Raising A Few Wives in a Beast Apocalypse

Fake Raya quickly got to her feet.

"Don't get cocky. You only landed these attacks because you took advantage of my lapse in judgment. That's not going beyond yourself now, is it? If anything, it just proves that you can't do it" Fake Raya burst Raya's happy bubble as soon as it formed.

"Tsk... I really hate myself right now..." Raya complained as she got ready to attack again.

She wished she could use mana. It would have made things a lot easier. There were some new abilities she had gotten after the bloodline awakening ritual which she hadn't studied yet. Those abilities would have been her key to victory if they were on the table.

Unfortunately, the world was never that nice. Or was it Mrs C who wasn't that nice? Well, either way, Raya was in a really sticky situation.

She wouldn't give up though. She wasn't a quitter after all. She was also someone who had a lot more clarity during battle.

So, her next step was obvious. She engaged Fake Raya for another round. And just like the previous one. Not even a single blow landed.

However, she wasn't disheartened. She was taking her time to study herself again. She was looking for any possible gaps in her refined fighting style. Maybe the gaps were too big. It would be better to say she was looking for little slits at most.

While small, they would give her a starting point. Unfortunately, her thoroughness was working against her that day. She couldn't find anything.

After all, for the longest time. She was under the impression that she had no gaps. Which wasn't something she just said. It was backed up by years of self-improvement.

Anyway, she knew that there was no way she was as perfect as she thought. No mortal was perfect after all.

Yet, she couldn't see anything. It seems she had become blind to her shortcomings from some point.

Was that what Mrs C was trying to show her? Was there some big hole in her techniques she convinced herself didn't exist to the point she couldn't see it?

Yes... That had to be it. However, what was it? She still couldn't see anything despite that realisation.

Which was understandable. Just like in math. One could admit that they are incorrect when their answer doesn't match the one that's already proven.

However, at the same time, they could still be confused as to why they were wrong. After all, they would have used their own formula to get to an answer. The formula which would seem very reasonable in their heads. The formula which would have led to a seemingly reasonable and foolproof answer.

Such was the situation Raya was in. It had dawned on her that there must be something wrong with how she did things. However, she still couldn't see what that was...

Second after second, minute after minute, until hour after hour. Raya and Fake Raya engaged in battle.

One would think that after so long. Someone who has gotten in at least one lucky hit. However, no, neither did. They both had answers to everything the other one threw.

Things were starting to slow down though. They were starting to run out of power. Raya was in a more precarious situation though.

She was nowhere close to one hundred percent even at the start. Which was because of all the battles she had gone through. Then there were the heavy bits she received from Fake Raya before.

On the other hand, Fake Raya was in her peak state when they began fighting. So, while they seemed to be equal in strength for the time being. Eventually, Fake Raya would gain the upper hand.

That too without putting too much effort into it. She would just have to keep up her current pace until Raya can't take it anymore.

Which was her plan all along. It was obvious on her face. Unlike Raya whose eyes reflected panic and agency, her eyes reflected nothing but calm.

The kind of calm Raya shows when everything is under control. Which made the situation even more annoying for her when she saw that calmness in Fake Raya's eyes.

{Okay, little one. It seems you're rooted in your ideals a lot deeper than I assumed. Let me assist you a little bit. That way I won't feel as bad about taking away your right to quit. You Raya, your problem is that you seem to have completely suppressed your beastly nature. It's not bad that you have it under control. However, it shouldn't be suppressed. You should take control of it and guide it. Make it fight for you in the way you want. After all, it's who you are. I honestly don't know how your fighting style turned so human even before you knew humans existed...} Mrs C's voice suddenly sounded in Raya's head.

The whole scene had frozen. Both Raya and Fake Raya were stuck in place. It was safe to say that Mrs C probably paused them like a movie so that she could speak without interrupting the battle.

Raya, whose mind was as vivid as ever, didn't bother herself with that. She had other things to think about. Those things being what Mrs C said about her suppressed beast nature.

As much as she loathed to admit it. Mrs C was right. Growing up in the chaotic beast world where there was only one law. Which was the law of the jungle, "Eat or be eaten". Raya grew to despise the forest and its residents.

For that reason, she stopped relying on her natural instincts when hunting. She chose to think about all the steps first. After trying it out successfully. She saw no reason to turn back. And so, the juvenile dragon completely abandoned her beastly instincts.

She felt like such things were beneath her. Which led to her becoming completely blind to everything her beastly instincts could do for her.

The only thing she accepted was the ability to sense approaching danger. She'd even give herself an excuse as to why she didn't abandon that too. Which was "all living things probably could do it too. And it wasn't like she could turn the danger sense off anyway"

With that, Raya's biased existence continued. That is, until now... A light bulb went off in her head.

{Thank you Mrs C} She thanked Mrs C in her head.

{There's no need child. I'm mostly doing this because you're my son's companion} Mrs C replied.

{Even still. Thank you} Raya, who had already realised as much, didn't mind.

What mattered to her was that she was getting significant benefits. She just saw it as part of the benefits she got from tying herself down to Muku.

She had taken an educated gamble after spying on him for a while. From what she observed during that time. He was destined for something great. And she was already seeing the benefits.

As for the part where Mrs C literally admitted to breaching her rights. She chose to ignore it. There was no point in mentioning it after all. It wasn't like she could sue Mrs C because of it.

Not to mention that she felt like it was all part of Mrs C's plan. She probably had been planning on guiding her from the start. She just used the "rights" thing as an excuse. If that's how it was, Raya was really grateful. Muku was a really lucky bastard for randomly gaining such a mother.

{Well, okay. I'll let you get back to it then} Mrs C spoke. Then time began moving forward again.

Raya's battle with her fake self continued. She kept up with the same intensity as before so as not to rouse the suspicion of the other side.

She knew herself enough to know that if Fake Raya suspected any foul play, she'd probably go all out. Which wasn't something Raya could take at the moment.

She needed time to figure out how to reconnect with her long-abandoned beastly nature, after all.

To think a beast would actually forget how to act like one. She was truly a special case. Then again, many politic...humans forget how to act like humans. So, maybe it wasn't that surprising.

Soon, Raya created some separation between herself and the copy. Which made Fake Raya very happy. For whatever reason, she liked appearing like she was superior to the real Raya. So, when Raya backed off, she felt great.

"Tsk, you trash. Just give up already. It's clear that there's nothing you can do to me. Now it's just sad. You're embarrassing both of us!" Fake Raya spoke in a disdainful tone.

"Now you just sound like a broken record. What makes you think I'd listen to you now when I didn't listen before? Are you sure you're me? I know for a fact I'm not that dumb. I would never shamelessly say that when I know that it's only because of our different starting points that you have the advantage," Raya, who couldn't take the idiot's nonstop chatter, retorted.

She really was starting to wonder if this copy of her was really her. It didn't act like her at all! She would have long used all her capabilities to end the battle if she were the other party. Yet, it was dragging it out as long as it could. Not to mention the chatter...

Well, then again. Maybe what Fake Raya said before was true. She just never got the chance to act like how Fake Raya was doing. Maybe she would be as insufferable if the tables were turned.

"Don't reply, you've said enough. Now it's my turn to speak. All I have to say is, your time is up. You had your chance. Now it's my turn," Raya spoke while looking at Fake Raya seriously. Whom she had cut off just when the other party was about to speak.

Even her aura changed slightly to reflect her new attitude...