Training Exercise (pt 2): Doppleganger

"They found my location already?" Ackley said in awe as he swiftly catches another wooden spear shot at him, "I underestimated them, didn't I?" he smiled.

With a hand-sign, Ackley deactivates the shadow clones he had deployed as there is no need for them anymore.

"Let's get on to the ultimate stage," he said and then sat down patiently.

. . .

"It worked!" Ambrose said in elevation, "He finally took out those annoying clones of his,"

"Really?!" Danica is also relieved at this.

This is the primary goal they had been hoping to achieve. Getting to Ackley's location will take a very long because he has his clones deployed everywhere and having to battle with every one of them will take too long, which is probably what Ackley had hoped.

Alerting him to the realization that his whereabouts have already been discovered might give them a better chance of getting to him a little quicker. In reality, though, even if they had acknowledged where he is located, so what? you still have to fight your way to arrive at his location, but Ackley didn't think of this, just as they wanted.

"Now what?" asked Danica.

"Now, we come up with a new plan to get that key off his hands," says Ambrose in reply, "First, let's get moving before he figures out his mistake," says Ambrose.

They both ran in a single direction, probably the route that would lead them to Ackley a little quicker. This is the first part of the plan.

Ambrose is many times faster than his sister and he knows it. However, slowing down wasn't an option. So while on the way, Ambrose taught a few techniques that would be of great help to improve Danica's speed. One of which has to do with concentrating mana flow to the legs.

Though still not up to Ambrose's speed, she wasn't lacking behind. This technique isn't very hard to master, thanks to her history of magic training.

"Meet me up ahead, we'll come up with a plan," Ambrose said. Thereafter, his speed increased many times more, and seconds later, he was way too far off for her to catch.

"Tch,"

Ambrose is so much better than she is. What has she been doing wrong? She knows she cannot be slacking behind him; it is kind of shameful... that's how she views it; I guess.

Leaping from tree to tree, Ambrose skillfully covered many meters in seconds. He did so while trying to keep himself hidden so as not to get detected by Ackley, which might just jeopardize the plan.

To take on his dad, he will use every technique he had picked up so far. No holding back.

"It's getting dark," he mutters as he glimpses at the sky while still on the go.

Hold on a second, something isn't right. Why is it suddenly getting dark? It shouldn't be that late yet, or is his mind playing games with him?

Landing on the snowy floor, Ambrose reevaluates his situation. By this time, he is pretty sure something is wrong, as he can sense familiar spiritual energy or presence.

Waving a hand-sign, two small flames appeared on both of his palms. Thereafter, Ambrose skillfully lunches them at the distance towards one tree.

*BOOM!!*

The small flame suddenly turns into massive combustion and it detonated the nearest tree it was launched at. However, right before that happened, a figure had already moved out of that area.

"Hahaha, that's good, you're indeed a very vigilant boy," says Ackley. "One mistake you made, though, is leaving your sister behind,"

The dark sky brightened up a little, just as it was meant to be…

'What did he do?' Ambrose's instincts sharpened up immediately, especially due to the change in the sky. This indeed must be Ackley's doing, but at the very moment, Ambrose has a bigger problem that needs his attention.

Pulling out two of the wooden daggers created by Danica from his pocket, Ambrose questioned; "Which one are you?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't play dumb. Which one are you?!" says Ambrose as he stylishly moved his eyes to the key-chain hanging on a key holder, right on Ackley's hip... or should I call it waist?

"Figure that out," says Ackley.

.

.

.

Danica is still far behind, but rapidly moving onward. As she adapts to the new technique taught to her by Ambrose, the faster she became...

While on her way, Danica abruptly stopped in her tracks. Something caught her attention, and from the look on her face, the sight of whatever she just saw bewildered her.

"Surprised?" says a female who's standing among the tall trees in the area.

The problem right now is the fact that this individual looks exactly like Danica with the exact dress. No, that's not the right way to put it. This female doesn't just look like Danica, SHE IS DANICA!!

It's what you call a doppelganger, an evil version, to be more precise. We'll call her Danica(2).

"What are you?" asked Danica as her brows deeply furrowed.

"Aw, my feelings are hurt," says Danica(2) somewhat innocently... It wasn't convincing in the slightest.

Danica(2) casually leaps to the ground, "I'm about to take your identity for myself, but I need you out of the way," she said.

Danica's hostility increasingly elevates upon hearing Danica(2)'s words. Her words sounded like she will kill to get what she wants, which is terrifying and Danica can feel her heart pounding. It might burst if care isn't taken.

She has no idea what Danica(2) is capable of, but with her life on the line, Danica has to stand her ground or she might potentially end up dead. This doesn't seem like a drill, not to her at least.

With a sinister smile, Danica(2) lunches at her quickly. Roots pulled out from the ground and viciously attacks Danica(2) to prevent her from getting any closer. She easily avoided getting hit and in a matter of seconds, Danica(2) had closed the distance between herself and Danica.

*Pow!!*

A resounding blow hits Danica in the gut, and it is painful.

*ugh!*

This is the first time Danica had ever been hit and the pain will be a wake-up call.

"Too bad no one is here to save you," says Danica(2) as she actively sends follow-up blows, all of which Danica could not defend against.

She crashed on the floor just a few distances away and quickly got on her feet again. However, her opponent is already too close to her, and she flips on the air with a powerful kick.

*Bang!!*

Danica successfully defends herself with both of her arms but was sent flying even with that. The pain, however, wasn't as much. She had subconsciously used mana concentration on both of her arms, which might have helped.

The fight is far from over and Danica(2) showed no mercy in the slightest. Her flexibility is a big problem since she could easily flip over, twist, and dodge every attack while Danica could not properly stand her ground, and that just leads to receiving more beating.

.

.

.

Ambrose used the surrounding trees to his advantage and actively runs in a zigzag pattern around Ackley, this is done to distract him.

Jumping a few meters above Ackley, he enchants using a hand-sign, and as a result, various balls of flames appeared and violently shot their way towards his dad.

Multiple explosions resounded, which resulted in the snowy floor violently scattering in a randomized manner. Nevertheless, Ackley easily avoided every hit.

Kicking the air, Ambrose charges at his dad without relent. He is especially pissed due to the smirk on Ackley's face. That just means he sees Ambrose's attacks as a game.

The moment Ambrose got close enough, Ackley clenches his fist and went for a strike...

Getting hit in the chest shot Ambrose many meters away, but he stayed on his feet. This was possible because before getting hit, Ambrose had strengthened the part of his body that got hit using an earth-style technique.

"I'm impressed," says Ackley. "Your martial art skill has indeed improved, all thanks to me, I guess,"

"Unfortunately, I won't be solely using martial arts anymore," Ambrose muttered.

"Hmm? what was that? Did you say something?"

"Just to inform you, you're in my domain," Ambrose said while parting his arms in a synchronized way.

Large snowy dust lifts and actively surrounds Ambrose and Ackley, almost like a small tornado.

'I forgot he's an element bender,' Ackley says inwardly. He doesn't have his usual calm demeanor, at least, not as previously.

As a Mage with a water aptitude, Ambrose doesn't need to enchant any words when using water-style techniques. Just by waving hands or through his mind, the endless chases after Ackley began.

"I should have done this from the very beginning," he mumbles to himself for being such a dummy.

'His control is mind-blowing,' Ackley said, while actively changing directions.

Under the control of the young boy, massive snow dust forms an enormous demon arm that almost caught his dad.

"Close call," Ackley said. The evil look on Ambrose's face, however, caught his attention, "He's up to something."

Ackley wasn't wrong, but he did not know what the evil kid was planning.

*KaPow!!*

Abruptly, Ackley got hit by an unknown object and he crashed on multiple trees before hitting the snowy floor.

While getting distracted by the snowy demon arm chasing after him, Ambrose had swiftly created a second arm, and for the first time, he landed a hit.

"I'm not done with you,"

In an instant, the snowy floor that Ackley had crashed on rose and clings on to him...

"You're now my prisoner," Ambrose confidently said.