on the fly again. If you're dumb, your body suffers—what can you do?
"Hey. I'm just an innocent werewolf passing by. Why target me?"
I babbled nonsense to buy regen time. He seemed to see through it but didn't rush in, engaging instead.
"Honestly, I don't think you're the type to harm heroes or civilians. But that doesn't mean I won't take you down."
"I stopped that terrorist attack for you guys. Can't you let it slide just once?"
"You're too suspicious to let go. Why'd you spare that monster earlier?"
Damn. He had seen. Being mistaken for a monster ally was bad. But spilling about Seo Chaerim would be worse. No clue how heroes viewed Betrayers, but they'd never go easy—kill her or drag her off for inhuman experiments. Chaerim was a pain, sure, but she was a teammate now. Couldn't screw over a comrade.
"Kid looked harmless up close. Didn't attack first, so I let it go. Jealous?"
"Werewolves always spout nonsense. Doesn't matter. I'll drag you in and make you talk by force."
My wounds had mostly healed. Lingering ache was bearable. No point talking more—I charged straight at him.
Honest movement would get me surrounded fast, so I scrambled on all fours, wall-running erratically to disrupt their formation. First, a light probe. I slashed claws at the outermost one; he parried with his sword. Then the two on my flanks lunged, stabbing at my chest.
Dodged one, but the other sliced deep into my chest. Heavy bleed, but payoff too—that stabber's moves were leagues above the others. That's the real body.
Keeping him in mind, I wall-ran wildly, hit-and-run repeating. Two hits. Two solid ones to pin him. I'd be exposed to clones while targeting him, but avoid vitals and it wouldn't kill me.
Time to end it. Delay more, and another hero might show—or he'd spawn extras. I'd held back so far, but now full throttle. He seemed decently strong; full power might not kill him. Didn't want to go all-out on a hero, but he wasn't weak enough to hold back.
I backed off, then exploded into their midst at max speed. They'd adapted to my patterns; this burst caught them flat-footed, opening a gap.
One step. Ducked a clone's head-swipe.
Another step. Real body raised his sword in panic to guard vitals—too slow. My fist rocketed straight—
—Shunk.
"...Huh?"
A fourth clone appeared behind the real body, sword piercing through his chest to impale my gut.
This psycho. I'd figured a fourth was possible. But using a clone to stab through himself? Never saw that coming—even if it wasn't the real one.
The gut stab staggered me; clones piled on. My superior physique let me bull through barely, escaping the ring. The pierced clone crumpled to the ground.
Didn't expect that tactic. Organ damage outpaced regen. This was dangerous. Blood poured, slicking the alley floor.
"Thought the one that fell was the real deal, huh? Fighters always target the 'body' against clone users. Easy to bait 'em by making one act like it."
Damn. He'd read me completely. Price of numbers game was steep.
Killing intent surged—I could still win by biting and ripping. Subduing was harder than killing; that's why I'd chosen the hard path. But no room left. Keep trying to capture, and I'd die.
Have to kill him? For real?
Better than dying, but it'd shatter an unbreakable taboo in my own mind.
"Time to wrap this up, Joker?"
His clones closed in. Blood loss blurred my vision, reason sinking. Survival instinct boiled with murderlust. I bared fangs, growling, stepping forward.
But then—
"That's far enough. Push it more, and things get really messy."
A devil wedged between us, blocking the way.
"You... Hwang Yerang?"
"Oh, you recognize me? Long time no see, Midnight oppa."
"Why are you here...?"
Hwang Yerang? That devil was Hwang Yerang? Now that I looked, yeah—that tail and arms rang a bell. First time seeing her full transform, so I hadn't clocked it. She could go full devil, huh. Made sense—transformations usually overhaul the whole body.
More shocking: she and Midnight knew each other.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"Later. Not the time. Anyway, Midnight oppa, nice seeing you after ages, but can we call it? Our wolf bro's bleeding out."
"What's he to you? Why cover for him?"
"Mm... my teammate now?"
"He's your teammate?"
"Yup. Problem?"
Atmosphere felt off. Hwang Yerang had terrorized the Association to rescue Seo Chaerim, gone villain and wanted—yet no hostility from Midnight toward her. Did he know her side?
"Why'd you leave the Association?"
"What? They kicked me out."
"I know you're not the terrorist type. What happened?"
"Tell you, and you'll betray the Association too?"
"..."
"Yeah. We can't be together. But old teammate perks—I can ask you to look away? Don't wanna fight you either."
"...Go."
"Okay, thanks. Still zipping around with clones only, huh. You're such a scaredy-cat, oppa."
"Call it smart."
"Sure, sure. I'm really going now. See you nex—nah, bad idea. Anyway, bye-bye."
After she showed, Midnight's hostility vanished. He watched us leave blankly, making no chase.
And so, I escaped the alley with Hwang Yerang, leaving Midnight behind.