Chapter 275

Chapter 275

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[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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The old man stood before the ancient tree.

His eyes, which had been examining the state of the tree, trembled noticeably.

“The speed at which its life force is being consumed is too fast.”

The giant frame and thick branches of Barret Namsov remained as imposing as ever.

However, the previous vitality and energy seemed to have left him.

The tree bark was cracked and crumbling feebly, and its color had turned a dark, dingy hue.

It was because he had poured all his life force into maintaining the ‘Five Seal.’

Barret had existed for hundreds of years as an ancient tree, steadily accumulating the mana of nature.

Yet, now it was difficult for him to maintain the seal for even three years.

This made Izaro realize just how absurdly powerful the Five Seal was.

It must have been devised and created by someone with an unusual obsession with the ‘Gate’ within the Namsov lineage.

“...But even that is losing its efficacy.”

Izaro let out a deep sigh.

A dark era was looming right before their eyes.

Step by step, he approached the tree and gently extended his hand to touch it, as if greeting an old friend.

[...You have arrived?]

A human face emerged on the tree trunk.

Barret looked down at Izaro.

“I finished my work and came.”

[You’ve worked hard. I have confirmed that the seal is functioning properly again.]

“Hard work, you say. You’ve had it much harder than I have.”

Izaro hesitated for a moment before continuing with his question.

“How much time do we have left?”

[It can still hold out for about a year.]

“...Humanity owes you a great debt.”

[It’s nothing.]

A childlike smile briefly crossed the face on the ancient tree.

[Have you come to see the hero?]

“...Yes.”

[Come inside.]

With a creaking sound, Barret’s trunk opened, revealing a passage inside.

Izaro walked in, continuing their conversation.

Barret’s voice seemed to resonate directly in his mind.

“How is the hero doing?”

[He still seems to be in a deep sleep. This is the first time he has lost consciousness for so long, so it is a bit concerning.]

“...He must be bringing back significant gains.”

[I hope so.]

The inner space was small but cozy.

A bed was placed there, and as Barret had said, the hero lay peacefully, as if in a deep sleep, to greet them.

Maktania, who had arrived earlier, waved lightly.

“You’re here? You’re late.”

“...I came as soon as I could. You got here quickly.”

“I wanted to see him.”

Izaro and Maktania stood by the bed.

The sound of steady, deep breathing filled the space.

Izaro’s gaze fell on the hero’s closed eyes.

‘...What are you seeing, brother?’Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

The first year had gone according to plan.

The hero began to experience a virtual reality based on the records of the original doppelganger.

His growth progressed smoothly.

The understanding of those whom the original doppelganger had copied suddenly began to rise.

Some of them were as powerful as modern heroes.

The hero acquired new abilities and insights, integrating them into his original martial arts.

Consequently, a few techniques were added to his unique style, Infinity.

▼

Understanding of the Red Tower Lord, Adeno Snook, has increased.

Understanding of the Silver Moon Group Leader, Annabella Cleve, has increased.

Understanding of the Knight King, Aratz Rus, has increased.

▲

▼

Technique: Infinity Style, Gate of Annihilation, is now available.

Technique: Infinity Style, Shadow of Eternity, is now available.

Technique: Infinity Style, Time of Sweeping, is now available.

▲

Each of these was a powerful technique.

The progress that had been halted for a while, the ‘Furnace,’ also responded.

▼

New materials were added to the furnace.

The user’s unique ability: ‘Evolving Polymorph,’ has grown.

Maktania added one last comment.

“Think carefully. If you lose the fight for dominance in your mental world, you could lose your body. Then humanity’s hope would vanish as well.”

The hero looked at her with deep-set eyes.

“I know. But waiting without any changes offers no hope either.”

It would be like waiting for a slow, inevitable death.

Barret’s expression trembled slightly at the hero’s words.

[Does that mean...]

The hero nodded.

“I will do it. I will...”

As he continued to speak, he thought of the man who massacred thousands of humans while laughing maniacally.

The hero sighed briefly.

“I will face him. My original self.”

Maktania let out a deep sigh, almost shaking the ground.

Thus began the strange cohabitation.

* * *

“......”

Floating in the deep sea of his subconscious, the hero was adrift.

Whether his eyes were open or closed, the view did not change.

Countless fragments of images and emotions.

Their faint glow dimly lit the dark blue expanse.

Vwooooong—

In an endlessly vast space, the fragments of light moved erratically, gathering and then pouring over him like a tidal wave.

Laughter, someone’s face, excitement and love, fear and pain—all these passed over the hero in succession.

The last was a cold voice.

[You pathetic fool.]

The hero replied.

“What are you so unhappy about?”

[Unhappy? What am I unhappy about?]

??? growled.

[I’m unhappy that someone with the unprecedented ability of polymorph lives like a pathetic idiot.]

It was verbal abuse.

But the hero did not back down.

“Didn’t seem like you lived that smart either. More like you were foolish and narrow-minded the whole time.”

[...What do you know to speak such words?]

“I could say the same to you.”

Their conversations typically went this way.

??? hated the hero intensely.

It was probably because he had roughly observed the hero’s life path within the subconscious.

A person who believed in humanity’s evil versus one who believed in its good.

It would be strange if they communicated well.

‘...More than anything, I dislike that guy too.’

Having experienced similar pain, he found ??? even more detestable and pathetic.

A brat who hated the entire human race and indiscriminately caused harm just because he was disappointed by a few.

That was the impression the hero had of ???.

‘That’s probably why the understanding comment has been quiet.’

Fortunately, contrary to Maktania’s fears, there had been no incidents of losing control of his body, but despite the passage of time, the hero could not comprehend ???’s motivations or way of thinking.

[You, who wander with nothing but the shell of your abilities, sure have a lot to say.]

The hero’s expression slightly crumpled.

“I can’t agree with that last comment.”

How could his polymorph be just a shell?

Admittedly, before he obtained ‘evolution,’ when he could only replicate appearances, that term might have been apt.

But now, he could replicate abilities as well.

Except for Ted, he could even achieve equal or greater power output than the original with ‘upscale’ now.

The term “shell” was no longer suitable to describe him.

[Haha, the phrase ‘a frog in a well’ seems to have been made just for you.]

But it seemed ??? wasn’t saying it just to mock the hero.

[Want to find a clue to defeat the Demon King? Want to advance your polymorph?]

The content forced the hero to focus despite the mocking tone.

He stopped retorting. ??? seemed satisfied and softened his tone.

[Lucky guy. There is a fundamental difference between my polymorph and yours. Zero must have intentionally ‘removed’ it from you as a safety measure.]

Creak—

At that moment, numerous doors sprang up in front of the hero.

Hinges covered in moss, surfaces worn and crumbling.

The doorknob on the nearest door glowed faintly.

[So, what do you think? Want to give it a try?]

The voice had softened to a gentle, subtle tone.

[A complete polymorph, something you’ve never experienced.]

Clack—

The doorknob turned.

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[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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