the second floor(3)

The chamber's eerie glow intensified, the faint blue light from the symbols on the walls casting an otherworldly hue over the combatants. Henry found himself standing face-to-face with his three shapeshifter clones. Each was a mirror of him—fiery blade in hand, posture poised for battle, and eyes burning with determination.

The creatures moved as if they shared one mind, stepping in unison toward Henry. Their synchronization was unnerving, their fluid yet precise motions making it impossible to anticipate who would strike first.

Henry: "Alright, you freaks. Let's see how good you really are."

He steadied his breathing, gripping his flaming sword tightly. The clones tilted their heads simultaneously, as if mocking his confidence, before springing into action.

The first clone lunged, its blade flashing toward Henry's chest. He raised his sword just in time to parry, but the impact sent a shockwave down his arm. Before he could recover, the second clone attacked from his left, its blade slicing toward his midsection. Henry twisted his body to avoid the strike, only for the third clone to aim a thrust at his back.

He barely managed to dodge, rolling forward to create distance. The clones regrouped instantly, their movements fluid and relentless.

Henry: "They're fast... too fast."

One of the clones dashed forward, unleashing a barrage of slashes. Henry blocked the first few, but the sheer speed of the strikes forced him onto the defensive. The other two closed in, their attacks coordinated to leave no openings.

Steel clashed against steel, sparks flying as Henry deflected blow after blow. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to keep up, each strike from the clones as precise and powerful as his own.

Henry: "They're not just copying my techniques. They're perfecting them!"

A searing pain shot through his side as one of the clones landed a glancing blow. Henry stumbled, clutching the wound as the clones circled him like predators closing in on prey.

Henry gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand.

Henry: "If I keep playing defense, they'll overwhelm me."

He surged forward, targeting the clone directly in front of him. His blade arced through the air in a fiery slash, but the clone sidestepped with ease. The second clone struck from the side, its blade aimed at his shoulder. Henry spun, blocking the attack and retaliating with a backhand slash.

The clone jumped back, evading his strike, while the third clone attacked from above. Henry raised his sword to block, the force of the impact driving him to one knee.

Henry: "Damn it!"

The clones pressed their advantage, their strikes coming faster and harder. Henry's arms trembled under the strain, his energy draining with each passing second.

Henry's mind raced as he searched for a way to gain the upper hand. The clones were too coordinated, their attacks leaving no room for error.

Then it hit him.

Henry: "They're copying my abilities, but they're not me."

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the fire within him. The familiar warmth spread through his body, igniting every cell with raw power. When he opened his eyes, they blazed with a fiery intensity.

Henry: "Time to show you something you can't copy."

A surge of flames engulfed him as he entered Flame Transformation: Stage 1. His body glowed with a fiery aura, his strength and speed amplified beyond his normal limits. The air around him shimmered with heat, distorting the shapes of the clones as they hesitated for the first time.

Henry: "Let's see you keep up with this!"

Henry moved like a blur, his enhanced speed catching the clones off guard. He targeted the first clone, his fiery blade cleaving through its guard and striking its chest. The creature let out a distorted screech as it dissolved into a puddle of black liquid.

The remaining two clones adjusted quickly, attacking in tandem. Henry met their strikes head-on, his newfound strength allowing him to overpower their blows. His blade danced with precision, each slash carving through the clones' defenses.

One clone attempted to mimic his transformation, its body flaring with a dim imitation of his fiery aura. But its movements were sluggish, its power a pale shadow of Henry's.

Henry: "Nice try, but you're not even close."

He lunged at the impostor, his blade slicing cleanly through its neck. The clone's headless body crumpled to the ground before dissolving into black sludge.

The final clone roared in frustration, its form distorting as it unleashed a flurry of desperate attacks. Henry met each strike with unrelenting ferocity, his blade clashing against the creature's in a symphony of steel and flame.

Henry: "This is the end!"

With a powerful upward slash, Henry shattered the clone's blade before driving his sword through its chest. Flames erupted from the wound, consuming the creature as it disintegrated into ash.

Henry stood amidst the remains of the battle, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His fiery aura flickered and faded as he deactivated his transformation, the strain of the fight taking its toll.

Henry: "That... was tougher than I expected."

He glanced at his hands, the faint glow of embers still dancing across his fingertips.

Henry: "But I'm getting stronger. I can feel it."

Henry smirked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Henry: "It's a work in progress. But I'll take the win."

Henry: "ah it looks like Dakota is still fighting the other two shapeshifters, and those two are copying Dakota better that those three copied me, well at least that is what it's looking like. But he is struggling with them if he used his transformation like I did, but oh well he will obviously win this, so I will just sit here and wait for him to win. There's no way he's going to lose, I don't think I have ever seen him lose, and I don't think I will see it in the future too."

Henry with a smirk sat down at the ground, watching Dakota fight the other two shapeshifters, and he was also enjoying watching it.