Chereads / Yaxoc's Adventure: Act 7 / Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Yaxoc VS Himself

Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Yaxoc VS Himself

Hidden within the crags of a mountain, Zarzock stared into the flickering flames of a fire. The night sky loomed above, the clock striking 8 PM.

"I wonder... what can I do to stop Yaxoc from finding me?" he muttered, arms crossed. His gaze hardened. "He's looking for me, and the way he resisted Yurgion's slashes was overwhelming... He's seriously pissed off."

A flicker of realization crossed his face. "Wait... I do have an idea." Zarzock smirked. "I could use my energy to create an identical Yaxoc. But how do I match his strength?"

He closed his eyes, calculating silently.

"I'll need to use 95.5% of my energy," Zarzock mused, his tone serious. "It'll be hard on me, but this copy will be able to read every move Yaxoc knows—or those of anyone he's fought before."

Standing up, Zarzock's smirk widened. "I have to make sure my plan goes perfectly."

The Unexpected Encounter

As the night deepened, Yaxoc searched the area, his sharp eyes scanning for movement. His concentration was broken when he spotted Haven walking toward him.

"Haven? How are you alive?" Yaxoc asked, his anger subsiding.

"My angelic essence revived me," she replied with a gentle smile. Her expression shifted as she noticed the scars littering Yaxoc's body. "You looked so furious when you fought that guy... but damn, look at your scars!"

"About that..." Yaxoc began, crossing his arms. "Yurgion used some kind of unique awakening magic on me. His slashes were unbearable, but I ignored the pain. I had to focus on finding Zarzock..."

"You've awakened your own magic thanks to your rage. And you've mastered your spells too, haven't you?" Haven asked curiously.

"Yeah, I guess," Yaxoc replied, his tone nonchalant. "We need to go. Our angelic essences haven't evolved yet."

Haven nodded. "The tournament ended so fast when Zarzock arrived. We need to find him before things get worse."

Yaxoc's expression darkened. "We need to drain all his energy so he can't regenerate. That's the only way to stop him."

Together, they left, resolute in their plan.

The Battlefield at Dawn

By 8 AM the next day, Yaxoc and Haven returned to the desolate battlefield, its scars still fresh from the chaos of the previous day.

"Do you think he's here?" Haven asked skeptically. "This might be a waste of time."

"I think so," Yaxoc replied, glancing around. "He used to hide behind these objects."

Suddenly, Zarzock appeared, stopping a few feet away. His cold eyes scanned the pair before he smirked.

"So, the girl's alive," Zarzock sneered. "Tell you what. If you want to fight me, you'll have to face my special creation."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Yaxoc asked bluntly. "Keep your 'creation' out of this—I'll take you down now!"

Yaxoc lunged, his fist ready to strike, but Zarzock raised a hand, channeling nearly all his energy.

"Behold the return of the copycats," Zarzock chanted.

Before Yaxoc could reach him, an identical version of himself materialized and intercepted the attack, throwing him backward.

"What the hell? A copycat!?" Yaxoc exclaimed, stunned.

"This is no ordinary copy," Zarzock said weakly but with confidence. "I created this Yaxoc to defeat you. Good luck."

The identical Yaxoc advanced, its expression a mirror of Yaxoc's own.

"Alright," Yaxoc growled. "You asked for it!"

He charged at the copy, unleashing a barrage of punches, but the copy dodged each blow with precision, countering with its own attacks. Yaxoc dodged and retaliated with a spinning hook kick, but the copy grabbed his leg and slammed him to the ground.

Standing up, Yaxoc watched as the copy began to chant.

"Dream Magic: Purple!" the copy shouted, summoning a massive purple orb that it hurled at Yaxoc.

"What!?" Yaxoc ducked, narrowly avoiding the blast. "He has the same magic as I do! He's reading all my moves... but how?"

As the copy lunged again, Yaxoc's mind raced. He evaded a powerful strike and countered with a spinning hook kick that dazed the copy.

"Wait..." Yaxoc muttered as realization dawned. "He hasn't read all my moves. He's only countering the ones I use frequently!"

Yaxoc grinned, his confidence returning. "Now I get it!"

With newfound clarity, Yaxoc punched the copy and sent it flying into the air. He leapt after it, his angelic essence flaring.

"HAAA! ANGELIC FLASH!" Yaxoc roared, his fist crashing into the copy's gut and releasing a shockwave that launched it higher into the sky.

Teleporting behind it, Yaxoc slammed the copy into the ground, leaving it injured. Despite its injuries, the copy stood, charging at Yaxoc.

"Dream Magic: Red!" Yaxoc shouted, unleashing an explosion that sent the copy crashing into a mountain.

Teleporting once more, Yaxoc kicked the copy's face, sending it flying further until it stopped at a mineshaft.

As the copy searched for Yaxoc, it turned too late. Yaxoc rammed into it with a mine cart, sending it crashing back to the surface, barely standing.

"A real copycat should know all my moves," Yaxoc taunted, appearing behind it. With a powerful grip, he tore the copy's head off, reducing it to pure energy.

Meanwhile, Haven struggled against Zarzock, his lack of energy barely hindering his attacks.

"Damn it!" Haven growled, attempting to use her Angelic Flash.

Zarzock caught her fist mid-strike, his smirk oozing mockery.

"What a pathetic angelic essence user," he sneered. "I thought angels were brave warriors. Look at you—crying in pain."

With a sickening crack, Zarzock broke her wrist, drawing a scream from Haven.

"You should've never joined them," Zarzock spat. "Don't worry. You'll join them soon enough... when I KILL YOU!"

As Zarzock raised his hand for the final blow, Yaxoc appeared between them, his fist slamming into Zarzock's face.

"Surprised to see me?" Yaxoc asked with a smirk.

Zarzock stumbled back, glaring. "How did you defeat my copy!?"

"Clearly, you haven't seen my other moves," Yaxoc said bluntly. "You know, if you wanted to be like me, you could've just learned instead of creating a cheap imitation."

Zarzock's smirk returned, weak but defiant. "The Negative Maze begins NOW!"

Before Yaxoc could respond, Zarzock vanished, his sinister laughter echoing through the battlefield.