Doppelganger
Doppelganger.
Originally stemming from a German urban legend about dying if you encounter someone identical to yourself, fantasy games interpret it a bit differently.
They usually exist in amorphous, slime-like forms until they encounter a target, at which point they copy that target's appearance and attack.
Most fantasy games design doppelgangers this way, and Last Savior is no exception.
However, copying a target doesn't mean they can unleash 100% of that target's power.
If a doppelganger copying a dragon could match the dragon's full might, game balance would collapse entirely.
For balance reasons, doppelgangers have clear limitations.
A level 100 doppelganger copying a level 500 dragon doesn't become a level 500 dragon.
It just turns into a level 100 dragon at best—the doppelganger can't exceed its own limits.
Beyond that, there are targets they simply can't copy, along with various other ambiguous restrictions on their abilities.
But.
Among the Magic King's seven masterpieces, Mirage was different.
Built on the foundation of a Doppelganger King, Mirage could surpass her own limits if the conditions were met.
"Whew."
Now transformed into the Magic King, Mirage clenched and unclenched her fists a few times before clicking her tongue in disappointment.
"Tch. Around 30% of peak performance? Can't be helped."
With full mana, she could've drawn out far more power, but that was unavoidable.
She'd been pouring mana into the World Tree every day to nurture the fruit.
Considering she'd done so without fail for nearly 800 years, 30% output was astonishing in itself.
"Eh, it's fine. 30% should be more than enough, right? Don't you think?"
[You bastard! You bastard! You bastaaaard!!!]
"Whoa, it talks? Back in the day, 800 years ago, it could only chirp like a bug."
The Servant Lord's fragment let out a monstrous screech, the vibration rippling through the air all the way to Carpe's position.
Hatred. Fear.
A howl laced with every emotion imaginable, fused with killing intent, shot toward them.
But.
"Scared dogs bark the loudest. Or in this case, maybe a bug larva?"
The Magic King just sneered.
Carpe's eyes widened in surprise at Dretsch's speech pattern.
"Her personality's totally different from when she's Alteer... Is this Mirage's true nature?"
"No, my lord. The real Mirage is a very gentle child. That grating tone... it's just Lord Dretsch's personality."
"Ah."
Typical doppelgangers only copied abilities, but Mirage was different.
She could replicate the target's memories, personality, and habits almost perfectly.
[Die!]
The Servant Lord's fragment swung its front legs swiftly.
Whoosh!
Two massive ice scythes cleaved the air, hurtling toward Dretsch's neck from both sides.
A speed so immense even Carpe couldn't guarantee evasion if he were in her spot.
Nine out of ten times, it'd land clean.
But.
"Hmph!"
Krunch!
Incredibly, Dretsch didn't budge an inch. She caught the ice scythes.
Not just blocked—with her bare hands!
A perfect blade-catch straight out of a movie or anime.
"Whew. Not quite up to your old self, huh? That wound from 800 years ago acting up?"
[Y-You bastard!]
The attack carried immense force, cracking the ground from the impact, but Dretsch took zero damage.
She'd perfectly redirected the power.
"What a brute. Hard to believe it's a pure human."
Mirage, in the Magic King's body, praised it.
Perfectly replicating memories and habits meant she could also mimic the target's combat techniques flawlessly.
The Magic King Dretsch had claimed the title of humanity's strongest 800 years ago.
Shocks like this? She deflected them instinctively, without thought.
[Grr... grrrk!]
Unable to wrench its leg free no matter how hard it strained, the fragment triggered magic.
Keeein.
A blue magic circle formed in midair, unleashing a blizzard.
8-star skill: Blizzard Nova.
"Tch."
Judging this one too tough to tank, Dretsch leaped back.
By a hair's breadth, the blizzard poured out, flash-freezing the ground.
[Die!]
"You first!"
The two off-spec monsters clashed again, unleashing a barrage of spells.
[Blizzard Nova!]
"Calamity Inferno!"
Boom—! Crash!
The earth flipped, trees ignited.
Each skill from the monsters was demolishing the natural landscape around the World Tree in real time.
"Wasn't she the Elf Queen just a bit ago? Is wrecking the village okay?"
"Mirage truly is a kind child... but her purity makes her easily absorb the personality of whoever she transforms into."
And the Magic King Dretsch wasn't the type to care about collateral damage mid-battle.
Rumor had it, "No blade of grass survives where he passes."
"...Must've been tough."
"Thank you for understanding, my lord."
"That's beside the point—this fight's on another level. No room to jump in."
Their combat was too elite for intervention.
Watching titans clash just swelled the chest with awe.
The Magic King fired intense flash spells from hands, feet, even her forehead—like, was this Last Savior or Dragon Ball?
You have witnessed someone who has mastered the same class as the player to the extreme.
Stats increase as a reward.
Strength +2, Vitality +3, Dexterity +3, Mana +2.
"...Huh?"
Whoa. What are you, some wuxia novel protag? Gaining enlightenment from watching masters fight?
But Cheonma was just as impressed.
...Unbelievable. That Magic King—what the hell is he? I've counted 30+ skills already.
Just active skills.
Factor in passives and restricted ones, and she had way more.
Of course, someone with that many skills wasn't unheard of.
Cheonma himself had learned more in his third playthrough.
What impressed him was elsewhere.
The issue is they're all master level. Where'd he get all those skill points?
"...How can you tell they're mastered just by looking?"
At my experience level, a glance gives the gist. Those special effects on mastery? Crystal clear.
No wonder it was shocking.
To master that many skills... what level would it take?
"The Magic King was born with Heavenly Martial Body, making it possible."
Tina, quietly observing, answered Cheonma's doubt.
Heavenly Martial Body? First time hearing it... a skill?
"Yes. A 9-star skill he was born with, from what I hear."
Simple, but insanely powerful effect.
"Skill points from level-ups are doubled."
"Whoa, that's broken."
You're tripling yours, you mega-cheater.
"Heavenly Martial Body... I want it."
Sigh.
While they bantered, the beasts' fight hit a lull.
"Whew. Speak of the bug, and it buzzes annoyingly."
[I'll tear you apart!]
Dretsch at 30% output.
Servant Lord's fragment, crippled by old wounds.
Perfectly balanced power led to a drawn-out battle.
5 minutes until the fruit fully ripens.
But the defenders held the overwhelming advantage.
Realizing time was short, the fragment's attacks grew more ferocious.
"Huh?"
That's when Carpe spotted it, pondering how to intervene.
A long scar under the fragment's right armpit (questionable term for a mantis, but anyway).
"What's that scar?"
"Ah. Where the Magic King inflicted a fatal wound 800 years ago. Probably reopened from reacting to his mana."
"Oho."
But the fragment guarded its weakness tightly.
Dretsch targeted it repeatedly, only to be blocked by ice shields every time.
Carpe's eyes gleamed.
That's it.
If there was a way to take it down, that was the spot!
...I know what you're thinking, but can't we just follow the scenario and clear? Do we have to kill it?
Like the priest boss from the first relic, this fragment wasn't designed to be killed.
An invincible pattern boss, unbeatable normally.
This fight was just a mandatory job scenario event—protect the fruit for the timer, quest done.
No mention of defeating the fragment anywhere.
But.
"Killing it'll drop at least Legendaries, right? Two of 'em?"
...Probably. Damn. Seeing myself go 'sure, whatever' in this spot makes me tear up.
"Don't worry. I won't overdo it this time. One... no, two sneak attacks. If not, I give up clean. For real!"
You... your credibility's approaching zero...
Rudram's fruit has fully ripened!
Rudram's fruit must be consumed within 10 minutes of full ripeness to unleash its perfect elixir effects.
Protect the fruit from the Servant Lord's fragment for the final 10 minutes.
Quest entered final phase.
"Going!"
Magic King moved first.
She'd been waiting for the fruit to finish.
Concentrating her remaining mana into her legs, she exploded forward.
[What?!]
Fragment swung its scythes in panic, but Magic King was faster.
Diving into its guard, she unleashed her trump card.
"Ultimate Stone Curse!"
8-star petrification magic.
Ignores magic resistance 90% of the time, fully petrifies target for a duration. Top-tier crowd control.
But designed to bind feet, zero damage—and petrified targets immune to all damage.
For an 8-star, pretty niche... perfect here, though.
[Grrk! You dare!]
"Whew. Done. How's it feel, slowly hardening?"
Fragment's legs turned gray from the tips up.
Checkmate.
But.
[Kuh... kuhehehe. Petrification. Interesting.]
The fragment laughed. As if it had foreseen this.
[Foolish human. Trump cards aren't exclusive to you.]
"What?"
[Kieeeek!]
As petrification reached its leg joints.
Suddenly, the fragment's body glowed brilliantly.
Splurt!
Its back split open, and something small burst out.
A smaller blue mantis from the blue back.
Yes—the fragment had molted.
"Gah, damn it?!"
Magic King, squeezed dry of mana, couldn't react in time.
The blue mantis used the momentum to cling to the World Tree trunk.
And raced upward at blinding speed.
My victory.
The molted Servant Lord's fragment thought so as it scaled the World Tree swiftly.
800 years of endurance bearing fruit at last.
Victory? Revenge?
Never considered them.
Its sole purpose from start to finish: the World Tree's fruit.
Finding an apple-sized fruit on a colossal tree like Rudram might seem like finding a needle in a desert.
But.
[I sense it.]
Up high, a massive life force calling to it!
Its flesh.
Its soul!
Drawn to that pulsing life.
Fragments of the Four Calamities lack reason by default.
Mere puppets acting on implanted 'commands.'
But 800 years ago, mortal wounds triggered a defense mechanism, awakening dormant reason.
The blue mantis pondered.
Who am I?
Why this excruciating pain?
Why this emptiness?
It instinctively knew something was missing. Didn't know what, but definitely lacking.
World Tree's fruit. Nature incarnate.
That's it.
Claim it, and answers await.
Devour it, surging life force rebuilds its body.
And... the void fills, reaching ultimate form!
Glanced down—humans frozen, staring blankly.
[Kuhahaha!]
Ecstasy. Perfect win.
First taste of joy in life.
Seconds from the top.
Finally! Wish granted.
"Whoa, it's fast."
Carpe whistled. Molting? Never saw that coming.
"Don't just stand there! If it gets the fruit, it's over..."
"Nah, it's fine. You think I'd just watch without a plan?"
Carpe was a casual gamer at heart.
Obsessed with boss last-hits, sure.
But leave the quest's key item undefended?
That'd be brainless, not fun.
"I posted a reliable guardian."
[N-No?!]
The fragment arriving at the fruit couldn't believe its eyes.
A prior visitor awaited.
"Kyuu?"
A tiny lifeform perched right atop Rudram's fruit.
Mukhyang.
Carpe's secret final guardian sprang into action the instant the fragment appeared.
"Kyuu!"
Pluck! Off the World Tree's fruit.
"Kyuk!"
Straight into its mouth.
[N-Noooo!!!]