Chapter 20: Bonds Forged in Battle

Celine frowned as she stared at Asher. "That sounded weird," she muttered, watching him with a little smile.

Asher only smirked. "What? Are you surprised?"

Celine sighed, crossing her arms. "It just reminds me… why are we even training from morning till night? We've never trained this long before. What's your plan?"

Asher leaned against a nearby tree, his sharp gaze fixed on the campfire where the others rested. "I received a message from my clone—Talon, the One-Handed King. He refuses to back down from battle. He said that unless I step aside, he'll take me down himself."

Celine's eyes widened in shock.

"So I plan to assassinate my clone, Talon," Asher said, his voice cold and certain. "With the help of you all."

For a moment, silence settled over the camp. Even though they had always known such a confrontation was inevitable, hearing it spoken aloud made it real.

Celine swallowed hard. "I never thought it would come to this… even though it was obvious from the start."

Asher chuckled, looking up at the dark sky. "We will stay here for the next two days to train. After that, we launch our assassination on the One-Handed King."

The rest of the group sat in quiet contemplation, their expressions a mix of determination and unease.

---

(Training in the Abyssal Forest)

Over the next two days, they pushed themselves harder than ever before.

Their training was relentless, battling against creatures that most men would flee from without hesitation.

On the first day, they fought a Phoenix Griffin, a legendary beast with golden feathers that burned like fire and talons sharper than swords.

The battle was fierce. The Phoenix Griffin's screeches shattered trees, and its flames scorched the battlefield. But instead of running, they stood their ground.

Darian, with his incredible endurance, took the beast head-on, using brute force to counter its devastating attacks.

Elias, the strategist, observed its movements carefully, calling out openings for the others to strike.

Talon, used to fighting wild beasts, moved fearlessly, dodging its talons and slicing into its wings.

Lyrea, quick and agile, weaved through the battlefield, landing precision strikes that weakened the beast.

Garick, using his agility and balance, leaped onto the beast's back, dealing heavy blows to its vulnerable spots.

And Sellina, unleashing her stelth magic, delivered the final attack—an explosion of e spikes that sent the beast crashing into the ground, defeated.

They had changed.

They weren't just fighters anymore.

They were warriors.

Each battle they fought deepened their bond, and every night, as they sat around the fire, they shared pieces of their pasts.

---

Darian spoke first. "I was a farmer before all of this," he admitted. "I had to lift sacks heavier than me every day, working from dawn till dusk. I guess that's where my endurance comes from."

Elias chuckled. "That explains why you never get tired."

Elias went next. "I used to be an office scribe. I spent my days reading records and analyzing military movements. I guess that's why I have a sharp eye for battle strategies."

Talon nodded. "That makes sense. You always know what's coming next."

Talon, smirking, leaned back. "I was a butcher. You learn how to cut through flesh cleanly when you do it every day. I also had to deal with wild animals that came into town, so fighting them became second nature."

Lyrea raised an eyebrow. "So that's why you're always so good at close combat."

Lyrea, smiling softly, added, "I was a librarian. Spent my days reading books and memorizing information. It helped me develop quick reflexes and an analytical mind."

Garick laughed. "A librarian? That's the last thing I expected."

Garick, grinning, said, "I was a street performer. I had to be quick on my feet, balancing and dodging obstacles while making people laugh. Guess that's why I'm so good at moving around during battle."

Then, finally, Sellina spoke.

"I was once a noble."

The group turned to her in surprise.

"But my family fell from power, and I was banished" she continued. "I became a maid, serving some of the clones Asher's father created. I saw all of them up close, bonded but died one by one all 5 being replaced until Asher was made. And now… Asher is the last one I serve."

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then Darian broke the silence "so that means ashar is the youngest"

Making them laugh and inquired more about Asher

"How old are you exactly?"

"What does it feel like to be a clone ?"

"How were you made? "

"Where you the strongest clone?"

"How did you feel when you learned you were a clone?"

"How many clones were made ?"

"Since we're fighting one of Asher's clones, maybe it's time he told us about the others."

Selena said as she also had some questions herself

The group turned to Asher expectantly.

Asher took a deep breath and looked at each of them. "There were fourteen clones in total. Each with their own strengths and abilities."

---

"I wasn't the strongest, the fastest, or the smartest, but I was the a quick learner and observer who learned how to survive. I rely on strategy rather than brute force, manipulating the battlefield to my advantage."

"And Korrin – The Reaper"

"A master assassin. He was trained in the art of silent killing,hailed by my father as the strongest striking from the shadows with his twin daggers.we might all look alike bu he has a long scar runs from his left cheek to his jaw, marking the time he barely escaped a fatal encounter with a beast."

"Then Graven – The Juggernaut

A beast of a clon. His brute strength is unmatched, capable of tearing through anything in his way.has a jagged scar across his forehead, the result of a near-death experience in a brutal battle with a mercenary."

"Zarin– The Phantom

"The ultimate spy. He can become invisible, making him a nightmare to track down.And has a vertical scar over his right eye, earned when he was caught during a mission gone wrong, but it only strengthened his resolve"

"Varek – The Beast

"He's closer to an animal than a man. He can communicate with beasts and has reflexes sharper than any human.And has a deep claw mark runs across his face, a reminder of the time he was attacked by a magical creature while hunting."

"Cassius – The Viper

A poison master. He can kill without even lifting a finger—just a single touch of his toxins is enough he was the reason I was able to make the potion which help you regenerate it was unfurtunate.he has a scar across his neck from a failed assassination attempt, a reminder of his near-death struggle against a rival."

'Zane – The Tempest

"He controls wind, allowing him to move at ridiculous speeds and strike before his enemies even realize it. And has aslash across his cheek from a confrontation with his father's magical soldiers, a lasting reminder of his failure."

". Brax – The Shield

An impenetrable force. He can create magical barriers strong enough to block almost any attack. And has aburn scar on his left cheek, sustained during an intense battle with fire-wielding mercenaries.

"

"Leena – The Phantom Blade

"A long-range combat master. She can throw blades with deadly accuracy, curving them mid-flight.And has agash across her forehead from a fierce battle against a rival clone, marking the moment she became a fearsome fighter."

" Drake – The Inferno

"A pyromaniac with complete control over fire. Wherever he goes, destruction follows. And has adeep burn scar running across his right side from a failed experiment that went awry."

" Lysar – The Seer

A mind-reader. He can predict his enemy's moves before they even think of them. And has along, deep scar across his nose, a result of an early training accident while learning to master his abilities."

" Sylas – The Whisperer

He doesn't need to fight. His telepathic abilities let him control the minds of others.And has a scar across his left cheek, a consequence of a failed attempt to control a stronger-willed clone.

"

" Talon – The One-Handed King

The one we're about to face. He lost a hand in battle but adapted, becoming one of the deadliest spearman alive. And has adeep scar that starts from his temple and runs down to his jaw, the result of an encounter where he lost his hand to a beast. He wears a prosthetic attachment, crafted by his own ingenuity."

" Helix – The Berserker

A monster in human form. When he goes into his berserk state, nothing can stop him—not even pain. And has ascar that starts at his lip and stretches down to his neck, a reminder of the time he fought an entire army of mercenaries and barely survived.

"

---

After hearing about the clones, the group understood the scale of the battle ahead.

Talon, the One-Handed King, was one of the clones

Defeating him would not be easy.

But Asher's group had grown stronger than ever.

As the second night in the Abyssal Forest came to an end, Asher stood before them, his eyes burning with determination.

"Tomorrow," he said, "we hunt down my clone."

The group nodded in unison.

The assassination of the One-Handed King had begun.