Apocalypse Baby

Oh…

Alex gritted his teeth as a dull ache spread through his arm.

The impact had buckled his stance.

Damn… he's strong.

Even with one arm, Kyiv's strikes were heavy—far more powerful than Alex had expected.

He took a step back, but Kyiv was already there.

A second strike.

A third.

Each one more faster, sharper, and deadlier.

Alex had no room to counter.

He barely managed to block, his sword ringing with every desperate parry.

But he was losing ground.

Kyiv's onslaught was relentless—his attacks flowing together like a storm, giving Alex no time to breathe.

Yet, despite the pressure, Alex grinned.

This is fun.

No matter how fast he moved—no matter how many feints he used—Kyiv followed.

It was almost unnatural.

Alex's eyes narrowed.

The way Kyiv moved was like he was floating.

And then Alex realized it was the damned boot.

The same boot Kyiv had sacrificed his arm for.

"That explains it."

Alex had no choice.

He couldn't win like this.

If he wanted to win, he'd have to use some of his skills.

But before he could act...

BAM!

Kyiv's blade swatted his sword arm aside, knocking it upward.

Alex's chest was wide open.

Kyiv's eyes flashed, and he lunged going for the kill.

But Alex let out a grin.

Then, he sank.

Like a stone in water.

Almost like the ground had turned to liquid.

Kyiv's blade stabbed the air, and his eyes widened in confusion.

What?

He looked around wondering where Alex had gone.

Then he sensed him below.

Before he could react—

A vice-like grip clamped around both his ankles.

Kyiv's head snapped down, and he saw Alex half submerged in the earth.

A wicked grin on his face.

Then...yank.

Kyiv's legs were suddenly pulled downward.

Panic shot through him.

His feet were sinking—the ground swallowing him.

"Damn it!"

Both his feet were now trapped beneath the surface.

He tried to break free but he was stuck.

Alex then shot up from underground, his sword raised for the kill.

But, he felt a chill crawl up his spine.

[Danger Sense] warning him.

And he reacted immediately.

Without thinking, Alex threw up his arm and activated [Aegis Arcane.]

BOOM!

A searing wave of fire slammed into him from the side, sending him skidding backward.

His barrier cracked—a massive dent forming on its shimmerings surface.

Smoke curled from his clothes.

Then Alex heard a low and mocking chuckle.

"I knew it."

Alex's eyes snapped to the source and he frowned:

"You again."

I should have killed this bastard.

Kato stepped forward with a smirk.

"I knew it. You're a fraud."

Oh..Alex uttered his mouth forming an 'O'.

He didn't think Kato was that shrewd to realize he was a clone.

Kato then began to explain proudly:

"You must have been using a power-boosting skill or artifact to enhance your strength earlier. Which is why you seemed so powerful earlier. Now I can see it has run out."

Alex lowered his head. Disappointed.

He was an idiot. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

Two more Ronins flank him.

The first was a towering brute with scarred arms and a massive war axe.

Akio, a barbarian.

The other was a woman with piercing eyes and hands crackling with raw magic.

Isla who seemed to be a sorcerer.

They joined Kato because they still felt resentment.

Onigi's daughter had been their friend, and her death wasn't something they could just let go of, especially now, that they did not have enough Nightmare Points to proceed.

They only had two choices in other to proceed:

Beg for Nightmare points from their comrades.

Or take what they needed.

Begging would make them a burden as no one knows what the next trial would demand

So instead of attempting that, they set their sights on someone they already hated.

A fraud.

Kato had convinced them Alex was indeed one.

To them, his death would serve two purposes.

They would get vengeance for Kiri and the necessary nightmare points to proceed.

Kyiv who's feel were still buried, saw the intent of the Ronin and roared in frustration.

His hands clawed at the ground, trying to yank his leg free.

"Hey! Back off! He's mine!"

Kato gave a mocking shrug.

"Sorry, buddy. This is personal."

His smirk deepened.

"If you're desperate for Nightmare Points, go after the girl."

His eyes flicked to the side.

"Though… it looks like someone already beat you to it."

Kyiv whipped his head around, and his eyes widened.

Xeno.

The archer was locked in a fight with Freya.

Freya moved fast, her body twisting as she barely dodged arrows.

Each time she evaded, she lashed back—daggers whipping through the air.

Kyiv's teeth gritted.

"Damn it!"

Kyiv cursed under his breath, his frustration boiling over.

His leg was still trapped, but he wasn't about to let this kill slip away.

With a snarl, he stabbed down at the earth around his foot—each strike chipping away at the dirt and rock, widening the gap.

He would break free. He had to.

He was the one who started this.

The kill was his.

Meanwhile, Kato took slow, deliberate steps toward Alex, his excitement unmistakable.

A wicked grin stretched across his face.

"I'm right aren't I?" he asked, his voice practically thrumming with anticipation.

"No, you're not."

Kato's expression was unchanged:

"It doesn't matter. What is obvious is that your strength has fallen, I may not know why but I'm certainly going to take advantage of it."

Alex lowered his hands, allowing his barrier to disperse.

His gaze met Kato's, calm yet piercing.

"I see you're really are an idiot."

Kato's grin faltered.

"What...?"

Alex's eyes flicked to the two standing beside him.

"And you dragged two more fools into this as well."

Akio's face contorted with anger as he raised his massive axe, pointing it at Alex.

"He didn't bring us into anything!"

Beside him, Isla pulled out her staff, its tip glowing with raw energy.

Her voice was steady.

"We're doing this for Kiri."

Alex's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Kiri?" he muttered.

Then, his lips curled into a taunting grin, his eyes glinting with mockery.

"Who the hell is that?"

The reaction was instant.

"Damn you!" Kato roared.

Akio and Isla didn't hesitate.

In the blink of an eye, multiple magic attacks were hurled toward Alex—flames, crackling lightning, and razor-sharp wind blades streaking through the air, all aimed to obliterate him.