SS Chapter 16: Clone

The tournament came to a close and Arnold was invited to the VIP room where the nobles had been spectating the fights. Their conversations weren't that long since they left the room soon after with Arnold in tow. The Emperor also left alongside them.

Since Lian was held up in the palace, Kairi decided this morning to come watch the final match with her best friend. Arnold's overwhelming power was something she thought she expected but was still left dumbfounded.

Breuk had crushed all his opponents so far using brute force alone and was never pushed to a point where he needed to rely on his martial art since he was the strongest known martial in the Zhurosan Empire. That kind of man was pushed to his absolute full power. In comparison, Arnold didn't use any martial skills at all, only his swordsmanship enhanced by his martial art.

The black orb that Breuk was going to use on Arnold was something Kairi recognized. In fact, one of the clan elders from a few centuries ago fought someone from Breuk's sect over some feud, which resulted in both their deaths in the end. The black orb swallowed up a whole forest, sparking fear of that powerful technique amongst the other sects.

Breuk was from the now disbanded Mountain Sect that chose to go their separate ways in the early days of the war. Had they not done so, the other powerful sects may have put them on the frontlines. They had an alliance with those sects and received benefits from that alliance. However, in the face of a powerful adversary they knew they could not defeat even with their pride—Ko Johun—they chose to cower.

Kairi's sect fought in the war even though they were one of the weakest clans among the old sects. Their sect leader used to serve the emperor from two generations ago with the leader of the Mountain sect.

What right does a man from that kind of sect have to decide what honor is? Admittedly, even Kairi couldn't answer the question: what is honor. Maybe it's because she had never been in a fight where she needed to put her honor on the line.

'She's just standing there.' Liwei came up to her friend who was staring out the window blankly.

She didn't realize Liwei was back from the toilet.

"—Kairi?" her friend, Liwei, called out to her, "I'm back. thanks for waiting. Shall we go wait for Lord Arnold? I feel kind of useless right now as an attendant without being by his side…"

Coming to her senses now, Kairi noticed most of the people had left the coliseum halls even though it was so packed just five minutes ago.

They're probably crowding the reception area and outside entrance, waiting for "Nova" to come out. It seems the villagers who accompanied them were doing the same thing since they also weren't anywhere in sight.

Kairi and Liwei soon continued their way down the hall. It seems sometime after Liwei ran off to the toilet, Kairi fell into some daze as she recalled her days in the sect fighting with her fellow juniors.

Back in those days, she was considered the strongest among them. The village elders told her once at a meeting that she was the future of the sect.

A few days after she heard those words, however, the villages under their sect were destroyed.

She will never forget the face of the man who caused it—Ko Johun, whose red hair flowed like the scorching fires that destroyed everything she once loved.

The though of revenge never surfaced in her mind because she knew she was too weak to challenge someone common folk worship as a Martial God "candidate". He was a man who could part the sea with the force of his punches alone, topple trees with a single deep breath and make the mountains shiver with a war cry.

She was fortunate enough to find herself as part of a revolution that wants to challenge such a man. But all she could do so far was support them on the sidelines while she continued training in hopes she could achieve strength that will allow her to just cut off a few strands of Ko's hair without getting obliterated instantly.

"Hey, Kairi, do you think Lord Arnold will take us as concubines if we seduce him?" Liwei chatted on, her outgoing energy a contrast to Kairi's bitter thoughts. Others' mood rubs off on Liwei easily so it's best to keep her thoughts inside.

"He is clearly from another nation and won't stay. Meanwhile you have a family here and you're still too young."

"Ugh, he probably has a bunch of older, more attractive women waiting for him back home." She spoke on as if she didn't hear her friend, "Their chests are probably suuuuper big and their hips are way more seductive and wider than mine…"

"You're still young so there's room left to grow."

To be honest, she was also looking forward to getting married to a strong young martial, someone who comes from a powerful family with an army she could use. This was selfish of her but her dream of having a family comes second for now—as long as Ko Johun lives, that is.

"—Kairi. Liwei." A young man called out to the two of them just as they were about to turn a corner. Looking at the source, they met with the familiar silver-haired man who took this whole empire by surprise with his overwhelming strength.

"Lord Arnold! We thought you needed to speak with the nobles! What happened?" Liwei ran up to him like a puppy to its owner, her eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed.

Arnold was wearing different clothing now—a black shirt and pants paired with a matching coat. The dark ensemble sharply contrasted with his radiant golden eyes and silver-white hair, making him appear both imposing and ethereal.

"They were starting to get on my nerves," Arnold said, his tone laced with irritation. "I told them we could discuss any business at the banquet. Claimed I was tired and needed rest, which they accepted. But then they insisted on offering me rooms at their estates. Naturally, I declined." Despite his words, Arnold showed no signs of exhaustion or injury. If Breuk saw this unperturbed attitude, he would feel a deep sense of shame. How could he ever face his younger brother, Dreum—the sibling he'd scorned for being the weakest among them while he lay in a hospital room?

 "I'm heading back to my room. There's something I need you two to handle for me, but this isn't the place to talk."

"Of course! I was starting to get bored not doing my duties as a servant!" Liwei responded with an eager salute, her enthusiasm almost comical.

Kairi couldn't help but think wryly, 'Why are you so excited about running errands? Is it because it's Lord Arnold giving the orders?'

The trio moved discreetly through the halls, avoiding the crowd still searching for Arnold. When they finally reached his assigned room, Kairi felt an uncharacteristic awkwardness. How must they have looked to the few who noticed their group? Two vibrant young women—both virgins—trailing behind the tournament champion. It wouldn't be far-fetched for people to assume they were there for more than just errands. After all, it wasn't uncommon for victorious fighters to enjoy such attention after a tournament.

Shaking off the thought, Kairi softly slapped her cheeks. 'Get your mind out of the gutter.'

Meanwhile, Liwei seemed lost in her own musings, looking at Arnold's perfect sculpted face with a glimmer in her eyes. She was dangerously close to blurting out a scandalous proposition but managed to restrain herself.

Once the door shut, Arnold wasted no time summoning Luxtivin.

"I need you two to relay a message to Lian. I'm planning to seek out that Mian woman first and then look for Rasuke and Kohana."

Kairi and Liwei exchanged glances but remained focused as Arnold continued.

'The bodies of the soldiers who attacked us outside the city have been located in the morgue so all we need to do is strip them of their clothes. When the time comes, my illusions will wear those uniforms.' Then they'll fight the city guards to make it seem like an invasion.

Liwei asked, "What do we tell Lady Lian?"

"If she sees me again, she should expect it to be my clone. She already knows tt will act as me while I take care of other matters. If it needs guidance, tell Lian to teach it how to behave." Arnold's words carried an edge of caution, recalling the system's warning and taking it seriously only now. "She'll need to monitor it closely and since I'm supposed to be her slave people will expect us to stick together tonight and tomorrow for the banquet."

The girls nodded in unison. "Understood."

"Then I'll begin the process."

Arnold held Luxtivin up to the ceiling, its purple glow pulsating faintly as if aware of his intent. The room grew quieter, the ambient noise from the hall fading into the background.

"Luxtivin," Arnold said, his voice low but commanding. "Take my form." There was probably no reason to say anything since Luxtivin already knows his intentions before he voices them.

The sword shimmered in response, its light intensifying until it filled the room with a radiant brilliance. Kairi and Liwei shielded their eyes from the blinding glow as the sword began to morph. The blade twisted and stretched, reshaping itself into a humanoid figure. Slowly, the light dimmed, revealing a perfect replica of Arnold.

The only problem was that it was… naked.

"Kyaak! Put on some clothes!" Kairi shrieked and hurriedly turned around when she noticed this.

"…" Liwei on the other hand touched her belly as she imagined something lewd.

Arnold sighed and pulled out one of his spare uniforms and threw it on the bed. He then threw a towel at the clone. Knowing why he did that, it put the towel around its waist silently.

Liwei looked sad for some reason.

The clone stood tall, its silver-white hair and golden eyes mirrored Arnold's, down to the faintest detail.

"It looks like there's no abnormalities in the clone." He thought out loud as he studied it up and down. He never saw his body from this perspective before. He was incredibly muscular and had enough body mass to retain his thick arms and abs.

Without a word of warning, Arnold threw a punch at the clone. When it evaded that punch easily, he sent even more. His fists became a blur and soon he became so fast that it looked like only his arms were moving. Meanwhile the clone stood on the same spot, only throwing its head side to side.

But then suddenly—

"!" it caught his hand easily. That blow was way more powerful than the punches his threw at Breuk earlier today.

"Ahhh!" a powerful shockwave pushed Liwei and Kairi back. One of the cupboards fell down from the same shockwave and the room vibrated for a moment.

'It really is a perfect copy of me.' He pulled back his arm and straightened out his black coat.

"Looks like I was worried over nothing." He shrugged, mildly surprised that it worked the first time. It felt dissimilar to summoning his AI hologram. Just like the AI, he couldn't sense the clone but could feel its presence.

 "Uhm, it's like I'm seeing double now." Said Liwei as she squinted while looking at the clone's face. Even the bangs were the same.

Arnold snapped his fingers in front of the clone, catching its attention, "You'll attend the banquet in my place," he instructed, again an unnecessary thing but something he did regardless. "Behave as I would. Keep interactions brief if you cannot handle a conversation as how I would. Lian will provide further guidance if needed."

The clone nodded once, its movements unnervingly fluid. "Understood," it said, its voice an exact match to Arnold's.

Kairi hesitated before speaking. "Are you sure this… thing won't act out of line? What if it does something to blow your cover?"

"It won't. Luxtivin is bound to me. It acts on my will and nothing else. It will do what I would do."

Liwei, ever the optimist, grinned. "Well, if it does anything strange, we'll have to whip it into shape. Right, Kairi?"

Kairi shook her head with a sigh, "That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. You know of the story about the clone demon a noble summoned that took over his entire legacy after killing him, ignoring its original orders. This could end up the same."

Arnold didn't pay attention to their exchange and addressed the clone again. "You'll remain here for the time being. Wait until night before heading out since I said I'd be resting. An entourage should come here to escort you later."

The clone nodded, its gaze steady.

Turning back to Kairi and Liwei, Arnold spoke again, "The two of you may do as you like for now but head over to the palace before the palace guards come to pick me up."

"Yes." The two said in unison.

"I'll be heading off then." He walked over to the window and opened it. Kairi was about to ask what he was going to do but then she remembered the last time he used the window and kept silent. The horde waiting outside will definitely jump him once he leaves through the door.

He leapt and looked as if he was flying through the air. Landing on a rooftop across the street, he then jumped off into the alleys.

Kairi and Liwei turned to the clone that was motionlessly standing in the room.

The latter gulped for some reason and awkwardly looked at her friend, "D-Do you think Lord Arnold will get the clone's memories of what it sees and does after it turns back into a sword?"

Why is she blushing?

"Don't even think about it, Liwei."

"I wasn't going to do anything!"

Kairi turned away from her squirming friend and looked at the silent clone that didn't even look like it was breathing. Its face was completely blank and it eyes devoid of light.

"Creepy," she muttered under her breath.

It was certainly not human and did not give off the air of one either. Yet it was given a human form.

Hopefully nothing bad happens, she thought to herself.