Chapter 282: I Want to Fight Ten!

“Be careful!”

Oni Yuki urgently warned Fang Cheng. “Shōki excels at curses and can copy enemies’ abilities, enhancing them further.”

The Iron Fortress deeply feared Shōki. Beyond spreading tales of his perversion and cruelty, they kept no detailed documents about him. Oni Yuki had only learned of Shōki’s capabilities through secret scrolls accessible solely to royal bloodline members within the Palace.

Ghost Takizawa showed no concern about Oni Yuki exposing his powers—they’d inevitably surface during combat anyway.

Fang Cheng’s heart sank. Copy-type abilities always proved most troublesome. Who’d have thought this Shōki specialized in cheap knockoffs? He almost wanted to ask if the demon aspired to work at Tencent.

“This space feels cramped.”

Fang Cheng proposed to Ghost Takizawa, “Let’s find an open area outside?”

“No need.” Ghost Takizawa smirked, deliberately eyeing Oni Yuki’s group. “This spot works perfectly.”

Fang Cheng inwardly cursed the old shadow. Clearly, Ghost Takizawa had researched his abilities beforehand and now used his teammates as human shields. Within these halls, large-scale attacks like Blood Explosion or War Trampled became unusable—too risky for allies.

The Ghost Lord’s corpse posed another problem. Though hidden somewhere in the chamber, damaging it would leave Fang Cheng truly helpless. These constraints severely limited his options.

He aimed at Ghost Takizawa and unleashed his triple technique:

“Imbalance!”

“Collapse!”

“Drown!”

Ghost Takizawa mirrored him instantly:

“Imbalance!”

“Collapse!”

“Drown!”

Sudden weightlessness struck Fang Cheng. He backflipped desperately as twin booms echoed through the hall. Two massive pits cratered the ground where he’d stood.

The demon lord moved unaffected by Imbalance, his Collapse pit dwarfing Fang Cheng’s. While maintaining balance through sheer will, Fang Cheng’s calm mask hid growing concern.

Shōki shouldn’t follow evil god-chan’s teachings, yet he’d bypassed restrictions to wield Word Spirit Technique. Whether through mimicry or true replication, achieving equal—or superior—results made technical distinctions meaningless.

Familiar tension surged through Fang Cheng. He inhaled sharply, Repairing his Blood Combat Suit before activating Overload Mode.

Ghost Takizawa’s skin flushed crimson. Examining his steaming palms, he chuckled, “Decent power… though the backlash stings.”

He perfectly copied Fang Cheng’s abilities, bringing along the side effects too.

But being from the demon clan, his strong natural recovery made these side effects trivial.

Fang Cheng never imagined even his self-created Overload Mode could get copied – this was beyond ridiculous.

“Big side effects? Just don’t use it then. Who gives a copycat the right to complain?”

Fang Cheng taunted, shaping two blood swords from Steel Blood that perfectly mirrored Oni Yuki’s demon swords.

With every ability being copied and enhanced, close-quarters melee became Fang Cheng’s only viable strategy.

Ghost Takizawa ignored the mockery, forming twin blood swords of his own. “Thinking close combat gives you advantage? Naive. I copy your battle experience and techniques too. How will you compete?”

“Fight or leave. Stop yapping – got your mouth where your ass should be?”

Fang Cheng lunged forward, webbed cracks spreading across the polished floor beneath his feet.

Overload Mode combined with short-distance dash made his movements near-invisible, leaving only faint afterimages.

Ghost Takizawa mirrored the dash. Their swords clashed instantly.

CLANG!

The blood swords shattered from the impact, fragments scattering. Fang Cheng swiftly formed another blade, slashing at Ghost Takizawa’s neck.

At this speed, technique mattered less than raw speed and precision.

Though equal in ability, Ghost Takizawa moved faster. He easily dodged backward before countering with his own strike.

Fang Cheng blocked, their blades breaking again with metallic screech.

Red light flashed as Ghost Takizawa’s second sword sliced toward Fang Cheng’s abdomen.

Remembering how bullets had pierced his Blood Combat Suit earlier, Fang Cheng twisted away – but the enemy blade suddenly extended, cutting deep into his stomach.

Not just abilities – even the copied combat experience had improved.

Their blurring figures clashed throughout the hall. Only Oni Yuki could barely track them.

Uka Kaori and Tsukikage Hoshi saw only fleeting shadows, accompanied by endless shattering sounds and glittering fragments.

Flames erupted as Fang Cheng coated his blade with Pure demon flames – but Ghost Takizawa’s copied version burned hotter and fiercer.

After mere minutes, they broke apart.

Fang Cheng stood bloodied, his Combat Suit in tatters. Ghost Takizawa remained pristine except for messy clothes and a thin facial cut.

Licking the wound, he smirked. “Impressive. Outmatched yet still landing a hit.”

Fang Cheng grinned. “If this is your best, I’ll take ten of you.”

He could maintain this fight for days. Surely Ghost Takizawa couldn’t match that.

“Hmm… Ten?” Ghost Takizawa tapped his chin. Ten identical copies stepped from behind pillars.

Fang Cheng: …

“Can’t you think for yourself?” He forced a smile. “One’s enough – more would overwhelm me.”

“Keep one. You dismiss the rest.” Ghost Takizawa shrugged.

Fang Cheng’s smile vanished. He thought himself overpowered, but this copycat cheat brought reinforcements.

Oni Yuki and the Fox Sisters despaired. One foe was bad enough – how fight ten?

“Guess,” Ghost Takizawa spread his arms. “Are these doppelgangers as strong as me?”

“I bet they’re your mom’s bastards from different dads.”

“Pathetic attempt to anger me.”

“Who’s trying? Just insulting you.”

Sword in hand, Fang Cheng charged again.