Chapter 986: Breakthrough in the Life Domain—The Life Clone
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 986: Breakthrough in the Life Domain—The Life Clone
"Since everyone is in such high spirits, I can hardly spoil the fun. Hmm? This is..."
I swept my hand out to cast a spell, only to find that space itself seemed impossible to tear.
My spatial teleportation spell had failed. Someone had reinforced the space, anchoring the secret realm to reality!
Clearly, this wasn't the work of the witch sisters present. This was the handiwork of a Transcendent from another academy.
"Tsk. As expected, in the face of a Transcendent, even running away is a luxury. To think the gap between me and a Transcendent is so vast that I’d lose on spatial manipulation alone." I sighed, then tested a few other methods.
My Reverse Summoning Spell was slightly affected, but it was still perfectly functional.
With my Eighth Sense in Body Cultivation and my rudimentary Space Sense, I could barely force a spatial tear for teleportation, though it would be difficult.
The main issue was the sheer suppression of power levels. When a Transcendent faces a non-Transcendent, it really is a case of brute force carrying the day.
Even so, I had at least two ways to break through this. It didn't put too much pressure on me.
"Since they've locked down space, it means they're ready to make their move. I wonder if they've lost their minds... Don't they already know I have ways to cross the void between worlds? Do they really think a simple spatial lockdown will work on me?"
I mocked them under my breath, but I didn't abandon my previous plan.
When I tried to tear space earlier, I had intended to grab a clone from somewhere in the academy to perform a bait-and-switch.
However... since they were going to such great lengths to capture me, they had likely realized that the "me" in the game world was a fake.
Since I couldn't bring in an existing clone to impersonate me... I would have to source my materials on-site.
This secret realm was filled with corpses—those who had been heavily injured or killed, destined to lie here forever.
With a bit of modification, one could become an existence identical to me.
But... my ambition went beyond that.
I turned and walked toward the Ancient Remnant Ice King.
At this moment, it was a symbol carrying the hope and rise of its entire race. To me, however, it represented a different significance!
A Life Clone!
This wasn't a mere imitation; it was true life!
And yet, it was still a clone.
Life was its form of existence; "clone" was its relative relationship to me.
The hatred and independence of personality that people worried about were all based on false assumptions.
Even if there were hatred, is it not true that people can hate themselves?
Some hate themselves for not working hard enough when they achieve nothing.
Some hate themselves for their gambling addictions when they lose everything.
Reconciling with oneself was the prerequisite for the perfect application of a Life Clone.
No one can dictate that only one "me" can exist. If someone tries, then that person is the enemy of every "me."
If someone were to turn against themselves just because of what others said, that would be the ultimate joke.
Before long...
An identical "me" stood before me.
She radiated the same aura as I did, the same life.
Even Sister Bai wouldn't be able to tell us apart.
Because... we were both me.
The Life Clone.
A massive breakthrough in the Life Domain.
It was fundamentally different from the falsehood of previous external incarnations.
If someone wanted to kill me... in an extreme scenario, unless they killed every single one of my clones, I would never truly, permanently die.
In a desperate moment where I had no reservations, there would be no so-called "main body." Any Life Clone could serve as my main body.
When I define myself, I am me.
The death of any one "me" would only result in the loss of power, not the loss of my existence.
This level of understanding of life was like the shift I experienced when I first understood the Resurrection Spell—a total redefinition of life for someone who once knew nothing of it.
"With just this much power, are you just waiting for death here?" I felt out the new body; the only thing I wasn't used to was the power level.
"Just consider it an experience of the despair of facing death while powerless. There are some things in life you can only experience once. Such a wondrous joy of life must be tasted."
"I certainly haven't experienced it before. I'm actually a bit eager."
"Be serious~"
"Eek~ I'm so scared~"
"Are you just letting yourself go now?"
"Can't you feel it? It's a matter of perspective. You can look at events from a different angle, and you can do the same with life."
"I suppose so. Well, I'm off. I need to go back and explain things first, otherwise, quite a few witch sisters are going to be scared out of their wits."
As I spoke, a summoning array manifested before me.
However, I didn't respond to the summons immediately. Instead, I pulled a spellbook from within my body.
Crystallization.
The core and spellbook medium for what I had designated as the new Great Glacial Throne.
Now, it belonged to the Ancient Remnant.
In the next instant...
My figure vanished from the spot.
Even with the Life Clones, I had my own preferences.
If nothing went wrong, the original me would always be "me," for I carried my Tree of Great Knowledge.
This included the Soul Dream... the Tree of Fool's Dream... Fool's Village...
When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the Witch Academy.
"That's rare... shouldn't you be over at the Qunluosen Wasteland right now? Did you run into some trouble that forced you to notify me to summon you?"
Tan Han was holding my business card, looking me up and down with surprise. She asked in a slightly teasing tone.
"Oh, it's nothing. Space was just locked down over at the Qunluosen Wasteland, so I had you summon me back as a shortcut," I said, brushing the snow from my clothes.
"Sorry, let's chat later. I have some important matters to discuss with the Deans."
"Oh~ No problem, go ahead." Hearing that I was looking for the Deans, Tan Han didn't waste any more time. Anything that needed to be said to the Deans in person had to be important.
"Sister Tan Han~ Who was that? She appeared and then vanished in a flash."
"The legendary teaching assistant of the Witch Academy," Tan Han said, turning to the young girl beside her and then looking toward where I had disappeared. Her voice carried a hint of emotion. "It's a pity she didn't have time to chat. Let's not worry about that. Come~ I'll help you with your extra training!"
* * *
On the battlefield of the Qunluosen Wasteland.
"Who else! Who! All of you, die!"
"Stop! Everyone, stop! If you keep killing like this, are you trying to start a war?"
"Hmph! Elves—always so arrogant."
"Still better than you wizards and your underhanded methods..."
Just as the crowd was about to break into an argument, a figure appeared, gradually drawing all the hostility in the area toward her.
Beside the cracked core sitting in the middle of the Qunluosen Wasteland, a figure had emerged.
The moment she appeared, she drew the gaze of most of the Transcendents present.
"Unlike those clones that are like inanimate objects, this is definitely that little witch's main body."
"So... the one in the game world was just a puppet clone? We almost got fooled."
"This is the little witch rumored to have the poise of a Truth Witch? Why does she feel even weaker to me than the apprentices at the bottom of my wizard tower?"
"Have you forgotten the scenes of her clones beating these students until only this many were left? It's her methods that are terrifying, not necessarily her raw power."
The Transcendents shared their opinions, offering casual critiques from their high-and-mighty perspectives.
No matter how terrifying the rumors about this little witch were, if she wasn't a Transcendent, she ultimately wasn't worth taking seriously.
"Looking at her past record, this little witch's strength is nothing to scoff at. The people currently on the field might not be able to beat her. Don't forget, she also possesses a rudimentary domain."
As one of the Transcendent wizards offered this rational analysis, the expressions of many other Transcendents stiffened.
It wasn't just the wizards; the elves and angels didn't look pleased either.
A rudimentary domain.
That concept alone was a goal that many Transcendents could only dream of but never reach.
And yet, that concept had appeared on a mere little witch.
At this moment, their wariness of a little witch became tangible and real.
Once she ascended to Transcendent, she would reach a height and honor they could never achieve in their entire lives.
Transcending into the Saint Realm.
In the void, anyone who reached that level was a representative of the Heavenly Chosen. It meant they had accumulated enough foundation before becoming Transcendent to charge straight into the Saint Realm.
The definition of a genius was just that cold and non-negotiable.
"You actually dare to show your face?"
At this moment, those who were already lost in the bloodlust of battle spoke up without reservation upon seeing my figure.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" I stomped on the blood-stained wasteland and laughed. "This is the territory of the Witch Academy. Everyone... you are standing on our land. Do you want to end up like the guys on the ground, unable to get back up?"
"You killed so many students from our academies! Can't we come here to seek justice?" A Holy Angel with blood-stained wings began to take the moral high ground. As a follower of the noble faith of Holy Light, he naturally needed to be in the right.
"Students? These were students from your academies? I thought they were bandits~" I shrugged, acting as if I didn't care at all. "The moment I arrived, I saw a pack of bandits surrounding our Witch Academy's secret realm, refusing to let go, and even injuring and humiliating our students. As a teaching assistant of the Witch Academy, it's only reasonable for me to teach some arrogant fools a lesson on behalf of our students, isn't it?"
"So you just killed them! Do you have any humanity left?"
After the elf finished her denunciation, I didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt. Instead, I dropped another bombshell.
"Yes, I killed them. What... you got a problem with that? If you're not happy, you're welcome to try and kill me!"
The moment I finished that sentence, the space around the secret realm core became violently unstable, then shattered like ice, tearing open a rift.
A long blade condensed from ice crystals sliced through space and slammed diagonally into the ground in front of me.
Extreme cold began to spread from the point where the blade met the earth, freezing the blood-soaked ground into deep red crystal blocks.
I reached out and gripped the hilt, pulling the blade free.
The tip of the blade, trailing bits of bloody ice, pointed at the person closest to me.
Unmasked killing intent erupted.
This sudden turn of events instantly intimidated everyone present!
I scanned the crowd with cold eyes, devoid of any emotion.
Even without the Book in the Box or any other weapons, the blade provided by the Ancient Remnant was enough for me to cut all these people down!
After all, this clone didn't have any spellbooks. If I wanted a mana source, I'd have to manifest one on the fly.
Even with self-generated mana, manual casting would never keep up with a battle against so many top-tier students.
So, I chose another path.
Body Cultivation + Body-Manifested Spells.
As for my "experience of the despair of facing death while powerless" back in the secret realm...
Naturally, I wasn't going to die at the hands of these fools.
These people weren't worthy!
The people I was targeting were...
At this moment, I disdained to meet the eyes of anyone on the field. Instead, I looked toward the horizon.
My gaze seemed to cross space, landing on the Transcendents who were watching like they were at a theater!
These guys were my real targets!
If the elite combatants of so many high-level academies died here in the Qunluosen Wasteland, and their bodies couldn't even be taken back for resurrection, I looked forward to seeing how long these Transcendents could maintain their dignity.
Now, my gaze returned to the people on the field.
From a normal perspective, the only ones in the Qunluosen Wasteland were me and these students.
The Transcendents still didn't dare to show themselves, perhaps out of fear of the witches behind me, or perhaps they were waiting for an opportunity.
But unfortunately for them!
I wouldn't give them that chance. I would force them to intervene in the most humiliating way possible!
Otherwise... they could look forward to a generational gap in their academies' rosters.
"You're all the top combat representatives of your respective academies, aren't you? I don't like wasting words. Not going to move? Today, I only want to kill you all, or... be killed by you!"
"Let's go together!" The students who had been hesitating weren't idiots.
Even if they hadn't seen this little witch in person, they had heard the rumors.
To summarize: No one had ever managed to force her into a life-or-death struggle.
That description, combined with my current aura and killing intent, forced them to be cautious.
As for the previous orders to capture this little witch... what a joke!
How do you capture someone you can't beat?
If they couldn't capture her, they'd just kill her and take her back for resurrection.
With the shout of "Let's go together!", the people from the Beast Academy charged from the front left to lead the assault.
Facing such a barbaric charge...
My lithe figure stayed low to the ground, gliding through my most familiar War Dance Steps.
The memories and countless applications of the nine body arts from the Body Cultivation Secret Classic became physical instinct.
The frost blade brought forth bone-chilling ice spikes as the tip pierced the opponent's throat.
The Body-Manifested Spell, Blade of Ice and Snow, froze the opponent's bodily functions, heavily suppressing the endurance advantage provided by their Undying nature.
This Life Clone was an existence far beyond what any external incarnation technique could achieve.
Whether it was the channels of perception or the application of methods, there was none of the lag associated with controlling a clone.
Whether facing the wizards' disgusting curses or the judgment of the Holy Light, I had more than enough room to maneuver.
Shink—
With a precise strike, I cleaved an arrow fired by an elf. My death-god-like gaze locked onto him.
The moment our eyes met, the elf's heart skipped a beat!
But even so, he couldn't bring himself to call for help from the wizards or the birdmen.
The pride unique to elves made it difficult for him to lower his noble head.
He stowed his longbow and drew the short blades of an Elven Ranger.
Then, a handful of unknown seeds was silently scattered across the wasteland. The natural affinity and plant magic unique to Forest Elves gave them the ability to create a temporary, ideal combat environment anywhere, anytime.
In an instant, those special seeds grew into man-killing vines. Accompanied by a vast expanse of green grass, a small oasis was created on the wasteland.
They absorbed the blood from the ground, nourishing and strengthening themselves, until finally... they became the Forest Elf's key method for neutralizing enemies!
"Come then! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"