Chapter 228
At Yan’s command, the hidden ‘Yans’ emerged from their hiding spots. Each one gripped either an Ascalon or a dagger, their tension palpable.
One of them spoke up, “I agree that it’s better to talk and find out something rather than waste time in this stalemate. But what are we going to talk about?”
Another Yan frowned, “Is there anything else to discuss in this situation? We need to put our heads together and find a way out of here.”
“Ridiculous,” another scoffed. “Without any clues, what’s the point of talking among ourselves? It’s not prediction or deduction; it’s leaving it to chance.”
Yan nodded at them, “True, this might be meaningless since we have no clues about this place. But what changes if we keep fighting here?”
Another Yan responded with a cynical smile, “Who knows? Maybe someone is trying to create an opening through conversation. If everyone thinks and acts the same, it’s hard to deal with them in a normal situation. But during a conversation, an ambush could be possible.”
He glanced around at the other Yans and chuckled, “Looks like some of us are already exchanging glances.”
Yan shrugged, “If you go that deep, there’s no answer. And you know it too.”
“If the one trying to mess things up hasn’t recruited most of us, they’ll be taken down by the rest.”
“Yeah, you know it well since you’re ‘me’. It’s not easy to step forward.”
Another Yan nodded in agreement.
A Yan who had been quietly listening in the corner murmured, “I’m the real Yan. You all are fakes. So this pointless debate is meaningless.”
That statement ignited the emotions of all the Yans present. Until now, they had respected each other as ‘Yan’, but deep down, each believed they were the real one.
“Rubbish! I’m the real one. If I’m fake, then everything I’ve experienced and built up is just imagination?”
“Yes, you’re just a being derived from my memories. So you’re fake.”
“Did you think no one else had that thought?”
As the two Yans argued, the other Yans’ gazes grew cold. They began to subtly draw their weapons.
The first Yan’s intention to resolve things through conversation was starting to change.
“I’m Yan!”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re fake. I’m the real one.”
“You’re saying I’m fake even though I remember my past and present lives?”
“You only remember, but I’ve lived through it all.”
“Don’t twist my words! You know exactly what I’m saying.”
“Have you ever thought that you might be my clone? I’m the real Yan.”
“Then killing you would prove I’m the real Yan, right?”
The situation quickly descended into chaos, and the first Yan closed his eyes tightly. The problem he feared most had erupted. He too wanted to shout that he was the real Yan.
Meanwhile, the conflict among the Yans was reaching its peak.
“Weren’t you the one eyeing my back earlier?”
“If you were the real one, you wouldn’t have given me the chance.”
“Idiot. I’m the real one, so my body is intact. If our situations were reversed, you’d be dead. You’re fake, so I survived!”
The arguing Yans began to unleash their auras. Even the Yans who had been standing still started to draw mana to protect themselves or to attack unsuspecting opponents.
The space itself began to tremble under the combined aura of a hundred third-grade superhumans. If they started attacking without restraint, they could all die. And that could lead to an irreversible conclusion. Knowing this, they released their auras but refrained from attacking.
At that moment, a voice filled with mana echoed, “Stop this foolishness.”
To be precise, it was because of Yan’s actions after using his mana-infused voice.
“…Are you planning to die here?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
The ‘Yans’ frowned as they looked at the Yan who had used his mana-infused voice. He had a dagger pressed against his neck, its blade glowing with a blue aura.
“If anyone moves even a little, I’ll stab myself.”
Yan threatened, glaring at the other ‘Yans’ who were staring back at him with irritation.
Everyone here believed they were the real Yan. But what if, just maybe, they were all real? What if they shared not only memories and experiences but also the same mind, just divided?
If that guy dies, would they all die too?
‘I can’t die before achieving my goal.’
‘If I die, the Founding Festival will resume, and all my people will die.’
‘How could I meet my father… only to end like this?’
With these thoughts, the Yans began to withdraw their auras.
“…Fine, put that down.”
“At least we know you’re a fake. The real Yan wouldn’t do something so cowardly.”
“I agree.”
The Yans glared at the Yan who had threatened suicide, convinced he wasn’t the real one. Yan slowly lowered the dagger from his neck and looked at them.
“I think I’ve found a way out. The success rate is fifty-fifty, though.”
“What?”
“…You found it alone?”
“I couldn’t find anything.”
As the others looked at him skeptically, Yan chuckled.
“When everyone here released their auras, you were all focused on each other.”
At his words, the other Yans’ eyes darkened.
“So, did you discover something?”
Yan nodded and pointed upwards with his index finger. The other Yans frowned, not understanding his gesture. But then, his next words made their eyes widen.
“The space itself trembled.”
No more words were needed. Whether they were real or fake, all the Yans were meticulous and sharp-minded. With this clue, they began to analyze the situation objectively.
“We know this space isn’t real.”
“If it were reality, such phenomena couldn’t occur.”
“So, if we combine our strength, we might be able to destroy this strange space.”
A dissenting opinion arose.
“It could be a characteristic of the Sky Castle.”
“If that were the case, there would already be records of such phenomena.”
“But the fact that it’s unknown means no one has escaped or destroyed this place.”
“What about the Founding Festival? We’ve seen records of him capturing the Celestial Tribe.”
“Right, we should consider the possibility that he deliberately left no records about the Sky Castle.”
“That’s not the point. If the Founding Festival captured the Celestial Tribe, he might have been in a situation like ours.”
“That’s entirely possible.”
“And if he thought this was dangerous, he would have destroyed it. But he left it because he was confident he could control it.”
The Yans, who were quickly organizing the situation, looked at the Yan who had first spoken.
“So…”
Receiving their gazes, Yan smiled.
“Yes.”
Yan looked up. The sky was visible, but it was artificial. So,
“If we combine our strength, we might be able to break out of here.”
At those words, all the Yans’ eyes began to sparkle.
* * *
Once they set a single goal, everything proceeded smoothly. They discussed how to combine their strength and what technique to use to break this space.
“It’s difficult to destroy the space by each of us using ‘Dragon Fang’ with all our power. Even if we concentrate it on one point, it won’t fully merge.”
“I agree. It’s most efficient to gather all our power into one person and have them use Dragon Fang.”
“How do you plan to transfer the power?”
“There’s only one way to transfer power without wasting it.”
“Body-to-body power transfer.”
This method involves directly sending mana into the body, making it the best way for multiple people to transfer power to one person. However, this creates a problem.
“…So, who will take the lead?”
It’s about cramming the power of a hundred third-grade superhumans into one person’s body. Whoever it is, will they be okay?
No.
At the very least, they will suffer severe aftereffects. At worst, their entire mana road will burst, leading to a gruesome death.
All the ‘Yans’ here predicted the worst-case scenario that would occur afterward. If this method fails, the fight will continue until only the last Yan remains. The first victim in that fight will be the one who takes the lead, as their body won’t be intact.
The ‘Yans’ quietly scanned to see if anyone would step forward. At that moment,
“Since I suggested it, it’s only right that I step up.”
The Yan who first proposed this method stepped forward. The other Yans slowly nodded at his gesture and lined up silently.
Whoooosh!
Each of them drew mana from their mana hearts. As they all simultaneously activated their mana, a blue light burst forth. The Yans placed their hands on the waist of the person in front of them.
Whoooosh!
Then, a massive amount of mana was pushed towards the person in front. From the very end to the very front. Carefully and slowly, so as not to damage the internal organs or mana roads. Time passed, and the Yan at the very front received the mana of a hundred people. The mana filling his mana roads began to surge.
Rumble.
As the mana roads throughout his body were scratched and torn, his mind went blank. But at the same time, he felt an omnipotence, as if he could do anything.
‘…This is insane.’
Yan endured the pain with superhuman perseverance and drew Ascalon. No matter how much mana he had infused into it before, Ascalon had always absorbed it all.
Flash!
But at this moment, it emitted a blue light reminiscent of lightning. Yan, holding the trembling Ascalon with both hands,
Dragon Fang.
He slashed through the space.