The deafening hum of a high-pitched sound suddenly filled Xu Que's ears.
The golem-like stone figure slowly opened its red eyes.
It seemed almost alive, continuously surveying Xu Que with its unwavering gaze.
Xu Que remained on high alert.
He cautiously surveyed his surroundings, step by step, inching closer to the forbidden stone pillar.
To his surprise, the stone golem, bearing his exact likeness, was also approaching the pillar.
At that moment, Xu Que recalled scenes from mirror-imitation sequences in films.
However, he knew this was merely the initial test of the mirror image. If the figure became accustomed to the imitation, it would soon be time for Xu Que to face the consequences.
Just as Xu Que prepared to test whether the golem would fall into his trap, its eyes suddenly shifted.
The chilling coldness in its stare sent a shiver down Xu Que's spine.
"Damn, as expected, A-rank creatures are on another level. Their adaptability is far beyond B-rank's."
While Xu Que cursed inwardly, the stone golem exuded a formidable aura.
Super A-rank?
Xu Que became even more cautious.
He assumed a battle stance, and the golem mirrored his movements, perfectly mimicking his every motion.
"Shit! Do you really have to be this brutal?"
In haste, Xu Que drew his Original Sword, quickly placing it aside.
To his astonishment, the stone golem produced a sword identical to his Original Sword from seemingly thin air.
Xu Que immediately used his "Eye of Detection" on the sword.
He had hoped for a moment of luck, but instead, he was slapped with two painful realizations.
"How ruthless... it can even create copies of my weapons!"
Xu Que had no illusions left; whatever he possessed, the golem would too. Now, the only solution was to rely on sheer physical strength and fight it out.
The stone chamber echoed with the sounds of metal clashing against stone.
Both Xu Que and the stone golem discarded their armor and weapons, preparing for the fight.
After a brief warm-up, Xu Que extended his hand as if to taunt the golem.
It seemed the golem understood, as it mimicked the gesture, beckoning Xu Que forward.
"...Wait, I can't believe I'm being taunted by my own copy!"
With a burst of energy, Xu Que closed the distance between them, and as he swung his left fist, he quickly pivoted, delivering a vicious roundhouse kick.
"Bang!"
In the blink of an eye, Xu Que was stunned. The golem had blocked his attack effortlessly with its right arm.
With a swift motion, the golem struck with its right fist, but before Xu Que could block, it leapt into the air, aiming a knee at his face.
"Tricked!"
Xu Que's reflexes were faster in this life than in his past one, and as the golem launched into its jump, Xu Que was already adjusting his stance.
He blocked with his right elbow while his left foot lashed out at the golem's midsection.
"Bang!"
The golem blocked the kick with both arms and retaliated with a horizontal swipe.
Xu Que instinctively twisted his body to avoid the blow, but the golem changed its stance, executing a vertical kick that slammed into Xu Que's defenses.
"Bang!"
The force of the strike sent Xu Que stumbling back a few steps.
"Another feint!" Xu Que smirked, adjusting his stance once more.
The golem surged forward, throwing a left punch that transitioned into a right fist mid-swing.
Xu Que blocked with his left arm, while his right fist shot out to meet the golem's attack.
"Clang!"
The two continued testing one another's limits, and Xu Que executed a sweeping kick. The golem met him with a collision of their legs, and the resulting shock nearly sent Xu Que tumbling.
Regret gnawed at him for engaging in a battle of strength.
With a burst of speed, Xu Que charged forward, attempting to catch the golem off guard before it could turn around.
But the moment he leapt, he instantly regretted it.
"Bang!"
The golem grabbed his right leg mid-air and flung him across the room.
"Damn it, this thing is relentless, there's no opening!"
Just as Xu Que was considering his next move, the golem suddenly appeared before him.
The wind from its approaching fist howled. Xu Que, intending to dodge, hesitated for a split second, but then realized something was amiss.
No, this was no feint—it was a full, direct punch!
"Bang!"
Xu Que's arms were knocked aside as his body was thrown backward.
Before he could recover, the golem's left fist crashed into his chest.
Xu Que wanted to curse at the golem's disregard for honor, but the pain that followed forced a groan from him instead.
The golem didn't relent. In an instant, it was back in front of him again, delivering another crushing blow to his face.
"Bang!"
The impact sent Xu Que tumbling across the floor, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
Shaking his head groggily, Xu Que struggled to rise.
But just as he steadied himself, the tables turned. The golem, seemingly prepared, retaliated with a swift series of attacks.
Before Xu Que could react, the golem's right arm intercepted his sweeping kick, and in return, it delivered a forceful strike that sent Xu Que sprawling.
"Bang!"
They exchanged blows in a brutal, chaotic melee, their fists slamming into each other with bone-shattering force.
The stone golem's head lowered slightly, then it threw a powerful punch aimed directly at Xu Que.
Despite the impact, Xu Que did not retreat. Instead, he charged forward, meeting the golem's fist with a punch of his own.
"Bang!"
The impact sent them both stumbling back.
"Cough!"
A mouthful of blood spilled from Xu Que's lips, and he grimaced at the sight. But what truly frustrated him was that the golem was completely unharmed.
"How is this possible?..."
Xu Que's disbelief grew. Despite every blow landing with full force, the golem remained as solid as ever, its energy unshaken.
The golem didn't immediately attack again. Instead, it stared blankly at Xu Que, as if waiting for something.
Xu Que was confused, but soon, understanding dawned upon him.
The golem reached behind itself and seized the replica of Xu Que's Original Sword.
With a single hand, the golem gripped the sword and advanced on Xu Que, its blade pointed at his chest.
"Is this the final blow?"
Xu Que's smile appeared just as the golem's sword swung down swiftly.
In an instant, Xu Que drew his own Original Sword and parried the strike.
"Clang!"
The blades clashed with tremendous force, but before the golem could react, Xu Que's sword sent its head flying.
Just as Xu Que prepared to revel in his triumph, the golem's strength showed no sign of waning. Instead, it began to exert an even greater force, overwhelming Xu Que.
"Shit! I've been cheating, this bastard is using hacks!"
Xu Que quickly withdrew his sword and retreated to a safer distance.
He never expected that his carefully executed ruse—getting the golem to discard its weapon—would backfire like this. The golem didn't care about losing its head and continued its relentless assault.
As Xu Que hesitated, trying to figure out his next move, the golem swiftly raised its sword once again.
Xu Que, seeing the golem prepare to unleash its sword attack, instantly dodged with a roll and threw his own sword back at it.
The battle was far from over, and Xu Que was about to find out just how far he could push his own limits.